From My Ears To Your Eyes

i’m feeling a bit lazy today, so i don’t much care for the idea of writing long reviews. buuut i would like to share some of the stuff i’ve been listening to lately with you guys. so here it goes.

The Winston Jazz Routine – ‘Sospiri’
the record machine
released…sometime last year?

i got into this band a few years back when amazon suggested them to me and i agreed with their suggestion. they create nice, laid back piano/pop kinda music with sigur ros-ian soundscapes complete with bells and guitar echoes and a singer who almost reminds me of the dude from copeland sometimes. i was legitimately surprised by my finding of this cd, as i always assumed this was just one of those bands that i would never hear from again. anyway, quickly onto my opinion. this cd shows a lot of potential..BUT..i feel like it falls a little bit flat. this band has every chance to become really good at this whole folky/piano/dreamy pop thing, but they haven’t quite grown into the shoes they’re trying to wear. don’t get me wrong, this isn’t bad at all and it’s great background music for a sleepy morning or late night, but i think that might be all it is qualified to be right now. ‘sospiri’ is a definite step in the right direction for the wjr though, and i’m looking forward to what they do next.

emmure – ‘the respect issue’
victory records
released may 13, 2008

why yes, that is tna wrestling’s kurt angle on the cover of this cd. why no, i don’t really understand why he’s there either. if you like your breakdowns downtuned & slow and your vocals agony sceney, this the band for you. they’re on tour with misery signals and august burns red if that tells ya anything. i don’t really enjoy it all that much, emmure appears to be one of those listen to a few songs when you’re feelin crazy and be done with it kinda bands. some songs are rad, but as a whole, it really sorta sucks. the very best thing about this band is they play the kind of breakdowns that give me a chance to pretend i’m king kong stomping around a little japanese town or something. ROAR. I WILL DE S T RO YYYYY Y O U ALLLL STOMP STOMP STOMP ARM WAVEY STOMP ROAAAR.
just like that.

year end list potential: 1.6/5

sera cahoone – ‘only as the day is long’
sub pop
released march 18, 2008

now this, this i like. man i’ve become such a puss in my old age. all i really need out of my music these days is an acoustic guitar and maybe some slide guitar and banjo and i am set like a jumbo jet. yep, you guessed it, this is one of those folky/countryish joints that i love so much. i don’t even think there is much of a need for me to talk about it, because it probably sounds exactly the way you think it sounds. two fun facts before i go though..her voice reminds me so much of neko case at times that i thought it was her at first, aaand apparently this chick drummed on the first band of horses cd. neat, eh?

year end list potential: 4.4/5