From My Ears To Your Eyes…
Riceboy Sleeps – s/t
Beggars Xl Recordings
Released July 21, 2009
A few months ago, there was a fantastic compilation released called Dark Was The Night that was just packed to the gills with all kinds of great music. I was familiar with jusst about every artist on the record aside from one, and it just so happened that one artist provided my favorite track on the whole thing. That artist was Riceboy Sleeps, and the song was called ‘Happiness’. I had no clue who this was, but the song was lovely; a really rad 8+ minute ambient song with a vibe that felt familiar, but I couldn’t really put my finger on it. Determined to solve this mystery, I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into research..painstakingly exhausting every possible outlet to find out just who these guys were. So yeah, a quick Google search later and I find out what I should have realized all along – music like this could only come from the tree of one band – the great Sigur Ros. Yes, my friends, this is the ’side project’ of sorts for Ros singer Jonsi (proper Icelandic word punctuation be damned) and his boyfriend guy Alex Somers. Turns out, they have been showing artwork and stuff under this name for a bit, and this music is just an extension of that. That’s all the back story I’ve got, now on to the music.
When you’re the singer for a band like Sigur Ros, I think it’s pretty safe to say that you’ve got your finger on the pulse of pretty music and if you release anything outside of the band, you’d probably make sure it doesn’t suck. After all, assuming people are aware who this group is (and I would assume that would be a large part of marketing of this, at least here in America), they’re gonna have their expectations and set the bar pretty high. Luckily for the Riceboy dudes then, their record does not disappoint at all. While it’s an ambient album at it’s very core, I personally don’t think the proverbial apple has fallen too far from the aforementioned Sigur Ros tree. This record boasts the same beauty you’ll find in Ros’ music, only a bit subdued. There are no huge post rock crescendos, catchy little vocal quirks, or moments of unforgettably complex musicianship here. In their place are arrangements of sound that wouldn’t be at all out of place on a Ros record, but here they exist in bountiful amounts..stuff like gently flowing strings, droning guitar reverb, and an the innate sense of peace that I feel so often when I listen to an ambient record are all here. Heck, a few songs even have traces of vocals..some Jonsi’s, some belonging to a choir..but all blended absolutely perfectly within the layers of calmly swelling atmosphere behind them.
I dare you to listen, like REALLY listen, to music like this and not be moved even the tiniest bit. The music itself maybe contained within the confines of this disc or these files on a computer, but once it hits your ears, it’s limitations are only set by you. Close your eyes, open your ears, and let it take you on a journey. Let it be the soundtrack to a dream or the white noise in the background of your otherwise busy day, you’ll be better for it.
This is a really nice record. Jonsi & co manage to breathe life and inspiration into sparsity and desolation and create soundscapes that are stunningly and undeniably beautiful. I’ve listened to many an ambient record in my day and this has to rank near the top. Maybe it’s my unwavering love for Sigur Ros that’s skewing things, maybe it’s that I love anything that brings to mind (the images I’ve seen of) the gorgeous Icelandic countryside, or maybe it’s just a really good piece of music. I’ll go with all of the above for 500, Alex.
Marilyn Manson – ‘The High End Of Low’
Nothing Records
Released May 26, 2009
Before I even started listening to this, I’ll admit that I really was not expecting much. I’d heard the first few songs he had released on his Myspace a little while ago and found them to be quite dreadful and in turn wrote this album off long before it ever saw the light of day..or my itunes. But now that the record’s out there I figured I’d give it a proper listen; after all, I’ve been an on again off again Manson fan for a good 10+ years now. Wow, I can’t believe it’s been that long. Sigh.
One thing that has always annoyed me about Manson is that he sometimes makes suuuch a point to say ‘controversial’ things in his lyrics and to me, it just sounds childish. As much as he wants to continue to be the shocking crazy rock star he was back in the 90s, he just isn’t anymore..and sometimes it seems like he’s realizing that, and at other times it’s wildly apparent that he refuses to let go of that despite the fact that we, as a society, have largely moved on from him. In his defense, he has totally toned down on his shockrock persona, but one listen to the lyrics on any given cd still make me think he’s trying a bit too hard. Don’t get me wrong though, I think Manson is a very talented guy underneath all the theatrics and F-bombs. Some of the chances he’s taken musically have been really impressive and he’s done a good job showing off the diversity he is capable of , I just wish he would fully embrace some of the directions he tries going as opposed to stepping into the pool with one foot only to keep the other firmly planted on land. /end rant.
ANYWAY Manson seems to get his jollies by changing up his sound with any record, and while the trend continues to an extent here, it’s not as drastic as it has been at times in the past. Eat Me Drink Me was a straight up rock and roll record, mainly due to the guitar work featured there with all it’s solos and whatnot. It was a breath of fresh air for me as I was quite tired of the same old stuff he had done with Holy Wood and Golden Age… While lots of fans out there probably are longing for a return to the heavier days of Antichrist Superstar (especially with the return of Twiggy Ramirez to the fold), I was hoping for a continuation of the growth and the more straight-forward ‘adult’ sound from EMDM. Manson meets us somewhere in the middle though, as High End.. sounds sorta like an amalgamation of both worlds. In all, it’s a pretty decent record, with it’s most glaring hiccups into total suckdom being the more “HEY LOOK AT ME IM STILL CONTROVERSIAL, RIGHT GUYS? ” songs like ‘Arma..geddon’, ‘We’re From America’, ‘Pretty As A Swastika’ etc, which, oddly enough, also happen to be the heavier songs on the record. Hmmmm, funny how that works out. Despite those potholes, the record does have some pretty good songs (’Into the Fire’, ‘Leave A Scar’, ‘Four Rusted Horses’ among them) that stay along a similar path as the EMDM stuff despite having hints of a more ‘classic’ MM sound in them. Given them a listen, you’ll see what I mean. As a whole, High End has it’s fair share of stylistic diversity, maybe even the most MM has had on one single record so far in his career, but I can’t help but feel that it’s lacking an overall direction – both lyrically and musically. Anitchrist had a ‘feel’ to it, Mechcanical Animals had a ‘feel’, EMDM had a ‘feel’, thiiis kinda doesn’t.
So, as I said, it’s a decent record. Not the best, but surely not the worst; it might even grow on me a bit more after time, who knows? I’m disappointed that he didn’t follow up EMDM with something even further removed from what people expected from him, but I’m not all that surprised. For now, I’ll continue to hold out hope that one day, he’ll fully embrace change and put both feet into the pool, buuut he’s gotta be pushing 40, so who knows what he’s got left in the artistic tank.
mewithoutYou – ‘it’s all crazy! it’s all false! it’s all a dream! it’s alright’
Tooth & Nail Records
Released May 19, 2009
I’m not in a band or anything, but if I was, I’d imagine one of the things I would struggle with is the whole issue of evolution. On one hand, there’s the argument that if you get mildly successful, people are gonna like you based on a certain sound and you risk alienating a core group of your fanbase if you make significant changes to that sound. On the other hand, why on earth would you bother making music if you weren’t doing it for yourself? If you want to expand and grow and build upon what you have done, thus taking it to a whole new level, does it really matter if anyone outside your band loves it as much as you? While I could feasibly argue both sides of the coin, I’d like to think I’d choose the latter option… although I’m just as guilty as anyone else of bitching about a band changing their sound to something I didn’t dig quite as much, so it’s a rocky road and ultimately a crapshoot either way.
At some point over the past few years, it’s fairly obvious that when faced with this decision, mwY chose to follow the uneasy path to musical progression and I have a feeling that there are a LOT of folks out there who might not be all that pleased about it. On this new record, you can throw most of what you think you know about the band out the window, because they have totally redefined themselves in a manner that, while it was hinted at on their previous record, is drastic enough to make even fans such as myself who were expecting this shift tilt their heads and take notice. Gone are about 99.8% of the yelling vocals and virtually all of the aggressive riffs and in their place is an incredible cornucopia of instrumentation and happy, singy vocals that sounds like a mash up of a Sufjan Stevens and Decemberists record with mwY’s distinct ’sound’ stamped on it all. The lyrics have undergone a transformation as well, with a lot of songs now being written in the form of parables centering around nature and animals and and a few even containing choruses that don’t sound too unlike a song that a child might learn in their Sunday school class. For some of you guys out there, the lyrics are gonna be a pretty big turnoff I bet. Some of you may not want to hear songs detailing moral or spiritual lessons or tales about potatoes and barnyard animals, and I can understand that. Personally, I’m all about it. I would put Aaron Weiss up against anyone in music right now in terms of songwriting talent, his stuff is SO creative and SO meaningful and SO, just, good, that I’d have a hard time voting against him.
mewithoutYou has always been a bit of a polarizing band. They’ve never really toed the company line in terms of sound, they’ve always danced to the beat of their own drum so to speak, and with the uniqueness they’ve always exhibited comes polarization in terms of the audience. This is the ultimate love it or hate it record from a love em or hate em band, so I truly expect lots of diversity in the reviews out there on the internets. Personally, I think, and after just 3 full listens mind you, that this is an amazing record. When I first heard one of the tunes on their Myspace a few weeks ago, I was a but eh about it, but after a few listens, I really got what it is they were doing and ended up loving the song. That’s important with this album..giving it a little time to spread it’s roots in your musical soil. It might take a little bit of work, but in time I think there’s a good chance it will bloom into something extraordinary for you. It already has for me.
As Cities Burn – ‘Hell or High Water’
Tooth & Nail Records
Released April 21, 2009
As Cities Burn is, without a glimmer of doubt in my eyes, one of the most talented and disgustingly overlooked and underrated bands over the past bunch of years. Any loyal follower of BEP and my year-end lists is well aware of this fact, as I have taken many an opportunity to tell folks how awesome this band is. A few years back, they took my number 1 record of the year spot with their fantastic ‘Come Now Sleep’, and now they have returned to challenge for this year’s number one position with their new disc, ‘Hell or High Water’. On this record, ACB fully realizes the sound they started heading towards with the last release and now find themselves able to fit in much better amongst the ranks of bands like Thrice, Brand New, or even dredg than they ever could hope to in the screamy, heavier days of their past. I loved..loved.. the progression they made with Come Now Sleep and after just a few listens of this record, I think I can safely say that at least from the outset, I enjoy this record every bit as much if not even a little more. Songs like the outstanding ‘Into The Sea’, ‘Lady Blue’, and ‘Gates’ sound like vintage ACB and remind me why I fell so hard for the CNS record while tunes like ‘Errand Rum’ and ‘Capo’ find the band venturing a bit into some much more ‘indie’ musical areas but are still great nonetheless. Lyrically and vocally it’s as wonderful as ever, as singer Cody Bonnette once again proves he is more than able to handle the duties that fell solely to him when his bro TJ left the band after their first record. Honest and unassuming, Bonnette’s shaky delivery is crazy powerful, and somehow manages to always leaves me in good spirits anytime I listen to the band..and I love that. The bottom line here is that this record is fantastic. Everything this band does just keeps getting better and better and this is no exception. They’re one of the few bands that manages to wow me each time I listen to one of their cds, no matter how many times I’ve listened in the past, and I think that is pretty awesome. ‘Hell or High Water’ was one of my most anticipated records of 2009, and now that it’s in my grubby little hands, I have to say that I’m so jazzed that it’s everything I hoped for and so much more. Great, great stuff.
There hasn’t been a whole ton of new stuff that I’ve been inspired to tell you about lately, which is kinda why I haven’t been posting about new stuff. This doesn’t mean new stuff isn’t being released..because, believe it or not, the music world goes on even if I’m not around to be it’s cheerleader all the time. Anyway, while I’m too lazy to write full reviews about some stuff right now, I still strive to spread knowledge to you, the loyal reader, and with that in mind, here is a brief collection of thoughts about some newer stuff I’ve listened to lately.
Broadcast The Nightmare – ‘Twenty Twelve’
Sumerian Records
Released April 14, 2009
I enjoy me some rock and roll music. Broadcast The Nightmare, from right here in Bear Country (aka Atlanta), play rock and roll music. Does this mean I enjoy BTN? Why yes, actually it does! My opinions on metal these days can be so fickle and it’s really tough to put into words why I like one thing and get instantly bored with something else; something that might essentially sound just like the first thing I juuust told you I enjoyed. But here’s the deal, despite the fact that BTM does the whole thrashy metalcore thing that’s been done to death, I think these guys sorta stand out and I find myself enjoying this record a good bit. It’s pretty solid and totally one of the better metal releases I’ve heard so far this year. Give ‘em a go if you’re into stuff like August Burns Red or some other metal as balls band with breakdowns.
Melody Gardot – ‘My One And Only Thrill’
Verve Records
Released April 28, 2009
From time to time, even the hardest of rockers need to chill out and unwind, and when that time comes, why not listen to the smooth jazzy stylings of Melody Gardot? Light some candles, drink some wine, take a bubble bath and just relax. Sounds like a good time..AMIRITELADIES??? Srsly though, I’ve been a fan of this young lady for a few years now and Lord knows I’m not much of a jazz/lounge/easy listening AC kinda dude, but there’s something about Gardot’s music that appeals to me. Most likely, that something is her voice. She has an incredible voice that has really helped establish her as a one of a kind talent not only just in my ever-important opinion but in the opinions of critics and fans all over the world. Plus, her story is interesting..she was almost killed a few years back while riding her bike in Philly and has a myriad of health issues she’s dealt with since (look it up, you’ll probably say ‘oh wow’ when you read about what she goes through). That aside though, the cd really is nice and enjoyable. It’s mellow and awesome and I through my full support behind it.
Huck Notari – ‘Very Long Dream’
Released Feb 17, 2009
From time to time, my friend James (you may recognize him as BEP’s Bazmazh) likes to tease me for some of the music I listen to. He generally doesn’t have any real merit to his insults or mudslinging, he just likes to annoy me. One of the things he makes fun of are the names of some of the dudes I listen to. These dudes are usually folk singers and he usually has some wise cracks about song content and whatnot..but hey, I’m used to it and I deal. Point is, both this guy’s name and the album art aren’t really gonna help my case when it comes to him. Oh well, it’s a chance I have to take. If there’s a come out of nowhere surprise hit so far this year for me, it’s this record. To put it quite bluntly, ‘Very Long Dream’ is a lo-fi folky/americana masterpiece of a cd. Recorded live with his buddies up in his hometown of Portland, I think this record is the audio equivalent to an older, faded pair of jeans with holes in the knees. I really find it to be super comfortable and welcoming music that has the sound of something much older than it is. It’s folk done right; honest and unassuming, full of heart and devoid of any trace of self importance. A wonderful listen if I do say so myself.
N5MD edition..
For a few years now, I have been singing the praises of this label and a few of it’s artists in my year end top album lists. This label is the home to awesome artists in the electronic/idm/ambient/shoegazey scene like Lights Out Asia, Bitcrush, Near The Parenthesis, and now, Port-Royal as well. In fact, I don’t believe that I’ve ever listened to anything released on this label that I didn’t enjoy, and I kinda think that’s really awesome and rare. A while back, I felt that way about Focus Features in the movie world. They had a string for a minute there when every single movie that was released from that studio was fantastic, and thusly, I had to watch everything that was branded with their name. Similarly with n5MD, I have come to expect great things and, unlike Focus, they continue to release wonderful things. Both of the records I’m about to talk about here continue this trend, aaand, if you desire, they (and basically anything else the label has released) can be sampled at n5md.com.
subtractiveLAD – ‘Where The Land Meets The Sky’
nm5d
Released March 10, 2009
Some things in life are just sure things. The Yankees will always overspend, mint chocolate chip ice cream will always be delicious, and I will always be a sucker for a high quality ambient record. There is just something awesome about this type of music that makes my ears happy. It’s such a multi-tasking thing, this genre. It serves me well in sleeping situations, in chilled out situations, in rainy situations, in early morning situations..it’s quite therapeutic .
This is Stephen Hummel’s fifth record as subtractiveLAD from what I can tell, but it’s the first one I’ve ever actually listened to. Judging by the contents of this though, I should probably remedy that, stat. The layers of sound created by synths, keyboards, and orchestral whatnots ebb and flow gently like the slightest wave on the calmest seas, and, despite being disturbed from time to time by a full fledged drum beat or some electronic bleeping, never waver from their awesomeness. Think Boards Of Canada seamlessly meeting Hecker, Fennesz, or even William Orbit at times. Yeah, it’s good stuff. My personal favorite tunes on here are ‘Something Like A Star’ and ‘The Slender Stem’, but it’s all worth listening to. Like, really listening to. Music like this has so many subtle nuances and layers to dig through, and if you’re willing to do it, I think you’ll find the rewards to be substantial.
Last Days – ‘The Safety Of The North’
n5MD
Released March 10, 2009
One of the toughest things to do when you’re trying to describe records that rely so heavily on conveying an emotion to the listener in a manner that’s virtually devoid of the typical lyrical delivery system is putting how it makes you feel into words. I often worry about being repetitive and hate that because the last thing I want to do is give you, the reader, the impression that my reactions to the music are cookie cutter responses that I think I am ’supposed to’ be having. I assure you though, this is not the case. Never would I tell you something was moving and beautiful if it wasn’t; like I said, it’s just tough to find the perfect words sometimes. All that because I feel like this will be another one of those times.
I have been following Last Days for several years now, and each release has been superb. ‘The Safety Of The North’ is no different. Perhaps the most sonically accessible release to date, with this record Last Days (or Graham Richardson) once again intend to provide a cinematic soundtrack for a story that not only exists within the walls of these 15 fantastic tracks but can extend on endlessly with the only limits being those imposed upon yourself. This time around, the story being told is that of a young girl named Alice who, along with her family, is moving out of the city to, well, the safety of the north. In these songs, each of which is intended to play out as a scene in the story, you’ll follow the trials, tribulations, and thoughts of young Alice as she tries to adapt to her new surroundings. It’s masterfully done too, so much so that I dare you to listen to songs like ‘Run Home’ and ‘You Are Stars’ and not immediately conjure up the visuals to accompany this soundtrack in your mind. Painful and tragic but innocent and hopeful, the story of Alice is eloquently told by an artist whose talent shines brighter with each release. I wouldn’t pass this one up, folks.
The Appleseed Cast – ‘Sagarmatha’
Vagrant Records
Released Feb 17, 2009
First off, I know this isn’t the ‘real’ artwork for the record, but it’s so much cooler than the real deal, so I’m using it instead. Oh, and no, I don’t know why I waited so long to review this. Now that that’s out of the way, onto the meat and potatoes.
The Appleseed Cast have always taken a bit of an ‘off the beaten path’ approach to their music..and as a result, can be kinda tough to catagorize. They’ve always seemed intent on taking the concept of ‘emo’ music and mixing it with the atmospheric elements of post rock without allowing themselves to really be classified under the branding of either genre. No matter, I love them anyway.
One of my favorite records of all time is the band’s ‘Two Conversations’ record, and that’s the record where I first realized the band’s brilliance. Naturally, I’ve been waiting for them to put out a new record that I enjoyed almost as much, but while I didn’t care all that much for their last release (Peregrine), I think with Sagarmatha, they’ve done themselves proud. On this cd, they blur the lines between spacey post rock and emo even further, with a decent majority of this record being instrumental. I was sketchy about the idea when I first heard of their plans, but I’m happy to say it all worked out pretty well. If there is one thing this band is great at, it’s creating a musical atmosphere, or soundscape if you will, and layering all aspects of the creation (including vocals) so as to not really showcase any one aspect of what they do but instead allow everything to flow peacefully together along a babbling brook of musical joy. On the last record, this annoyed me, as the vocals were too far back in the mix to matter, and for a release that’s more or less vocal-heavy, that may not be a great idea. This time around though, with the balance of the music leaning heavily towards the instrumental side of things, burying what vocals there are deep in the texture of noise comes across as much more of a plus than a negative.
With all that said though, I do feel like the record has a few flaws, and it is my duty to point them out to you, the loyal BEP reader. I don’t think it’s out of line to say that one of my favorite aspects of this band has ALWAYS been the vocals. Heck, like I mentioned a minute ago, the stupid burying of them on the ‘Peregrine’ release is the main reason why I wasn’t enamored with that cd. It’s no coincidence then, that my favorite songs on this album are the more traditional sounding ones with vocals. ‘The Summer Before’ is great, and ‘Raise The Sails’ sticks out in my mind as well as being damn good. That’s not to say anything else on here sucks, because I surely don’t think that’s the case. I’M JUST SAYIN. Also, I kiiinda feel like they get a little bit too repetitive musically on some of the long instrumentals, but like with the vocals, I might just be pickin’ nits..and I’m sure they know what they’re doing and what they’re trying to accomplish more than I do.
Overall, despite it’s faults, I really like this cd and I feel that anyone out there in Bearland who like or have liked The Appleseed Cast over the years will probably enjoy it as well.
Justin Townes Earle – ‘Midnight At The Movies’
Bloodshot Records
Released March 3, 2009
I’m kind of ashamed that, given my affinity for both singer/songwriter and americana/country-twinged stuff, that I hadn’t heard of this guy before. I mean, I’d heard of his daddy Steve, I’d heard of his namesake Townes Van Zant, but never really listened to them either..so like..I fail all around. I’m doing my best to make up for lost time though, as this record has gotten quite a few spins since first finding it’s way into my itunes collection. JTE, as I pretty much told you a second ago, is a singer-songwriter straight outta Nashville who feeds the listener with a steady diet of a great classic country and folky americana rootsy sound that I, quite honestly, can’t get enough of. Oh and hey..all you folks out there that prefer a more modern alt-country (think Ryan Adams or Josh Ritter circa ‘The Animal Years’) sound..Earle has you guys covered too. Cool, eh?
This was one of those records that immediately caught my ear and drew me in, and if you’re into this type of music, I really think it will have the same impact on you. It’s only about 30 min long, so it’s got that ‘wham, bam, thank you ma’am’ thing goin’ on..which is a bit of a bummer for a dude like me who would really like it to be another 15 min or so, but on the bright side, the replayability level of this record is through the roof. Aside from the length, there isn’t much for me to complain about at all. The album flows really well, the songwriting is solid, and I just really, really (really? yea, really) enjoy it.
Let’s see, what else? I think I’m gonna use bullet points in a post for the first time ever! Be glad you’re here for this momentous occasion, my friends.
- There’s a Replacements cover (’Can’t Hardly Wait’), if that does anything for you.
- The track ‘Someday I’ll Be Forgiven For This’ is wonderful and would probably be a hit if a hip, popular country singer was singing it.
- JTE was in Atlanta the other day and I didn’t feel like driving downtown to see the show. I’m so lazy.
- Maybe I didn’t have as much left to say as I thought. Oh well.
Wretched – ‘The Exodus Of Autonomy’
Victory Records
Released March 3, 2009
I’ll start things off with the new disc by North Carolina’s Wretched, mainly because it’s my favorite out of the pack. For my money, this cd is pretty solid kick in the teeth and if thrashy as ballz deathcore kinda stuff is your cup of tea, then it might be the kick in the teeth you’re looking for as well. These dudes hook you up with everything from solid death metal with technical prowess to breakdowns, and it’s always fun when those two world’s collide in a manner that’s not obnoxious. Granted, Wretched doesn’t do anything new, but I DOO think that they do what they do pretty well and this disc has become one of my favorite metal releases of the year already. Man, and I really hope they tour with Darkest Hour since they share a label..that’d be bombass! Anyhoo,iIf you’re into stuff like Black Dahlia Murder, Whitechapel, and the like, give these dudes a listen..I think they might be turning some heads (..METAL HEADS!!….l o l!……) this year.
A Plea For Purging – ‘Depravity’
Facedown Records
Released March 3, 2009
I’m a bit conflicted. I don’t hate this, but I don’t really like it either. There are days when I’m feelin rowdy and all I really wanna listen to is relatively simple but aggressive, breakdown laden metal. On days such as those, I may get a hankerin’ to spin my ipod dial down to the P section and give this record a listen. Buuut then there are days when stuff like this just annoys and quite honestly bores the hell outta me. There’s no denying this record is heavy and I’m sure these cats sound like a satchel of dumbells in a live environment, but that’s not always enough. From all internet accounts (because I don’t care enough to do the research myself), this record is an improvement from their debut..so um, that’s cool I guess. The bottom line here is that, just like a bazillion other bands like them, the only thing I’ll find this record good for in the long run is the occasional random play on the ipod.
Wolves In The Throne Room – ‘Black Cascade’
Southern Lord
Released March 31, 2009
When it comes to black metal, there’s a really fine line between badass and cheesy. Sometimes you can look at and listen to a band and just be like ‘uh guys..really?’. But sooometimes, and it’s pretty rare in my case, I can listen to a black metal band and really get it. These dudes I get, aaand I really enjoy. WITTR mix their straight-outta-Norway style black metal with some pretty atmospheric and droning psychadelic proggy sorta stuff. It’s a really interesting combination of sounds to listen to; the layers of noise this band creates are pretty impressive and I’m glad this record picked up where the last left off. It’s intelligent black metal, if that sorta thing exists, and just listening to it puts me in this epic deep, dark woods sorta mindset. This is a great, chilling, and ultimately very creative record. Metalheads of all shapes and sizes should really open up their minds and give this record a shot. Remember when I said the Wretched record was my favorite of this group of reviews? Well, I think I’ve changed my mind. Go Wolves!
(madlibs)
The minute i laid eyes on the cover art for Neko Case’s brand spanking new album Middle Cyclone I knew i was in for something completely different than i had experienced with her last. She looks like a total sword wielding badass atop that fiery colored GT, which is in sharp contrast to the slightly drab, moody, folky scene that covered 2006’s Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. Turns out, i was right. While her voice is as haunting and twangy as ever and you can still catch those little moments of heartache, she seems to be surer of herself this time around, maybe even a tiny bit pissed off. “My courage is roaring, I’m an animal, you’re an animal too.” she bellows, on the appropriately titled “I’m an animal.”
I picked up a theme running throughout the album and as cliche as i suppose it is…that theme is love. Only this time, from all different perspectives, a man’s, a woman’s, an animalistic one, and even a tornado’s perspective on the track “This Tornado Loves You”. Neko never strays far from nature though, with the last track of the album being 30 minutes of nothing but cricket chirps and sounds that take me back to nights living out on a lake somewhere deep in the woods when i was younger.
With appearances by M. Ward, Calexico, and the New Pornographers, this album really is something special. Check out ‘People Got A Lotta Nerve’, ‘Red Tide’, ‘Fever’, and ‘The Next Time You Say Forever’ ..which by the way, hosts what might be my new favorite line from any song, “The next time you say forever, I will punch you in your face.” Solid.
Closure In Moscow – The Penance and The Patience’
Released sometime..
Recently signed to Equal Vision records..
Yea, I don’t know all that much about this band. They’re Aussies, they were introduced to me by a friend a few weeks back, I came to find they’re managed or something by a friend of a friend aaand I think they’re recording a full length now..and that’s about all I’ve got as far as background on them. Now that that’s out of the way, we can get to what really matters here, the music. I must be honest with you, this little 6 song EP contatins some of the best and most interesting music I’ve heard in a while. Srsly duder, I tried to write this review a few times while listening to the thing and I just couldn’t let the record serve as background music..and it’s not like this was my first rodeo. I’ve listened to this little bad boy a good 10 times already, and yet I still am unable to not give it my full attention while it’s on. That’s gotta mean something. Right? Riiiight!
So let’s say you’re intrigued already, and you decide to scour the interwebs for a second or third opinion (psh, like you’d actually NEEED another one)..well you probably wouldn’t be able to find a single review of this record that doesn’t mention their likeness to The Mars Volta or Circa Survive (or whatever other Anthony Green project you’d like to bring up), but please, don’t write the band off for it. Sure, they wear those influences squarely on their sleeves and the similarities are fairly obvious and even somewhat uncanny at times, but oddly enough, that doesn’t detract from this record one bit. It’s so rare that I’m blown away by anything, much less by something I hadn’t heard of at any point before..I mean, I am music guy after all. I’m usually on top of things..I’ll blame it on their Australianity. Yeah, that’s it. So like. I digress. Anyway. I’m a big fan of this band already, and they have a sound that could and probably will make them relatively ‘huge’ once their very capable and appropriate US label, Equal Vision, dishes them out to the masses. Actually, they seem like one of those bands who would do pretty well on alternative rock radio (does that still exist?) if given the chance, so hopefully for them, the hype finds ‘em and they become ‘the next big thing’. I really have nothing but love for this release and feel that listening to it might be one of the best ways you guys out there in BEPland could spend 25 minutes of your time. I hiiighly recommend you check these guys out, becauuuse unless your taste kinda sucks, you should dig em’.
Mono – ‘Hymn To The Immortal Wind’
Temporary Residence
Released March 24, 2009
Aside from the constant barrage of beautiful women and truckloads of money that get dropped off at my door on a regular basis, one of my favorite parts about being a ‘blogger’ and running my own website is that I get to share with my friends and my readers some of the things I enjoy. Obviously, my opinions are very valuable to them as well as to you, and that’s why you keep coming back..and I appreciate that and I will continue to try my best to not let anyone down with the music I recommend.
In 2009 so far, there has been a seriously impressive amount of really good music released/leaked and that’s kinda rare for it being so early in the year. From things I’ve reviewed..like Thursday and Telefon Tel Aviv to things I haven’t gotten around to reviewing yet..like M Ward, Barzin, and The Appleseed Cast, this year has already brought me a lot of music I truly enjoy the hell out of, and I think that’s pretty awesome. BUUUT even more exciting is when I listen to the first record of the year that simply blows my mind with it’s amazingness..and well, Mono’s ‘Hymn To The Immortal Wind’ is that record.
Mono is a post-rock sorta group out of Japan who have been making pretty darn good music for a lot of years now. Their last record, ‘You Are Here’, fared pretty well in my top cd list of 3 years ago or so, placing at number 26, and all their records are good, but as a whole, I’ve always sort of thought of the band as a third wheel to the more well known post rock outfits of the world (ie GYBE and EITS). Welll Godspeed is gone and Explosions have gotten a bit boring, so with this release, Mono had the chance to secure themselves the sought after spot of my favorite post rock band out there in the world today and my goodness have they ever done that. ‘Hymn..’ is an absolutely incredible record, the band’s best BY FAR, and I’d put it right there with the classics of the genre. This record is as epic as it is beautiful, as powerful as it is romantic, and cinematic as all get out..it’s everything you could ask for from a post rock cd and so much more.
Sometimes in music, as in life, there is nothing better than a slow build to a majestic crescendo, and that’s what this band and so many like it are all about. In a genre though, like any other, where copycats are everywhere and standing out is damn near impossible to do, Mono have officially put themselves on the very top of the food chain. ‘Hymn To The Immortal Wind’ is a jaw-dropping display of artistic prowess and musical greatness the likes of which can be very tough to find nowadays and while I haven’t been scoring cds lately, this one would be my first perfect score of the young musical year. It’s just that good. Sooo..listen to it.
Andrew WK – ‘The Japan Covers’
Released Dec 2008 (Japan Only)
I’ve never been shy about my love for Andrew WK. I hated him at first, but as soon as I saw him live, I was on board for life. His music is fun, he’s an awesome dude and everything he does is entertaining. Now, I don’t really know any more than anyone does about why he’s dropped off the American music scene..but he does do solo shows and speaking tours and parties at his nightclub up in NYC and he even has an Adult Swim show coming sometime this year..so he’s still doin’ his thang. In addition to that though, he still releases stuff overseas, and much like his rad ‘Close Calls With Brick Walls’ record a few years ago, the fairly new 2-disc AWK Premium Collection thing was released solely over in Japan. This fancy collection, as I said, had 2 discs..one being a greatest hits thing, the other being this gem. ‘The Japan Covers’ is a record containing WK’s mostly English cover versions of what I can only assume are popular Japan pop tunes, and isss something special. There’s something about the wackiness of that culture and the persona of WK that just work together and it’s totally apparent here. The collection of songs is full of the same funtimes you’d expect out of Andrew, and are just another reminder of how awesome the dude is and how badly I want him to bring the band back together and bring the party to the US of A once again. Ah well. Anyway, if you’re ever in Tokyo, it would serve you well to buy this cd..that is, unless, you hate fun.
Underneath The Gun – ‘Forfeiting Misfortues’
Ferret Records
Released Jan 20, 2009
Ahhhrrrggghhhfshdf! It’s that stupid breakdown guitar sound again! I suppose it’s here to stay and I’d be best off just getting used to it..but ugh, ya know? I wonder if I’m the only one out here in Bearland who gets so annoyed by it (or even has any idea what I’m rambling about). Ah well. So UTG is one of a zillion other Christian metal/deathcore bands that’s floating out there right now. The members started playing together at 12 and were doin the shows thing by like 14, so that’s kinda neat. Dunno how old they are now, and doing the research seems a bit unnnnecessary to me, so we’ll leave it at that. So surprisingly, I kinda like this cd, annoying guitar and all. They remind me of a mix between Black Dahlia Murder and maybe say, August Burns Red with the way they use breakdowns. Am I blown away? Nah. This is nothing I haven’t heard before; but they are able to pull off a style that has been annoying the eff outta me lately in a way that..well..doesn’t annoy me. It’s not AS cookie cutter as some of the other bands out there, so props to them for that. For a debut record, it’s pretty solid. Plus, it’s good to see that not everything Ferret puts out these days totally sucks it up.
Lamb Of God – ‘Wrath’
Sony
Released Feb 24, 2009
Oh Lamb Of God, why do I even bother? I’ve never liked much of anything this band has done, so it would make sense that I don’t care much about this new cd of theirs. Buuuut, I’m a pro, so I gave it a go regardless of my pre-existing feelings. On their last record, LoG grabbed a firm hold of Pantera’s jock and had no desire to let go. In fact, that’s probably the only reason I didn’t mind a few songs on that cd – because they reminded me of the once mighty vulgar, trendkilling band that I used to enjoy so much. Unfortunately though, that seems mostly gone on this cd, so if I’m gonna keep any of this stuff on my ipod, these guys had better find a new way to keep me interested. And um…it’s not lookin’ good. Over the years, I’ve realllly tried to like this band. They just feel like one of those bands that, as a metal fan, I’m ’supposed’ to like. (Kinda like Mastodon, but that’s a different rant for a different day.) So yeah, I’ve tried. I’ve listened to everything they’ve done..and even bought a few of their cds ..but it’s never clicked. One of the reasons for this is that I’ve always though the production on the cds sounded horrible. It always sounds kinda tinny and muted and very underwhelming. There’s no fullness, none of that huge metal sound that can knock me on my ass..and the drums have ALWAYS sounded like total shit. It’s like an entire catalogue full of St. Anger drum sounds – and that’s the kind of thing that sticks out and really gets on my nerves aaand I have half a mind to dismiss them solely for that reason. But, I’m a pro, so I will not. The other complaint I have with this band is the vocals. Randy Blythe and his annoying-as-balls ooOOOOHHHAAAAAAAAA not quite as retarded as Distrubed’s monkey nosies but pretty effing close noises he makes in every stupid song just bother me. Ok, so it’s been established I don’t like the singer or the way the music sounds. That means I hate this cd, right? Well, kinda. In fairness, if it sounded better and the singer wasn’t such a douche, this would actually rock a little bit. It’s not a bad record per se, it’s just not a record I’ll give much, if any, more time to.
To Speak Of Wolves – ‘Following Voices EP’
Tragic Hero Records
Released Jan 13, 2009
First up today we have TSOW, a relatively new metal band from up in Carolina country who sound like they belong over on Solid State Records and heck, probably will end up over there eventually. For a first EP, these guys are bringing an impressively tight sound to the table, and as a picky music dude, that’s something I enjoy hearing. Upon first listen, the music immediately brought to mind the likes of Underoath or Oh Sleeper, as there are definite comparisons that could be made with both groups. Obviously, that is not necessarily a bad thing, and don’t get me wrong, I enjoy this record a good bit..I just feel like these guys would be much better served taking a few more chances with their music. They have a really solid foundation on which to build and they could be major players in the scene if they play their cards right and break away from the pack a little bit. For me, metal is a genre that gets dull pretty quickly and I don’t tend to enjoy much of the newer stuff I hear. I’m so sick of that death-core nonsense that’s been all the rage lately and I really don’t understand why so many bands insist on using that stupid tuned down guitar tone that I’ve heard in SO many records over the past couple years. The point is, I enjoy when I hear a new band that’s playing the kind of metal I enjoy listening to, and TSOW does that. I think there’s a bunch of potential there just waiting to be tapped into, and I kinda hope they choose to tap into it. After all, it’s all about what I like and I want. Or it should be at least. Anyhoo, I’ll be looking forward to the full length that I can only assume will arrive sometime this year, but in the meantime, this EP is totally worth checking out.
Bruce Springsteen – ‘Working On A Dream’
Columbia Records
Released Jan 27, 2009
I looove old Springsteen stuff. Nebraska, Born To Run, The River, and Born In The USA are all classicly awesome records. The Boss has a way of weaving a song together that is greatly unmatched by most of his contemporaries, and his legendary status in music is well-deserved. That said, I haven’t cared much about his more recent stuff. I’m sure they were pretty good records, but I never really gave them all that much of a chance outside of the singles, and I’m okay with that. Buuut that all changed when I heard the Wrestler song that I’ve gone on about here on BEP once already. It’s an incredible song that instantly rekindled my interest in the boss and in hearing this new record. Darn good thing too, because I’ve found myself enjoying it. Is it his best work? Nah, but it was good enough to pleasantly surprise me the first time I listened all the way through it and make me stick around for subsequent listens. I don’t think there’s a song on this record that I strongly dislike(although Queen Of The Supermarket is kinda goofy), and it’s cool that Brucey ventures into some musical territories on this disc that he hasn’t explored in the past. There’s a lot less E-Street rockin’ out and a lot more strings and harmonies than long time fans may be used to (and by reading some of the Amazon reviews, they aren’t all taking kindly to it), but to me, it works. It’s a quality record with some wonderful songs, and one that will surely stick around for a while in my rotation. Good stuff, Boss.
Thursday – ‘Common Existence’
Epitaph Records
Released Feb 17, 2009
Over the years, Thursday has become one of the bands that can really do no wrong in my opinion. They’ve shown the incredible ability to evolve with each passing record while continuing to keep the signature ‘Thursday’ sound as the foundation for their work.
Their last record, ‘A City By The Light Divided’, was nothing short of amazing and totally didn’t get the respect it deserved both from fans and the critics of the world, but oh well. ‘Sugar In The Sacrament’? Come ON! That shit was awesome. Sigh. So anyway Thursday is back with a new label and a new record, the nun-clad ‘Common Existence’, but this album miiight be a little different than what you were expecting. It was for me at least. Part of me was hoping that they would dive even deeper into the atmospherics and exploit the post-rock influence that had started to develop both on ACBTLD and the split-ep they released back in the fall, because they did such a solid job with it. What the band has given us though, while still full of atmosphere and spacey guitars and ambience, is their most aggresive album since ‘Full Collapse’. I was taken aback at first, and I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t care much for the lead single, ‘Resuscitation of a Dead Man’, all that much the first time I heard it. Producer Dave Fridmann’s work didn’t seem to mesh as well with a heavier Thursday, and my ears were unsure what to make of the song. The same opinions held true for the first few listens of this whole cd. Buuut as I listened more, I started thinking ‘Ya know what? This cd kinda kicks a lot of ass’. And it does. Thursday has gone full circle and headed back to their rockier roots and in doing so have created some of the best tunes of their super impressive career. Geoff’s lyrics, always a highlight (I personally think he’s one of the best lyricists out there), continue to shine and drip with urgent emotion..and the music creates sort of a multi-layer wall of sound behind him and it’s just so darn good.
I’d give you some song highlights, but it’s a bit tough to narrow it down. The acoustic ‘Time’s Arrow’ is great little song, ‘Last Call’ is fantastic, and it’s bridge harkens back to ‘Jet Black New Year’, and ‘You Were The Cancer’ is one of the most awesome songs the band has written and it keeps the streak of wonderful album-closing songs the band has going alive and kicking.
All in all, this is a really good record. It may not feel as graceful as ACBTLD or as raw as Full Collapse or as catchy as War All The Time but give it a shot and I have a feeling you’ll wind up enjoying what you hear..unless your name is fool of gold. haha. Great band, great cd. It gets the BEP stamp of approval.
Destroy Destroy Destroy – ‘Battle Sluts’
Metal Blade
Released Jan 6, 2009
There’s no denying a few key points when it comes to this band. Their name is cool and their album title is epicly awesome. With stuff like this, you’re never sure what you’re gonna get as far as the music goes. The line between rad and suck is a fine one in metal, but I’m happy to report D3 stands tall on the rad side. Sounding like a cross between the viking metal of bands like Amon Amarth, the Gothenburg bands like The Haunted, and even black metal stuff like Dimmu Borgir (what with the keyboards and such), ‘Battle Sluts’ is a pleasant surprise and really, really rocks. I’m patting myself on the back right now for checking it out.
Franz Ferdinand – ‘Tonight: Franz Ferdinand’
Sony Records
Released Jan 27, 2009
Just when you started worrying about FF getting stale (and after their last cd, that’s a very valid worry), the dudes go and actually throw some variants into their sound here on ‘Tonight..’. On the surface, that’s a good thing I guess, but for some reason I don’t feel like this record has the catchiness that has been such a key for me in my liking of this band in the past. As our own Bazmazh put it, there doesn’s seem to be any ‘dammit that stupid Franz song is stuck in my head’ type songs. The catchiest tune I’ve found on here is one called ‘No You Girls’ but it just seems to steal the hook from their super-smash ‘Take Me Out’ sooo that’s kinda weak. Not a horrible cd, but despite the band’s apparent attempts to ’stay relavent’, I’m afraid I have to diagnose this cd as having a bad case of the borings. 
Telefon Tel Aviv – ‘Immolate Yourself’
Bpitch Control
Released Feb 3, 2009
I’ll just come out and say it, I really like this record. A bunch. It’s a bit of a change for TTA, as it trends towards an electro-poppier, i guess dancier sound..but as a whole it just kinda reminds me of what I’d imagine a mash up of say..Lights Out Asia without the post rock and M83 if they headed further down the 80’s path they started with the last record. Even if that description means nothing to you, know that this is a solid cd in my highly valued opinion. It’s electronic and interesting and would be my number 1 of 2k9 if the year ended today. For what that’s worth. Ha.
Other new stuff on my ipod includes…
Lisa Hannigan – ‘Sea Sew’
ATO Records
Released Feb 3, 2009
The lady you may know from guesting on all those Damien Rice tunes is back, this time with her own record that’s finally getting a release here in the States next month. It’s pretty good.
Architects – ‘Hollow Crown’
Century Media
Released Feb 10, 2009
Architects are a metal slash hardcore whatever band from overseas whose last record, ‘Nightmares’, was nothing new, but actually pretty good. This one follows the same path and is equally enjoyable.
Vetiver – ‘Tight Knit’
Sub Pop
Released Feb 17, 2009
I’ve never been a big Vetiver fan, but I did kinda like their last record. This one has some good stuff too, but strays farther from the folkiness than I’d like, It could be a grower though, we’ll see.
In Fear And Faith – ‘Your World On Fire’
Rise Records
Released Jan 6, 2009
Hey, ya know those bands that do singing and screaming and breakdowns and are fairly generic about it? Here’s another one! And they’re on Rise..shocking! In all seriousness, the cd really isn’t all that bad I guess, but aside from their Gangsta’s Paradise cover, I just don’t see it being very memorable for me.
Morrissey – ‘Years Of Refusal’
Lost Highway Records
Released Feb 17, 2009
As a casual observer to the post-Smiths career of the one and only Morrissey, I can admit that I don’t have any real attachments to his music. I’ve listened to and enjoyed a few of his records and might even own one or two, but in general, I’m indifferent towards him. That said, I do like this new cd of his upon first listen. It has all the elements you’d expect from a Moz record and is anchored by his lyrical talents and obviously, his iconic voice . It probably won’t last long, but for now I dig it. Oh, and no I have no idea what’s up with the album cover.
Tim Hecker – ‘An Imaginary Country’
Kranky Records
Released Feb 23, 2009
Tim Hecker is artist who creates some of the best ambient stuff you’re gonna find out there. His last record, ‘Harmony In Ultraviolet’, was sparse but quite solid but upon initial listens I’d say this is better. It’s got a warmer outlook to it and doesn’t make me feel like I’m just floating aimlessly through outerspace. This one looks to be the pick of the very very very first litter in 2009.
Anberlin – ‘New Surrender’
Universal/Republic
Released September 30, 2008
Last year’s Anberlin offering, ‘Cities’, was a surprise standout hit for me last year. Fueled by rad songs like ‘Godspeed’, ‘Dismantle.Repair’, and the awesome ‘*fin’, it firmly cemented the band as my favorite in their little emopoprock genre dealie. Plus, it did pretty well and earned them a major label deal, so, good for them. So back to the matter at hand, ‘New Surrender’ is the big boy debut, and I’ma thinkin they’ve done right by themselves once again. Building firmly on the foundation they’ve laid for themselves, Anberlin have once again delivered a catchy-ass hook laden record with some stellar songs (although the decision to rerecord an old song (The Feel Good Drag) and release it as this record’s first single is kinda ehhh..but it’s a great song so who really cares). There’s a woman walking outside my window with a fanny pack that matches her whole little spandex outfit. It should also be noted she is one of those folks whose body type does not go well with spandex. Jiggle jiggle. Unlike Stephen Christain, Anberlin frontman, whose voice fits perfectly with the music! MAN i really reeled that one back in like a champ. Seriously, dude is one of my favorite frontmen these days and I dig how his lyrics delve a bit deeper than most of his counterparts. And those choruses! OMG the choruses! Sometimes when a band releases a great cd and then the next year comes back with another one, it can raise a red flag..cause sommmmmmmetimes it just means they’re trying to capitalize on success by releasing bsides or drivel from the vault, but I assure you this stuff is top notch. Gah this is long and doesn’t really say anything, sorry about that. I like this a bunch.
4.6/5
Family Force 5 – ‘Dance Or Die’
Tooth & Nail Records
Released August 19, 2008
So um a few years back I was sucked into the hype of these guys thanks to my friends up in Nashville who insisted on CONSTANTLY listening to their ‘Business Up Front, Party In The Back’ disc when I was up there visiting. It was a bit of a blast from the past with all it’s rap-rock..or ‘crunk’ rock as I believe they called it. It was fun music, not an all the time thing, but they had their place in my listening lineup from time to time. Now ATL’s own FF5 is back with a new record, and really a whole new sound. They’ve pretty much gone full speed ahead towards the dancey music side of things, with tunes like ‘Fever’, ‘Wake The Dead’, and ‘Dance or Die’ sounding more like a band kinda trying to ride the jock of bands like The Faint, et al. Don’t get me wrong, the music isn’t bad..and I really like those songs I just mentioned, it’s just not as good as I hoped it would be. They’ve got all kindsa vocal effects going on and the guitars are distorted beyond recognition and quite honestly it’s just not as fun. I’ll give them props for branching out, but at the same time I think maybe they should have switched the sound up a bit on the cd. Most of the songs run together a bit..or maybe they don’t and that’s just how I feel about all music like that. Either way. I feel like it’s definately a step back from the cool funness of ‘Business’, and while half the songs are quite enjoyable, there are far too many that I just wanna skip halfway through. BUT I just got it today, so my early impressions may not be my ultimate impressions. Time will tell.
2.9/5
Hotel Lights – ‘Firecracker People’
Bar None Records
Released August 19, 2008
What do you get when you mix Ryan Adams, Ben Folds, Nada Surf, and the classic folk artist of your choice together? Well, a lot of artists I guess, but the one I’m talking about here is Hotel Lights. Coincidentally, Hotel Lights is the solo project of former Ben Folds Five drummer Darren Jessee so I suppose that explains that. This was a random download for me, I had no prior knowledge of this guy or his music, and I chose to give it a shot almost based solely on the album cover..I’m such a sucker for black and white trees. Luckily though, everything worked out pretty well as I’ve found myself enjoying this album a pretty decent amount. It always sucks when you download something and then feel like you’re being punished when you listen to the record you just downloaded. Crappy music brings the suck. I’m rambling. If you’re a fan of americana or alt country or you like your indie rock with a bit of a twang you’ll probably find something you like on this cd..and might I add that the song ‘Blue Always Finds Me’ is pretty solid..so maybe check that one out.
3.5/5
————————————————
The Stills – ‘Oceans Will Rise’
Arts & Crafts
Released August 19, 2008
I’ve enjoyed this band for quite some time..and before we go any further, if you’ve never heard their debut ‘Logic Will Break Your Heart’ record, get to it, because it was hellafied goodness, ya heard? A handful of years and one pretty eh cd (’Without Feathers’) later, The Stills return in the ‘08 with ‘Oceans Will Rise’, and despite what you might be thinking, it’s not about the perils of global warming on planet earth. I don’t think anyway. Instead, it’s a return to Stillyness for the band, and and if almost every review I’ve seen for this record is to be believed, it’s safe to say that most people will agree that they sould like a band of renewed spirits trying to prove themselves once again..and have done quite a job of it. This is as solid an indie rock cd as you’ll find out there, and if radio or vh1 manages to pick up their single ‘Being Here’ (maybe they have already, I don’t pay attention) then this band might finally get recognized a little bit for being as good as they are.
4.3/5
Inhale/Exhale – ‘I Swear…’
Solid State Records
Released June 10, 2008
Am I supposed to understand what that artwork means? Does it say something I’m just too dumb to notice? Is it some kind of tribute to 80’s new wave? I DON’T UNDERSTAND!! AHH! Alrighty so I have the first record by this band, but I only bought it because I needed a third Solid State cd to qualify for a Best Buy online offer at the time and I ended up not really caring much about it at all. As I’ve talked about SO many times, it was just another metal/scene band doing the same old thing I’ve heard done better a million times over. My buddy fool of gold insists it’s metal as balls, but I just don’t hear it. So fast foward to present day and their new cd, ‘I Swear…’ (by the moon and the stars in the skyyyy, i’ll be there) and I was really expecting more of the same. And I was right..sort of. Obviously it’s still nothing original, but oddly enough, it’s a lot more rocking and interesting to my ears. It sounds as if they’re trying to actually evolve a little bit, albeit into some kind of August Burns Red (without the breakdowns)/36 Crazyfists/Cave In/20 other band monster, but evolution is evolution I suppose. I even hear traces of bands from days gone by, i.e. Korn and Papa Roach, in there too. Awesome. In all honesty, this is a much more enjoyable listen than I expected it to be, and anytime my low expectations can be exceeded, I feel that it’s a positive thing for both the band and myself. If you’re into ABR or 36CF or anything on Solid State , this is tailor made for you. Chances are I’ll be keeping it on my ipod, and that’s a bit more than I can say for a few of the cds I’m about to school you on.
Bear Approval Rating: 3.4/5
(i need little bear pictures to use for this from now on..someone get on that)
Alestorm – ‘Captain Morgan’s Revenge’
Napalm/SPV
Released Jan 29, 2008
Oh my, oh my, oh my. Imagine my excitement when I came across this gem this past weekend. Four Scottish dudes who have taken the idea of power metal concept stuff past the usual Viking nonsense of a slew of Euro bands and into the uncharted waters of…PIRATE METAL! As you might expect, the songs are all about sailing the seven seas, drinking mead and ale, walking the plank, finding treasure, hooking up with wenches, and all the other cool shit pirates get to do. The dude even sing in an ‘ARRR’ kinda pirate voice and they have all these other pirate instruments happening too. It’s really something special to behold. Granted, once the novelty wares off, the cd is really pretty crappy. But whatever..PIRATES!!
2/5
Misery Signals – ‘Controller’
Ferret Music
Released July 22, 2008
There’s something kinda cool about that artwork. But yea, so Misery Signals. There’s an ad for this cd that says: “For fans of Thrice, Killswitch Engage, Meshuggah, and Tool”. Um ok, whatever you say Ferret. This band is a tough nut for me to crack, I can’t really decide if I enjoy them or I hate them. It’s been that way since their first record for me, and I guess that’s a good thing..at least I don’t have total disgust for them, right? To me, this doesn’t really sound any different from their other stuff, but I’m just a casual observer and a hardcore Miserite might tell you differently. I kinda like the music, they go in some interesting directions with it, but it’s hard to digest it with the vocals being what they are. And what they are is deeply screamed and heavily processed practically the entire time..so that takes some getting used to..but it does help them stand out a little bit. The record has it’s moments where it’s pretty damn heavy though and it has a few neat little breakdowns so that’s always a good way to win me over a little bit. I’ve liked ‘Controller’ a smidge more with each attempt i’ve made to listen, which is good for the band, because I was initially planning on trashing this record. If you’re into Tool, Thrice, Meshuggah, or KSE, give it a listen.
2.5/5
The Famine – ‘The Raven and The Reaping’
Solid State
Released May 27, 2008
This band is made up of a bunch of dudes that were in a band I never really cared for when they played metal called Embodyment and they sorta sound like Living Sacrifice, who I also never really care much about. But yet there’s also a hint of Dimebaggy Pantera riffing going on, and that’s something I can support. But I don’t like this cd. My biggest musical turn-off is a shitty production job, and that’s kinda all I hear when I listen to this cd. Turn down the treble, douches..and dirty things up a bit. It sounds too clean. Not like a good Adam D. production job clean either, it’s like using a brillo pad on a stainless steel pot clean. I’m also annoyed that there aren’t really ANY tempo changes to speak of. Every song is kinda the same thing for 3-5 minutes, and that gets so incredibly old so incredibly fast. Don’t waste your time.
1/5
Knights Of The Abyss – ‘Shade’
Ferret Records
Released June 24, 2008
They sound like any combination of bands like Black Dahlia Murder, Agony Scene, As Blood Runs Black, etcetcetcetcetc. It’s that fast metal with the mid-range screamy vocals that’s fairly typical of bands in this genre. I’ve only listened a few times, but there’s not all that much memorable here. Next!!
1.5/5
I Wrestled A Bear Once – s/t
2007/2008?
Yea I don’t really know anything about this band, aside from their badass tshirt design above and their awesome name and the fact that I downloaded their last cd the other day. I think they even have a girl singer. At least she does some singing on the mellower parts, I dunno if shes the screamer. BUT IT’S ALWAYS GREAT WHEN SHE IS, AMIRITE?? This is fuckin’ metal as balls and pretty awesome too. It’s grindcore to the extreme, with rad programming and those cute little jazzy interludes that all these bands are all about. Go listen to them on myspace, and try not to soil your undies.
Coldplay – ‘Viva La Vida or Death & All His Friends’
Released June 16, 2008
Capitol/EMI Records
It’s Friday night and I’m terribly bored, so what else is there to do but post a few thoughts about a cd on a ridiculously popular blog site? Nothin, that’s what. Alright, so on to the show. I think I might be one of the few who really though that X&Y was a super solid record for Coldplay and even amongst less company in saying it’s my favorite of the band’s cds. Nothing against Parachutes or Rush Of Blood, it’s just my personal preference. I liked the direction they seemed to be slightly deviating towards on that record, and found it a nice change from the straight up piano balladry the band usually makes use of. So it’s been a few years now and the band is back with this, the oddly titled Viva La Vida (or death and all his friends), complete with it’s Revolutionary artwork, and the promise of quite a shift in audible output. Singer Chris Martin had commented that this cd wouldn’t be such a ‘piano record’ and the fact that this was to be produced by music legend Brian Eno (if you have to ask, look him up kids) cemented the idea that a change was in the works. But would it be a change for the better? That’s what I was determined to find out when I downloaded this bad boy a few days ago. My expectations were admittedly low for this disc, I hadn’t liked lead single ‘Violet Hill’ the first few times i heard it and I just wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got though when I started listening to this cd was music that kinda blew me away a little bit. Coldplay REALLY steps their game up to the next level here guys, they’ve made what amounts to a rather beautiful record with soundscapes so lush only Brian Eno could have been behind them while keeping all their pop sensibilities in tact so as not to push too many people away. They’ve really managed to create a record that might just hush their critics, win over the music snobs, and please the soccer (football?) moms all in one fell swoop..and that ain’t easy folks. Songs like ‘42? (with it’s slight Radiohead similarities) and ‘Yes’ are great songs that show a matured band..while tunes like ‘Reign Of Love’ and ‘The Escapist’ really appeal to my quiet side and might just be two of my favorite songs of the year so far. Heck, even the once disliked ‘Violet Hill’ is a favorite of mine now. Something about that song feels important, do ya know what I mean? Anyway, I’ve only listened to the record 4 or 5 times now I guess, so as usual, all my opinions are subject to change..but as far as right now goes, I don’t think it would be out of the realm of possibilities for this to be a top 10 record this year for me if all goes according to plan. So that’s cool. Viva La Vida… should go ao long way in solidifying Coldplay’s spot in music today, and might even do for them what the Eno-produced Joshua Tree did for another little band called U2..which is propel them into music industry lifers; or who knows, maybe even legends.
Year End List Potential: 4.8/5
November 5, 1955 – ‘Bears Of The Sea’
Released Feb 19, 2008
Ironclad/Metal Blade
Besides having a ridiculously favorable album title for this blog, this record all packs a ton of awesomeness as well. Our buddy Fool Of Gold brought these guys to my attention a little while back and I’ve only recent gotten around to checking them out. Boy I’m glad I did. These guys bring to mind Circle Takes The Square, Glassjaw, ATDI, maybe a little Dillinger Escape Plan, with a few other flavors added to the pot for good measure. Musically creative & interesting and seemingly pretty solid lyrically, this cd might be the best metal cd I’ve heard all year and so far probably has the best chance of staying in my heavy music rotation as the year goes on.
Year End List Potential: 4.4/5
Scarlett Johansson – ‘Anywhere I Lay My Head’
Released May 20, 2008
Atco Records
Great, a hot actress trying to prove her musical worth by recording an album of Tom Waits songs. How about we just forget this thing ever happened? Where are the Men In Black with their little memory eraser thing when you need them. This record has three things going for it: the musical arrangements of the songs are lovely, David Bowie sings back up on a few tracks (WTF??), and they’re Tom Waits songs. Notice that none of those things have anything to do with Ms. Johannson. She comes across as bored (and quite possibly a man) vocally and just doesn’t do any justice to the songs she’s singing. Sorry Scarlett, you’re hot, but this shit pretty much sucks.
Year End List Potential: 1.3/5
Seach The City – ‘A Fire So Big The Heavens Can See It’
Released April 1, 2008
Tooth & Nail
Much like their counterparts at Solid State, Tooth & Nail has a certain sound that ALL their bands more or less have..and that’s cool I guess..at least you generally know what to expect when you listen to something and it makes putting tours together super simple. Search The City falls into that same category, as they fit the emo/pop whatever category the label specializes in. As a matter of fact, there are a few a zillion times on this record where you’d SWEAR you were listening to some new slightly dumbed down Anberlin release..they’re ridin’ that jock like whoa. Don’t get me wrong, I guess the songs are enjoyable and fun for what they are; there’s a pretty consistent up-tempo thing going on throughout the record and it makes for a catchy record and a surprisingly decent listen, but I don’t feel like there’s anything there that I’ll remember in a month or two. There is probably some potential here, but they’re gonna havta work a lot harder at writing songs to tap into it. It’s hard to stand out when you sound like a carbon-copy of a million other bands. And shame on T&N for signing an Anberlin clone so soon after losing the real thing to a major label. Lame-o.
Year End List Potential: 2.3/5
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.
Thrice – ‘The Alchemy Index Vols 3&4: Air & Earth’
Vagrant Records
Released April 15, 2008
Oh my gosh. I loved the fire/water volumes of this little series that came out last year (especially the water cd, that one was tremendous), they really forged into some new territory as a band. If Thrice were a baseball player, they’d probably be a really really good utility guy, someone who could come in at any point in the game and play any position he was asked to and kick ass at it because he’s just that good. Come to think of it, I played a shit-ton of positions when I played the game, and I’m a 2 time all star, so I can easily liken this band to, well, me. Anywayzers, as good as those were though, these two cds are the ones that really take the cake and propel this band into the ever-elusive brandon wowzone. Thrice brings their a-game here, with a bunch of great acoustic & piano driven tunes that are as well written as they are easy on the ears. Dustin Kensrue is a swell little lyricist don’tcha know? Flat out, this stuff is the bomb. Songs like ‘Come All You Weary’, ‘Moving Mountains’, ‘The Lion and The Wolf’, ‘A Song For Milly Michaelson’, ‘Broken Lungs’..and well, you get the idea..are all fantastic. The only song I don’t really dig is ‘The Earth Isn’t Humming’ because it reminds me of that shitty Days Of The New band I was into like 10 years ago. Great, great record though. Check it out if you’re a smart person who likes good things.
Year End List Potential: 5/5
Wolftron – ‘Flesh & Fears’
Eyeball Records
Released May 6, 2008
Not to toot my own horn here, but I’ve gotta tell ya, I’m giving you some really, really solid stuff here with these first 2 cds today. First, a 5/5 review for new Thrice, now this. Wolftron is the solo project of the frontman for a band called Daphe Loves Derby, a band I’d never really listened to before I checked out this cd. Have no fear though all you DLD fans, because I did my reverse research and I was impressed with most of what I heard. So back to Wolftron, aside from having a really awesome (read: kinda lame) name, they’ve got some really nice music. Think of stuff a little bit in the vein of bands like Umbrellas, maybe some Codeseven (RIP) maybe some Copeland, maybe some Owen..you get the idea. It’s nice, lazy, peaceful, light, indie/emo-twinged music set to acoustic guitars with a singer who sports a great little voice. With the summer months coming up, IIII think this record may be a really cool addition to your collection if you choose to go that route. It’s great window down, sun setting music if you ask me. And ya kinda did since you’re reading this. SOOOO. I had never heard of this band before i downloaded it and I have to be honest, I was blown away. It’s not often I recommend a band to my friends a few songs into listening to a record, but with this one, I did. Amazing stuff. And wouldn’t ya know it, they’re about to get my third 5/5 rating in the history of this blog! YAY!! Pleeease give them a listen, I doubt you’ll find a reason to be disappointed.
Year End List Potential: 5/5
Peter Broderick – ‘Float’
Type Records
Released sometime in April 2008
If you’re like me, you can look at the cover of this cd and make some educated guesses about what the music contained inside sounds like. Let’s check out the clues here, shall we? Okay! So it’s just one dude, that’s pretty obvious. But what’s the musical style? There are a lot of shades of gray in the cover, so that gives me the impression that it’s gonna be kinda downer, mellow, stuff..I don’t get a singer/songwriter vibe from it though, so what could it be? Electronic? yeah maybe something ambient would work, but I dunno, I have something else in mind. I would personally peg this cd to be a really quiet sorta classical cd, maybe along the lines of a Max Richter or Johan Johannson or Arvo Part or something..and guess what? I would peg this correctly. Go me! Broderick is a 21 year old kid who makes or composes or whatever these really chill strings/piano arrangements with some guitars and stuff added in there too. This is some real movie score sounding stuff right here..it feels deep and believable and important. It’s beautiful background music for those times when you just want something peaceful to take a nap to. I sorta have the feeling this may be one of those cds that ends up in regular rotation in some of my ipod playlists and I’ll start to REALLY love it, but for now, I still think it’s wonderful.
Year End List Potential: 4.7/5
Various Artists – ‘Monsters of Rock:Platinum Edition’
Razor & Tie
Released July 24, 2007
Oh fuck yeah. I was on a hair metal kick last week and downloaded this bad boy. What a freakin gem this is. From Skid Row to Europe to Poison to Ratt to Warrant to Winger to Alice Cooper to The Scorpions..good God almighty does this thing bring the awesome. Sometimes a guy just wants to tease his hair and rock out with his cock out, and this cd would be a pretty good thing to listen to while doing so. I kinda wish this kinda rock would come back into style. Sighhhh. Ah well, at least they continuously release stuff like this to ease my cravings. And I’ve gotta say, I really wouldn’t mind that she’s only 17. I mean, if she’s hot enough and ready to go..why not?
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 godzilla stomping around a little japanese town. 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
Nels Andrews – ‘Off Track Betting’
Reveal Records
Released Feb 26, 2008
Forgive me for not knowing much about this one, but I literally just downloaded it 10 minutes ago..wait..should I use the d word? Will the RIAA come after me? Ah well. Anyway, here’s what little I’ve been able to gather about this guy. He’s from the US of A, he quit college to hitchhike to Alaska and work in the fisheries and then went to South Dakota to plant trees in the Black Hills. He then moved to New Mexico, apprenticed as a woodworker and started writing songs. Hippie. It’s these songs that have garnered him a bunch of critical acclaim from the US, UK, and apparently Dutch folk/songwriting communities. So, cool. The reason I chose to write about this so quickly is that well, it seems REALLY good. It’s got that whole folk/americana/singer-songwriter vibe happening with great songwriting and all the pianos and harps and banjos and steel guitars you could hope for. There’s an obvious Ryan Adams comparison here, with maybe the slightest twinge of a not-as-gruff Ray LaMontagne or a Tom Waits who hasn’t swallowed sandpaper. Plus, it was recorded in Brooklyn, so that makes it a good 5x hipper. I’ve gotta tell ya, I’m really loving this record so far. No no, I mean..I’m REALLLLLY loving this record right now. So much so that it’s about to get the very FIRST 5/5 rating in the history of this website. Yay Nels!
Year End List Potential: 5/5
July Skies – The Weather ClockMake Mine Music
Released Feb 26, 2008
Mychildren Mybride – ‘Unbreakable’Solid State Records
Released Feb 26, 2008
It’s been a minute, so I’ve got a handful of new music to bring your way today. So much so that I might have to post again tomorrow or Wednesday to get to it all. Let’s begin, shall we?
Advent – ‘Remove The Earth’
Solid State/Tooth & Nail
Released Feb. 12, 2008
First up today we have yet another release from those cats at Solid State and Tooth & Nail. They’ve really been cranking out the cds early this year, kinda interesting strategy as they’re really the only things consistantly coming out..it sorta seems like they’re flooding the market and not giving people time to digest this new stuff. Ah well, I’m not paid to make their marketing decisions for them. Anyway. Advent is your typical metal/hxc band from North Carolina I believe, and from the what I’ve read, contains various members of the band Beloved. This band really bares no resemblance to that Beloved though, as there’s not really any worthwhile melody or clean vocals or goodness in general. I find this to be dreadfully boring and repetitive, I think that’s probably because the singer does nothing for me at all. Plus I totally love to hate on gang vocals. The only song I found interesting from this disc is a tune called ‘Three Seasons’, and that’s really only because a violin randomly shows up in a mellow part mid-song. Check this out if you like boring music.
Year End List Potential: 1/5
City And Colour – ‘Bring Me Your Love’
Vagrant Records
Released Feb 12, 2008
Hooray! Good music! Anyone that knows me knows that I am an absolute sucker for acoustic music; good acoustic music more specifically. City And Colour is just that. It’s the side/solo project of Alexisonfire singer Dallas Green, and this is his 2nd record (it’s the follow up to 2005’s ‘Sometimes’) and I think it’s just lovely. This album sounds a little more expansive, a little more confident, a little more comfortable, and the production values have been stepped up a bit. This is pretty easily comparable to say, Dustin Kensrue’s cd last year which was a breakout hit, and I can see this gaining some momentum as well once people start to take notice. There’s a lot more folk inspiration this time around (as last time there was much more of a ‘just a guy hangin out playin his guitar’ factor), and I can dig that. The songs are well written and I haven’t found myself getting tired of anything yet, soooo, cool. If you’re in the mood for some chill acoustic folk stuff, give this a try. I think you’ll like it.
Year End List Potential: 4.6/5
This Is Hell – ‘Misfortunes’Trustkill Records
Released Feb 19, 2008
Year End List Potential: 0/5
and just to switch things up…
This girl’s name is Priscilla Ahn. She does the whole singer-songwriter/acoustic thing as you might be able to tell from the picture, and she does it quite well. I’ve been a big fan of her music for a while now, and as it turns out she has her debut album coming out pretty soon via Blue Note Records, so I’m super excited about that. That’s not really the point of this little blurb though.
The point is that she has this song called ‘Dream’ on her EP that I’ve loved for a long, long time but for some reason I’ve not been able to stop listening to it the past few days. It’s such a cute, beautiful little song and I just can’t help but feel all warm inside every time I hear it. I can’t put a finger on specifics, but there’s just some quality in her wonderful voice that brings a smile out of me. I really feel that this is about as perfect as a song can get. High praise, I know, but I think it deserves it. Check it out on her myspace, maybe you’ll like it as much as I do.
After a week off where NOTHING new came out or leaked that was worth talking about, I return with a few new things. Boy I can’t wait for the cd release season to begin.
StoneRider – ‘Three Legs Of Trouble’
Trustkill Records
Released Jan 29, 2008
I figured I would start this week out with the most noteworthy, to me at least, thing that’s come out in the past few weeks. Risen from the ashes of Fight Paris comes StoneRider, a band that shares the same members as the aforementioned FP (minus ex-singer Kevin Phillips), and maybe a bit of the swagger as well, but that’s really where the comparisons should end. The FP record, in my opinion, was pretty good for what it was, but let’s face it, it was niche music. It was music made for and directed at the Hot Topic generation with lyrics that would make even the saltiest of sailors blush. But things done changed. StoneRider has taken the legendary sound of southern rock ‘n roll they flirted with back in the day and totally made it their own. The hooks are bigger, the riffs are dirtier, and the music just feels much more energetic and passionate to me. This is a ridiculously fun record that’s meant to be played on every jukebox in every gritty bar where the PBR is flowing like water. Basically, ‘Three Legs Of Trouble’ is one of the most toe-tappin, catchiest records I’ve heard in a while and if songs like ‘Wild Child’ and ‘Juiceman’ don’t propel this band to greatness, or at least into those jukeboxes, I don’t know what will.
Chris Walla – ‘Field Manual’
Jive Records
Released Jan 29, 2008
Let’s get right to it, shall we?
Once Nothing – ‘First Came The Law’
Solid State Records
Released Jan 15, 2008
Ah, good ol’ Solid State, you never really disappoint me. This label really only does one thing (…metalcore, dummy) and they tend to do it pretty well. The unfortunate thing is that as a genre, things have pretty much hit a brick wall. Nothing is original anymore, everything sounds like something else so as with a few of those cds last week, it’s just a matter of finding bands who do the same old thing better than their peers. If you’re down with the whole southern rock infused/breakdown metal thing, this cd is for you. It sounds like the Showdown lots of the time, it sounds like Norma Jean sometimes, it sounds like August Burns Red sometimes, it sounds like He Is Legend sometimes, it sounds like Every Time I Die sometimes, it sounds like As I Lay Dying sometimes..sooo that’s what you’re getting into here. Personally, I think it’s a good cd, there aren’t really any stupid singy parts (aside from an oddly placed and thusly questionable acoustic song in the middle of the cd), the guitar work is pretty cool and there are some really radtastic breakdowns. I’ve only had a few days to listen to this, but it’s become a cd I’ve actually made a point to go find on my ipod when I wanted metal, so take that for what you will. Cool cover art too. I think at least. SOO it’s definitely something I’d suggest checking out, obviously they don’t reinvent the wheel, but they do help add a little more air to the tires.
Does that line make any sense? Ha.
Jon Foreman – ‘Fall & Winter’
Credential Records
Released Jan 15, 2008
Hooray for acoustic singer/songwriter music! Here’s the deal, these are the first two themed EPs in a series of four that are released to coincide with each season of the year. The fall one was originally just released online, but when the dude released the winter cd this week in stores, he packaged the fall one with it sooo that’s that. You may not know who this Jon Foreman guy is, but I have a feeling you know of the band he sings for…Switchfoot! Ok so maybe that don’t impress you much (yes, I’m singing Shania now too) and it doesn’t really do much for me either because I only really like 2 or 3 of their songs, and those are the radio singles that I’m supposed to like. But here’s what’s up. This is a really great collection of songs. As I mentioned a minute ago, the songs are technically themed to go with the season they are supposed to represent and with him being the singer of Switchfoot, there’s the obvious religious influence on the lyrics, which I do tend to enjoy from time to time. That aside though, the songwriting is pretty darn impressive, and really everything else about this cd is as well. I don’t think you can go wrong with acoustic guitars and cellos (and when harmonicas and other strings are thrown in the mix too, pfft fuhgetaboutit). I’ve listened to this cd so many times in the past week, and it makes me happy. Can’t ask for more than that.
Year End List Potential: 4.5/5
The Mars Volta – ‘The Bedlam In Goliath’
Universal
Released Jan 29, 2008
I haven’t even listened to this stupid cd the whole way through yet, but I’ve listened enough to formulate an early opinion. That opinion is as follows:
What the fuck is this stupid shit? You pretentious bastards, I don’t care how long you can make your songs or how fast you can play your little guitar or how many cRaZy effects you can add to your vocals. There was a time when a new release from this band was exciting, because you knew it meant something pretty cool was coming. Those times though, I’m afraid, are long gone for me. Now it’s just ‘man do I even wanna bother listening to this? I know i’m just gonna get annoyed 3 songs in’. Annnnnnd surprise surprise, the trend continues. The cd is way more upbeat and more *funky* than anything I can recall this band doing, but that doesn’t really equal out to more interesting for me. Some of this stuff is so far out there and so far away from anything that resembles music you can actually LISTEN to..maybe I just don’t get it. Everything they do now seems like they just stuck a mic in the middle of a room they were jamming in and they just play and play and play and do whatever and then chop that up into smaller sections, add some vocals, and boom it’s done. They seem to try so hard to avoid structure and it’s gotten pretty obnoxious. There are a few songs I dig a little bit (the song ‘Goliath’ comes to mind), but in all it just kinda gives me a headache. If you don’t bother, you aren’t really missing out on much.
Year End List Potential: .7/5
Atlantic/Nonesuch
Released Dec 18, 2007
Alright, so this wasn’t released in 2008, so it somewhat defeats the purpose, but this is good and I wanted to share it. Obviously, this is the score to the movie film There Will Be Blood which, by all accounts, is apparently a really good movie..but what you may not be aware of is that the guitarist of Radiohead composed this stuff. And he does a damn fine job. Comprised mostly of strings and pianos, I can only assume the film is as dramatic as the music seems to be. Honestly, this cd really sounds a lot more important than it actually is..it sounds like something you’d hear on NPR when they were doing classical music blocks and the dj comes back on and talks in his best theater voice about how that was so and so’s third movement from his fifth symphony that was recorded in 1924 with the doobliedoo philharmonic orchestra. Check it out, it’s solid..brah.
WEEK ONE!!
Here I Come Falling – ‘Oh Grave, Where Is Thy Victory’ Rise Records Released Jan 8, 2008
First off, we’ve got Here I Come Falling, and before I say one word, I bet you know exactly what this band sounds like. Metal? Check. Breakdowns? Check. Christian? Check. Stupid singy times? Check. And to follow suit with bands like labelmates The Devil Wears Prada, random electronic noises? Check. I’ve heard this before, you’ve heard this before, but “for what it is”, it’s pretty decent I suppose. I don’t think it’s gonna be something I give half a shit about in a month or 2, but in a really slow time of the year for music, it’s good for a random listen or three. Add it to your ipod, and let it blend in with everything else on some rockin playlist and be done with it.
Year End List Potential: 1.8/5
For The Fallen Dreams – ‘Changes’
Also on Rise Records
Also Released Jan 8, 2008
Yeah this is even more generic and more boring. The vocals suck, I’ve heard the riffs 379 times before, the breakdowns that do show up sporadically suck, and gang vocals are stupid.
Don’t waste your time like I did with mine, this is awful.
Nada Surf – ‘Lucky’
Barsuk Records
Released Feb 5, 2008
Every single time I listen to these guys, I wonder how they’re the same band that released that ‘Popular’ song back in the day. Their past couple albums (’The Weight Is A Gift’ and ‘Let Go’) have been really good and this seems to be more of the same goodness. Lots of little indie pop songs about love that will keep you interested and your head bobbin to and fro. The band has spent a few records developing themselves into somewhat of an indie darling and I don’t see that changing much here. Sometimes it’s best when bands stick to what works (ie: Jimmy Eat World, Death Cab, etc etc) and Nada Surf is really no exception. This is a really nice little album with really nice little songs that I can totally see myself falling in love with as the year goes on.
