Album Reviews
12
Apr 10
Searching For Fun: Almost Alice & New Young Pony Club
Because ultimately that is what we all want out of music – some fun. Sure, I like a little dourness every now and then but not when the aim is to cut loose. With this in mind, I can not begin to explain how wide of the mark the faux-soundtrack Almost Alice actually is.
23
Dec 09
I and Love and You – The Avett Brothers
Throughout musical history, there has always been something distinctively special about brotherly acts, and The Avett Brothers from North Carolina have produced yet another excellent record in I and Love and You. Recorded in California and produced by Rick Rubin (Johnny Cash, The Dixie Chicks) the 13 track album is their major label debut through Sony Music.
10
Oct 09
Lyrics Born collaboration with The Bamboos
I love The Bamboos – awesome Aussie funk group – and heard about their collaboration with Lyrics Born from California on the radio the other night. Just had a chance to listen to it. Good track, soulful, works well … although I thought it was a little repetitive; could have been trimmed by at least 30 seconds or built up towards the end, though it’s saved by the two-stage breakdown at 1:50 and 2:45. Anyway, I still like it!
18
Sep 09
Thumbs up for Muse’s new album The Resistance
I’m a big fan of Muse. I have Showbiz, Origin of Symmetry, Hullabaloo Soundtrack, Absolution, Black Holes and Revelations, their live 2004 Absolution Tour DVD and now their latest 2009 release The Resistance.
It took me a while to come around to liking their previous 2006 album Black Holes and Revelations. My initial impression with BH&R was that the band had plateaued and were now just a bland, commercial pop-rock group focussed on selling quantity rather than sticking to their we-don’t-care-if-you-like-us experimental progressive, space-rock. After listening to BH&R about a dozen times I finally realised that they hadn’t sold out. They were starting to poke at something new, a new sound.
That new sound has three years later matured and become Muse’s latest album The Resistance.
8
Sep 09
Spineshank
It was the middle of a CrossFit workout when I really noticed some really great hard metal pouring out of the speakers. It was here I met Spineshank.
What am I really enjoying about them? It’s ferocious, but it’s dynamic. This is what really sets great metal bands apart.
Santos’ vocals really separate most dynamics on the surface, but it’s the grinding drum and base combo that polish everything off.
The guitars are a constant wall of pure aggression.
Call it nu-metal, call it industrial metal, even call it metalcore. It doesn’t matter – for those who truly appreciate dynamic and hungry metal, it’s a must.
I still can’t choose a favourite album between Self-Destructure Pattern, Strictly Diesel or The Height of Callousness.
10
Apr 09
Sine – Perfect Relaxation
It’s currently 2am, and I’ve just finished up a joint and chucked German band Sine on for a listen. I feel I’m in the right state of mind and it’s the perfect time to listen to such soothing music. When you listen to tunes like these, it’s best to know that you’re going to be doing nothing for a while. I can imagine lying around for hours listening to this. They create a gentle wall of sound that overwhelms and entices the body and mind. I’m happy to be reviewing something that can do that.
Due to the release of their new aptly named album, Chillbar, I’ve been asked to write it up. In short, I’d say it’s a warm combination of flamenco style guitars, keys and synths with the expected electronic production. I think that pretty much sums them up. I guess you know what you’re getting into when you see the word “Lounge” being used to describe the music. Fear not, however, as its ambient orchestration and instrumental lyrical-like hooks always keep you interested enough to keep following through the journey.
If we can blow our own trumpet for a second.
23
Nov 08
Nothing a month? Yeah, I think we can swing that: My 5 favourite free downloads of 2008
As I have stated once before: I am a material guy in a digital world. Buying a full album online still does not wash with me and no amount of exclusive bonus tracks or digital booklets can sway my opinion. I do however purchase a lot of new singles to the point that I need to set up some sort of tab arrangement with iTunes like Norm had with Sam Malone.
21
Nov 08
Scott Matthews can pass my stranger any day
Fuck me, this man is brilliant. Scott Matthews hails from Wolverhampton in England and burst onto the UK charts back in 2006 with his debut album, Passing Stranger. You might have heard the mournful single, Elusive, on Triple J and thought you were listening to some previously undiscovered Jeff Buckley. But Elusive is just the tip of the iceberg and barely begins to showcase Matthews’ talent.
Passing Stranger is a collection of beautifully crafted urban folk-rock gems. From crunchy blues riffs to sliding guitars to delicately picked melodies, Matthews has perfected his acoustic sound. Woven into his songs is an entire medley of unexpected instruments to keep you on your toes, including tablas and a French accordian – each track is a magical experiment. Continue reading →
13
Nov 08
Metallica: Lars Ulrich – “..to get it sound loud”
A colleague at worked passed this over – “Lars Ulrich Defends Sound Quality Of Metallica’s Death Magnetic“. Sure, everyone can have a whinge about the quality of an album’s sound – that’s not new – but what astounded me was the shear lack of audio knowledge that Ulrich has. It was this next line that got me:
“But I’ve been listening to it the last couple of days in my car, and it sounds … smokin’.”
19
Jul 10
I can’t help it if I’m happy. I can’t help it if I’m happy not to be sad.
Continue reading →