Hot Damn

So, we are now a third of the way through 2009; and what do I plan on posting today other than my favorite albums of 2008. This is the latest I have had the balls to post a previous year's list, but I spent a lot of time on this before 2008 ended. I just kept forgetting to post it here. So, here it is....


These are my favorite albums of 2008 and little notes I jotted down while I was listening to them. Sometimes the notes are one line and sometimes they’re a small paragraph, it all depended on how much I felt like writing at the time. It also may seem from my comments that one selection should be above another, but this is the correct order.


1.) Beach House – Devotion – I am in love with this album, It contains three of the better songs of the year….”Gila”, Holy Dances”, and “All the Years”. I don’t think I listened to any other album more times this year than I did this one.


2.) Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Dig! Lazarus Dig! – Phenomenal album, I Love this. Nick Cave has done it again!


3.) Portishead – Third – A great return to form. A few years ago I would have told you that I preferred Massive Attack over Portishead. Now I’m not so sure.


4.) Black Mountain – In the Future – There are so many great songs on this album; I will be listening to this one well into 2009.


5.) The Drift - Memory Drawings - Essentially an instrumental jazz album. This is so good.


6.) Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords - Try not to smile while listening to this, I dare you. They genre jump, yet doing it so well and with humor that how can I not recommend this?


7.) Grouper – Dragging a Dead Deer up a Hill – So simple and beautiful, I loved it.


8.) Younger Brother – The Last Days of Gravity – I listened to this album after Four Tet and this is the best electronic album of 2008.


9.) Nine Inch Nails – The Slip - It goes from really good faster jams to solid slower beat-fests.


10.) The Mars Volta – Bedlam in Goliath – This is a bunch of guys who are each great at their instrument getting stoned out of their skulls and ripping shit up. They fuse so many styles together it’s impossible to slap a genre label on them. I must say though, the Latin influence makes me think this is what would happen if you took my father’s music collection and mixed it with mine.


11.) Flying Lotus - Los Angeles - This album is awesome; the instrumental hip hop contained on this disc is killer.


12.) Four Tet – Ringer - Even though it clocks in at a little over 30 minutes, a short album especially by electronic standards; it’s probably one of, if not the best electronic album of 2008.


13.) Department of Eagles - In Ear Park - Great songs, Great melodies; what more do you expect from members of Grizzly Bear?


14.) Broken Social Scene presents Brendan Canning - Something For All of Us - This group of Canadian musicians always releases top-notch albums.


15.) Dead Meadow - Old Growth - Dead meadow is exactly the shot of fuzzed-out fell out of a time machine rock n’ roll that I need from time to time.


16.) The War on Drugs - Wagonwheel Blues - I really like this. It’s a solid rock album with a vocalist who dare I say reminds me of Bob Dylan at times. I think I remember reading they were supposed to tour with The Hold Steady, if they play live as well as their album is, than they would have blown The Hold Steady off the stage.


17.) Lykke Li - Youth Novels - Great pop album, like Lily Allen with a softer voice and a little more heart on her sleeve.


18.) Kanye West – 808’s and Heartbreak – I consider this to be a triumph. Different enough from his other releases to be considered a risk. Song for song this could be his best effort yet.


19.) Wild Beasts - Limbo, Panto - The singer sounds like an even gayer Morrissey. For that exact fact, I’m very surprised this album hasn’t received much more praise from critics. I initially wanted to stop listening to this after the fourth song and just listen to the whole thing again at another time, but it drew me back in. I’ll honestly probably listen to this many more times.


20.) Coldplay - Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends - This album is very good, and differs enough from previous Coldplay albums enough to stand out, it’s also great to sing along to.


21.) Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul - There might have been one song toward the middle that I didn’t really like, but that was it. This is the best Oasis has done in a long time.


22.) Kings of Leon - Only by the Night - I can see why people would say this is Kings of Leon’s best album or a candidate for best of the year. Two of the better rock songs of the year are back-to-back in the beginning of the album.


23.) M83 - Saturdays=Youth - A really dreamy album perfect for lazy afternoons where you want nothing more than, well nothing


24.) Brightblack Morning Light - Motion to Rejoin - It might not be as great as their last album, but it’s still better than most.


25.) The Black Angels – Directions to See a Ghost – Very solid album.


26.) Marnie Stern – This Is It & I Am It & You Are It & So Is That & He Is It & She Is It & It Is It & That Is That– This album is very different, and it slays. Check it out for yourself, your mind will be blown.


27.) Girl Talk – Feed the Animals – I really like this as a party mix or something to drive to.


28.) Mogwai - Hawk is Howling - My girlfriend called this lullaby music, just because it’s instrumental doesn’t make it lullaby music. This is the best instrumental rock album of the year.


29.) The Dodos – Visiter - Very good folk-y album. “Red and purple” is a great song.


30.) The Kills - Midnight Boom - This is the best Eagles of Death Metal sounding album released this year. Too bad Eagles of Death Metal didn’t release it.


31.) Atlas Sound – Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel - It sounds like surreal dream, in a good way.


32.) She and Him - Volume 1 - Zoey Deschanel has a very pretty voice. With the instrumentation and vocals working so well I hope her and M.Ward keep making albums together.


33.) Deerhunter - Microcastle/Weird Era cont. - This deserves the hype it has gotten a lot more than most other releases.


34.) Britney Spears – Circus - I didn’t expect to like this, nor did I really want to; but hey, if it’s good, it’s good.


35.) Vivian Girls – Vivian Girls - Better than most albums I’ve heard recently.


36.) Crystal Stilts – Alright of Night – I like this album very much. It’s kind of creepy, but it really resonated with me in a good way.


37.) Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer - I wasn’t a huge fan of Apologies to the Queen Mary and in comparison to that, this was a lot better than I thought it’d be.


38.) Does it Offend You, Yeah? - You Have No Idea What You’re Getting Yourself Into - Solid dance album, I would definitely recommend this above Hercules and Love Affair, way above.


39.) The Ruby Suns – Sea Lion - I think I had a Ruby Suns album from 2004 or something, and I hated it. This is so much better than that.


40.) Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend - It’s easy to want to hate these four preps from an Ivy League school who borrow heavily from world music rhythms, but they released an undeniably solid album in 2008.

My relationship with music

Since I'm going to be writing about music here I think you have the right to know my history with it.

I have loved music since I was a small child; sitting in my brother’s, who is 14 years older than me, room as a baby rocking to the beats of whatever he was listening to, which at the time was most likely the beginnings of hip hop.
As I grew I was exposed to two main genres of music, soul and salsa, because it was what my parents listened to. I got my first tape of my own at around 5, Michael Jackson’s ”Bad”.
I was largely a hip hop fan until eleventh grade when I started to branch out and enjoy rock music. I started out by getting into punk rock and then progressed to indie rock music after graduation. The year after I gradated I joined a band as the bass player, which I was in for about three years.
All of the time since then my music taste has morphed and I’ve learned to appreciate music more than I have previously. I look forward to challenging myself and writing about how music moves me now and in the future.

New co-admin, new beginning

My name is Jamie, or Jay and I'm going to be taking over co-admin duties with Mr. Everest on all of his blogs. Hopefully this means we'll have fresh posts more often and will be able to attract some new writers who want to contribute to each blog, this is going to be cross-posted to each blog I will be administrating. If you think you have a good voice about the subject in question shoot either of us an e-mail at drkstrspce@gmail.com or jamesmeverest@gmail.com.

The Mars Volta Rocks

This is one of my favorite bands with a killer live performance on the Henry Rollins show.

Part 1




Part 2

Camera Obscura

As 2007 winds down here's a video from one of my favorite albums of 2006, Camera Obscura's Let's Get Out of This Country.

The video is kind of poor quality, and it's kind of weird, and the singer looks bored(maybe because she's Scottish?). But hey, the song is killer!


"Lloyd I'm Ready to be Heartbroken"



This is one of my favorite songs from 2006 for sure.

Fresh-ness

There is no way i can leave a post about Sean Kingston as the first thing people see when they come here. That's really not my style. I hate to make excuses, but I was probably really tired the day I posted that.

Anyway, on the new posts front, I am making a promise to myself right now that If I don't post at least once a week I'll rip off one of my own fingernails or let someone kick me in the testicles or something equally as painful.

This is Kind of Weird

Let me start off by saying I'm not a Sean Kingston fan. I hate his song "Beautiful Girls", it fucking sucks. However, this video has changed my opinion of him somewhat and I definitely respect him more for it.

You Should Definitely Check This Out

http://www.myspace.com/dillingerescapeplan

There's a new song up off of Ire Works which releases November 13th. Don't be an asshole, check it out.


EDIT:

And here's a trailer for their album for your viewing pleasure...

I'm An Asshole

Once again I apologize for the lack of content on here in the past month. I had to get a job...well, and i got a 360.

School has started, which will be putting me in front of a computer much more often than I was over the summer, so expect more frequent updates.

I've been listening to the new Justice and Unkle albums, so expect reviews of those as well as Arcade Fire and Blonde Redhead. Hopefully a Blonde Redhead live review sometime after this friday.

My Favorite Musical Emmy Nomination of 2007

Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics

Saturday Night Live • Host: Justin Timberlake - Song title:
“Dick In A Box” • NBC • SNL Studios in association with
NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Justin Timberlake, Music & Lyrics By
Jorma Taccone, Music & Lyrics By
Katreese Barnes, Music By
Asa Taccone, Music By
Akiva Schaffer, Lyrics By
Andy Samberg, Lyrics By



That's actually in the PDF file for Emmy Nominations. That's classic.

"If You Don't Know, Now Ya Know"

A lot of people know how bad Ashlee Simpson sucks right? Well, if you didn't already know here's proof.

Both videos are a total time of about a minute and 30 seconds, so it won't waste too much of your time.






that many people booing you HAS to suck.

Stranger Than Fiction

Sometimes life is weirder than fiction, this is proof. If you haven't already seen this you don't watch much tv, so congrats I guess.

Review - M.I.A.

M.I.A.
Kala
Interscope
2007


Grade: F -


I don’t get why people dig this chick and why critics like her so much. Is it just a bid at being the next “in” guy? I wonder if they’re pretending to like it to be cool. That’s one thing I’ll never do. Decent beats on some songs, annoying vocals on every song.

Oh yeah, and I hate this album. I want my 47 minutes back.

"Joke" Review - Now, Vol. 25

Now
Vol. 25
Utv
2007


Grade: G -


The reason I called this a "joke" review is because this album should only be taken as such. I also didn't listen to this cd(and I have never even seen it), because if I had I would probably have already killed myself from listening to so many bad songs in a row. I have heard all the songs on this disc, which is probably the closest plastic can get to becoming actual shit, on MTV or in passing before. This album features more pro tools lovers and rappers who only like to sing the title to their songs over and over than you'll find anywhere else. Also there are 4, that's right 4! people who "rose to fame" thanks to American Idol on this. It goes from fake rock, to annoying pop, to senseless rap, right back to fake rock with an American Idol alumni close. If you think that sounds awesome than God help you. All of the songs on this disc are complete excuses for music, well maybe except the Justin Timberlake song. I'm going to go as far as saying if you actually bought this turd and you like it, I don't like you.

Review - The View

The View
Hats Off to the Buskers
Sony
2007


Grade: F-


I had no idea who these guys were but while I was grabbing the picture of the Panda Bear album cover off of Amazon to post it I saw one of those links on the side bar to someone’s “Best of 2007 so far” . When I checked it out he had The View’s album on it. I went to Myspace (lame, I know) to check out how they sounded and their entire album was available for listen , so I decided to review it.

I usually try not to read anything about an album if I’m going to review it, but like I said I had no intention of reviewing this when I read about it. According to Amazon.com, Hats Off to the Buskers was produced by Owen Morris, who has produced both Oasis and The Verve before. I thought if he produced albums by both of those bands than he must know his shit and maybe this band is actually good. Wrong!! It’s rather generically British sounding and pretty terrible (you can call people from Scotland British right?). It’s not as bad as Kaiser Chiefs (it‘s close), but it does seem to follow the trend of the album getting worse as it progresses though.

I’d save my cash as far as buying their album goes as it is quite sub-par. Quite

I also found a quote on someone’s Amazon list about this band that I think sums up how I feel about it.

"If you like the Fratelli's, Arctic Monkeys, Libertines you will like these guys. Very British."

I rest my case.


EDIT - I don't dislike this band because they are British. I said earlier in the review that I thought it might be good because of the fact that the guy who produced it produced Oasis and The Verve. Are Oasis and The Verve not British? Again, i rest my case.

Review - Panda Bear

Panda Bear
Person Pitch
Paw Tracks
2007


Grade: B


I think a lot of people know at least a little bit about Panda Bear. For those of you who don't, Panda Bear is a one man project consisting of Noah Lennox, a member of Animal Collective.

I think the first two tracks on this album shine the brightest because of their 60s pop sound and their not being too weird (as some songs can get a bit experimental at points, but you'd expect that if you're familiar with Animal Collective). A lot of the songs on this actually remind me of the Beach Boys. He has a very Brian Wilson sound when he sings. The only place this was losing me was the length of one of the songs. It was a good track, but it seemed a little too long at over 12 minutes. There is another track on here that is over 12 minutes long, but it's split up into different songs so it doesn't run the chance of boring you.

This is definitely an album that anyone who likes Animal Collective should get if they don't have it already. It's a keeper

Review - Kaiser Chiefs

Kaiser Chiefs
Yours Truly. Angry Mob
Universal
2007


Grade: F -


The attempt at a clever album title should have probably served as a clue to me that this album would suck. After listening I would have to think that it must be quite fitting to what people who care at all about this band are thinking. I didn't like this album from the start, and I liked it even less as it progressed. I'm going to use some of their song titles now to sum up the experience of it.

" The Angry Mob" - I'm sure they've had their share.

"I Can Do Without You" - Holy SHIT! you can say that again!!

"Thank You Very Much" - I will be saying that exact thing when this BoreFest is over.

"Everything is Average Nowadays" - In your case, much worse. But, hey, at least we know you were swinging for the fences on this one.

"Try Your Best" - Keep telling yourself that's all you need to do, maybe it'll help you sleep better at night.

"Retirement" - Please go into it. I'm practically begging you.

I think I'm done wasting my time talking about this album now. I will never listen to this again, nor do I suggest you do...ever. You should only buy this if you're planning on giving it to someone you secretly don't like.

Review - Interpol

Interpol
Our Love to Admire
Capitol
2007


Grade: D


I wasn’t going to review this album yet, but I saw one of those commercials yesterday where they show you the best little snippets of reviews so you will think that it’s the greatest album ever. Then, even when I was listening to it at first I was thinking I’ll listen to it now and then review it later. If it’s as good as they’re trying to make it seem I won’t mind listening to it more than once. The first three tracks are pretty boring and very unmemorable. The fourth track is the single “Heinrich Maneuver” and ends up being the first song on the album I think I might want to hear again. The decency continues on, but this isn’t really living up to their previous efforts. Maybe this album is a grower, but as of right now I’m not that into it.

If you've never heard Interpol's music you should get their first album and then their second as those are both good.

Review - Winterkids

Winterkids
Memoirs (Untitled)
Sony
2007


Grade: F -


This is going to be a really short review because I can’t even believe I endured this album. Yes, I said endured, and yes, it’s appropriate. If I ever hear this album again, even in passing. I will probably end up fighting the person who is playing it. This is a REALLY BAD Bloc Party clone with bad synth lines. The lyrics suck, the vocals suck (the singer at times sounds like the more annoying singer from blink 182), the music is boring and unoriginal. Don’t buy this album unless you hate yourself.

Review - Dillinger Escape Plan

Ok, so I haven't been around for a while. I'm sorry, I took a bit of a vacation. But I'm back, so don't fret, and breathe again and all that good stuff.



The Dillinger Escape Plan
Plagiarism
iTunes
2006


Grade: F


As you may know (or not) from a previous post I made I really like the Dillinger Escape Plan. They're one of my favorite metal bands. This EP is something they decided to put out for....umm, does anyone know why? Yeah, I don't know why either. It's a 6 song iTunes only EP with two songs off of their previous full-length and 4 covers of artists including Nine Inch Nails, Massive Attack, Soundgarden, and Justin Timberlake. If you know DEP's music you'd think "oh, that's really cool, they took those songs and applied their own style to them!" But, if you thought that you are completely wrong. All of the covers are boringly true to the originals. This EP is a complete waste to me. I have the songs that are originals by them already on their album and I have the songs they covered on the albums by the original artists. Oh, and guess what, the originals are better (surprise, surprise). Don't waste your money or time on this.

Amazing Drumming

Here are a few videos containing two of the greatest drummers probably ever, Buddy Rich and Neil Peart.


The first video is a "face off" between Buddy Rich and Ed Shaughnessy of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. These guys are just going off. Watch the speed of Buddy Rich and the over arm/under arm move he does.




This next video is Buddy Rich playing with his band and taking a solo break. It's probably one of the best drum solos I've ever seen, and yes, I have seen the Stevie Wonder video.




This last video is Neil Peart at a Buddy Rich Memorial concert. It's a great video of Neil playing a solo that doesn't involve a 360 degree drum kit.

Review - Field Music

Field Music
Tones of Town
Memphis Industries
2007


Grade: C

The first time I listened to this album in its entirety I was tired to the point of passing out, it came on in iTunes, and I loved it. I listened to it again a couple of weeks after that when I was wide awake, even though it was around 4:30 in the morning, and I thought it was alright. I think I’m just way more likely to love an album that’s decent if I’m falling asleep while I listen to it. For this exact reason I will never try and review an album when I’m falling asleep. Who am I kidding? I often don’t review things at certain times because I don’t feel like putting too much thought into anything at the moment.

So, about this album; it’s a decent Brit-pop album with a few sweet melodies. It just doesn’t have that special something that’s bringing me back to it, or making me want to remember it for future listening opportunities.

Klaxons and Dredg

I kind of like these songs. They are a couple of those songs where I kind of feel like maybe I shouldn't like them, but I do.


Klaxons "Golden Skans"



Dredg "Bug Eyes"

Peter, Bjorn, & John

This is a pretty good song from Swedish band Peter, Bjorn, & John featuring Victoria Bergsman of The Concretes. I personally think she makes the song what it is. This song is off of their album Writer's Block. The album is pretty good, but I think this is definitely the stand-out track.

"Young Folks"



oh yeah...the drummer in the hulk shirt, super creepy.

Flight of the Conchords

Here are some live jams by New Zealand's 4th most popular folk parody duo. I got the first episode to their new HBO show for free outside of the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club show and at first I kind of wrote it off. Then, I watched it and it's hilarious. I'll be posting the first episode at Yeah, I Heard About That.
More on music matters though, they've just been signed to Sub Pop and should be releasing an EP soon.


this song titled "The Humans are Dead" is featured a little differently in the episode of the show.



This song is called "Business Time" and is listed as the first song that will be appearing on their EP.

Review - Queens of the Stone Age

Queens of the Stone Age
Era Vulgaris
Interscope
2007


Grade: A -


It's hard to review a band that you like a lot before you decide to review their album, as is the case with me and QOTSA. So, my girlfriend suggested that I should make it more about a comparison between what they've done when I rate it versus just how good I think the songs are. I took this advice and i thought about their other material and how this new album stacks up as I was listening to it. I have to say it's not their best album, but it's still really good. I just think years from now when I want to throw on a Queens of the Stone Age album I'll probably look for Lullabies to Paralyze.

Also, people are STILL talking about the absence of Nick Oliveri. Give it a rest people. The band has 5 full length albums and he’s only on two of them. Yeah, the two he was on are really good, but I think their best was without him.

If you're a Queens of the Stone Age fan you NEED to buy Over the Years and Through the Woods. It's a live CD/DVD and it's really really good.

Review - LSD and the Search for God

LSD and the Search for God
LSD and the Search for God
Mind Expansion
2006


Grade: C


Hmm, 5 song EP $11? This has some nice tunes on it, but for the money I don‘t think it‘s really worth it. The only beef I have with this band as far as the music goes is they’re kind of a My Bloody Valentine rip-off fest. As was the case with Darker My Love it makes for good yet unoriginal songs. So, I lowered this by a grade for that. Nevertheless, I enjoy listening to this album.

For fans of My Bloody Valentine, Ride, and Serena Maneesh

B-sides

I've never been too big on B-sides from bands, they're usually that for a reason. On the other hand these two songs are B-sides are they are phenomenal. One of them is a B-side on purpose, the other by accident (someone stole the tapes of "Fun machine" I guess, so they had to re-record it)

So here is Queens of the Stone Age's "The Fun Machine Took a Shit and Died" off of their live DVD Over the Years and Through the Woods.




And here is Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's "High/Low" a fan made 'tribute video' containing the song. The video doesn't really sync up because it's not all from that song, but the audio is what's important.

Review - Deerhoof

Deerhoof
Friend Opportunity
Kill Rock Stars
2007


Grade: D -


I’m kind of at a loss for much to say about this album. It’s pretty weird but not over the top weird. I listened to it a few times to see if it would grow on me, but that proved to be quite painful. I’m just not feeling it I guess. The vocals are rather annoying and some of the lyrics are really stupid. A perfect example of this is “If I were a man and you a dog, I’d throw a stick for you”. Maybe I just don’t ‘get it’ I don’t know. Also, one of their songs titles is “Kidz Are So Small” (just so happens to be the song with those wonderful lyrics), and no, that ‘Z’ on the end of kid is not a typo. That’s how they decided it should be written. I’m not normally a big fan of bands who think it’s cool to purposely misspell words. This band is no exception.

Review - Rocky Votolato

Rocky Votolato
The Brag & Cuss
Barsuk
2007



Grade: C -


This is a very mediocre album. I kind of feel bad that I don’t like this more because I read somewhere that this guy just started making enough money from music to quit his shitty day job. I do like some of his other songs, but I don’t really like too many on this album. It’s all very ‘eh’. I liked his music much better when it was just him and a guitar. On this one there’s much more variation in the instruments. He’s definitely gone more country too, adding a lot of harmonica and some banjo and a definitive country sound.

If you’re looking for a melancholic indie-country-folk album that has a decent amount of lyrics referring to drinking, than this is for you.

The Black Keys

In my quest to give more exposure and information to and about my favorite albums of 2006 here is a video by the Black Keys. The video is for their song "Your Touch", the video's decent, but the song is great.

Review - Handsome Furs

Handsome Furs
Plague Park
Sub Pop
2007


Grade: D +


Handsome Furs are a male/female duo who are actually a couple this time, they’re engaged. The male half of the duo is Dan Boeckner, one of the two singers of Wolf Parade, so if that music isn’t really your bag you probably won’t dig this either as it is similar. They use mostly drum machine, keyboard, and guitar to capture their sound. It’s different while it at the same time reminding me of The Fiery Furnaces music. Toward the beginning of the album I embraced their difference and thought it’d be a good thing. I liked the minimalist approach some of the songs took, but throughout the album the music started to bore me. A lot of the songs are hit or miss, and unfortunately the majority of them were misses for me.

Review - Darker My Love

Darker My Love
Darker My Love
Dangerbird
2006


Grade: C -

This band is most certainly proud of its influences. These guys love the Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, The Stooges, Oasis, and Ride and boy does it show. It makes for an ok album, but it all kind of sounds like a cover band and it gets boring after a little while. I’ll give them credit though, a lot of bands try to blatantly rip off other bands and completely fail at it. So congratulations to Darker My Love, you succeed at ripping off your favorite bands.

If you’re familiar with any of the bands I mentioned you’ll already have an idea of what this alum sounds like. Fuzzy guitars and vocals that sound like the singer doesn’t want to really try to sing.

This album would be a lot better if there was a bit of originality to it. From listening to it I can’t help but think that someone’s been robbed. They may be stealing from the rich, but it’s stealing nonetheless.

For fans of any of the bands mentioned in the review. Or should I say for fans of bands that rip-off any of the bands mentioned in the review.

This is there video for "Summer is Here" if you want to check it out and see if you agree or disagree with me.

Review - Explosions in the Sky

Explosions in the Sky
All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
Temporary Residence
2007


Grade: A

Lyrics aren’t as important as some people would like you to believe. Many people think songs true emotions come from lyrics. I don’t agree with that idea. For one example, how many metaphorical ways do you want to hear about the same broken relationship or someone else’s social shortcomings? There is a much greater catalyst of feeling in music, the instrumentation. Take a movie for instance, a movie might make you feel a certain emotion in certain scenes. Is it the dialogue of the movie that usually makes you feel that way? No, the scene doesn’t necessarily even have to contain dialogue to move you. Something there does move you though. I think it’s the music that brings you to that point. The music in the background along with an image that you’re now tying to it is what moves you while watching a film.

Explosions in the Sky’s songs are like that movie score. They move you without lyrics or dialogue behind it, they don’t need them. The music itself evokes an image or feeling that allows you to feel closer to it. It has a great sense of drama and depth without a single uttered lyric.

A live video for "The Birth and Death of the Day"

Review - Pelican

Pelican
City of Echoes
Hydrahead
2007



Grade: B -


In the beginning of reviewing this I started to think maybe I don’t like Pelican as much as I thought I did. I’d felt like they’d done this before and had done it better. I remember thinking City of Echoes lacks the great dueling guitar parts that made Pelican’s previous two albums great. Then came the acoustic song in the middle of the album (track 4) it greatly helped in the efforts to save the album for me. Sure, Pelican has done acoustic before, but this is easily the best song on the 'A' side of this album.

As the album progresses it gets better. Opposite to the way most other albums are set up this one comes on weak and finishes strong. Just when you think this is a dud it comes back to show you what it’s really made of. The first couple tracks on this one had me scared for a bit, but the last few reeled me back in. This still isn’t as good in comparison to their first two albums, because of how great they were, but it’s definitely worth a listen.

Review - Brightblack Morning Light

Brightblack Morning Light
Brightblack Morning Light
Matador
2006

Grade: A

I just wanted to take some time out to maybe sway some more peoples attention towards this great band. I tried to find a video of them, but all the live videos are short clips and the only music video I found is one that I think a fan made.

Brightblack Morning Light are a male/female duo that aren't a couple or brother and sister, they're friends. They used to be in a cover band that did My Bloody Valentine and Ride covers together. Their music is very laid back, with almost a lazy feel to it. A lot of people would probably go as far as to say its psych- folk. I guess you could call it that, but when i think psych-folk I think Devendra Banhart and this is a bit different. Definitely a good album to just throw on and hang out or to listen to while driving( as long as you're not driving after you've been awake a really long time).




Here is the first track off of this album. I snatched it straight from the Matador site so hopefully they don't get pissed.


Brightblack Morning Light - "Everybody Daylight"

Funny Stuff....is no more?

So, i decided to relocate that post about Derek and Simon: The Show. I know it's a very good clip, but it had nothing to do with music, and I want to keep this solely about music. I have relocated it to my everything else to do with media blog Yeah, I Heard About That.

I'm 6 Months Late On This, So What

This doesn't by any means I have run out of ideas to write about. I'm still reviewing albums as usual and will have a few more up within the next few days. Just thought I'd throw a bit of a curve ball here.

So this is something that's usually reserved for December or January, but just in case anyone was curious here are my 25 favorite albums of 2006. (In alphabetical order)

12 Twelve - L’Univers
Apse - Spirit
Black Keys - Magic Potion
Booka Shade - Movements
Brightblack Morning Light - Brightblack Morning Light
Stephen Brodsky - Octave Museum
Camera Obscura - Lets Get Out of This Country
Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Converge - No Heroes
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
Eagles of Death Metal - Death by Sexy
Grizzly Bear - Yellow House
Isis - In the Absence of Truth
Isis & Aerogramme - In the Fishtank
Mars Volta - Amputechture
The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers
The Rapture - Pieces of the People We Love
Red Sparowes - Every Red Heart Shines Towards the Red Sun
Russian Circles - Enter *
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
Squarepusher - Hello Everything
The Sword - Age of Winters
Tapes n’ Tapes - The Loon *
These Arms are Snakes - Easter *
TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain

I think I'm going to try and find more live videos and music videos from artists on this list. The one's that are starred I have already posted about before.

I plan to post a 25 best of 2007 with commentary on why I think each album belongs on the list at the end of this year.

In the name of posting more videos of artists on that list here are two videos. The first is a music video for Grizzly Bear's song "Knife"( a very strange video). The second is a live video of Squarepusher playing "Hello Meow". The tracks from each band can be found on their album that is mentioned above. Both Grizzly Bear and Squarepusher happen to be label mates of Battles on Warp. So, support Warp, they release good stuff.



Grizzly Bear "Knife"





Squarepusher "Hello Meow"

Here We Go Again

So, in my seemingly endless promotion for Battles (why isn't Warp paying me for this?) I found and wanted to post this video made by Warp. It's supposed to be an introduction to Battles for people who aren't too familiar with them. It even includes segments of them talking about the band and how they got together.

Review - Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse
Back to Black
Republic
2007




Grade: C -




Apparently the deal with her song “Rehab” is she drank way too much so her label suggested she go to rehab for her drinking problem. In response to this she found a new label. I guess that was her way to say ‘no no no’.

A funny thing about Amy Winehouse is she reminds me of Shirley Bassey and she’s been rumored to be doing (a) song/s for the next bond film (she also mentions Roger Moore in “You Know I‘m No Good“).

I like the production of this album, the instrumentation is done well and it has some good beats. Her voice is a bit win some/ lose some for me. In some songs it really adds to it, in others it seems to take away from it. A perfect example of this is in the single “Rehab” where that line ‘they tried to make me go to rehab’ just sounds like it’s in a forced fake tone. In the second track “You Know I’m No Good” it all really comes together for her, it’s a really solid track with great vocals. A few of the tracks have a cool 50’s/60’s vibe. This album also contains lyrics that are quite intriguing such as “ …kept his dick wet with his same old safe bet” and “what kind of fuckery is this”. If you ‘re not a fan of the song “Rehab” don’t be put off of this album, it’s easily the weakest track on the album. Oh, and if you’re not a fan of ska stay away from the song “Just Friends”, it has a horn part that has a definite ska feel to it. I’m not going to hold it against her that the song has a ska feel, I just can’t get into it because of it.

This album has good production and lyrics(most of the time), but it seems like something is missing. Also, whoever chose “Rehab” as a single is insane. This album is really nothing to rave about, I like some songs, but I doubt I’ll be listening to this whole album all the way through ever again.




If you want to see something Amy Winehouse related that is both funny and horrifying check this video out.

Live Review - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Avalon Boston, MA
Tuesday May 29th, 2007


Grade: A

Let me just start by saying I fucking Love BRMC. I listen to them more often than any other band. I've been to a lot of shows and they're still probably the best band I have ever seen live. It might have something to do with how they have an album that's mostly acoustic so they throw in a few acoustic songs in the middle of their set to switch things up a bit. The two front men Peter and Robert also switch instruments during their set now, as on their latest album Baby 81 Robert plays guitar (instead of his usual bass) on a few songs.

I was "interviewed" by some girl who said she was from BRMC's label. She told me to talk about the band and say what I thought about them, my favorite song on their new album, and a song I'd like to hear them play. She put a camera on me and I went into complete fan mode and said how they're probably my favorite band that's out right now, how I love the song "American X" on Baby 81, and how I really hoped they'd play "High/Low" (a B-side from the "Stop" single). I don't really remember if I said anything else but that's not really important.

Some Boston band called Wild Light opened the show. They looked like one of those bands where when you see them you can't help but wonder if there's a minimum hair length required to be in the band. It also seemed like they had the idea to all wear black shirts, but all the drummer had for a black shirt was a black polo with his work logo on it or something. Not many people were there when they went on, and to be honest they didn't miss much. They weren't a bad band. They just weren't very good, and extremely forgettable. They also tried to use vocal harmony among the three vocalists, but their attempts at that consisted of such staggeringly beautiful lyrics like 'Na Na na' or 'whoa-o-o' or whatever the hell it was. I was trying to think of who they sounded like after the show and I couldn't even remember what they sounded like in general.

After a set-up time that wasn't too long BRMC took the stage and went right into "Took out a Loan" followed by "Berlin". I thought it was a little weird that they played the first two songs off of their new album consecutively. I remember it making me wonder if they were going to play "Weapon of Choice" (third track on new album) next, and how I thought that could be a bit uncool. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club does not disappoint though, the next song they played was "Lien on Your Dreams", still from Baby 81, but I was glad they didn't keep going in order of the album. Next they played "In Like the Rose", one of my favorite songs from their second full length Take Them On, On Your Own. The first song they played from their third full length Howl was "Ain't No Easy Way", a great sing-along song on which Peter's harmonica didn't want to work. Next they went into fan favorite "Whatever Happened to My Rock & Roll" from their debut album B.R.M.C. I'm not going to keep saying which song they played next, that'd get really boring. When they played "666 Conducer" they turned it into an extended jam, very different from the album version. That was interesting to see. I wonder if it's going to be like "U.S. Government" was on the Howl tour, and they're just going to always play it that way and end up recording an alternate version of it sometime. Robert ending up standing on his cabinets by the time the song was finished, which made me really bummed out that I didn't bring a camera. Robert and Peter switched instruments for the next two songs. The first song they played after the switch was "Need Some Air", with the second being "American X". I said it was my favorite song on the album during that 'interview' and I almost added 'but I know they won't play it because most bands don't play 9 minute album tracks live'. So yeah, I was a little surprised that they played it. After "American X" the band walked off stage and Peter returned alone with an acoustic guitar to play "Fault Line", he then went into "Devil's Waitin". The rest of the band came back on stage at the end of it to provide backing vocals. Then everyone but Robert Left and he grabbed an acoustic guitar and played "Mercy" a song from the Howl Sessions EP (You're going to have to eBay that one). He said what the name of the song was before he played it, probably because he figured no one would know what it was....that, or he saw me writing at the beginning of every song. The rest of the band came out and they played "Love Burns" and "Rifles" from their first album. They played the intro to "All You Do is Talk" until Peter realized his guitar tech didn't tune his guitar properly for that song, so he re-tuned it and they started it over. That song ended their set.

When they came back out for an encore they said "You call it", a couple of guys towards the front of the stage yelled for "High/Low". Robert said he didn't remember it that well and that they hadn't played it in like 10 years, I think he then realized their first album came out in 2001 and changed it to something like 5 years (which still has to be wrong). He then asked if the lyrics he was thinking of were correct. Then he turned to the guys that yelled it out and asked them if they stole that song on the internet. Then Peter started playing the beginning riff. I was really surprised they actually played it, you don't usually get to see old b-sides live and even though I had previously said I hoped they'd play it I didn't expect them to at all. They tried the same thing for the next song, but people kept yelling out different songs so Peter just started playing "Six Barrel Shotgun". They followed it with another song they decided to play, "U.S. Government". Then for their last song they asked the crowd again and people were yelling "Stop" (I was trying to get them to play "Heart & Soul"), so they played "Stop" to end their encore.

It was another great show from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. On the way to the car my girlfriend mentioned how good of a show it was a couple times and I couldn't have agreed more. If you have the opportunity to see them, you owe it to yourself. Also, buy all of their albums from them at their shows if you can, if not follow the links.

Set List

1. Took Out A Loan
2. Berlin
3. Lien on Your Dreams
4. In Like the Rose
5. Ain’t No Easy
6. Whatever Happened To My Rock & Roll
7. Weapon of Choice
8. Howl
9. Windows
10. Not What You Wanted
11. 666 Conducer
12. Need Some Air
13. American X
14. Fault Line
15. Devil’s Waitin
16. Mercy
17. Love Burns
18. Rifles
19. All You Do is Talk

Encore

1. High/Low
2. Six Barrel Shotgun
3. U.S. Government
4. Stop

Music Can Be Funny

I sometimes like to look around to try and find humor in music. If you pay close enough attention music can be pretty hilarious....




....whether it's meant to be......






...or not.






The first video is a group called Hurra Torpedo covering Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart". I think they're Norwegian or something, so that might help to explain the video.


The second video is one of the most pretentious things I've ever seen. The guy playing guitar is Michael Angelo Batio. It's a bit long (at a little over 6 minutes) but it's worth the time.


The third and final video is DragonForce with "Through the Fire and Flames". I'm pretty sure these guys are a serious band. Yeah, they can shred but, they might go a bit overboard. Watch for the solo-off mid video.

I'd like to thank my friend Andre for initially showing me these videos.