So it has been a VERY slow music week (except for Marilyn Manson and Busta Rhymes, both of which I gave a quick listen to and HATED both). As such, I've been listening feverishly to three albums all week. Grizzly Bear Veckatimest, Intelligence Fake Surfers, and Phoenix Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. I also have been trying (unsuccessfully) to get my hands on a copy of the debut album from Crash Kings, and based on previews from myspace, Amazon, and iTunes, would probably garner a 10 from me. As such, on with your Friday Three-For-All.
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (9.5/10)
This is by far the best of the three albums that I have been enjoying. From the lead track "Liztomania" to the end track "Armistice" this is the best thing to come from France since....ummm....maybe ever (ok, so Air was a decend band and one of the guys in Phoenix was in a band called Darlin' with the two guys from Daft Punk, whom are also French). The fourth studio album from Phoenix is admittedly the first one I've listened to, but will definitely not be the last. It does get a little lenghty in the middle with the 7:29 Love is Like a Sunset, of which the first nearly six and a half minutes is instrumental. Beyond that, it is as fantastic as fantastic goes. Also, check out "1901" and "Lasso"
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest (9/10)
2009 South by Southwest (SXSW) standouts Grizzly Bear unleashed a monster when the released Veckatimest, the third studio album from the Brooklyn, NY quartet. Described by most as an indie, experimental-folk rock by many, their new album shows that they are no stranger to any and all genres and apparently had no clocks or timers in the studio, with the average song checking in on this album at right around four and a half minutes. Each song is quite epic in its own little way, but this album shines as a whole, flowing seamlessly from one track to the next, of which you know I am a sucker for, and any band who pulls this off gets automatic bonus points in scoring with me. Check out the tracks "Dory", "Cheerleader" and "Two Weeks"
Intelligence - Fake Surfers (9/10)
Studio album number four from the lo-fi side project of A-Frames drummer Lars Finberg. I really, really, really enjoyed this album from the aspect of its different un-Seattle-like sound. Lars doesn't do anything really overly fancy, just puts together a fantastic freakin' indie animal capable of both lulling you into a hypnotic trance "Fake Surfers" and making you then get up an dance "St. Bartholemew" until Lars snaps his fingers and you return to your previous state of normality. He also can get a little punk with the fantastically titled "Fuck Eat Skull". This album also flows surprisingly well and made for a pleasant surprise of an album as a whole in what was a slow music week.
Thank the Lord that next week is a busier music week, with the new Dave Matthews Band, 311, and Taking Back Sunday albums scheduled to drop on 6/2. Stay tuned to New Music Tuesday to see my selections for the week!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
New Music Review: Mat Kearney "City of Black and White"
Mat Kearney is a Nashville based singer/songwriter who has witnessed his popularity skyrocket thanks to his tunes appearing on ABC's Grey's Anatomy, ABC Family's Kyle XY, and (at the time) NBC's Scrubs. His new album City of Black and White was recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville. He has begun touring this month with Keane and The Helio Sequence.
Mat Kearney - City of Black and White (7.5/10)
Don't get me wrong, the 7.5 score for Kearney's new album isn't because it isn't any good, because it is. He probably would have received an 8.5 or 9 if he didn't sound so much like Chris fucking Martin from Coldplay. Honestly, I would probably like Coldplay more if Martin, his wife, and their fruit-based children moved to Cambodia and Kearney took his place. Enough ranting, we're here to praise Mat Kearney and his fantastic new effort, not dis Chris Martin and his band The Song-Stealing 4 err, Coldplay.
City of Black and White sounds just as I described it earlier, like the B side of a Coldplay album. All of the songs flow fantastically well. The lead single "Closer to Love" brings all the pieces of who Mat Kearney is together into one neat little package and the rest of the album ties it off with a tiny bow. No one track really stands out to any great degree, with the one glaring exception of "Fire and Rain", which will stop you dead in your tracks and make you listen much like watching a NASCAR race for the crashes. There isn't really anything special about it, but the arrangement is too good to ignore. The first time I listened through it, I paid particular attention to each song, and was kind of....eh. Once I listened a second, and third time, I found myself motivated and moving about doing other things (such as getting dressed for work). It is one of those albums you could put on for a drive to Kalamazoo to make the trip seem shorter and provide a pleasant backdrop for random conversation and a soundtrack for the boring spots such as the part just past Albion before Battle Creek where its all farm-y and not much to look at.
Gut response to the album would have given it a 4 or 5 score, but luckily for Mat Kearney, I don't score based on my gut, and gave it a few more listens for flow and arrangement, and to see if I missed anything of relative potential epic-ness. Unfortunately for Mat, those additional listens turned me off to the fact that he sounds way too much like Chris Martin for me and if I heard any of this on the radio, I'd turn it off for fear that I would like a Coldplay song.
Tomorrow: SATURDAY!!! I will (try) to give a brief review of the NEW Our Lady Peace single being released tonight at 5 on MuchMusic (Canada) and MSN Canada. Also, while I'm at it, this weekend may feature reviews of Passion Pit, Jason Lytle, and White Rabbits.
Mat Kearney - City of Black and White (7.5/10)
Don't get me wrong, the 7.5 score for Kearney's new album isn't because it isn't any good, because it is. He probably would have received an 8.5 or 9 if he didn't sound so much like Chris fucking Martin from Coldplay. Honestly, I would probably like Coldplay more if Martin, his wife, and their fruit-based children moved to Cambodia and Kearney took his place. Enough ranting, we're here to praise Mat Kearney and his fantastic new effort, not dis Chris Martin and his band The Song-Stealing 4 err, Coldplay.
City of Black and White sounds just as I described it earlier, like the B side of a Coldplay album. All of the songs flow fantastically well. The lead single "Closer to Love" brings all the pieces of who Mat Kearney is together into one neat little package and the rest of the album ties it off with a tiny bow. No one track really stands out to any great degree, with the one glaring exception of "Fire and Rain", which will stop you dead in your tracks and make you listen much like watching a NASCAR race for the crashes. There isn't really anything special about it, but the arrangement is too good to ignore. The first time I listened through it, I paid particular attention to each song, and was kind of....eh. Once I listened a second, and third time, I found myself motivated and moving about doing other things (such as getting dressed for work). It is one of those albums you could put on for a drive to Kalamazoo to make the trip seem shorter and provide a pleasant backdrop for random conversation and a soundtrack for the boring spots such as the part just past Albion before Battle Creek where its all farm-y and not much to look at.
Gut response to the album would have given it a 4 or 5 score, but luckily for Mat Kearney, I don't score based on my gut, and gave it a few more listens for flow and arrangement, and to see if I missed anything of relative potential epic-ness. Unfortunately for Mat, those additional listens turned me off to the fact that he sounds way too much like Chris Martin for me and if I heard any of this on the radio, I'd turn it off for fear that I would like a Coldplay song.
Tomorrow: SATURDAY!!! I will (try) to give a brief review of the NEW Our Lady Peace single being released tonight at 5 on MuchMusic (Canada) and MSN Canada. Also, while I'm at it, this weekend may feature reviews of Passion Pit, Jason Lytle, and White Rabbits.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
New Music Review: Jarvis Cocker "Further Complications"
For those that do not know, you can play six degrees of separation with Jarvis Cocker and Dr. Dre. Jarvis Cocker is the former lead singer of the band Pulp, who had a mid-90s hit with "Common People", a song that was covered by William Shatner. Shatner's album Has Been was produced by Ben Folds, who did a cover of the song "Bitches Ain't Shit", a classic rap track by Dr. Dre. What does this have to do with Cocker's new album Further Complications? Nothing really, just really cool.
Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications (9.5/10)
First off, I would like to announce that I LOVE this album. Cocker's delivery and voice allow him to present the fantastic laid back vibe throughout most of this album, but dial it up and rock it out, UK style when needed for his newest effort, Further Complications. Apparently fueled by sex and the desire of a woman (or several), Cocker's tuned up, rock tracks, reminecient of Elvis Costello, include "Angela" a song proclaiming his love for a 23-year old named....yep, Angela. "Homewrecker" turns up the horn section for a moment, and "fuckingsong" introduces a chainsaw-esque intro, grinding distorted guitars, and a request to be turned on. The album gets a little strange with "Caucasian Blues" beginning with the lyrics "you find a good woman/then fuck her 'till her head falls off". Apparently, Cocker feels the need to discuss how difficult it is to be white these days. The album slows down for two final mellow, and LONG tracks (one of them could have fit with the '77 disco scene entitled "You're In My Eyes") at the end, both are no doubt great, but could have stood to be a few minutes shorter.
My favorite track by far is "Further Complications", the title and lead track for the album, and is what I would call the epitome of Cocker's album, a fantastic installment to his career, proving that he can get it done with or without his mates in Pulp.
Tomorrow: Mat Kearney City of Black and White
Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications (9.5/10)
First off, I would like to announce that I LOVE this album. Cocker's delivery and voice allow him to present the fantastic laid back vibe throughout most of this album, but dial it up and rock it out, UK style when needed for his newest effort, Further Complications. Apparently fueled by sex and the desire of a woman (or several), Cocker's tuned up, rock tracks, reminecient of Elvis Costello, include "Angela" a song proclaiming his love for a 23-year old named....yep, Angela. "Homewrecker" turns up the horn section for a moment, and "fuckingsong" introduces a chainsaw-esque intro, grinding distorted guitars, and a request to be turned on. The album gets a little strange with "Caucasian Blues" beginning with the lyrics "you find a good woman/then fuck her 'till her head falls off". Apparently, Cocker feels the need to discuss how difficult it is to be white these days. The album slows down for two final mellow, and LONG tracks (one of them could have fit with the '77 disco scene entitled "You're In My Eyes") at the end, both are no doubt great, but could have stood to be a few minutes shorter.
My favorite track by far is "Further Complications", the title and lead track for the album, and is what I would call the epitome of Cocker's album, a fantastic installment to his career, proving that he can get it done with or without his mates in Pulp.
Tomorrow: Mat Kearney City of Black and White
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
New Music Review: Eminem "Relapse"
ed. note: Due to complications in the availability of Carbon Leaf's Nothing Rhymes with Woman I have pushed up the Eminem review to today, and will be replacing the Carbon Leaf album with Jason Lytle's Yours Truly, The Commuter. I will attempt to review Carbon Leaf if I can find it. Also, I'm going to try to fit Passion Pit's Manners and White Rabbit's It's Frightening this week too. It was a busy busy week for new music.
Now, on with the Review.
Eminem - Relapse (10/10)
Ok, it's been a very long time since we've heard from Marshall Mathers, in any one of his incantations. After his hiatus, he returns with relapse, and the perhaps the wildest of his personalities, Slim Shady.
Some of the more conservative readers have probably already stopped reading, but Relapse is the Slim Shady album everyone knew Eminem could pull off. Keeping the leash short fresh out of rehab. He still pulls off the celeb-bashing, mom hating rants and raves, but now there is much more onus on him, discussing his demons and how they've haunted him while he's been away.
The skits retain more hilarity, including his attorney reminding Em that Christopher Reeves is dead and claiming "..and the whole gay stepfather, incest, rape thing? I don't have your back on this. I can't fucking handle it"
The music (which is the point of a music review) is FANTASTIC. The first two tracks address to key issues with Mathers; "3am" (drug addiction and rehab), and "My Mom" (FINALLY acknowledging that he and his mother are the same). Of course there is the celeb bashing lead single "We Made You", a fantastic song to lead with, flashing Eminem's brilliance in both flow and delivery, mixed in with traditional Shady antics. Then comes THE song of the album, "Old Times Sake" which features a drop in from the legendary Dr. Dre. That song turns the tide of the album to a more mature flow the likes of which has yet to be heard from Marshall Mathers, ever.
The entire album is fantastic and worth the wait that Marshall put his fans through (although the hiatus was much needed for Em's health and sanity). I'm hoping that this album is the beginning of a new era of Eminem's fantastic career.
Tomorrow: Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications
Now, on with the Review.
Eminem - Relapse (10/10)
Ok, it's been a very long time since we've heard from Marshall Mathers, in any one of his incantations. After his hiatus, he returns with relapse, and the perhaps the wildest of his personalities, Slim Shady.
Some of the more conservative readers have probably already stopped reading, but Relapse is the Slim Shady album everyone knew Eminem could pull off. Keeping the leash short fresh out of rehab. He still pulls off the celeb-bashing, mom hating rants and raves, but now there is much more onus on him, discussing his demons and how they've haunted him while he's been away.
The skits retain more hilarity, including his attorney reminding Em that Christopher Reeves is dead and claiming "..and the whole gay stepfather, incest, rape thing? I don't have your back on this. I can't fucking handle it"
The music (which is the point of a music review) is FANTASTIC. The first two tracks address to key issues with Mathers; "3am" (drug addiction and rehab), and "My Mom" (FINALLY acknowledging that he and his mother are the same). Of course there is the celeb bashing lead single "We Made You", a fantastic song to lead with, flashing Eminem's brilliance in both flow and delivery, mixed in with traditional Shady antics. Then comes THE song of the album, "Old Times Sake" which features a drop in from the legendary Dr. Dre. That song turns the tide of the album to a more mature flow the likes of which has yet to be heard from Marshall Mathers, ever.
The entire album is fantastic and worth the wait that Marshall put his fans through (although the hiatus was much needed for Em's health and sanity). I'm hoping that this album is the beginning of a new era of Eminem's fantastic career.
Tomorrow: Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
New Music Day! Preview of the Upcoming Week
Allrighty then, it's New Music Day! Upcoming this week on the blog reviews:
Wednesday: Carbon Leaf - Nothing Rhymes With Woman
Thursday: Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications
Friday: Eminem - Relapse
Monday: Mat Kearney - City of Black and White
I'm wicked stoked to get to the Eminem album, but we shall see where it goes.
Wednesday: Carbon Leaf - Nothing Rhymes With Woman
Thursday: Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications
Friday: Eminem - Relapse
Monday: Mat Kearney - City of Black and White
I'm wicked stoked to get to the Eminem album, but we shall see where it goes.
Monday, May 18, 2009
New Music Review: The Fresh & Onlys "The Fresh & Onlys EP"
Well, in the musical review world, you're going to land a few stinkers during your reviews of some new music. Akron/Family was said stinker, and I'm hoping to turn the tides back to the world of good for The Fresh & Onlys self-titled EP. Keep your fingers crossed.
The Fresh & Onlys - The Fresh & Onlys EP (7/10)
I personally enjoyed this album quite a bit. The San Francisco based Big Beat band sucks you in and never lets you go on this 14-track epic work that is some of the finest big beat music I have heard in a long, long time. My only complaint is that it is entire too quick. Track times ranging from 1:41 ("Imaginary Friends") to 3:48 ("Arm's Advice"), you really have to listen twice to catch every single nuance of the album. On my first listen, I was still taking in the fantastic-ness of "Arm's Advice" (the lead track) before I realized I was already 2/3 of the way through the album when "Nuclear Disaster" began playing. My second time through I was album to catch all that this album has to offer, and taking the time to really relish each piece as an individual and the album as a whole, which has a FANTASTIC flow, and really would have to given the short run times appearing with each song. I had to dock a few points off the album for being entire too short, thus forcing me to give it a second listen to grasp everything. (ed note: I would have listened a second time anyway, because it was THAT good) I highly recommend this album to anyone interested in a change of pace from the doldrums of modern rock and those of you who enjoy listening to The Impact (MSU's student radio 88.9fm). My favorite track is either the most pop-like on the album in "Peacock and Wing" or the early White Stripes-guitar-influenced "Endless Love".
It is quite possible that a few of the tracks, at the risk of being too repetitive, could have been 20-30 seconds longer and survived, but there really isn't a bad song on this album, a definite keeper. Not legendary by any stretch of the imagination, but one that will find itself playing on my iTunes more often that not.
Tracks to Check out:
"Endless Love"
"Peacock and Wing"
"Nuclear Disaster"
Tomorrow is NEW MUSIC DAY!! - No review tomorrow (maybe a "turn-back-the-clock" review and a preview of what's to come next week!)
The Fresh & Onlys - The Fresh & Onlys EP (7/10)
I personally enjoyed this album quite a bit. The San Francisco based Big Beat band sucks you in and never lets you go on this 14-track epic work that is some of the finest big beat music I have heard in a long, long time. My only complaint is that it is entire too quick. Track times ranging from 1:41 ("Imaginary Friends") to 3:48 ("Arm's Advice"), you really have to listen twice to catch every single nuance of the album. On my first listen, I was still taking in the fantastic-ness of "Arm's Advice" (the lead track) before I realized I was already 2/3 of the way through the album when "Nuclear Disaster" began playing. My second time through I was album to catch all that this album has to offer, and taking the time to really relish each piece as an individual and the album as a whole, which has a FANTASTIC flow, and really would have to given the short run times appearing with each song. I had to dock a few points off the album for being entire too short, thus forcing me to give it a second listen to grasp everything. (ed note: I would have listened a second time anyway, because it was THAT good) I highly recommend this album to anyone interested in a change of pace from the doldrums of modern rock and those of you who enjoy listening to The Impact (MSU's student radio 88.9fm). My favorite track is either the most pop-like on the album in "Peacock and Wing" or the early White Stripes-guitar-influenced "Endless Love".
It is quite possible that a few of the tracks, at the risk of being too repetitive, could have been 20-30 seconds longer and survived, but there really isn't a bad song on this album, a definite keeper. Not legendary by any stretch of the imagination, but one that will find itself playing on my iTunes more often that not.
Tracks to Check out:
"Endless Love"
"Peacock and Wing"
"Nuclear Disaster"
Tomorrow is NEW MUSIC DAY!! - No review tomorrow (maybe a "turn-back-the-clock" review and a preview of what's to come next week!)
New Music Review: Akron/Family "Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free"
Its been a crazy ass weekend, but I'm back at it, so without further dudes (to quote Family Guy) I present my review of Akron/Family's Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free.
Akron/Family - Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free (3.5/10)
When this album kicks off, I was kind of like "what the hell is this?". They kind of kick it off all over the place, much like the sounds of a Southern Baptist Preacher, A woman giving birth, and The Polyphonic Spree all in the same room together. The lead track "Everyone is Guilty" certainly lives up to its name. Everyone in Akron/Family (all 3 of them) is guilty of a god awful and repetitive song that is enough to drive even Bin Laden out of hiding to make it stop. All in all, "everywhere and the same place at the same time" is the best way to describe the album, as every song is quite complex musically, but lacks any time of complexity within the lyrics. The first few listens I put this album through, I couldn't stand it. The more I play through and ignore the lyrics, the better, sort of lazy day on the lake vibe takes over. Truth be told, this album, left as an instrumental work might have gotten a better score. My favorite track on the album, "Set 'Em Free" is my personal favorite because of its short run time (2:37) and thus complete lack of time to be over-repetitive and awful. Unless you enjoy crazy complex folk-inspired chaos, shy away from Akron/Family's Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free. Sometimes, you have to take the good with the bad, and I apparently this week had a little bit of both extreme ends of the spectrum.
Tracks To Check Out:
...you know what? Don't.
Up Next (today, since I fell behind over the weekend) is The Fresh & Only's - Fresh & Only's EP
Akron/Family - Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free (3.5/10)
When this album kicks off, I was kind of like "what the hell is this?". They kind of kick it off all over the place, much like the sounds of a Southern Baptist Preacher, A woman giving birth, and The Polyphonic Spree all in the same room together. The lead track "Everyone is Guilty" certainly lives up to its name. Everyone in Akron/Family (all 3 of them) is guilty of a god awful and repetitive song that is enough to drive even Bin Laden out of hiding to make it stop. All in all, "everywhere and the same place at the same time" is the best way to describe the album, as every song is quite complex musically, but lacks any time of complexity within the lyrics. The first few listens I put this album through, I couldn't stand it. The more I play through and ignore the lyrics, the better, sort of lazy day on the lake vibe takes over. Truth be told, this album, left as an instrumental work might have gotten a better score. My favorite track on the album, "Set 'Em Free" is my personal favorite because of its short run time (2:37) and thus complete lack of time to be over-repetitive and awful. Unless you enjoy crazy complex folk-inspired chaos, shy away from Akron/Family's Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free. Sometimes, you have to take the good with the bad, and I apparently this week had a little bit of both extreme ends of the spectrum.
Tracks To Check Out:
...you know what? Don't.
Up Next (today, since I fell behind over the weekend) is The Fresh & Only's - Fresh & Only's EP
Friday, May 15, 2009
New Music Review: Better Than Ezra "Paper Empire"
OK, so technically the album is entitled Better Than Ezra Plays Paper Empire but I'm not typing that every time I an unable to refer to the album without using a pronoun, so Paper Empire is all you're gonna get.
Better Than Ezra Plays Paper Empire (8/10)
This album flows fantastically, and anyone who has listened to BTE beyond Deluxe (the album with "Good", "In The Blood" and "This Time of Year") knows that every single effort they've released since has had a fantastic way of flowing, yet retaining each song's individualism. kicks off with the catchy and quietly memorable "Absolutely Still". I found myself humming the chorus all day: "I've got this nervous feeling I never wanna kill/Absolutely still.". BTE has done a fantastic job of maturing from their alt-rock/grunge roots into grown-up, big-boy alternative rock pop masters, somehow flying under the radar. "Just One Day" hearkens back to a vibe similar to "Closer" on the album of the same name; with its quiet, laid back self-reflection message. With that album (Closer) they began their intrepid quest to shake themselves from the grunge genre, and moved to more of a super-poppy, catchy hook band, and thus catapulted themselves into mainstream obscurity. The follow-up (Before The Robots) saw them pull back the reins a bit on the over the top poppyness, and move back towards a true rock band. They have FINALLY gotten the right mix with Paper Empire. They still felt it a point to remind everyone that they can write a catchy song that you will find yourself singing around your co-workers, followed by their subsequent ridicule of you, thanks to "All In" and "Hell No!". Then there is what is possibly my favorite track on the album "Nightclubbing". It has a very brit-pop feel to the song, and, coupled with "Blacklight" is really the epitome of BTE, bringing together all the pieces of who they are, who they were, and where they could be going.
All in all, its a fantastic album; not nearly their best work, but it is near the top in the ranks of Better Than Ezra's catalog. If this is an indication of what's to come from the guys in BTE, they will continue to list me as a fan, and with a little push from some viral, grassroots marketing, could add or bring back hordes more.
Tracks to check out:
"Wounded"
"Blacklight"
"Nightclubbing"
Tomorrow's (well, later today's since I'm a day behind): Akron/Family's Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free.
Better Than Ezra Plays Paper Empire (8/10)
This album flows fantastically, and anyone who has listened to BTE beyond Deluxe (the album with "Good", "In The Blood" and "This Time of Year") knows that every single effort they've released since has had a fantastic way of flowing, yet retaining each song's individualism. kicks off with the catchy and quietly memorable "Absolutely Still". I found myself humming the chorus all day: "I've got this nervous feeling I never wanna kill/Absolutely still.". BTE has done a fantastic job of maturing from their alt-rock/grunge roots into grown-up, big-boy alternative rock pop masters, somehow flying under the radar. "Just One Day" hearkens back to a vibe similar to "Closer" on the album of the same name; with its quiet, laid back self-reflection message. With that album (Closer) they began their intrepid quest to shake themselves from the grunge genre, and moved to more of a super-poppy, catchy hook band, and thus catapulted themselves into mainstream obscurity. The follow-up (Before The Robots) saw them pull back the reins a bit on the over the top poppyness, and move back towards a true rock band. They have FINALLY gotten the right mix with Paper Empire. They still felt it a point to remind everyone that they can write a catchy song that you will find yourself singing around your co-workers, followed by their subsequent ridicule of you, thanks to "All In" and "Hell No!". Then there is what is possibly my favorite track on the album "Nightclubbing". It has a very brit-pop feel to the song, and, coupled with "Blacklight" is really the epitome of BTE, bringing together all the pieces of who they are, who they were, and where they could be going.
All in all, its a fantastic album; not nearly their best work, but it is near the top in the ranks of Better Than Ezra's catalog. If this is an indication of what's to come from the guys in BTE, they will continue to list me as a fan, and with a little push from some viral, grassroots marketing, could add or bring back hordes more.
Tracks to check out:
"Wounded"
"Blacklight"
"Nightclubbing"
Tomorrow's (well, later today's since I'm a day behind): Akron/Family's Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
New Music Review: Green Day "21st Century Breakdown"
Since this is a music blog, and I don't really blog every day and really need to, I think I might try to pick up 5-7 albums every week on New Music Day (Tuesday) and provide y'all with a quickie review of each album I pick up.
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown (8.5/10)
I have been a long, long supporter of Green Day, have all the studio albums (including International Superhits!) and was in instant fan of American Idiot upon the day of its release and thought to myself "This is it, Green Day his hit the nail on the head, no topping this one". I went into listening to Green Day's newest effort 21st Century Breakdown thinking that it was going to be an exact copy of American Idiot, and would subsequently destroy my enjoyment of Green Day. I was somewhat correct. While the same "concept" feel of their last effort remains, the political overtones are pounded into my head through a different point of view. The album as a whole is essentially the journey of a couple through life in the 21st century (hence the clever title). It made for quite the background album. One of those albums that you can turn on and go do other stuff like clean or study and just let it play. The album opens with the "old-time radio" vocal effect intro with "Song of the Century" and proceeds into a reminder that Green Day has matured from a wild, punk rocking juggernaut into true musicians with a message and talent that has allowed them to pull off this transformation seamlessly. The only song that really felt out of place on the entire album was "Know Your Enemy" that lead single and only really repetitive song on the album. Somewhat of a throwback (I say somewhat because it is more of an American Idiot song than a Dookie track) with grinding guitar and little effect to transform it into something more than it needed to be. All-in-all, it's a good listen, not great, and it really could never top American Idiot nor does it try. As far as a concept/quadrant albums goes, it might be time for Green Day to re-reinvent themselves for their next album, or risk alienating and burning out long-time fans.
Tracks to Check Out:
"21 Guns"
"Restless Heart Syndrome"
"Know Your Enemy"
Tomorrow: Better Than Ezra's Paper Empire.
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown (8.5/10)
I have been a long, long supporter of Green Day, have all the studio albums (including International Superhits!) and was in instant fan of American Idiot upon the day of its release and thought to myself "This is it, Green Day his hit the nail on the head, no topping this one". I went into listening to Green Day's newest effort 21st Century Breakdown thinking that it was going to be an exact copy of American Idiot, and would subsequently destroy my enjoyment of Green Day. I was somewhat correct. While the same "concept" feel of their last effort remains, the political overtones are pounded into my head through a different point of view. The album as a whole is essentially the journey of a couple through life in the 21st century (hence the clever title). It made for quite the background album. One of those albums that you can turn on and go do other stuff like clean or study and just let it play. The album opens with the "old-time radio" vocal effect intro with "Song of the Century" and proceeds into a reminder that Green Day has matured from a wild, punk rocking juggernaut into true musicians with a message and talent that has allowed them to pull off this transformation seamlessly. The only song that really felt out of place on the entire album was "Know Your Enemy" that lead single and only really repetitive song on the album. Somewhat of a throwback (I say somewhat because it is more of an American Idiot song than a Dookie track) with grinding guitar and little effect to transform it into something more than it needed to be. All-in-all, it's a good listen, not great, and it really could never top American Idiot nor does it try. As far as a concept/quadrant albums goes, it might be time for Green Day to re-reinvent themselves for their next album, or risk alienating and burning out long-time fans.
Tracks to Check Out:
"21 Guns"
"Restless Heart Syndrome"
"Know Your Enemy"
Tomorrow: Better Than Ezra's Paper Empire.
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