LPF Reviews 3

[Black_Angel]

WAS are lovely, I shall be getting their new album methinks, the dummer has left though... marrr


Y'know what song I really like atm, that new one by The Kills, it's sooo funky, and I can't get it outta my head. just thought i'd say before i forgot. aha.

 

[tsinoitcelfer]

Tool? Lateralus? AEnima?

 

[Stenners]

I got enough to do already without going into 2001 again

 

[tsinoitcelfer]

I got enough to do already without going into 2001 again

This album is very musch worth your time. I guarantee it.

 

[Friðbjörn]

I can do Lateralus if I find it

 

[tsinoitcelfer]

I can do Lateralus if I find it

Ok, you can, but I'm going to make a thread on it as a stand alone in depth view of the different layers and meanings behind the songs. Each song ties together so well, and has plenty of influences and direct quotes and references to everything from the obvious philosophy and religion, to literature, astrology and mythology, to mathematics and science. And it's an honest to God mind****, but if you can slice your way through it, you come out a more complete person.

 

[Friðbjörn]

yeah I'm a bit familiar with Tool's depth in lyrics and philosophy. I'll probably drop that in there somewhere but I'll be focusing on the music...

 

[Stenners]

Young Knives
Superabundance
Indie/Alternative
Similar To: The Cribs, The Rakes, The Futureheads

Young Knives were once upon a time a band that led the wave of bare
mininum and intelligant pop indie along with the likes of 'The Futureheads'
this band were hotly tipped for big things. I liked their first 2 albums but
never had the will or want to love them the was just something about the
bands difficult sound to get into... I just didn't ever think the reward would
ever justify the effort to get used to the sound and to discover all the
layers.... & I be damned I was right, when I finnaly did get into their music
it still sounded just above average, the norm.... they did have some exceptional
songs and have made some of the best pop songs of the last few year with
intelligant song strcuture and lyrics. But now I feel a bit uneasy as now the
band whilst are easier to approach then before I'm left here feeling a bit
out of sorts... well let me put it this way... You know that smelly kid at school
who was shy and never spoke and had a weird eye, he was hard to approach
you couldn't get to know him or get close without being turned off but you
always wanted to know him as your sure deep down he is a lovely guy, now
imagine this guy got rich and got baved in milk and honey and dressed well
but had lost all of lifes values as if its not him but a persception of how they
should be percived... sure you can now get close to him and approach him
but everything he spurts is utter cliche twatishness thats as deep as I am
Mary Queen Of Scots and Universe.

Charlies Angels, the directors cut

O okay what I'm saying here is whilst the music is approachable
and isn't particualy bad company the lack of depth and genuine
stuff on offer isn't there... they are the band that make up numbers
and contribute a little bit of atmosphere whilst never taking anyones
interest by great storms. The album will continue in this metaphore
as occasionly he does say something interesting (in the form of 3
- 4 good songs in this albums case) but then follows it up with something
dull, predictable and forgetable.... Again I must stress this album
isn't BAD it has some good pop songs but its over polished and no
longer innocent and the sound they are producing is to please others
rather then reprosent themselves as for what they are, which is the
rough sounding almost lo-fi pop scallions who made me laugh and
smile... now they are just the one that everyone knows to a degree
but dont care about. (5)

Terra Firma
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DABpRKJeq3o

Up All Night
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TVxfH5vMM-o

 

[Stenners]

Tokyo Police Club
Elephant Shell
Indie/Alternative/Art Rock
Similar To: The Strokes, Modest Mouse, Good Shoes

These guys have been building up quite a mini storm about them, offering
music appriciated by both those involved deep in the music scene and the
people that are in it for the hooks, the sing alongs and the infectious melodies
and Tokyo Police Club offered this in huge amounts with their debut mini album
'A Lesson In Crime'. They have done this by applying the method that 'The Strokes'
used to be all about which is by intrigating interesting guitar and drum work with
fairly standard bass and percussion, now this works so well on many levels because
the is enough here to grab the person instantly but the is enough here to keep
the album interesting & it's usualy why bands that adapt this approach rightfuly
grab the attention of the media as well as the e-zines. The band themselves
specialise in offering music in small doses, often under 3minutes in length and
this works to their advantage as well, no song ever gets tired or outstays it's
welcome.

Whilst the guitar riffs and basslines sound typical 'Strokes' of yesteryear
the use of xcylephones and chellos and such sound posetivley modern
Modest Mouse, with the light hearted jingles resembeling Float On or
'Little Motel' for example and the use of strings sounding familiar to the
likes 'The World At Large' it's a combonation that works wonders and
whilst isn't unique or original or ground breaking is just the sort of thing
needed to make an album so infectious. The problems I find inlie the production
where the vocals seem too high in comparison to the rest of the music, the sound
of the old album was pretty much spot on with his vocal straining to get above
the noise guitars and hyperactive bass lines..... sure it made the album harder
to get into but the reward was all the more satisfying, however this albums production
isn't too bad and could of been alot more radio friendly.

The are many tunes and potential singles on this album and a couple other
songs which aren't as instant but do open themselves to you the more time
you give to them, the album includes the single that was released about
9months ago 'Your English Is Good' which was one of the best singles of
last year but also includes new songs 'In A Cave', 'Juno' & 'Tesselate' which
are every bit as catchy, I haven't heard an album this instant and fulfilling
in a long time and I suggest anyone that likes bands such as 'The Strokes',
'Young Knives', 'Futureheads' or any other art rock indie band should deffinatly
check it out, it's a rewarding short listen where its only real flaw is it's overly
loud vocals. (8)

Your English Is Good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KGCAffvGIw

 

[Friðbjörn]

album: wonder what's next
artist: chevelle
genre: alternative rock

I remember a while ago, maybe 3-4 years ago, I listened to the rock stations such as XFM like crazy. And I realized while listening to this album that I had actually at that time heard at least one song from this album. Send the pain below it was called.

The singer sings in your typical mainstream rock way. He adds his own touches, but most of the time I feel like he either doesn't give a damn about what the lyrics are, he sings indifferently, which is understandable, cause there is nothing original or spectacular there to find, or he sings if someone's behind his back poking him with something. Annoying, but not enough for him to really let out much emotion.
The guitars, as everything else, stick to the formula. Power chords. And wait a minute, people can actually use power chords in different ways! But guess what, Chevelle doesn't. And there are no soloes, no breakdowns, just the regular palm mutes here and there, slightly distorted. Sometimes a more relaxed moment, and sometimes they use clean. Congrats.
I have to add that the drummer doesn't seem to have heard of toms.


I didn't set out to write this review out of spite, but it just ended up reminding me why I stopped listening to anything marked as "alternative rock".
Like I said above, I had heard one song off this before. But it was clearly not good enough for me to remember it, its style, its lyrics, its progression.

There were a few moments on the album that actually reminded me of metal, but then either the singer started singing, or the riffs progressed. I kinda thought, oh these guys may have heard of Meshuggah. But the difference is that the drummer of Meshuggah is actually talented, and the guitarists are 10 times better and can handle muscle-aching thrashing riffs for minutes long. The singer reminds me of the cheesiness of Chester on the latest LP album, frankly. A lot of this album sounded like the thieves and hypocrites scream part of No more sorrow.


Basically this review goes all over and is pitter patter everywhere jumping from this and that. I didn't intentionally do that, but maybe it helps you the reader understand that this is the opposite from this Chevelle album. I'm not gonna call this another TBS in monotonality, but it gets way too close. 80% of the songs sound exactly the same. I'm wondering how these guys can strum different similar paced power chord patterns without realizing that they're doing the same things over and over.

rating: 2/10, for the little pieces of anger and angst here and there.

 

[Stenners]

Portishead
Third
Trip Hop/Electronic/Alternative
Similar Artists: Massive Attack, Lamb

Well it's FINNALY here, all those bitches whining about LP's album taking 4
freakin years! 4!!!! Now thats nothing when you compare to the likes of
Portishead who we have waited almost 11, count em! 11 years to finnaly
come up with a follow up to their self titled album released way back in
1997.... that's from the last millenium people! So yes, 14 years after the
band came bursting onto the scene we have their 3rd album, the band that
made trip hop popular are finnaly back and they have continued with the
combination of trip hop, jazz and house to make some spiraling sprawling
sounds.

The worst possible outcome for this album which I think most people
feared may of been the case would of been the album sounding like
a come back... as if it was a forced come back and would disrupt the
flow of their previous 2 classic albums. On first listen I was most certainly
not sure but now I can safely say this sounds like a natural progression,
the is nothing forced about it... it's as if the band never left and is a
rightful follow-up to 'Portishead'. The album is just about as dark as you
of expected to be with guitars sprawling in the background, thick basslines
and haunting vocals from Beth Gibbons remaining as potent and consistent
as ever. The music on here at times is slight more uptempo then previous
output with the opener 'Silence' and 'We Carry On' being prime examples
of this, 'We Carry On' could almost be considerd dancey. The sounds
used on this album are at times very disorientating 'Machine Gun' is a fantastic
example of this were elctronic glitches and samples swithc stereo channels
at quite a frantic level... the album has plenty to write home about in terms
of technichal ability and soundscope but part of Portisheads appeal is to
be able to do this whilst making a memorable tune and the are plenty of hooks
and melodies which will stick in your head.

Argubaly one of the best bands of the 90s Portishead have put out an album that
will probably be contending for album of the year 08 on many peoples lists. It's music
to be put on in the background or in the foreground, its versatile and totally familiar
without out being stagment or stale, it's got the distinctive Portishead sound and
existing fans will find alot to like about them here.... but people still alien to their
sound may appriciate this album all the more. It is deffinatly up there with the likes
of 'Dummy' maybe just feeling a little short from the lack of a CLASSIC single but
as an album you wont get much better this year (9.5)

 

[Stenners]

Animal Collective
Water Curses [EP]
Experimental Pop
Similar To: Born Ruffians, Panda Bear, Black Dice, Deerhoof

Everyones faviroute experimental pop band just don't stop giving us new
treats, touring songs and albums a year + before they are even released
this band pretty much are the textbook defenition of Pro-Active. One of
the few true great bands of our age 'Animal Collective' are yet to put out
and album I would consider less then 9/10 material, no matter what sound
they seem to try with they can hit it well. And you damn well no what, even
though these are just outtakes from the 'Strawberry Jam' era this short
but sweet 4 track collection has some good songs... damned good ones
I mean the title track and opener is blissfuly euphoric does of good will
and inticing melodies under a clutter of drums in the uniquely unfamiliar
yet holey familiar pop edge of AC.

'Street Flash' takes on a more sparse approach with very distant use
of the drums and a simple plodding melody with very much turned down
vocals... it's all mixed together superbly and is a thing of beauty very
much so. The later 2 songs are just as good with 'Cobwebs' most certainly
being the hooky one of the album and probably the most instant and
'Seal Eyeing' reminding me older Animal Collective material... the collaberation
of vocals is deliscious and the production seems a bit improved over that
of 'Strawberry Jam' which was the last albums only real weakness, it's not
as approachable as 'Strawberry Jam' but it's deffinatly a superb EP... a
needed EP and it's good to see it come to the light of day as it would
of been such a shame to have seen these songs go to waste. (9)

PS that really isnt the cover

 

[Stenners]

Mystery Jets
Twenty One
Indie Pop/Alternative/Brit Pop
Similar To: Larrikin Love, Pull Tiger Tail, Good Books

Mystery Jets were one of those bands tipped for great things whilst never really
achieving them, in 2006 they had a feature track on the NME by the name of
'Alas Angus' and everything looked good for them but by the time 'Making Dens'
came out the 2 lead singles 'Boy That Ran Away' & 'You Can't Fool Me Dennis'
whilst did make a ripple didn't make a splash in the mainSTREAM (eh u see what
i did there dont u) that was expected and since then the band sort of pitter
patterd back into obscurity... occasionly cropping up at a festvial and releasing
a track here and there. To be perfectly honest I really liked the debut album
'Making Dens' but I just couldn't see if I would muster up the enthusiasm for the
bands next offering... I just couldn't see it being good... I mean they had alot
of good single releases since then and the was no real reasson to believe they
would fall short this time but the was something about their sudden dissaperance
and constant re-releasing of 'Making Dens' to be too sure.

I may look a bit simple but this is scrumptious

The first thing I noticed about this album is that the majority of the prog
rock and pscycadelica influences seem to be absent from this album (but
this was to be expected with recent releases) and the band seem to be
looking at a far more traditonal indie pop sound... and it has to be said this
is probably (although I would never of thought so if told so) the smartest
move this band has ever made. The songs have hooks, toones of them &
they are well structured... not to mention the lush melodies and the 80's
tinged 'Two Doors Down' being one of the finest singles of the year. The album
doesn't feel nearly as all over the place as 'Making Dens' and the are no weak
tracks here, the are some stunners though such as 'Young Love' which features
hotly tipped Laura Marling (review comming up tommorow) with its interesting
guitar riff over the rather traditional percussion hitting off a treat. Overall
this album feels alot more complete, focused and streamline then their debut
and whilst the is nothing near 'Zoolander' in terms of psycadelic brilliance the
pop songs here are some of the best I have heard in a long long time and the
are plenty of them (9)

Young Love
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qz-FoGp3p0s

Flakes
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KqovJXUTwTE

 

[Friðbjörn]

I'm not sure Ref still reads this, but I'm honoring his request anyway.

album: Lateralus
artist: Tool
year: 2001
genre: progressive rock

I think people can fight endlessly over whether Tool is metal, but in my book, it's not. It's not heavy enough. That's just me.
Now, Tool is a very special band. I think Tool and Radiohead are the two really alternative bands, in the true sense of the word, that receive mainstream airplay, and artistic freedom on major labels.
You have to hand it to Tool that they have mastered spectacular time signatures, distorted power chord riffs, and mystic melodies in progressive arrangements. There's nothing progressive about the instrument selection and setup, that's just standard for most rock bands, but Tool does prove that you can use that setup, take influence from here and there, and actually make your own thing. I don't think there's any band quite like Tool. People have mentioned APC, but that's mainly for the vocals of Maynard, which actually aren't really the same in APC as in Tool.
Now having said all this, it comes down to one thing. Tool have mastered the form. What does that mean? It doesn't mean that they make great songs. It just means that they have talent enough to avoid most clichés. It may also mean that they really have to reinvent themselves for the next album.
Having heard all the Tool albums, the band has never appealed that much to me. This is a band with potential, but sometimes just lacks something to make their music a bit better. That final stretch over the finish line.

The only band that has come close to Tool in any sense is the London-based stoner rock meets post-metal band Capricorns. The similarities mainly lie in the similar use of powerchords at times, added with single note songchapters, and just the overall first impression of the sound. However Capricorns are much more dissonant, and are instrumental, and have a bit of a different approach. Even more abstract at times in structures. And they're also more to the point.
Which brings me to the one Tool album I've reviewed before this one, 10.000 days. Trademark album for my sofar opinion of Tool. Great material, just not really handled in the best way. Chapters are overly long and going nowhere, even the vocals of Maynard are sub-par.

Now, to finally get to the target album here, Lateralus.
The first song I heard by Tool was the title song. Maybe that was not such a good idea. The title song is indeed the best song on this album, and if you ask me, the best song ever written by Tool. Namely, my listening to Tool went downhill after Lateralus. Nothing could compare. I guess listening to the horrible 10.000 pieces of **** didn't exacly help.

However coming back to this whole album, it's not as bad as I've usually felt. It's full of oddly harmonized vocals by Maynard, flurrying bass riffs, and steady beats. The problem that plagues Tool however as usual is that they need more. They get half the way, but don't quite get there. Suggesting radical changes to bands tends to piss people off in general, especially fans, but I don't care in this instance. If Tool were to recruit a keyboardist, or perhaps another guitarist, or better yet a multi-instrumentalist, they'd be better off. It would change their sound for the better. It would most definately give their songs more depth, which is something I feel is missing. The riffs and vocals that are there already do make you think, but they do need something to accompany them.
That's the first half anyway. Towards the second half, and especially to the last few tracks of the album it takes a bit of a different turn. It's as if Tool starts to add more textures and layers to the songs towards the end, Disposition and Reflection good examples of that. They are also the songs that go over the finish line, like Lateralus, instead of going pretty close to it and then wandering off into the distance.

Again, compared to the other mainstream bands Tool stands out as superior, especially in their daring arrangements and song lengths, and in thought. They write meaningful philosophical lyrics, and while it doesn't rank as the best credit ever, many numetal singers (and more actually I think, and I hope) cite Maynard as a big influence.
However standing out among the mainstream doesn't mean you're necessarily that good. And in Tool's instance, it means you're between the lame mainstream, and the more creative underground.

rating: 68%.

 

[Stenners]

The reason I never liked tool is because they are unfourtanate enough to be caught in musical limbo in that they arent one thing or the other, some bands can be ****in loopy and get mass exposure (sonic youth) or just be plain out poppy and still craft out good music (the shins) Tool dont seem to be either.

 

[Stenners]

Animal Collective
Sung Tongs
Experimental Pop/Psycadelic
Similar To: Xiu Xiu, Caribou, Grizzly Bear
Released: June 1st 2004

Pop is NOT a dirty word and no further proof in this then Animal Collective, in
spirit of their latest EP 'Water Curses' I thought I'd re-investigate on this little
gem which was the start of Animal Collectives proplusion into a bigger audience.
This album releases signerfied an AC that was more inclined to more conventional
sounds, it's earthy and full of melody and harmonies... but thats not to say its
not a busy record, its very busy at times and to the untrained ear may seem
clutterd but the first listen is never the best listen to go by... come to the 3rd
or 4th listen you discover deep textures and soothing melodies to touch your
soul and leave shivers down your spine. The are plenty of hooks here and whilst
not as conventional as 'Strawberry Jam' this was the first album of theirs I could
truley understand and love.

Considering their roots of a band going from just striahgt up Psycadelic Prog this
is a very strong Pop album which would lay the blueprint down for the sound in
'Feels' and which would be re-structured to provide the brilliant 'Strawberry
Jam'. Many of the songs here sounds like campfire jams, with strumming of the
guitar and humming being very much on the agenda 'The Softest Voice' sums
this one up very well with electronic bleeps sounding remarkably earthy for such
a synthetic sound & this is what is so good about AC, they are at one with the
earth on their sound and it is a general breath of fresh air, even amongst the
experimental music scene. The yelling on this album is alot more minimal then on
later albums its all about the melodic vocal play between Panda Bear and Avery
Tare... it provides a dreamy, trippy & freeloving world which you don't wish to
leave, its a world of peace and tranquilty & is a real album to get lost in. (10)

Who Could Win A Rabbit
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UTbd0Ncsyus

Leaf House
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3BGkF6uNIl0&feature=related

PS Who Could WIn A Rabbit audio is dissapointly watery on youtube

 

[Breakdown Conspiracy]

Yo wheres the Portishead - third review?

 

[Jeezy]

Yo wheres the Portishead - third review?

http://www.linkinparkforums.com/showthread.php?p=557595#post557595

 

[Stenners]

Yo wheres the Portishead - third review?

Its only 2 pages in n people cant find stuff :O

 

[Breakdown Conspiracy]

http://www.linkinparkforums.com/showthread.php?p=557595#post557595

Its only 2 pages in n people cant find stuff :O

Oh haha sorry. I shouldve looked. *begs for forgiveness*