LPF Album Reviews 2.0

[crazy robster]

Wooohoo Mattie 10/10! This is what shocked me more! I thought Modest Mouse were your top ones and still you gave them 9/10! Well I dunno whether this album is everyone's cup of tea or not but surely there must be sth special about it musically! I bet most people will give it a try at least out of curiosity!! Yeah I guess if someone's not so much into mainstream they will like it (judging from what I've read ok? I don't know what it sounds anyway^^) Just amazed by your rating is all...lol :thumbsup:

[Stenners]

Ya know when u hear an album n ur instantly in tune with it, im not quite there though i love the thing, I heard it again straight after and instantly liked it more. This is an album that is going to grow on me just because i got the same feeling with all the other albums I class as an all time faviroute.

[Stenners]

David Vandervelde - The Moonstation House Band

 

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/14537359c649b314d5ca43947ae7bcf6.jpg

 

Artist: David Vandervelde

Album: The Moonstation House Band

Genre: Indie Rock/Alternative

 

David Vandervelde has been compared to many artists, mainly the super T-Rex and on several occasions The Rollingstone and whilst you can hear these influences threw out his music he carrys a style all of his own, on this his debut effort he plays almost every single damned instrument on show which in its self is impressive.

 

01 - Nothin' No - A really strong opening track, its got a strong hook and fantastic melody.

 

02 - Jacket - Another very good song, a similar style to Nothin No' keeps the album going at a good pace.

 

03 - Feet Of A Liar - This song takes a different direction to the previous 2, alot more accoustical and poppy with deep layers, it works pretty well but it's not directly what I consider a brilliant tune.

 

04 - Corduroy Blues - In much the same vein as 'Feet Of A Liar' this is another heavily layerd gentle tune which doesn't really do too much for me, it all seems a little too protenscious.

 

05 - Wisdom From A Tree - A stronger track than the previous 2 this carrys of again, many layers, but with a much more upbeat tune and with that its alot more memorable. The hook is pretty strong also.

 

06 - Can't See You Face No More - This track is very remenisent of T-Rex its a nice strong track lacking a real strong melody but it works non the less. The hook is pretty strong.

 

07 - Murder In Michigan - A real nice track and one of the stand out moments, its beautifully put together and melodically and lyrically sound one of THE stand out moments of the album.

 

08 - Moonlight Instrumental - A very strong instrumental, not like his over heavily layerd tracks this one doesn't sound overly protentious and it finnishes the album off really well.

 

Overall I find this album a little inconsistent and at time a tad protentious, it doesnt push many boundries but in it's sense he has found a sound to work with. The best tracks are those that stick to the T-Rex influences but I still think this is a really strong album worthy of many listens.

 

8/10

[Stenners]

Score Run Down '07

 

So far all the albums I have reviwed from best to worst in 2007 (not exclusivley 2007 releases)

 

 

Marnie Stern In Advance of.... 10... Indie/Hard Rock... Amazingly original, great guitar work

Modest Mouse We Were Dead... 9 ...Indie Rock ...Consistently brilliant

The Shins Winching The... 8.5... Indie Pop.... Smart, catchy and usualy brilliant

Apples In.... New Magnetic... 8 ....Indie Pop.... Fun album with great melodies

Klaxons Myths Of The.... 8.... Nu-Rave.... Consistent and highly dancable

Bloc Party Weekend In.... 8... Indie Rock..... Music with presence and meaning

NOISettes Whats The Time... 7.75.... Indie Punk.... Hooky, wares towards end though

CSS Cansei De Ser.... 7.... Nu-Rave.... Dancey, musically fine... lyrics not

FuturepilotAKA Secrets Of The... 6.9... Alternative... Full of so much talent yet flawed

Little Man Tate About What You... 6.5... Lads Rock... Good filler before next arctics album

Towers Of.... Im A Rat 6.5.... Punk.... It's okay, some good moments

Good The Bad.. Good The Bad &... 6.... Indie ....Not sing along, not dancey, okay alt.

Fallout Boy Infinity On A High 6 Stadium Rock No longer emo, all the better 4 it

Kaiser Chiefs Yours Truly Angry.. 5.75.... Britpop.... Average, has little of the charm needed

Gossip Standing In The.. 5.... Indie Punk..... It all sounds the same!

Anberlin Cities..... 4.... Emo..... Have no sound of there own

The Used Berth.... 1.5 ....EMO/Live.... Converts...for all the wrong reassons

[Stenners]

LPF Reviews 2.0 - The Soundtrack To The Month

 

Basically this is where you get to listen to some of my faviroute songs from the month! YAY?!?!?! Well yea u can just download my playlist here! Good way to get an idea of what im saying and even a way for u to discover new music!

 

http://rapidshare.com/files/19664894/March07playlist.zip.html

 

Jan-March 07

01. Arcade Fire - Intervention [Alternative]

02. Tokyo Police Club - Citizens Of Tommorow [indie Rock]

03. Marnie Stern - Grapefruit [Alternative]

04. Grinderman - No Pussy Blues [Hard Rock/Alternative]

05. Jamie T - If You Got The Money [Alt.Hop]

06. Field Music - Sit Tight [indie]

07. Modest Mouse - Missed The Boat [indie]

08. Deerhoof - The Perfect Me [indie Pop/Alternative]

09. The Apples In Stereo - Can You Feel It [indie Pop/Alternative]

10. Kings Of Leon - Charmer [indie Rock/Alternative]

11. !!! - All My Heroes Are Weirdos [Nu-Rave/Electro-Indie]

12. Klaxons - Atlantis To Interzone [Nu-Rave]

13. Horrors - Count In Fives [Nu-Rave/Alt.Metal]

14. Futurepilot AKA - Nuclear War [indie/Alternative]

 

 

----some of these came out a month or 2 ago but i wont do this in future ^_^

[Peterdea]

dude thats a sweet idea! gonne get it right away! :thumbsup:

[Stenners]

Haha glad u liked the idea the is quite a bit of variety on offer

[crazy robster]

Thanks Matt!! This is a brilliant idea!!! So kind of you, I'm downloading it as we speak! ^^

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/ad745e340c9949167dcd872ba5cb0e42.jpg

 

Artist: Deerhoof

Album: Friend Opputunity [song On Playlist]

Release: 2007

Genre: Indie/Alternative Rock

 

Lets face it Deerhoof are a strange bunch, especially in their vocals, so heavily layerd that they just sound wrong. It shouldn't work at all but as much as I see flaws in the vocal style I cant help but to love them, it just seems to work with their mish mash sound. This their 9th release in 10 years shows the band with their most melodic and 'normal' sound ever.

Now people either LOVE deerhoof or hate them and it's unlikely this album is gonna turn any heads to people who didnt like them before, a band on their 9th album is unlikely to accurie a massive new fan base short of completely changing their sound, which Deerhoof haven't. The opening 2 tracks are brilliantly done I especially like the way that part of the hook +81 is simply just a 'beep' these songs are fairly standard then Believe E.S.P comes in with chugging guitars and the inclusion of harpsichords naturally keeps it true to the up beat sound of Deerhoof. The next song is somewhat of a mess and kind of directionless 'The Galaxist' just doesnt really work and is an easily skippable song. The next song 'Choco Fight' is a real oddity, sound like a hip hop beat and shuffles along nicleys, then it decends into a very gental synth melody, unfourtenetly this song is just too long and runs the idea into the ground pretty soon. 'Whither The Invisible Birds' sounds extremely atmospheric when it begins with heavy use of calming synths it is essentially a chill out song, it works to an extent but I dont know the vocals just dont seem to work for it. 'Cast Off Crown' is a welcome return to form after a somewhat dissapointing mid point, the sound is a hetic as ever but thats what made me love Deerhoof in the firstplace. Again it divuldges into other genres such as hip hop the is even guest vocals (dont ask me who by) its amazing how a song so soft for the most part can have such guitar bridge as it does, a very well constructed song. Kidz Are So Small is a very interesting piece, again divuldging into electronic elements and hip hop elements of music it's an extremely bizzare and good song for me one of the stand out moments. Matchbook starts off sounding like some glam rock throw back but it then softly goes into melody and is again one of the stronger moments of the album before a slow and graduel build up with goes really nice. The closer 'Look Away' sounds like some weird mix, on the other hand it sounds like it could of been something 'Modest Mouse' would of done (especially the intro) but on the other hand it sounds just like something 'Deerhoof' should of included on their album, lets just say thank God lol.

The is something endeering about 'Deerhoofs' sound that always makes me come back for more, no matter how diverse it really is, though not as good as I hoped its still a fairly strong album it sure isnt no 'Reiville' or 'Apple O' but its a very strong album. If only the lowlights werent so low, the midde of the album does deffinatly falter this otherwise good and unique album. Like Sonic Youth I may never understand how Deerhoof mantains such creative control with such a different and out there sound and I do hope, like Sonic Youth, they maintain this control.

 

7.5/10

[Stenners]

Bargain Gold

 

Cheap CD's worth listening too! Totally worth your pocket money!

 

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/36a5c89aa5ed421b5ea5eb9dce29a153.jpg

 

Artist: Talking Heads

Album: Fear Of Music [Remasterd 2005]

Genre: Funk/Alternative Rock/ Indie/ Disco

 

It would be bloody impossible to deffine this band into a specific genre, trying to would give even einstine a headache. Thats the simple reasson I love them, they are a band you cant deffinie they have their own sound and my God it's a good sound and totally worth a purchase or gander now at only £5 - £6 in most major record stores. Originally released in 1979, this album still sound devishylu fresh and clearly has an influence on many bands of today such as the bizzare vocal delivery of 'The Pixies' and 'Modest Mouse'. The opening track 'I Zimbra' is so full of disco funk thats what you would swear the album is all about 'Mind' is a lil more surreal and where the infectious 'Paper' shows where Modest Mouse got most of its influence from. It's just a great start which never really falters as the album goes on, the variety is forever present but it does feel as if it should all be together, it feels right. The best song on this album might be 'Life During War Time' a deep felt song about war ridden times of recent years and a constant worry of nuclear war between the USSR and US breakling out saying 'This Notebook wont help me during war time'. Overall this album is a very strong and nice mixed affair full of strong spots from a band that is so diverse that they clearly heavily influenced 'Modest Mouse' and 'LCD Soundsystem' which are 2 of the best bands currently in the Indie scene. This album is a monster where its only falter is, despite being remasterd, it hasnt transferd to well onto CD yet.

 

10/10

 

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/1382700f3f0a335d8b3600330a12e85a.jpg

 

Artist: Pulp

Album: Different Class

Genre: Brit Pop

 

Now I dont want to start any arguments with this statement but 'THIS IS THE BEST BRIT POP EVER HAS AND EVER WILL OFFER' this is clearly the jewl in the crown of britishness. More musically refined then Blur, yet still has all their charm, much more varied then Oasis.... yet their songs are just as instantly recognisable. Yes you have to love Jarvis and crew who manage to pull out great songs of their ass. People must of thought following an album such to the standards as 'His And Hers' would be verging on impossible! But they had done it with great style, everyone will get up and dance to this record 'Disco 2000' and 'Common People' are already classics and still enjoy heavy radio play where 'Bar Italia' and 'Sorted For E & Wizz' whilst not as well known are just as good. The whole album is strong, funny & full of quirky ideas, forget Oasis & Blur these are the true brit pop kings, go pick this up its like only £5.

 

10/10

 

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/84b5ca57741b0795931bee320bb40321.jpg

 

Artist: Modest Mouse

Album: Lonesome Crowded West

Genre: Indie/Alternative Rock

 

Now wait one second! People expecting a CD full of 'Float On's' and 'Dashboards' could just walk on right now. With the release of 'We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank' pending, all of Modest Mouses back catalouge has seen a dramatic fall in price, these albums used to be really hard to get a hold of.... once upon a time it was 'Good News' or Moon & Antarctica.... now u can easily get their whole 10 year back cataloug at a price of £5. Beasides 'Moon & Antarctica' this is their other MUST OWN classic. The album sounds like Pixies suffering some sort of deep inner torment that they havent figured out yet 'Teeth Like Gods Shoeshine' sums up the albums in 6mins, it has the hetic guitars with shouting/yelping (like other songs e.g. 'Convinient Parking') and then the focus goes onto nice melodic story telling (polar opposites) overall this album is a non stop thrill ride, sounds extremely raw and has so much energy. Every track is basically an indie gem and whilst not perfect and it does some times loose focus this is easily one of my faviroute albums of all time and its' only £5.

 

9.75/.10

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/a1e926d90e1e1890a3822eaf96a009e8.jpg

 

Artist: Be Your Own Pet

Album: Be Your Own Pet

Genre: Noise Rock

 

If you asked me what bands inspired this Noise Rock outfit i'd deffinatly say the bands that most modern Noise Rock or Indie Punk bands seem to be inspired by 'Sonic Yout, Yeah Yeah Yeahs oh yah and deffinatly the Pixies' and yes they do sound like a tremendous blend of these collectives though the album never reaches any of these 3 bands standards! Which is a shame as song such as 'Threshers Flail' are quitye obviously very good but the album its self sort of blends it's self almost too much, it doesnt sound that distinguished. The is soooo much potential here but until they realise it they will never be more than a Yeah Yeah Yeahs rip off.

 

6/10

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/babb34f7b4294a05c3aa560ddf7c48e4.jpg

Artist: RJD2

Album: The Third Hand

Genre: Pop/Electronic

 

This, the talented producers latest album sees him branch away from his hip hop roots and moves on to make a album totally away from his roots and essentially makes a pop album designed to be full of hooks and be uplifiting? Will it work, because I know many many hip hop producers that have moved on to do this only to totally hash it up, in fact the only producer I know that has moved onto other things and done it to GREAT effect is DJ Muggs with Dust. And yah..... this album is pretty damned bog standard... in fact at times it moves onto the laughable and unbarable. Absolutley nothing really stands out about this album, sure at times the production is brilliant which is too be expected from a producer of RJD's calobah but it never even scratches near his brilliant previous work. It's all a horribly clatterd piece of work the vocals are rather dyer, in fact other then 'Beyond' I would really say this album has nothing to offer.... though having said that Beyond is actually a very strong well done track..... stick to what your good at mate is all I have to say, a huge dissapointment.

 

3.5/10

[GraDoN]

woot awesome man!!!!

you seem to like Alternative Rock and Indie

[Stenners]

^^

 

Im usualy quite open to many types of music its just i find indie alot more appealing then most genres nowa days. Though I try to look around other genres as often as possible, my playlist can be extremely diverse lol.

[Stllmn8j]

You are right about Rjd2's album,he should really just stick to collaborating with Aceyalone

[Black_Angel]

I love BYOP!

May check out that Pulp album...

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/9deee2745fcb6bd01d53fc6e5ff4e3ea.jpg

 

Artist: Eminem & Various

Album: Re-Up

Genre: Gangsta Rap

 

Don't u just love modern hip hop? It's right to the point and subterly violent........ FUCK NO its right in ur fucking face un inteligant crap. And you do know im only talking about the mainstream here, the is plenty of gems in the underground. Which probably explains why this 'mix tape' got put out in the mainstream its just not cool enough for underground, putting out in the underground would result in no sales cause eveyone knows Eminem and 50 Cent fans are lil white kids in burberry. So yah, so embarrased to slot this in I have to turn off my audio scrobbler and turn my speakers down or wait till people leave. Now I used to love Eminem, Marshall Mathers and Slim Shady are genuingly good whitty albums, the Eminem Show had some good moments too but since his work for the 8mile soundtrack everything after has been total trash, not to mention the guys he works with Obie *spits*, D12 *gags* and 50cent *throws up* have NEVER released an album worth listening to. This is no different these guys togehter kill an idea, a terrible idea it was but I couldn't of expected it to be this bad.

Eminem feels lack luster and the others feel as much as in his shadow as ever, 50 cent is just an over hyped slack jawed yokel. The is nothing really that redeeming on this album other then the only moment of humour on the album 'Jimmy Crack Corn' other then that its all stereotypical music which proves everything thats wrong with mainstream hip hop, a mixtape doesnt work without ludacris disses, this album proves it.

 

2.5/10

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/d385f75313df1a9b9181017dca56807a.jpg

 

Artists: Enter Shakari

Album: Take To The Skies

Genre: Rave Metal/Nu Hardcore

 

Lets face it, old skool rave is comming back in a huge way.... not in the way people may of expected being incorporated in both soft rock and now nu hardcore you got to think to yourself that clubbing with glowsitcks is very much back on the cards. Enter Shakari, a band I have the upmost respect for declining many major labels and taking the much more indie route release this album 'Take To The Skies'. Normally people may assume that anything that is nu-hardcore I would immediatly slag off and whilst the vocal styles are still not my thing this album is full of strong songs, the mix of rave and hardcore goes down a treat, much more intense and less of a novelty then say 'The Horrors' this is an album to both rave and mosh to. Though having said that this album does have some fundemental flaws.... first of all the sound quality doesnt truley represent the sound this band tries to give which is a powerful and heavy experiance. 2nd of all the shouting at times grows a little thing but for the most part.... for what it is.... it's a good listen.

 

7.5/10

[Black_Angel]

Ooo is Enter Shikari out now?! Yays! I'm well addicted to their new song.

[Stenners]

MORE Bargain Bin gold! YAY!!!!!

 

http://www.pixiesmusic.com/img/albums/doolittle.jpg

 

Artist: Pixies

Album: Doolittle

Genre: Alternative Rock

Price: £5 est.

 

If no one knows this band by now then shame on u! Not only do they influence at least 25% of rock out there right now you should also know this is one of the most shockingly consistent rock album of its type your every likely to hear! Truley a class act this album consistently and quicky shoves u threw 15 tracks in a mere 30mins and a bit but it all works, short as it may be it's the perfect length and nothing feels over done, stand out moments are most deffinatly 'Here Comes Your Man' and 'That Monkeys Gone To Heaven' but having said that the supporting tracks would be stand outs in any other rock album of this era. The main inspiration of Nirvana apparently, well 'smells like teen spirit', but I see them as so much more.

 

10/10

 

http://www.scenepointblank.com/reviews/covers/00371.jpg

 

Artist: LCD Soundsystem

Album: LCD Soundsystem

Genre: Funk Rock/Disco Indie

Price: £5 est.

 

Now let me start by saying, this is clearly my faviroute release of 2005 and was staggerd to see it already at the £5 price mark! The album is just a hip shaker threw start to finnish and is totally worth the £5. Its over 2 discs and maybe a tad over stretched but quite frankly i think its pure geneius, good fun.

 

9.75/10

[Friðbjörn]

lol

what you said about Re-up is so true...I mean come on, why's he ruining his own career by always doing tracks with slack rappers like 50 and obie...D-12 guys are alright though

[Jeezy]

Well...Matt asked me to help him out...so...I'll start this with a review of the new album from Young Buck "Buck The World"

 

http://www.iap-tv.com/images/bucktheworld.jpg

 

Artist: Young Buck

Album: Buck The World

Label: G-Unit/Interscope

Genre: Gangster Rap

 

Well...first and foremost, this album has more to offer than just "Slow Your Roll" feat. Chester.

With his newest effort Young Buck delivers exactly what you would expect from him, a hard gangster rap album with some strong language. So...if you not into that kind of genre, you shouldn't listen to it. But if you like rap songs about the streets, and selling drugs and all that typical gangster things, that you've never experienced yourself, you should deffinately check out this album. Young Buck offers you the best gangster rap record out right now, but what makes him different from all this regular rappers is that he adds his true feelings to the songs...and that's where we come back to "Slow Your Roll" which is probably the deepest and most heartfelt song that Buck has ever done.Also the record offers new productions from Timbaland, Eminem,JR Rotem and Dr.Dre.

Other notable songs on Buck The World are:

 

U Aint Goin Nowhere

Get Buck

Hold On

Push It Back

Buss Ya Head

 

and

Say It To My Face

 

 

Rating:

 

7/10

[Stenners]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/29/00017725_neonbible.jpg

 

Artist: Arcade Fire

Album: Neon Bible

Genre: Alternative

 

Listen out for the massive sound of Arcade Fire, you can hear it almsot every where. The big sound braught on by brass instruments, delightfully placed strings layerd and produced to a glimpse of heaven, thats what I would of said about Funueral which is a near masterpiece. This Arcade Fires 2nd full length release 'Neon Bible' shows the band just as dreary and depressed as ever, not a band for optimisum or dancing, Arcade Fire offer meaningful lyrics over sweet melodies and clever musical arrangments. For the most part this album is truley meaningful and a real pleasure to listen but unlike 'Funueral' this album shows cracks, the band are at times sooo protentious its almost painful to listen to them as your opinion of yourself actually goes down. The real strength of the album is right at the end 'Building Downtown', 'Windowsill' & 'No Cars Go' offer the best run of songs I have heard from an album for a very long time. Inspirational and great at times but also protentious and snobby at other times.

 

9/10

[MrsBennington-Delson]

@Jeezy: that's young buck? lmao good to know how he looks like

 

@Matt: cool reviews... i think im gonna check out the arcade fire album

[Jeezy]

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/2724/1173899471gcgoodmorningmn7.jpg

 

Artist: Good Charlotte

Album: Good Morning Revival

Label: Epic/Daylight Records

Genre: Punk Pop

 

After giving this album 5 spins in my system I have to say that I'm really disappointed. The first single "Take Your Hands Off My Girl" sounded new and different from the old Good Charlotte stuff, but almost every other song sounds like it could have been on a previous Good Charlotte album. They still do their poppy-wannabe-punk sound and just add some synths to their music. Another interesting point is that they try to copy other bands on this album, take for example the song "Victims of Love", it's a really transparent rip off of the song "Not Gonna Get Us" from this 2 Russian chicks called t.a.t.u.

And on at least 2 songs on the album they sound a little bit like Coldplay "Where Would We Be Now" sounds like "Clocks" in some ways and especially on "Beautiful Place" you can here that the lyrics are almost like the chorus on "Don't Panic". So...I don't know if they did it on purpose, but they can not reach the original tracks.

Let's have a look at the good moments on this album:

The lead single is probably the best song on the whole album, then you have the song "The River" which has a nice sound and is gonna be the 2nd single. I also like the "Intro" because it leads into the first song "Misery" really good. That's almost it...there's one more song "Something Else" which is not really a good song, but I think Joel sings about Hillary Duff on that one and that makes it funny. The remix of "Take Your Hands off My Girl" is also a good listen because it has some pretty nice drumming.

 

Concluding: If you like Good Charlottes previous stuff, you should be really happy with this album but if you don't like them, and you just liked the first 2 singles from this album, you should better not pick that CD up because you probably gonna be disappointed.

 

Rating

 

3/10