LPF Album Reviews 2.0

[Stenners]

Artist: Magik Markers

Album: Boss

Genre: Noise/No-Wave

 

I have heard some of the Magik Markers live Studio recordings, it was incredibly noisey

and distorted... they were one of 'Those' bands... the ones you either loved or just simply

couldn't stand. I liked their earlier work but didnt see much comming out of the studio album

but boy how wrong was I! This, their debut studio effort combines No-Wave music with

noise and distorted guitars, clearly influenced by Sonic Youth then.

 

http://cdn.last.fm/proposedimages/original/6/7006544/287680.jpg

 

 

In fact, from the word go you can tell this 'Axis Mundi' starts off with guitar feedback

before going to an almost hypnotic jam with droning vocals which are by the way alot

better if not very similar to 'Kimg Gordons' of Sonic Youth. This 6minute gem is procceded

by a very rough, raw sounding 'Body Rot' the 9minute long 'Last Of The Lemach Line' triumphently

makes use of its alloted space with glorious use of of feed back in the build up before going

into a noise frenzy, deliscious. Then you get hit by a suprise 'Empty Bottles' is a very effective

piano laced tune remenisant of say 'Cat Power' then the synth ridden 'Taste' kicks in with

it's less is more ethics plodding out a nice song. In fact I can't actually think of a single given

moment of the album I don't really like, Bad Dreams/Hartfords Beat Suit has beautiful arangments

the contrast of the album becomes evident as the following track and album closer 'Circle' is

the noisest thing on the album and it pulls it off so well. ESSENTIAL

 

http://cdn.last.fm/proposedimages/original/6/7006544/208284.jpg

 

Rating: 10/10

Reccomended: Axis Mundi, Last Of The Lemach Line, Taste, Bad Dreams/Hartfords Beat Suit

[GraDoN]

why is her face bleeding?

[Stenners]

Lets put it this way, at their live shows its not abnormal for her to beat up her guitar and spend most of the gig on the floor, yes shes pretty insane.

[Stllmn8j]

why is her face bleeding?

 

And it kinda looks like their performing in someone's living room

[Stenners]

http://cdn.last.fm/proposedimages/original/6/7006544/419593.jpg

 

Apparently its a venue, why so much talk about the photo?

 

Upcomming reviews:

Liars - Liars (Very good)

Seventeen Evergreen - Life Embarrases Me On Planet Earth

[Toxic1]

Liars - Liars 7.8/10

 

Highlights:

 

Plaster Casts of Everything

What Would They Know

Cycle Time

Pure Unevil

Clear Island

 

Good pop songs:

 

Houseclouds

Sailing To Byzantium

Freak Out

Protection

 

Nowhere near as great as the experimental "Drums Not Dead", but a decent followup for their fourth album. I like that they wanted to do add some good ol' rock songs to their arsenal.

[Stenners]

I was suprised with the opener, I was preppijng my self up for swoons of noise, reverb, layering and dissorienting effects. When I head a guitar riff with some up tempo drums I was like..... o?

[Toxic1]

I was suprised with the opener, I was preppijng my self up for swoons of noise, reverb, layering and dissorienting effects. When I head a guitar riff with some up tempo drums I was like..... o?

 

Good song to drive down the road to.

[GraDoN]

 

Apparently its a venue, why so much talk about the photo?

 

Upcomming reviews:

Liars - Liars (Very good)

Seventeen Evergreen - Life Embarrases Me On Planet Earth

cause that looks emo

maby but a sendspace link with a few GOOD song for every 10/10 album so we can also listen to what you rate as the cream of the crop?

[Toxic1]

That new Magik Markers album is most certainly not a 10. 9.5s and higher are masterpieces. In fact, I don't know if it's even a good album based on the two listens I gave it when it leaked a few days ago.

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/a06a10bef56e5a07780aaa79ecede887.jpg

 

Artist: Asbobi Seksu

Album: Citrus

Genre: Shoegaze

 

A reasson it's lucky to American, you get a release such as this one last year.... now

that they finnaly have a distributer in the UK, 1 year on this critically acclaimed

shit hot album arrives and yes I actually got a promo copy of the album, from a mate

of course I'm not quite 'official' in the terms of the review side of things. Anyways yes

the best way to describe the sound of Asobi Seksu? I'd say heavily processed, compressed

and very much electric..... is it done to death in this case though? No, it work well

and helps to carry to melodies, the effects on the vocals are soothing & it helps

prevent the band from entering samey territory, which to be honest sounded like

a pretty big possibility.

 

http://cdn.last.fm/proposedimages/original/6/1007422/382472.jpg

 

This album is pretty much full of great & complex pop songs which sticks pretty

much true to the Shoegaze genre in the way that other bands such as 'Stars' &

'Maps' do. It's refreshing to see the revival of such a strong genre, anyways

as the album progresses the listen becomes easier and easier with the seemingly

harder songs being shoved at the start. By the time you reach 'Thursday' the

melodies seem to unravel, the vocals beauties become uncoverd & the listen

becomes a whole lot more inviting. To say this album is approachable is one of split

opinion, one would say this was approachable if they werent braught up on radio

cannon fodder as the isn't too much to it, sure the is alot of compression and the

EQ makes sure not one thing really stands out.... people that have been braught up

on the radio music (Avril, Beyonce or that one that sings 'SINCE YOU WERRREEEE GONE')

or on 'Alternative' *giggles* music (Linkin Park, Korn, Killers & Fallout Boy) won't

be used to the production at all or the compression or the strucutre, it's not designed

to have a specific hook, its not EQ'd so all you have is a song, though capable of

ramming it's self in your head, is as shallow and interesting as ones foot.

 

http://cdn.last.fm/proposedimages/original/6/1007422/387316.jpg

 

The Shoegaze genre has been getting a bit of a revival as of late

and as with other efforts this year this one is very good, very very good

though lacking of masterpiece status.... just. I for one am glad it's finnaly

arrived to the UK.

 

Rating: 9.2/10

Reccomended Tracks: Strawberries, Thursday, Strings, Pink Cloud Tracing Paper, Red Sea

[Stenners]

Artist: Kid Acne

Album: Romance Ain't Dead

Genre: Rap/Hip Hop, Old Skool

 

The UK's hip hop scene has taken a bit of a dent recently, after Lethal Bizzle

& Dizze Rascal, 2 of the UK's biggest rap acts, put out 2 incredibly average albums

backed by generally average singles it seemed like the honeymoon period of

the UK and the Hip Hop/Grime scene was well and truley ever. Up steps Ed, thats

right a white kid named Ed...... well 'Kid Acne'. Right so if you were to go by the name,

the apperace and the mic name... you probably wouldn't give this kid a chance right?

Luckily some record labels actually care about music still and this kid got his shot

and is this a fun care free album with whitty lyrics and good beats to dance your

little hip hop deprived ass to? Yeap

 

http://cdn.last.fm/proposedimages/original/6/1518/329529.jpg

 

As things go, he isn't a serious emcee at all, he just plays it off of his charm,

you see that's the one thing I have always liked about british hip hop.... it's

no where near as 'SERIOUS' *LOL* or REAL *LOL* or violent... okay that one

is true, as US BEEFCAKE STEROID PUT A CAP IN YO ASS rap. For this album

the beat selection and rapping style is mostly old skool other than the occasional

rap rock track also thrown into the mix. Now the rap rock tracks offer diversity

to the album and do offer good variety... considering the are moments where

the drumming differentiates, laying down raps over a constantly changing drum

beat is no mean feat. The real appeal comes in the old skool tracks with sampled

hooks... it's good simple not overly produced self endulgant tripe. With only

a couple tracks reaching past 3minutes this is a quick fire affair & whilst british

people will 'get' the lyrical content, the is still fun to be had here for everyone &

despite the odd bit of repetetion and lyrical hiccup, this is a very accomplished

full solo debut.

 

Rating: 7.75/10

Reccomended: Eddy Fresh, Oh No You Didn't, 2,3 Break It, Worst Luck, Sliding Doors

 

Video:

[Toxic1]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/a06a10bef56e5a07780aaa79ecede887.jpg

 

Artist: Asbobi Seksu

Album: Citrus

Genre: Shoegaze

 

A reasson it's lucky to American, you get a release such as this one last year.... now

that they finnaly have a distributer in the UK, 1 year on this critically acclaimed

shit hot album arrives and yes I actually got a promo copy of the album, from a mate

of course I'm not quite 'official' in the terms of the review side of things. Anyways yes

the best way to describe the sound of Asobi Seksu? I'd say heavily processed, compressed

and very much electric..... is it done to death in this case though? No, it work well

and helps to carry to melodies, the effects on the vocals are soothing & it helps

prevent the band from entering samey territory, which to be honest sounded like

a pretty big possibility.

 

http://cdn.last.fm/proposedimages/original/6/1007422/382472.jpg

 

This album is pretty much full of great & complex pop songs which sticks pretty

much true to the Shoegaze genre in the way that other bands such as 'Stars' &

'Maps' do. It's refreshing to see the revival of such a strong genre, anyways

as the album progresses the listen becomes easier and easier with the seemingly

harder songs being shoved at the start. By the time you reach 'Thursday' the

melodies seem to unravel, the vocals beauties become uncoverd & the listen

becomes a whole lot more inviting. To say this album is approachable is one of split

opinion, one would say this was approachable if they werent braught up on radio

cannon fodder as the isn't too much to it, sure the is alot of compression and the

EQ makes sure not one thing really stands out.... people that have been braught up

on the radio music (Avril, Beyonce or that one that sings 'SINCE YOU WERRREEEE GONE')

or on 'Alternative' *giggles* music (Linkin Park, Korn, Killers & Fallout Boy) won't

be used to the production at all or the compression or the strucutre, it's not designed

to have a specific hook, its not EQ'd so all you have is a song, though capable of

ramming it's self in your head, is as shallow and interesting as ones foot.

 

http://cdn.last.fm/proposedimages/original/6/1007422/387316.jpg

 

The Shoegaze genre has been getting a bit of a revival as of late

and as with other efforts this year this one is very good, very very good

though lacking of masterpiece status.... just. I for one am glad it's finnaly

arrived to the UK.

 

Rating: 9.2/10

Reccomended Tracks: Strawberries, Thursday, Strings, Pink Cloud Tracing Paper, Red Sea

 

Pretty good shoegaze album from last year. I think it placed #17 on my 2006 favourites list. Solid debut that I would give a solid 8.5/10 on. Some songs like Thursday and Goodbye are really poppy, but yet very inviting considering the walls of guitar noise from the other songs that surround it. I don't think compression is as big a deal as you make it on this record. Bad compression is mainly heard on mainstream music acts that you hear on the radio. And that's mainly stuff like drums and bass initially and then the overall mix of the singles before it hits airwaves. Maybe you are confusing the wall of guitars and the way they are mixed in. They definitely did have to use some compression though after they submix all the guitars to a submaster track. But that's very typical in that situation.

 

I really enjoyed the shoegaze meets Sonic Youth wall of noise meets cutesy asian chick vocals. A weird, but unique combo. Closest thing similar these days is Blonde Redhead. However, Blonde Redhead has infused chamber pop into their sound these days.

 

---------

 

PS: that new Stars album is horrifyingly bad. "The Night Starts Here" is such a terrible single with some of the most bland lyrics I've heard in awhile. The overall production is way too clean on the album itself and Millan's and Torquil's vocals are becoming really grating. A huge drop in quality from the exciting and varied Set Yourself On Fire. Btw, Stars is NOT shoegaze. They would fall mainly under Indie Pop.

 

Stars - IOBATW = 3/10

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/84a91b5dfad37d58329991dcc2724acc.jpg

 

Artist: Architecture In Helskini

Album: Places Like This

Genre: Indie Pop

 

These Aussies are pretty fun, I'm not going dodge any points here & when I

heard 'Places Like This' was penned down for a summer release my eyes opend

wide and thought 'SPLENDID!'. Quite simply ever since their 2nd full release

'In Case We Die' these have been one of my faviroute among all of the quirky

fun Indie pop acts. Well when I heard this album I was nothing short of dissapointed,

it was repetetive, seemed to be a parody of it's self and in general didn't really do

anything for me. In fact the only song that really stuck was 'Hold Music' which

was instantly danceable, such a let down. These aussie rockers playing on the

we are qirky fun twee pop a tad too much and are far too self aware of the

fact thats the reasson people baught into their music in the first place. Time to

move on.

 

Rating: 5.5/10

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/ea9633ea0cb94205704e7a268073abe0.jpg

 

Artist: Seventeen Evergreen

Album: Life Embaarasses Me On Planet Earth

Genre: Space Rock/ Alternative

 

When I had this album described to me as a deeply layed Space Rock

album I thought this could actually be an album of complexities and appeal

apparently when I read up on this album it was one of complicated and hidden

melodies that would really grow on you. To be honest with you as soon as

I saw the almost cringe worthy album title my hopes did begin to dwandle. What

you actually got with this album was a self endulgant piece of work which not

only goes anywhere but frustrates at the same time. The are several moments

where you think it's about to pick up but it just never does, the only song I

can really listen to without getting bored or frustrated is the somewhat hooky

Lunar One.... but other then that track this ablum is full of frustration and tedium.

 

Rating: 3.75/10

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/3d9136591d910ddf94ed52c398146b27.jpg

Artist: Junior Senior

Album: Hey Hey My My Yo Yo

Genre: Pop/Dance/Psycadelic/Electronic

 

Remember Junior Senior? Don't Stop D-D Don't Stop the beat... yea! That massive

pop song from 2003, well it turns out, yes there was a follow up album in 2005 and

finnaly after 2 years it's worked it's way into the states as well. This album has

quite alot to prove, are they nothing more then a novelty act? Were they a one

trick pony? Sure I liked their debut, it was suprising how the mix of Electronic, Disco

and Garage Rock pulled off & despite being as daft as they are it is pretty refreshing

and enjoyable. These musicians really don't seem to take them selves seriously

and the fact their gimmick seems to be 'Juniour' is straight and 'Senior' is gay

puts more of a daft nature on things. Anyways to the musical side of this album, well

for starters it features Le Tigre, what a brilliant start and not only does it feature

Le Tigre on 5 tracks, they also sound like they have never had so much fun.

 

http://image.listen.com/img/356x237/4/3/1/3/563134_356x237.jpg

 

And this is what this album really is, it's just a tremendous dancey

pop song after tremendous dancey pop song. The is nothing to be learnt

here, the is no super deep sonic waves to approach, it's just a funky fun ride

that would take the most cynacle melancolly person to not enjoy. The opening

track is a goofy rap song, actually moments of it remind me of parrapa the rapper

'Take My Time' is a very hooky triumph & whilst the isn't anything quite

as instantly recognisable as the debut super smash single 'Move Your Feet'

what this album proves is this duo are so much more then a gimmick that

will just go, that they are genuniley fun and an appriciated duo in the music

scene. If your looking for summer fun and dancey catchy goofyness amongst

all that appocalyptic doom music then this is the album for you, much more

consistent, sharper and dynamic then their debut.

 

Rating: 7.8/10

Reccomended: Hip Hop A Lula, Take My Time, Can I Get Get, Stranded On An Island Alone, Headphone Song

 

Can I Get Get: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BtKAKKPZr04

Take My Time: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YNldZU1KIIY&mode=related&search=

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/8a4b327c6b11a3a020c8af54d7706cf7.jpg

 

Artist: Prinzhorn Dance School

Album: Prinzhorn Dance School

Genre: Stripped Down Post Punk

 

This is the first band in the UK to be signed to the allusive DFA record label

that champions bands such as LCD Soundsystem. This Brighton trio play an

extremely bare stripped down style of punk full of breaks, stop starts and consists

almost entirley of single string notes and hollow tom tom drumming, whcih just

shifts along at a very minimal simple beat and rate. For the most part the lyrics

are just spoken in some what of a pitch over the stripped down music, it's all

very minimal. This will be very much a case of a marmite band, most people

really wont understand the appeal of music this minimal and in small doses, yes,

it works & the are a few moments of sheer brilliance amongst the mostly dreary

dribbler.

 

http://images.vpro.nl/images/33545892+s%28468%29

 

We Are The Space Invaders is an example when the band really hits it on key

it's even got some noise to it & less focus on the 'trying to be as minimal as

possible' approach, 'Crackerjacker Docker' is another example that when this

band are focused and a little less tied down by their self imposed forumla

they do genuinly write good minimalistic music unfourtenetly for this album

it's mostly clumsy over hyped, overly restricted album full of too much self

awarness and self importance to be brilliant.

 

Rating: 4.5/10

Reccomended: Crackerjacker Docker, We Are The Space Invaders

[HaziLPTonz]

this isnt really music related

 

 

but funny how sten got the 666th post?

 

i cant honestly say iv heard of anything about these last few bands/artist you've put up, maybe its an aussie thing, we're like 20 years behind the rest of the world except in sport where we're 20 years ahead of anyone else in the world

[Stenners]

But Architecture in Helskini & Junior Senior (especially the later) have enjoyed their share of mainstream success :O

 

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/61FDIbBt81L._AA240_.jpg

 

Artist: MIA

Album: Kala

Genre: Alternative Dance/Dance Pop/Indie

 

M.I.A burst inot the scene back in 2005 with the good but ulimatley inconsistent

Arula, which despite all it's strong points had too many flaws for me to truley

love the record. I love a bit of rumpy pumpy dance music, this is the same jist

sexy African style beats & lyrics with ludacris breaks and catchy hooks. This is

the entirley electronic ear bleed we are used to hearing from dance music, this

is essentially pop music without Maxi Voice vocals and all the gloss. The first thing

you notice once the drum beat kicks in that, yes, it does it's job & you do want

to dance around to this alobum & on repeated listens you notice more to the album

which reveals more of it's hooks. The album also boosts a few guests including

Afrikan Boy & Wilcannia Mob... no complaints there as pretty much everyone thats

heard the infamous Lidl rap love Afrikan Boy.... o and Timberland makes an apperance

later on the album & guess what.... I sailed threw the whole album thinking that

it was pretty much the most consistently strong Dance album I had heard since like

forever... then this egotistical twat drops a verse and leaves me with horrible memories

of the album.. good thing I gave this baby another listen otherwise it woulda been

completely slated based on that memory.

 

http://www.houseofcuss.co.uk/thepipe/pics/mia.jpg

 

The biggest suprise here has to be said is indeed the extra production on

the tracks.... now heres where the advantage to the previous album comes in.

Where as the debut got a bit stale after a while due to the lack of variety

this album boosts more variety with the addition of other instruments

beasides drums. M.I.A even hits very darring territory when yet another

massive suprise crops in, a cover of 'Where Is My Mind' by the infamous Pixies

, why is this such a big dangerous move you ask? Surley all artists do covers all

the time, it never hurts their fan base? Well M.I.A hass a mass underground following

way stronger then that of the mainstream, any botched attempt of this INDIE classic

woulda killed M.I.A's repuation & to my suprise this cover is actually incredibly good,

it sounds completely different (other then the chorus timing) and she makes it her

own without completely ditching the original, a task that earns any artist respect.

 

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/ca0e7dbc4efc41d9b664c36f67c5a43d.jpg

 

M.I.A on this album pulls out no stops, this is pretty much non stop

good dance pop, the is rarley a moment that bores & unlike its patchy

predocessor this album is far more consistent. Throw in one of the best

covers of the year and sexy african booty shaker music then you gots yourself

a winner! Truley one of the best dance albums I have heard so far this

year.

 

Score: 8.75/10

Reccomended: Birdflu, Boyz, Jimmy, 20 Dollar*, The Turn

* = Pixies Cover

 

Jimmy Music Video

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9_Dk_F98cU

[Black_Angel]

Junior Senior for pretty much the wrong reasons though lol.

Thanks for getting that annoying tune in my head again btw, I've been humming it for days =(

[Stenners]

Can't stop can't stop the beat

cant stop cant stop the beat

 

I JUST CANT!

CANT STOP THE BEAT

 

GO!

[Stenners]

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/61c9ihM8N9L._AA240_.jpg

 

Artist: Aesop Rock

Album: None Shall Pass

Genre: Hip Hop/Rap

 

Aesop Rock has collected a very strong and diverse fan base by offering avant

grade hip hop with strong story telling, interesting use of samples in his production

and staying relevant to the current pop culture in his lyrics. Lyrically Aesop Rock

is pretty damned smart, he does self promote but not to the extent of wanting

to punch his smug face in, but more to keep it within context within its genre

so it doesnt feel like a hip hop lite album, as in an album for people who dont

want to listen to hip hop. I personally wasn't impressed with his last release which

had Nike in the title, don't remember too much more about it to be perfectly honest

with you. So is this album the return to form? I can say confidently it indeed is

and it is also one of the best Rap albums I have heard this year, it offers so much,

interesting soundscape, range, good lyrics, great samples, hooky & most importantly

its not too bloody long.

 

http://cdn.last.fm/proposedimages/original/6/4656/142340.jpg

 

The fact is not only is Aesop a more and compitent emcee he's also a fine

producer & he does his fare share of production on this album, but this doesn't

leave other great producers such as RJD2 popping in and fidderling with the knobs

and giving us interesting beats. The is also a great erray of guest emcees such

as El-P spitting his rhymes, on first listen the is plenty to grab you,each track

you hear becomes your new faviroute but as time passes the gems become clear

the title track for example is one of these offering strong hit and some of the

best verses on the album. 'Bring Back Pluto' has a really good almost jazzy beat

and brilliant use of samples. Most of the albums are prety much bangers with

throbbing bass lines & although clearly not produced for people who don't want

to listen to hip hop this album also should please those who don't like hip hop

it's a rare gem in a genre known for dissapointment.

 

Rating: 8.5/10

Reccomended: Bring Back Pluto, Keep Off The Lawn, None Shall Pass, 39 Thieves

 

Here is the interesting music video:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=J8NPYXCELMA

 

The song sounds pretty different on the album though, odd

[Friðbjörn]

best hip hop album of the year?

[Jeezy]

best hip hop album of the year?

 

lol...I can't judge it right now...

 

but I don't think it will be the best of the year

[Stenners]

I can say confidently it indeed is

and it is also one of the best Rap albums I have heard this year

 

DID I SAY IT WAS INDEFFINATLY THE BEST?

 

It's alot better then the Common album if thats what your asking?