LPF Album Reviews 2.0

[Friðbjörn]

yeah I listened to the first Xiu album a while back...it was trippy to say the least.

[Stenners]

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Crystal Castles

Crystal Castles

Electronica

 

Crystal Castles are one of the hottest active touring electronic artists on the

scene right now, offering chilled out vibes at times but at the best of times offering

spine rupturing basslines and tunes. This is one of the acts to look out for this

up comming year as their fan base is growing largely & if their brilliant live sets didnt

justify this in the first place then this, their debut, surley should. Its nothing short

engageing by enticing the listener with distorted synths, thumping bass lines and

spacious electronic trickery.... most of the tracks run in just below 3minutes which

are perfect doses of electronic fist pumping and flirtascious banter with soothing

sounds which will swoon you. The vocals on this album often reach spastic levels

but they work brilliantly with this sound..... they are so raw and strained which

does sort of contridict the general sound of the music but it's a match made in

heaven. Anyone with an active interest in electronic music of any sort should

deffinatly check this one out, the samples used are fantasticly executed and the

sound in general is gritty, approachable and nothing short of edrenerlin filled filth.

9/10

 

Alice Paradise (Short)

 

Crimewave (Short)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7yEGCiRdXA

 

Air War

[Stenners]

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Goldfrapp

Seventh Tree

Pop/Alternative

 

The signature sound of Goldfrapp is at last back with us after a very average stab

at a more dancey and electronic sound the dreamy pop is back with us and I must

say that it was the only direction to go. The album kicks off with the dreamy, luxcirous

and down right beautiful 'Clowns' and its from that moment I welcome back the

Goldfrapp of old with the duos beautiful dream pop with lavishes of strings and

spine tingeling vocals. Quite frankly her vocals are some of the nicest to be found

at this level, they are gorgous and compliment the soundscope brilliantly, the album

for the most part is a joy to listen to but its far from spectaculur, it lacts that certain

something that makes an album great.... sure as far as albums go this is no stinker

and is indeed very good and at time beutiful and songs such as 'A&E' are just down

right beutiful the album just sort of congills into one mass and becomes a bit of a

choir to listen to.... if this wasn't the case this album would be as good as its crying

out to be.... o well, it certainly is better then the last effort. 7/10

 

A & E

http://youtube.com/watch?v=5VPyso87fZU

[Jeezy]

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/4764/coverub6.jpg

Artist:Mickey Factz

Album/Mixtape: Heaven's Fallout

Free Download: Here

 

This is one of the better mixtapes I listened to this year.

It's almost like an album....there's no DJ screamin' over the tracks(thank god).

I don't really know how to describe the musical style...maybe Alternative Hip Hop with some Electronic influences would fit best. Ok they also rap over the Arms Race melody...but that's ok for once.

On tracks like Acces Granted or Loud Whispers you can feel a certain Neptunes influence.

On the other side there are tracks that use Daft Punk and even Prodigy beats. Everythng floats together very well. Some tracks seem out of place like Freaky Girl which is at least a little funny...it really makes you laugh. In the end what's left to say is...if that's a mixtape, I can't wait for a full blown album. And this one is a free download...so deffinitely check it out.

 

Highlights:

I Like Your Supra's

Jacob's Ladder

Talk Yo Shit

There's Nothing Left

 

rating: 7.5/10

[Stenners]

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Be Your Own Pet

Get Awkward

Garage Rock

 

Be Your Own Pet have sort of almost sent them selves into the relm of irrelevance,

they are just the sort of band that can't get away with a 2 year gap between releases

they just aren't important enough. So just about saving themselves from being totally

forgotten they push out this, the follow up to the suprisingly succesful self titled effort.

I have a soft spot for this band, they are one of the few active garage bands that

I enjoy and they really do know how to push out a hook and a good melody from essentially

nothing more then guitar thrashing. This album builds on the existing formular, the isn't

that much new here, just more of the same.... and it works... believe me this wasn't a

band I wanted to hit a sudden spurt of maturity and totally loose sense of who they are,

it just wouldnt suit them. Nor is this the sell out album I was perhaps fearing.... they stay

true to their sound, I mean sure it was always an approachable sound but its deffinatly not

taylord to an audience. Here in lies the problem though, just like their debut it's inconsistent

and they really dont back their case for any sense of importance... however they have shown

that they are more then a fad band by proving their cinics they are more then just a 1 album

trick horse.... to sum up this album the is some good, some very good and some forgetable

stuff here & nothing truley memorable or great & that just sums the band up really. I really

really like this album its a good follow up but its not anything to write home about, its good

honest fun. 7/10

[Black_Angel]

BYOP have a new album out?! :O

You got a link for it chuck?

[Stenners]

I most certainly do =D

[Stenners]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HUny%2Bsh0L._AA280_.jpg

The Bird And The Bee

One Too Many Hearts [EP]

Indie Pop/Electronic

 

The Bird And The Bee involve 2 active members, 1 a multi instrumentalist

and the other a vocals, together they can always put out satisfying melodic

music which swoons the listener.... but they also have a nasty little habbit

of being a wee forgetable. Melody is as per usual the name of the game here

in this short 4 track ditty, its go swoons of soothing melody with an electronic

edge which constantly rings in the distance in the tones of synths... the vocals

as per usual are superb, sure they aren't exactly distinctive or unique but they

are a treat to the ears and will send you off floating. All of the songs are of high

standard but whereas EPs have the advantage of not ever worrying about out

staying there welcome in terms of length, the opposite is true here... their sound

calls for more time, once your put into the mood and in the swing of things you

are ejected far to early. 7.5/10

[Stenners]

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Why?

Alopecia

Hip Hop/Indie Pop/Alternative

Similar Artists: Subtle, Beck

 

It's quite hard to place Why? As a band they so effortlessly cross breed

indie pop music with hip hop that its quite something different. The ethics

of hip hop are there, the odd rap... the looping drum beats... occasional

DUN DER DER DER DUN moment but with the use of live instruments and

vocals as well as harmonies. Their debut was some what of a gem which

gained them alot of popularity in the alternative scene and are often compared

with the likes of 'Subtle' only alot less out there. This album is no dissapointment

and it deffinatly backs up 'Why?' artistic credentials by making an album that

is every bit as good... nay, better then the debut. The hooks on this are pretty

sweet and the grooves are even better the vocals are effective and mellow

and the way the melodies and harmonies intrigate with each other is nothing

short of marverlous. The album hasn't got filler so to speak... the is the odd

moment where you concentration begins to ware but for the most part this

album will keep you entertained and I am sure will enjoy many replays. (8.5)

[Stenners]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5166PSzT5HL._AA240_.jpg

Neptune

Gong Lake

Noise Rock/Experimental/No-Wave

Similar Artists: Sonic Youth, Liars, Boredom

 

This band is out there, what can be more passionate and personal then

making music? Making music out of instruments made from scrap metal!

EASY! This band divulge into no-wave music which by deffenition tends

to be looping so people who complain this stuff goes no where has no

idea what they are getting into. This band also bases its sound off of

errrm feedback, synth noise, gutiar noise, drums.... that just make some

noise... yea its a noise band & you know what I LOVE the way they done

it. The off beat melodies, the off chords.... the distortion! Its all done very

well and in a way that can make you dance and mosh, this is one of the

best noise albums I personally have heard in ages (9)

[Stenners]

http://pics.livejournal.com/kokoromp3/pic/001gssew.jpg

Lykke Li

Youth Novels

Dream Pop

For Fans Of: Feist, Yelle, Air France

 

The sweedish peoples have been churning out a good couple of decent pop

routed acts recentlty and I now bring you onto one of my faviroute new artists.

I stumbled upon Lykke Li by accident whilst just looking for some more new music

and I had no knowledge on who she was or what she sounded like and what she

has done before. I'm led to believe that this is her debut album and if this is to

be the case..... then this is one of the best debuts I have heard, especially from

a solo artist. The sound going on here is very dream like melodies with electronic

and brass edges, her sweet and soft vocals go over this combonation effortlessly,

the hooks are here 'I'm Good I'm Gone' is a very sweet little number where as

'Little Bit' offers a string of hooks, its all very slow placed but it doesnt go at

such a sparse pace that it bores you and unlike other music in this sort of are

it doesnt fall into the trap of not going anywhere, each song has a purpose...

and direction and doesnt loose its focus. This is the case for the album, you get

the feeling that she knows what shes doing despite at such a young age, where

as most debut albums are scatterd & messey this one focused and hits the

target at a suprisingly high rate. Also forgivingly it is mixed very well and the production

is pretty mush spot on & with a spaced out speaker arrnagment it fills the room with

sounds and you get the exhilerating feeling of hearing subtle touches all around you

the is still room for improvment, this is a good thing I feel for such a young artist...

she has room to grow, an essential release. (9)

 

Little Bit

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mUC0ezAlHwE

[Stenners]

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Cadence Weapon

After Party Babies

Hip Hop/Rap

For Fans Of: Spank Rock, Edan, Antipop Consortium

 

Last year was pretty slow for hip hop, sure the were a couple of good releases

scatterd here and there but most of it was, for the most part, same ol same ol.

Cadence Weapon is a Canadian emcee & producer and whilst not ronound for its

hip hop scene it has to be said.... this guy knows his way. The production on this

album for starters is sublime, the beats and soundscope this guy has achieved makes

this album not only catchey and hooky but interesting and deep. The beats dance

around you whilst Cadence spits his rhymes, his flow has improved too. So the sound

is often one of a bouncey nature with electronic edge, so sort of verging on Glitch

Hop or IDM. From the get go the are hooks 'Do I Miss My Friends' is slow but hooky

with the partialy sung chorus, this is proceeded by the far more up beat 'We Move

Away' which is just fantastic with its fast paced hand clap motive and glitchy and

dirty chorus... its got pretty much everything required to be this albums hit... this

is by far and large the most consistent hip hop album I have heard in the last 5 years

and though not strictly hip hop... the is alot of glitch and electronic vibes here

but at its heart is one of a hip hop album... and what a mighty heart it is. (9)

 

In Search Of The Youth Crew (Live)

[Stenners]

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Do The Shuffle Vol.1

 

-> Basically I set my itunes on random and have compiled 15 tracks... at random! *I have

excluded skits and other break tracks for obvious reasons* and have just thrown them together

to see what I got (I have also adjusted the order to make logistical sense). This will happen

on a weekly basis Check here for future releases.

 

01. Cadence Weapon - Message Matter

02. Bright Eyes - Lover I Don't Have To Love

03. Evangelicals - Here In The Deadlights

04. Radiohead - The National Anthem

05. Kelly Polar - We Live In An Expanding Universe

06. Yelle - Amour du Sol

07. mclusky - No New Wave No Fun

08. Smashing Pumpkins - Perfect

09. Los Campesinos! - Don't Tell Me To Do The Math(s)

10. Ugly Casanova - Pacifico

11. Adam Green - Festival Song

12. Modest Mouse - March Into The Sea

13. White Stripes - My Doorbell

14. Connie Lights - Fuck Me Forever

15. Bisc1 - Great Escape

 

http://rapidshare.com/files/94274646/Do_The_Shuffle1.zip

[GraDoN]

cool *waits for the link*

and i love your nails -.-

[Stenners]

Link is up

[Friðbjörn]

nice haha I'll check it out

[GraDoN]

fuckit rapidshare is bull, just cant dl it... o well

[Friðbjörn]

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/5421/l2d4fa09fe0dffcc309204exz3.jpg

 

Album: At the boarders of arcadia

artist: Celestine

genre: metal, post-metal

 

When I first saw this band live back in april last year, I had no idea what potential this band had. I didn't even realize the real genre of this band. This is an as of yet pretty unknown band, except in the Icelandic metal scene. But mark my words, I see a great future ahead of this band. Post-metal, what does that mean? It means it's a different approach to metal, different aesthetics. This band has drawn comparisons with bands like Isis, and one guitarist of Celestine said in an interview with Sleepless in Reykjavik (icelandic metal webcast) that Isis in an influence, although they stray away from Isis a bit. The guitarist said they're not trying to be as melodic and beautiful as Isis is sometimes. And it is true. Celestine sounds more like Isis of the Hive destruction era; an extremely heavy gritty band. They tune all the way down to A#, giving them a very deep raw sound.

 

As with their first release, which was an EP whose name I don't have right now, they produce this album as one continueous song, so to speak. When you put the CD on, you don't really realize when it changes tracks. Nonetheless this is not an annoying repetition, it's a series of chapters that blend well to make one big piece. The CD is best enjoyed when you listen to it as a whole. I wouldn't be surprised if the lyrics were conceptual, but I can't understand the screams. The booklet reads: "despair and witness the ruin of god and me". The song titles are "hidden" in that sentence.

 

The sound. This album is one big shark attack of deep dark powerchords, frantic screams, and mystifying melodies in between. Maybe you hit a slower quieter chapter, but it still maintains the overall dark brooding atmosphere of the album. And then BOOM out of nowhere they attack again with the drums the distortion and the screaming.

 

This band has gained respect among local metalheads, and has received much praise and the title the best icelandic metal band, by a leading musical guru/critic here. So you could say a positive review would be jumping the bandwagon, but luckily I am not. This album is simply that energetic, that much in your face, that harsh and raw and powerful, and strong as a whole. Not to mention these guys do sound great live. Even the singer's frantic screaming sounds great live. This band also touts Ólafur Arnalds, who has had a successfull solo career arranging instrumental pieces with strings and keyboards mostly, as their drummer.

 

If you dig metal this is the way to go, also just if you like energetic emotional performances. If you need to vent, you can also rock out to this, it's just that frantically energetic.

This is also not really typical of any metal genre in any way, either that or you just don't notice any glitch of that cause of the sheer ambition and musicianship.

 

The only flaw is how short it is, it's only somewhere around 25 minutes or so, but definately worth the money I put in for it.

 

rating: 9,5/10

 

I don't have any links and I think this album is very hard to get abroad, but I could do something about that if anyone's interested.

for a preview: http://www.myspace.com/celestinemusic

there's one track off of the album on there.

[Stenners]

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Supergrass

Diamon Hoo Ha

Indie Rock/Garage Rock

For Fans Of: The Hives, The White Stripes

 

Destined to be one of the finest pop rock bands of the past 20 years having written

one of the best debut albums of the 90s in 'I Should Coco' its kind of a shame to see

that this band never seem certain on who they are... and whilst they came close

to perfect the Pop Rock scene they decided to chase a more alternative and ambitious

sound... which always seemed a bit optimistic as, even though they had the formula

pretty much down, they just couldnt excecute it as well as they hoped. Their latest

release isn't nearly as big a stab at alternative sounds but more at home with poppy

garage rock which the likes of 'The Hives' and 'White Stripes' have had a claim to

their own over recent years. The problem here? It's all so very samey, sure the are

a couple of potential pop hits here and a couple of decent songs 'Bad Blood' is a jarrey

bouncey affair which is sure to get plenty of plays in all the trendiest rock bars

but for the most part it all comes of as a bit flat and forgetable, there is some good

stuff here but it's just not really worth the effort to find it. (5)

 

Diamond Hoo Ha Man

[Stenners]

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The Matches

A Band In Hope

Pop Rock

For Fans Of - The Accademy Is, Taking Back Sunday, Fall Out Boy

 

The Matches have always been a pretty decent pop rock/punk act which

always offered strong hooks and very good guitar moments and genuine

moments where they offered shimmers of brilliance, which puts me onto

this album... what the hell has happend? Have you guys been hit over the

head repeaditly with the guitar which once gave your band such a charismatic

edge and been subjected to hours of MTV2 as you now just sound like....

a pop rock band. Sure okay the opener is quite catchy and the vocals are

just fine, if not a bit teeny bopper but to see the band go from the edgey

band they were to this pile of bland cliches is quite a shame. I have never

loved the bands but I always looked at them with a key eye as they always

showed potential, the is so much to say here like what the hell is up

with the ludicrously cheesey 'Their City' & where are the guitars and why

when they are used are they just cliches! Please come back to the way

you were guys, anyways the a couple of decent songs to be found still

but seriously if you want to look into this band check out their first 2 albums

for the love of God please do. (4)

[Stenners]

Bisc1

When Night Falls

Hip Hop/Rap

 

Following the bat of the 'Candence Weapon' review and how I mentioned how

really bleh the 07 hip hop scene in general was, well here is another toot for

the 2008 band wagon, this album is nice.... damn nice. This album, unlike cadences

is alot slower and doesnt focus on IDM so much, the are samples and sweet

melodic hooks & Bisc1's flow is very strong.... lyrically the is room for improvment

not that they are bad in any sense of the word but their arent many memorable

ones... how ever on a soundscope this album is just about as strong if not stronger

then 80% of last years releases. I love the mellow feel of the album & its general

consistency and the sudden bonus track which is a pumpin rock rap track is a

nice touch to the end of a very good rap album. This is one for people who like

deep bass lines with piano laced melodies who enjoy a good effective dark album

(8.5)

[ThePretender]

nice reviews man

[Stenners]

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The Mae Shi

HLLLYH

Electro Rock/Indie/Alternative/Noise

For Fans Of: New Young Pony Club, LCD Soundsystem, Silver Daggers

 

Being a band of many traits, seemingly capable of busting out noise from guitars

and synths and having all that is there for a very noise based sound but instead

on this, their first full length album, they have opted for a slightly more dancey

and poppy sound & for the most part it does work. For starters it has a class end

track which lasts over 11minutes, pretty much an essential for any electronic based

band looking to make people dance and it has hooks... and some decent melodies

and it doesn't really loose any of its momentum. So where does this album ultimatley

fail to impress me over all? Well I'm not 100% sure, the ingrediants are all there for

me to fall in love with the bands output but im pretty sure all of their intepriations

and creations have been done before by other bands only much better, maybe to

the more casual listener who hasn't heard much dancey rock beyond the bands I

have listed above this will be a blast but to me it just seems a bit lacking, it's good

but wasn't as good... at least I found as it was hyped up to be. (7)

 

Run To Your Grave

[Stenners]

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Rings

Black Habit

Lo-Fi/Alternative

For Fans Of: Cat Power, Bloody Mannequin Orchestra

 

With nothing more then Drums, Piano and Guitar on offer most of the time

you have to wonder how the band could carry off a full blown atmospheric

and dark album such as the one they present you. Usualy 3 pieces are

riddled with backing tracks or just thrash and bash their instruments to death,

none of that here.... this is album pretty much deffines organic... okay the

may be the odd effect here and there but most of the instruments and vocals

are left untouched, leaving this album with a lovely sense of atmospheric &

personal effection with lovely levels of emotion. The untouched vocals may

be a bit much for people as I did find them at time grating, especially on the

first one or 2 listens but once I saw past them I saw some moments

of really nice sparse music remenicent of a less folky early Cat Power. This

music threw out it core focuses on a very dark yet poppy sound which works

great and though will probably slip under most peoples radars I feel this album

has what is required to either be a late bloomer and to have alot of staying power

it's not likely to turn many peoples heads but I can see this band one day

becomming a cult name and this album will then gain momentum... till then

this can be ur nice little secret. (8)