LPF Album Reviews 2.0

[Friðbjörn]

I can do those after I do Make Yourself by Incubus

 

 

new review:

 

 

album: Morning View

artist: Incubus

 

 

It starts off with the powerful Nice to know you, and more hits follow. A staple of this album is catchy riffs, good drumwork, and decent singing. Musically this is good work, the instrument players, especially guitarist Mike Einziger, know what they're doing. Again, diversity is something Incubus has. We have a few straight up rock songs like Nice to know you and Circles, a rock ballad dedicated to Pink Floyd (Wish you were here, which is btw despite being so much of a single a very decent song), and then we have different stuff. Aqeuous transmission is experimental and deep, and Just a phase with it's easy going and long beginning are very fresh approaches, the former being a song I think will live long in memories. Echo is an example of great guitar work, and good emotion in the lyrics, Are you in is pretty groovy for Incubus, and Under my umbrella manages to withstand the tempo changes.

Now fortunately the weak tracks aren't as weak as the strong tracks are strong, but the weak tracks are still less than memorable. I myself bought this album about a year after its release, and from the first month of my owning the album until now when reviewing it I did not listen to the tracks 11am, Blood on the ground and Warning. This album is indeed very mixed. These tracks here are nothing special at all, but the rest, are all more than decent. I could split the album into 3 parts.

Best songs: Nice to Know You, Circles, Wish You Were Here, Just a Phase, Echo, Are you in, Aqueous Transmission.

Worst: 11am, Blood on the ground, Warning

In between: Have you ever, Mexico, Under my umbrella

8 tracks out of 13 are solid, and this indeed on avarage a very strong album despite the low points.

 

For me the high points outdo the low points, and I'll have to give this a rating of 7,7/10

[MrsBennington-Delson]

Oh Thank You Fribbs!!!!!!

[Jeezy]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/bc6135bef4d809f4ed14978d194548ca.jpg

 

Artist: Timbaland & Guests

Album: Shock Value

Label: TMG/Interscope

Genre: Hip Hop/Dance/Pop

 

well there's nothing much to say about this CD...usually I like what Timbaland does but on that album he totally sucks....ok he has hot beats...but he can't rap. Also his beats get boring after a time...it seems like he just copies his own sound over and over again. You always get that same old bongo sound he already used on numerous Nelly Furtado and justin timberlake tracks. On the track "Bombay" he goes into the panjabi direction again...and that is really out of date, worst track on the CD. This album is labeled as a solo-record but let's face it, it's just another collabo album.

 

Notable tracks:

 

Give it To Me - 1st single, great timbo verse

Bounce - Best track on the CD

Way I Are - well the same sound he used on "My Love", but still great

 

The tracks he did with Fall Out Boy, She Wants Revenge, The Hives and Elton John are worth a listen but they are not really special. There's another track called "Apologize" that has "One Republic" featured...it's also nice...but Timbaland is not even on that track...lol

 

Rating:

 

3.75/10

[Stenners]

Jeezy, Fribs one of u two!

 

Please review my fav album of all time 'Moon & Antarctica' by Modest Mouse! I want to hear someeleses opinion on it lol.

[Jeezy]

Jeezy, Fribs one of u two!

 

Please review my fav album of all time 'Moon & Antarctica' by Modest Mouse! I want to hear someeleses opinion on it lol.

 

I can do that

[Friðbjörn]

Oh Thank You Fribbs!!!!!!

no problem

you can hopefully expect Make yourself sometime tomorrow (monday)

 

I can do that

I'm still gonna download that one for sure. and if it sucks Matt, I'm gonna be forced to kill ya. lol

[Stenners]

Review it too then we will have the first album with 3 opinions lol!

[Friðbjörn]

lol that'll be interesting...

and well alright, not to taint mine though, I'll watch to not read both of yours until I've finished mine

[Brkng_Th_Hbt]

I think someone should review my favorite album of all time, too. AFI - Sing the Sorrow. I'd review it, but it'd just end up with an 11/10 and plus, I'm not sure if I'm even able to right a good review.

[Jeezy]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/5ec0aa5fc78f7c77d49113ea02f3633a.jpg

 

Artist: Modest Mouse

Album: The Moon & Antarctica (Remastered version)

Label: Sony

 

Well, I never listened to Modest Mouse before, but I think this album is a good first listen to anyone who doesn't know them. Pretty interesting is that most of the tracks start really slowly and they get bigger and more intense after a while. The first track "3rd Planet" is a really good song to start the record, it just has a great sound. I also like "Gravity Rides everything" which is the 2nd song...it has this rewinded sound throughout the song...and I really like that. The negative thing that I noticed is that after the 3rd track "Dark Centre Of The Universe", which is the best track on the album in my oppinion, the album starts to get a little boring. So...I didn't really cared about the lyrics that much after the first 5 tracks...I was just listening to the sound of the songs. And all of them are great arranged and sound great. Another thing I have to say that it's not really my kind of music, but I'm glad that I checked this album out, alone the first 3 tracks where totally worth the dl. I would probably not buy that album but I also have to say that i just listened to it twice to give you a fast review...maybe it'll grow on me. I think it deserves a chance.

 

Rating just based on the sound, not on the lyrics

 

8/10

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/cc23eaa0d9af37107c5effa35b1bc8f5.jpg

 

Artist: Modest Mouse

Album: Moon & Antarctica

Genre: Indie/Alternative Rock

Similar: Pixies & Massive Attack

 

Now I have already rated this album but this is my brand new extended review of this album. Bring out the effects pedal and listen to one of the most lonley sounding and atmospheric albums your likely to listen for a long time. Released back in 2000 under Sony Epic then re-released in 2003by the same label this was Modest Mouses major label debut after releasing music steadily since 1994 they had already recieved critical acclaim for their previous releases 'A Long Drive For Nothing To Think About', 'Interstate 8', 'Lonesome Crowded West' & 'Building Nothing Out Of Something' not to mention other releases which also were recieved well by the critics. Fans were said to be sceptical about this release as fears of a pop album were circulating (fears that later would be met on 'Good News For People Who Love Bad News') but instead what u get is a modest mouse giving u a mind scratcher full of atmosphere, mind bending sounds, songs of epic proportions and most importantly a few hooks into the mix too.

 

The album opener 3rd Planet starts off really slowly its just a lonley guitar followed by drums and so on as u would expect, this song then gets layers of instrumentation which really adds to the end of the track this is then followed by the superb 'Gravity Rides Everything' which is then followed by one of the stand out tracks 'Dark Center Of The Universe'. Perfect Disguise is just a stop gap filler between Dark Center and yet another stand out moment 'Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes' which is driven by a strong bass line and steel sounding guitar plangs, this is no conventional song by any stretch of the imagination. 'A Different City' is followed by yet another standout moment 'The Cold Part' which is easily one of the most atmospheric things Modest Mouse have ever done this is then followed by the superbly hooky 'Alone Down There'. The epics return wth 'The Stars Are The Projectors' which is full again of atmosphere and leaves that paranoid and lonley feeling in tact this is then followed by the folky 'Wild Pack Of Family Dogs' which leads niceley into the poptastic 'Paper Thin Walls' and the breath takingly hooky 'I Came As A Rat'. 'Lives' is another fine example of a track and the rest at the end all fit in nicely if not spectaculy.

 

Lyrically diverse, obscure and intelligant, song structures vary from pop structure to just plain out experimental, the use of effect pedals and different instruments adds real depth to the album where even to this date i find something new. Its a real grower an album I liked 2 years ago is an album I love now.

 

Stand outs: 3rd Planet, Dark Center Of The Universe, Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes, Alone Down There, Paper Thin Walls & I Came As A Rat

10/10

[HaziLPTonz]

*shrugs*

 

modest mouse didnt do anything for me either, sounds were pretty god,lyrics didnt do anything for me,woulda been 6-8/10 depedning what mood i was in

 

can someone do an arcade fire review of the old album? not neon bible? i know neon bible was good and im down to my last few dollars and im thinkin of picking up the copy,but not sure if its worth it

 

oh and maybe the old jimmy eat world album-futures? im not sure whether i should pick that up either, i only sorta downloaded one of the singles-pain, which was fairly good

[Stenners]

I have funeral for a while i will review it later, btw its better than neon bible

 

Jimmy Eat world on the otherr hand pretty plain.

[MrsBennington-Delson]

no problem

you can hopefully expect Make yourself sometime tomorrow (monday)

 

no problem :thumbsup:

thanx again :D:D:D:D

[Friðbjörn]

 

okay here it is finally

I meant to do it yesterday but didn't have enough time...

 

album: Make yourself

artist: Incubus

genre: alternative rock

year: 1999

 

This is Incubus's third studio album, and I have to say this is one piece worth your money. It's more funk influenced than any other Incubus album I've heard, and it's quite raw as well, reminds me somewhat of the Deftones' early work. This album features classics like Stellar, Pardon me and Drive, and a number of other just as brilliant songs, such as Battlestar scratchalatchtica (scratch themed track which works out well), The Warmth, and in general this is a strong album. Overall not all tracks are stuff I'll keep listening much to, but truth be told the worst tracks on this album are very strong.

Mike Einziger's guitar work wasn't quite as developed as on later Incubus albums, but he does a decent job though. Brandon Boyd sings more raw and unshaped than on later albums, and the drumming as always is unusual and exceptional.

Compared to the albums that followed, this is a raw piece, not quite a classic but still worth listening to for the raw power and arrangements. If you like just plain rock this is something you'd probably like. It's not so heavy, but it's at times melodic, and it set a standard for Incubus to follow.

 

Rating: 6,6/10

 

 

 

next up:

Can someone please reveiw Celldweller's self-titled album and Apathy-Eastern Philosophy please

[Stenners]

Anywaysssssssssss I notice i aint reviewed much recently but fear not! I have got quite a few lined up featuring with short description.

 

This Week:

The Good Shoes - Light hearted british indie scamps with humourous lyrics.

Expectation: Poor Mans Art Brut with a twang of Razorlight

 

The Long Blondes - Brighton indie set with an experimental edge

Expectation: I have heard this album a couple times, I like it.

 

Maximo Park - Arty mainstream indie rockers

Expectation: I dunno maybe average

 

The Bird And The Bee - Soft melodic indie rock

Expectation: Album of the week maybe? Could be!

 

Next Couple Of Weeks:

 

Arctic Monkeys - Kings of lad rock in and put Sheffield on the map

Expectation: Based on the first single.... meh

[Friðbjörn]

stillman, as you requested:

 

 

artist: Celldweller

album: self titled

year: 2003 I think

 

 

Alright coming into reviewing this album I didn't know what to think, quite obviously, having never heard anything by this band, nor knowing what genre it was. And quite happily my first impression of this band is fabulous. I fell in love with this album instantly. Mixing genres together in a good way. We've got techno songs, rock songs, industrial, and more, and the best songs are mixtures of these. This album's got diversity and variety, it's got depth, it's got good arrangements, and importantly it's got emotion. At times it might sound just a bit too angsty, but those songs make up for that with the instrumentation.

Aside from a few things here and there this is probably the freshest album I've heard in a long time, I feel as if Celldweller is really doing previously undone things. I feel it's possible to compare the man behind it all with Trent Reznor though. They don't do the same things, but there's something very alike about them, and how they work. On wiki I found a comparison to Linkin Park, Depeche Mode and Atreyu. And I think there's something to it, Celldweller's got elements of all these groups.

As I said I really fell for this album, from the very first tracks I heard, and so this one gets a rare rating for me: 8,9/10

 

 

next up I've got Apathy's Eastern Philosophy, and Modest Mouse's Moon & antarctica

[Stenners]

Latest Singles:

 

Christina Agualaria - Candyman

Genre:Pop

Many radio stations before playing this say 'isn't it nice to hear something a bit different for a change' whilst that is true i'd wish they'd stop saying it before they play this horrible track. KIDS this is not alternative at all its hash.

3/10

 

Kings Of Leon - On Call

Genre: Rock

Despite its horrible video the song it's self is brilliant, it's hooky, full of technichal skill and in genreal is just sound. So far my faviroute single this year and with good cause, check out the album review!

10/10

 

Modest Mouse - Dashboard

Genre: Indie Rock

Punchy as it could be I guess, one song thats one strong hook threw out however the OTT production towards the end of the track does kill most of it's charm. Poor choice of single in retrospect as it's the weakest song on the album.

7.5/10

[Jeezy]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/38113e442384296ada3110341f2dae5b.jpg

 

Artist: Beatsteaks

Album: .limbo messiah

Label: Warner

Genre: Punk/Alternative

 

With this album you finally get some nice punk music again.

Those guys don't take themselves too serious and you can really hear it on this album.

The Beatsteaks are a German group that does english lyrics and they do it in a really good way.

All tracks on this CD are great...strong choruses, nice bridges just everything you would expect from a good group.

 

I would spend 15 bucks on this CD...and that says a lot...because I don't buy a lot of CDs anymore.

 

Rating: 10/10

[_deemy_]

I've got a request if anyone is willing:

 

The Blackening by Machine Head.

[Stenners]

Art Brut are releasing a new album soon, in antisipation I bring a review of a 5 track freebie avalible

http://www.freeindie.com/2007/03/art_brut.html here

 

Righty lets get on with it:

This 5 track sampler from their new album apparently is really nice suprise, the band are probably one of the finest comedic bands going not only are they whitty and funny they also offer good music too full fine bandmanship and hooks up the jaxy. This sample of the new album shows an even greater sense of writing good pop songs then the previous albums and yes the music is still all ironic love songs and the whole charm is still here. Yes some people may not like the vocalist hes very british sounding and he talks rather than sings as he pointed out on the first album 'Yes this is my singing voice, its not ironey, its not rock n roll, im just talking.......... to the kids!' yah 'Pump Up The Volume' is a pretty nice pop song but even better is 'Direct Hit' which has a real strong hook and nice musicmanship 'I move around like the shoes dont fit, got on the dancefloor it's a direct hit!' which is such a good song to dance and sing to. 'Post Soothing Out' starts with an ubelivably catchy guitar 'every day is just like starting over, we try so hard but we keep on falling over' again relates to some sort of relationship but as the bands gimmick is the sexually challanged lead vocalist. 'I've met ur parents and i know it sounds rough but im gonna be out when they come to get ur stuff' it's all really a story of a relationship that hes trying to fix but is obviously usless at it. Unfourtenetly im missing the dream of being on top of the tops (yes i know its been cancled recently) but I miss the whole charm of the band constantly yelling that they will be on top of the pops one day, but still. The stand out track 'Nag Nag Nag' is hallarious u should check it out for sure.

 

For a freebie this music is fine pop music different from most british bands without being too different, nice freebie, nice!

 

8/10

[Conjure]

Definitely gonna get the Kings of Leon and Beatsteaks CDs.

 

I've got a request for anyone that wants to do it:

 

Phobia by Breaking Benjamin

[Jeezy]

Definitely gonna get the Kings of Leon and Beatsteaks CDs.

 

I've got a request for anyone that wants to do it:

 

Phobia by Breaking Benjamin

 

I can do that for you!

 

Also soon to come:

 

Silverchair - Young Modern

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/8706ca68c74ba1bafe6dcd616b71a46f.jpg

 

Artist: The Little Ones

Album: Sing Song

Genre: Pop

 

Every so often I feel the need to shut of noice ridden, over complicated or even mind bending muisc.... sometimes I just want to hear something uplifting and fun, sometimes I just want to listen to POP. But of course uplifiting pop these days is very hard to come by I mean most of the time it's not uplifting but rather infuriating so November/December of last year I looked to this EP by 'The Little Ones' to give me some sort of release from this ooooo so grim and black & white world. I was playing this album completely by word of mouth and soley on the basis of 'Cha-Cha-Cha' which I got off of Pitchfork.... Too my pleasent suprise it was only £6 brand news, now that made it a must buy for me as I saw it as simply a cheap thrill.

When I finnaly got to listen to this album not only where my hopes and expectations of the new happy album in my collection met but it also surpassed them. The song that got me into them 'Cha-Cha-Cha' turned out to be the one of the weakest tracks on the EP. The opening track 'Let Them Ring The Bells' is a hook filled fun song which is eclisped by the magnificantly catchy, hooky and uplifiting 'Lovers Who Uncover' which is then followed by the good if not forgetabble 'Cha Cha Cha'. My faviroute song swiftly follows 'High On A Hill' which again is just a pure hook filled track which sounds like a happier version of Modest Mouse at times with the way its arranged and some of the guitar riffs used. Next up is the single and quite frankly also fairly forgetful 'Oh MJ' whilst a good song I never reaslly liked it that much as a single 'Face The Facts' is also another pleasent hooky track whilst followed by yet another high point and fine closer 'Heavy Hear Bregade'

In short this EP is one of the best pop rock EP's i have ever heard, this 'mini album' is full of joys and no filler. True to their sound yet suprisingly full of variety I hope this band release a full album soon as this happy quartet from South California have alot of joy to give to the world. YAY!

 

8/10

[Jeezy]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/6415c7ee8965ed6a8109682c26ebd5cf.jpg

 

Artist: Breaking Benjamin

Album: Phobia

 

Phobia is the best Breaking Benjamin album so far.(In my opinion)

It combines soft lyrics and hard guitar riffs, the album sounds really good and every song is on the same level, I never felt the need to skip a track. In some songs you can hear some influences from Ill Nino, especially on the track "You Fight Me" but that's not a bad thing.

People who like The Deftones, Boy Hits Car and Lostprophets should deffinately check out this album.

 

Best tracks

 

Diary Of Jane

You

Here We Are

Unknown Soldier

 

Rating:

 

7/10