LPF Reviews 3

[tsinoitcelfer]

I can do Lateralus if I find it

 

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

[Friðbjörn]

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

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/9b3eedd8054f118ad0988d1e6c1f4bd6.jpg

Young Knives

Superabundance

Indie/Alternative

Similar To: The Cribs, The Rakes, The Futureheads

 

Young Knives were once upon a time a band that led the wave of bare

mininum and intelligant pop indie along with the likes of 'The Futureheads'

this band were hotly tipped for big things. I liked their first 2 albums but

never had the will or want to love them the was just something about the

bands difficult sound to get into... I just didn't ever think the reward would

ever justify the effort to get used to the sound and to discover all the

layers.... & I be damned I was right, when I finnaly did get into their music

it still sounded just above average, the norm.... they did have some exceptional

songs and have made some of the best pop songs of the last few year with

intelligant song strcuture and lyrics. But now I feel a bit uneasy as now the

band whilst are easier to approach then before I'm left here feeling a bit

out of sorts... well let me put it this way... You know that smelly kid at school

who was shy and never spoke and had a weird eye, he was hard to approach

you couldn't get to know him or get close without being turned off but you

always wanted to know him as your sure deep down he is a lovely guy, now

imagine this guy got rich and got baved in milk and honey and dressed well

but had lost all of lifes values as if its not him but a persception of how they

should be percived... sure you can now get close to him and approach him

but everything he spurts is utter cliche twatishness thats as deep as I am

Mary Queen Of Scots and Universe.

 

http://www.alternativeulster.com/images/Young-Knives-Main.gif

Charlies Angels, the directors cut

O okay what I'm saying here is whilst the music is approachable

and isn't particualy bad company the lack of depth and genuine

stuff on offer isn't there... they are the band that make up numbers

and contribute a little bit of atmosphere whilst never taking anyones

interest by great storms. The album will continue in this metaphore

as occasionly he does say something interesting (in the form of 3

- 4 good songs in this albums case) but then follows it up with something

dull, predictable and forgetable.... Again I must stress this album

isn't BAD it has some good pop songs but its over polished and no

longer innocent and the sound they are producing is to please others

rather then reprosent themselves as for what they are, which is the

rough sounding almost lo-fi pop scallions who made me laugh and

smile... now they are just the one that everyone knows to a degree

but dont care about. (5)

Terra Firma

 

Up All Night

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/709b477bfcd7400e8eaa26b788f85115.jpg

Tokyo Police Club

Elephant Shell

Indie/Alternative/Art Rock

Similar To: The Strokes, Modest Mouse, Good Shoes

 

These guys have been building up quite a mini storm about them, offering

music appriciated by both those involved deep in the music scene and the

people that are in it for the hooks, the sing alongs and the infectious melodies

and Tokyo Police Club offered this in huge amounts with their debut mini album

'A Lesson In Crime'. They have done this by applying the method that 'The Strokes'

used to be all about which is by intrigating interesting guitar and drum work with

fairly standard bass and percussion, now this works so well on many levels because

the is enough here to grab the person instantly but the is enough here to keep

the album interesting & it's usualy why bands that adapt this approach rightfuly

grab the attention of the media as well as the e-zines. The band themselves

specialise in offering music in small doses, often under 3minutes in length and

this works to their advantage as well, no song ever gets tired or outstays it's

welcome.

 

http://media.canada.com/a373a9c0-95d4-4a46-a780-e930d6c76147/070316-tpc.jpg

 

Whilst the guitar riffs and basslines sound typical 'Strokes' of yesteryear

the use of xcylephones and chellos and such sound posetivley modern

Modest Mouse, with the light hearted jingles resembeling Float On or

'Little Motel' for example and the use of strings sounding familiar to the

likes 'The World At Large' it's a combonation that works wonders and

whilst isn't unique or original or ground breaking is just the sort of thing

needed to make an album so infectious. The problems I find inlie the production

where the vocals seem too high in comparison to the rest of the music, the sound

of the old album was pretty much spot on with his vocal straining to get above

the noise guitars and hyperactive bass lines..... sure it made the album harder

to get into but the reward was all the more satisfying, however this albums production

isn't too bad and could of been alot more radio friendly.

 

http://image.listen.com/img/356x237/6/7/9/6/876976_356x237.jpg

 

The are many tunes and potential singles on this album and a couple other

songs which aren't as instant but do open themselves to you the more time

you give to them, the album includes the single that was released about

9months ago 'Your English Is Good' which was one of the best singles of

last year but also includes new songs 'In A Cave', 'Juno' & 'Tesselate' which

are every bit as catchy, I haven't heard an album this instant and fulfilling

in a long time and I suggest anyone that likes bands such as 'The Strokes',

'Young Knives', 'Futureheads' or any other art rock indie band should deffinatly

check it out, it's a rewarding short listen where its only real flaw is it's overly

loud vocals. (8)

 

Your English Is Good

[Friðbjörn]

album: wonder what's next

artist: chevelle

genre: alternative rock

 

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

 

The singer sings in your typical mainstream rock way. He adds his own touches, but most of the time I feel like he either doesn't give a damn about what the lyrics are, he sings indifferently, which is understandable, cause there is nothing original or spectacular there to find, or he sings if someone's behind his back poking him with something. Annoying, but not enough for him to really let out much emotion.

The guitars, as everything else, stick to the formula. Power chords. And wait a minute, people can actually use power chords in different ways! But guess what, Chevelle doesn't. And there are no soloes, no breakdowns, just the regular palm mutes here and there, slightly distorted. Sometimes a more relaxed moment, and sometimes they use clean. Congrats.

I have to add that the drummer doesn't seem to have heard of toms.

 

 

I didn't set out to write this review out of spite, but it just ended up reminding me why I stopped listening to anything marked as "alternative rock".

Like I said above, I had heard one song off this before. But it was clearly not good enough for me to remember it, its style, its lyrics, its progression.

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

[Stenners]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31ywyuo1yOL._AA240_.jpg

Portishead

Third

Trip Hop/Electronic/Alternative

Similar Artists: Massive Attack, Lamb

 

Well it's FINNALY here, all those bitches whining about LP's album taking 4

freakin years! 4!!!! Now thats nothing when you compare to the likes of

Portishead who we have waited almost 11, count em! 11 years to finnaly

come up with a follow up to their self titled album released way back in

1997.... that's from the last millenium people! So yes, 14 years after the

band came bursting onto the scene we have their 3rd album, the band that

made trip hop popular are finnaly back and they have continued with the

combination of trip hop, jazz and house to make some spiraling sprawling

sounds.

 

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/e0dbe5b63f5b3e07391aecccfee26602.jpg

 

The worst possible outcome for this album which I think most people

feared may of been the case would of been the album sounding like

a come back... as if it was a forced come back and would disrupt the

flow of their previous 2 classic albums. On first listen I was most certainly

not sure but now I can safely say this sounds like a natural progression,

the is nothing forced about it... it's as if the band never left and is a

rightful follow-up to 'Portishead'. The album is just about as dark as you

of expected to be with guitars sprawling in the background, thick basslines

and haunting vocals from Beth Gibbons remaining as potent and consistent

as ever. The music on here at times is slight more uptempo then previous

output with the opener 'Silence' and 'We Carry On' being prime examples

of this, 'We Carry On' could almost be considerd dancey. The sounds

used on this album are at times very disorientating 'Machine Gun' is a fantastic

example of this were elctronic glitches and samples swithc stereo channels

at quite a frantic level... the album has plenty to write home about in terms

of technichal ability and soundscope but part of Portisheads appeal is to

be able to do this whilst making a memorable tune and the are plenty of hooks

and melodies which will stick in your head.

 

http://www.soundgenerator.com/images/dynamicImages/18291_800894.jpg

 

Argubaly one of the best bands of the 90s Portishead have put out an album that

will probably be contending for album of the year 08 on many peoples lists. It's music

to be put on in the background or in the foreground, its versatile and totally familiar

without out being stagment or stale, it's got the distinctive Portishead sound and

existing fans will find alot to like about them here.... but people still alien to their

sound may appriciate this album all the more. It is deffinatly up there with the likes

of 'Dummy' maybe just feeling a little short from the lack of a CLASSIC single but

as an album you wont get much better this year (9.5)

[Stenners]

http://peasantswithpitchforks.com/point/images/orleans-john-hall.jpg

Animal Collective

Water Curses [EP]

Experimental Pop

Similar To: Born Ruffians, Panda Bear, Black Dice, Deerhoof

 

Everyones faviroute experimental pop band just don't stop giving us new

treats, touring songs and albums a year + before they are even released

this band pretty much are the textbook defenition of Pro-Active. One of

the few true great bands of our age 'Animal Collective' are yet to put out

and album I would consider less then 9/10 material, no matter what sound

they seem to try with they can hit it well. And you damn well no what, even

though these are just outtakes from the 'Strawberry Jam' era this short

but sweet 4 track collection has some good songs... damned good ones

I mean the title track and opener is blissfuly euphoric does of good will

and inticing melodies under a clutter of drums in the uniquely unfamiliar

yet holey familiar pop edge of AC.

 

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/f0612d433c541b0dae400389a9dae355.jpg

 

'Street Flash' takes on a more sparse approach with very distant use

of the drums and a simple plodding melody with very much turned down

vocals... it's all mixed together superbly and is a thing of beauty very

much so. The later 2 songs are just as good with 'Cobwebs' most certainly

being the hooky one of the album and probably the most instant and

'Seal Eyeing' reminding me older Animal Collective material... the collaberation

of vocals is deliscious and the production seems a bit improved over that

of 'Strawberry Jam' which was the last albums only real weakness, it's not

as approachable as 'Strawberry Jam' but it's deffinatly a superb EP... a

needed EP and it's good to see it come to the light of day as it would

of been such a shame to have seen these songs go to waste. (9)

 

PS that really isnt the cover

[Stenners]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51b%2BqtK1olL._AA240_.jpg

Mystery Jets

Twenty One

Indie Pop/Alternative/Brit Pop

Similar To: Larrikin Love, Pull Tiger Tail, Good Books

 

Mystery Jets were one of those bands tipped for great things whilst never really

achieving them, in 2006 they had a feature track on the NME by the name of

'Alas Angus' and everything looked good for them but by the time 'Making Dens'

came out the 2 lead singles 'Boy That Ran Away' & 'You Can't Fool Me Dennis'

whilst did make a ripple didn't make a splash in the mainSTREAM (eh u see what

i did there dont u) that was expected and since then the band sort of pitter

patterd back into obscurity... occasionly cropping up at a festvial and releasing

a track here and there. To be perfectly honest I really liked the debut album

'Making Dens' but I just couldn't see if I would muster up the enthusiasm for the

bands next offering... I just couldn't see it being good... I mean they had alot

of good single releases since then and the was no real reasson to believe they

would fall short this time but the was something about their sudden dissaperance

and constant re-releasing of 'Making Dens' to be too sure.

 

http://www.watercoolergossip.net/images/mystery_jets.jpg

I may look a bit simple but this is scrumptious

The first thing I noticed about this album is that the majority of the prog

rock and pscycadelica influences seem to be absent from this album (but

this was to be expected with recent releases) and the band seem to be

looking at a far more traditonal indie pop sound... and it has to be said this

is probably (although I would never of thought so if told so) the smartest

move this band has ever made. The songs have hooks, toones of them &

they are well structured... not to mention the lush melodies and the 80's

tinged 'Two Doors Down' being one of the finest singles of the year. The album

doesn't feel nearly as all over the place as 'Making Dens' and the are no weak

tracks here, the are some stunners though such as 'Young Love' which features

hotly tipped Laura Marling (review comming up tommorow) with its interesting

guitar riff over the rather traditional percussion hitting off a treat. Overall

this album feels alot more complete, focused and streamline then their debut

and whilst the is nothing near 'Zoolander' in terms of psycadelic brilliance the

pop songs here are some of the best I have heard in a long long time and the

are plenty of them (9)

Young Love

 

Flakes

[Friðbjörn]

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

 

album: Lateralus

artist: Tool

year: 2001

genre: progressive rock

 

I think people can fight endlessly over whether Tool is metal, but in my book, it's not. It's not heavy enough. That's just me.

Now, Tool is a very special band. I think Tool and Radiohead are the two really alternative bands, in the true sense of the word, that receive mainstream airplay, and artistic freedom on major labels.

You have to hand it to Tool that they have mastered spectacular time signatures, distorted power chord riffs, and mystic melodies in progressive arrangements. There's nothing progressive about the instrument selection and setup, that's just standard for most rock bands, but Tool does prove that you can use that setup, take influence from here and there, and actually make your own thing. I don't think there's any band quite like Tool. People have mentioned APC, but that's mainly for the vocals of Maynard, which actually aren't really the same in APC as in Tool.

Now having said all this, it comes down to one thing. Tool have mastered the form. What does that mean? It doesn't mean that they make great songs. It just means that they have talent enough to avoid most clichés. It may also mean that they really have to reinvent themselves for the next album.

Having heard all the Tool albums, the band has never appealed that much to me. This is a band with potential, but sometimes just lacks something to make their music a bit better. That final stretch over the finish line.

 

The only band that has come close to Tool in any sense is the London-based stoner rock meets post-metal band Capricorns. The similarities mainly lie in the similar use of powerchords at times, added with single note songchapters, and just the overall first impression of the sound. However Capricorns are much more dissonant, and are instrumental, and have a bit of a different approach. Even more abstract at times in structures. And they're also more to the point.

Which brings me to the one Tool album I've reviewed before this one, 10.000 days. Trademark album for my sofar opinion of Tool. Great material, just not really handled in the best way. Chapters are overly long and going nowhere, even the vocals of Maynard are sub-par.

 

Now, to finally get to the target album here, Lateralus.

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

 

However coming back to this whole album, it's not as bad as I've usually felt. It's full of oddly harmonized vocals by Maynard, flurrying bass riffs, and steady beats. The problem that plagues Tool however as usual is that they need more. They get half the way, but don't quite get there. Suggesting radical changes to bands tends to piss people off in general, especially fans, but I don't care in this instance. If Tool were to recruit a keyboardist, or perhaps another guitarist, or better yet a multi-instrumentalist, they'd be better off. It would change their sound for the better. It would most definately give their songs more depth, which is something I feel is missing. The riffs and vocals that are there already do make you think, but they do need something to accompany them.

That's the first half anyway. Towards the second half, and especially to the last few tracks of the album it takes a bit of a different turn. It's as if Tool starts to add more textures and layers to the songs towards the end, Disposition and Reflection good examples of that. They are also the songs that go over the finish line, like Lateralus, instead of going pretty close to it and then wandering off into the distance.

 

Again, compared to the other mainstream bands Tool stands out as superior, especially in their daring arrangements and song lengths, and in thought. They write meaningful philosophical lyrics, and while it doesn't rank as the best credit ever, many numetal singers (and more actually I think, and I hope) cite Maynard as a big influence.

However standing out among the mainstream doesn't mean you're necessarily that good. And in Tool's instance, it means you're between the lame mainstream, and the more creative underground.

 

rating: 68%.

[Stenners]

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

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/fe0ae50c91cb67bdaedf665e1a34898a.jpg

Animal Collective

Sung Tongs

Experimental Pop/Psycadelic

Similar To: Xiu Xiu, Caribou, Grizzly Bear

Released: June 1st 2004

 

Pop is NOT a dirty word and no further proof in this then Animal Collective, in

spirit of their latest EP 'Water Curses' I thought I'd re-investigate on this little

gem which was the start of Animal Collectives proplusion into a bigger audience.

This album releases signerfied an AC that was more inclined to more conventional

sounds, it's earthy and full of melody and harmonies... but thats not to say its

not a busy record, its very busy at times and to the untrained ear may seem

clutterd but the first listen is never the best listen to go by... come to the 3rd

or 4th listen you discover deep textures and soothing melodies to touch your

soul and leave shivers down your spine. The are plenty of hooks here and whilst

not as conventional as 'Strawberry Jam' this was the first album of theirs I could

truley understand and love.

 

http://www.factmagazine.co.uk/siteimages/large/animal-collective.jpg

 

Considering their roots of a band going from just striahgt up Psycadelic Prog this

is a very strong Pop album which would lay the blueprint down for the sound in

'Feels' and which would be re-structured to provide the brilliant 'Strawberry

Jam'. Many of the songs here sounds like campfire jams, with strumming of the

guitar and humming being very much on the agenda 'The Softest Voice' sums

this one up very well with electronic bleeps sounding remarkably earthy for such

a synthetic sound & this is what is so good about AC, they are at one with the

earth on their sound and it is a general breath of fresh air, even amongst the

experimental music scene. The yelling on this album is alot more minimal then on

later albums its all about the melodic vocal play between Panda Bear and Avery

Tare... it provides a dreamy, trippy & freeloving world which you don't wish to

leave, its a world of peace and tranquilty & is a real album to get lost in. (10)

 

Who Could Win A Rabbit

 

Leaf House

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

 

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

[Breakdown Conspiracy]

Yo wheres the Portishead - third review?

[Jeezy]

Yo wheres the Portishead - third review?

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

[Stenners]

Yo wheres the Portishead - third review?

 

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

[Breakdown Conspiracy]

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

 

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

 

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

[Friðbjörn]

you gotta have a search feature when you get that blog running matt, lol

[Stenners]

I know its not a Sunday and for me to do a Retro review would be quite literally ludicrous

but for the record, my topic, my rules & if you dont like it then your a bit sad for nit-picking

such tiny entities that occur in this world when we have problems such as aids and grandmas

apple pie no longer being made by grand-ma but a guy named steve at an industrial scale.

 

Anyways TOOOO Request from WOOODY

 

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/b43e319524776e4dbf8461c16e7555a6.jpg

Alanis Morissette

Jagged Little Pill

Pop/Pop Punk/Pop Rock/Middle Of The Road

 

According to Woody who requested this album I was looking into 'One of the most

important albums that led fenemisem' I quickly dismissed this quirk when I realised

it was A) Made in the 90s and B) I have heard all these songs on the radio in the

90s & most things on the radio in the mid to late 90s hasn't exactly got a deep routed

alteria motive. Deep down this albums may have some good intentions & hell this

album has a couple of really memorable tunes but the is a reasson I have to disable

my scrobbling when I listen to it & I will get to that later. First of all the album is

full of melodies, big pop guitar licks which have been singled out in the mix, the drums

are very standard & its got funky slap basslines.

 

http://www.speakwell.com/well/2005spring/media/Alanis%20Morissette_int.jpg

TURN UP THE FAN TURN IT UP! Actually on a more serious note she looks like friend of mine.. hmm

Everyone here that is even the slightest bit British would of heard the first

3 tracks as they were on the radio all the time, but that always worries me

when the first 4 tracks of the album are the singles as nothing says commercial

more then assuming that the listener wont be able to sustain the album enough

to hear the singles so once you attention is literally ass raped by the shiny clean

mondeo pop the are some pretty decent soft melodic songs on here which sound

more sincere but at the end of the day the reasson I ended up turning of Last.fm

during this album is that this is music for Mums.... & I mean this with all my heart,

its safe, inoffensive,predictable & melodic, the are song good pop songs here &

for the love of me if it weren't so polished I would probably like it alot more but

I cant get over how clean it sounds... they couldnt of at least had a couple of

songs which DIDN'T have the guitar and vocal pushed so far to the front of the

song I would feel more inclined to listen to it but I refuse to listen to it anymore

then the 4times I have to make this review until I wear an aprant, give birth

and get a ford mondeo, the is a market for this album and its not the worst

in its market, anything special? No.. 6.5/10

Hand In My Pocket*

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nLXULfN77TQ

 

All I Really Want

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/88d9a69c0216593bbe4ccb477ba54206.jpg

Man Man

Rabit Habbits

Alternative/Experimental Rock/Indie

Similar To: Tom Waits, Menomena, Frog Eyes, Modest Mouse

 

Before this album leaked a couple of weeks ago people were pretty damned anament

that this was pretty much one of most securley sealed and sort of albums of the year

& of course what felt like an eternity after it got leaked.... shoulda done what Racontuers

are doing then.. shouldnt ya! 'Man Man' make me think of one thing & thats this is

probably what The Devils playlist sounds like... no no no not metal or hard rock which

is just cliche and really doesn't associate with the devil other then the vocalists tend

to like to talk about bad bad bad baaaaaaaad things, NO! Musically the piano jingerling

the upliftited yet possetivley evil sounds backing vocals and the manic laughing and

yelping are one of the many things to take into the equation... sonically it's the total

package for what I persive as what the Devil would listen to... why the fuck am I trying

to explain it like this anyways?

 

http://b7.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/01074/74/01/1074411047_l.png

 

The bands odd ball style is fun! It has to be said and sounds like many songs

done tinkering in the darkest realm of alcoholism (though this isn't neccisarily

true) they do have a destinctive sound made all the more approachable by

this album as its full of catch melodies & hooks, the band though are still brooding

with charecter and the furter inclusion of more electronic sounds may offend the

purists but to me is a welcome addition. 'Hurly/Burley' is incredibally dancey as

is alot of the album despite being simultainiously odd ball and haunting, it's just

such a good use of glockenspiels, pianos and other traditonal instruments...

it's a mix that makes 'Man Man' so appriciated in the scene. This band will never

be one to appeal to all sorts as it is just odd ball but ethics are very much more

pop routed this time round & personally I find this to be the most enjoyable album

they have put out to date. (9)

 

Top Drawer (live)

 

Hurley Burley (Live)

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/914160c305d834f173fa51f5efb28ce3.jpg

M83

Saturdays = Youth

Electronic/Ambient/Shoegazer/Pop

Similar To: Maps, Air, My Bloody Valentine

 

M83 are very very difficult to pin point a sound to, your never going to know what

the next release is going to sound like yet alone be able sum up the band in a generelised

term. No sir! When I heard 'Digital Shades Vol.1' last year which was pretty much experimental

ambient electronic music I would never of seen this album comming! The wasn't even a

hint as to how this album would sound on the previous release, or other 2 releases for

that matter, from the proggy days of Dead Cities to the shoegazer melodramatic indie electronica

to Before The Days, we now have this... an 80s inspired ambient pop record! The was no way

of calling that one, I mean seriously I never really thought pop that much when I though

m83, they were more down to the ambience side of things.

 

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/84ddaeb6437557289c8bd5f60720e3e7.jpg

 

This could be a worrying prospect for fans of the bands previous work and an exciting

one for those who could never quite get into them, but I can release that the is enough

of the bands original elements to keep the die hards happy & this album is by far the

most approachable of the bands back catalouge to date. The album is full of hooks, haunting

vocals and fantastic sense of pop ethics. Sure they sound very shoegaze still and tracks

'Skin Of The Night' is all about the drone, progressive ambience that the band had been

shooting for most of the days. This though shows a band growing in confidence & know

that they can tinker with the formula and still doing a stella job of it, I believe it to be every

bit the album 'Dead Cities' was but for different reasons. (9)

[woodyloveslinkin]

Thanks for the review Matt. I spoke to Ravyn on the phone today, and she told me that she wasn't the person that started the rock feminist movement, but Alanis is pretty well known for her non-girlish approach to life.

[Stenners]

http://www.offtopic.forum/data/MetaMirrorCache/d07e47a9622eb5405dab24c7dce0efc0.jpg

The Raconteurs

Consolers Of The Lonley

Alternative/Indie Rock

For Fans Of: The White Stripes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kings Of Leon, The Greenhornes

 

Despite great measures to prevent this little beast of an album from leaking

the band made from old friends, The Raconteurs, are back & despite having

a hand full of good songs on previous effort 'Broken Boy Soldier' (3 stars)

the album didnt really do it for me & was pretty much forgetable and felt

like a bit of a missed opputunity. The band are back though & with a slightly

more folky multi-instrumental look on things & from the way I see's it this

has boosted the bands stature massivley. Sure this is essentialy guitar led

'indie' rock music but the is added depth, variety and energy with the introduction

of these instruments.

 

http://www.audiomonger.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/medium_raconteurs01.jpg

 

In essence Jack White come the last release had just released the some what

dissapointing 'Get Behind Me Satan' and the theme seems to continue with the

suprisingly strong return to form 'Icky Thump' & now this & I have to say it is

suprisingly good, it's everything the debut should of been. The hooks here are

in the plenty but the are some long winded melodic beuties, guitar hooks for

the clubs and the string filled ditties. Obvious stand outs on first listen all lie

in the middle of the album which is pretty rare & at no point do I feel this album

is dropping in quality, 'Five On Five' is sure to be an instant fan faviroute as it's

and infectious almost punky rock song 'Top Yourself' is a nice folky ditty with a

very conuntry-esc feel to it 'Old Enough' is a really strong song of a similar vein

the more folky and country filled sound the are plenty of song where the melody

stills the show without being too remarkable such as 'The Switch And The Spur' &

more notably the closer 'Carolina Dreams' this makes the band seem less like

an alienated side project, they feel like a proper band at last & not just a flash

in a pan side project. (8)

[Stenners]

From Noooow On

 

http://ilovetojammyfingersintosockets.blogspot.com/

 

This is where all reviews will go, I will post whenever its updated!

[Friðbjörn]

looking good

[Stenners]

Updates:

Caroline Smith - Self Titled EP

April 2008 Playlist pt.1

[Stenners]

Updates:

Sun Kil Moon - April

Best Of: Modest Mouse (Playlist)