quarta-feira, fevereiro 23, 2011
quarta-feira, dezembro 08, 2010
terça-feira, dezembro 07, 2010
1338. Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye
Japanese import of the Last Goodbye single - also contains a 14 minute live version of Mojo Pin, Kanga-Roo and Lost Highway. The live Mojo is pretty great, containing a really long intro. Kanga-Roo sounds like Chad and I playing and Lost Highway, which I have on the So Real single is a slide guitar blues jam.
6.4 out of 10
segunda-feira, dezembro 06, 2010
1336. Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Aeroplane
Just picked this up yesterday for a mere $3.00. Why? Well, because I have been curious lately about the Navarro era RHCP, especially since we will be entering another non Frusciante era. The single is backed by three live tracks here all from that tour with Navarro: "Backwoods", "Transcending" and "Me and My Friends". The performances are incredibly loose and Backwoods includes the Come as You Are intro riff, while "Me and my friends" openly uses the Hey Joe riff throughout (and it works!). Good stuff.
6.9 out of 10
sexta-feira, setembro 10, 2010
1335. Rivers Cuomo - Alone: The Home Recordings
These are demos, which means a lot of times a drum machine is used, the lyrics are improvised and the quality is shaky - but this still would have made for a better Weezer album than what has been released lately. I haven't heard part 2 of this set - but I know I could have grabbed that along with the Summer song demos and made a good Weezer album... sounds like a project.
6.9 out of 10
1334. PJ Harvey & John Parish - A Woman A Man Walked By
John's a lucky guy to have PJ as a friend - the fact that she's always willing to sing on his records says a lot about their friendship. I would have to say that if I removed PJ's vocals and just heard the instrumentals I wouldn't be impressed - they aren't bad, they just aren't memorable. When you hear the cd again you find yourself waiting for key vocal parts.
Overall the disc is a mixed bag of some very dim bright spots and a lot of ok moments.
6.9 out of 10
terça-feira, agosto 24, 2010
1333. PJ Harvey - White Chalk
The story of this album is simple - PJ taught herself how to play the piano and recorded an album of herself playing it. The songs have so much air in them that they become filled with a dense aura to them. Her lyrics and rhythmic playing of the piano makes the album a haunted masterpiece that sucks you in, quickly.
8.9 out of 10
quarta-feira, agosto 04, 2010
1332. Flaming Lips - Dark side of the moon
People were outraged when they heard this lp. I'm not sure what they were expecting. A proper remake of an unremakable lp? Remakes shouldn't be carbon copies. Gus Van Sant's Psycho remake was a frame by frame color reproduction of the original - sure it was a massive undertaking to replicate the master, but for the viewer who wasn't part of the process it felt like seeing the original again but with less gifted actors. So the Lips do what I think is the only way to cover Dark Side: doing it their way - enlisting the help of their crazy friends, making the entire album feel more like a theatre production. Peaches, Rollins and Coyne's nephew's band all add a weirdness and live energy to the project that makes it a winner for me.
8.2 out of 10
segunda-feira, julho 26, 2010
quinta-feira, julho 15, 2010
1330. Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics
In the early 2000's the Lips were at the height of their popularity. Yoshimi had given them radio play and critical appreciation, something they had never got both at the same time. I guess the pressure was on to follow it up with an album that would be as equally successful commercially as the previous. At War is half good, and half bad. The bad contains weak attempts at crafting pop nuggets as poetic as Do you Realize - keep in mind this is the flaming lips, so I would never assume that they literally sat down wanting to make a carbon copy - but they did seem to want to follow a familiar path. The other half that's good veers away from that path with genuine Lips songs that take you from the insanely mundane to the mundanely insane. or something like that.
7 out of 10
quarta-feira, julho 14, 2010
1329. Chad Vangaalen - Soft Airplane
I really like this guy. Why? Because he sits in his room all by himself and makes up all this crazy shit. Sometimes I feel like my entire life should be like that - 24/7, sitting with my own thoughts making weird shit with all my little projects. He's an inspiration and his music is pretty great too.
8.2 out of 10
segunda-feira, julho 12, 2010
1327. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
I must admit I thought these guys were all hype and no substance mainly because of all the dumb kids who were dancing to 'kids', but having revisited this disc and enjoyed the latest release These guys are shaping up to be quiet geniuses who may be responsible for some of the most exciting music to come out of this country for years to come.
7.5 out of 10
sexta-feira, julho 09, 2010
1326. Beck - Modern Guilt
Another classic by Beck. He puts down the drum machine for a bit and picks up his guitar and makes his most rock based record since Odelay - Danger Mouse's production allows it to still have that digitized, processed vibe which works perfectly with the mood of the record - a mood that is reserved yet somewhat funkified - like tapping your feet while sitting at your desk.
8.1 out of 10
quinta-feira, julho 08, 2010
quinta-feira, julho 01, 2010
1324. Archer Prewitt - Gerroa Songs
This was the only Prewitt disc that iluded me and I finally did find it. When I heard it I was somewhat surprised. Archer's music to me always had a harp like quality to it and was uplifting and sad at the same time. Gerroa Songs has a haunting quality to it - you can hear the room it was recorded in, the atmosphere on each song is dense and thick.
7.3 out of 10
1321. Frank Black - Frank Black
Frank Black is a genius. He's also such a prolific artist it's hard to keep track of all of his releases. It's funny how no matter how many times you hear a Frank Black song or a Breeders song they never come close to matching the intensity and brilliance of a Pixies song. But this solo debut is fun and is filled with moments that are very reminiscent of Bossanova.
7.9 out of 10
quarta-feira, junho 30, 2010
terça-feira, junho 29, 2010
1318. Pinback - Autumn Of The Seraphs
I love Pinback - the harmonies, melodies, time signatures, lyrics - they are pretty perfect. This album wasn't a greater hit because I think that people were maybe a little turned off by the cover thinking it was some sort of metal project. The album as a whole is missing just that one little bump to make it perfect - I can't wait to hear the next release.
8.2 out of 10
segunda-feira, junho 28, 2010
sexta-feira, junho 25, 2010
1316. Ween - La Cucaracha
I love Ween because they are funny and they are doing their own thing. La Cucaracha sounds like they wanted to tackle very specific styles of songs - from soft rock to dub to country. While the release isn't their best, they manage to throw in a couple of classics with 'woman and man' and 'you party'.
7.2 out of 10
quinta-feira, junho 24, 2010
1314. Fujiya & Miyagi - Transparent Things
This may not make sense to say but if this record came out in the 90s it would have been hailed as a masterpiece, not that the reviews it got were bad - but it's so layered and cleverly executed that it didn't receive the praise it should have because, well we're all used to it now. We're used to the attention to details, the cheeky lyrics and infectious grooves. For 2006 when it came out this was a very good, fun release. Still is.
7.4 out of 10
1313. Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War
Bombast is a word I've never used here, but when bands like Stars use it properly it's unstoppable - it makes you sing out loud on a crowded subway, or make a simple trip on a train seem life affirming. Sadly "In Our Bedroom After The War" fails to harness that power that was so elegantly and cleverly captured on their previous releases. It is however still a rather solid effort by such a sweet bunch of canadians.
7.4 out of 10
1312. FEist - The Reminder
Why is the world afraid of soft rock or anything remotely close to it? This is hardly soft rock but it may be misconstrued as such by a less musically educated listener - Feist is too much of a genuine artist to be lumped in with Celine Dion. True soft rock is really superbly executed soft pop. This album absorbs so many influences and makes them its own so seamlessly that one forgets to hand out the credit. It helps too that Feist has one of the sexiest voices in music - that paired with such compositional brilliance makes this an album to remember.
9 out of 10
quarta-feira, junho 23, 2010
1311. The Sea and Cake - Everybody
At this stage of my life the sea and cake are more friends than they are a band - I just know them so well it's like a relationship that is constant, intimate but not surprising anymore. With that said I love my friends - 'Everybody' is a return to the 'biz' years in my opinion where the grooves ground you down and Sam's voice wisks you away.
7.9 out of 10
terça-feira, junho 22, 2010
segunda-feira, junho 21, 2010
quinta-feira, junho 17, 2010
1307. Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene
Their previous release had been out for quite sometime already before it picked up momentum through amazing reviews and touring - when the follow up came out it seemed rather quick but in reality it wasn't. This is a great follow up to 'You forgot' - it's as epic, layered and guest heavy as ever - what it isn't is hopeful, something that the previous LP always was to me, but that could have just been me personally. This disc also comes with a bonus cd of bsides.
8.3 out of 10
quarta-feira, junho 16, 2010
1306. Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - Real Emotional Trash
I love stephen - I never want to meet him because if he turns out to be a jerk it'll ruin the perfect impression he's cast on me. This third album by him and the jicks is another little treasure - filled with his witty lyrics, jammy gasms and classic rock moments. It's impossible not to like this.
8.8 out of 10
quarta-feira, junho 09, 2010
1305. Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
I just heard this cd for the first time right now - crazy huh? It just sort of went right under my radar for a long time - then I'd read about it, or heard about and still didn't listen to it. Then it was on sale at virgin a few years back for $10 so I got it... it's amazing how close this album reminds me of The Decemberists, except less tongue in check and less polished than their vocals and arrangements - and by polished I mean NMH is just looser, playing live instead of individually in a studio - the lyrics too are rawer. Overall I'm impressed.
7.3 out of 10
terça-feira, junho 08, 2010
1303. Mew - And the glass handed kites
One of the great things about european bands is that their lyrics are always slightly off - off maybe they aren't off and their sensibilities towards life, people and love and are much more fantastical than we think here in the US. Mew have great song structures, with great pop moments and feature an amazing vocalist whose voice is so sweet yet so powerful. Fun record.
7.5 out of 10
1302. Shearwater - Palo Santo
When Shearwater received an offer to join Matador they were also offered to re-record their debut album - and boy, I am so happy I have this version. The production on this disc is crude, and has a genuine live feel creating a haunted aura around each track - the new versions are just over produced and way too delicate.
7.5 out of 10
segunda-feira, junho 07, 2010
1301. Chris Walla - Field Manual
What is this a field manual for? Most likely love or something like that. I was very curious about this album -Walla has been involved in so much indie music I just knew his solo output had to be good. Well it is, just good. There are many sweet hooks of pure indie bliss, but he voice lacks the necessary punch to roar through all the emotion.
6.9 out of 10
sexta-feira, junho 04, 2010
1300. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
I obsess over my music. I'm a collector, a completist, a everything. I used to sit down and watch my friends playing with a CD of mine and thinking, "I hope they put the insert back properly so the jewel case tab doesn't crease the booklet" - well, I've learned to let go a little. This was one of the few cds I bought in the last year or so, and within a day ellen spilled water all over it, merging all the pages of the diecut booklet into one solid piece (the cover has four short folds). Sure I was a little upset, but I realized, I can always buy another... but back to the music at hand. DCFC were on a steady roll prior to their major label debut. "Plans" was just a bit too sugary and sweet - the band has alway excelled at making suffering sound so good, but that disc had just too much of the good. On "Narrow Stairs" the band swings to the other direction making the suffering take the front seat to what eventually becomes a stale, uninspired set. You still enjoy it because the band has its charm, but there's no spark.
7.2 out of 10
1299. Of Montreal - Icons, Abstract Thee
Fuck I love this EP. I love Of Montreal. I have ellen mainly to thank for that, and James too. What I love about the band is how prolific Barnes is - there's something about artists that just write so much music that instantly makes me like them, like Prince. This EP is as neurotic and chaotic as other OM releases but it's much more stripped down. Easily, the highlight of the disc to me is "No Conclusion" - a sentiment I feel more and more often. Also, any artist who writes a lyric like "Cock shocker blues" is genius in my book.
8.4 out of 10
1298.The Spinto Band - Nice and Nicely Done
The promo sticker on this says something like "these guys are a mix of pavement, yo la tengo and flaming lips" - and while I wouldn't have picked those bands exactly, they do indeed sound like a bunch of bands - which isn't a jab at them - I guess it's harder to tame all your influences when there is so much music available at your finger tips nowadays. Regardless, they are a talented bunch and deserve a pat on the back.
5.6 out of 10
quinta-feira, junho 03, 2010
1297. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
This is MM's most successful commercial LP. "Good News" was great but this disc is just solid through and through - sure it is more mainstream, but it's as good as mainstream can get. When Johnny Marr was announced as a new member I took a small, but warm shit in my pants. The result of is inclusion is interesting - there isn't anything Smiths like on here, but instead the songs do have a very strong 80s pop sensibility to them, which I love - he also added a certain of reason into the Modest Mouse sound, which I love.
9.3 out of 10
quarta-feira, junho 02, 2010
1295. Bodies of water - Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink
I put a track by these guys on a mix once, and my friend Matt remarked that if he had a band he'd want to sound like these guys. I can understand why, they have this communal family meets classic rock thing going on and after hearing the disc they've also manage to add some sweet sad pop in there too, making this one great little cd. It made my day hearing it today.
8.4 out of 10
1294. Heatmiser - Cop And Speeder
I might have mentioned this about my previous Heatmiser cds - you can hear the struggle of two sounds on this disc - one is of something very common for the ear, a post grunge sort of indie sound almost sebadoh like, and the other is Smith's classic pop sensibility - the two are at even levels here, unlike Mic City Sons where Smith seemed to have is way a bit more. The tracks aren't bad, but they are more for the Smith enthusiast than anybody else.
7 out of 10
1292. Dirty On Purpose - Hallelujah Sirens
I played this album while working and it ended with me not realizing what I had heard. The mellow, melancholy disc moves through like a shy guest at an overcrowded party, where they've showed up just so they can say they are being social. I liked it, and I'm not sure if its a disc that can ever be loved since it is so timid. To be continued some other day I suppose.
6.4 out of 10