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26th-May-2007 01:35 am - The Fall of Troy - Manipulator
tyler


The Fall of Troy
Manipulator
2007

So this is the third album from this progressive post-hardcore band. The production is not as crispy as on their previous cd, Doppleganger. The vocals are kind of more annoying than on that cd too. However, they continue to be the masters of instrumental bridges. Not only do they continue, they actually got about ten times better. The improved instrumentals almost make up for the lesser production and kind of annoying vocals, but not quite. It said on Wikipedia that all the lyrics on the cd are about Oxycontin, and with lines such as "You stay heavy on my mind, can't refuse you if I try, make me afraid not to lie. Now I'm on a fucking head-trip! Regurgitate all your ambitions... Caught up in this so bad, I'm losing my head. Is this a subliminal hit!? Sure I say I'm alright, but it's not all fine," they are definitely singing about some drug, on that song at least. That song is called The Dark Trail by the way. And on the song Oh! The Casino!?, he sings, "One more time, just enough to ease my mind. Everything's fine, when it's only you and I..." That sounds like drugs too. Despite it's shortcomings, Manipulator is a little better than Doppleganger because it is more consistent. On Doppleganger there's a good amount of filler and a couple gems, but Manipulator has pretty much nothing but rocking jams.
Lawson


Death Proof
Original Movie Soundtrack

A soundtrack being reviewed?  What???  Anyways, this soundtrack is amazing.  It's just perfect for this film (or half-film, or whatever).  Tarantino was going for that retro feel to the movie, while keeping the movie current with cell phones and all that.  This record starts with the title credits music, which fits so nicely witht he movie.  Classic-sounding instrumental, with muscle-car-revving.  Then we go straight into the soundtrack, which tells the story of the movie through the themes of the songs, and some well-placed audio clips form the movie.  Those audio clips, for me, are what make this album special.  It helps you keep the movie in mind while you're listening to the CD.  So, if you haven't seen Grindhouse yet, go see it now.  Right now.  Get out of your desk chair and go see it.  Then go out and buy this record.

Rating: 9 (out of 10)

Key Tracks: Smith - Baby, It's You; Eddie Floyd - Good Love, Bad Love; Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich - Hold Tight.
23rd-Apr-2007 12:04 pm - Classic Case - Losing at Life
Lawson



Classic Case
Losing at Life

Classic Case is one of those bands you here about from a friend who knows more about music than you do.  In addition to that, they're one of those bands that when that friend tells you about them, you should listen.  They play a unique type of post-hardcore that can translate well to mainstream rock without losing integrity.  The hooks on this album are so spot-on, that after an initial listen to this record you can sing along prety effortlessly.  The guitar work is also really interesting.  It's a sweet blend of clean and overdriven guitars that will please the most fickle of ears.  Lead vocalist Jared Draughon's vocal range is showcased really well on this record, especially on the track "Scott Free" where he makes an awesome 7-note leap in the chorus.  Former Beloved guitarist/vocalist Josh Moore offers his backing vocals on a few songs, notably "Stalemate (Falling in Love)".  Lead guitarist Mitchell Marlow left the band to join He Is Legend shortly before the release of this album, but his contribution to this record is nonetheless great.  His influence on the band's sound is something I hope will stick around now that he's gone.

Go ahead and check this band's first album, Dress to Depress, before you grab this one.  It is just as good, and it will give you an idea of what you're in for with Losing at Life.  I think this is one of those sophomore albums that exceeds it's predecessor, a rare feat in music.

Rating: 7.5 (out of 10)

Key Tracks: Scott Free, Losing at Life, Stalemate (Falling in Love), Vampires

Lawson


Clutch
From Beale Street to Oblivion

Well, they've done it again.  Clutch has made yet another foot-stomping, head-banging, air-guitar playing, blues-rock jamfest of an album.  This is a great followup to 2005's Robot Hive/Exodus.  It takes what they did in that album, and adds a little bit more of everything.  There's more guitar, more bass, more harmonica, more blues organ, more of Neil Fallon's nitty-gritty, gravelly blues vocals.  Clutch has come a long way from their humble beginnings in the early 90s.  There sound is at its most cohesiveness.  Tracks like "Electric Worry" and "White's Ferry" pull you in with their energy and their catchiness.  The whole album really shows that Clutch isn't just a bunch of guys playing together.  This is a band.  I really hate to quote a shitty movie like Drumline, but this band really does invoke that "One band, one sound" philosophy.  Yes, you know Neil Fallon by name, but that's because he's the frontman.  The rest of the band, I couldn't name.  Not because they're not important enough to be remembered, but because I just think of this band as one unit.

All in all, this album is a must-have for any rocker.  The riffs, solos, everything, it all flows just right.

Rating: 8 (out of 10)

Key Tracks: The Devil and Me, Electric Worry, One-Eye Dollar, Mr. Shiny Cadillackness
23rd-Feb-2007 12:23 pm - Dustin Kensrue - Please Come Home
Lawson

Dustin Kensrue
Please Come Home

Dustin Kensrue, lead singer of post-hardcore heroes Thrice, was not the first person I would have expected to put out a solo acoustic album.  Hell, he wasn't the second or third.  Nevertheless, he released one, and it is good.  Not just good, it is great.  The opening track, "I Knew You Before", starts this album nicely with a fast enough pace to keep you interested, with lyrics that tell a tale of a once-wholesome girl who lost her wholesomeness somewhere down the line.  "Pistol", the first single form the album, picks up from there and is one of the standout songs from the album.  While the lyrics are basically professions of love, the music is a nice, laid-back jam with some tactfully-placed harmonica lines.  "I Believe" follows as what seems to be a faith-themed song, with just the right amount of spiritual talk without turning away non-religious types.  The title track stands out as it doesn't particularly go along with the tone of the rest of the album.  It's the one song on this record that has serious crossover potential, something you could see showing up on radio stations.  The next track, "Blood and Wine", makes me think of classic Johnny Cash.  A short-and-sweet ditty, it's got a pleasant country feel to it.  "Consider the Ravens" follows as another spiritual-type song, with the chorus almost sounding like a prayer.  Again, it's just enough that it doesn't get preachy.  "Weary Saints" is another song that doesn't seem to fit the mold of the majority of the record.  It's also the one forgettable song.  Finally, the album closes with "Blanket of Ghosts".  The music from this song alone can make you tear up a bit, as it is very slow and very saddening.  Beautiful lyrics, a great way to close out the record.

All in all, this is a refreshing take on the whole lead-singer-doing-an-acoustic-solo-project thing that has been so popular in today's music.  It's something that can be enjoyed not just by Thrice fans, but fans of laid-back, soulful, acoustic music in general.  The lyrics are clever and metaphoric, but not at all cryptic.  The music is simple and accessible.  I hope Dustin decides to try to keep this going concurrently with Thrice, as I believe he has the potential to do great things on his own.

Also, if you buy this album on iTunes, you get three sweet Christmas tracks, "Please Come Home for Christmas", "Go Tell It on the Mountain", and "Silent Night", all of which are awesome.

Rating: 8 (out of 10)

Key Tracks: Pistol, I Believe, Please Come Home, Blood and Wine, Consider the Ravens, Blanket of Ghosts
matt


The Electric Soft Parade
No Need To Be Downhearted



The Electric Soft Parade is made up primarily by the brother duo of Alex & Tom White, two lads from overseas.  I don't know when  the UK became such a hotbed for talent, but there's SO many awesome bands like this over there.  I'm jealous. 
But yes, No Need To Be Downhearted is their third release, and it's got some really good songwriting.  Imagine if The Strokes wrote more sophisticated chord progressions to supplement their garage band appeal.  That's what The Electric Soft Parade does on songs like "Cold World", which sounds like a deceptively simple pop song, but takes interesting routes from A to B.  The rest of the album pretty much follows that formula as well, never going where you thought it would go musically.  From the late night rave feel of "If That's The Case, Then I Don't Know", to the energetic "Life in the Backseat", this record explores various territories, blending genres and influences at will.   Definitely check them out if you get a chance. 


Rating: 8(out of 10)
Key Tracks: Cold World, Come Back Inside, Have You Ever Felt Like It's Too Late, Life In The Backseat
Website
matt

The One AM Radio
This Too Will Pass


The One AM Radio is actually just one guy, Hrishikesh Hirway.  Not only does he have one of the coolest names ever, he makes some really good music.  Hirway records sleepy, harmony-laden vocals in the vein of bands such as Kings of Convenience, and mixes them over  slow-moving dreamy melodies and beats that he also produces himself.  The music is somewhat less sparse than say The Postal Service, but not as in-your-face as Plus/Minus or Daft Punk.  Nearly all the songs are slow, making this is a good album to curl up asleep to.  There's enough variety to hold your interest all the way through, and it avoids unneccesary sappiness.  Sounds exactly like something you would hear playing in the soundtrack a Zach Braff movie. 

Rating: 7.5(out of 10)
Key Tracks: The Harvest, Mercury, Cast Away, Fires, Coming Back
Website
8th-Feb-2007 12:38 am - Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
matt


Andrew Bird
Armchair Apocrypha



I'm going to come out clean and say it: Andrew Bird's upcoming release Armchair Apocrypha is absolutely stunning.  Musically, there's a variety to this album that's really unmatched by anything else out there on the market.  All the staples of his previous works are still here, from the gypsy-guitar licks, to understated violin backings,  to his haunted murmer vocals.  The arrangements are pretty killer, with unexpected breaks of flourishes of energy.  One of Bird's strongest points is his sense of rhythm, and how to weave parts together in the context of a beat.  For example, the intro to "Heretics" builds from a simple off-beat guitar pattern to a full ensemble in which each part is playing off one another. 
There are virtually no weak tracks, and no two songs sound alike, all uniquely his sound.  Some of the strongest songs are stripped down ballads such as "Armchairs",  which eventually builds to a powerful sonic maelstorm by the 3/4s mark.  The final track, "Yawny At The Apocaplypse" is an instrumental featuring Bird on the violin.  It's sheer naked beauty cannot be described, it must be heard.  Armchair Apocrypha is a must-have whether you're someone looking for unique music, or even if you're just trying to find something to please your indie-rock girlfriend.  


Rating: 9.5(out of 10)
Key Tracks: all
8th-Feb-2007 12:30 am - Melee - Devils And Angels
matt


Melee
Devils And Angels

Another newcomer on the scene, Melee is unabashedly poppy.  The first track, "Built To Last", is breezy in the sense of bands like The Gin Blossoms, you know...sitcom theme music.  It's not bad, in fact it's damn catchy.  Melee are competent songwriters, and although there are some clunkers, I like a good handful of tracks off of Devils and Angels.  "Can't Hold On" is a piano-ballad that sounds remniscent of Elton John.  It's cheesy, but you can't help but fall in love with that soaring chorus.  If you're looking for something digestible and non-musically challenging then give these guys a try. 


Rating: 5.5(out of 10)
Key Tracks: Built To Last, Can't Hold On, She's Gonna Find Me Here
Website
7th-Feb-2007 11:29 pm - Phonograph - S/T
matt



Phonograph
S/T


I was stunned at how bloody good this band is, having never heard of them before checking them out on a whim.  They come with the recommendation of none other than John Stirratt of Wilco, who heard them rehearsing in a New York studio and fell in love with their sound.  That's funny, because I'd say Wilco is a pretty fair comparison band for Phonograph.  Kind of like A.M. crossed with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.
The opening cut, "In Your Mind" sounds like the twin brother of Wilco's "I'm The Man Who Loves You".  It's a rollicking number complete with swirling sonic vortexes and flute solos.   The studio work is indeed quite good, but not overly-stated.  Phonograph has shades of the alt-country thing going on, with their songs augmented at times by pedal steel guitar, the background strum of acoustic guitars or the bouncy brushes shuffle-feel of "Have I Told You".  There's countless other influences to be heard though, from the ballsy swagger of Tom Petty to the the thought-out pop of Elvis Costello.  All the influences come together to produce an excitingly fresh sound.  You won't hear Phonograph on the radio anytime soon, which is shame because of how talented these guys are.


Rating: 8(out of 10)
Key Tracks: In Your Mind, Radio Waves, Parsons White, Thinking of You,  You're A Giraffe
Website
7th-Feb-2007 11:27 pm - The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
matt


The Arcade Fire
Neon Bible



YES.  So, Neon Bible is one of the most anticipated albums of 2007.  It is, of course, the sophomore follow-up to Funeral after a longgg three years.  Time may have passed, but not a whole lot has changed in Arcade Fire-land.  The songs are still beautifully crafted masterpieces, voiced by a wide variety of instruments ranging from strings to piano to accordian.  At the centerpiece once again is the unmistakable quivering tenor of frontman Win Baker. 
The tone of this record is a lot more up-beat than their last due to the somber circumstances surrounding the previous release.  There's more faster numbers, including the tin pan jangle of "Antichrist Television Blues", sounding like Bowie taking on Chuck Berry standards.  There's also intense slow tunes, such as "My Body Is A Cage"...organ rocks!  The Arcade Fire is never lacking for energy.  "The Well And The Lighthouse" is a wild ride, swelling and swelling until the feel changes and yanks you off your feet two-thirds of the way in before fading out under a beautiful sea of bells and strings.  This record will keep you guessing and coming back for more.  Fantastic sophomore release, and easily among the best out so far this year.


Rating: 9(out of 10)
Key Tracks: Keep The Car Running, The Well And The Lighthouse, Antichrist Television Blues,  Ocean Of Noise, My Body Is A Cage
Website
7th-Feb-2007 09:31 pm - Dinosaur Jr.
matt


Dinosaur Jr. 
Beyond


This is Dinosaur Jr.'s first studio record with their original line up since pre-1990.  So yeah, this is kind of a big deal.  Putting past in-band tensions aside, DJ has spent the last few years re-honing their musical chemistry on the road.  It appears that the long wait has indeed paid off. 
These guys really haven't missed a beat; their timeless guitar fuzz-heavy sound remains true to form.  Listening to Beyond makes me want to break out the denim.  I can close my eyes and envision myself in the smokey rock clubs of Seattle back during the heyday of grunge music.  This album even SOUNDS like it was produced in the early 90s.  As for the music itself, this is one of their strongest assembleges of tunes to date.  The songs are slickly-arranged without sounding slick, and there's still that ever-so-slight sloppy edge to the music, which helps maintain the punk rock spirit which is all but dead these days.  Fans of the band are in for a treat, and hopefully DJ newcomers will be reeled in by what they hear as well. 


Rating: 8(out of 10)
Key Tracks: Almost Ready Crumble, This Is All I came To Do, Been There All The Time,  We're Not Alone
Sounds Like: the 90s
24th-Jan-2007 07:36 pm - RJD2 - The Third Hand
matt



RJD2
The Third Hand
XL Recordings

Release Date: March 6th


Website



I was familiar with RJD2 by name only prior to hearing The Third Hand, but this record really came out of leftfield and blindsided me with its smoothness.  RJD2 has cut his reputation from being song producer for rap artists, so I never really paid much attention to his career.  This solo album marks a depature from that sound though, finding him explore another side of music entirely.
                   It's hard to stamp a genre on this batch of songs, but the stylistic influences include pop, alternative-rock, trip-hop, r&b, and hip-hop.  The chord progression to "You Never Had It", a mid-tempo piano tune, sounds like it could be a Radiohead b-side, while the trippy hip-hop groove of "Beyond" sounds more akin to the Sneaker Pimps.  He even channels The Beatles with the string tracks on "Laws of the Gods".  RJ handles all the singing duties and sounds right at home doing so, his voice often well-layered with sweet harmonies.  He also wrote and produced the music as well.  This is truly a modern-sounding album, slick and grooving, it's perfect for late-night cruising.  Definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of his, or even if you're not.


Rating: 8(out of 10)
Key Tracks: You Never Had It, Work It Out, Beyond, Sweet Piece, Just When
Sounds Like: Sneaker Pimps, Citizen Cope, I Am X, Radiohead
24th-Jan-2007 07:24 pm - Bayside - The Walking Wounded
matt


Bayside
The Walking Wounded
Victory Records

Release Date: February 6th


Website


Victory is one of my all-time guilty pleasure labels, nurturing a solid stable of artists ranging anywhere from The Forecast to Thursday to Atreyu.  Bayside appeared on the scene several years ago, their aggressive sound bridging the gap between Alkaline Trio and Hawthorne Heights.  After a good showing with their first album (Sirens and Condolences), Bayside's second release felt kind of recycled and stale.  Their 3rd album, The Walking Wounded, is a step in the right direction, but still falls a bit short.
                  There's more diversity to this record than on their previous releases, but none of the songs stand out as a potential single, and they all pretty much blend into eachother.   The production sounds great, and some studio textures are thrown in for good measure (see the bells in "Head on a Plate").  The guitarwork is solid as usual, but nothing spectacular.   I think my favorite part of their songs is still singer Anthony Raneri's voice.  Sounding somewhat a cross between Brad Nowell and Matt Skiba, there's nobody on the circuit that sounds quite like him.  From the blazing energy of the title track "The Walking Wounded", to the tight harmonies of "Dear Your Holiness" , this album has some good moments.  Unfortunately there's too many lackluster tracks to call it an improvement. 


Rating: 5.5(out of 10)
Key Tracks: The Walking Wounded, Carry On, I And I, Dear Your Holiness
Sounds Like: Alkaline Trio, Hawthorne Heights, June
20th-Jan-2007 03:17 pm - Black Lab - Passion Leaves a Trace
matt




Black Lab
Passion Leaves a Trace


Website


"Five years in the making, Passion Leaves a Trace finds the band returning to the experimental foundation laid with their critically acclaimed Geffen debut Your Body Above Me. Passion bristles with deeply personal epics, each carved out of driving rock & roll, lush electronics and pure savage desire. Tracks from this brand new, 12-song, self-produced album can already be heard on FX's promotion for the season debut of The Shield, in CBS's Numb3rs, ABC's 6 Degrees and films The Benchwarmers and Lovewrecked. Using the incandescent riffs and soaring vocals that hooked fans in the first place, Passion mixes walls of guitar with unexpected moments of synthesizer, breakbeat and complete emotional breakdown. The majesty of "Mine Again", the jet-black remorse of "This Night", the lush electronic loss of "Weightless", the driving blast of "The Real You", the ache of "Ghost in Your Mind", the schizophrenic poetry of "Pictures of People" and the slow trip of "The Widow"—all of these different vibes come together to paint a portrait of love and the joy of total obsession."  (taken from the band's wikipedia site, <3)


Yep, remember these guys back from the good old days of late 90s alternative radio?  Even if you don't, their sound is very accessible and listener-friendly.  Nothing too musically challenging, just some good old solid songwriting.  If I had to describe their new record, I'd probably tag it as bridging the gap between newer Goo Goo Dolls and Coldplay (incidentally Coldplay owes a lot of their sound to Black Lab).  So as you might gather from that description, some of it is pretty cheesy; the album really sags in the middle, with some throwaway tracks.  There are some real gems though, particularily the first track "Mine Again", and the last one "The Window".  Those are by far the best songs on the record, and they're awesome.  Passion Leaves a Trace is a must-listen for fans of the band, for 90s nostalgics, and for new fans as well. 



Rating: 6(out of 10)
Key Tracks: Mine Again, A Day Alone, Weightless, The Window
Sounds Like: U2, The Goo Goo Dolls, Coldplay


15th-Jan-2007 01:19 pm - The Autumn Defense - S/T
matt



The Autumn Defense
S/T
Broadmoor Records


Website


Release Date: January 16th



What happens when two members of Wilco get together for a side-project?  Musical brilliance of course is the answer.  The Autumn Defense consists of John Stirratt (bassist for Wilco) and Pat Sansone (guitarist/keyboardist), and have recorded two previous records over the past five years.  The first, The Green Hour, was experimental pop.  The second, Circles, was slower and reflective.  Their self-titled third record strikes a balance between the two, with the result sounding like a classic 60's pop/rock album. 
                 The influences are many, and vary from track to track, borrowing anything from Chicago, to Love, to the Bee Gees, and of course shades of their own band Wilco can be heard as well.   It's really hard to put any kind of firm label on their sound though, since each song is so different from one another.  Lush studio arrangements give this record a really full sound.  Strings, bongos, or flute often serve to augment the classic pop harmonies and acoustic guitar.  The drums are dry and compressed, yielding that mid 70's radio-feel.  Multi-instrumentalists Stirratt and Sansone play all the instruments, sing all the vocals, and recorded/produced the whole record themselves, which is pretty impressive, as this record would probably have produced a number of hits back in the day. 


Rating: 7.5(out of 10)
Key Tracks: Canyon Arrow, Winterlight, Feel You Now,  Spend Your Life, Criminal, This Will Fall Away
Sounds Like: a better time in music
15th-Jan-2007 12:04 pm - Norah Jones - Not Too Soon
matt

Norah Jones

Not Too Late
Blue Note Records


Release Date: January 30th


I had no idea that Norah had an album coming out anytime soon until I saw it mentioned in a blurb somewhere.  It's kind of hard to believe that it's been nearly three years since her last solo effort Feels Like Home came out.  She's definitely one of my favorite mainstream female vocalist/singer-songwriters out there, her lounge/roots singing style appealing to a wide demographic.  Her third effort, Not Too Late, consists of another strong batch of tunes.
               Norah's voice still haunts with that smokey reflective delivery, but she sings with more gusto and confidence than ever.  This is evident on such tracks as the sultry vaudville of  "Sinkin Soon", which would sound right at home in a set by Ella Fitzgerald.   Or the bluesy "Thinking About You", which is the album's first single. 
              Norah is backed by her usual outstanding cast of back up musicians, including longtime bassist Lee Alexander.  The songs are crisp, well-arranged, and diverse enough to hold your interest all the way through.  The ensemble really finds its groove on upbeat numbers like "Be My Somebody", a gem on the backside of the album that will have you singing along in no time.  Then of course there's plenty of slow folky numbers such as "Rosie's Lullaby" on which Norah's voice sounds best.  Not Too Late is the kind of album that will grow on you immensly with each listen. 


Rating: 8(out of 10)
Key Tracks: Sinkin' Soon, Until the End, Not My Friend, Be My Somebody, Rosie's Lullaby, Not Too Soon
Sounds Like: Norah Jones
5th-Jan-2007 11:18 am - Solea - Finally We Are Here
matt



Solea
Finally We Are Nowhere
Bad News Records


Website


Solea is kind of a supergroup, as it consists of members from famous acts Texas is the Reason and Samiam(two frontrunners of the emo/post-grunge scene, without which bands like At the Drive-In and Jimmy Eat World wouldn't have been possible).  These guys were rocking the fuck out back when Brand New was still in middle school.  The vets still got it, and the end result is a really nice blend between the two original bands, while at the same time exploring new textures. 
                  This record is very classic sounding, and would fit right in on the scene around 1996.  Solea eshews the modern trend of ridiculously high vocals and retread Iron Maiden riffs.  Still, tracks like "The Answer Was Right in Front of Me" explode with high-end punk rock fervor.  "Far and Wide" sounds like a hybrid between The Replacements and a b-side off of Jimmy Eat World's Clarity.  There are chill tracks as well, such as the beautiful mid-tempo ballad "Almost Innocent".  If you're wistful for the good old days of the 90s, definitely check this record out, and if you like what you hear than be sure to check out the original bands as well. 



Rating: 7.5(out of 10)
Key Tracks: Finally We Are Nowhere, The Answer Was Right In Front Of Me, Far and Wide, This Time, Almost Innocent
Sounds Like: Texas is the Reason, Samiam, The Replacements, Jimmy Eat World
matt


Marissa Nadler
Songs III: Bird on the Water
Peacefrog Records

Release Date: January 15th


Website



Marissa Nadler is a folk singer-songwriter, whom I decided to check out out on a whim.  I don't really know anything else about her.  This brief bio from her website sums things up better than I could:

"Marissa's music is very dreamy and atmospheric: an amalgam of traditional folk, paisley underground, shoe gaze, and dream pop. Almost all of the songs are very sad, about broken hearts, death, or simple burdens. Her voice is what most people immediately respond to, often described as spectral and beautiful. She plays many stringed instruments (including banjo, ukulele, autoharp, guitar, 12 string guitar, and dobro) but is often noted as an excellent, often experimental, guitar player, and is now working on explorations into the twelve string guitar.

She sings songs of the sea, the haunting chansons of maidens, the cowboy ditties of ranchers, and the funerary processions of mourners. The eerie quality of her atmospheric music gives her songs a timelessness and sadness that is often described as other worldly."


This is a pretty solid folk record.  You know what to expect, whispy vocals with softly strummed acoustic guitar, backed by occasional florishes of drums and electric guitar.  Some of the songs drone on a bit long, but when she keeps it short and concise there's some really good moments.  Her voice floats across delicatly but full of conviction, often sitting atop an unobtrustive nest of harmonies.  The guitar plucks along with your standard folk-ballad patterns, rarely getting in the way.  This is a good album to have on during those late night book reading sessions.  Solid start for the new year.         


Rating: 7(out of 10)
Key Tracks: Diamond Heart, Silvia, Bird on Your Grave, Rachel
Sounds Like: Neko Case, Martha Wainwright,  Mazzy Star

3rd-Jan-2007 12:32 pm - Switchfoot - Oh! Gravity
matt

Switchfoot
Oh! Gravity
Sony Music Entertainment


Website


Yeah, I used to despise these guys and the dumbfoundingly wild radio success of that one song they wrote.  I would have written this album off as more of the same old same old, but after hearing the title-track single, I definitely had to check out the rest of the album.
           I was most suprised by the diversity found on this record.  There are many discernable influences, spanning generations from The Kinks all the way up to The Living End.  The single "Oh! Gravity" is bouncy, quick-paced, and full of attitude.  It sounds like nothing that's popular on the radio right now, sounding old school but without that indie garage band feel.  Following that track is "American Dream", which is cut in a similar vein to the first song.  It just FEELS so good.  Then they cool things off with "Circles", a moody ballad with a totally rocking chorus - it sounds like a song Chris Cornell would have wrote. 
           Fantastic pacing to this record, which is 11 tracks long but breezes by, with all the slow numbers in just the right places.  It's a pretty good album to listen all the way through to.  If you want a break from what they're playing on the radio, but don't want to stray too far from  mainstream, definitely give this record a try. 



Rating: 8(out of 10)
Key Tracks: Oh! Gravity, American Dream, Awakening, Circles, Head Over Heels (In This Life), Burn Out Bright
Sounds Like: The Living End, Chris Cornell,  (old) Goo Goo Dolls,

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