Monday, June 30, 2008
Sa Dingding 琴伤 (Qin Shang) EP
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Calico Brothers - God Left Town EP
Last month I purchased the God Left Town EP and fully intended to post a review of it within a short time frame. Well, you know how things go. Time marches on, things get in the way, and here we are on June 25th and still, I don't have a proper review to give you.
And here's why:
Calico Brothers debut release, the six song 'god left town' EP, provides a blueprint for all that they hold dear in musical form.
Blueprints aren't buildings and, as much as I like the songs on this EP, an EP isn't an album. There's just not enough meat for a full on review. Three of the songs I've heard before, so really for me this is more of a three song EP.
What I can say from what I can hear is that these guys enjoy playing and are having a good time. They have a feel good sound that truly evokes that "Idyllic California" of the some imagined past.
What I am looking for is something more. I know these guys have it.
Quite possibly, I'd see it live if I were in New Zealand. I don't know about that happening any time soon, unless anyone over there wants to hire a lawyer/glassblower/wannabe blogger in New Zealand. Then I would be able to watch Outrageous Fortune AND see the Calico Brothers live. That would be pretty sweet.
Anyway, I promise to get out a right proper review as soon as those Calico Brothers get around to releasing a right proper album.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The other half of the Libertines
Monday, June 16, 2008
arctic monkeys side project
What Made Milwaukee Famous
The Delays New Album
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Record Review - South "You Are Here"
Album closer Zither Song is the highlight of the album and is one of the best songs South has ever written. Over a gentle strum featuring some beautiful zither instrumentation, lead singer, Joel Cadbury laments the process of time. The track finds South operating in space with the drums and crescendo not kicking in until the 2:56 mark. The buildup is worth the wait as it features a kick-ass drumbeat and swirling guitars. At its most, You Are Here is what you expect from South, an experimental consistent affair that features great choruses and epic like instrumentation.
FINAL SCORE - 8.5
POST SCRIPT. I picked South's Adventures in the Undergound, Journey to the Stars as the best album in 2006. In making that selection I commented about 2006 not being a great year in music and for me, and picked the South album as the best almost apologetically. Listening to that album again in its entirety, I realize my mistake. That album is a murderer's row of tunes and rightfully deserves its place as the best album of 2006. I should probably re-write that list at my old blog.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Dengue Fever - Seeing Hands
I've been listening to Dengue Fever quite a bit recently. Their sound is something that will either grow on you or it won't. Initially I was sort of turned off by the psychedelic retro stylings but during a long road trip I really started to get into their vibe and found that I was really really growing to like it. It's not too often you find a group that can transport you to another place like they can.
Dengue Fever's not for everybody but you should give them a shot if you're up to it.
I'm gonna try to see them July, 5 2008 at Summer Stage in Central Park, New York. Should be pretty cool.
Dengue Fever at MySpace
Monday, June 9, 2008
Midnight Boom Is Worth a Listen
This is a new album by The Kills but when I first listened to it I was immediately transported to the 90's. It evokes memories of the Deal sisters and Trent Reznor.
The song that really leaps out for me is Black Balloon. I like the slow, melancholic feeling and the simple instrumentation. Around a minute forty in, Black Balloon starts to bloom in complexity but it doesn't loose anything in the transition. A simple song that works for me.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Awesome band--Plants and Animals
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Brings a smile to my face
Ignore the idiot on the video, I'm posting it for the song playing in the background. You can find the song on Fatboy Slim's live album On The Floor At The Boutique. The song is called Because I Got It Like That by the Jungle Brothers.
Florida band makes good
Update, they're actually playing Backbooth on June 27. I definitely have to go to that.