Category Archives: CD Review

CD Review: La Sera [2011]

02/24/2011 G. Gordon Gritty Leave a comment

Band: La Sera
Release: 2/2011
Label: Hardly Art

1. “Beating Heart” – B
2. “Never Come Around” – B+
3. “You’re Going to Cry” – B+
4. “Sleeptalking ” – B+
5. “I Promise You” – B-
6. “Left This World” – C
7. “Hold” – B-
8. “Under the Trees” – B-
9. “Devil Hearts Grow Gold” – A-
10. “Dove Into Love” – C
11. “Been Here Before” – B+
12. “Lift Off” – B

Comments: Here we have it, a brief exhibit in well done girly harmonies, light noise, and a tidbit of dream. Kickball Katy (La Sera) knows her music and stuff like that. Of course, this album is chock full o’ hooks and all that stuff that we music listeners enjoy, but there is that thing that haunts a lot of today’s music — uniformity. Unintentional, probably. Just comes off that way. We hear some neat psych-pop numbers, but also some commercial (literally sound like background TV advertisement/nu-Christmas music…”Left This World” I’m pointing at you) cutesy jingles. Don’t let the jingles get to you, though. Katy’s preciousness so-to-speak is both the high and low point of this record. She doesn’t have that rock ‘n roll spirit possessed by her contemporaries, Best Coast (probably closer to Katy’s sound than…) and the Dum Dum Girls. It’s just not really her thang. This is more of an easy listening thing, like 8th grade final slow dance music (why hello there, “Dove Into Love”). Some of my favorite numbers, in case you are wondering: “Sleeptalking” and “Devil Hearts Grow Gold.”

Grade: B- (83)

CD Review, Music, Radiohead

CD Review: The King of Limbs [2011]

02/21/2011 G. Gordon Gritty Leave a comment

Band: Radiohead
Release: 2/2011
Label: Self-Released

1. “Bloom – B+
2. “Morning Mr. Magpie” – B
3. “Little By Little” – A
4. “Feral” – C
5. “Lotus Flower” – B
6. “Codex” – B
7. “Give Up The Ghost” – B+
8. “Separator” – A

Comments: A quick examination of message boards and the like will reveal that this album isn’t universally agreed upon as excellent or anything like that. Three years ago, I was quite convinced that In Rainbows was fantastic (and that everyone thought similar), but upon reading plenty of diverse views, a lot of people suggested it was one of the band’s worst efforts. So here we are. From the start, I was struck with a Kid A vibe, something industrial and electronic. The drum beat sounds like machinery running. The bass line is pretty much kind of dub — I’ve seen it ‘post-dubstep’ thrown around, but what? — but that doesn’t really matter. It’s an ethereal song, perhaps best appreciated for what it is, rather than what it isn’t. It improves with listens, as you’ll gain new perspectives on exactly what is going on. Maybe the first time you missed the left panned vocals that precede each line of the last verse. “Morning” continues the tradition of very structured drum and bass and galactic environment. There’s nothing that makes the song a real standout, but it acts a pretty solid follow-up to “Bloom,” instrumentally at least. The rock ‘n’ roll side of Radiohead, which as of late has been accompanied by, at the minimum, a tiny bit of electronica, comes on strong in “Little By Little.” This tune matches up along side the standard fare of In Rainbows…just catchy, bullshit-lacking pieces of work. It’s always humorous how people interpret songs. On Song Meanings, a few people say it’s about corporate evil and greed (this is what we’d expect from Radiohead) while another equates “the one that broke the seal” to a dude who has had a lot to drink and needs to take a piss every ten minutes. As far instrumental, throw-away tracks, “Feral” isn’t too bad. It’s bad in terms of necessity/placement, but in the context of this LP, it somewhat works. We’ll settle for average. “Lotus Flower” and “Codex” are good, but are pretty in-differentiable if I had to say so myself. “Separator” is classic Radiohead, just a beautifully written song. The best on here, for sure. So at the end of this review, I must say a great ending followed an effective (but not the most captivating) mix of seven tunes. Good Radiohead, just not the best.

Grade: B (86)

Animal Collective, Art, CD Review, Classic Album Review, Classic CD Review, Honorary KLAYMERS, Music, pictures, Video

Classic Album Review: Animal Collective- Sung Tongs

02/17/2011 Chris DeCarlo Leave a comment

Full Title: Sung Tongs
Artist: Animal Collective
Year: 2004
Label: Fat Cat
Tracks:
1) Leaf House- 7
2) Who Could Win a Rabbit- 9
3) The Softest Voice- 7
4) Winters Love– 9
5) Kids On Holiday- 7/8
6) Sweet Road- 7
7) Visiting Friends- 6
8) College- 7
9) We Tigers- 8
10) Mouth Wooed Her- 7/8
11) Good Lovin Outside- 8
12) Whaddit I Done- 7

Comments: Animal Collective is in the haus with some wonderful tongs for you and me. These tongs are brought to you by Panda Bear and Avey Tare, two of today’s greatest tongwriters. On this record, we hear mostly soft tongs, an incredibly warm, serene vibe is communicated. Much of the loud, manic, beastial quality to AC’s music as can be seen in their then previous release Here Comes the Indian (2003) and later recordings is absent here. Instead, we experience something much gentler and calmer- which isn’t bad, but at the end of the day isn’t what I chiefly adore about this group. With that being said, it works quite well on this record and emotional inducing songs like “Winters Love” and “Kids On Holiday” (particularly the former) produce a massive feeling of nostalgia and an almost quiet joy in me. WL is without a doubt one of AC’s best musical moments, powerful in it’s shamanistic yalping and simply acoustic guitar strummin’. Speaking of which, the acoustic guitar plays a crucial role in the sound and recording of this album; it’s all acoustic! Naturally, the lack of electric guitar has an undeniable impact on the sound/production of the album, and for fans of more folkier music this might be a positive thang, for those that dig heavier music, then I could easily see this as a turn off. In any case, I feel like the boys succeeded in what they set out to do and though it lacks in the oft-seen menace of AC, it still delivers a bizarre mish mash of humanity and insanity- especially on what is arguably the band’s first breakthrough “pop” song “Who Could Win A Rabbit,” which was my introduction to their music. Rabbit’ is both playful and savage and is perhaps the biggest song from Sung Tongs. As a whole, I didn’t love this record, but I really dig it; ST marks Animal Collective’s transition from unknown Neo-Psych Rockers to fairly recognizable underground stalwurts.

Grade: 7/10

CD Review, Kurt Vile, Music

CD Review: Smoke Ring For My Halo [2011]

02/11/2011 G. Gordon Gritty Leave a comment

Band: Kurt Vile
Release: 3/2011
Label: Matador

1. “Baby’s Arms” – A-
2. “Jesus Fever” – A-
3. “Puppet to the Man” – B
4. “On Tour” – B-
5. “Society Is My Friend” – B
6. “Runner Ups” – C+
7. “In My Time” – B+
8. “Peeping Tomboy” – B-
9. “Smoke Ring For My Halo” – B-
10. “Ghost Town” – B

Comments: Vile’s live show (with the Violators) has always been one of noise and layer. On record, however, the childish prodigy has excelled at displaying a softer side that, while layered in realms of noise, is more delicately catchy and intriguing than the in-person experience. Following the KISS [Keep it simple, stupid…not the band] principle that I’ve always been fond of as a fan of music, Vile can really do a lot with a little. Unfortunately, this record is a continuation of a trend I’ve noticed in Vile’s music over the years: lack of differentiation. I don’t really blame him, but just about every song flows and sounds quite similar to the previous/next one. “In My Time,” which was first released as the title track of his 2010 EP of the same name, belongs in the category of Vile’s stronger set of songs. It features a prominent electric guitar and more memorable melody. In the end, this album don’t impress-uh-me much (to quote Shania Twain), but there definitely are some good listens to be enjoyed in the sea of repetition.

Grade: B (84)

CD Review, Music

CD Review: The People’s Key [2011]

02/09/2011 G. Gordon Gritty Leave a comment

Band: Bright Eyes
Release: 2/2011
Label: Saddle Creek

1. “Firewall” – B
2. “Shell Games” – B+
3. “Jejune Stars” – B-
4. “Approximated Sunlight” – C+
5. “Haile Selassie” – B+
6. “A Machine Spiritual” – B
7. “Triple Spiral” – A
8. “A Beginner’s Mind” – B+
9. “Ladder Song” – B+
10. “One For You, One For Me” – A-

Comments: Connor Oberst is a pretty intriguing dude. Not sure exactly what’s behind this record lyrically, but it’s something deep. That alone is pretty riveting. The songs, though, range from pretty all right to pretty nice. For me, the folk tunes aren’t as awesome as songs like “Triple Spiral,” which is a post-punk rock ‘n roller along the lines of “Take it Easy”/the sound of I’m Wide Awake (to get broad on you guys). Oberst and crew did for sure do a job at nailing a specific theme for this. It’s better as a complete work than a ‘the songs are the best’ kind of thing.

Grade: B (86)

CD Review, Music

CD Review: Zonoscope [2011]

02/08/2011 G. Gordon Gritty Leave a comment

Band: Cut Copy
Release: 2/2011
Label: Modular

1. “Need You Now” – B+
2. “Take Me Over” – B+
3. “Where I’m Going” – B
4. “Pharaohs & Pyramids” – B-
5. “Blink And You’ll Miss A Revolution” – B-
6. “Strange Nostalgia For The Future” – B-
7. “This Is All We’ve Got” – B-
8. “Alisa” – B+
9. “Hanging Onto Every Heartbeat” – A-
10. “Corner of the Sky” – A-
11. “Sun God” – B

Comments: Though not my favorite type of music by any stretch, the electronica/rock and roll mixture can be a real entertainer if done right. Cut Copy is a groovy group — fitting bass lines/overall dance-y feel, etc, etc. They often do it right. Historically speaking, that tune of theirs “Going Nowhere” was and still is somewhere in my favorites of all epochs list. I think I fell sucker to it during my Postal Service/Figurine stage of life around ’05 or ’06. It’s greatness. “Hearts on Fire” was a jam, too. Initial feeling of this record is that it’s likable, but not overly so. Not sure they could’ve done anything differently to make it standout…the nature of the dude’s voice is a lil’ limiting. Perhaps not go the Merriweather Post Pavilion direction and stick to captivating pop? At any rate, props should be given where props are due and Cut Copy deserves some on a few songs like “Take Me Over,” “Alisa,” and “Hanging.” “Hanging” is the standout of the group — relying on fairly subtle electronic arrangements and favoring more typical rock ‘n roller elements. “Corner” is quite the dance song.

Grade: B (84)

CD Review, Music

CD Review: The Mind Spiders [2011]

02/06/2011 G. Gordon Gritty Leave a comment

Band: The Mind Spiders
Release: 1/2011
Label: Dirtnap Records

1. “Go!” – A-
2. “Don’t Let Her Go” – A
3. “Mind Spiders Theme” – B
4. “Read Your Mind” – B-
5. “Going Away Tonight” – A
6. “No Romance” – A-
7. “No. 3” – A-
8. “One Step Ahead” – A
9. “Slippin’ and Slidin” – A-
10. “Your Soul” – B-
11. “Neurotic Gold” – A-
12. “Close the Door” – B-

Comments: From the start, I could tell ya know, this is going to be a very enjoyable record. Heard The Marked Men for the first time or so a few months ago and they stuck out. This is the new band of guitarist/singer Mark Ryan. First song on Mind Spiders “Go!” sounds real revivalist, real nice to me, though Dusted said it was the “least pop-oriented rocker.” I have to respectably disagree. “Don’t Let Her Go” has a Jay Reatard vibe, especially in the vocals and the non-intrusive hella catchy synthahsizer. I got the same feeling for “Going Away Tonight.” These songs are the best. Ryan and crew probably influenced Reatard a ton, so I don’t mean to make it sound like they are taking anything from him…not at all. The instrumentation/recording is very precise and nice. “One Step Ahead” is pretty much pure hooky rock and roll. The guitar work should be noted. The bass line and the overall eccentricity of “Neurotic Gold” makes it a tune to remember. Some of the slower, less immediate tunes are still solid tracks, but the Mind Spiders are at their best at their heaviest.

Grade: B+ (88)

CD Review, Music

CD Review: Mine Is Yours [2011]

01/23/2011 G. Gordon Gritty Leave a comment

Band: Cold War Kids
Release: 1/2011
Label: Downtown

1. “Mine Is Yours” – B-
2. “Louder Than Ever” – A-
3. “Royal Blue” – C
4. “Finally Begin” – C
5. “Out of the Wilderness” – B-
6. “Skip the Charades” – B
7. “Sensitive Kid” – B-
8. “Bulldozer” – C
9. “Broken Up” – C-
10. “Cold Toes on the Cold Floor” – C-
11. “Flying Upside Down” – C

Comments: If we get over the fact that Cold War Kids have historically been rather high-aiming, we all might appreciate this record a little more. There is some intrinsic value in CWK’s way of going about sounding ‘big’ — their ‘art’ doesn’t come off as forced. They’ve always incorporated blues and soul into their pop appearance more emphatically than a group they are often compared to — Kings of Leon. Keeping that in mind, there indeed seems to be a limit on creativity (confirmed via this record) in pop-sensible modern rock. For a decade or two, we’ve all heard dry John Mayer/dry Matchbox 20/dry (insert lame top 40 “rock” band here). “Mine Is Yours” is pretty bland (good, but generically so) and “Louder Than Ever” also sounds like just another anthemic tune. I’m not sensing any of the depth that debut LP Robbers & Cowards or 2010 EP Behave Yourself brought to the table. Even something strippeddownLOUDstrippeddownLOUD like “Out of the Wilderness” just doesn’t come off as triumphant as it wants to be, minus a few satisfying parts here and there. “Skip the Charades” is a nice idea and a pretty solid slow song, without sounding retarded or cheesy. The last four or so songs are just utterly un-fulfilling. I don’t think I’m going to completely give up on Cold War Kids, but where are the immediate hooky tunes (“Saint John,” “Heavy Boots,” etc) that got me interested in them in the first place? Except for “Louder Than Ever” not on here.

Grade: C+ (77)

CD Review, Music

CD Review: The Babies [2011]

01/19/2011 G. Gordon Gritty Leave a comment

Band: The Babies
Release: 02/2011
Label: Shrimper

1. “Run Me Over” – A-
2. “Sunset” – A
3. “All Things Come to Pass” – A-
4. “Meet Me In The City” – A+
5. “Personality” – A-
6. “Breakin the Law” – A-
7. “Sick Kid” – A-
8. “Wild 1” – B+
9. “Wild 2” – A
10. “Caroline” – A-

Comments: The Babies, featuring Cassie Ramone (guitar/vocals Vivian Girls), are like The Beets if The Beets were clearer and were more prone to trying new things. Don’t get me wrong, much props to The Beets for their great music, but this (after all) is the product of musicians who have been making fairly respectable/good music in their own bands for a long while. “Run Me Over” features the coy vocals of Ramone, which sound slightly out of place in an unadulterated garage rock song, but at the same time seem very fitting. Her singing comes out the best on something like “All Things Come to Pass,” which is comfortably in Vivian Girls territory. Kevin Morby of Woods sings when Ramone doesn’t (and sometimes they even harmonize!). He can get his folk on (“Sunset”) or do his best Black Francis at will (“Meet Me In The City”, “Wild 2”). Speaking of “Meet,” it’s truly the best on the record. It’s so catchy! “Wild 2” is sweet through-and-through, like a slowed down “Mr. Grieves” or an old-time Weezer tune or something. Overall, I am very impressed by this band and by this record. It’s quick and very fun. So yeah, good job Babies.

Grade: A- (91)

Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM)

Category Archives: CD Review

CD Review: La Sera [2011]

CD Review: The King of Limbs [2011]

Classic Album Review: Animal Collective- Sung Tongs

CD Review: Smoke Ring For My Halo [2011]

CD Review: The People’s Key [2011]

CD Review: Zonoscope [2011]

CD Review: The Mind Spiders [2011]

CD Review: Mine Is Yours [2011]

CD Review: The Babies [2011]

Boston based shows/fests – DIY, punk, noise