Tag Archives: 2010 In Music

CD Review, Entertainment, Music, Wavves

CD Review: King of the Beach [2010]

Leave a comment

Band: Wavves
Release: 6/2010
Label: Fat Possum

1. “King of the Beach” – A+
2. “Super Soaker” – A+
3. “Linus Spacehead” – A++
4. “When Will You Come” – A-
5. “Baseball Cards” – A+
6. “Take On The World” – A
7. “Post Acid” – A
8. “Idiot” – A
9. “Green Eyes” – A-
10. “Mickey Mouse” – A-
11. “Convertible Balloon” – A-
12. “Baby Say Goodbye” – A

Comments: Ye gods, the production quality on this is fantastic. Nathan Williams goes from being a lo-fi tape hissing noise punk on his first two records as Wavves to a pop punk extraordinaire on this one. Count me in on The Impressed Club. These songs are simply warm-weather chilled out re-playable classics. For obvious reasons, Wavves does a much better job at this than any of those ’90s/early ’00s hype summer pop rock bands that birthed hit singles. Wavves is much more real. Thank God they got a nice studio to kick around and experiment. It seems like they really took advantage of that setting by trying out new sounds: a light organ and sleigh bells (reminiscent of something in between Panda Bear and Christmas music) on “When Will You Come,” snapping, more vocal samples, synths, and all around Panda Bear esque psychedelia on “Baseball Cards,” and uncontrollable laughter on “Idiot.” A song built around laughing behind someone’s back? There you go. Like I said before, I’m truly impressed that this is the same guy who recorded simple, but only sometimes really catchy tunes in his bedroom. This isn’t selling out folks. It’s exploring and expanding. It’s…surprising and unexpected. A stripped down “Mickey Mouse” would have fit in Wavves catalog fine a few years ago, but it would have had only two or three layers. The “Mickey Mouse” on here has at least six different layers and every single one of them truly makes a world of difference. “Baby Goodbye” might be really awesome live, but damn that ending is far too long. The first three minutes or so are just fantastic. This record is tied for being my favorite of the year. I really don’t see that changing much. The quality and immediate impact of these songs is currently blowing my mind, but that might be because I’m looking outside it’s 90 degrees and sunny. This kind of weather just works this sound. Good work, Wavves.

Grade: A (94)

CD Review, Entertainment, Music

CD Review: In and Out and Back Again [2010]

Leave a comment

Band: Woven Bones
Release: 5/2010
Label: HoZac

1. “I’ll Be Running” – B-
2. “Guess You Already Knew” – A-
3. “Seven Year Mirror” – B+
4. “If It Feels Alright” – B
5. “You’re Way With My Life” – B
6. “Creepy Bone” – B+
7. “Half Sunk Into The Seats” – B+
8. “Couldn’t Help But Stare” – A-
9. “Blind Conscience” – A-

Comments: Awesome drumming. Vocals can be a little disappointing, but am I the one to talk?! Woven Bones’ got Thee Oh Sees thing going on, but ho ho ho something is lacking. I may never figure out what it is, but it’s not like whatever isn’t here isn’t helping. Whatever is here works to a satisfiable degree. It might be the sometimes apparent cross between shoegaze psychedelia and no-gaze garage rock.

Grade: B+ (87)

Entertainment, Music, News, The Walkmen

Walkmen’s Sixth Album Titled “Lisbon”

Leave a comment

The Walkmen’s sixth studio album now has a name: Lisbon. Although the band has showcased at least sixteen new songs live and recorded twenty-nine in studio, Lisbon will only have eleven when it drops on September 14.

Click HERE to download a live recording of “Lisbon,” presumably the title track on the record. It’s of a pretty bad quality, but if you are really eager to hear something new then listen!

CD Review, Entertainment, Music

CD Review: White Mystery S/T [2010]

Leave a comment

Band: White Mystery
Release: 3/2010
Label: White Mystery

1. “White Widow” – A-
2. “Power Glove” – A
3. “Lions of Tsavo” – A-
4. “Overwhelmed” – B+
5. “Vorpal” – B+
6. “Switch It Off” – B+
7. “Farmer” – A-
8. “Take A Walk” – A-
9. “Don’t Hold My Hand” – A-
10. “Halloween” – B+
11. “Respect Yourself” – A-
12. “Aaron” – B+
13. “Ye Olde Stone” – A-
14. “Trance” – A-

Comments: That voice! She sounds eerily familiar…you know the female vocalist in this band? Maybe Alissa Mosshart? White Mystery know how to rock quick. Press the record, play some inspiring hooks and beats, press stop, and call it a day. Like the Hives and the Dirtbombs, White Mystery plays passionate ’60s rock revival. Sure, most of these songs — for no fault of the female vocalist — sound pretty much the same or have the same construct. That’s a turn-off for a lot of garage enthusiasts. BUT, these songs are too good not to like. They have that “right now” appeal that I treasure.

Grade: B+ (89)

CD Review, Entertainment, Music

CD Review: Something for Everybody [2010]

2 Comments

Band: Devo
Release: 6/2010
Label: Warner Bros.

1. “Fresh” – A+
2. “What We Do” – B
3. “Please Baby Please” – B
4. “Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man)” – A-
5. “Mind Games” – B+
6. “Human Rocket” – A-
7. “Sumthin” – A
8. “Step Up” – B
9.”Cameo” – B
10. “Later Is Now” – A+
11. “No Place Like Home” – A-
12. “March On” – B+

Comments: Twenty years later Devo is still “Fresh.” They do what they do. It’s still the same. They still have (now) retro ’80s electro-dance beats going for them. For a somewhat modern reference point, I’d pinpoint you towards the Lost Sounds. There are tons of sci-fi noises, synths, and the kinds of vocal styles that Alicja Trout and the late Jay Reatard mastered. Why compare such a prolific New Wave band to a short lived one? I don’t know! I just did. Of course, Devo is full of more pop hooks and a continually fast rhythm. I would be lying if I said the album through-and-through was constantly catchy. There are some songs that really hit you immediately, others have some lulls. By lulls, I don’t mean bad parts, but rather mild spoilers that bring a song down from memorable to a tad forgettable. Growers like “No Place Like Home” are utterly impressive. The Bob Marley “Buffalo Soldier” esque closer “March On” does its job. It reminds me of some of the dance mixes of Legend. I’m not sure if that is what the band was going for, but it sure sounds like it. Conclusion? This album is awesome. Not awesome in one of the best of the year, but as I’ve said a number of times (about other albums), the great songs on here are just worth listening to over and over. That said, there couldn’t possibly be twelve “Fresh” a-likes. That wouldn’t…be…fresh.

Grade: B+ (89)

Entertainment, EP Review, Music

EP Review: Everything Must Go [2010]

Leave a comment

Band: Top Surprise
Release: 5/2010
Label: Pug Records

1. “Samsara” – (A-)
2. “Saturn (The Season)” – (B+)
3. “More Than Cool” – (A-)
4. “Home” – (A-)
5. “Lagarto Drugs” – (C-)
6. “I Shoot the Devil” – (B+)
7. “80 Comes” – (B-)

Comments: The rock and roll aspect of this album (minus the bullshit) is very pleasing and competes with the likes of honorary KLYAMers like No Age and maybe even Thee Oh Sees. The bullshit is bullshit and brings the album down; I’m looking at you tracks number 5 and 7! There’s some excitement to be enjoyed here. So enjoy it.

Grade: B (85)

CD Review, Entertainment, Music

CD Review: Thank Me Later [2010]

1 Comment

Rapper: Drake
Release: 6/2010
Label: Young Money Entertainment [Universal Records]

1. “Fireworks” – B-
2. “Karaoke” – B-
3. “The Resistance” – B
4. “Over” – B
5. “Show Me a Good Time” – C
6. “Up All Night” – B
7. “Fancy” – C+
8. “Shut It Down” – B-
9. “Unforgettable” – C
10. “Light Up” – C
11. “Miss Me” – B
12. “Cece’s Interlude” – C-
13. “Find Your Love” – C+
14. “Thank Me Now” – C-

Comments: Aubrey Drake Graham was a nobody without Little Wayne. Little Wayne got a hold of a few of Aubrey’s raps and was like “yo, I want to make this guy big. I want to sign him to my label and a take cut of his income!” Aubrey was like “all right, Dwayne, that’s fine, but I’m not going to make this for commercial purposes.” At any rate, Aubrey was able to get in touch with a shit load of high profile hip-hop players like Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Timbaland, Jay-Z, and Young Jeezy.  to appear, in some capacity, on the album. That’s all nice and all, but does Aubrey know how to tell a story? Yes. He does that at length. “Over” is incredibly Lil Wayne like. It’s more explosive than any of the previous tracks and, for that reason, has more appeal. The chorus is not traditionally annoying, but it’s not anything special. There’s really not much else to say about anything else. I don’t think Drake could have struck out much more on such an anticipated, ultra-hyped album. Most of the songs on here are just average rap songs, lacking solid beats or decent flow. Little Wayne Weezy single-handedly saves “Miss Me.” Drizzy is just weak, ‘yo. “That’s nasty. Yes, my name is Weezy, but I’m not asthmatic.” Damn, Weezy, keep doing your thing. You drop some great lines.

Grade: C+ (78)

CD Review, Entertainment, Music

CD Review: Take A Vacation! [2010]

Leave a comment

Band: The Young Veins
Release: 6/2010
Label: One Haven Music

1. “Cape Town” – A
2. “Change” – A-
3. “Dangerous Blues” – B+
4. “Defiance” – B+
5. “Everyone But You” – B
6. “Heart of Mine” – B+
7. “Lie to the Truth” – B
8. “Maybe I Will, Maybe I Won’t” – A-
9. “Take A Vacation!” – A
10. “The Other Girl” – A+
11. “Young Veins (Die Tonight)” – A

Comments: So you’d probably expect a spin-off full-length from former members of Panic! At The Disco to suck. Well, I personally can’t say that I know what Panic! sounds like, but I’m sure it’s something not too good. Probably something unlike this. Well, this group takes on a self-proclaimed ’60s sound — reminiscent of what was considered pop and “garage” back then. Fair enough. Sure, this album isn’t original at all. Sure, it gets progressively worse from tracks 1-5, but utterly amazing towards the end. Besides some of the negative points of discussion, though, this is really good. I’ve read people hating on this, but with what justification? If you are a lover of the kind of music that got this band inspired, why pass hatred to these innocent victims? Pretty much the entire album is catchy. Check out, though, if I request you must “Take A Vacation!” and “Cape Town.”

Grade: A- (90)

Entertainment, humor, Music

CD Review: Before Today [2010]

Leave a comment

Band: Ariel Pink
Release: 6/2010
Label: 4AD

1. “Hot Body Rub” – C-
2. “Bright Blue Skies” – B
3. “L’Estat” – B-
4. “Fright Night (Never More)” – C+
5. “Round and Round” – B
6. “Beverly Kills” – C+
7. “Butt-House Blondies” – C+
8. “Little Wig” – B-
9. “Can’t Hear My Eyes” – C-
10. “Reminiscences” – C-
11. “Menopause Man” – C
12. “Revolution’s a Lie” – B

Comments: Lounge music meets oldies! How cool is that? Not really that cool, huh? I’d call Ariel a similar artist to the more high profile (and more polished) MGMT. The problem with Ariel’s Before Today is the same problem with MGMT’s Congraulations. There is hardly any fucking direction. There are speed ups and speed downs. Heaviness and laziness. Of course, all these elements are present all over the place. Consistency? Screw that! Psychedelic pop be damned! Pop?! “Round and Round,” my whole household mistook this for an ’80s pop tune. This record is so damn strange! Maybe it’s the lo-fi element that really makes this thing sound like a lost-and-now-found cassette. If Ariel wanted to create twelve novelty songs, he succeeded. He succeeded so much. I like to say this is one of those albums I didn’t want to hate at all, but after listening to it…shit it sucks. Sucks in a terribly average way.

Grade: C+ (77)