Might as well be called The King of Let Downs.
Radiohead is one of my favourite bands but this album doesn't quite satisfy my craving for new Radiohead. I was really excited for this too so to give a good analogy for my disappointment it was like meeting a girl at a bar, going home with her and than getting undressed just to hug.
I have musical blue balls.
Every song starts off with at the very least 45 seconds of a breakbeat sounding intro. Until eventually Yorke starts to wail. And I mean wail in a good way. Minus the song Feral that only features cut off blips of half words and moaning. Seriously, on an eight song album there's no time for fucking around like that. I understand being artistic and expressing something without words but I missed the point on that one.
Initial thoughts:
-eight songs?
-what's going on here?
-okay finally a good song
I'm not saying this album is an abomination to music. They get super creative using loads of instruments the make for a real alien sound. I like when bands put odd instruments in but when it becomes a battle for dominance and a clash of sounds bouncing off each other it starts to hurt my head.
I feel kind of robbed out of something. I only genuinely liked three songs but they're buried in the intertwining chaos of sound that is The King of Limbs. I can only hope the title is a metaphor for Radiohead being a band of many entities or "limbs" if you will. This better be a precursor to something greater by the brits. I don't appreciate the teasing though.
I want some heavy electricity. I want some real Thom Yorke wailing; even boarder line screaming would be nice. I want to stand up and punch the air when I listen to Radiohead. I don't want to feel like I need the help of hallucinogenics to get the whole experience.
It's hard to tell if they went for the misunderstood genius approach or just held back. The album does flow well and has continuity but when something doesn't work it doesn't matter how much it flows.
Just didn't do it for me.
Radiohead, I'm waiting for something better.
Stale (but see for yourself).
Choice: Little by Little (really good), Lotus Flower, Codex
Bogus: Feral, Bloom, Morning Mr. Magpie (the fact that there's only eight songs...can't get over that)
Monday, February 21, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The Dears - Degeneration Street
I've been meaning to write this review for a few days now. Degeneration Street came out Feb. 15 so this review is kind of dated but I 'm thinking unless you're a fan of The Dears you weren't aware of this album anyway (I wasn't). If you're a fan of music it's worth a listen.
Degeneration Street is the ninth effort from The Dears. I haven't been a big follower but I've been aware of the Montreal group. Music is music but listening to them I feel a slight tinge of pretentiousness in their songs, interviews and even when I watch their videos. As if I'm supposed to feel unworthy of what's being done, or that I just don't get it. Which is probably why I haven't been a big fan of them. But as far as music is concerned no one's above, or below, my radar. I just haven't heard of it yet.
On my first listen I couldn't wait to rip this album to shreds. But upon further listening I've warmed up to it. The Dears have an interesting sound that incorporates melodic guitar pluckings (made that word up) with some poppy sounding drums, a piano that at most times gets drowned out, but it's there, and Murray Lightburn's wide range of vocals.
The album has a couple, umm, holes I'll call them. But there are a few stand-outs. Blood is probably the best song on the album. Galactic Tides is a slow one but has some raw emotion that forced me to feel it. 5 Chords is just a good song period. Tiny Man is packed with that emotion that makes it hard to ignore when it comes on. Even the first song, Omega Dog, is real funky even though it has that industrial sound that I detest.
Although there are some good tracks the album falls off at the end. With that being said the title track is a let down. Just a slow drawn out chorus meant, in my humble opinion, to be some kind of statement at the end of the album. Didn't do it for me.
I do keep putting it on even if it's just for the songs I like.
Dig it (I guess).
Choice: Blood, Galactic Tides, 5 Chords, Tiny Man, Yesteryear
Bogus: Lamentation, Easy Suffering, Unsung, 1854, Degeneration Street
Degeneration Street is the ninth effort from The Dears. I haven't been a big follower but I've been aware of the Montreal group. Music is music but listening to them I feel a slight tinge of pretentiousness in their songs, interviews and even when I watch their videos. As if I'm supposed to feel unworthy of what's being done, or that I just don't get it. Which is probably why I haven't been a big fan of them. But as far as music is concerned no one's above, or below, my radar. I just haven't heard of it yet.
On my first listen I couldn't wait to rip this album to shreds. But upon further listening I've warmed up to it. The Dears have an interesting sound that incorporates melodic guitar pluckings (made that word up) with some poppy sounding drums, a piano that at most times gets drowned out, but it's there, and Murray Lightburn's wide range of vocals.
Initial thoughts:
- Yeah, okay
- Kinda cool
- (a little later) I like it
The album has a couple, umm, holes I'll call them. But there are a few stand-outs. Blood is probably the best song on the album. Galactic Tides is a slow one but has some raw emotion that forced me to feel it. 5 Chords is just a good song period. Tiny Man is packed with that emotion that makes it hard to ignore when it comes on. Even the first song, Omega Dog, is real funky even though it has that industrial sound that I detest.
Although there are some good tracks the album falls off at the end. With that being said the title track is a let down. Just a slow drawn out chorus meant, in my humble opinion, to be some kind of statement at the end of the album. Didn't do it for me.
I do keep putting it on even if it's just for the songs I like.
Dig it (I guess).
Choice: Blood, Galactic Tides, 5 Chords, Tiny Man, Yesteryear
Bogus: Lamentation, Easy Suffering, Unsung, 1854, Degeneration Street
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Streets - Computers and Blues
"You're listening to The Streets lock down your aerial," which is exactly what you'll need to do given the latest from Mike Skinner.
This is The Streets I've been waiting for. Original Pirate Material was a big deal the first time I heard it. A Grand Don't Come for Free was okay. A couple choice tracks but didn't par the first effort. When The Harest Way to Make an Easy Living dropped I pretty much lost faith in anything new from this guy. I could lie and say it sucked but I never bothered listening to the entire album so I don't have a solid opinion on it. Nor can I even name a single song off it. I did hear a couple songs but nothing I was really fond of.
So here am I sampling the new stuff and hot damn. Without Thinking came on and I couldn't help but throw my arms in the air and bounce uncontrollably in front of my computer. Glad I wasn't sitting by a window or else I could have freaked out my neighbours. I'm somewhat emotional about my music, deal with it.
Immediate thoughts are as follows:
-Dig the pirate radio sounds.
-Dance baby!
Not to say every song is a hit but the good ones are real good. The bad ones aren't even that bad. Unlike A Grand Don't Come for Free I don't get that annoyed with the style that makes this guy unique. The beats are solid. Everything tight. The care was taken which is what I've come to expect from Skinner.
If you were a fan at the Original Pirate Material stage of The Streets pick it up. If you're new to The Streets just as good. Pop it in kick back with a fat sack or invite some friends over for a pre party, crack a fresh barley pop and jam out before a night out.
Dig it.
Choice Tracks: Going Through Hell, Without Thinking, Soldiers, We Can Never Be Friends, ABC
Bogus: Blip On A Screen, Trying to Kill M.E., Lock The Locks
Best hook on the album hands down
This is The Streets I've been waiting for. Original Pirate Material was a big deal the first time I heard it. A Grand Don't Come for Free was okay. A couple choice tracks but didn't par the first effort. When The Harest Way to Make an Easy Living dropped I pretty much lost faith in anything new from this guy. I could lie and say it sucked but I never bothered listening to the entire album so I don't have a solid opinion on it. Nor can I even name a single song off it. I did hear a couple songs but nothing I was really fond of.
So here am I sampling the new stuff and hot damn. Without Thinking came on and I couldn't help but throw my arms in the air and bounce uncontrollably in front of my computer. Glad I wasn't sitting by a window or else I could have freaked out my neighbours. I'm somewhat emotional about my music, deal with it.
Immediate thoughts are as follows:
-Dig the pirate radio sounds.
-Dance baby!
Not to say every song is a hit but the good ones are real good. The bad ones aren't even that bad. Unlike A Grand Don't Come for Free I don't get that annoyed with the style that makes this guy unique. The beats are solid. Everything tight. The care was taken which is what I've come to expect from Skinner.
If you were a fan at the Original Pirate Material stage of The Streets pick it up. If you're new to The Streets just as good. Pop it in kick back with a fat sack or invite some friends over for a pre party, crack a fresh barley pop and jam out before a night out.
Dig it.
Choice Tracks: Going Through Hell, Without Thinking, Soldiers, We Can Never Be Friends, ABC
Bogus: Blip On A Screen, Trying to Kill M.E., Lock The Locks
Best hook on the album hands down
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