|
REVIEWS
CD
| DVD | FILM
REVIEWS
ARE THE OPINION OF THE REVIEWER AND MAY NOT
REFLECT THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS OF MOVEMENT MAGAZINE.
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Nick
Cave and Warren Ellis
THE PROPOSITION - ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
Mute Records
Nick Cave's fascination with the American West comes to a head on
this incredible release. Collaborating with comic book legend Warren
Ellis, who contributes truly funereal violin and tape loops, Cave
sings about valleys full of bones, evil and redemption, and leaves
you feeling as though you were left in the desert for the coyotes
in punishment for some unspeakable sin. This is another amazing
album in Nick Cave's history, and absolutely essential listening
for those so inclined. Also may be of interest to those who like
16 Horsepower and the psyche-folk scene.
Adam Naworal
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Richard
Ashcroft
Keys To The World
Parlophone/Capital
Former Verve front man Richard Ashcroft releases his third solo
CD "Keys To The World” and I would say that Ashcroft
fans will not be disappointed with this impressive collection of
songs.
There is some old Motown rhythm, which blend beautifully with lush
string work to compliment Ashcroft's strong vocals. "Music
is Power" is a heartfelt song delivered with passion and a
nice soulful flavor which is heard throughout the CD where we are
treated to rich layers of guitars, strings, piano and some synths,
each song having it's own distinguishing and memorable sound. Ashcroft's
vocals range from the powerful, almost gritty first track "Why
Not Nothing?" to the soothing "Words Get In The Way"
demonstrating his ability to "rock out" or slow the tempo
down and sooth our souls. His vocal style is reminiscent of old
school rock crooners such as Rod Stewart, Tom Petty and most definitely
Bob Dylan and he definitely performs with that same passion and
depth in each song.
Overall, I think Ashcroft fans will want to add this CD to their
collection and I also recommend it to those who enjoy Brit pop music
in general.
Aine Morrigan
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Wicked
Wisdom
“Wicked Wisdom”
SUBURBAN NOISE Records
Well I could say, in the tradition of hard hitting, female fronted
metal bands comes “Wicked Wisdom,” but this band is
much harder to define than that! When I put the CD into my player
I was hit first by the heavy rocking speed metal guitars, and then
the power of Jada Pinkett Smith’s vocals kicked in, and they
had me at “hello…” By that I mean the first song!
The CD progresses into powerful melodic vocals, hard driving rock,
reminiscent of bands like “Kittie,” “Otep”
and “Slipknot, “ to possibly a little “Rage Against
the Machine.” I could hear influences from various genres
of music, everything from funk, to of course the dark powerful grinding
metal, to maybe a touch of punk. Wicked Wisdom is tapping into something
powerful here. You can find them online at:
http://www.suburbannoizerecords.com/wickedwisdom.php
http://www.myspace.com/wickedwisdomband
Azra
Medea
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Halou
Wholeness and Separation
33 Street Records
Halou (pronounced "huh-loo") should appeal right away
to the ethereal/gothic/darkwave crowd. Comprised of three main members
( Rebecca, Ryan and Count) and several other guest musicians, "Wholeness
and Separation" floats on dark, yet blissful, overcast clouds
full of somber melodies, that are mostly slow to mid-tempo, but
occasionally are a little heavier (track 6 "Stonefruit"
for instance). However, for the most part they have a dreamlike,
almost relaxing quality to them. Rebecca's voice is soft, warm,
and soothing flowing perfectly across the mixture of clean and semi-distorted
guitars, tranquil synths, cello and laid back beats. It's a perfect
Cd to sit back, chill out and let the music move your heart and
mind.
Craig Harvey
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Nearly
Reminder
La Cosa Nostra
Nearly is the sonic pallette of Jerome Dillon (former Nine Inch
Nail's drummer), that blends a plethora of instruments both electronic
and acoustic, to take you into a dark journey of a dream. "Reminder"
is based on a recurring dream of Dillon's that spans a six year
time period. The imagery of the dream itself, encompasses a variety
of human emotions (life, death, happiness, sorrow, remorse, honesty,
etc...) which is told in three movements. Jerome's complete mastery
over much of the instrumentation helps give the album incredible
depth and variety. While it is too numerous to list completely it
includes; acoustic/electric guitars various stringed instruments
such as violin, as well as keyboards, and percussion. Also contributing
to the songs are 12 Rounds vocalist Claudia Sarne, and Greg Duli
(Afghan Wigs) who adds his voice as well. The immense talent showcased
on "Reminder" have created a haunting yet beautiful musical
landscape that will draw you into the mind of one man's personal
journey and transformation. It's definitely a road worth traveling.
Craig Harvey
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Leatherstrip
Walking On Volcanos
Alfa Matrix
Claus Larsen is one busy individual. After his long hiatus from
the industrial world, he has returned with an almost never ending
supply of inspiration for his projects Leatherstrip and KluteAE.
Hot on the heels of "After the Devastation" he presents
us with a nine track Leatherstrip EP entitled "Walking On Volcanos."
There are remixed versions of "Dying Is Easy, Life Is Harder"
and "What If" from the previous album, the politically
charged powerhouse "How Far is it from Auschwitz to Guantanamo"
and the brutal honesty of "Life Is A Kick In The Balls."
Track 5, "I Love The Sound Of Acid Rain" has an almost
(dare I say it) trippy, 80's video game quality which adds to the
dark (but slightly humorous) message about the environment. You
can hear the classic, harsher elements of Leatherstrip on "Hate
& Fear (Words and Weapons Mix)" and the aforementioned
"Life Is A Kick In The Balls and How far is it from Auschwitz
to Guantanamo". Claus let's his natural voice shine on the
title track "Walking On Volcanos" and "Take Me Home
Again" which provides a nice contrast to the distorted vocals.
Overall this is great follow up Cd, which has far more to offer
than just a single with several mixes and one or two extra songs.
Hopefully Claus will not run out of creative steam anytime soon,
and at the rate he is going we can probably expect another full
length album anytime now!
Craig Harvey
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Zombie
Girl
Back From The Dead
Alfa Matrix
Those boys from Icon Of Coil just keep cranking out side projects
one after another. This time it's keyboardist Sebastian Komor and
his wife Renee with their new electro masterpiece Zombie Girl. "Back
From The Dead" showcases Renee's vocals and Sebastian's skills
at kicking out some damn fine dance floor numbers to boot. The lyrics
are pretty much about, well.... zombies. It's all tongue and cheek
stuff, but it's fun and it works really well musically. It starts
of with the grinding electro bass lines of "Creepy Crawler"
and moves into the funky "We Are The Ones" which has a
cool theramin sounding part that gives it a retro horror sound.
"Bleeder" has a weird wobbly synthline and Renee does
a sort of spoken word thing, and "I Want It" just drips
with Renee's hot, sexy voice. Those are the main 4 tracks, but on
the remix side of things, KMFDM adds some more nastiness and guitar
on "Creepy Crawler" while Soman amps up "I Want It"
and finally Sebastian works his magic with an Icon of Coil mix on
"We Are The Ones". This is a great teaser CD and I can't
wait to see what these guys have in store when they release their
full length album.
Craig Harvey
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Mindless
Self Indulgence
YOU'LL REBEL TO ANYTHING
Neil Peart wrote track 4. It's the best song on the album. Just
think about that for a second.
OR
When the best song on the album is a Rush cover, you know you're
in trouble.
Adam Naworal
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About
BONGO
The debut album by glitchpop artist About really hurts my mind.
This isn't a complaint, however; rather, it's a selling point. The
first track, "Think Niles Drink", begins with a fuzz guitar
riff. Then the riff turns into a CD skipping version of said riff,
and provides the rhtyhmic bed over which synthpop-esque vocals and
Faint-ish synth touches weave the pop music of the future. The rest
of the album is every bit as strong, though rather short (the entire
CD is just barely 32 minutes). "Furry Dice (Dangling From The
Guitar)" is another standout. It's almost a mashing of glitchcore
with shoegazer; a skipping guitar sound over deep bass drums and
an ambient piano. This isn't for everyone, but it certainly is a
treat for those who thought "Emerge" by Fischerspooner
was too radio-friendly, those who always wish Autechre or Aphex
Twin would attempt a pop song, and those who just want a general
mindfuck
Adam Naworal
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Pig
PIGMATA
Have you listened to a Pig album? Or a KMFDM album? Okay, then you
pretty much know what you're in for.
Adam Naworal
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Hazard
County Girls
“Divine Armor”
A Rev’d Up Records Release
I grew up listening to tough girl bands like “Rock Goddess”
and “The Runaways.” When I put the Hazard County Girls
“Divine Armor,” into my auto’s CD player, I could
hear that punk rock/metal torch being passed into a new generation
of awesome cruising music. If I’d had a topper I’d have
thrown it back… This band impressed me from start to finish
with their grinding, gritty sound. I could hear everything from
“Black Sabbath” influences, to the “Ramones.”
That said, this band is doing all of that their own way. The female
vocals are rocking, dreamy, and
laced with a passion befitting the musical styling of these new
Goddesses of Rock. The Hazard County Girls are doing it in New Orleans,
and if you’re lucky, in a city near you! You can check them
out here:
http://www.myspace.com/hazardcountygirls
www.hazardcountygirls.com
Azra Medea
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Callous
The Assay
Independent release
The Assay" is the debut CD by local Jacksonville talent Callous.
At first I was a little worried about rating this CD, because I
try to be fair as possible without making too many enemies (too
many people know where to find me, LOL!) and Callous didn't seem
to be the type of music I usually enjoy, but I always tell people
regardless of the genre, good music is good music, and I am happy
to report that Callous was a welcomed surprise to my apprehensive
eardrums.
The CD begins with "Self Harm" which hammers a hard rock
beginning and carries into powerful, heartfelt vocals perfectly
delivered by front man Michael Wood, Jr. In fact, every song on
this CD was performed with such passion and feeling it's hard not
to find something likable about every tune. My favorite was "This
is Me", which was slower than the other tracks but was performed
with the same passion and backed with a haunting cello and back
up vocals that really added a special touch to this piece.
The last song "Point The Way" ends the CD in the same
edgy, rocking manner as it began enticing the listener to hit that
"play" button one more time! All I can say is "Point
the Way" to their next live show, I'm there!
You can check them out at
www.callousband.com and www.myspace.com/callousband.com
Aine Morrigan
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The Riverboat Gamblers
To The Confusion Of Our Enemies
Volcom Entertainment
The Riverboat Gamblers, a wild and let loose quartet of musicians
from Denton and Austin, Texas make old-school punk rock with throngs
of new adrenline-rush punk action characteristic of NOFX and The
Vacation. Lead singer and former pro-skateboarder Mike Wiebe, drummer
Mark Baker, bass guitarist Mr. Lillard, and guitarists Ian and Freddy
Castro, create crisp shearing motions and hyperactive incisions
that holler and thunder around roaring drum jabs. From the beginning
to the end of their fourth release and latest album, To The Confusion
Of Our Enemies, The Riverboat Gamblers work up the flares and shuttle
speed of their chord movements and vocal shreds with tracks like
“True Crime” and “Walk Around Me.”
They offer acid-party tempos and vocals that screech and jostle.
The fourteen selections run into each other leaving every little
space to catch your breath. The high metabolic rate of the selections
is consistent, though one of the more melodic punk numbers, “The
Biz Loves Sluts,” is distinctly more polished and sonically
engaging along the lines of Be Your Own Pet and Chixdiggit. With
a rampage of rough, raspy vocals and rowdy club chants, The Riverboat
Gamblers course grating guitar series, robust rhythmic sections
and manic vocals that tear with a frenzied urgency.
To The Confusion Of Our Enemies is The Riverboat Gamblers fourth
full length album produced by Andrew “Mudrock” Murdock
(Godsmack) and recorded at The Hobby Shop in Highland Park, California.
The title of the album was inspired from a saying that the late
crooner, Frank Sinatra would use as a toast to his audience, believing
that a man without enemies is a man without character and if you
stand up for anything, someone is going to hate you.
The Riverboat Gamblers apparently stand up for punk rock music and
action and ready to be hated for it.
www.theriverboatgamblers.com
Susan Frances
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Retard-O-Bot
FRIENDSHIP FOREVER
Mangled Media
Sub-MSI tomfoolery with keyboards and bratty expletives. It tries
very hard, but it remains unsatisfying. Which is a shame, because
the potential is obvious; they just haven’t found their own
sound and instead copy MSI right down to the wardrobe and hairstyles.
Adam Naworal
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Anti-Social Music and the Gena Rowlands Band
THE NITRATE HYMNAL
Lujo Records
The concept of a post-punk opera is intriguing. Unfortunately that
lofty cause is not realized here. The slightly whiny and pretentious
vocals tend to ruin an otherwise gorgeous soundscape.
Adam Naworal
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Alejandro Escovedo
THE BOXING MIRROR
Back Porch Records
His finest overall work, it remains spotty. Still, anything produced
by John Cale has SOME work. Recommended for fans of REM and U2.
Adam
Naworal
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Bang Sugar Bang
THWAK THWAK GO CRAZY!!
SOS Records
Enjoyable enough Cramps-influenced psychobilly, but ultimately forgettable.
The cover of the Gun Club’s "Sex Beat" is interesting,
but the album as a whole is nigh indistinguishable from the rest
of the psychobilly pack.
Adam
Naworal
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Gil Mantera’s Party Dream
BLOODSONGS
Audio Eagle/Fat Possum Record
I REALLY wanted to like this one. The synth-guitar-drum machine
instrumentation is catchy as all hell. Several songs have dancefloor
potential. Unfortunately, singer Ultimate Donny has a far-too-obvious
interest in alternately singing like a whinier Prince or trying
far too hard to sing in an arena rock bellow. This duo has the potential
for great things, but Ultimate Donny needs to focus on instrumentation
or change his style. As it is, this sounds a lot like early Cars
(the combination of hard rock and synth pop) updated for the electroclash
generation, but sadly the vocals are a hindrance rather than a secret
weapon. The instrumental "Brave New Christmas", with its
cheesy holiday sounds and hilarious riffing, stands out for lacking
said vocals. I really want to see where Gil Mantera and Ultimate
Donny take their sound; I truly do feel bad for disliking such obvious
potential.
Adam
Naworal
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Lauren K Newman
POSTULATE 1
Greyday Records
LKN (as she calls herself multiple times on the packaging) is a
girl who loves her Midwest noise rock and New York no wave. On POSTULATE
1, Newman plays every instrument (ranging from an aluminum-necked
guitar to "Heferweizen bottles played as claves") in a
melding of some of the finer aspects of both genres. The influence
of Sonic Youth is most apparent, which is great in finding a fan
base, but some of the riffs remind me a bit too much of DAYDREAM
NATION. Another artist with great potential, I’d give this
a B+. She really knows what she’s doing, and she alternates
between gentle shoegazer nods and brutal noise rock abandon with
ease. Her slightly rough singing voice adds another element to the
mix, providing a nice contrast to some of the uglier sounds and
scrapes found within. Look out for this one.
Adam
Naworal
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Small Sins
SMALL SINS
Boompa/Astralwerks
The vintage synths adorning the packaging make you curious as to
the sounds contained therein. Thomas D’Arcy obviously loves
the Postal Service, as this sounds like an emotionally colder version
of said band. However, this does have its distinctive parts. The
lack of the Postal Service’s optimism makes Small Sins stand
out, and the fun use of everything from vintage drum machines to
accordion makes for an interesting listen. Another artist that needs
to find a distinct voice in order to show their true potential.
Adam
Naworal
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Hot Chip
THE WARNING
DFA Records/Capitol
England’s Hot Chip certainly know how to get attention! The
eye-catching cover full of various geometric shapes is impossible
to miss. Amazingly, the music contained within is even more up-front
and exciting. Cheesy synth lines worthy of (though far from derivative
of) early Depeche Mode and New Order combine with catchy drum programming
and various other elements to provide a proper bed for the vocals.
Which are easily on par with Gore, Sumner, et al. Part of the exciting
DFA roster (LCD Soundsystem, Black Dice, The Rapture, etc.), Hot
Chip brings an early electro groove to synthpop. They make an updating
of the 80s sound, revealing their influences while not slavishly
copying them. Miles away from their awkward debut, THE WARNING has
something for nearly everybody. Highly recommended!
Adam
Naworal
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Minmae
LE GRANDE ESSOR DE LA MAISON DU MONSTRE
Greyday Records
One of the lesser known lights in the psyche-folk scene, Minmae
manage to create a masterpiece of "rural psychedelia"
with this album. Flying Saucer Attack, who created the term "rural
psychedelia", seem to be a big influence here. The guitars
alternately twang and cascade feedback, the drums amble and/or follow
a pulse worthy of Neu! or Bailter Space, and the other instruments
(keyboards, upright piano, bass) follow the mix to create an album
full of alternately calm acoustics and gorgeous but menacing electric
workouts. Sean Brooks’ voice also contributes greatly, harkening
back to Dave Pearce’s finest work with Flying Saucer Attack.
This is one case in which sounding like a peer is not a bad thing.
Highly recommended to fans of FSA, as well as those who like Sebadoh’s
odder moments and perhaps even Will Oldham’s country surrealisms.
Adam
Naworal
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Casiotone
For The Painfully Alone
ETIQUETTE
Tomlab
The baritone vocals are reminiscent of Beat Happening, the battery
powered keyboards remind one of Atom And His Package or Wesley Willis.
Strangely the combination works in small doses.
Adam
Naworal
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FRANKENSTEIN
VS. THE CREATURE FROM BLOOD COVE
DVD Independent Film by William Winckler
Pretending to be an homage to the B-movies of the 40s and 50s, this
is a pitiful excuse to get girls topless on a beach and parade costumes
that even the schlockmeisters of the above eras would find disgustingly
cheap. The convoluted plot also brings terrorism into it, as the
monsters are to be used to fight terrorists. Naturally this doesn’t
happen, and to me the terrorist element was highly unnecessary.
That all having been said, this is PERFECT for a night of MSTieing,
or even just a bad movie fest. In its attempts to be hokey, this
has transcended the original bad movies in terms of overall "how
can they think this shit up" value.
Adam
Naworal
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KATE
BUSH
UNDER REVIEW, DVD
Sexy Intellectual
Wow. If there was ever something that is the definition of "over-analytical",
this would most likely be it. Critics nitpick and find any and every
thing there is to find in the music of Kate Bush. A product designed
to coincide with the resurgence in Kate's musical career and nothing
more.
Adam Naworal
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Mad tea Party
BIG TOP SODA POP
WTR
Mad Tea Party sounds every bit like their name. With instruments
ranging from ukelele (soprano and baritone!) to Mellotron, Fender
Rhodes, and Optigan, you know there's a crazy mix going on. Surprisingly
the music manages to stay in an old-timey mode while also sounding
like a more organic Stereolab. Happy, sunshiny, and perhaps a bit
twee, but overall an enjoyable romp. Definitely recommended for
fans of the Ditty Bops and Stereolab.
Adam Naworal
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Speaker Junkies
TEKNO PUNK
AcropolisRPM
Never was a more misleadingly titled disc sold. This is NOT any
sort of punk, "tekno" or otherwise. Instead, this is pop
techno at its absolute nadir. No redeeming qualities whatsoever,
even for jaded ravers.
Adam Naworal
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Violet Tears
COLD MEMORIES AND REMAINS
Fossil Dungeon
Fossil Dungeon is rapidly giving Projekt a run for its money. Violet
Tears is yet another signing to the fast-growing darkwave label’s
roster, and a worthy one at that. Sounding at times like the earlier
sounds of Black Tape For A Blue Girl and Faith & The Muse (before
the ethereal side took prominence over true goth rock guitars),
the mostly-female band soars through soundscapes worthy of any serious
darkwave fan’s attention. Truly gorgeous music, the highlights
being opener "In the Throat Of The Unbounded", "Don’t
Wake Me Up", and the astounding "Angel In The Mirror".
Adam Naworal
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KMFDM
RUCK ZUCK
Metropolis
*Yawn* Completely unnecessary and superfluous remixes off of HAU
RUCK. The interesting Dwarves remix has some value, but the cover
of DAF’s "Der Mussolini" is inexcusable. Worth it
for the completist; the casual fan need not bother, and it certainly
shouldn’t be someone’s first exposure to the industrial
legends.
Adam Naworal
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SSM
self-titled
Alive Records
This band has potential to be an amazing garage rock/retro-electro
crossover act. Unfortunately, this disc doesn’t showcase their
talents as well as it should. The production focuses too much on
the guitars (played wonderfully Ron Asheton-esque by Morris) and
the drumming (Shettler certainly knows how to lay the groove down
Scott Asheton-style) too far above Szymanski’s electronics,
many of which sound vintage. The opening seconds of "Exit Strategy"
fool you into thinking this will be completely "in sound from
way out" style elctro-exotica. Then the guitars kick in. It’s
akin to Stereolab lending the New Bomb Turks a synthesizer and a
cheap organ rhythm box for a jam session. Hopefully the next one
will be better produced; the synths deserve to be more upfront and
less buried.
Adam Naworal
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Lovedrug
PRETEND YOU’RE ALIVE
The Militia Group
Emo-style rock. Nothing distinguishes it from the rest of the pack.
Adam Naworal
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Editors
THE BACK ROOM
Kitchenware Records
Editors at first glance sound remarkably like Interpol or She Wants
Revenge. However, vocal similarities aside, the music here has much
to offer. With a far more PiL-styled guitar (rather than the Joy
Division style so prominent nowadays) and inspired synth touches,
Editors are a much more fun listen than the above-mentioned bands,
who are more gloomy in sound. Listening to "Munich:, "Fingers
In The Factories", and "Someone Says" is akin to
listening to the first Factory Records album you ever bought, and
the anticipation to see what comes next. Highly recommended.
Adam Naworal
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Cult Of Sue Todd
KELSEY GRAMMER LOVES US
(self-released)
Remember Dynamite Hack and Wheatus? You know, the guys in the 90s
who did snottily humorous sometimes acoustic/sometimes electric
songs? Each had one hit (a cover of "Boys In The Hood"
and "Teenage Dirtbag")? Okay, now do you remember the
Moldy Peaches and their scatological and unlistenable anti-folk?
Okay, bear with me. Combine those three influences, and you have
this band in a nut shell. Absolutely unoriginal anti-folk with "shocking"
lyrics. This actually makes me miss the Moldy Peaches; at least
when they were doing it, it was still original.
Adam Naworal
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So
Many Dynamos
FLASHLIGHTS
Scrocki
Enjoyable enough math rock. Heavily influenced by such forefathers
of the genre as Bitch Magnet, Slint and Chavez, the light synth
touches add a degree of interest. It’s also too short to overstay
its welcome, running barely 35 minutes. Recommended for those who
like the above-mentioned bands; fans of Sonic Youth’s classic
80s albums may find something to like here as well.
Adam Naworal
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The Dead Science
THE FROST GIANT
Absolutely Kosher
The Dead Science brings an intriguing new sound to the tried and
true genre of post-rock. Featuring jazzy, loose drumming, ringing
guitars that hover in ambience, and vocals that sound like another
instrument more than a traditional song, THE FROST GIANT completely
rewrites the book. Fans of Talk Talk, Bark Psychosis, and A.R. Kane
will find much to enjoy here. Even hardcore fans of such little
known post-rock and math-rock bands as Bastro, Rodan, and Dianogah
will be pleased. The Dead Science are destined to go far; it’s
only a matter of time before the post-rock elite starts naming them
along with Slint and Tortoise.
Adam Naworal
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Mutemath
self-titled
Teleprompt
Wow! Combine the guitars of early U2, the beats of the Police, and
a dash of Eno (both glam-pop and ambient/experimental phases), distill
the essence to true talent, and you have Mutemath. A truly exciting
young and new band, Opening with an Eno-style instrumental and then
going on to remind us what exactly was so exciting about REGATTA
DE BLANC and BOY, Mutemath manages to carve their own niche by having
a true talent for writing accessible songs that still manage to
destroy half the competition. A solid listen, and definitely one
to watch out for. They can only go up from here.
Adam Naworal
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Astronautalis
MIGHTY OCEAN AND NINE DARK THEATERS
Fighting
Astonautalis is a hard band to describe. Equal amounts of lo-fi
folky sounds, equally lo-fi electronics, beatboxing, and feedback
pop up here. It’s truly an exciting mix; the elements shouldn’t
work (the beatboxing and piano-based "Meet Me Here Later",
the gentle acoustic strumming and boxy vintage drum machine of "Seaweed
Sheets"), but they do. A genuinely unique talent, capable of
combining diverse elements without sounding gimmicky. The packaging
also earns high points for creativity; thirteen Polaroid-esque pieces
of paper, each with lyrics to the song listed on the front, and
a different photo on each. Amazing, and definitely worth checking
out.
Adam Naworal
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Mynt,
STILL NOT SORRY
Ultra
Benassi Brothers, PHOBIA (Ultra)
(Mixed By) Vic Latino, ONE NIGHT IN NYC (Ultra)
Ministry of Sound, THE ANNUAL 2006 (Ultra)
(Mixed By)Bad Boy Joe and Johnny Budz, ULTRADANCE.07 (Ultra)
Collectively, the above releases make me realize no matter what
I ever do, no matter how bad it ever gets, at least I don’t
work for Ultra. This sort of thing should have died when Snap! left
the charts. The Benassi Brothers are particularly guilty; nothing
on PHOBIA is remotely as catchy as "Satisfaction", and
the diva house vocals kill the songs quick. ULTRADANCE.07 is even
more guilty; horrid remixes of the Killers, Duran Duran, Gorillaz,
and Depeche Mode rub shoulders with Destiny’s Child, Britney
Spears, and Faith Evans; all are subjected to remix treatments which
make an already lackluster song intolerable. The less said about
Mynt the better; the cover shot alone should send you screaming
for something, anything else. Ultra has put out some decent compilations
and mix albums in the past, but if this is the path they are taking
now, it may be wise to give up on them forever.
Adam Naworal
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Stunt Rock
THIS IS STUNT ROCK VOLUME THREE
Cock Rock Disco
"Sixteen audio compositions reflecting our struggle with responsibility,
mediocrity and compromise" says the back cover, and this may
be the most sensible thing in the packaging. I have no idea if the
tracks have names or not; if they do, it’s not made clear
anywhere in the packaging. The music contained within is just as
disorienting; ragga basslines, cut-and-paste drum programming, samples
galore, and various other sonic oddities collide on the sixteen
tracks, each one progressively weirder than the last. Vocal samples
declare things like "Drink, drink, drink, drink!" and
"Hey, drama queen, get off the cross, we need the wood!"
Sounds come out of nowhere and blend into the mix. Songs start off
one way, only to make a complete 360. My only real issue with this
release is that the first few tracks are slightly formulaic: the
music stops every time a sample comes up, followed by a breakdown.
However, this is a minor gripe, since formulaic or not, everything
on here is catchy in ways that it shouldn’t be. Truly an artist
with talent (he IS on Cock Rock Disco, after all, which may be Tigerbeat6’s
only real competition in the glitchcore scene), I would love to
see where Stunt Rock goes next. If he can shed some of the more
formulaic aspects of his music, we may see even Kid606 be dethroned.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Pete
Tong and Sarah Main (Mixed By)
PURE PACHA VOLUME II
Om
Even more generic techno-house. Kudos to Tong and Main for being
expert mixers, but the material is on par with Ultra’s mix
albums. This may be of interest to those who enjoy club music Miami
style, but all others should steer VERY clear.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Crooklyn
Clan (Mixed By)
CLUBPLANET PARTY MIX
Rhino
Surprisingly this is a very diverse and at times interesting mix
album.The simple fact that some new wave greats (Yaz, Soft Cell,
INXS, Tom Tom Club) sit comfortably next to old school electro and
hip hop (Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel’s classic "White
Lines", Afrika Bambaataa’s unstoppable "Planet Rock")
gives it points above most albums of this ilk. Unfortunately, the
mixes are truly that, and you hear mere snippets of songs. Plus,
the above-mentioned only occupy six tracks out of twenty-five (including
the intro and outro). I would be interested in seeing what Crooklyn
Clan would do with a whole album’s worth of electro and new
wave; as it is, this is a spotty affair, but worth listening to
at least once for the above-mentioned artists and how they fit in.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mistress
Barbara (Mixed By)
COME WITH ME…
Uncivilized World
Yet another sub-par mix album. I didn’t recognize any of the
names; once I put it on I understood why. Save your cash.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The
Soil Bleeds Black
ALCHEMIE
Fossil Dungeon
Incredible neo-medieval music from this European outfit. ALCHEMIE
was actually previously released on the now-defunct World Serpent
Distribution; this new edition boasts gorgeous new alchemical artwork
and three new tracks. Drums, fifes, bagpipes, and various other
medieval instruments form the core of the album, along with deep
male vocals and angelic female vocals. "Lapis Philosophorum"
also features Swedish dark ambient artist Arcana, adding haunting
elements to the already imposing music. With titles like "Earthe
Took Of Earthe" and "Make Not Vain The Cup Thou Drankest",
you pretty much know whether you’ll enjoy this or not. But
if Qntal is too modernized for you, or Der Blutharsch too militaristic,
then this may be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Delaware
LOST IN THE BEAUTY OF INNOCENCE
Metropolis
How this ended up on Metropolis is a mystery to me. Delaware are
a fairly straightforward post-grunge outfit, nigh indistinguishable
from the rest of the pack. VERY light synth elements do pop up here
and there, but for the most part this has absolutely nothing to
hold your interest. Proceed with caution.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
ThouShaltNot
LAND DISPUTE
Dancing Ferret Discs
I really like ThouShaltNot. Really REALLY like them. Which is why
this album was so disappointing. The elements that make them special
are still there; inspired synth and drum programming, slight IDM
elements, instantly likable vocals. However, on LAND DISPUTE Thoushaltnot
show a disturbing smidgen of emo sneaking into their work. "When
I Crash" at first sounds like Panic! At The Disco going the
synth route. Certain other tracks still have the old spark, but
the majority are along the lines of "When I Crash". Which
is truly a pity, because ThouShaltNot blew me away with THE WHITE
BEYOND. Here’s hoping they can recapture that glorious moment
and blow my mind again. For all its spottiness and emo overtones,
this is still recommended to ThouShaltNot fans, but for beginners,
THE WHITE BEYOND is a smarter choice.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Judge Jules
PROVEN WORLDWIDE
Koch
Judge Jules gets points for trying here. The bottom line, however,
is that this is generic trance/house/whatever. Some techno fans
may enjoy this, but it did absolutely nothing for me. At least it
wasn’t released by Ultra.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
10 Second Drop,
s/t
Rock Ridge
Ever heard Godsmack? Okay, then you’ve basically heard 10
Second Drop. Everything about this band reminds me of Godsmack.
Even the photo on the back. That having been said, these guys do
know how to play their instruments. What I don’t get is why
they choose to sound absolutely derivative instead of going for
their own sound. May be of interest to less-discriminating nu-metal
fans.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Red Animal War
SEVEN YEAR WAR
End
Red Animal War truly exist in a problematic limbo. Not quite emo,
not quite nu-metal, they sound like equal amounts of both. Unfortunately,
this doesn’t make them notable. Every song sounded the same
after a while, even the two live tracks that close the album. The
potential is there, to be fair, but the sound as of now is nothing
to write home about.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Palumbo
CITIZEN X
Lifesong
Extremely enjoyable political new-wave. Palumbo sounds quite a bit
like prime Elvis Costello; catchy, political (almost every song
is about the state of the nation) and utterly amazing. "Lost
In America" and "Hey Mr. President" are choice examples
of Palumbo’s exquisite writing and jangly guitar work. A lot
of time was put into this album, and it shows. Titles like "Dancing
With The Fuhrer" sound overly political, but the music makes
even the most apolitical listener bob their head in glee. Definitely
recommended for those into Elvis Costello, and for anyone into jangle-pop
and guitar-based new wave.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Weather Machines
THE SOUND OF PSEUDOSCIENCE
Tigers Against Crime!!!
The Weather Machines sure do love the Replacements. THE SOUND OF
PSEUDOSCIENCE is an enjoyable enough romp through Big Star and ‘Mats
influenced guitar pop. While this won’t make Alex Chilton
or Paul Westerberg lose any sleep, songs like "Mission: Satellite!"
and "Fade Out Classic" do get stuck in the head and are
very well written. Along with Palumbo, this could be the renaissance
of power-pop. Highly recommended to fans of the above; could also
be of interest to Smiths fans.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The
Jai-Alai Savant
THUNDERSTATEMENT
GSL
This EP is a debut, so I can forgive the vocals sometimes ruining
a good dubwise song a couple times. Other than that, the Jai-Alai
Savant is amazing at creating an organic dub groove. Maybe if they
went instrumental?
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fatboy Slim
THE GREATEST HITS: WHY TRY HARDER?
Astralwerks
Exactly what you expect. Everything from "The Rockefeller Skank"
to "Weapon of Choice" to "That Old Pair Of Jeans".
The only real surprises are a remix of Cornershop’s "Brimful
Of Asha" and a remix of Groove Armada’s "I See You
Baby". You already know if you’re going to buy this or
not, and it CAN make an excellent Fatboy Slim intro (if anyone has
actually not heard Fatboy Slim). However, in the long run, this
is utterly inessential.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE SOUND THE HARE HEARD
Compilation
Kill Rock Stars
Not one of KRS’s better compilations. This focuses too much
on the indie-folk/indie-rock side and not enough on the crazy things
like Thrones and Behead The Prophet that KRS used to produce. A
decent enough indie sampler, but for a very limited audience.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Saboteur
s/t
End
If you listen to Helmet, you already own this CD. With a new Helmet
CD out, this is sure to get justifiably overlooked.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Three Fantastic
s/t
Dot Point Period
This somewhat reminds me of early 90s math rock and post-rock. The
vocals are even reminiscent of David Grubbs’ vocals in Bastro.
Otherwise, this is enjoyable enough, but no song sticks out. I’d
like to see what they do next; they most certainly have potential
to join (maybe even spearhead) the math rock revival.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Phoenix Foundation
HORSEPOWER
Caravan
New Zealand has a tendency to unleash interesting bands. Add the
Phoenix Foundation to that list now! Combining the sounds of prime
sadcore a la Low or Codeine with electronics worthy of Laika, these
lads know how to catch one’s interest. The mood is slightly
gloomy (more of a Low sense of gloom than anything truly suicidal)
but has a wonderful hopefulness to it. Here’s hoping they
can make a career out of it.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Michael Zapruder’s Rain Of Frogs,
NEW WAYS OF LETTING GO
Howells Transmitter
Generic chamber pop. The vocals drag down the already bloated arrangements.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jeff Merchant
WINDOW ROLLED DOWN
True Classical
Talented enough folky alt-country. Nowhere near the same league
as Will Oldham or Lambchop, but certainly a talented artist who
works well in his realm.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Apollo Quartet
THE ELEVENTH HOUR
self-released
Wow, this is bad. Generic emo let down by awkward vocals.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
1986
NIHILISM IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT
Palentine
1986 sound almost identical to early Foo Fighters. There really
isn’t much more to say.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Edgewater
WE’RE NOT ROBOTS
Forevergreen
Indeed, you aren’t robots. However, you ARE derivative post-grunge.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Scourge Of The Sea
MAKE ME ARMORED
Alias
If you listen to Low, you already own this album.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Arma Secreta
A CENTURY’S REMAINS
Smith7
Generic screamo. Approach with EXTREME caution; some of the songs
are lengthier than necessary.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
13 Ghosts
CICADA
Skybucket
A lot of lo-fi just doesn’t do it for me. This is an exception.
Twenty-one people contributed to this album. Who played what isn’t
certain. What is certain is that the lo-fi atmosphere lends a unique
spooky quality to what could have been just generic alt-country.
Sometimes cruddy production works to a band’s advantage! A
truly bizarre cover of "Three Little Birds (after Bob Marley)"
is worth the price of admission alone.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Candy Bars
ON CUTTING TIGERS IN HALF AND UNDERSTANDING NARRAVATION
New Granada
The bizarre packaging, with its narratives that are revealed to
be fake and curious design, is really the best thing about this
CD. The music inside is fairly disposable indie-rock. The potential
IS there, but they have a lonnnnnnng way to go.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Darkest Hour
UNDOING RUIN
Victory
If you like the modern style of hardcore, or the Victory label,
you probably already own this. If that’s not your style, you
should stay away. That being said, this is remarkably catchy for
hardcore, but not anything special.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lylas
LESSONS FOR LOVERS
Fictitious
Meh. This indie folk thing is getting really old really quick.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Untied States
RETAIL DETAIL
self-released
Huh! This album is basically a melding of no wave’s skronk
and avant-garde’s structure-free aspects. Surprisingly, it’s
also a completely solid listen! At times this reminds one of everything
from early Sonic Youth (circa CONFUSION IS SEX) to Labradford’s
sonic experimentation, all while maintaining a distinct and very
intriguing sound. Not recommended for those who like structure,
but experimental rock fans and even free-improv types definitely
have a lot to love here.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ladyfinger
(ne),
HEAVY HANDS
Saddle Creek
Perhaps Saddle Creek’s most aggressive band. They know how
to rock, but the songs are all VERY similar, and nothing really
sticks out.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
World/Inferno Friendship Society
RED-EYED SOUL
Chunksaah
Well, this is an oddity. Elements of gypsy punk, emo, and easy rock
collide. The sound is about as eclectic as the elements, but something
is missing. The fairly weak vocals really don’t help.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
(The Sounds Of) Kaleidoscope
s/t
Hackshop
Intriguing neo-shoegazer. Very rough, by no means flawless, but
these guys are definite heirs to the throne of My Bloody Valentine
and Slowdive. Sometimes a less distorted sound comes through too,
which reminds me a lot of the quieter moments of the above-mentioned
groups. For the most part, though, it’s feedback, swirls,
and loops of sound. Definitely one to watch for.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Snowden
ANTI-ANTI
Jade Tree
More neo-shoegazer, this time with slight sadcore overtones. Druggier
than Spacemen 3, not as crazy as Skullflower, Snowden finds a nice
spot in between narcotic beauty and feedback terror. Some songs
even sound a tad like a more overdriven Interpol. The psychedelic
artwork is a nice touch as well. Another band to keep your eyes
peeled for.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Trainwreck Riders
LONELY ROAD REVIVAL
Alive
Run of the mill alt-country/rockabilly. If that’s your style,
you may find more redeeming value in this than I did.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Never
ANTARCTICA: A STORYBOOK RECORD
Trekky
The concept of having a storybook to go along with the album is
cute. The music is unfortunately indie-pop by numbers.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Two Gallants
WHAT THE TOLL TELLS
Saddle Creek
WOW, but this is Saddle Creek material. The vocals are scratchy
and sound like they’re physically cracking, the music changes
at the drop of the hat, and the lyrics are a mix of emo and nonsense.
The only thing that stands out is the strong country influence.
May be of interest to adventurous Bright Eyes fans, but everyone
else should stay far far away.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Spider Lilies
IN THE LIGHT
self-released
Extremely enjoyable dark pop from former Cruxshadows member Stacey
Campbell. Doing all instrumental duties herself, Stacey manages
to sound delightfully dark while being accessible and danceable
at the same time. Naturally, at times this sounds slightly like
a female-led Cruxshadows, but overall this is an excellent release
that is sure to appeal to a wide fan base. Fans of the Birthday
Massacre especially should give this a listen.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
DRUM NATION VOL. 3
Magna Carta
The drummers from bands like Dillinger Escape Plan, Lamb Of God,
Killswitchengage, etc. show off their skills on this comp. Yes,
there is other instrumentation. No, that doesn’t mean this
isn’t essentially all drum solos. Proceed with caution.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rose Hill Drive
s/t
Megaforce
Total hard rock. It’s decent enough for what it is, but an
old Boston record would be just as enjoyable.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Vaeda
STATE OF NATURE
Playtime
If you listen to early Incubus, you already own this album.
Adam Naworal
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Steril
Realism
Artoffact Records
The cover art to this CD is very misleading. It has this beautiful
girl on the front making you think it might be a slower, more mellow
type of album. Not the case at all. This is pummeling ebm with infectious
beats, and a heavy grinding guitar attack. When I first put this
in I thought, "is this Das Ich with guitars" ? It sure
sounded that way on a few of the songs when vocalist Mahne Meenen
sings in a harsh German growl. However, his natural voice is much
different, and he switches to English quite a bit, so there is a
nice contrast on the rest of the tracks. The other members Axel
Tassler, (Guitars/Programming) and Jan Wilking (Keyboards/Programming)
do an admirable job on their end of things as well. It reminds me
of a mix of Front Line Assembly, NIN, and Das Ich (see earlier comment)
while managing to keep an original sound as well. This should definitely
be a crowd pleaser at clubs around the globe, as this German trio
have outdone themselves with this release.
Craig Harvey
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Massiv In Mensch
Clubber Lang
Artoffact Records
I really liked the first three Massiv In Mensch albums and it's
a shame that this release is so disappointing. I could not get inspired
by any of the songs. Even their cover of U2's "Sunday Bloody
Sunday" (which was the only good song on the album) was not
enough for me to really recommend this CD. The band has pretty much
abandoned their harder ebm/trance/techno roots (with a few exceptions)
in favor of a more pop orientated sound, which unfortunately does
not work for them at all. Sorry guys, better luck next time.
Craig Harvey
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dancing In The Dark 2006
Compilation
Dancing Ferret Records
The Dancing Ferret label has quickly made a name for itself by having
a large number of major artist's in the gothic/darkwave/ebm scene
on their roster, and this compilation is a great display of all
this wonderful talent. Not everyone is here, but a large number
of them are. Dancing In The Dark 2006 covers the gambit of styles
with bands such as The Last Dance, Ego Likeness, Cruxshadows, Absurd
Minds, Corvus Corax, Devision, Joachim Witt, and many more. I was
disappointed to not see Neuroticfish included, but regardless, this
is a great introduction to this up and coming label's strive for
excellence in showcasing what they give to the music community.
Craig Harvey
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Above & Beyond
Tri-State
Ultra Records
"Tri-State" is the debut artist CD from trance pioneers
Above & Beyond. Consisting of Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness and
Paavo Siljamak, this talented trio have been remixing songs from
everyone in the business for the last several years. Not to mention
they have several production and side projects such as, OceanLab
(Above & Beyond plus Justine Suissa), Tranquility Base, Tongue
of God, Rollerball (Above & Beyond in disguise Aalto, Freestate,
and Nitromethane. They started their major DJ career back in 2002
and never looked back; touring the world and packing clubs everywhere
they went. Now with their first major album of original music, they
pull together warm tranquil atmospheres, blended with hypnotic,
but soothing trance beats and a wonderful mix of male and female
vocals. Not since Paul Van Dyk have I been this impressed with a
dj/artist release. This is highly, highly recommended.
Craig Harvey
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
All That Remains
The Fall Of Ideals
Prosthetic Records
I have grown very picky as far as the current metal scene is concerned.
While there are many talented bands in the genre, there are numerous
clones of those who have no originality at all. Worse still, is
the lack of actual singers in favor of screaming or growling all
the time. All That Remains however, manages to rise above the ever
growing generic metal heap and has released an album that is impressive
in many respects. First, guitarist's Mike Martin and Oli Herbert
lay down some of the tightest riffing I have heard in quite some
time, which is complimented by an impressive array of guitar solo's
that not only showcase their flawless technique, but are tasteful
and melodic as well. Vocalist Phil Labonte can actually sing, and
well I might add, though he goes back and forth between that and
death metal growls which is ok with me. The rhythm section composed
of drummer Shannon Lucas and bassist Jeanne Sagan, tie everything
together like a well oiled machine. This is a solid, well done album
by a band who is definitely up and coming in the scene. It's obvious
as to why they were chosen for Sounds Of The Underground and Ozzfest.
They will be headlining in the fall so I would try and catch them
live.
Craig Harvey
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fields
Of The Nephilim
Mourning Sun
SPV Records
Fields Of The Nephilim is considered by many to be one the most
important Gothic rock bands in the history of the genre. Their powerful
stage shows, along with the band's apocalyptic dark cowboy attire,
complete with long duster coats and wide brim hats, quickly got
them noticed. Oh, and lets not forget the music. A blend of hard
driving rock, with moments of somber beauty, interlaced with occult
lyrical content proved that "The Fields" were a force
to be reckoned with. Starting back in the late 80's they delivered
3 solid releases "Dawnrazor, The Nephilim, and Elizium"
a host of singles, and a live album as well.
After the band's demise in the mid 90's, frontman and founder Carl
McCoy started a new project "The Nefilim" with a different
spelling of the original name. This was a much heavier and sinister
sounding project than before. Crossing into a more "metal"
territory, Carl took his music into even darker realms. After that,
it was quiet for some time with no news or releases at all. Then
a new single (which was a remake of an older song) was released
on Jungle records under the old FOTN name. It seemed that the band
(or part of it anyway) was reforming. An album was released entitled
"Fallen" which was a blend of the old and new sounds.
However, according to the band's official website, the album was
quickly dismissed as an unofficial release, and was never ok'd by
Carl or any of the members for distribution. It seemed that these
songs were all working tracks, and Jungle took it upon themselves
to go ahead and sell these without the band's consent. However,
the website news promised an "official" release would
indeed see the light of day in the near future. That release is
finally here entitled "Mouring Sun " and it is everything
and more you could expect from Carl and company.
"Mourning Sun" sounds as if it was released not long after
the very last album "Elizium," as it retains many of the
same qualities, sounds, and overall mood of the original line-up.
However, according to Carl, this album was mostly done by himself
along with a few "special"guests who he declined to elaborate
on. So it seems that the FOTN is indeed and will forever be Carl
McCoy's vision and passion. The album builds from the very first
track ("Shroud") to the last ("Mourning Sun")
with Carls raspy vocals soaring over powerful anthems like "Straight
To The Light, New Gold Dawn, and She". You can feel an almost
ancient, otherworldly power that emanates from the music. It's very
mystical, as are all the past releases from the Nephilim. Again
I must emphasize on how Carl was able to create an album that sounds
almost "dated" but still offers something new and fresh.
All the remnants from the old days are here; the driving bass lines,
the mix of clean and distorted guitars, and the overall sense of
emotion and power from Carl's vocals and creative lyrical content.
Even the cover art is stunning, displaying a picture of Carl's face
frozen in ice. It's beautiful and very eerie at the same time. This
Cd has been a long time in the making, and I can't say enough good
things about it. I guarantee that fans will not be disappointed
in the least with Mourning Sun, and if you get the deluxe edition
there is an extra song entitled "In The Year 2525" which
is another reason to spend a few extra dollars on this fantastic
CD.
Craig Harvey
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Moonspell
Memorial
SPV Records
I first heard Moonspell back in 1997 on a trip to Germany. I had
purchased a compilation CD entitled "Out Of the Dark"
which featured their new song "Opium", which really blew
me away. The cross of dark gothic overtones and metal could best
describe Moonspell's overall sound. Hailing from Portugal, the band
has managed to release seven albums with "Memorial" being
their latest masterpiece. Singer Fernando Riberio vocal's have been
moving towards a more death metal style vs. his normal singing voice
as of late, which can be an asset in the proper context. Granted
Fernando has incorporated the "death metal" style of vocals
in bits and pieces throughout all of their albums which gives the
music balance, but it would be nice if he mixed it up a bit more
this time, since he can actually sing! (He does sing a little on
a few tracks, but not enough in my opinion.)
Regardless, "Memorial" is a solid metal release, and the
band sounds as tight as ever. I think this album has far more energy
and aggression than their last CD "The Antidote" which
I thought was good, but not up to par for these guys. Moonspell's
pummeling rythym section (Miguel Gaspar) combined with massive guitar
riffs (Ricardo Amorium), dark grandiose keyboards ( Pedro Paixio)
and Fernando's demonic vocals make for an impressive combination
of sinister beauty and pure unbridled power. "Memorial"
is definitely a step in the right direction to bring these gothic
metal gods back to the front of the line.
Craig Harvey
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Backlash
Heliotrope
WTII Records
This Swedish trio's latest offering "Heliotrope" is a
wonderful blend of catchy hooks, beautiful melodies, and elegant
vocals perfect for the dance floor, just sitting back and relaxing,
or whever you are at the moment. It's one of the better "synthpop"
records I have heard in quite some time, that combines the best
elements of Depeche Mode and Devision while adding their own unique
musical elements to the mix. There is also a bonus CD included that
contains nine remixes which is a definite plus to an already great
release.
Craig Harvey
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
XRAYOK
Like Life
Self Released
The advertising label on this CD said it was similar to Slowdive,
Mogwai, and Elbow. So I thought , if it has elements of Slowdive
I will give it a listen, even though I was not to sure who the other
bands were. Well, I don't hear too much Slowdive influence, but
"Like Life" is still a pretty darn good album regardless.
It's got all the right elements of today's indie rock sound, while
keeping their own vibe as well. The music is definitely not dreamy
and lush like Slowdive. Instead, it's full of energy with an 80's
feel without sounding to retro. Solid basslines and great drum work
keep the songs together and grooving. The keyboards flow along with
a plethora of differen't guitar tones and some nice vocals that
remind me (slightly) of Thom Yorke of Radiohead, but they are more
discernable vs. being to whiny (sorry Radiohead fans). Apparently
the band has toured with She Wants Revenge, who are quickly making
a name for themselves as well. I think the exposure can only help
catapult XRAYOK into the limelight, which they so rightly deserve.
Craig Harvey
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dark Sonus
Compilation Vol. 1
Glitch Mode Recordings
I have not bought many compilations as of late, but I would say
if you want to hear what I think could be the next wave of great
"industrial" acts coming out, then Dark Sonus is a great
place to start. Glitch Mode Recordings brings you 18 tracks that
are sure to please even the toughest "rivetheads" out
there. No synthpop, no futurepop, no trance, just brutal electro
crossed with grinding guitars and massive beats proving that true
"industrial" is still a force to be reckoned with and
is not going away anytime soon. Several bands stood out such as,
"PTI, Seventh Image, Void, Diverje, and Deadliner" but
there is sure to be something here for everybody with the amount
of bands that are included on this disc. This is one compilation
you should not pass up.
Craig Harvey
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
De/Vision
Subkuton
Dancing Ferret Discs
With "Subkuton", De/Vision has released their strongest
effort since their 1998 CD "Zehn". The past few albums
such as "Void" and "Two" were filled with slower,
more down tempo numbers with very little left for the dance floor.
This time around, De/Vision combines the best of both worlds by
giving the listeners a more even balance. With tracks like "Subtronic"
and "The End" we are back to an older, more familiar territory,
as De/Vision starts right off with two powerful club fueled numbers.
"Subtronic" however, could almost be an instrumental because
the vocals repeat the same few lines over and over. This song is
not about lyrics, it's all about feeling the groove. There is also
a cool re-mix of this track at the very end of the Cd. The next
few songs take the tempo back down again, but start to accelerate
with "Obey Your Heart" and "E-Shock". Now, I'm
not against De/Vision's slower, softer side, I was just missing
the energy from before. They have always written some really beautiful
ballads, and they continue to do so on this album, with "Addict,
Summer Sun, and No Tomorrow". It's no wonder they are one of
the top "synthpop" acts around today. "Subkuton"
is must have for De/Vision fans and anyone else looking for an album
full of great songs, emotional lyrics, and vocals that will simply
melt your heart and soul.
Craig Harvey
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Witt
Bayreuth 3
Dancing Ferret DIscs
For the last 30 years Joachim Witt has had several top ten hits,
sold over two million records and is back again with a new release
"Bayreuth 3." Never heard of him? Neither had I until
a few years ago, when some German friends introduced me to him with
his hit single "Die Flut". The sound was a mix of heavy
pop, with his deep robust German vocals that cut right through the
song. Little did I realize just how much music by Mr. Witt was out
there, or how popular he was over in Europe. He has made guest appearances
on albums by Wolfsheim as well as many other prominent artists,
and on this disc he does a duet with Tilo Wolff of Lacrimosa as
well as a remix done by none other than VNV Nation. His style has
evolved into a much heavier industrial/metal sound similar to Rammstein
(who apparently are very big fans), with the lyrics in German (as
always), Witt lays down a massive slab of passionate aggression
that will leave listeners wondering, how did I miss this guy before?
His lyrical content (even though I can't speak German) on this album
regards the evils of fascism, and the destruction of German culture
and art during the Nazi takeover during world war 2. However you
want to lay it down, Witt has been at it for a long, long time and
like fine wines, he is getting better with age. This is one heavy
hitter that we will be seeing a lot more of in the future I think.
Craig Harvey
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Headscan
Pattern Recognition
Alfa Matrix
Headscan's latest endeavor is very familiar sounding in a way. By
familar I mean, it reminds me somewhat of early Haujobb circa "Solutions
For A Small Planet" to be exact. However, to my ears this is
really a good thing. Why? To be honest they do it very well without
being a rip off, all while molding this sound and making it their
very own. It has a very desolate, futuristic, cyberpunk feel which
I really dig, that blends ebm, techno, and industrial into a surging
maelstrom of hypnotic beats and sequences, dark synths, and mechanized
vocals. Sure there are plenty of bands doing this type of sound,
most of them mere shadows of each other, but that is what sets Headscan
apart from the fold. Not since the aforementioned Haujobb have I
heard a band do this style so well.
Craig Harvey
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Unternul
The Failure Epiphany
Alfa Matrix
Unternull is the personal rage and musical terror of American electronic
artist Erica Dunham. Her music could best be described as a cross
between Hocico and Suicide Commando with a few of her own personal
touches. It's a very similar formula; distorted vocals ranging in
varying degrees of intensity (although I was able to understand
most of the lyrics), hard floor bombastic dance beats, and wicked
electronics. The gore soaked album cover should give you an idea
of what to expect lyrically from Unternull, and with titles such
as "Sick Fuck" and "Bloodlust" you know the
music is not for the squeamish or weak. If it were not for the credits,
I would have no idea that this was a woman behind the music, as
the vocals disguise her identity. In that respect, it's not overly
different from so many bands in the scene doing this type of music.
However, her live shows are reputed to be over the top and extreme,
and for an industrial album, it's one of the better cd's in this
genre I have heard lately. I would say that if you are into perversion,
pain, and despair then Erica's nightmarish musical vision is a slice
of heaven.
Craig Harvey
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Dunkelwerk
Troops
Alfa Matrix
Dunkelwerk's debut album "Troops" explores the horror's
of World War 1&2 with a grim lesson that there are no winners
in war, only casualties. However this subject matter has been a
constant subject of several other industrial artists such as Fiendflug,
Wumpscut, and The Retrosic (who by the way help put Dunkelwerk on
the map). There are numerous amounts of German war samples interwoven
with desolate electronic atmospheres, crushing beats, and yes, you
guessed it; distorted German vocals. Still, as much as Dunkelwerk
wears his influences on his sleeve, he has managed not to be a clone
of his peers. Forging his own sound, and holding nothing back as
he wages his own "battle" against fascism, war, and terror
Dunkelwerk manages to create one of the stronger industrial albums
of the year so far. There are also two remixes from Plastic Noise
Experience and The Retrosic as well. This is one electro assault
sure to be hitting clubs worldwide very soon!
Craig Harvey
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Lounge
10
Compilation
Om Records
"Lounge 10" is the latest collection of down-tempo grooves
from the Om label. It's a sophisticated set of musical selections
from various artist's that covers a wide assortment of styles, all
while keeping that relaxing, chill-out vibe. Soulful female vocals
meld with lush electro arrangements, jazzy interludes, hip and trip-hop
beats all perfect for late night love making, lazy Sunday afternoons,
or dinner and drinks with friends.
Craig Harvey
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Bridges and Powerlines
Self Titled Ep
Bridges and Powerlines falls into the current indie scene with a
sound that reminds me of a cross between Franz Ferdinand and Interpol.
It's a nice blend of vocal harmonies, edgy, but not overly distorted
guitars and a great pop sensibility without being commercial "pop".
While this is not going to shatter any new musical boundaries, the
band has done a great job creating an album that is well produced,
sonically pleasing and full of catchy hooks. It's got all the right
elements to have many of the major labels banging at their doors
in no time.
Craig Harvey
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System and Station
Here Is Now
Latest Flame Records
It's a great feeling when I put an album in and love it from the
first song to the last. That's what happened with "Here Is
Now" the lastest release from System and Station. These guys
are somewhat hard to classify, and while you could just lump them
in as an "indie" band, there is a lot more going on musically
than what most in that genre are doing. To my ears, it has a lot
of progressive rock elements, fusing punchy guitars merged with
great vocals that remind me (now this is going to sound strange)
of a cross between Bono, Sting and a little Jim Morrison. Well that's
what I am hearing anyway. The band keeps things interesting with
complex, yet melodic song structures, aggressive guitar solo's (something
I am glad to see making a comeback) and a powerful bombastic rhythm
section. Think Rush meets Radiohead. Great, great stuff.
Craig Harvey
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Tight
Phantomz
"Crazy When Wet"
Southern Records
So you wander into a nightclub with a live band that’s playing
southern rock mixed with a dash of the indie rock element. They’re
a rockin’ band. SO you check out their merch booth but you
wonder how this would translate onto CD? Well, the answer is this
album. The song structure is completely backwards, the verses are
stronger than the choruses. Very repetitive guitar lick accompanied
by groovy bass lines and drums. I have mixed feeling on these guys.
I’m not thrilled with them as songwriters and I think they
should stick to playing bars and nightclubs. If you happen to be
fans of bad southern fried indie rock this is the band for you.
Harvey Drury Hampton
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Spitfire
"Self-Help"
Goodfellow Records
If you are a fan of Hardcore this band’s album should be number
one on your list of CD’s to purchase. Any band that can use
the word "altruistically" in their lyrics and it actually
be relevant to the rest of the words in the song has my respect.
If the phrases, "So speak your mind and repeat after me"
or "We are the termites of the concrete jungle" intrigue
you need this album. The lyrics are powerful and thought provoking,
something I have noticed has been lacking in a lot of bands today.
Notable songs on the album are "The Suicide Cult is Dead",
"Life and Limb", Kings of the Food Chain". Once again,
this is a must have for every Hardcore Kid in the world!
Harvey Drury Hampton
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The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins
Reignition Records
If you are a fan of the Pumpkins it’s just going to make the
experience of these covered classics orgasmic! Every band on this
comp stuck with the original award winning song structure that each
and every pumpkins song possesses and adds their own new school
flavor to it. If you are a fan of Roses are Red, Armor for Sleep,
or A Static Lullaby (to name just a few) you are going want this
essential compilation in your collection. Bands like Poison the
Well sets aside their hard-hitting riffs and chill out for a bit
with their own take on "Soma". Vaux put a nice little
twist on "1979" by busting out the beginning of the song
with just guitar and no drums with a nice ambience building in the
background. All this makes for a beautiful tribute to the Pumpkins.
Thank you so much Reignition for bringing this all together, you
have made this pumpkin fan very happy!
Harvey Drury Hampton
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We
Are Scientists
"With Love and Squalor"
Virgin Records
This groovy pop oriented indie rock trio own there sound through
and through. From the very first lick of the guitar to the last
thud of the drums this album is spectacular. This band runs the
same vein as Franz Ferdinand and Modest Mouse, the difference though
is their sincerity from song to song. They keep it real and aren’t
trying to stray away from what they do best. Just plain old fashioned
rocking out. Notable songs are "Cash Cow", "Lousy
Reputation", and "This Scene is Dead". Remember:
they’re not your shrink, they’re not your friend, they’re
your boss, and you need to start treating them like one. Go get
this album!
Harvey Drury Hampton
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The
Receiving End Of Sirens
"Between the Heart and the Synapse"
Triple Crown Records
"This is our Revolution!" just a few words from the song
"The War of All Against All". Those few words drive their
point home that this album will change your view on what is expected
from the stereotypical "emo" band. This is a groundbreaking
album that dives face first into everything that makes good music
what it is: experimentation. This is key to bringing every music
genre out of its slump and these guys do it oh so well. From their
Prologue to their Epilogue this album was designed to be great start
to finish, something that most bands today don’t do. Their
isn’t enough praise I can give this band to do them justice.
If you are fans of bands like Finch’s "What it is to
Burn" and From First to Last’s "Dear Diary, my teen
angst has a body count" you will absolutely love this album.
Harvey Drury Hampton
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Burn
The Priest
"Self Titled"
Legion Records
For the debut album of Lamb of God before they changed their name,
this is one of the best independent albums you will ever hear from
any metal band out there. From the droning sounds of heavy riffs
to the amazing, screams and roars, and low but teeth shattering
bass-riffs, this album will satisfy the pickiest of metal-heads.
Although you might not be able to hear exactly what he’s saying
without actually reading the lyrics, you will respect everything
he says to you. Screaming or no screaming…you will respect
him. Whether you like Lamb of God or not you will respect his every
word. And with names like "Chronic Auditory Hallucination",
and "Preaching to the Converted", you’ll understand
why they chose the name "Burn the Priest." So overall
this may be the sketchiest of all Lamb of God albums, but also one
of the most meaningful in their career.
Jonathan Andrews
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Lamb of god
Killadelphia
Epic Records
Once again,
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