While there's not going to be anything Mardis Gras related to this entry, I did want to take the chance to perhaps give you folks out there a few reasons to feel good about the music scene in 2006. Before I get to that though, a couple of you touched on a subject that I'd been meaning to get to but kept forgetting about. About a couple of weeks ago, CBS pulled the plug on "Love Monkey" much to the chagrin of both critics and its selective fans. I can understand wholeheartedly why it didn't receive the ratings of rival shows, but to completely shelve the show altogether is rather startling. I think that CBS was being exceedingly short-sighted in that they expected "Love Monkey" to be immediately rewarding (for the company) and thus be the proper successor to their relatively weak lineup of sitcom TV shows. Instead, they should have moved the date and time of the show, and market it differently, because it's really a solid show, but between the dozens of other shows that have been going on and off the air it always felt lost in the shuffle. So, speaking on a relative topic, I thought I'd first give some insight to what I'm currently watching on TV, and then also give you a heads up on a movie that I hope will be #1 this weekend.
What's good on TV
Meanwhile, my favorite new show "The Boondocks" (Sundays 11PM ET on Cartoon Network's Adult swim) is still going strong as it's been renewed for a second season much to the dismay of many (ahem, Al Sharpton) who feel that the TV show is too edgy for its own good. Moving on to another show, "24" has managed to captivate me, despite having no problems avoiding it for the previous four seasons. I'm not sure if it's actually better this year or I just have finally been able to "get it," but it seems to me that the plot is much tighter than I can ever remember this season. Another show that I've been watching religiously, although it's a bit of a guilty pleasure for me, is "Grey's Anatomy." With its diverse casting, intriguing characters, consistent storyline, and not to mention an outstanding soundtrack, it's no surprise that it's been the hit TV show of the year.
Upcoming movies to look for
Coming up on Friday, Dave Chappelle's Block Party finally hits the big screen. Directed by Michel Gondry, while there is some focus on Dave Chappelle and his comedic talents, the main point of Block Party are the performers. Joined by the newly-reunited Fugees, the Roots, Common, Talib Kweli, Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Jill Scott, and many more, this is looking to be a true gem of a documentary. Block Party will be released this Friday.
Reasons to feel good about music 2006
As many of the comments lately have suggested, things are running a little dry right now in the music industry. However, I do completely expect 2006 to be one of the best years of music in recent memory by the time all is said and done. With that in mind, I'm going to discuss some of the upcoming albums that should be coming out that are well worth getting excited (or at least hopeful about).
Rock
This category is easily the most promising, with veteran acts Ben Harper and Flaming Lips returning with new releases. Ben Harper's latest Both Sides of the Gun, to be released March 21, is a two-disc effort, one disc containing a softer acoustic sound while the other rocks just a bit harder. While this would mean an almost certain automatic failure for any other artist, Ben Harper is one of the few that works equally well in both respects, as both his slower, quieter ballads as well as his harder songs have both earned substantial acclaim. Harper currently has a single that's available on iTunes entitled "Better Way," and is definitely worth checking out. As positive as it is political, this is easily one of the best songs to be released by Ben Harper and manages to avoid coming off as preachy. Also a major positive as far as touring is concerned is that it's almost guaranteed that Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals will be doing some extensive touring all over the country (and perhaps internationally once again) to support his latest effort. The Flaming Lips' latest, At War With the Mystics, is their first album since the delightfully strange Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots which was released four years ago. From the sound of both "The WAND" and "Ambulance Driver," this album seems to fall somewhere in between their last couple of records-- in other words, a much more guitar oriented electro-rock sound. The date of release will be April 4th. Guster is also set to release a new album June 13, which will be entitled Ganging Up on the Sun. The single for the album was released digitally last year and is entitled "Manifest Destiny/Sorority Tears" and proves that Guster is indeed going into a different direction with their sound, which is probably a good thing given the success of Keep It Together. Dave Matthews Band is heavily rumored to have their new album ready by late this year, as they are in the process of working with Stand Up producer Mark Batson once again. In the meantime, DMB has been keeping busy as they have been collaborating with Jurassic 5 (yes, you read that correctly) and will be featured in J5's upcoming single "Work It Out" for their new album which will be released June 6. Also, one of the albums I'm personally anticipating the most is Subtitulo by Josh Rouse, which will be coming out March 21. Considering Rouse has already established an impressive set of releases already, it would not be surprising to see Subtitulo follow suit and be considered one of the most impressive efforts by years end. Finally, one of the most anticipated releases is John Mayer Trio's Continuum which is still set for release sometime in May. While the live album Try! was not only an outstanding preview as to what's to come, it also showed the versatility of John Mayer that will hopefully be even more visible on the studio effort. It is also worth noting that Robert Randolph & The Family Band will be back with a new album in May that will feature such guests as Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews and a few others, which could potentially help to surpass the success of their studio debut Unclassified. Lastly, Red Hot Chili Peppers look to propel themselves back into the limelight with their latest double-album Stadium Arcadium, which will be released May 9. In support of the album, RHCP will be doing some extensive touring, including being recently confirmed to headline Chicago's Lollapalooza festival.
Alternative
In case you missed my earlier post on them, The Raconteurs look to be the latest supergroup to win over fans and critics alike. With the singles "Steady as She Goes" and "Store Bought Bones" available on their webpage, you get an idea that this could very well be something special. With the braintrust of Jack White (of White Stripes fame) and Brendan Benson, it'd be very difficult for them to go wrong. While I wouldn't agree with some of the comments heralding them as the "Nirvana of Detroit" (I believe that was NME but I might be wrong), their album Broken Boy Soldiers should be quite the treat regardless. The CD should be released sometime in May. The other-worldly rockers known as Radiohead are also slated to release their latest studio effort some time this year. For anyone that has checked out any of the numerous Radiohead affiliated webpages, you've probably seen the messages from those within the band, and by the looks of things it appears that Radiohead is almost, if not finished, with their album, so hopefully it will be released sometime in the summer or fall. Out of nowhere alt-rock darlings Snow Patrol is all set for their new album Eyes Open to be released in April, and since they've now broken into the mainstream it will be incredibly interesting to see how the reception to their latest release will be. Bloc Party, who made an incredible breakthrough album in Silent Alarm is already getting set to head back into the studio for their new album which is hoped to be released in August. From the gate, Bloc Party has stated that the band is looking to change their sound, so look for a lot of experimentation to take place, for better or worse. Finally, The Walkmen are all ready for their follow up to Bows + Arrows with their new album A Hundred Miles Off to be released May 23rd. Expect a relatively lighter sound to come from the New York based band this time around, rather than the harsher sound that they have displayed in previous efforts.
Hip-Hop/Rap and R&B
Easily the most anticipated album to come out this year in the Hip Hop category will be The Roots' debut on Jay-Z's Def Jam label with their September release of The Game Theory. While details are relatively unknown about the album, it is worth mentioning that the album will be on a new Def Jam imprint called Def Jam Left. Also of note, there has been talk, as Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson has pointed out, that Black Thought (lead MC of The Roots) could possibly do a solo project with acclaimed producer Danger Mouse. While realistically this project would not necessarily see the light of day until 2007, especially considering the September release of Game Theory it's definitely something worth keeping an eye on. Speaking of Danger Mouse, his collaborative effort with Cee-Lo under the name Gnarls Barkley will be released May 2. The album, which will be entitled St. Elsewhere, has been hugely anticipated, and will feature "Crazy" as the lead single. While the single won't be officially released until April 10, it appears some of the overseas press has been able to get it already and BBC called it "one of the hottest tracks of 2006." Ludacris is all set to release his latest album, his sixth in as many years, Release Therapy. In a pleasant surprise, it seems that Ludacris, who has lately been featured in a number of acclaimed movies, most notably Crash, has been influenced by his roles and as such plans to be much more politically and socially aware in his approach to music, starting with the upcoming release. The most delayed album of the year, Outkast's Idlewild is now supposed to be released in April, and hopefully that will remain true as the date approaches. The soundtrack for the movie with the same name is set in the rural south during the 1930's, so it's to be expected that the sound will be deeply rooted in ragtime/delta blues genres. Finally, Busta Rhymes is releasing The Big Bang sometime this year and could prove to be one of the top albums sales-wise this year. Also, the most prolific R&B artist to be releasing an album this year, Prince's latest album 3121 will be out March 21. He has already released several singles for the album, most notably "Black Sweat" and "Te Amo Corazon" which both have supporting videos. "Black Sweat" is much like the Prince we've come to know and love, and is as funky and sexy as anything he's released (without being over the top) and his video definitely backs that up. "Te Amo Corazon" is also a very sensual song, and it's latin flavor will definitely make it a favorite for many. The video for "Te Amo Corzon" is also very well done, as it was directed by actress Salma Hayek.
So, there you have it. As you can see there are plenty of reasons to get excited about 2006, and for those that are looking for albums that are currently out now I'd still highly recommend the following which I recently reviewed:
Aceyalone & RJD2 Magnificent City
Belle & Sebastian The Life Pursuit
KT Tunstall Eyes to the Telescope
Mylo Destroy Rock & Roll
Also, for the list of my top ranked albums of last year, here are the links:
40-30
29-20
19-11
The Top 10
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Fuzzy Bits: February 26, 2006
Reader recap and response
For those of you who've posted comments, first and foremost let me thank you again, as I love getting feedback from readers. To respond to some of the comments I've been getting and also from friends that have frequented the site, I'd like to let you all know that each of my reviews are on a full 100-point scale. Personally, I'm very reluctant to give scores higher than 90 unless I know with relatively great certainty that come the end of the year it will be competing for being one of the best albums all year long. With KT Tunstall's album I had no intentions of being harsh or anything of the sort, I absolutely adore her sound and I think in a couple of years she'll be a household name, but I think that her album-- like many other debuts-- is somewhat inconsistent, hence why it received the score it did. Also, in regards to the Super Bowl XL performances, I really wanted to write about them afterwards but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. There was nothing good about it, the "Star-Spangled Banner" rendition performed was painful to say the least, and while Aretha Franklin doesn't have nearly the vocal chops she used to, I don't think anyone could have saved it after Aaron Neville started singing. The problem with the Rolling Stones performance was pretty simple, they "jammed" way too much. I put jam in quotes because in essence it really wasn't jamming as much as it was watching everyone play the same riff for an additional five minutes long after the real song has ended so Mick Jagger can dance around the stage in his all too confining latex jumpsuit. They would've been much better off had they played more songs and simply trimmed down the amount of time on each of them to about the same length as their studio efforts. I can't believe that the Stones really have lost their touch (as a matter of fact, I popped in Four Flicks after watching their performance to convince myself of this), but I suppose we'll all know for sure after their tour is over.
Meet Your New Favorite Band: The Arctic Monkeys
If you haven't heard this name at least a dozen times already, I'm betting you will at least by spring break. This hugely anticipated album sold in record time over in England, and looks to be doing about the same here. After trying repeatedly to listen to them, I really don't get it. Falling somewhere between The Libertines and Franz Ferdinand with a touch of Sex Pistols, all of which are great bands to be compared to, but the outcome just isn't all that impressive. There are moments where musically, they are relatively interesting, but then the vocals or lyrics screw up an otherwise decent song. I just don't know what to make of these guys, but if it works, it works, right?
Sex Pistols do their best impression of themselves by vulgarly turning down Rock 'N Roll HOF honor
In the only fashion that Johnny Rotten and co. know how, the Sex Pistols angrily wrote on their website that they wish no part of the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame festivities, much less be inducted. Whether or not that will prove to be the case when the event occurs on March 13 remains to be seen, but if nothing else, it's good to know that age has not changed them one bit.
Coldplay set to follow up X&Y (Hopefully it won't be zzzz...)
As much as I love Coldplay, I have to say that X&Y left me a little cold, and bored... and sleepy-- but hopefully that will change with the next album. They've been working on their new songs while touring and have been performing them during soundchecks, and also for the first time Coldplay is planning on working in a single studio that will be built in London for their personal use. Looking to be more experimental this time around, it seems like from their interview with NME.com that they are indeed looking to push themselves a bit farther than they did with X&Y, and that's definitely a good thing.
Bob Dylan announces some dates for the spring
Touring with Merle Haggard, it looks like Bob Dylan could be doing a lot more touring if the rumors of him working on a new album are indeed true. Either way, I can pretty much guarantee that these aren't the only venues that Mr. Dylan will be playing, so there's hope for all of us over in the midwest and east coast. The dates are as follows:
04/01 - Reno, NV - Reno Events Center
04/03 - Stockton, CA - Stockton Arena
04/04 - Santa Rosa, CA - Grace Pavilion
04/05 - Bakersfield, CA - Rabobank Arena
04/07 - Las Vegas, NV - Aladdin Hotel & Casino
04/08 - Sun City West, AZ - Maricopa County Events Center
04/10 - Tucson, AZ - Tucson Convention Center
Editors touring with Stellastarr* to promote upcoming album
With their debut album The Back Room finally coming March 21, Editors will be extensively touring with the equally talented Stellastarr*. Be sure to check these guys out! Here are the dates:
03/20 - Boston, MA @ The Roxy
03/21 - South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground - Ballroom
03/22 - Montreal, QC @ Cabaret du Musee Juste Pour Rire
03/24 - Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
03/25 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater
03/26 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (Stellastarr* only, headlining show)
03/27 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (Stellastarr* only, headlining show)
03/28 - Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
03/29 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
03/30 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall (Editors only, headlining show)
04/01 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
04/02 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar Lounge
04/04 - Norfolk, VA @ NorVa
04/05 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
04/06 - Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club
04/07 - Orlando, FL @ The Social
04/08 - Miami, FL @ Studio A
04/09 - Saint Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre
04/11 - Nashville, TN @ Exit In
04/12 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
04/13 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
04/14 - Covington, KY @ The Mad Hatter
04/15 - Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
04/16 - Chicago, IL @ Metro – Smart Bar
04/18 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe
04/19 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theatre
04/21 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre
04/22 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
04/25 - Vancouver, BC @ Richard's On Richard's
04/27 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
04/28 - Portland, OR @ Dante's
04/29 - San Francisco, CA @ Mezzanine
04/30 - Indio, CA @ Coachella Festival
For those of you who've posted comments, first and foremost let me thank you again, as I love getting feedback from readers. To respond to some of the comments I've been getting and also from friends that have frequented the site, I'd like to let you all know that each of my reviews are on a full 100-point scale. Personally, I'm very reluctant to give scores higher than 90 unless I know with relatively great certainty that come the end of the year it will be competing for being one of the best albums all year long. With KT Tunstall's album I had no intentions of being harsh or anything of the sort, I absolutely adore her sound and I think in a couple of years she'll be a household name, but I think that her album-- like many other debuts-- is somewhat inconsistent, hence why it received the score it did. Also, in regards to the Super Bowl XL performances, I really wanted to write about them afterwards but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. There was nothing good about it, the "Star-Spangled Banner" rendition performed was painful to say the least, and while Aretha Franklin doesn't have nearly the vocal chops she used to, I don't think anyone could have saved it after Aaron Neville started singing. The problem with the Rolling Stones performance was pretty simple, they "jammed" way too much. I put jam in quotes because in essence it really wasn't jamming as much as it was watching everyone play the same riff for an additional five minutes long after the real song has ended so Mick Jagger can dance around the stage in his all too confining latex jumpsuit. They would've been much better off had they played more songs and simply trimmed down the amount of time on each of them to about the same length as their studio efforts. I can't believe that the Stones really have lost their touch (as a matter of fact, I popped in Four Flicks after watching their performance to convince myself of this), but I suppose we'll all know for sure after their tour is over.
Meet Your New Favorite Band: The Arctic Monkeys
If you haven't heard this name at least a dozen times already, I'm betting you will at least by spring break. This hugely anticipated album sold in record time over in England, and looks to be doing about the same here. After trying repeatedly to listen to them, I really don't get it. Falling somewhere between The Libertines and Franz Ferdinand with a touch of Sex Pistols, all of which are great bands to be compared to, but the outcome just isn't all that impressive. There are moments where musically, they are relatively interesting, but then the vocals or lyrics screw up an otherwise decent song. I just don't know what to make of these guys, but if it works, it works, right?
Sex Pistols do their best impression of themselves by vulgarly turning down Rock 'N Roll HOF honor
In the only fashion that Johnny Rotten and co. know how, the Sex Pistols angrily wrote on their website that they wish no part of the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame festivities, much less be inducted. Whether or not that will prove to be the case when the event occurs on March 13 remains to be seen, but if nothing else, it's good to know that age has not changed them one bit.
Coldplay set to follow up X&Y (Hopefully it won't be zzzz...)
As much as I love Coldplay, I have to say that X&Y left me a little cold, and bored... and sleepy-- but hopefully that will change with the next album. They've been working on their new songs while touring and have been performing them during soundchecks, and also for the first time Coldplay is planning on working in a single studio that will be built in London for their personal use. Looking to be more experimental this time around, it seems like from their interview with NME.com that they are indeed looking to push themselves a bit farther than they did with X&Y, and that's definitely a good thing.
Bob Dylan announces some dates for the spring
Touring with Merle Haggard, it looks like Bob Dylan could be doing a lot more touring if the rumors of him working on a new album are indeed true. Either way, I can pretty much guarantee that these aren't the only venues that Mr. Dylan will be playing, so there's hope for all of us over in the midwest and east coast. The dates are as follows:
04/01 - Reno, NV - Reno Events Center
04/03 - Stockton, CA - Stockton Arena
04/04 - Santa Rosa, CA - Grace Pavilion
04/05 - Bakersfield, CA - Rabobank Arena
04/07 - Las Vegas, NV - Aladdin Hotel & Casino
04/08 - Sun City West, AZ - Maricopa County Events Center
04/10 - Tucson, AZ - Tucson Convention Center
Editors touring with Stellastarr* to promote upcoming album
With their debut album The Back Room finally coming March 21, Editors will be extensively touring with the equally talented Stellastarr*. Be sure to check these guys out! Here are the dates:
03/20 - Boston, MA @ The Roxy
03/21 - South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground - Ballroom
03/22 - Montreal, QC @ Cabaret du Musee Juste Pour Rire
03/24 - Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
03/25 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater
03/26 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (Stellastarr* only, headlining show)
03/27 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (Stellastarr* only, headlining show)
03/28 - Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
03/29 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
03/30 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall (Editors only, headlining show)
04/01 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
04/02 - Baltimore, MD @ Sonar Lounge
04/04 - Norfolk, VA @ NorVa
04/05 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
04/06 - Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club
04/07 - Orlando, FL @ The Social
04/08 - Miami, FL @ Studio A
04/09 - Saint Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre
04/11 - Nashville, TN @ Exit In
04/12 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
04/13 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
04/14 - Covington, KY @ The Mad Hatter
04/15 - Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
04/16 - Chicago, IL @ Metro – Smart Bar
04/18 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe
04/19 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theatre
04/21 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre
04/22 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
04/25 - Vancouver, BC @ Richard's On Richard's
04/27 - Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
04/28 - Portland, OR @ Dante's
04/29 - San Francisco, CA @ Mezzanine
04/30 - Indio, CA @ Coachella Festival
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Two More Reviews!
Yes, churning them out like butter, I have two more reviews going this week, enjoy!
Mylo Destroy Rock & Roll
Warm... warmer... disco!
After being in the UK for nearly two years, Destroy Rock & Roll has finally come to our shores, with three additional tracks no less. It's worth noting that this album was actually made in produced in the artist's (real name Myles MacInnes) home using nothing but his G4 Mac and some basic computer software, which is very admirable given the success he's experienced overseas and the hype he's garnered here in the states. Focusing on the music itself, the first three tracks, "Valley of the Dolls," "Sunworshipper" and "Musclecars," are all laid back yet incredibly engaging. While falling somewhere between Röyksopp and Daft Punk in presentation, the songs are so well crafted that even the aforementioned groups would envy it. What becomes exceedingly apparent as the disc continues is Mylo's incredible sense of pop culture. Much like Fatboy Slim, Mylo utilizes vocals to a degree that truly enhances his music, whether it's the tacky, yet amusing synth vocal cursing that occurs on "Drop the Pressure," or the irresistibly catchiness of 80's pop that Mylo captures on "In My Arms" and "Guilty of Love." Where this skill becomes incredibly apparent is on the title track, where basically every single prominant rock star apparently needs to be destroyed. While this could come off as being not only slightly clichéd, but also pompous, it really works well within the context of this song and appears to read as more of a anti-commercialism rant, rather than anything else, particularly considering how obviously influenced he is by many of the artists listed. This could very well be the most outstanding Electronica album I've heard since Daft Punk's Homework. It's quite simply a masterpiece.
Rating: 100
Aceyalone & RJD2 Magnificent City
A pure work of genius, this album will take you back to the golden age of hip-hop.
Much like the collaboration that brought you Dangerdoom (Danger Mouse and MF Doom) last year, Aceyalone & RJD2's Magnificent City is the kind of album that really should completely alter the way people look at hip-hop. With the one two punch of "All For U" and the single "Fire," it's immediately apparent how much RJD2's productions elevated Aceyalone's already established lyrics to being not only incredibly crafted but also slick and accessible. Unlike Dangerdoom, of course, this album isn't all about fun and games either, as there are some outstanding but dark songs such as "Junior," "Heaven," and "Here & Now." Hopefully with the success of these albums it will encourage more collaboration between artists in the underground hip-hop genre, such as the upcoming Gnarles Barkley (Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse) project. These collaborations should be what's celebrated in the hip-hop genre, and in the case of Magnificent City, I think you'd be hard pressed to buy a better hip-hop album this year, it's just that good.
Rating: 95
Mylo Destroy Rock & Roll
Warm... warmer... disco!
After being in the UK for nearly two years, Destroy Rock & Roll has finally come to our shores, with three additional tracks no less. It's worth noting that this album was actually made in produced in the artist's (real name Myles MacInnes) home using nothing but his G4 Mac and some basic computer software, which is very admirable given the success he's experienced overseas and the hype he's garnered here in the states. Focusing on the music itself, the first three tracks, "Valley of the Dolls," "Sunworshipper" and "Musclecars," are all laid back yet incredibly engaging. While falling somewhere between Röyksopp and Daft Punk in presentation, the songs are so well crafted that even the aforementioned groups would envy it. What becomes exceedingly apparent as the disc continues is Mylo's incredible sense of pop culture. Much like Fatboy Slim, Mylo utilizes vocals to a degree that truly enhances his music, whether it's the tacky, yet amusing synth vocal cursing that occurs on "Drop the Pressure," or the irresistibly catchiness of 80's pop that Mylo captures on "In My Arms" and "Guilty of Love." Where this skill becomes incredibly apparent is on the title track, where basically every single prominant rock star apparently needs to be destroyed. While this could come off as being not only slightly clichéd, but also pompous, it really works well within the context of this song and appears to read as more of a anti-commercialism rant, rather than anything else, particularly considering how obviously influenced he is by many of the artists listed. This could very well be the most outstanding Electronica album I've heard since Daft Punk's Homework. It's quite simply a masterpiece.
Rating: 100
Aceyalone & RJD2 Magnificent City
A pure work of genius, this album will take you back to the golden age of hip-hop.
Much like the collaboration that brought you Dangerdoom (Danger Mouse and MF Doom) last year, Aceyalone & RJD2's Magnificent City is the kind of album that really should completely alter the way people look at hip-hop. With the one two punch of "All For U" and the single "Fire," it's immediately apparent how much RJD2's productions elevated Aceyalone's already established lyrics to being not only incredibly crafted but also slick and accessible. Unlike Dangerdoom, of course, this album isn't all about fun and games either, as there are some outstanding but dark songs such as "Junior," "Heaven," and "Here & Now." Hopefully with the success of these albums it will encourage more collaboration between artists in the underground hip-hop genre, such as the upcoming Gnarles Barkley (Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse) project. These collaborations should be what's celebrated in the hip-hop genre, and in the case of Magnificent City, I think you'd be hard pressed to buy a better hip-hop album this year, it's just that good.
Rating: 95
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Trio of Reviews
For this past week I've managed to pick up a few very noteworthy albums, which will be discussed here in this review. Hopefully, I'll get the latest Beth Orton cd sometime soon, as I've been hearing great things about it. Until then, here are this weeks reviews, enjoy!
Belle & Sebastian The Life Pursuit
An incredibly fun yet quirky romp, The Life Pursuit represents all that is good about Belle & Sebastian
In their first full-length release since 2003's Dear Catastrophe Waitress, Belle & Sebastian is back in top form, arguably matching their best work. Songs such as "The Blues are Still Blue," "Sukie in the Graveyard" display Belle & Sebastians incredible knack for creating slick alternative pop songs that are worthy additions to any fan's favorite track list, but also accessible enough to be unintimidating for novices. Another great song comes in the three-and-a-half minute rollicking jaunt of "We Are the Sleepyheads," which could easily be the most fun song to listen to on the entire album. An outstanding effort and could hold up as being one of the top 10 records by the end of this year.
Rating: 90
KT Tunstall Eyes to the Telescope
Artist to Watch
Hard to believe it's a debut album, hands down one of the most impressive pop debuts to come along in a long time.
While already established in Europe, Tunstall's a relative unkown here, but do look for that to change very quickly (having your song featured on Grey's Anatomy is always a good start, not to mention her stellar Today show performance). Tunstall is definitely not your typical pop star by any means. She has an exceptional voice, as well as very solid in her guitar playing, and also writes her own music. That's just scratching the surface however, as beyond the absolutely gorgeous pop ballads such as "Other Side of the World," you'll find that she's actually got quite a knack for making blues-infused folk-rock, some of which is potently raw as it is catchy. The prime example of this is the single "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree," which struts along in such a confident fashion, it's hard to believe the sound could ever be coming from a relative newcomer, let alone someone of a relatively young age. This album is really quite mesmerizing in the sense that it's not only good for a debut album, but it really gives the feeling that Tunstall really might be something truly special. As such, she rightfully earns the title of "Artist to Watch," and if there's any justice in the world, she'll break the pop world open like gangbusters.
Rating: 85
Planet Asia The Sickness, vol. 1
Good, with a number of highlights, but could've been better.
It's hard to argue with Planet Asia as a talent, and while he's been burning up the underground, he hadn't yet made the big break just yet. While there are a number of standout tracks, the funny yet seriously talented lyrics on the "I'm So High Freestyle," as well as tracks such as "Act Like You Know" "Baby Food" and "U Beta," it feels somewhat uneven as an overall effort. The lyrics are almost always on, and really if nothing else you should be able to appreciate that much on every single track, the weakness comes in the occasionally flat delivery matched with beats and rhythms that are at times anything but ideal. For hip-hop heads, particularly those looking for something new, this album is definitely worth looking at (especially if you're able to get it for under $10) but it's not going to attract any new listeners.
Rating: 75
Belle & Sebastian The Life Pursuit
An incredibly fun yet quirky romp, The Life Pursuit represents all that is good about Belle & Sebastian
In their first full-length release since 2003's Dear Catastrophe Waitress, Belle & Sebastian is back in top form, arguably matching their best work. Songs such as "The Blues are Still Blue," "Sukie in the Graveyard" display Belle & Sebastians incredible knack for creating slick alternative pop songs that are worthy additions to any fan's favorite track list, but also accessible enough to be unintimidating for novices. Another great song comes in the three-and-a-half minute rollicking jaunt of "We Are the Sleepyheads," which could easily be the most fun song to listen to on the entire album. An outstanding effort and could hold up as being one of the top 10 records by the end of this year.
Rating: 90
KT Tunstall Eyes to the Telescope
Artist to Watch
Hard to believe it's a debut album, hands down one of the most impressive pop debuts to come along in a long time.
While already established in Europe, Tunstall's a relative unkown here, but do look for that to change very quickly (having your song featured on Grey's Anatomy is always a good start, not to mention her stellar Today show performance). Tunstall is definitely not your typical pop star by any means. She has an exceptional voice, as well as very solid in her guitar playing, and also writes her own music. That's just scratching the surface however, as beyond the absolutely gorgeous pop ballads such as "Other Side of the World," you'll find that she's actually got quite a knack for making blues-infused folk-rock, some of which is potently raw as it is catchy. The prime example of this is the single "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree," which struts along in such a confident fashion, it's hard to believe the sound could ever be coming from a relative newcomer, let alone someone of a relatively young age. This album is really quite mesmerizing in the sense that it's not only good for a debut album, but it really gives the feeling that Tunstall really might be something truly special. As such, she rightfully earns the title of "Artist to Watch," and if there's any justice in the world, she'll break the pop world open like gangbusters.
Rating: 85
Planet Asia The Sickness, vol. 1
Good, with a number of highlights, but could've been better.
It's hard to argue with Planet Asia as a talent, and while he's been burning up the underground, he hadn't yet made the big break just yet. While there are a number of standout tracks, the funny yet seriously talented lyrics on the "I'm So High Freestyle," as well as tracks such as "Act Like You Know" "Baby Food" and "U Beta," it feels somewhat uneven as an overall effort. The lyrics are almost always on, and really if nothing else you should be able to appreciate that much on every single track, the weakness comes in the occasionally flat delivery matched with beats and rhythms that are at times anything but ideal. For hip-hop heads, particularly those looking for something new, this album is definitely worth looking at (especially if you're able to get it for under $10) but it's not going to attract any new listeners.
Rating: 75
Thursday, February 9, 2006
Fuzzy Bits: Grammy Recap
U2 left very happy campers after the GrammysU2, Kelly Clarkson shine at Grammys
While I'm not the biggest fan, well, not really a fan at all, of Kelly Clarkson, I was happy that she won for both Pop Vocal album as well as best Female Pop Vocal Performance, because I felt she was most deserving in both categories. What I can not wrap my head around however, is how U2 walked away with five grammys including Album of the Year and consequently, Rock Album of the Year. I will say that I am a fan of How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, and also U2, but I really think that Late Registration had it beat hands down. Also, despite being disappointed with the album as a whole I thought that "Speed of Sound" should've beaten out "City of Blinding Lights" for Rock Performance by Duo/Group. Beyond that, I was happy that John Legend was able to win a few grammys, and more importantly that Mariah Carey walked away with nothing. Sure it may seem like a giant slap in the face that she would be nominated so many times and get nothing out of it, but really, she didn't deserve a single win, and shouldn't have received so many nominations to begin with. Two final big surprises for me as far as the actual awards were that the White Stripes beat out both Beck and The Arcade Fire for Best Alternative Album, and also that Steve Lillywhite beat out Danger Mouse for Producer of the Year (although Danger Mouse will win it next year, I guarantee it).
As for the performances, they were all pretty awful to say the least. I unfortunately missed out on the opener so if you saw it please post a comment about it because I'd love to hear a response. Coldplay was pretty good, but no one seemed to be getting into it, maybe they were wondering why Chris Martin was hopping around. The impromptu Stevie Wonder/Alicia Keys performance was nice, if a bit cliched. The whole Sly and the Family Stone reunion was aptly bizarre and should answer the question of whether or not there is extraterrestrial life (the answer being in the affirmative). Even scarier is that they're supposedly thinking about working on a comeback. Someone might want to tell Sly that could involve being in studio for longer than five minutes. Coming onto the stage with a crossing-guard-yellow mohawk and an even louder jacket that would make Liberace want to gag, he sang along with the various rock stars behind him towards the end of the performance for what seemed to be two minutes before waving and exiting the stage as quickly as he came on, never to be heard from again. Now, while that in any other awards show would probably constitute as being the worst performance of the night, they were definitely outdone by the absolutely terrible performance by Jay-Z, Linkin Park, and Paul McCartney. While it started out sensibly enough with LP and Jay-Z doing their grammy winning single "Numb/Encore" all of a sudden, the refrain from "Yesterday" started playing while Jay-Z was rapping, and out pops McCartney in a move which I'm sure made every other Beatle cringe and have another reason to want to kick McCartney's butt. To make matters worse, McCartney's voice was so bad (maybe because he had strained during his earlier performance) that he was basically outclassed by Linkin Park lead "singer" Chester Bennington. The best performances in my opinion were Christina Aguilera/Herbie Hancock's performance of "A Song For You," and the finale which was sadly cut off, which included Bonnie Raitt, Allen Touissant, Dr. John, Elvis Costello, and others as they performed "Yes We Can Can" (from the New Orleans cd) and ended with Wilson Pickett cover "In the Midnight Hour."
Thursday, February 2, 2006
Fuzzy Bits: February 2, 2006
Happy groundhog day all! I had actually intended to do a news update a week ago but my browser crashed in the process and thus I lost all my information, but I've got even more goodies to share with you all now. I finally have a review on tap (Planet Asia's latest) and it should be up over the weekend. Other than that I will be doing a recap of all of the movie/tv award shows after the oscars are over, since many of the winners tend to carry over. Anyway, here's some news:
Bonnaroo 2006 lineup announced
I swear this thing just gets better and better every year. While Daveheads might be sad to hear that there will be no Dave or Trey or DMB this year for that matter, I think this could be the best lineup of artists they've had in a long time. Tickets will set you back $170 assuming you're among the first purchasers, and eventually they will sell at $185. Bonnaroo 2006 will be from June 16-18 in Manchester, Tenn. While tickets usually don't sell out quickly, if you know you're going best to get them early to avoid having to pay the higher prices. Tickets go on sale Feb 11th, and for those interested here is the full band list as of right now:
Radiohead
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Phil Lesh & Friends
Beck
Elvis Costello & the Imposters
Bonnie Raitt
Death Cab for Cutie
moe.
Bright Eyes
The Neville Brothers
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
Buddy Guy
Damian Marley
Ben Folds
Robert Randolph & the Family Band
Dr. John
Matisyahu
G. Love & Special Sauce
My Morning Jacket
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Steel Pulse
Mike Gordon and Ramble Dove
Cat Power
Medeski Martin & Wood
Nickel Creek
Gomez
Atmosphere
Steve Earle
Blues Traveler
Amadou & Mariam
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks
Dresden Dolls
Son Volt
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Jerry Douglas
Soulive
Rusted Root
Devendra Banhart Band
Donavon Frankenreiter
Mike Doughty
Sasha
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
The Magic Numbers
Bill Frisell
Seu Jorge
Bettye LaVette
Dungen
Shooter Jennings
Rebirth Brass Band
Robinella
Andrew Bird
Steel Train
Jackie Greene
Devotchka
Wood Brothers
dios (malos)
Toubab Krewe
The Motet
Marah
I-Nine
Balkan Beat Box
Cat Empire
Madonna and Gorillaz to perform Grammy Awards opener
A surprising and (hopefully) innovative move, it's been announced that Madonna will be performing with the Gorillaz as the opening act for the upcoming Grammy Awards. It appears that Madonna will be animated along with the band, which would make things a lot less confusing than having her perform on stage with the world's most famous animated band this side of the Chipmunks behind on a screen. Also worth noting, Paul McCartney has been added to the performance list for the first time in Grammy history. Other artists set to perform are Mariah Carey, Coldplay, Jamie Foxx, Faith Hill with Keith Urban, John Legend, Sugarland, U2 with Mary J. Blige (I'm pretty sure I'll skip out on that one), and of course Kanye West.
PLUG awards tonight
The 2006 PLUG awards, yet another celebration of indie music are going to be going tonight (7pm). If you happen to be in the NYC area, tickets are on sale for $20. Performers include The Perceptionists, Aesop Rock, and The National. Among the special guests are Matisyahu, TV on the Radio and many more. The coolest part of all this of course, is that you do the voting on who wins and who loses, so be sure to check it out!
Coachella listing show no signs of Smashing Pumpkins
Yep, sad but true, but there's still quite a lot out there for music fans regardless. Here's a full listing of the bands for each day. Tickets go on sale February 4th and are $165 for a two-day pass.
SAT APRIL 29
Depeche Mode
Franz Ferdinand
Sigur Ros
Common
Damien Marley
Atmosphere
Carl Cox
My Morning Jacket
Ladytron
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
Posca
Cat Power
Animal Collective
Hard-Fi
Devendra Banhart
She Wants Revenge
The Walkmen
The Juan Maclean
Audio Bullys
Lady Sovereign
Deerhoof
The Duke Spirit
Editors
Stellastarr
Lyrics Born
The Zutons
White Rose Movement
Colette
Wolf Mother
The Living Things
Nine Black Alps
Youth Group
SUN APRIL 30
Tool
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Bloc Party
Paul Oakenfold
Scissor Sisters
Matisyahu
James Blunt
Mogwai
TV On The Radio
Sleater Kinney
Gnarls Barkley (Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo)
Coldcut
Digable Planets
Amadou Mariam
Little Louie Vega
Mylo
Seu Jorge
Phoenix
Wolf Parade
The Go! Team
Metric
Imogen Heap
Art Brut
Dungen
The Dears
Jamie Liddell
The Magic Numbers
Los Amigos Invisibles
Jazzanova
Michael Mayer
Mates of State
Gilles Peterson
Gabriel & Dresden
The Subways
Minus the Bear
Be Your Own Pet
Giant Drag
Gnarles Barkley leaks!
Depending on how closely you paid attention, you might've noticed that there was a group by the name of Gnarles Barkley (Charles' long lost brother maybe?). It's only Danger Mouse's latest concoction, this time working with the equally eclectic Cee-Lo. There have been a couple of track leaks, although neither one have an actual title as of yet. While there has been a lot of talk about this project, very little has actually materialized as of yet, so here's hoping that we get more information as the album nears it's release.
Check out the Raconteurs
Jack White and Brendan Benson have teamed up to form the Raconteurs, a band that appears to have a really awesome 70's AM radio pop sound going for them. Both White and Benson are on vocals, while Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler play bass and drums, respectively. There are two fantastic tracks which are listed on their exceptionally retro-themed webpage , so be sure to keep a look out for them to make it big in 2006. This might be enough for me to forgive Mr. White for releasing "Get Behind Me Satan," not that he needs my approval.
Bonnaroo 2006 lineup announced
I swear this thing just gets better and better every year. While Daveheads might be sad to hear that there will be no Dave or Trey or DMB this year for that matter, I think this could be the best lineup of artists they've had in a long time. Tickets will set you back $170 assuming you're among the first purchasers, and eventually they will sell at $185. Bonnaroo 2006 will be from June 16-18 in Manchester, Tenn. While tickets usually don't sell out quickly, if you know you're going best to get them early to avoid having to pay the higher prices. Tickets go on sale Feb 11th, and for those interested here is the full band list as of right now:
Radiohead
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Phil Lesh & Friends
Beck
Elvis Costello & the Imposters
Bonnie Raitt
Death Cab for Cutie
moe.
Bright Eyes
The Neville Brothers
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
Buddy Guy
Damian Marley
Ben Folds
Robert Randolph & the Family Band
Dr. John
Matisyahu
G. Love & Special Sauce
My Morning Jacket
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Steel Pulse
Mike Gordon and Ramble Dove
Cat Power
Medeski Martin & Wood
Nickel Creek
Gomez
Atmosphere
Steve Earle
Blues Traveler
Amadou & Mariam
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks
Dresden Dolls
Son Volt
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Jerry Douglas
Soulive
Rusted Root
Devendra Banhart Band
Donavon Frankenreiter
Mike Doughty
Sasha
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
The Magic Numbers
Bill Frisell
Seu Jorge
Bettye LaVette
Dungen
Shooter Jennings
Rebirth Brass Band
Robinella
Andrew Bird
Steel Train
Jackie Greene
Devotchka
Wood Brothers
dios (malos)
Toubab Krewe
The Motet
Marah
I-Nine
Balkan Beat Box
Cat Empire
Madonna and Gorillaz to perform Grammy Awards opener
A surprising and (hopefully) innovative move, it's been announced that Madonna will be performing with the Gorillaz as the opening act for the upcoming Grammy Awards. It appears that Madonna will be animated along with the band, which would make things a lot less confusing than having her perform on stage with the world's most famous animated band this side of the Chipmunks behind on a screen. Also worth noting, Paul McCartney has been added to the performance list for the first time in Grammy history. Other artists set to perform are Mariah Carey, Coldplay, Jamie Foxx, Faith Hill with Keith Urban, John Legend, Sugarland, U2 with Mary J. Blige (I'm pretty sure I'll skip out on that one), and of course Kanye West.
PLUG awards tonight
The 2006 PLUG awards, yet another celebration of indie music are going to be going tonight (7pm). If you happen to be in the NYC area, tickets are on sale for $20. Performers include The Perceptionists, Aesop Rock, and The National. Among the special guests are Matisyahu, TV on the Radio and many more. The coolest part of all this of course, is that you do the voting on who wins and who loses, so be sure to check it out!
Coachella listing show no signs of Smashing Pumpkins
Yep, sad but true, but there's still quite a lot out there for music fans regardless. Here's a full listing of the bands for each day. Tickets go on sale February 4th and are $165 for a two-day pass.
SAT APRIL 29
Depeche Mode
Franz Ferdinand
Sigur Ros
Common
Damien Marley
Atmosphere
Carl Cox
My Morning Jacket
Ladytron
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
Posca
Cat Power
Animal Collective
Hard-Fi
Devendra Banhart
She Wants Revenge
The Walkmen
The Juan Maclean
Audio Bullys
Lady Sovereign
Deerhoof
The Duke Spirit
Editors
Stellastarr
Lyrics Born
The Zutons
White Rose Movement
Colette
Wolf Mother
The Living Things
Nine Black Alps
Youth Group
SUN APRIL 30
Tool
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Bloc Party
Paul Oakenfold
Scissor Sisters
Matisyahu
James Blunt
Mogwai
TV On The Radio
Sleater Kinney
Gnarls Barkley (Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo)
Coldcut
Digable Planets
Amadou Mariam
Little Louie Vega
Mylo
Seu Jorge
Phoenix
Wolf Parade
The Go! Team
Metric
Imogen Heap
Art Brut
Dungen
The Dears
Jamie Liddell
The Magic Numbers
Los Amigos Invisibles
Jazzanova
Michael Mayer
Mates of State
Gilles Peterson
Gabriel & Dresden
The Subways
Minus the Bear
Be Your Own Pet
Giant Drag
Gnarles Barkley leaks!
Depending on how closely you paid attention, you might've noticed that there was a group by the name of Gnarles Barkley (Charles' long lost brother maybe?). It's only Danger Mouse's latest concoction, this time working with the equally eclectic Cee-Lo. There have been a couple of track leaks, although neither one have an actual title as of yet. While there has been a lot of talk about this project, very little has actually materialized as of yet, so here's hoping that we get more information as the album nears it's release.
Check out the Raconteurs
Jack White and Brendan Benson have teamed up to form the Raconteurs, a band that appears to have a really awesome 70's AM radio pop sound going for them. Both White and Benson are on vocals, while Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler play bass and drums, respectively. There are two fantastic tracks which are listed on their exceptionally retro-themed webpage , so be sure to keep a look out for them to make it big in 2006. This might be enough for me to forgive Mr. White for releasing "Get Behind Me Satan," not that he needs my approval.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Fuzzy Bits: January 18, 2006
Let me start off by saying that the reason for the sparse updates on the blog has been because of the limited recent releases in both film and music. So no worries for those of you thinking that the site is winding down, as that couldn't be farther from the truth. That being said, this edition of Fuzzy Bits will begin with an answer to a reader's question. Remember, you can always make comments to any post, so feel free to do so!
Fuzzy Responses
I heard a rumor that Dave is planning another " & friends" tour. You seem to have an ear to the drums - any truth? Did you hear anything about Coldplay's last stint here - I heard it was so/so. I want to get a friend a cd by them - what's the best one - any suggestions?
Havannah Moon
Thanks for the message! You ask some very good questions here, and I'll do my best to answer them all. First, with the Dave & Friends tour. There is some truth to this as they are a part of a three-day and three-night cruise tour during Feb 3-6. Along with other acts including G. Love & Special Sauce, Ozomatli, North Mississippi Allstars, Soulive, DJ Logic and Mike Doughty's Band, there will be lots of food and fun to be had as the cruise boats sail to the Bahamas. As far as definitive dates, this is all we know about right now. What can be said however, is that with Dave Matthews Band currently working in studio for their second album which should come out later on this year, I would be very surprised if there's a D&F tour this spring. Instead, there might be another short college campus Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds tour before the DMB tour kicks off this summer.
On a semi-related note, the band is currently asking Warehouse members to send in their top five choices for opening acts this summer. My personal votes (in this order) were: The Roots, My Morning Jacket, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, and finally Josh Rouse. While many are picking more traditional opening acts (Mike Doughty, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones) some are going as far as picking Pearl Jam, so if you have the ability to vote, go for it and see what happens!
Going back to your original post, let me move on to answering your questions about Coldplay. I'm not sure whether or not you were talking about the Alpine Valley concert or the concert they had at the Metro. From what I heard though, the majority of people loved their performance at Alpine Valley, and I'd have a hard time believing that they wouldn't pull out one of their better shows considering the importance and hype going into it. As far as best CD to get for someone that's just starting out, I'd have to say hands down you have to start out with A Rush of Blood to the Head or Parachutes. I think the former offers a lot more in terms of singles with such memorable tracks as "Clocks," "The Scientist," "Green Eyes," and I could really go on forever, while Parachutes was a very well thought out and complete front to back album in every sense. X&Y has a much darker tinge and isn't nearly as strong as their previous albums, and it'd be hard for me to recommend unless they're already a serious or established fan.
Smashing Pumpkins reunion rumored to be at Coachella
Well as most of you already know, at least if you follow Billy Corgan and the Pumpkins, Billy Corgan's been spending the past year and a half making amends with his bandmates after his disastrous solo release. It seems as if all of his efforts (if you want to call it that) will be paying off as the Smashing Pumpkins are rumored to make appearances at several summer festivals, most notably this April's Coachella. Personally, my dream would be for them to reunite at this summer's Lollapalooza, since it's going to be in Chicago again. What better way to start fresh than reunite in your hometown?
Flaming Lips release new single for upcoming album
Due out April 4, the much-anticipated album entitled At War with the Mystics, seems promising if the singles are any indication. The recently released single called "The Wand" is a great near-four minute experimental piece, pushing the envelope much in the same way that Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots did. The song is very sparse rhythmically, and revolves around a great guitar riff. The best thing the song has going for it is that it manages to sound familiar while strangely different and even a bit unsettling in it's delivery. The song "Mr. Ambulance Driver" as heard on both the Wedding Crashers soundtrack as well as the Flaming Lips' Greatest Hits CD/DVD VOID is also going to be featured in the upcoming album. The entire tracklisting is given below:
"The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song"
"Free Radicals"
"The Sound of Failure/It's Dark...Is it Always This Dark??"
"My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion"
"Vein of Stars"
"The Wizard Turns On..."
"It Overtakes Me/The Stars Are So Big, I Am So Small...Do I Stand a Chance?"
"Mr. Ambulance Driver"
"Haven't Got a Clue"
"The W.A.N.D."
"Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung"
"Goin' On"
Fuzzy Responses
I heard a rumor that Dave is planning another " & friends" tour. You seem to have an ear to the drums - any truth? Did you hear anything about Coldplay's last stint here - I heard it was so/so. I want to get a friend a cd by them - what's the best one - any suggestions?
Havannah Moon
Thanks for the message! You ask some very good questions here, and I'll do my best to answer them all. First, with the Dave & Friends tour. There is some truth to this as they are a part of a three-day and three-night cruise tour during Feb 3-6. Along with other acts including G. Love & Special Sauce, Ozomatli, North Mississippi Allstars, Soulive, DJ Logic and Mike Doughty's Band, there will be lots of food and fun to be had as the cruise boats sail to the Bahamas. As far as definitive dates, this is all we know about right now. What can be said however, is that with Dave Matthews Band currently working in studio for their second album which should come out later on this year, I would be very surprised if there's a D&F tour this spring. Instead, there might be another short college campus Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds tour before the DMB tour kicks off this summer.
On a semi-related note, the band is currently asking Warehouse members to send in their top five choices for opening acts this summer. My personal votes (in this order) were: The Roots, My Morning Jacket, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, and finally Josh Rouse. While many are picking more traditional opening acts (Mike Doughty, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones) some are going as far as picking Pearl Jam, so if you have the ability to vote, go for it and see what happens!
Going back to your original post, let me move on to answering your questions about Coldplay. I'm not sure whether or not you were talking about the Alpine Valley concert or the concert they had at the Metro. From what I heard though, the majority of people loved their performance at Alpine Valley, and I'd have a hard time believing that they wouldn't pull out one of their better shows considering the importance and hype going into it. As far as best CD to get for someone that's just starting out, I'd have to say hands down you have to start out with A Rush of Blood to the Head or Parachutes. I think the former offers a lot more in terms of singles with such memorable tracks as "Clocks," "The Scientist," "Green Eyes," and I could really go on forever, while Parachutes was a very well thought out and complete front to back album in every sense. X&Y has a much darker tinge and isn't nearly as strong as their previous albums, and it'd be hard for me to recommend unless they're already a serious or established fan.
Smashing Pumpkins reunion rumored to be at Coachella
Well as most of you already know, at least if you follow Billy Corgan and the Pumpkins, Billy Corgan's been spending the past year and a half making amends with his bandmates after his disastrous solo release. It seems as if all of his efforts (if you want to call it that) will be paying off as the Smashing Pumpkins are rumored to make appearances at several summer festivals, most notably this April's Coachella. Personally, my dream would be for them to reunite at this summer's Lollapalooza, since it's going to be in Chicago again. What better way to start fresh than reunite in your hometown?
Flaming Lips release new single for upcoming album
Due out April 4, the much-anticipated album entitled At War with the Mystics, seems promising if the singles are any indication. The recently released single called "The Wand" is a great near-four minute experimental piece, pushing the envelope much in the same way that Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots did. The song is very sparse rhythmically, and revolves around a great guitar riff. The best thing the song has going for it is that it manages to sound familiar while strangely different and even a bit unsettling in it's delivery. The song "Mr. Ambulance Driver" as heard on both the Wedding Crashers soundtrack as well as the Flaming Lips' Greatest Hits CD/DVD VOID is also going to be featured in the upcoming album. The entire tracklisting is given below:
"The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song"
"Free Radicals"
"The Sound of Failure/It's Dark...Is it Always This Dark??"
"My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion"
"Vein of Stars"
"The Wizard Turns On..."
"It Overtakes Me/The Stars Are So Big, I Am So Small...Do I Stand a Chance?"
"Mr. Ambulance Driver"
"Haven't Got a Clue"
"The W.A.N.D."
"Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung"
"Goin' On"
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Fuzzy Bits: January 12, 2006
Finalists named for first ever New Pantheon Awards
Replacing what was known as the Shortlist awards, the New Pantheon Awards finalists have been named. Before listing the finalists, it should be mentioned that the New Pantheon Awards finalists, just like the Shortlist, are hand selected by a diverse group of fellow musicians (this years judges ranged from Elton John to Dave Matthews to Margaret Cho to Beck), and the only requirement outside of musical integrity is that it must've sold less than 500,000 copies. With that in mind, here are the 2006 finalists:
Extraordinary Machine Fiona Apple
Funeral Arcade Fire
Feels Animal Collective
I Am a Bird Now Antony and the Johnsons
Silent Alarm Bloc Party
Plans Death Cab for Cutie
Picaresque The Decemberists
Aha Shake Heartbreak Kings of Leon
Arular M.I.A.
Illinois Sufjan Stevens
While the Mercury Prize winning Antony and the Johnsons are probably the favorites, my personal pick would be either Bloc Party or Sufjan Stevens. The only real surprise on this list is Death Cab for Cutie's latest because, quite honestly, it was a mere shadow of all the previous releases they've had, and there are much better albums out there.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs to release new album in March
The latest release, entitled Show Your Bones will be released March 27, with their single "Golden Lion" to be released a week prior. Produced by Squeak E Clean, whom lead singer Karen O worked with on the "Hello Tomorrow" single seen in those trippy adidas commercials from not too long ago. While tour info hasn't been revealed yet, you can expect the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to be back in full force after the release of their first album since their major-label debut in 2003.
First big disappointment of 2006
I was debating whether or not to write an entire review on this album and finally decided against it. However, just a week into the new year, and the band that we once loved known as the Strokes released what could still be the biggest disappointment of 2006 when December rolls around. To say that First Impressions of Earth is awful, wouldn't really be telling the whole story, rather when looking at the potential that was there within their first two albums, it seemed as if the Strokes got tired of everyone saying that they're a rip off of (insert your favorite 60's or 70's rock band here) and decided to do something completely different. Well, they did it, and this time every song seems half-baked, lazy, and in desperate need of a do over. It's too bad really, because you can't argue that they're not individually talented musicians, but after a few listens to this, you'd never know that.
Replacing what was known as the Shortlist awards, the New Pantheon Awards finalists have been named. Before listing the finalists, it should be mentioned that the New Pantheon Awards finalists, just like the Shortlist, are hand selected by a diverse group of fellow musicians (this years judges ranged from Elton John to Dave Matthews to Margaret Cho to Beck), and the only requirement outside of musical integrity is that it must've sold less than 500,000 copies. With that in mind, here are the 2006 finalists:
Extraordinary Machine Fiona Apple
Funeral Arcade Fire
Feels Animal Collective
I Am a Bird Now Antony and the Johnsons
Silent Alarm Bloc Party
Plans Death Cab for Cutie
Picaresque The Decemberists
Aha Shake Heartbreak Kings of Leon
Arular M.I.A.
Illinois Sufjan Stevens
While the Mercury Prize winning Antony and the Johnsons are probably the favorites, my personal pick would be either Bloc Party or Sufjan Stevens. The only real surprise on this list is Death Cab for Cutie's latest because, quite honestly, it was a mere shadow of all the previous releases they've had, and there are much better albums out there.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs to release new album in March
The latest release, entitled Show Your Bones will be released March 27, with their single "Golden Lion" to be released a week prior. Produced by Squeak E Clean, whom lead singer Karen O worked with on the "Hello Tomorrow" single seen in those trippy adidas commercials from not too long ago. While tour info hasn't been revealed yet, you can expect the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to be back in full force after the release of their first album since their major-label debut in 2003.
First big disappointment of 2006
I was debating whether or not to write an entire review on this album and finally decided against it. However, just a week into the new year, and the band that we once loved known as the Strokes released what could still be the biggest disappointment of 2006 when December rolls around. To say that First Impressions of Earth is awful, wouldn't really be telling the whole story, rather when looking at the potential that was there within their first two albums, it seemed as if the Strokes got tired of everyone saying that they're a rip off of (insert your favorite 60's or 70's rock band here) and decided to do something completely different. Well, they did it, and this time every song seems half-baked, lazy, and in desperate need of a do over. It's too bad really, because you can't argue that they're not individually talented musicians, but after a few listens to this, you'd never know that.
Saturday, January 7, 2006
Good Night, and Good Luck
An absurdly beautiful film, George Clooney has truly made his directorial mark with this worthwhile masterpiece.
Starring: David Strathairn, George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Frank Langella, and Jeff Daniels.
Written by: George Clooney and Grant Heslov.
Directed by: George Clooney.
While Clooney's directorial debut of Confeessions of a Dangerous Mind was unfortunately overlooked, it seems as if his latest has garnered enough critical acclaim and attention to have an outside chance of winning in the Oscars and Golden Globes. The storyline is incredibly well done in that it provides insight into the era of McCarthyism without overdoing it, or distracting the viewer from the main plot of the story for that matter. Besides the beautiful cinematography, the ultimate highlight of this film would have to be the superb acting. David Strathairn, Frank Langella, Jeff Daniels and George Clooney are especially outstanding, and it was a very good call on the part of the production to use archive footage of Senator Tom McCarthy to create a much more profound dichotomy between himself and the CBS crew. What makes the film most compelling is that it is presented in such a way, and with the impeccable timing given all the Big Brother debates going on today, it makes a poignant statement of how Americans face the same challenges today as they did back in the early 50's. An engaging and rewarding film, this is a must for anyone who hasn't yet seen this provocative piece.
Rating: 95
Rated PG for mild thematic elements and brief language.
Starring: David Strathairn, George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Frank Langella, and Jeff Daniels.
Written by: George Clooney and Grant Heslov.
Directed by: George Clooney.
While Clooney's directorial debut of Confeessions of a Dangerous Mind was unfortunately overlooked, it seems as if his latest has garnered enough critical acclaim and attention to have an outside chance of winning in the Oscars and Golden Globes. The storyline is incredibly well done in that it provides insight into the era of McCarthyism without overdoing it, or distracting the viewer from the main plot of the story for that matter. Besides the beautiful cinematography, the ultimate highlight of this film would have to be the superb acting. David Strathairn, Frank Langella, Jeff Daniels and George Clooney are especially outstanding, and it was a very good call on the part of the production to use archive footage of Senator Tom McCarthy to create a much more profound dichotomy between himself and the CBS crew. What makes the film most compelling is that it is presented in such a way, and with the impeccable timing given all the Big Brother debates going on today, it makes a poignant statement of how Americans face the same challenges today as they did back in the early 50's. An engaging and rewarding film, this is a must for anyone who hasn't yet seen this provocative piece.
Rating: 95
Rated PG for mild thematic elements and brief language.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Fuzzy Thoughts' Top 40 Albums of 2005: Part IV of IV- The Top 10
10. 
Gorillaz Demon Days
With Danger Mouse producing, it was certain that the new Gorillaz latest would go in a much different direction than the previous album, but the amount of growth and general musicianship from the group couldn't have been expected. Beyond the irresistibly catchy singles of "Feel Good, Inc.", "DARE", and "Dirty Harry" are a slew of darkly-tinged songs, that are as challenging as they are exceptional. MF Doom guest stars on the outstanding and trippy "November Has Come," while Dennis Hopper narrates what is easily one of the darkest tracks on the album, "Fire Coming Out of a Monkey's Head." While it might have been easy for many to dismiss Gorillaz originally as being a clever gimmick, Gorillaz proved this to be all but untrue with the release of Demon Days.
9.
Andrew Bird The Mysterious Production of Eggs
Chicago-native Andrew Bird has really been on a roll lately. His second solo release is another outstanding and incredibly intimate effort, with gorgeous tracks such as "Sovay" and "Masterfade." Lyrics are particularly well crafted as always, and show Andrew Bird's incredible versatility not only as a musician but also as a songwriter. Andrew Bird can still pull off a darn good alterna-pop song as well with catchy tracks such as "Fake Palindromes" and the exceptionally stylized "Skin Is, My." Ani DiFranco should be very pleased in picking up Andrew Bird onto her label, as he has more than made it worthwhile based on this album's release alone.
8.
The Go! Team Thunder, Lightning, Strike
Easily one of the most exciting groups to come out this year, this group hailing from Brighton, England have made themselves a hit with an unstoppable force of an album. From beginning to end, each and every track packs a punch rarely found in any genre of music today. Highlights include the summery "Ladyflash," "Get It Together," and the powerhouse "Junior Kickstart." While it may seem a bit like high school cheering squad practice at first, give these guys a chance. Their sound is completely unique and incredibly addicting and they deserve the utmost attention and praise for being so daring and so fun-- all at the same time.
7.
Broken Social Scene Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene have got quite a good thing going, as they've yet to really release a bad album. While it's hard for many to laud this album as every release they come up with will almost certainly pale in comparison (for many, anyway) to You Forgot It In People, I have to say BSS got it right here. From the opening "Our Faces Split the Coast in Half," you get a pretty good idea of what kind of sound is going on here, as BSS appears to be stuck in "jam out" mode, which is hardly a negative for them. "7/4 (Shoreline)" is easily one of the best songs this year, while "Swimmers" is another superb albeit slightly more derivative song. All in all this is another solid showing by Broken Social Scene, and easily one of the top albums of 2005.
6.
Bloc Party Silent Alarm
Bloc Party made a huge splash this year, thanks in part to a lot of exposure from all types of media from MTV2 to NME magazine to being named the Okayplayer artists of the month. Bloc Party proved to be well worth the hype as many people are still talking about them now even though their album was released very early on in the year. While it'll be hard from them to run away from comparisons to bands such as U2 (and consequently Coldplay), these guys are very capable of being in the same league as both groups (well, maybe not U2), and establishing their own sense of dominance internationally. The fantastic opener of "Like Eating Glass" leads into the incredible "Helicopter" which is in full force with swirling guitars that compete with the confident vocals. Also well worth noting is the single "Banquet" which was really a perfect single for them, as it represents their sound as a whole: rhythmically intricate with engulfing guitars and passionate but derivative vocals. This is an astounding effort from this group, as it's only their debut, and it'll be interesting to see where these guys go from here.
5.
Kanye West Late Registration
So Kanye proved just about everyone wrong with The College Dropout, and after the huge amount of success, everyone figured that he'd just ride off into the sunset and go back to producing for good right? Wrong, as a matter of fact, Kanye was just warming up on The College Dropout and really gets to work on this release. Overall, Late Regestration is a much stronger effort than the debut. Kanye was smart in seeking a helping hand in Jon Brion with production as the classical orchestration added a great amount of depth to what were already solid tracks. Also, the addition of Jamie Foxx and Adam Levine on "Gold Digger" and "Heard 'Em Say," respectively, added to the musicality to each of the tracks and, in the case of "Heard 'Em Say," smartly added to the intimacy and importance of the song and message that Kanye was delivering. The album is also much more focused than his previous effort, allowing for him to focus on a singular message (or grouping of messages) that he wants to focus on rather than being a little bit all over the place. Overall this is a superb album, not only in hip hop but in general, and is the best hip hop album to be released this year.
4.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah was the DIY success story of 2005. Without ever being signed to a major label, they managed to create enough attention through word of mouth to become one of the best selling indie albums this year, not to mention the most critically acclaimed. Adding one more favorable review to the pile, I did a full length review of their album back in October and haven't really stopped listening to them since. Inspiring and beautiful, there's something for everyone in this album. In particular, "Over and Over Again (Lost and Found)," "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth," and "Is This Home On Ice" are all instant classics. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are the story of the year for their incredible success based on little to no promotion, and also debut of the year for their great release. An outstanding effort.
3.
Sufjan Stevens Illinois
No album this year has been as grandiose as Stevens' Illinois and between that, his immense creativity and craft of writing, Sufjan Stevens' second of his proposed 50 state releases finds itself #3 on my top 40 list. While always recognized as a very talented singer/songwriter, it seems that Stevens really shines on this album through his pseudo-silliness yet poignant songwriting displayed throughout this album. His songs are just as important as always, with such sincerely touching tracks as the beautiful opener of "Concerning The UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois." Stevens really gets going however on "Come On! Feel The Illinoise!" a piece so dynamic, it could almost serve as a number to a musical. "Chicago" is an equally vibrant piece, with outstanding storytelling. The most powerful aspect of this album is the way in which Stevens engrosses himself and also the listener in every track, you almost feel as if you've spent the duration of the song in every single moment listed in the album. A very praiseworthy effort, and while Stevens may not manage to get all 50 states done, if he continues to churn out albums such as this one and the previous ode to Michigan, he still has quite a legacy to be proud of.
2.
Spoon Gimme Fiction
Despite a few popular singles, Spoon is one of the few alternative rock bands that, unfortunately, has yet to really hit it big. This is really a shame because quite frankly, Spoon has been one of the most consistent bands this decade, and that trend continues with Gimme Fiction. While the overall texture is grittier than any of their previous releases, Spoon has managed to fine-tune even further their seemingly perfected guitar pop craft. There isn't a second of filler on this album, and as good as individual songs such as "Sister Jack," "I Turn My Camera On," and "I Summon You" are, the album is all the more enjoyable when listened to straight through. Immensely clever and fulfilling, Spoon's latest is the kind of album that you immediately like and then begins to grow on you as you listen to it more before you finally find yourself humming to each and every tune. It's just that good.
1.
My Morning Jacket Z
Despite losing two band members, this Louisville, KY group just keeps on rocking. Their second release on Dave Matthews' ATO label is the one we've all been waiting for. While It Still Moves was easily one of the best albums of 2003, there still appeared to be some untapped potential in the band, and here on Z they've gone far beyond the expectations of many, including myself. The opener "Wordless Chorus" is easily the best song of the year, if for no other reason but Jim James' amazingly high vocals over the fun and bouncy baseline. What My Morning Jacket does best here is approach their love for country/rock and atmospheric sound in a completely different manner, including allowing themselves to have some fun with it, as exemplified on "What a Wonderful Man." Another incredible track is "Off the Record," particularly on the jammed out ending which breaks it down like no other band has done in a very long time. To be honest, I didn't know they made albums this good anymore, there really hasn't been this big a wow factor in an album since The White Stripes' Elephant in 2003. A triumph and a masterpiece through and through, Z is as good as it gets.
I hope you all enjoyed the list, and since this will be the last post of 2005 here's wishing you all a happy and safe New Year's! See you all in 2006!
Gorillaz Demon Days
With Danger Mouse producing, it was certain that the new Gorillaz latest would go in a much different direction than the previous album, but the amount of growth and general musicianship from the group couldn't have been expected. Beyond the irresistibly catchy singles of "Feel Good, Inc.", "DARE", and "Dirty Harry" are a slew of darkly-tinged songs, that are as challenging as they are exceptional. MF Doom guest stars on the outstanding and trippy "November Has Come," while Dennis Hopper narrates what is easily one of the darkest tracks on the album, "Fire Coming Out of a Monkey's Head." While it might have been easy for many to dismiss Gorillaz originally as being a clever gimmick, Gorillaz proved this to be all but untrue with the release of Demon Days.
9.
Andrew Bird The Mysterious Production of Eggs
Chicago-native Andrew Bird has really been on a roll lately. His second solo release is another outstanding and incredibly intimate effort, with gorgeous tracks such as "Sovay" and "Masterfade." Lyrics are particularly well crafted as always, and show Andrew Bird's incredible versatility not only as a musician but also as a songwriter. Andrew Bird can still pull off a darn good alterna-pop song as well with catchy tracks such as "Fake Palindromes" and the exceptionally stylized "Skin Is, My." Ani DiFranco should be very pleased in picking up Andrew Bird onto her label, as he has more than made it worthwhile based on this album's release alone.
8.
The Go! Team Thunder, Lightning, Strike
Easily one of the most exciting groups to come out this year, this group hailing from Brighton, England have made themselves a hit with an unstoppable force of an album. From beginning to end, each and every track packs a punch rarely found in any genre of music today. Highlights include the summery "Ladyflash," "Get It Together," and the powerhouse "Junior Kickstart." While it may seem a bit like high school cheering squad practice at first, give these guys a chance. Their sound is completely unique and incredibly addicting and they deserve the utmost attention and praise for being so daring and so fun-- all at the same time.
7.
Broken Social Scene Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene have got quite a good thing going, as they've yet to really release a bad album. While it's hard for many to laud this album as every release they come up with will almost certainly pale in comparison (for many, anyway) to You Forgot It In People, I have to say BSS got it right here. From the opening "Our Faces Split the Coast in Half," you get a pretty good idea of what kind of sound is going on here, as BSS appears to be stuck in "jam out" mode, which is hardly a negative for them. "7/4 (Shoreline)" is easily one of the best songs this year, while "Swimmers" is another superb albeit slightly more derivative song. All in all this is another solid showing by Broken Social Scene, and easily one of the top albums of 2005.
6.
Bloc Party Silent Alarm
Bloc Party made a huge splash this year, thanks in part to a lot of exposure from all types of media from MTV2 to NME magazine to being named the Okayplayer artists of the month. Bloc Party proved to be well worth the hype as many people are still talking about them now even though their album was released very early on in the year. While it'll be hard from them to run away from comparisons to bands such as U2 (and consequently Coldplay), these guys are very capable of being in the same league as both groups (well, maybe not U2), and establishing their own sense of dominance internationally. The fantastic opener of "Like Eating Glass" leads into the incredible "Helicopter" which is in full force with swirling guitars that compete with the confident vocals. Also well worth noting is the single "Banquet" which was really a perfect single for them, as it represents their sound as a whole: rhythmically intricate with engulfing guitars and passionate but derivative vocals. This is an astounding effort from this group, as it's only their debut, and it'll be interesting to see where these guys go from here.
5.
Kanye West Late Registration
So Kanye proved just about everyone wrong with The College Dropout, and after the huge amount of success, everyone figured that he'd just ride off into the sunset and go back to producing for good right? Wrong, as a matter of fact, Kanye was just warming up on The College Dropout and really gets to work on this release. Overall, Late Regestration is a much stronger effort than the debut. Kanye was smart in seeking a helping hand in Jon Brion with production as the classical orchestration added a great amount of depth to what were already solid tracks. Also, the addition of Jamie Foxx and Adam Levine on "Gold Digger" and "Heard 'Em Say," respectively, added to the musicality to each of the tracks and, in the case of "Heard 'Em Say," smartly added to the intimacy and importance of the song and message that Kanye was delivering. The album is also much more focused than his previous effort, allowing for him to focus on a singular message (or grouping of messages) that he wants to focus on rather than being a little bit all over the place. Overall this is a superb album, not only in hip hop but in general, and is the best hip hop album to be released this year.
4.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Clap Your Hands Say YeahClap Your Hands Say Yeah was the DIY success story of 2005. Without ever being signed to a major label, they managed to create enough attention through word of mouth to become one of the best selling indie albums this year, not to mention the most critically acclaimed. Adding one more favorable review to the pile, I did a full length review of their album back in October and haven't really stopped listening to them since. Inspiring and beautiful, there's something for everyone in this album. In particular, "Over and Over Again (Lost and Found)," "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth," and "Is This Home On Ice" are all instant classics. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are the story of the year for their incredible success based on little to no promotion, and also debut of the year for their great release. An outstanding effort.
3.
Sufjan Stevens Illinois
No album this year has been as grandiose as Stevens' Illinois and between that, his immense creativity and craft of writing, Sufjan Stevens' second of his proposed 50 state releases finds itself #3 on my top 40 list. While always recognized as a very talented singer/songwriter, it seems that Stevens really shines on this album through his pseudo-silliness yet poignant songwriting displayed throughout this album. His songs are just as important as always, with such sincerely touching tracks as the beautiful opener of "Concerning The UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois." Stevens really gets going however on "Come On! Feel The Illinoise!" a piece so dynamic, it could almost serve as a number to a musical. "Chicago" is an equally vibrant piece, with outstanding storytelling. The most powerful aspect of this album is the way in which Stevens engrosses himself and also the listener in every track, you almost feel as if you've spent the duration of the song in every single moment listed in the album. A very praiseworthy effort, and while Stevens may not manage to get all 50 states done, if he continues to churn out albums such as this one and the previous ode to Michigan, he still has quite a legacy to be proud of.
2.
Spoon Gimme Fiction
Despite a few popular singles, Spoon is one of the few alternative rock bands that, unfortunately, has yet to really hit it big. This is really a shame because quite frankly, Spoon has been one of the most consistent bands this decade, and that trend continues with Gimme Fiction. While the overall texture is grittier than any of their previous releases, Spoon has managed to fine-tune even further their seemingly perfected guitar pop craft. There isn't a second of filler on this album, and as good as individual songs such as "Sister Jack," "I Turn My Camera On," and "I Summon You" are, the album is all the more enjoyable when listened to straight through. Immensely clever and fulfilling, Spoon's latest is the kind of album that you immediately like and then begins to grow on you as you listen to it more before you finally find yourself humming to each and every tune. It's just that good.
1.
My Morning Jacket Z
Despite losing two band members, this Louisville, KY group just keeps on rocking. Their second release on Dave Matthews' ATO label is the one we've all been waiting for. While It Still Moves was easily one of the best albums of 2003, there still appeared to be some untapped potential in the band, and here on Z they've gone far beyond the expectations of many, including myself. The opener "Wordless Chorus" is easily the best song of the year, if for no other reason but Jim James' amazingly high vocals over the fun and bouncy baseline. What My Morning Jacket does best here is approach their love for country/rock and atmospheric sound in a completely different manner, including allowing themselves to have some fun with it, as exemplified on "What a Wonderful Man." Another incredible track is "Off the Record," particularly on the jammed out ending which breaks it down like no other band has done in a very long time. To be honest, I didn't know they made albums this good anymore, there really hasn't been this big a wow factor in an album since The White Stripes' Elephant in 2003. A triumph and a masterpiece through and through, Z is as good as it gets.
I hope you all enjoyed the list, and since this will be the last post of 2005 here's wishing you all a happy and safe New Year's! See you all in 2006!
Friday, December 30, 2005
Fuzzy Bits: December 30, 2005 (All about upcoming albums/tours)
The Strokes are back!
While the single "Juice Box" has been floating around for quite some time now, the album entitled First Impressions of Earth will hit US shores January 3. Given the great amount of anticipation for this album, I'm really hoping that they do not disappoint. Personally I thought that Room on Fire was a very good album, even if it first appeared like a glossed over Is This It? 2.0. While US tour dates haven't been announced yet, expect them to come back from Europe around March and tour here into the summer.
Ben Harper's latest slated for March 21
Much appreciated to Ben Harper fans I'm sure, the release will be a two-disc effort. One containing all funk tracks and the other strictly ballads. Releases like this are starting to wear thin on me, as many of the albums would be much better off with cutting out the fat and making it a single disc, I suppose we'll have to wait and see if Ben Harper's latest will suffer from the same problem. Harper is expected to tour in support of the album in February or March, and as more details are given, I'll be sure to release the information to you guys.
Josh Rouse's Subtitulo to be a reflection of his move to Spain
Also going to be released on March 21, Rouse's lead single and video will be for the track "Quiet Town." This should be a very interesting album, and has the makings of being a breakthrough as well for mainstream audiences. Like many other artists, when Rouse is inspired he's as good as it gets, so he should truly be on with this release. He has scheduled a few concert dates for January, which are as follows:
1.19 Chicago, IL - Black Orchid
1.20 Nashville, TN - The Belcourt Theater
1.24 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
1.26 San Franciso, CA - Swedish American Hall
1.30 New York, NY - Joe's Pub
1.31 New York, NY - Joe's Pub
For those interested, here's the track listing for Rouse's upcoming effort:
01. Quiet Town
02. Summertime
03. It Looks Like Love
04. La Costa Blanca
05. Jersey Clowns
06. His Majesty Rides
07. Giving It Up
08. Wonderful
09. The Man Who Doesn’t Know How To Smile
10. El Otro La
While the single "Juice Box" has been floating around for quite some time now, the album entitled First Impressions of Earth will hit US shores January 3. Given the great amount of anticipation for this album, I'm really hoping that they do not disappoint. Personally I thought that Room on Fire was a very good album, even if it first appeared like a glossed over Is This It? 2.0. While US tour dates haven't been announced yet, expect them to come back from Europe around March and tour here into the summer.
Ben Harper's latest slated for March 21
Much appreciated to Ben Harper fans I'm sure, the release will be a two-disc effort. One containing all funk tracks and the other strictly ballads. Releases like this are starting to wear thin on me, as many of the albums would be much better off with cutting out the fat and making it a single disc, I suppose we'll have to wait and see if Ben Harper's latest will suffer from the same problem. Harper is expected to tour in support of the album in February or March, and as more details are given, I'll be sure to release the information to you guys.
Josh Rouse's Subtitulo to be a reflection of his move to Spain
Also going to be released on March 21, Rouse's lead single and video will be for the track "Quiet Town." This should be a very interesting album, and has the makings of being a breakthrough as well for mainstream audiences. Like many other artists, when Rouse is inspired he's as good as it gets, so he should truly be on with this release. He has scheduled a few concert dates for January, which are as follows:
1.19 Chicago, IL - Black Orchid
1.20 Nashville, TN - The Belcourt Theater
1.24 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
1.26 San Franciso, CA - Swedish American Hall
1.30 New York, NY - Joe's Pub
1.31 New York, NY - Joe's Pub
For those interested, here's the track listing for Rouse's upcoming effort:
01. Quiet Town
02. Summertime
03. It Looks Like Love
04. La Costa Blanca
05. Jersey Clowns
06. His Majesty Rides
07. Giving It Up
08. Wonderful
09. The Man Who Doesn’t Know How To Smile
10. El Otro La
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Fuzzy Thoughts' Top 40 Albums of 2005: Part III of IV
Happy Holidays to everyone! Here is the third installment of the Top 40 albums:
19.
Nic Armstrong & The Thieves The Greatest White Liar
A terrific debut from a terrific band, The Greatest White Liar is much more than a simple 60's rock revival, but instead a worthwhile album from a band that should be as well appreciated as the Strokes or the White Stripes were when they both hit the music scene. The single "Broken Mouth Blues" is easily among the best songs of the year, while other songs such as "I Can't Stand It," "Down Home Girl," and "She Changes Like The Weather" add up to what's not only an outstanding debut, but a very fun and stellar overall album.
18.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Howl
Whatever it is that got into these guys during the time between Take Them On, On Your Own and this album, it has definitely been beneficial. Abandoning their all-out rock and replacing it with acoustic guitar and even gospel in many cases, BRMC's latest showcases their ability as true musicians. For those going in expecting a "balls to the wall" rock album like the two predecessors may find themselves disappointed, however, come with an open mind and you'll find yourself howling that this is one of the best albums of the year.
17.
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals Cold Roses
To say that 2005 has been a big year for Ryan Adams would be a massive understatement. The crown jewel of his trio of albums, Cold Roses, showcases Adams at his best not only musically but also lyrically. His most consistent album since Gold, Adams has his backing band The Cardinals to thank for the expansive musicianship that's showcased throughout this album. Whether it's an intimate studio effort or a rollicking country-rocker, The Cardinals are up to the task in either case and thankfully relieve Adams of some pressure. A very highly recommended album.
16.
Sleater-Kinney The Woods
Easily winning out as being the loudest album of 2005, Sleater-Kinney also find themselves in their best form in over a decade. Powerful as well as poignant, The Woods opens with a killer instinct with the track "The Fox" and continues that momentum throughout the album. There's a distinctive feeling of self-assuredness as well as maturity that oozes through each and every track. If you can handle the voltage, Sleater-Kinney's latest, as always, is well worth getting.
15.
Beck Guero
Beck, the epic chameleon of alternative music, has done it again with Guero. After the beautifully somber Sea Change, Beck returns to his most familiar form with Guero, as it stands as a spirited mix of latin, funk, punk and of course a touch of hip hop. While not as groundbreaking as some of his previous albums, Guero is successful in its longevity. Even overplayed songs such as "E-Pro" and "Girl" still manage to stay relatively fresh after repeated listening, even now. Beck is also, as always, still a trendsetter and retains a timeless sound. That's something that's growing increasingly rare, and it's good to see that the Beck we all know and love is back on this album.
14.
Common Be
One of the most anticipated hip-hop debuts of 2005, Common certainly delivered. While he did have Kanye's production in part to thank, it's Common's lyrics that also contribute to Be being the success it is. With guests ranging from John Legend to John Mayer to of course Kanye himself, this is a star-studded album. Gone is the eclectic fat that bogged down Electric Circus and some of his other previous albums, and instead this is a focused bare-bones release. Highlights include the introductory title track, "The Corner," "Go (featuring John Mayer)" and "The Food (featuring Kanye West)" which is from the Chappelle's Show. An outstanding achievement in hip-hop, this should stand next to Like Water For Chocolate as Common's two greatest achievements.
13.
Wolf Parade Apologies To Queen Mary
Wolf Parade made a huge splash with their debut release, and if it weren't for the even bigger DIY-debut of another indie rock group that will be mentioned later on, they'd perhaps be the most lauded band of 2005. With extremely well written lyrics and a surprising sense of maturity from such a young group, songs like "You Are a Runner and I am My Father's Son" and "Shine a Light" become instant classics. Another mentionable highlight is the powerful "Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts." A must have for any indie rock fan.
12.
Dangerdoom The Mouse and the Mask
As mentioned when originally reviewing this album, Danger Mouse and MF Doom's collaborative effort is the most fun hip hop album since the "Golden Age" of the genre. Incorporating the voices of Adult Swim cast characters, MF Doom's quirky wordplay fits in perfectly. Talib Kweli is outstanding on the track "Old School," a tribute to old school cartoons, while Cee-Lo guests on the super cool "Benzie Box." Nearly all of the tracks relate to the Adult Swim characters or shows, the most obvious example being "ATHF" (Aqua Teen Hunger Force) which is a fantastic rap about each of the characters from the hit show. Danger Mouse's productions match MF Doom perfectly and keeps the album lighthearted. Here's hoping that these two decide to work together again very soon.
11.
Stars Set Yourself on Fire
In any other year this album would've been in the top ten easily. Despite that, this is a near-perfect album that has so many high points that they're nearly impossible to mention individually. Each and every track is crafted incredibly well, flowing from one to another without a hitch. Highlights include the incredible guitar pop of "Reunion," the atmospheric "Sleep Tonight, "and the frantic "Soft Revolution." A truly great achievement in music, Stars' Set Yourself on Fire is an album well worth serious recognition and consideration.
19.
Nic Armstrong & The Thieves The Greatest White Liar
A terrific debut from a terrific band, The Greatest White Liar is much more than a simple 60's rock revival, but instead a worthwhile album from a band that should be as well appreciated as the Strokes or the White Stripes were when they both hit the music scene. The single "Broken Mouth Blues" is easily among the best songs of the year, while other songs such as "I Can't Stand It," "Down Home Girl," and "She Changes Like The Weather" add up to what's not only an outstanding debut, but a very fun and stellar overall album.
18.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Howl
Whatever it is that got into these guys during the time between Take Them On, On Your Own and this album, it has definitely been beneficial. Abandoning their all-out rock and replacing it with acoustic guitar and even gospel in many cases, BRMC's latest showcases their ability as true musicians. For those going in expecting a "balls to the wall" rock album like the two predecessors may find themselves disappointed, however, come with an open mind and you'll find yourself howling that this is one of the best albums of the year.
17.
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals Cold Roses
To say that 2005 has been a big year for Ryan Adams would be a massive understatement. The crown jewel of his trio of albums, Cold Roses, showcases Adams at his best not only musically but also lyrically. His most consistent album since Gold, Adams has his backing band The Cardinals to thank for the expansive musicianship that's showcased throughout this album. Whether it's an intimate studio effort or a rollicking country-rocker, The Cardinals are up to the task in either case and thankfully relieve Adams of some pressure. A very highly recommended album.
16.
Sleater-Kinney The Woods
Easily winning out as being the loudest album of 2005, Sleater-Kinney also find themselves in their best form in over a decade. Powerful as well as poignant, The Woods opens with a killer instinct with the track "The Fox" and continues that momentum throughout the album. There's a distinctive feeling of self-assuredness as well as maturity that oozes through each and every track. If you can handle the voltage, Sleater-Kinney's latest, as always, is well worth getting.
15.
Beck Guero
Beck, the epic chameleon of alternative music, has done it again with Guero. After the beautifully somber Sea Change, Beck returns to his most familiar form with Guero, as it stands as a spirited mix of latin, funk, punk and of course a touch of hip hop. While not as groundbreaking as some of his previous albums, Guero is successful in its longevity. Even overplayed songs such as "E-Pro" and "Girl" still manage to stay relatively fresh after repeated listening, even now. Beck is also, as always, still a trendsetter and retains a timeless sound. That's something that's growing increasingly rare, and it's good to see that the Beck we all know and love is back on this album.
14.
Common Be
One of the most anticipated hip-hop debuts of 2005, Common certainly delivered. While he did have Kanye's production in part to thank, it's Common's lyrics that also contribute to Be being the success it is. With guests ranging from John Legend to John Mayer to of course Kanye himself, this is a star-studded album. Gone is the eclectic fat that bogged down Electric Circus and some of his other previous albums, and instead this is a focused bare-bones release. Highlights include the introductory title track, "The Corner," "Go (featuring John Mayer)" and "The Food (featuring Kanye West)" which is from the Chappelle's Show. An outstanding achievement in hip-hop, this should stand next to Like Water For Chocolate as Common's two greatest achievements.
13.
Wolf Parade Apologies To Queen Mary
Wolf Parade made a huge splash with their debut release, and if it weren't for the even bigger DIY-debut of another indie rock group that will be mentioned later on, they'd perhaps be the most lauded band of 2005. With extremely well written lyrics and a surprising sense of maturity from such a young group, songs like "You Are a Runner and I am My Father's Son" and "Shine a Light" become instant classics. Another mentionable highlight is the powerful "Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts." A must have for any indie rock fan.
12.
Dangerdoom The Mouse and the Mask
As mentioned when originally reviewing this album, Danger Mouse and MF Doom's collaborative effort is the most fun hip hop album since the "Golden Age" of the genre. Incorporating the voices of Adult Swim cast characters, MF Doom's quirky wordplay fits in perfectly. Talib Kweli is outstanding on the track "Old School," a tribute to old school cartoons, while Cee-Lo guests on the super cool "Benzie Box." Nearly all of the tracks relate to the Adult Swim characters or shows, the most obvious example being "ATHF" (Aqua Teen Hunger Force) which is a fantastic rap about each of the characters from the hit show. Danger Mouse's productions match MF Doom perfectly and keeps the album lighthearted. Here's hoping that these two decide to work together again very soon.
11.
Stars Set Yourself on Fire
In any other year this album would've been in the top ten easily. Despite that, this is a near-perfect album that has so many high points that they're nearly impossible to mention individually. Each and every track is crafted incredibly well, flowing from one to another without a hitch. Highlights include the incredible guitar pop of "Reunion," the atmospheric "Sleep Tonight, "and the frantic "Soft Revolution." A truly great achievement in music, Stars' Set Yourself on Fire is an album well worth serious recognition and consideration.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Ryan Adams 29
Ryan Adams final release of the 2005 trilogy is a fine album. While not as sharp as the masterful Cold Roses this is a very poignant set.
Adams' 29 is a 9-track effort, with each track representing a year of Adams' life between 20-29. As such, it's a very personal album, and gives Adams to focus on what he does best: storytelling. On this release, he is without the support of the Cardinals, instead choosing to go with predominantly solo effort. The song starts off with the sly rocker of "29," a song that sounds a bit Chris Isaak-ish in nature, but works very well. Don't expect the rest of the eight tracks to be anything like this though, this isn't Rock 'N Roll rehashed, and this is probably the first album that is completely unlike anything else Ryan Adams has done, at least within the last six years. This is clearly evidenced by such epic pieces as the eight-minute "Strawberry Wine," and the beautifully haunting "Blue Sky Blues." While a very dark and somber release, Adams' 29 is perhaps the most generally cohesive album he's ever released. It's almost impossible to be appreciated unless listened to all the way through from beginning to end. What's best about this album is that given the personal nature of it, you feel a sense of connection with Adams' every word, and with every note played, and you're taken to the places that he's been. That is a feat that only the best singer/songwriters can accomplish; kudos to Ryan Adams for doing just that.
Rating: 90
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
King Kong
Is it over the top? Yes. Is it too long? Yes, what Peter Jackson movie hasn't been? Is it original? No, not particularly. Is it fun? Yes, more fun than people probably realized going to the movies could be, which is an achievement all its own.
Starring: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Colin Hanks and Andy Serkis.
Written by: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsch, Phillipa Boyens.
Story by: Merian C. Cooper and Edgar Wallace
Directed by: Peter Jackson.
It's hard to believe that after three prior versions that a fourth could be released with such little scrutiny. Considering Peter Jackon's decision to go way over budget (the final movie cost was estimated at $207 mil) in order to fulfill his desires to inject the movie with grandiose effects and use CGI extensively. While neither one of these things help the main storyline, and in some cases it actually hurts it, the overall effect of these elements is what makes the movie experience so much fun. Peter Jackson uses these scenes as an opportunity to engross even the most intellectual of film viewers into the movie, and then capitalizes on it by playing with our emotions. Scenes displaying the true side of King Kong and his near human qualities, particularly when he's interacting with Ann Darow (Naomi Watts), as well as the many jungle scenes that are so intense that you almost get fatigued from watching it. The cinematography by Andrew Lesnie is also very outstanding and contributes to one of the reasons why King Kong works so well, particularly in the very complex CGI-incorporated scenes. The problem with King Kong is that there is such a great build up, especially from the middle of the movie onwards, that the pace of the ending appears to come to a screeching halt. Trying to overbuild the sensation of drama as King Kong meets his demise, the final scenes do more harm than good to the overall movie. All in all however, the positives far outweigh the negatives. All the while the film almost makes you feel like a little kid that's been thrown into a world that, while familiar, is so fascinating that you can't help but want more. It's within that feeling, that Peter Jackson's directing propels this movie into being one of the true great Hollywood films. Brilliance isn't the intention, just the purest form of bliss through escapism, that's where the film succeeds.
Rating: 88
Rated PG-13 for frightening adventure violence and some disturbing images.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Fuzzy Thoughts' Top 40 Albums of 2005: Part II of IV
Hopefully you enjoyed the first portion of the Top 40 list, now here are numbers 29-20. Look for the next set to return once again next week.
29.
The New Pornographers Twin Cinema
The New Pornographers' latest, while not as groundbreaking as their prior albums, was still a remarkably solid effort. Songs such as "Jackie, Dressed In Cobras," "The Bleeding Heart Show," the title track, and the outstanding "Sing Me Spanish Techno" make this an album well worth purchasing.
28.
John Mayer Trio Try!
While live albums usually don't earn a place on the list, this one is an exception as the majority of the material on the album is brand new. With that in mind, this is not only, as previously stated, the best John Mayer album ever to be released, it's also one of the more important releases of 2005. It's rare in this day and age to find a pop star that's savvy enough to go out on a limb and decide that he's tired of writing pop songs and instead wants to embrace his latest love, his love for blues guitar. A must have for 2005.
27.
Lemon Jelly '64-'95
While the premise may seem a bit gimmicky (each track is composed of albums from that respective year, all of which fall between 1964 and 1995), this is a formula that truly works for them. While Lemon Jelly has always been creative, it's pretty cool, even for casual fans, to hear what they can do when their entire album is built around a singular focus. Highlights include "Stay With You," "Come Down on Me" and "The Shouty Track."
26.
Queens of the Stone Age Lullabies To Paralyze
Considering all the drama surrounding QOTSA up to the release of this album (with the departure of bassist Nick Oliveri), it's amazing that these guys were able to ever get it finished, much less make it as good as it is. It's a bit more meandering than Songs for the Deaf and R, but it's an equally adventurous and hypnotic effort. It's also still packed with lots of great hard rocking action and solos, with highlights being "Tangled Up In Plaid" and "Burn the Witch." If this album is truly missing anything (outside of the killer Dave Grohl drumming), it's a true single. Most of the reason for this album falling so deeply under the radar as it did was that its lead single was a relatively anemic "Little Sister." It works well in the context of the album, but standing on it's own, it pales in comparison to every other single Queens of the Stone Age has recorded. Outside of that fact, this is still a very awesome album.
25.
Art Brut Bang Bang Rock & Roll
Currently only available as an Import title
The title of this release is entirely appropriate for the sound of the album. They're a hard hitting, but most importantly fun british rock group, with great spoken vocals by Eddie Argos. The lyrics are both incredibly funny as well as smart all at the same time, it's too bad they have not pushed for a major release here in the states. With clever heartbreak songs such as "Emily Kane," and the superb all out rock of "Bad Weekend," they really could give Franz Ferdinand a run for their money should they decide to bring their sound across the pond. One of the best debuts of 2005, Bang Bang Rock & Roll is really worth a look.
24.
Erin McKeown We Will Become Like Birds
With this being the fourth album of McKeown's career in six years, it seems like she might've finally found her sweet spot. While some songs maintain the fringe genre of folk-rock, it appears that she has matured incredibly and has taken on writing more traditional songs as well, without losing her sense of identity at all. A perfect example of which is "Beautiful, I Guess," a perfectly crafted song about heartbreak, that is very well personalized and at the same time accessible. It's a difficult process, trying new things without coming off as a sell out, but Erin McKeown accomplishes it here and comes up with the best album she's released yet.
23.
Atmosphere You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having
Surprisingly, Atmosphere's latest album released with very little publicity. However, this album is easily just as good as their earlier efforts, but it does show an interesting evolution. The overall production, especially in comparison to the mix-tape quality of Seven's Travels, is very slick and the beats are probably among the best I've heard from ANT. Slug's lyrics, particularly when he's forced to take center stage, are as sharp as ever particularly on songs like "Panic Attack." What's odd is that while many of us may be used to Slug being the centerpiece of Atmosphere, ANT's productions have never been at the level they are now, particularly when looking at tracks like "Musical Chairs," "Smart Went Crazy," and "Get Fly," which almost overshadow Slug and make it seem like he's only trying to keep up. All in all, this is yet another very solid album from Atmosphere, and no they still haven't fallen off like many think.
22.
One Be Lo S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.
Formerly known as One Man Army, and one half of the now defunct Binary Star, One Be Lo continues that legacy started with his former group on this album. Packed from beginning to end with outstanding smarts, not to mention great lyrics and beats, there's truly very little filler here. His sound brings back the "Golden Age" of hip hop, when the early 90's artists embraced jazz and more mellow grooves as their background. Highlights include "Propaganda," "Axis," and "True Love." One of the best hip hop albums to be released this year by far.
21.
Of Montreal The Sunlandic Twins
While not nearly as good as last years Satanic Panic In The Attic, Of Montreal still has a number of goodies up their sleeves. With songs such like "Keep Sending Me Black Fireworks," "Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games," and "The Repudiated Immortals," it's hard to say that this album has fallen short. With their orchestral synth-pop sound that's overtly bright even for them on this album, it's certainly not for everyone, but a very, very good album nonetheless.
20.
Bright Eyes I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Hate him or love him, the more country/folk oriented album of his dual release (the other being the darker and harsher Digital Ash in a Digital Urn), actually makes for quite an enjoyable listening experience. Songs like "Another Travellin Song" recall Bob Dylan, while the sleepy "Old Soul Song (For The New World Order)" soothes and brings a craft of songwriting that hasn't been seen this decade. The real gem is the sentimental yet quirky "First Day of My Life," which is a genuinely touching love song. Impressive and focused, this one proves that maybe Bright Eyes isn't so overrated after all.
29.
The New Pornographers Twin Cinema
The New Pornographers' latest, while not as groundbreaking as their prior albums, was still a remarkably solid effort. Songs such as "Jackie, Dressed In Cobras," "The Bleeding Heart Show," the title track, and the outstanding "Sing Me Spanish Techno" make this an album well worth purchasing.
28.
John Mayer Trio Try!
While live albums usually don't earn a place on the list, this one is an exception as the majority of the material on the album is brand new. With that in mind, this is not only, as previously stated, the best John Mayer album ever to be released, it's also one of the more important releases of 2005. It's rare in this day and age to find a pop star that's savvy enough to go out on a limb and decide that he's tired of writing pop songs and instead wants to embrace his latest love, his love for blues guitar. A must have for 2005.
27.
Lemon Jelly '64-'95
While the premise may seem a bit gimmicky (each track is composed of albums from that respective year, all of which fall between 1964 and 1995), this is a formula that truly works for them. While Lemon Jelly has always been creative, it's pretty cool, even for casual fans, to hear what they can do when their entire album is built around a singular focus. Highlights include "Stay With You," "Come Down on Me" and "The Shouty Track."
26.
Queens of the Stone Age Lullabies To Paralyze
Considering all the drama surrounding QOTSA up to the release of this album (with the departure of bassist Nick Oliveri), it's amazing that these guys were able to ever get it finished, much less make it as good as it is. It's a bit more meandering than Songs for the Deaf and R, but it's an equally adventurous and hypnotic effort. It's also still packed with lots of great hard rocking action and solos, with highlights being "Tangled Up In Plaid" and "Burn the Witch." If this album is truly missing anything (outside of the killer Dave Grohl drumming), it's a true single. Most of the reason for this album falling so deeply under the radar as it did was that its lead single was a relatively anemic "Little Sister." It works well in the context of the album, but standing on it's own, it pales in comparison to every other single Queens of the Stone Age has recorded. Outside of that fact, this is still a very awesome album.
25.
Art Brut Bang Bang Rock & Roll
Currently only available as an Import title
The title of this release is entirely appropriate for the sound of the album. They're a hard hitting, but most importantly fun british rock group, with great spoken vocals by Eddie Argos. The lyrics are both incredibly funny as well as smart all at the same time, it's too bad they have not pushed for a major release here in the states. With clever heartbreak songs such as "Emily Kane," and the superb all out rock of "Bad Weekend," they really could give Franz Ferdinand a run for their money should they decide to bring their sound across the pond. One of the best debuts of 2005, Bang Bang Rock & Roll is really worth a look.
24.
Erin McKeown We Will Become Like Birds
With this being the fourth album of McKeown's career in six years, it seems like she might've finally found her sweet spot. While some songs maintain the fringe genre of folk-rock, it appears that she has matured incredibly and has taken on writing more traditional songs as well, without losing her sense of identity at all. A perfect example of which is "Beautiful, I Guess," a perfectly crafted song about heartbreak, that is very well personalized and at the same time accessible. It's a difficult process, trying new things without coming off as a sell out, but Erin McKeown accomplishes it here and comes up with the best album she's released yet.
23.
Atmosphere You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having
Surprisingly, Atmosphere's latest album released with very little publicity. However, this album is easily just as good as their earlier efforts, but it does show an interesting evolution. The overall production, especially in comparison to the mix-tape quality of Seven's Travels, is very slick and the beats are probably among the best I've heard from ANT. Slug's lyrics, particularly when he's forced to take center stage, are as sharp as ever particularly on songs like "Panic Attack." What's odd is that while many of us may be used to Slug being the centerpiece of Atmosphere, ANT's productions have never been at the level they are now, particularly when looking at tracks like "Musical Chairs," "Smart Went Crazy," and "Get Fly," which almost overshadow Slug and make it seem like he's only trying to keep up. All in all, this is yet another very solid album from Atmosphere, and no they still haven't fallen off like many think.
22.
One Be Lo S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.
Formerly known as One Man Army, and one half of the now defunct Binary Star, One Be Lo continues that legacy started with his former group on this album. Packed from beginning to end with outstanding smarts, not to mention great lyrics and beats, there's truly very little filler here. His sound brings back the "Golden Age" of hip hop, when the early 90's artists embraced jazz and more mellow grooves as their background. Highlights include "Propaganda," "Axis," and "True Love." One of the best hip hop albums to be released this year by far.
21.
Of Montreal The Sunlandic Twins
While not nearly as good as last years Satanic Panic In The Attic, Of Montreal still has a number of goodies up their sleeves. With songs such like "Keep Sending Me Black Fireworks," "Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games," and "The Repudiated Immortals," it's hard to say that this album has fallen short. With their orchestral synth-pop sound that's overtly bright even for them on this album, it's certainly not for everyone, but a very, very good album nonetheless.
20.
Bright Eyes I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Hate him or love him, the more country/folk oriented album of his dual release (the other being the darker and harsher Digital Ash in a Digital Urn), actually makes for quite an enjoyable listening experience. Songs like "Another Travellin Song" recall Bob Dylan, while the sleepy "Old Soul Song (For The New World Order)" soothes and brings a craft of songwriting that hasn't been seen this decade. The real gem is the sentimental yet quirky "First Day of My Life," which is a genuinely touching love song. Impressive and focused, this one proves that maybe Bright Eyes isn't so overrated after all.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
New addition to the family! (Off Topic)
Joining the increasingly popular Fuzzy Thoughts blog is another blog that will focus more on the technological side of things-- Fuzzy Tech. While both webpages will be manned by me, you shouldn't see a loss in terms of number of updates, and I'll still provide the same timely entries with this site as the other one. So, please welcome in Fuzzy Tech, and do check it out from time to time as I add more features to it. Why did I decide to add another blog? Well, here are a few of the reasons:
I wanted to provide a technology-related blog that would help people in the decision making process. Too often people walk into stores not knowing what they want, much less what they actually need, and walk out wondering if they somehow got ripped off in the back of their minds. To educate everyone, I'm hoping to not only provide great insight into the world of technology (from reviews/news MP3 players to cell phones to computers and otherwise), but also give opinion columns that help put the latest tech in perspective for the common person. Essentially my whole point is to make a tech blog for people that aren't really into tech, and are just looking for clear, concise answers. So, anyway, enjoy the new page, and be sure to e-mail me for any questions, comments or concerns.
I wanted to provide a technology-related blog that would help people in the decision making process. Too often people walk into stores not knowing what they want, much less what they actually need, and walk out wondering if they somehow got ripped off in the back of their minds. To educate everyone, I'm hoping to not only provide great insight into the world of technology (from reviews/news MP3 players to cell phones to computers and otherwise), but also give opinion columns that help put the latest tech in perspective for the common person. Essentially my whole point is to make a tech blog for people that aren't really into tech, and are just looking for clear, concise answers. So, anyway, enjoy the new page, and be sure to e-mail me for any questions, comments or concerns.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Fuzzy Bits: December 13, 2005
Among the releases this week is Beck's Guerolito which is a collection of remixes from his Guero album. Like all other remix albums, this one is pretty sketchy at best but does feature a few killer remixes that are well worth mentioning if you haven't heard them already as they were previously released as singles. Those are: "GHETTOCHIP MALFUNCTION (Hell Yes remix by 8Bit)," "Ghost Range (E-Pro remix by Homelife)," and finally "Broken Drum (remix by Boards of Canada)." The others range from decent to relatively disposable, and overall probably won't hold your attention for more than one listen. Also released this week is Ludacris' label Disturbing Tha Peace album, which, like every other label album before, features pretty mediocre talent outside of the major acts, and those few tracks alone don't make the album worth purchasing. Unfortunately overall it looks like another weak release week, so for those looking for something new to get or perhaps even a Christmas purchase, try mulling over the recent reviews and the first portion of the Fuzzy Thoughts Top 40 of 2005 list (the second installment of which will be coming this weekend).
It would be nice if the Grammy's at least pretended they cared about actual talent rather than simply the most popular artists, but once again the MTV awards for everyone leaves a lot to be desired with their nominations. John Legend (huh?), Mariah Carey (double huh?) and Kanye West lead the list of nominees with eight each.
Album of the Year Nominees
Mariah Carey Emancipation of Mimi
Kanye West Late Registration
U2 How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Paul McCartney Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
Gwen Stefani Love.Angel.Music.Baby
Record of the Year Nominees
"We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey
"Feel Good Inc." by Gorillaz Featuring De La Soul
"Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" by Green Day
"Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani
"Gold Digger" by Kanye West
The only nominations worth noting is that Common received four nominations, including best rap performance and best rap album. Also, The Arcade Fire received a nod for Alternative Album of the Year, competing with Beck, Franz Ferdinand, Death Cab for Cutie, and the White Stripes. Surprisingly, Coldplay has been snubbed for the majority of nominations settling for at best Rock Album of the Year and also the previously mentioned White Stripes only received one other nomination. Personally, I'll be waiting for the Shortlist awards.
Prince's new album 3121 should be coming out soon, although a specific date has yet to be set. The video for his single "Te Amo Corazón" was released today on his NPG Music Club webpage. It stars Mia Maestro (Motorcycle Diaries), and was directed by Salma Hayek. Prince plans to support his latest release next year.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Fuzzy Thoughts' Top 40 Albums of 2005 Part I of IV
40. 
Ben Folds Songs for Silverman
Ben Folds returned with a much more somber and retrospective album in 2005. The shortfalls of Folds' latest, like many of his other previous albums, lies within the inconsistencies of the record. Unfortunately, this time around there are no stellar singles to make up for it. While still a worthwhile album, particularly for fans, there's nothing truly noteworthy about this album, though many will be happy with the mere maturity that exists within it.
39.
Franz Ferdinand You Could Have it So Much Better
Franz Ferdinand returned after their breakthrough debut album hoping to continue to fuel the feeding frenzy. However, it appears that they perhaps tried too hard, and rushed through this album. There are definitely some good fun songs on here, but they hardly showed much growth. These guys are talented, that's obvious, but they have to start pushing themselves a little bit more before they become the Fatboy Slim of the Indie Rock world.
38.
Amos Lee Amos Lee
Under the Blue Note label, where he benefitted from the publicity of not only being featured in Starbucks, but also in having Norah Jones as his labelmate, Amos Lee was able to have a great commercial foundation for this release. Ranging from the blues to folk to R&B, Amos Lee is as talented as he is dynamic, and if there were any justice in the world, he would be the cover boy for Blue Note rather than the aforementioned counterpart. Songs like "Seen It All Before," "Colors," and "Keep It Lose Keep It Tight" are sincere and mature in their approach, and really show the depth that Lee possesses as a songwriter. One of the top new artists of 2005, this is surely worth a look.
37.
OK GO Oh No
Chicago-based OK GO's sophomore album is anchored by the Franz Ferdinand-esque single of "A Million Ways," which classifies the new sound that has been integrated with the likes of more traditional OK GO songs such as "Oh Lately It's So Quiet." This album feels a bit like Phantom Planet's self-titled debut album of last year where they took their ultra-pop sound and trashed around a bit and came out with a sound that while harsher and more aggressive on the outside, still is infectiously sweet on the inside. Not for everyone, fans should find enough to enjoy, and for those that are looking for a dose of what OK GO is like, they should find something on this album as well.
36.
Jack Johnson In Between Dreams
It's interesting how an artist like Jack Johnson can be hammered by most reviewers, yet a band like Coldplay can be so well celebrated. Yes, Jack Johnson writes incredibly mellow music, no he's not the best songwriter on the face of the earth, but here's the one stat that counts: He's gotten better with each release, and this has been his best release yet (and that's more you can say for the British mellow-rockers). Tracks 1-4 are all very good, with other highlights being "Breakdown" which is a carry over from Johnson's work with Handsome Boy Modeling School and also the single "Sitting, Waiting Wishing." Really worth a look.
35.
Jamiroquai Dynamite
Dynamite shows Jamiroquai in their best form since 1996's Travelling Without Moving. Packed from beginning to end with top-notch r&b and dance grooves, this is surely their most consistent album yet, even if it isn't their most ambitious.
34.
Kings of Leon Aha Shake Heartbreak
This effort from the Nashville group is pure fun. While the bold, brash, and cocky sound may not be for everyone, Kings of Leon are well on their way of becoming household names. From the frustrated innuendoes of "Soft" to the spunky and rollicking "Razz" and "Four Kicks" to the classic rock of "The Bucket" and "Slow Night, So Long" there is something for everyone, particularly if you have any type of fascination for southern-rock based music.
33.
M.I.A. Arular
Few independent artists made as big a splash as M.I.A. this year, and even before her release of the single "Galang" people were talking about her. Already an intriguing artist, based upon her eccentric history, she also struck a lot of people's attention with her infectious danceable rhythms that covered up the incredibly intellectual political implications found within many of her songs. Very engaging and fun at the same time
32.
Fiona Apple Extraordinary Machine
From one heavily hyped album to another, Apple's Extraordinary Machine was a long time coming. After being shelved for a little more than a year, she was finally able to redo the album, leaving only two tracks as is from the original Jon Brion-produced version. After such a lengthy absence (her last release was back in 1999), it's almost impossible to satisfy her hungry followers. However, all things equal, Extraordinary Machine doesn't hold up nearly as well as her two previous releases. Despite this, it's still a very good album, and proves that even when Fiona Apple isn't in top form, she's still one of the best.
31.
LCD Soundsystem LCD Soundsystem
From the moment "Daft Punk is Playing at my House" blares as the opening track of this album, it's pretty apparent that LCD Soundsystem is a very special group. Incredibly intelligent, witty and aware, each of the songs ooze with pop culture references that make not only for endearing spoofs, but also good fun. Highly recommended.
30.
Doves Some Cities
Having been around since 1998, it's amazing that Doves have not come to see the same level of success as other British rock groups. Instead, they have maintained under the radar, with only a few singles that have managed to become popular thanks in part to TV spots. With Some Cities Doves changed the landscaping of their music slightly, as it's both slightly more expansive and rocks a bit harder. While there are highlights, specifically "One of these Days," "Black and White Town" and the title track, there really isn't a bad song on this cd.
Look for Part II to be featured next week
Ben Folds Songs for Silverman
Ben Folds returned with a much more somber and retrospective album in 2005. The shortfalls of Folds' latest, like many of his other previous albums, lies within the inconsistencies of the record. Unfortunately, this time around there are no stellar singles to make up for it. While still a worthwhile album, particularly for fans, there's nothing truly noteworthy about this album, though many will be happy with the mere maturity that exists within it.
39.
Franz Ferdinand You Could Have it So Much Better
Franz Ferdinand returned after their breakthrough debut album hoping to continue to fuel the feeding frenzy. However, it appears that they perhaps tried too hard, and rushed through this album. There are definitely some good fun songs on here, but they hardly showed much growth. These guys are talented, that's obvious, but they have to start pushing themselves a little bit more before they become the Fatboy Slim of the Indie Rock world.
38.
Amos Lee Amos Lee
Under the Blue Note label, where he benefitted from the publicity of not only being featured in Starbucks, but also in having Norah Jones as his labelmate, Amos Lee was able to have a great commercial foundation for this release. Ranging from the blues to folk to R&B, Amos Lee is as talented as he is dynamic, and if there were any justice in the world, he would be the cover boy for Blue Note rather than the aforementioned counterpart. Songs like "Seen It All Before," "Colors," and "Keep It Lose Keep It Tight" are sincere and mature in their approach, and really show the depth that Lee possesses as a songwriter. One of the top new artists of 2005, this is surely worth a look.
37.
OK GO Oh No
Chicago-based OK GO's sophomore album is anchored by the Franz Ferdinand-esque single of "A Million Ways," which classifies the new sound that has been integrated with the likes of more traditional OK GO songs such as "Oh Lately It's So Quiet." This album feels a bit like Phantom Planet's self-titled debut album of last year where they took their ultra-pop sound and trashed around a bit and came out with a sound that while harsher and more aggressive on the outside, still is infectiously sweet on the inside. Not for everyone, fans should find enough to enjoy, and for those that are looking for a dose of what OK GO is like, they should find something on this album as well.
36.
Jack Johnson In Between Dreams
It's interesting how an artist like Jack Johnson can be hammered by most reviewers, yet a band like Coldplay can be so well celebrated. Yes, Jack Johnson writes incredibly mellow music, no he's not the best songwriter on the face of the earth, but here's the one stat that counts: He's gotten better with each release, and this has been his best release yet (and that's more you can say for the British mellow-rockers). Tracks 1-4 are all very good, with other highlights being "Breakdown" which is a carry over from Johnson's work with Handsome Boy Modeling School and also the single "Sitting, Waiting Wishing." Really worth a look.
35.
Jamiroquai Dynamite
Dynamite shows Jamiroquai in their best form since 1996's Travelling Without Moving. Packed from beginning to end with top-notch r&b and dance grooves, this is surely their most consistent album yet, even if it isn't their most ambitious.
34.
Kings of Leon Aha Shake Heartbreak
This effort from the Nashville group is pure fun. While the bold, brash, and cocky sound may not be for everyone, Kings of Leon are well on their way of becoming household names. From the frustrated innuendoes of "Soft" to the spunky and rollicking "Razz" and "Four Kicks" to the classic rock of "The Bucket" and "Slow Night, So Long" there is something for everyone, particularly if you have any type of fascination for southern-rock based music.
33.
M.I.A. Arular
Few independent artists made as big a splash as M.I.A. this year, and even before her release of the single "Galang" people were talking about her. Already an intriguing artist, based upon her eccentric history, she also struck a lot of people's attention with her infectious danceable rhythms that covered up the incredibly intellectual political implications found within many of her songs. Very engaging and fun at the same time
32.
Fiona Apple Extraordinary Machine
From one heavily hyped album to another, Apple's Extraordinary Machine was a long time coming. After being shelved for a little more than a year, she was finally able to redo the album, leaving only two tracks as is from the original Jon Brion-produced version. After such a lengthy absence (her last release was back in 1999), it's almost impossible to satisfy her hungry followers. However, all things equal, Extraordinary Machine doesn't hold up nearly as well as her two previous releases. Despite this, it's still a very good album, and proves that even when Fiona Apple isn't in top form, she's still one of the best.
31.
LCD Soundsystem LCD Soundsystem
From the moment "Daft Punk is Playing at my House" blares as the opening track of this album, it's pretty apparent that LCD Soundsystem is a very special group. Incredibly intelligent, witty and aware, each of the songs ooze with pop culture references that make not only for endearing spoofs, but also good fun. Highly recommended.
30.
Doves Some Cities
Having been around since 1998, it's amazing that Doves have not come to see the same level of success as other British rock groups. Instead, they have maintained under the radar, with only a few singles that have managed to become popular thanks in part to TV spots. With Some Cities Doves changed the landscaping of their music slightly, as it's both slightly more expansive and rocks a bit harder. While there are highlights, specifically "One of these Days," "Black and White Town" and the title track, there really isn't a bad song on this cd.
Look for Part II to be featured next week
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