Innocent Creatures: chapter_01

I first heard of Bat For Lashes when someone posted the video for "What's A Girl To Do" on a messageboard I used to frequent. The video was brilliant, and the music was intriguing... Thought about getting the album on iTunes for a while, but being broke held me back, and I just settled for that song.

So when this new album came out this year, I knew I had to give it a listen...

I don't know if this is a bad rip, or if the sound on this album is really this dark. It sort of reminds me of the way some CDs sounded in the early 90's... Dark and crisp in their low-fi tone — the new technology no longer obscuring the imperfections that were accepted as a part of it all, at the time. So right away, there is a thread of nostalgia that this album pulls on for me.

The production sounds really Retro-Electric. Up-tempo on some songs — almost Dance-Pop — but then there are very minimalist, atmospheric pieces... And her voice is always delicate and pleading. Drawn-out phrasing that enchants your ears.

I really, really like this album, but I don't know if I could listen to it all the time... Feel like I need to be in a certain mood to turn this on.

I don't know what mood that is, but I want to be in it a lot...

Favorite Tracks: "Glass", "Sleep Alone", "Daniel", "Traveling Woman", and "Siren Song"...

The thing I love about Neil Young, is his guitar tone. The sound is just so gritty and fuzzy. It's one of my holy grail tones — Something that I NEED to find for myself on my Guitar Playing Quest...

Another concept/themed album — this one about his car. The Linc-Volt Project. Transforming an old Lincoln into a bio-diesel/electric.

Interesting? Not really... But novel. Not really an album where you're going to pour over the lyrics. But I find the statement he's making much more interesting than the actual words he's singing. Environmental concern. Activist initiative. DIY empowerment. Rejection of rampant capitalist big business blood-suckers...

But really, what goes with Rock 'n Roll better than cars? And who does Rock 'n Roll better than Neil Young?

But stretching the car theme over an entire album tired me out a little bit. Not a favorite album of mine, but I'll probably put it on if I'm in a quirky mood.

The album starts off pretty strong, but then loses its groove a little — lets off the gas a bit and puts on the cruise control...

Seems that's a common affliction with albums recently. Front-loading too much. Maybe because there's not enough "A Material" to span the length of the album?

Favorite Tracks: "When Worlds Collide", "Fuel Line", "Light A Candle", "Fork In The Road", and "Off The Road"...

I had been reading through the book Ripped by Greg Kot, and just got done with a chapter all about Death Cab. So I thought to myself that I wanted to give this a chance, since I was just sold on how much they ruled, and thought that their story was interesting...

But this was something totally not to my taste. Folk-Emo... They have a fairly large following, and wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out on anything. Not really impressed by the song or two I've heard of theirs on the radio, but still wanted to give them a chance.

I made it a total of two whole listens through... Although, the second one, I skipped to the next song after about a minute and a half.

Another concept album, but that's par for the course with these guys. And the fact that Mastodon has these stories/concepts are a big selling point for me.

The epic sci-fi/fantasy metal that fills the appetite more than just thrashing guitars and screaming. They've come a long way from Remission. And that may be one of the reasons I latched onto this band. Because I knew that — I could just hear that — they had more going on than just your typical run-of-the-mill metal band. I could sense the potential.

This album has quite a bit Actual "Singing" on it — albeit with help from studio effects. But they don't feel like any sort of pop/Brittany Spears/Lady Gaga thing. Keyboards that really add to the mythic quality of the music are thrown in too. Channeling 70's prog rock and their own personal demons.

It's the Story that make this album... The story of Brann, the drummer's, sister. The story of Brent, the singer/guitarist, almost dying. Story of the actual lyrics and concept. And maybe it's just because I'm a fan and found out all of this stuff before I listened to it. Maybe it's because I'm a fan and shelled out for the CD/DVD version with the documentary of the Making Of this album... But really, I wanted the DVD because I know the guys are funny and I knew it would be entertaining.

I had no idea that Bill, the guitarist, was such a big Star Wars geek, or that Brent had a Creature From The Black Lagoon collection.

There's lots of guitar solos. Lots of intense drumming... But this still feels like an almost laid-back kind of album. At least less of a Full Frontal Assault than their previous albums.

There was an instrumental version released as an iTunes exclusive, and I just had to get a hold of it... Didn't pay for it though, because I already bought the premium version, so that made no fucking sense to me. But I have it, and it is now a valuable addition to my "Writing Playlist" on my iPod.

Favorite Tracks: "Divinations", "The Czar", "Ghost Of Karelia", and "The Last Barron"...

This is an In-Store Play at the Bookstore. And it's purely on the strength of the first single that I listened to this album...

Good all around rock, but there are moments of over-bloated production, especially in the intro's of a couple of songs — keyboards and sound effects. Just get to the guitars already!

Pretty good riffs and guitar tones — nice fuzz. Drumming has a good solid groove. Really tight with the bass. And you put it all together with the soft vocals, you can't help but hear a bit of the Smashing Pumpkins. They've even got it down to having a female bass player, and having the same initials for their band name... There's a part of me asking myself: "Why would I listen to these guys when I could just hear the Real Thing?" Or I make the joke: "You know, I liked these guys a whole lot better when they were called the 'Smashing Pumpkins'."

But then again, Smashing Pumpkins don't really exist anymore — at least since Billy Corgan went insane... A shell of their former selves, charging rent for that empty space.

When they hit it with a good song, they really get me. The problem is, this album is pretty uneven — mostly because of the production and I mentioned earlier... It adds a little bit, but I'm sure if given the chance to just stand on its own strength of Rawk, that this would go from a Pretty Good album, to an Almost Awesome one.... There are some songs that really feel like filler, and this could have been a really focused pop record if they were just left out.

I have a feeling that there's a better album in them that they just need a little time to get to. Never heard any previous work of theirs, but I always remember hearing about them and just having a vibe of not liking them. I think maybe because I had them confused with some other band.

Favorite Tracks: "It's Nice To Know You Work Alone", "Panic Switch", "Substitution", "Surrounded" and "There's No Secrets This Year"...

**Bonus video of them playing a couple of songs, because these aren't the most attractive looking bunch of rockers out there, but you can't deny that sound: Link to Stereogum

*sent via BB8120
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Another CD I listened to just to see what the kids these days are into...

One thing I wondered while listening to this, is why don't rock albums have "skits" in them? For that matter, why do rap albums have them? I just don't get it.

I really liked the production — Dr Dre, being another famed rap producer — and was surprised by how much I liked the lyrics. Just super out-there, like a Warren Ellis comic put to music. Hyperbole and exaggeration. Every song containing drug references (why is he halving all his pills?), and most talking about sex and violence.

I don't know how anybody could see this as offensive, as there is no truth in any of it, just an attempt at shock. These aren't attacks, just some guy in his soiled underwear screaming at the top of his lungs about the snake-man conspiracy to steal his pension fund of chicken bullion. Not dangerous at all, just flamboyant. Excentric.

Overall, entertaining. But I just listened through is once, and really, that's all I needed. I got the gist of it.

All this is, is Hannah Montana/Jonas Brothers/lame pop-rock with the occasional F-Bomb...

Lazy uninspired pop music that is processed within an inch of its life. Compression sucking the warmth out of everything. Guitars with no edge or punch. And vocals — don't get me started on his voice.

I've never liked this band... Only listened through this album one time, and that was one time too many. The only reason I put myself through this, is so that I can get some kind of feel for what is "Really" happening out there in music. Listen to the same stuff as everyone else instead of the safe familiar music I have become accustomed to. Feeling somewhat like I'm connected. Even though, most times, I don't wanna be.

Chris Cornell. Best screaming vocals in rock music... Timbaland. One of the best hip-hop producers around... Two great tastes that taste great together? Not so much...

At most, this is an oddity. Sort of a train wreck in the middle of a circus side show.

I've listened to this, and I just can't figure it out. I don't know if I like it, or if it's crazy and bizarre, which is why I find it intriguing and slightly appealing. I think that the one thing you can get out of this without a doubt, is that Cornell NEEDS to be in a band for his own good. For the good of all mankind. In the name of all that is holy, please get this guy into a group of other musicians... His only good solo stuff is a song he did while still in Soundgarden, the song "Seasons".

All of the songs on this album blend into each other like a huge club-jam-ultra-mega-mix. The beats sound like out-takes from a Justin Timberlake CD. I don't know if Cornell — or his management — is trying to appeal to a new audience. Trying to sound young and hip and relevant with the times and new musical landscape.

This is just one big "What The Fuck?!" and I think that would have been a better album title. It would tell everyone exactly what they were in for... I am more confused by this than just about any twist in the whole history of the television show Lost.

I. Just. Don't. Know.

Favorite Track: "Climbing Up the Walls"...

The Year Of The Concept Album...

Holy Fucking Shit! I love this album.

First listen through — three songs in — I knew this was gonna be great.

Indie/classic rock/rock opera sounding. Lots of guitar groove, which really pushed it over the edge for me...

I've heard most of their previous album, The Crane Wife — heard it on the In-Store Play at work when it came out — and I liked it. But I never heard the whole thing. Probably gonna break down and get it from iTunes one of these days.

But this one — judged all on its own — is excellent. I NEED to buy this... I like the storyline — it really fits in the the "The Hazards of Love" title. And before listening to this, I hadn't read any of the reviews of what the story was supposed to be.

I could get a little bit just listening to the lyrics, but got lost around the song "The Queen's Rebuke/The Crossing"... But I had to go online and read the music mags to figure out that there was a shape changing witch and forest nymph, or some other crap going on. So I guess knowing that makes a little more sense listening back to it over again. But still, even without knowing any of that, it was impossible to listen to this album and not be completely drawn in.

I had no idea that this band could rock this hard. I always just assumed that they were all about the Indie-Folk, but they end up channeling some serious 70's hard rock groove. So good! Especially the female guest vocals. But then again, I'm always a sucker for that.

Most definitely an early favorite for one of my Picks Of The Year.

Favorite Tracks: "The Hazards Of Love 2 (Wager All)", "The Wanting Comes In Waves / Repaid", "The Rake Song", "The Hazards Of Love 4 (Drowned)", and "A Bower Scene"...

U2. Biggest band in the Universe according to some. Especially if you read the reviews in the British music magazines. Everyone in the music press trying to push each other out of the way to suck their dicks.

I've never "gotten" them to be honest. Their appeal. Too laid back for me. A distinct ego underlying everything they've done since at least around Achtung Baby. To me, they're just Adult Contemporary — not vital. There's no excitement or life in their music.

I skipped through most of the songs on this album. Good production elements. Good guitar playing. Some nice melodies... And there are some good songs — "No Line On The Horizon", "Get On Your Boots", and "Breathe" — but Bono just shits all over them with his crap cut-up lyrics. Faux intellectualism and self-importance.

This band, and this album, just is not my style. Not for me...

You'll have to try harder, U2, if you want to convince me that your music is worth buying.

An extension of the Mars Volta by pure virtue of its being a solo record of the main song-writer of the group. Guitarist, Rodriguez-Lopez.

This album is just like an instrumental Mars Volta record... Latin jazz groove with crazy guitars.

This is great music to write to. Just have it on in the background and jam out. Get jazzed up to put pen to paper and let all the words in my head spill out. I've put this on my Writing Playlist for my current project.

And I'm wondering now why I never tried to track down his solo stuff before. It should have been a simple equation to work out... I like Mars Volta, so why wouldn't I like his solo stuff?

Favorite Track: "The Power Of Myth"...