What the hell are you listening to?...2007 Edition

[Easy Mac]

May as well.

Bloc Party - A Weekend in the City - On the first listen, I found it kind of boring. Didn't feel like it had the same energy as the previous album.

Haven't listened to the latest Shins album.

A fun album from last year I recently found was Night Ripper by Girl Talk. Its basically a mashup album, but for the first 2/3rds of the album, he gets it pretty much completely correct, working in rap with r&b and rock... pretty much the Grey Album on crack or The Avalanches-lite. Slows down a bit for the last 3rd, but the first part is magical.

The incomplete playlist from the album http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Ripper

[JonInMiddleGA]

The mid-2006 debut of Black Stone Cherry (http://www.amazon.com/Black-Stone-Cherry/dp/B000G73U4K/sr=8-1/qid=1170653252/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-5388999-7794040?ie=UTF8&s=music)

[st.cronin]

Thom Yorke, the Eraser

[Young Drachma]

It's slow out of the gate so far, but...

Field Music - Tones of Town is a real gem.

Apostle of Hustle - National Anthem of Nowhere isn't bad, I haven't listened to it enough times to be sold on it, but I think I'll rediscover it in three or four months and go "wow."

So, what else is worth checking out this year? Let the talk begin...

[hawk4669]

Recently bought the "Essential Iron Maiden" two disc set, and have been having an Irons re-discovery.

Currently playing on the I-Pod: "Fear of the Dark" live.

Cheers!

[path12]

I like the new Shins disc, Phantom Limb is just a great song. Just picked up the new Arcade Fire but haven't really had much of a chance to listen yet.....

[Young Drachma]

Oh, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Some Loud Thunder isn't bad either.

[Easy Mac]

Welcome to February

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=56737&highlight=hell+listening

[Karlifornia]

I never liked Brand New, but I really like the song "Jesus Christ" off ofThe Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me

[dickysty]

I'm all over the board lately. Really liking the new Tragically Hip, World Container mixing in some Blackfield II (see Porcupine Tree) and finishing with some Muse Black Holes & Revelations! :)

[Ksyrup]

I merged the threads.

[Ksyrup]

I still need to hear/get the new Blackfield, and I'm patiently waiting for the new Porcupine Tree. So far, I'm enjoying the new Clutch, Within Temptation, and Fountains of Wayne.

[Ksyrup]

Oh, and I haven't been able to illegally download this one yet, but if it's out there, I'll risk the fine:

http://www.studiomuscle.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/abbathehutt2.jpg

"Abba the Hutt is the result of the fruitful collaboration between the three remaining members of Abba, the seminal seventies pop combo, and Jabba The Hutt, a crime lord from the desert planet of Tatooine. The album includes an irresistible mash up of seventies Swedish pop music and Tatooinish sex funk. Features timeless hitsongs such as “I Ho, I Ho, I Ho, I Ho” , “Dancing Queen Amidala” and “Super StormTrouper”. In a planet near you soon!"

Here's a link to some of the lyrics:

hxxp://www.soren.demon.co.uk/lbia/Jabba.html

[Easy Mac]

Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future: A fun album. A little bit Bloc Party, a little Artic Monkeys, some Franz Ferdinand, some Prodigy/Killers, even some Coldplay-ish sounds. A joy to listen to, and just about every song sounds like a single.

The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse: Its a bit like a rockier (as in rock-like) Arcade Fire. Strangely, I enjoyed it more than the Arcade Fire though.

Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly, Angry Mob: They moved from their Franz Ferdinand imitation to something less poppy. Perhaps this ends up being a better album, rather than a collection of singles, but it was pretty boring.

The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible: I really want to like them so I can feel cool, but I just find their music OK... nothing more, nothing less. They have some hauntingly beautiful music, but it just doesn't do it for me.

The Good, the Bad and the Queen - The Good, the Bad and the Queen: Meh. A supergroup that produced boring music. Damian Albarn groups: Blur > Gorillaz > The Good, the Bad and the Queen.

[JW]

Right now:

Loreena McKennitt - An Ancient Muse
Celtic Woman - A New Journey
Evanescence - The Open Door

I like listening to women sing.

[dolfin]

For some reason I can't stop listening to this damn cd...

Best of Neil Diamond

:o

[Young Drachma]

I merged the threads.

Sorry for not searching first. I just started the one last year, so I just figured since I hadn't seen it in a while to start a new one. My bad.

[Young Drachma]

The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible: I really want to like them so I can feel cool, but I just find their music OK... nothing more, nothing less. They have some hauntingly beautiful music, but it just doesn't do it for me.


Same here. I liked more of their old stuff. Not a ton, but more than this new album. It just wasn't anything I felt compelled to add to my regular rotation.

[samifan24]

Lately:

James Morrison - Undiscovered
Joshua James - The Sun is Always Brighter

[watravaler]

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Their "Funeral" was excellent, this is simply good. Nonetheless, it's worth a listen.

Also listening to Of Montreal's "Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?" Not sure yet, the talent is obviously there, but I'm not sure if it is living up to the acclaim. They remind me of the Beatles for some reason.

[Butter]

The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible: I really want to like them so I can feel cool, but I just find their music OK... nothing more, nothing less. They have some hauntingly beautiful music, but it just doesn't do it for me.

The Good, the Bad and the Queen - The Good, the Bad and the Queen: Meh. A supergroup that produced boring music. Damian Albarn groups: Blur > Gorillaz > The Good, the Bad and the Queen.

Agree on The Good, the Bad, and the Queen. Boring.

Do not agree on The Arcade Fire. I like the 2nd album very much. Not as consistent as Funeral, but still very good.

Also have been listening to:

Peter Bjorn and John - Writer's Block - Opening 4-5 songs are dynamite, then it drops off a bit. Excellent indie pop type stuff.

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black - Not normally my cup of tea (pretty much straight R&B), but the first few songs on this album are also very, very good. Love her voice.

Air - Pocket Symphony - Disappointing at first listen. Hopefully, it'll be a grower. If not, it'll be the first Air CD I really dislike.

[DeToxRox]

Sage Francis - Human the Death Dance: While it's leaked (so shoot me, I already pre-ordered) I am very impressed with this CD. A very nice step up from a Healthy Distrust which was just excellent. Some great songs with awesome messages and a lot of tempo variety. If Sage could just get some better beats on a few songs he'd for sure be a world wide known name.

[korme]

The Shins got me all in a twist

[Young Drachma]

Sage Francis - Human the Death Dance: While it's leaked (so shoot me, I already pre-ordered) I am very impressed with this CD. A very nice step up from a Healthy Distrust which was just excellent. Some great songs with awesome messages and a lot of tempo variety. If Sage could just get some better beats on a few songs he'd for sure be a world wide known name.

I didn't know he had anything else coming out. Sweet. I'll check it out.

[GrantDawg]

Right now:

Loreena McKennitt - An Ancient Muse
Celtic Woman - A New Journey
Evanescence - The Open Door

I like listening to women sing.

Me, too. Love Amy Lee, and it helps my wife has a crush on her. :D

[Draft Dodger]

Ray Lamontagne - Till The Sun Turns Black. gorgeous, gorgeous album

[samifan24]

Ray Lamontagne - Till The Sun Turns Black. gorgeous, gorgeous album

I second this; the guy's got serious talent.

[Leonidas]

Eric Clapton and JJ Cale - The Road to Escondido Man this is a fine piece of work. Two old friends getting together with a bunch of talented other players and making beautiful love to music.

[cthomer5000]

Arcade Fire over and over. The second half is a bit so-so, but the first half is outstanding.

[Draft Dodger]

Eric Clapton and JJ Cale - The Road to Escondido Man this is a fine piece of work. Two old friends getting together with a bunch of talented other players and making beautiful love to music.

thanks for the head's up - I'm a big fan of Cale, and had not heard about this at all. I'm going to have to grab it ASAP.

[korme]

And I don't care what anyone says (bah RS!), I love The Killers sophomore album.

[Easy Mac]

And I don't care what anyone says (bah RS!), I love The Killers sophomore album.

Thats because you're in college and often drunk, so you can't hear well.

[korme]

haha the only time i listen to the cd is when im driving (WATCH OUT!). no it is so good... heh.

anyways, speaking of brand new, my brother just offered me tix to their concert friday so looks like im going

[terpkristin]

Songs that keep popping up on my iPod:

Saliva - Always
Orgy - Fiction (Dreams in Digital)
Benassi Bros - Castaway
Galaxy 68 - DJ Play My Song (Sonny Club Mix)
Armin van Buuren - Love You More
Cascada - Everytime We Touch (Dan Winter Remix)
50 Cent - In Da Club
Soundtrack from South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut
Prodigy vs. Enya - Smack My Bitch Up Orinoco Flow
Family Guy - The Freakin' FCC
Family Guy - All Cartoons are Fuckin' Dicks

Also just finished listening to Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell from Audible, now onto the His Dark Materials trilogy. And my normal assortment of podcasts...

/tk

[Groundhog]

Air - Pocket Symphony - Disappointing at first listen. Hopefully, it'll be a grower. If not, it'll be the first Air CD I really dislike.

That's a shame. I'm a big Air fan but haven't heard this one yet. Will probably grab it this afternoon.

[Young Drachma]

Ray Lamontagne - Till The Sun Turns Black. gorgeous, gorgeous album

Heck yeah. I saw him live last November, because of a friend. Before that, I'd never heard of him. But ever since then? He's been on constant rotation. A real favourite and a great, great talent.

[AlexB]

And I don't care what anyone says (bah RS!), I love The Killers sophomore album.

I'm with you on this - good album.

Last two purchases are the Klaxons and Idlewild - also both good albums
(Idlewild in particular is a refreshing return to form - their last offering was generally awful, and the one before that not consistently great - but the singles, reviews and an iTunes preview convinced me to give them one last try - money well spent!)

[path12]

Fratellis -- Costello Music. Finally showed up on itunes. Awesome.

[Tim Tellean]

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=55605&page=2
Post #63 has links to some of the possible Guns 'n Roses album Chinese Democracy and I'm hooked it sounds pretty good.

[DeToxRox]

I didn't know he had anything else coming out. Sweet. I'll check it out.

Yup, he took 2006 off to record and do some activist type stuff but he's back in 07 and has a 40 city tour coming out. Definetly pumped to go see him again, he puts on a helluva show.

[timmae]

Arcade Fire over and over. The second half is a bit so-so, but the first half is outstanding.

Agreed... and "Intervention" is possibly the best song I've heard in many, many years. I can't help but play that one over a few times each listen.

Also listening to;

The Falcon - Unicornography, The Falcon is possibly the best punk supergroup in Chicago right now... their full time gigs are with Alkaline Trio and the Lawrence Arms in Chicago. The guitarist also played in Rise Against. Great intensity and an overall fun feel to the songs. Money well spent..

[cthomer5000]

The Shins got me all in a twist

Really? I think they took a step back to me and played up all the worst elements that give me some reservation about fully embracing this band in the first place. I think they're second album is a full step above the other two.

[Groundhog]

That's a shame. I'm a big Air fan but haven't heard this one yet. Will probably grab it this afternoon.

I picked up Air's Pocket Symphony on Friday, and while it's too early to give it a definitive review after 2 listens, it so far sounds a little too light and floaty and lacking of the pop edge that Air are so good at. It's somewhere between The Virgin Suicides soundtrack and some of the stuff on Premiers Symptomes.

Left Bank is the one track that instantly stuck out and is a pretty beautiful track, and Mer Du Japon is probably this album's "Kelly Watch The Stars".

[korme]

So went to the Brand New concert. Really liked the opening band, Manchester Orchestra. Should have bought their CD as Best Buy doesn't sell it.

Anyways, to the final act: Brand New comes on and first of all they have 3 CDs in total. So we are discussing how many old songs they will play. They played 5 from their first CD, ALL 11 songs from their second cd, and then 6 from their newest cd. 22 songs in all. Maybe the greatest performance I've ever seen... it was crazy. 22 songs.

[Mr. Sparkle]

So went to the Brand New concert. Really liked the opening band, Manchester Orchestra. Should have bought their CD as Best Buy doesn't sell it.

Anyways, to the final act: Brand New comes on and first of all they have 3 CDs in total. So we are discussing how many old songs they will play. They played 5 from their first CD, ALL 11 songs from their second cd, and then 6 from their newest cd. 22 songs in all. Maybe the greatest performance I've ever seen... it was crazy. 22 songs.

This is good to hear. I'm a huge Brand New fan and am catching them when they come to San Francisco at the end of the month. Cannot wait!

[Ksyrup]

The new Nightwish single is scheduled to be released on May 30, at the same time the new singer is announced. There was no way to keep it a secret, and it looks like the secret is out. This chick left her old band at the right time, so it's either her or some complete unknown. For us symphonic metal fans, this promises to be a great year, with new albums from Within Temptation, After Forever, and the long-awaited Nightwish with Tarja's replacement as the new singer.


"Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat is reporting that NIGHTWISH has already chosen a replacement for singer Tarja Turunen, but the band is strictly guarding her identity. However, according to Ilta-Sanomat, the new vocalist is none other than former TRISTANIA frontwoman Vibeke Stene.

There are a number of signs pointing to the fact that Vibeke is Tarja's replacement in NIGHTWISH . For example, influential European music business person Frank Stroebele (manager for WITHIN TEMPTATION and ANASTACIA) recently asked an Ilta-Sanomat reporter, "Have you heard who the new singer of NIGHTWISH is? I understand that it is Vibeke."

Vibeke quit TRISTANIA last month "due to personal reasons," making the timing of her departure perfect if she were to join NIGHTWISH.

However, the only public information about the new vocalist that has come out of the NIGHTWISH camp so far has been offered by the group's manager, Ewo Pohjola (a.k.a. Ewo Rytkönen) of King Foo Entertainment. "She is getting along very well with the guys," he said. "She is very talented, clever and sweet." "<!--QuoteEnd-->

[timmae]

So went to the Brand New concert. Really liked the opening band, Manchester Orchestra. Should have bought their CD as Best Buy doesn't sell it.

Anyways, to the final act: Brand New comes on and first of all they have 3 CDs in total. So we are discussing how many old songs they will play. They played 5 from their first CD, ALL 11 songs from their second cd, and then 6 from their newest cd. 22 songs in all. Maybe the greatest performance I've ever seen... it was crazy. 22 songs.

Going tomorrow night in Chitown... what kind of music does Manchester Orchestra play??? Was there a third band?

[Groundhog]

I picked up Air's Pocket Symphony on Friday, and while it's too early to give it a definitive review after 2 listens, it so far sounds a little too light and floaty and lacking of the pop edge that Air are so good at. It's somewhere between The Virgin Suicides soundtrack and some of the stuff on Premiers Symptomes.

Left Bank is the one track that instantly stuck out and is a pretty beautiful track, and Mer Du Japon is probably this album's "Kelly Watch The Stars".

I'm pleased to announce that Pocket Symphony is a grower. Real atmospheric and Pink Floyd-ish in places. Still soaking more in with each listen, which is a good sign.

[HerRealName]

So far I have Modest Mouse, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Arcade Fire, and my favorite - The Dexateens, Hardwire Healing. The Dexateens are Southern Rock and Hardwire Healing was produced by Patterson Hood from the Drive-By Truckers.

[Karlifornia]

So far I have Modest Mouse, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Arcade Fire, and my favorite - The Dexateens, Hardwire Healing. The Dexateens are Southern Rock and Hardwire Healing was produced by Patterson Hood from the Drive-By Truckers.

How's the new Ted Leo? I have Hearts Of Oak and I love it.

[HerRealName]

How's the new Ted Leo? I have Hearts Of Oak and I love it.

So far so good. There's a reggae sounding song I'm not too sure about and the song after that drags on and on and on and... but otherwise I like what I hear after a couple of listens.

[Qwikshot]

Wilco - Kicking Televisions (LIVE)

[Karlifornia]

Wilco - Kicking Televisions (LIVE)

Wilco is boss

[Jonathan Ezarik]

I'm pleased to announce that Pocket Symphony is a grower. Real atmospheric and Pink Floyd-ish in places. Still soaking more in with each listen, which is a good sign.

I've only given this a quick listen, but what I've heard hasn't grabbed me like Moon Safari or Talkie Walkie, so I'm glad to hear that you think it gets better with each listen. I'll give it more time to see if it grows on me.

[Young Drachma]

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

Field Music - Tones of Town is back on the radar again. Seriously a great album.

[Easy Mac]

Panda Bear - Person Pitch: A great, great album. It's like Pet Sounds for my generation. Just some absolutely beautiful harmonies and music. It's what I thought SMiLE would be like (except that SMiLE was complete shit).

LCD Soundsystem - Sounds of Silver: Another damn good album. I never really got into the first LCD album. It had some good parts, but the followup hits pretty much every note and is a more complete album. New York I Love You is a great Weezer-ish song (when Weezer circa Blue Album)

Kings of Leon - Because of the Times - Another pretty good album, so its been a good couple of weeks. I want to say they've "grown up" more on this album, but its definitely not dance-punk music like their first two discs (Aha Shake Heartbreak is in my constant rotation). Its more U2-ish in scope, not really 2-3 minute songs anymore. They're able to make it work though.

Still haven't gotten enough time with the !!! and CYHSY albums to get a feel for them. !!! seems like a fun album, and I enjoyed the first go-round. CYHSY was a bit of a chore, and the opening track was just horrible. I like some of the things I heard, but its definitely not as "airy" as the first album, which I enjoyed, but didn't think was as great as the hype. The same goes for the new Modest Mouse, which sounds more commercially accessible than the last album.

[Ksyrup]

Well the family was away this week, so that meant some time for me to go CD shopping. Here's what I bought this week:

Clutch - From Beale Street to Oblivion
Within Temptation - Mother Earth
Blackfield - II
Mastodon - Blood Mountain
Marillion - Season's End
Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrapha
McFly - Just My Luck
Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch
Ty Tabor - Rock Garden

These should keep me busy for a few days!

[korme]

Sufjan Stevens

[sabotai]

The mid-2006 debut of Black Stone Cherry (http://www.amazon.com/Black-Stone-Cherry/dp/B000G73U4K/sr=8-1/qid=1170653252/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-5388999-7794040?ie=UTF8&s=music)

Thanks for posting this. These guy sound pretty good.

[timmae]

Mathematicians - Level One
Mathematicians - Level Two

Awesome live show! Quirky nerds that can rock out.. most fun I've had at a show in some time!

[Young Drachma]

Bright Eyes - Cassadaga

Brother Ali - Undisputed Truth

Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers

Chevelle - Vena Sera

[Karlifornia]

Bright Eyes - Cassadaga



I'm digging this album. He keeps getting better and better..Four Winds is amazing, and Classic Cars is almost as good.

[AlexB]

Kings of Leon - Because Of The Times

Growing on me. Not as good as their debut, and they could have done with cutting about four songs off the album, but it is getting better. Which is good as I'm seeing them live Thursday!


Maximo Park - Our Earthly Pleasures

Fantastic stuff - a more polished development on their first album. Slightly less quirky, but again lyrically grandiose and a refreshing second album after the direness of Razorlight's & Kaiser Chiefs 'difficult' 2nd albums


Idlewild - Make Another World

Welcome return to form for the Scottish rockers. Their best effort for 3-4 albums.


The Aliens - Astronomy for Dogs

New face of the Beta Band - great stuff. Less quirky than the BB releases, but more varied, and IMHO the best long-player they have done.

[Karlifornia]

Kings of Leon - Because Of The Times

Growing on me. Not as good as their debut, and they could have done with cutting about four songs off the album, but it is getting better. Which is good as I'm seeing them live Thursday!




Kings of Leon are great...just straight ahead rock...I'll need to buy this album...

[Young Drachma]

Kings of Leon - Because Of The Times

Growing on me. Not as good as their debut, and they could have done with cutting about four songs off the album, but it is getting better. Which is good as I'm seeing them live Thursday!


Maximo Park - Our Earthly Pleasures

Fantastic stuff - a more polished development on their first album. Slightly less quirky, but again lyrically grandiose and a refreshing second album after the direness of Razorlight's & Kaiser Chiefs 'difficult' 2nd albums


Idlewild - Make Another World

Welcome return to form for the Scottish rockers. Their best effort for 3-4 albums.


The Aliens - Astronomy for Dogs

New face of the Beta Band - great stuff. Less quirky than the BB releases, but more varied, and IMHO the best long-player they have done.

I like Idlewild a lot.

[Karlifornia]

I'm digging this album. He keeps getting better and better..Four Winds is amazing, and Classic Cars is almost as good.

Oh btw...a bit of trivia...Classic Cars is about Winona Ryder, and that ain't no lie.

[AlexB]

I like Idlewild a lot.

100 Broken Windows is one of my all time top albums. Great band (apart from Warnings/Promises ;) )

[AlexB]

Dola,

I knew there was another I'd bought recently - Apples In Stereo: New Magnetic Wonder

Great as always. Nuff said.

[Easy Mac]

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare. It was ok, a lot like the first album, which I enjoyed, but I dunno, its not as catchy the second time around. Franz Ferdinand were able to get away with that and still make it feel new, but I thinkit may take a few more spins to see if this gets better on repeat listening.

[Karlifornia]

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare. It was ok, a lot like the first album, which I enjoyed, but I dunno, its not as catchy the second time around. Franz Ferdinand were able to get away with that and still make it feel new, but I thinkit may take a few more spins to see if this gets better on repeat listening.

The British music media sucks so bad....the Arctic Monkeys are dead in the water I think...when the hype exceeds talent to that degree, it makes it hard. People are quicker to give up on you. I fear for them.

[Butter]

Field Music - Tones of Town is back on the radar again. Seriously a great album.

This can't be emphasized enough. Right behind the new Arcade Fire and Shins albums as best of 2007 so far. Already this year is eons better than last, quality-wise.

[korme]

Bright Eyes - Cassadaga


Then you might like Manchester Orchestra. This was a band I heard play and made the mistake of not buying their CD at the show, so I had to order it online. Needless to say, I'm on it. Rolling Stone just had an article about them here, and Bright Eyes is mentioned in the sounds like section. Here (http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/13883400/rolling_stones_10_artists_to_watch/9)

Here is their myspace (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=5804691) link, hear a few songs. I'd start with Wolves at Night, then Where Have You Been for some solid stuff.

[cthomer5000]

This can't be emphasized enough. Right behind the new Arcade Fire and Shins albums as best of 2007 so far. Already this year is eons better than last, quality-wise.

I had never heard this band, but i was expecting a lot more out of this album after hearing the opeing track. In the end it really felt like a letdown. Maybe i'll give it another shot.

[Bad-example]

Grant-Lee Phillips - Strangelet I found the excellent Virginia Creeper a while back based on a recommendation from a thread here on FOFC. While my first couple listenings of Strangelet suggest this release doesn't quite measure up to the last one, I honestly have not given this one a fair chance to grow on me. Track 3, Fountain of Youth, sounds like it would fit in perfectly with the other songs on Virginia Creeper. There are a couple other songs on this cd of which this could be said.

[Butter]

Blonde Redhead - 23

This band came out of nowhere for me last year as I picked up Misery is a Butterfly, and enjoyed the hell out of it.

This is more of the same. The vocals are a bit of an acquired taste, but the music is wonderful and this album seems to carry on where they left off. Very good stuff. The year keeps getting better and better!

[Blade6119]

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

Good album? I havent heared much about it, but i enjoy the single she has out.

Ive been on a jazz/blues kick lately, with a little coltraine and gershwin and a little buble and morrison

[Young Drachma]

This can't be emphasized enough. Right behind the new Arcade Fire and Shins albums as best of 2007 so far. Already this year is eons better than last, quality-wise.

That's key. There was a lot of stuff out last year. But this year has been less volume and way more in the way of quality.

[Young Drachma]

Good album? I havent heared much about it, but i enjoy the single she has out.

Ive been on a jazz/blues kick lately, with a little coltraine and gershwin and a little buble and morrison

The album is better than singles, honestly. Production seals the deal and she hits the notes like she stole 'em. It'll be overplayed before long, but..I really enjoy the work they did there.

[Ksyrup]

Devin Townsend is a genius. A twisted, bizarre creature, but a genius.

Only someone like Frank Zappa could pull off an album like Ziltoid the Omniscient and not come off looking like a complete moron.

[Young Drachma]

Cowboy Junkies - End of Paths Taken

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Probably one of the best of the year. And I wasn't into them really before this came out. But...it's awesome.

[Ksyrup]

I guess it's a good thing I have kids, so I have a (second) excuse for checking this show out. It's come to this - I so badly want to hear new Andy Sturmer music, I'm on the look out for animated shows and Burger King commercials.



<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Hanley And Sturmer Lend Musical Talent To New Preschool Series

</TD></TR><TR height=1><TD bgColor=#f17d38 colSpan=2>http://67.15.118.147/images/spacer.gif</TD></TR><TR><TD align=right>http://67.15.118.147/images/news-comment.gif (http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=32239#comments)http://top40-charts.com/images/news-mail.gif (http://top40-charts.com/news/mail.php)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE width="97%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>http://top40-charts.com/thumb.php?x=110&y=110&i=http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/11Q2A6F740L.jpgLos Angeles, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Disney Channel) - Musician Kay Hanley (Letters to Cleo) is the vocalist for the theme song (http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=32239#) and additional featured songs in the new preschool series "My Friends (http://top40-charts.com/artist.php?aid=503) Tigger & Pooh," premiering Saturday May 12 on Disney Channel (10 AM ET/PT). The talented Emmy Award-nominated composer Andy Sturmer (Jellyfish) is the composer for the show.

"My Friends (http://top40-charts.com/artist.php?aid=503) Tigger & Pooh" brings the classic characters from The Hundred Acre Wood, along with some new friends, to life for the first time in CG 3-D animation. Each episode features two 11-minute stories in which Tigger, Pooh (http://top40-charts.com/artist.php?aid=1473) and their new pal Darby don homemade Super Sleuth costumes, transforming themselves into a trio of dedicated problem solvers. Whether figuring out where butterflies come from or what happened to the "rumbly in Pooh's tumbly," the Super Sleuths bring their own perspective to the perplexing puzzler and work together to analyze the situation.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Ksyrup]

Just picked up the newly-released Porcupine Tree CD Fear of a Blank Planet at lunch today. Looking forward to the drive home!

[samifan24]

New Arctic Monkeys!

[sabotai]

Tactical Sekt - Syncope

Band I found through last.fm. Electronic/Aggrotech type band.


Fu Manchu - The Action Is Go

Another band i just found through last.fm. Pretty good "stoner rock" band.

[Groundhog]

Just picked up the newly-released Porcupine Tree CD Fear of a Blank Planet at lunch today. Looking forward to the drive home!

How is it? I haven't grabbed it yet.

[Blade6119]

James Morrison - Undiscovered

Im loving this CD, really a nice suprise find for me

[Ksyrup]

How is it? I haven't grabbed it yet.

I probably shouldn't say anything, lest I scare you away.

Honestly, I don't like it much. I'm a big fan of In Absentia and Deadwing, and this album feels more like a pre-In Absentia album with some heavy parts thrown in to keep the interest of the rock/metal fans they've picked up since IA. There are only 6 tracks, and the first track sounds like it is from the Deadwing sessions and is the only one I really like. The rest are meandering and don't really develop, plus the melodies are pretty weak. It feels like SW is back to long songs that don't go anywhere, but he throws a bone here and there to the rockers with a riff or two. I'm extremely disappointed by it.

[Butter]

The Field - From Here We Go Sublime

I don't know if it still is, but for a while it was listed at metacritic.com as the best rated album of 2007.

It is strictly by-the-numbers electronica... start with a drum-n-bass combo, put in some kind of looping synth, then alter a couple of elements behind it throughout the song, and voila, there's track 1! And so it continues through track 10, without much variation. Unlike some of the more recent electronica I've found interesting, there's almost no sampling whatsoever on this album. The album leads off and closes with some of its strongest work, but there is a half hour in the middle there that just seemed to quickly go:

Mmmm-ch
Mmmm-ch
Mmmm-ch
Mmmm-ch

forever and ever.

[Julio Riddols]

Silverchair - Young Modern

Thunderbirds Are Now - Make History, Justamustache

The Zutons - Who Killed The Zutons, Tired Of Hanging Around

Hopesfall - Magnetic North

Mew - Frengers, And The Glass Handed Kites Up

Machine Head - The Blackening

Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank

Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist

Incubus - Light Grenades

Cyne - Time Being, Evolution Fight

Nujabes - Metaphorical Music

Apathy - Eastern Philosophy, Baptism By Fire

Wisemen - Wisemen Approaching

Devin The Dude - Waitin To Inhale

Sage Francis - Human The Death Dance

Underclassmen - Underclassic

Living Legends - Legendary Music Vol. 1

El-P - I'll Sleep When Youre Dead

Zion I and The Grouch - Heroes In The City Of Dope

Nature Sounds - Natural Selection Vol. 2 (Various Artists)

Thats my current list.

[Ksyrup]

Silverchair - Young Modern

Oh crap! I didn't know they had a new one coming out this soon. Is it available in the US?

Actually, more important to me...does it pick up from where Diorama left off?

[AlexB]

Fu Manchu - The Action Is Go

Another band i just found through last.fm. Pretty good "stoner rock" band.

Nice album - the only one I've got by them, but it's good. If you like this, do you know Suicidal Tendencies? Their middle stuff is similar ilk.

[sabotai]

Nice album - the only one I've got by them, but it's good. If you like this, do you know Suicidal Tendencies? Their middle stuff is similar ilk.

I've heard of them, but haven't listened to their stuff yet (I'm thinking they had a song in a video game...maybe one of the Burnout games...). I just looked them up on myspace and am liking what I'm hearing so far.

[Ksyrup]

You really think Suicidal is stoner metal?

Fu Manchu is pretty good. Like QotSA, they have an ex-member of Kyuss in the band (who started off as their producer before Kyuss split). Kyuss is definitely #1 on my list, and if you like tongue-in-cheek 70s stoner rock, check out Monster Magnet as well.

[AlexB]

You really think Suicidal is stoner metal?

Fu Manchu is pretty good. Like QotSA, they have an ex-member of Kyuss in the band (who started off as their producer before Kyuss split). Kyuss is definitely #1 on my list, and if you like tongue-in-cheek 70s stoner rock, check out Monster Magnet as well.

Not necessarily the description I would give it, but I would say there are similarities between The Action Is Go, and the Join The Army / How Will I Laugh... albums

[Ksyrup]

Megadeth - United Abominations

I'll tell you, Metallica clearly got the best of Mustaine in the 80s and early 90s, but this album marks 2 straight solid efforts for Mustaine in his 'comeback" from his 90s commercial escapades. He had managed to find the perfect middle ground between his thrash and commercial pasts, unlike Metallica, which is still struggling to find its place in the music scene. He's finishing strong, and they appear finished.

[EagleFan]

Disturbed - Ten Thousand Fists

[Karlifornia]

Two words:

ICKY THUMP

[Groundhog]

Oh crap! I didn't know they had a new one coming out this soon. Is it available in the US?

Actually, more important to me...does it pick up from where Diorama left off?

All I've heard of the new Silverchair is the single that gets forced in to my ears on an near-hourly basis. The single is definately in a similar vein to Diorama, but unfortunately it never takes off or does anything, just sort of drones on and on...

[Mr. Sparkle]

Two words:

ICKY THUMP

word.

[Julio Riddols]

Oh crap! I didn't know they had a new one coming out this soon. Is it available in the US?

Actually, more important to me...does it pick up from where Diorama left off?

Dude. It's even more impressive. But don't just take it from me, read the book! Er.. Buy the CD! If you ask me, the single is one of the worst tracks on the cd too.. I don't know who chose it. I would have chosen "If You Keep Losing Sleep"

[Ksyrup]

Dude. It's even more impressive. But don't just take it from me, read the book! Er.. Buy the CD! If you ask me, the single is one of the worst tracks on the cd too.. I don't know who chose it. I would have chosen "If You Keep Losing Sleep"

Is it out in the US? Looks like it is an import at this point.

Damn, between this and the new Jason Falkner I have to get, I'm looking at over $60 for 2 freaking CDs! :(

[MikeVic]

Two words:

ICKY THUMP

I need to get this as well. Just finished buying tickets to their show here. Really excited for that!

[Julio Riddols]

It looks like it is only an import right now.

Weird, but then again, according to what I have read, Diorama only sold 77,000 copies in the U.S. Thats completely mindblowing to me.

I guess if you want to hear it, you can on their website, or their myspace page. I think they have the full album available for listening on there.

[Ksyrup]

Sounds great so far. If You Keep Losing Sleep is brilliant. Man, this guy is turning into a great songwriter. Have you heard the electronica album he did called The Dissociatives? Great stuff, too.

[Easy Mac]

Voxtrot - Voxtrot: Imagine if The Strokes were better musicians and Julian Casablancas's voice was better and you could understand him... and he was extraordinarily verbose. That's what you have here, and it works damn well. This will end up on most places best of 2007. (and just for reference, The first two Strokes albums are in my rotation of albums, so that should let you know how much I liked the Voxtrot album)

!!! - Myth Takes: A fun album, disco-punk, though I prefer the term dance-punk. Its a slightly less techno, more funky LCD Soundsystem type album.

The Field - From Here We Go Sublime: The top rated album on Metacritic... just not my type of music. I thought I learned my lesson with The Knife's Silent Shout, but this just reinforced it.

[Lorena]

Shadows Fall's "Threads of Life"

[Ksyrup]

New Rush is quite good. I'm pleasantly surprised.

I'm trying to get my hands on the new Rufus Wainwright, too.

[Ksyrup]

Shadows Fall's "Threads of Life"


Something about this band I just can't get into. Not sure why. On the surface, I should be all over them. I bought the last album on that basis and have barely listened to it. But I applaud the choice anyway. :)

[Ksyrup]

Another one I forgot I bought last week:

Dimmu Borgir - In Sorte Diaboli
More and more, I've gotten into cookie monster vocals, and this is one of the bands I'm really getting into. Excellent, brutally heavy black metal combined with symphony. A bit of clean vocals mixed in, but mostly screaming/croaking. I have to be in the mood for it and itcan be a bit overwhelming, but the music is just too good to ignore it simply because of the vocals.

[Lorena]

Something about this band I just can't get into. Not sure why. On the surface, I should be all over them. I bought the last album on that basis and have barely listened to it. But I applaud the choice anyway. :)

I heard the song "Redemption" on KNAC.com and loved it and just bought the whole album. It's pretty decent, but I'm looking to buy Hellyeah's "Hellyeah" sometime next week.

I know what you mean, I should be all over them too but... eh.

[Butter]

The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse: Its a bit like a rockier (as in rock-like) Arcade Fire. Strangely, I enjoyed it more than the Arcade Fire though.

This album is very good. I found it to be more like a cross between Jesus & Mary Chain and The Raveonettes, but slower. Hard music to compare to anything, and that's usually not a bad thing.

But you're high if you think this album is better than Neon Bible.

[Ksyrup]

New Dream Theater leaked. It's pretty good, better after one listen than I thought the last couple of of albums were. Here's a clip of them performing one of the new songs in the studio:



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[Lorena]

Has anyone heard the new Linkin Park? Please don't tell me they went emo on me.

[Ksyrup]

Not a band I listen to, but I heard they dropped most of the "yeah, uh" rapping crap. I guess nu metal's out, so they're going with the flow. The title of the new album is too much of a rip-off of Iron Maiden for me to take it seriously.

[Lorena]

Not a band I listen to, but I heard they dropped most of the "yeah, uh" rapping crap. I guess nu metal's out, so they're going with the flow. The title of the new album is too much of a rip-off of Iron Maiden for me to take it seriously.

Yeah their single "What I've Done" is really different than what I'm used to from them... it's really really mellow. I love Bennington screaming into the mike and Shinoda rapping so this will be different. I'll give it a shot... Linkin Park is easily one of my top 5 favorite bands so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

[Young Drachma]

Sounds great so far. If You Keep Losing Sleep is brilliant. Man, this guy is turning into a great songwriter. Have you heard the electronica album he did called The Dissociatives? Great stuff, too.

I enjoyed the Dissociatives CD. It was good.

[path12]

Anybody going to ACL? Lineup came out last week, Dylan headlining. Other bands I'm looking forward to seeing there: Arcade Fire, White Stripes, Muse, Devotchka, Wilco, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Ike Reilly Assassination, Arctic Monkeys, Spoon, etc etc.

[Ksyrup]

Yeah their single "What I've Done" is really different than what I'm used to from them... it's really really mellow. I love Bennington screaming into the mike and Shinoda rapping so this will be different. I'll give it a shot... Linkin Park is easily one of my top 5 favorite bands so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

This doesn't sound too promising...although Rubin is involved, so you never know:


Linkin Park goes in a new direction


NEW YORK (AP) -- "Hands Held High," one of the most powerful songs on Linkin Park's new album, includes lyrics about bombs blowing up mosques, a bumbling leader, high gas prices and general world confusion -- an obvious missive against President Bush and the war in Iraq.

Or maybe not. Tell that interpretation to Mike Shinoda, the rapper/musician who writes most of the lyrics for the blockbuster band, and you'll get an earful on making assumptions about the group's most adventurous album to date, "Minutes to Midnight."

"We're not a political band. And I see some of the stuff that you're referring to ... as more social," says Shinoda, showing a glint of frustration as he and drummer Rob Bourdon sit in a studio, taking a break from rehearsals for upcoming shows.

"I tend to be drawn towards people, the interaction with people and how emotional events make you feel, and because we're all older, I think that we are more aware of those things," says Shinoda, 30. "This record ... it's aware of what's going on inside and aware to a large degree on what's going on outside ourselves." (Watch how the band emphasizes its strengths (http://javascript<b></b>:cnnVideo('play','/video/showbiz/2007/05/15/quan.linkin.park.cnn','2009/05/14');)http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/.element/img/1.5/main/icon_video.gif (http://javascript<b></b>:cnnVideo('play','/video/showbiz/2007/05/15/quan.linkin.park.cnn','2009/05/14');))

The lyrics on the album, out Tuesday, are not the only signs of the band's development since the release of 2003's multiplatinum "Meteora." Once the leaders of rap-rock fusion, you'll hear less of Shinoda's signature rhymes on this record (he does sing on one track). And while lead singer Chester Bennington's screams are still as piercing as ever, they're less likely to be supported by the kind of music that defined the band as nu-metal. Some songs sound very pop, with arrangements that could even be described as mellow and tender. (Read Entertainment Weekly's review. (http://www.cnn.com/ew/article/0,,20038383,00.html)http://i.cnn.net/cnn/.element/img/1.3/misc/icon.offsite.gif)

"We've taken a lot of risks on this record because of the stylistic changes that we've made," concedes the 31-year-old Bennington.

"The one thing that people will notice the most is that there's not a nu-metal feel, but a lot of what we do is very Linkin Park ... We felt like we had done something very unique."

"There's more maturity (but) I think it delivers the same emotional impact that they always have," says Mike Rich, senior vice president and general manager of AOL Entertainment, for which the band taped a raucous concert on Friday night.
Calling Rick Rubin

Doing something unique was an important goal for the band on "Minutes to Midnight."

The six-member group had sold 10 million copies of their 2000 debut, "Hybrid Theory," and then another four million with "Meteora." Both albums explored feelings of frustration and fury with a mix of rock, hip-hop and metal. (The band also sold millions with its remix album, "Reanimation," and its mash-up record with Jay-Z, "Collision Course" -- not including side projects such as Shinoda's successful group Fort Minor.)
To help with their evolution, the group enlisted Grammy-winning producer Rick Rubin.

They were longtime fans of Rubin, whose credits in the past year included Tom Petty, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Dixie Chicks and Slayer.

"He suggested that we forget about what we think Linkin Park is supposed to sound like and just write whatever type of music we were inspired by at the moment," says Bourdon, 28. "It was really freeing."

And many people will say "Minutes to Midnight" doesn't sound like Linkin Park.

"The songs we felt strongly about have more melodies," says Bennington. "and those are the songs that turned up on the record."

Then there's the content. Although Shinoda stresses that it's not a political album, the band references the nation's turmoil, from broken levees on "The Little Things Give You Away" to bitterness over leaders on "No More Sorrow."

"We've always just stuck true to the music that we felt like making," says Bourdon. "If we were to try and go make the trilogy album for us, it wouldn't have felt right to us, it would have been like we were trying to be something that we're not."

The band knows that some fans will want to hear a retread of their past sound. "We've gotten a lot of really positive response from fans, critics," says Bennington. "We've also gotten some feedback that's just like -- I think it's going to take a while for some people to wrap their heads around what we've done."

But the band hopes that once fans hear the music, they'll realize Linkin Park has changed for the better.

"We hope that a lot of our fans are on the same page, and if they're not on the same page, that's fine too, maybe they will be later, maybe not, but we'll still be playing this album, we'll still be playing the other albums," says Shinoda. "And whoever wants to come the show is invited."

[Ksyrup]

I bought an interesting mix of CDs today.

The new ones from Rufus Wainwright and Megadeth for me; Bon Jovi's greatest hits for my wife (it was the theme music from Deadliest Catch, and not AI, that inspired her to finally want this); and then I picked up a CD by some country band called Little Big Town that my secretary asked me to get for her while I was at Best Buy.

[Lorena]

I heard Linkin Park's "Minutes to Midnight" last night and it was alright. I realize they're going in a new direction but the reason I liked them was because of the rap/metal combo and this album had maybe 1 song that was like that. Chester can actually sing but I like him more when he's screaming... he sounds I dunno... sexier I guess.

I have to be in the right mood to listen to it. I definitely won't listen to it if I'm drinking cuz I'll probably end up depressed.

In the end, it's like a 6/10.

[Ksyrup]

New Megadeth is quite impressive. This is probably the album I was expecting/hoping for after Rust In Peace. I really liked the last one, too, but I think this one is even better. Almost makes me forget about the 10 years in between.

What's interesting about it is that Dave Mustaine has become a born-again Christian, and the song Never Walk Alone...A Call to Arms is about as openly Christian/religious as it could be (although if you just read the lyrics, you wouldn't expect the music to be as heavy as it is). And then there's the title track, United Abominations, which scathingly chastises the UN for its history of inaction, hypocrisy, and how the US is forced to do the UN's dirty work and pay a huge chunk of the UN's budget. Interesting topics in a genre where such topics are usually one-sided the other way.

I've gotten through about half of the new Rufus Wainwright and am loving that as well. I haven't listened to him much lately, but this one picks up where Want One and Two left off. A lot of orchestral stuff, and it seems like the piano is not the focal point (only 1 song so far has really been heavily piano-based). Good stuff.

[Draft Dodger]

I bought an interesting mix of CDs today.

The new ones from Rufus Wainwright and Megadeth for me; Bon Jovi's greatest hits for my wife (it was the theme music from Deadliest Catch, and not AI, that inspired her to finally want this); and then I picked up a CD by some country band called Little Big Town that my secretary asked me to get for her while I was at Best Buy.

Little Big Town = good

[Ksyrup]

Never heard them. My secretary said they remind her of a country Fleetwood Mac. So now I call them Dollywood Mac. She said they performed at some country music award show last night and won an award. If they're too much of a straight country band, I probably couldn't take it. If they're more of a Nickel Creek mixed style, they might be bearable. Probably depends on the amount of twang and how straight-forward country the music is.

[Draft Dodger]

I'm not a Fleetwood Mac buff like, at all, but I can see that. 2 guys, 2 girls, simple, catchy songs with an emphasis on harmonized vocals. Not twangy, but there's very little twang in modern country music.

[Ksyrup]

I've been told by many a country fan that Garth Brooks, Toby Keith, et al, are light on twang.

Not to my ears.

I also include the intentional "crack or break" in the voice as part of the country vocal thing I can't stand. That's even more annoying that the false British accent of the pop punk bands.

[cthomer5000]

Really loving Field Music (band) - Tones Of Town (album). It came out in january, and I got it as a straight recommendation from someone knowing nothing about it. It's definitely in the realm of indie rock, but they sound like guys who definitely owned their share of Yes albums as well. The whole album really works together as one big piece, and after a few listens I was totally hooked.

Would definitely recommend for fans of The Shins, as well.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51J6pfAYssL._AA240_.jpg

[Draft Dodger]

I also include the intentional "crack or break" in the voice as part of the country vocal thing I can't stand. That's even more annoying that the false British accent of the pop punk bands.

I can accept that for the most part. Except there is NOTHING more annoying than fake British accent from pop punk bands.

I didn't know Mustaine was born again. Didn't he also have some hand/arm trouble, or am I confusing him with someone else (not Yngwie)?

[Young Drachma]

Really loving Field Music (band) - Tones Of Town (album). It came out in january, and I got it as a straight recommendation from someone knowing nothing about it. It's definitely in the realm of indie rock, but they sound like guys who definitely owned their share of Yes albums as well. The whole album really works together as one big piece, and after a few listens I was totally hooked.

Would definitely recommend for fans of The Shins, as well.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51J6pfAYssL._AA240_.jpg

I've been extolling the virtues of this since I heard back in January. It's AWESOME and what's great is, it's not going to get overplayed by anybody radio related out here, so we can just enjoy it unfettered.

[Young Drachma]

Marco Polo -- Port Authority (Marco Polo is a Canadian, New York-based DJ. CD is full o' underground artists. It's pretty hot.)

Linkin Park -- Minutes to Midnight (Umm...no. Not very good. Not awful. But...far from good.)

Rufus Wainwright - Release The Stars

Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

[Ksyrup]

I can accept that for the most part. Except there is NOTHING more annoying than fake British accent from pop punk bands.

I didn't know Mustaine was born again. Didn't he also have some hand/arm trouble, or am I confusing him with someone else (not Yngwie)?

Same guy. I didn't follow him all that closely, but I think the two things (hand issue and born-again stuff) were closely related, at least in a timing sense. Not sure what really changed for him. I know he had one or two close calls with drugs back in the day, but that was way before the spiritual conversion.

[Ksyrup]

From what I can see on Wiki and a couple of interviews, it appears to be sobriety-related.

[Draft Dodger]

just read the wiki on Mustaine. sheesh, what a dick

[Ksyrup]

Oh yeah, he's not a nice guy. Which is why his cover of No More Mr. Nice Guy for Shocker was ironically appropriate. For a long time, his band was a never-ending parade of new guitarists and drummers. And then he even had a fallling out with long-time bassist Dave Ellefson. And of course, the Metallica spat that pre-dated it all.

[Young Drachma]

Heartless Bastards -- All This Time

They're on the same label as The Black Keys. And they're good in their own right. Both worth checking out if you haven't heard them and looking for grimy, bluesy, rock music.

[MikeVic]

I can't get a few songs from Mika - Life in Cartoon Motion out of my head, so that's playing in my car sometimes. Currently splitting time between the new Nine Inch Nails, Finger 11, and Entourage Season 1 Soundtrack.

[Ksyrup]

You mean Mika? I borrowed that CD from a friend, but it just didn't doing anything for me. I can see the Freddie Mercury comparison, but I think there's too much Elton John and Bee Gees going on for me to like it.

[MikeVic]

You mean Mika? I borrowed that CD from a friend, but it just didn't doing anything for me. I can see the Freddie Mercury comparison, but I think there's too much Elton John and Bee Gees going on for me to like it.

Yup, I meant Mika haha.

The songs and lyrics sound really fruity and at least two songs have homosexual lyrics (unless I'm misunderstanding them, and not that there's anything wrong with that... I just don't look for that in a song)... but the upbeat sound has them stuck in my head.

The first couple of songs are definitely stuck in my head. The Grace Kelly one and the one with lyrics like: "sucking too hard on your lolipop."

[Young Drachma]

You mean Mika? I borrowed that CD from a friend, but it just didn't doing anything for me. I can see the Freddie Mercury comparison, but I think there's too much Elton John and Bee Gees going on for me to like it.

Agreed. One of my friends here likes him because he's of Lebanese descent. But...all in all, he just annoys me mostly. Mika, I mean.

[Ksyrup]

I'll stick with Rufus for not-so-thinly-veiled homosexual references. He wears his heart between his legs. :)

[Lorena]

I've also been listening to The Queen of the Damned soundtrack and it's freaking awesome. My favorite is track #3 which shows a darker side of Chester Bennington (lead singer of Linkin Park), but you can't go wrong with any of them.

The CD is a little dark, gothy and kinda sexy but it's one of those that I never tire of.

Two thumbs way the hell up!

[Young Drachma]

Amantes Sunt Amentes - Panda
The Brick: Bodega Chronicles - Joell Ortiz

[Izulde]

2007's been about me getting hooked on Boa Kwon and melody. (with the period) thanks to last.fm

Last.fm is also getting me oddly addicted to Lacuna Coil for some reason.

[ISiddiqui]

Its been way too long but I FINALLY got "Me & Mr. Johnson" by Eric Clapton. Absolute brilliance.

Oh, and Icky Thump. Gotta love The White Stripes

[Ksyrup]

Last.fm is also getting me oddly addicted to Lacuna Coil for some reason.

As much as I love goth metal bands with female singers, I just cannot get into Lacuna Coil or Evanescence at ALL. It's very strange. I bought Comalies because I figured I would love it, and the only time I've dusted it of since the week I bought it was to burn my mom a copy. I guess I'm more a fan of the European style - lots of symphony and more o a heavy metal sound than alternative metal. I don't know. Whatever it is, the American bands don't have it!

Speaking of which, Amy Lee fired another 2 members of Evanescence last week. She's turning into the Axl Rose of goth.

[Ksyrup]

BTW, Chris Cornell is officially dead in my eyes. As if Audioslave wasn't mediocre enough, his new solo album is AWFUL. Despite the Audioslave debacle, I held out hope based on Euphoria Morning that he could do something worthwhile on his own, but, um, no. And a plodding, grungy cover of Billie Jean didn't help his case, either.

RIP Cornell. Where's my copy of Badmotorfinger? I need to console myself.

[Lorena]

Hey Ksyrup, do you have a favorite metal soundtrack? I saw a few that looked decent but wanted to hear which ones you like.

[Ksyrup]

If you mean for a movie, nope. I can't think of a single soundtrack I own. Actually, I think I still have the Singles soundtrack, but I only bought that for the Soundgarden song on there. Mostly, I find soundtracks to be a waste of money.

[Draft Dodger]

Rock Star soundtrack for the win.

[Young Drachma]

2007's been about me getting hooked on Boa Kwon and melody. (with the period) thanks to last.fm

Last.fm is also getting me oddly addicted to Lacuna Coil for some reason.

Lacuna Coil is awesome. Good addiction to have.

[Young Drachma]

As much as I love goth metal bands with female singers, I just cannot get into Lacuna Coil or Evanescence at ALL. It's very strange. I bought Comalies because I figured I would love it, and the only time I've dusted it of since the week I bought it was to burn my mom a copy. I guess I'm more a fan of the European style - lots of symphony and more o a heavy metal sound than alternative metal. I don't know. Whatever it is, the American bands don't have it!

Speaking of which, Amy Lee fired another 2 members of Evanescence last week. She's turning into the Axl Rose of goth.

Lacuna Coil are Italian, FYI. But if you didn't like Comalies, then I guess there isn't really liking them. In A Reverie is good though.

And they've changed their style a lot to match what Evanescence did, because well...their first album was a ripoff of Lacuna Coil pre 2003 or so.

At least, that's my take on it anyway.

[Ksyrup]

Lacuna Coil are Italian, FYI. But if you didn't like Comalies, then I guess there isn't really liking them. In A Reverie is good though.

And they've changed their style a lot to match what Evanescence did, because well...their first album was a ripoff of Lacuna Coil pre 2003 or so.

At least, that's my take on it anyway.

That's funny. I Assumed they were American because of how much they sound like Evanescence. But they just don't interest me, unfortunately. I can't explain it. I even tried to give it another shot a few weeks ago when I almost went to see them in Louisville. Within Temptation opened, but I decided it wasn't worth the trip to see the band I wanted open, while LC was the headliner.

Maybe I'd like the older stuff.

[Young Drachma]

Boxer by The National is really good.

I'm enjoying the Kings of Leon newest release too. I wasn't a fan before, but...it's good stuff.

Joell Ortiz's The Brick: Bodega Chronicles is so good that a hip-hop magazine said that it was "too wordy." Which is the most laughable thing ever and ends up becoming high praise, given this kid's debut release is the best thing to come out of New York in a long time.

Amantes Sunt Amentes by Panda is all rock, but has moments of pop and other stuff involved in it. It works okay.

[Young Drachma]

The new Tori Amos LP is....more pop-like. I haven't decided what I think of it yet.

[Ksyrup]

After years of disappointing releases, I've finally given up on her. If the mood strikes me, I just put on one of her first two CDs. Otherwise, I don't bother.

[Young Drachma]

Good call. Under The Pink I like quite a bit. But save for that....

[Ksyrup]

So I have to say I have officially cemented my thumbs-down on QotSA. I could never really get into them, and after hearing raves about the new one and finally listening to it last night, I just don't get it. It's not as heavy as it wants to (and should/could) be, the melodies aren't catchy at all, I can't stand Homme's vocal style, and the staccatto riffing gets boring after awhile. I just don't get the love for this band.

[ageofquarrel]

I have been listening to an Allentown band called Pissed Jeans non stop they have an album coming out called Hope For Men on Sub Pop soon. Despite the dumb name if you like older Black Flag stuff you should check it out.

Oh yeah heres a picture of them
hxxp://www.whitedenim.com/pissedjeans/photo40.jpg

[path12]

BTW, I'm too lazy to go back in the thread but I want to thank whoever was talking about Tally Hall. I finally got around to checking them out and bought the download instantly. Good stuff.

[Ksyrup]

That was me!!!!

I have to say that their album is probably one of hte most under-rated albums of the past decade. I've never seen a band - on its first full-length album, no less - move so fluidly between genres, show a sense of humor, and appeal to grade school kids, college kids, and true music fans like Tally Hall does. My kids love Banana Man and Two Wuv; they are sarcastic and ironic enough to appeal to college kids, and their pop rock chops draw kudos from the older set. I need to check up on them to see what they are doing. I hope they are close to another release.

[path12]

I'm a sucker for a hook, and there's hooks a-plenty there.

[Ksyrup]

I just waded through their forum and it looks like they signed a big deal with Atlantic Records, are going to re-release MMMM with some tweaks, are working on a "secret project" over the summer (rumored to be a new EP since MMMM is so old by now), and then will tour in the fall and winter.

They've also done a cover of Just A Friend which I bet is hilarious.

[Karlifornia]

This band just gets better and better...

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[Pyser]

on first listen, i completely disagree

[Ksyrup]

It looks like it is only an import right now.

Weird, but then again, according to what I have read, Diorama only sold 77,000 copies in the U.S. Thats completely mindblowing to me.

I guess if you want to hear it, you can on their website, or their myspace page. I think they have the full album available for listening on there.

Just read this. Good news for me!



Australian trio SILVERCHAIR has signed on with Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group to release its fifth studio album, "Young Modern", in North America on July 24, 2007. The album will come out on Eleven: a music company, in association with Warner Music Group.

The band is already confirmed for a mainstage appearance on Lollapalooza, Saturday August 3 in Chicago and they have plans for a full North American tour this July and August. Dates will be announced shortly. While they played a handful of acclaimed, sold-out shows in New York, LA and Toronto earlier this year, the forthcoming dates will be the group's first full tour of the U.S. and Canada since 1999.

"Young Modern" is SILVERCHAIR's first album of new material in over five years. The disc is the fastest seller of their incredible career to date, having been certified double platinum in Australia in less than a month. Its lead track, "Straight Lines", has become the group's biggest hit since their 1995 breakthrough, "Tomorrow", racking up a month at #1 on the Aussie singles charts. The album is the follow up to 2002's cult classic, "Diorama", which saw SILVERCHAIR embracing melody and orchestral flourishes and combining it all with brighter, more surreal lyrics. It was a huge creative leap whose Stateside release was impeded by an arthritic condition that prevented Daniel Johns from touring or doing any promotion until a year after its U.S. release. "Young Modern" picks up where "Diorama" left off, expanding the band's sound even further by combining an infectious blend of melodic indie rock with eclectic pop sensibilities.

On "Young Modern", lead singer/guitarist Daniel Johns shared the producer role with Nick Launay (MIDNIGHT OIL, ARCADE FIRE, TALKING HEADS) who had helmed earlier SILVERCHAIR albums "Freak Show" and "Neon Ballroom". "Diorama" producer David Bottrill was brought in as mixer. Paul Mac was again on hand for keyboard duties as he was with the group's two previous albums and legendary BEACH BOYS collaborator Van Dyke Parks reprised his "Diorama" role penning orchestrations for three songs which were recorded in Prague with an 80-piece orchestra.

"It took me a long time to realize that the sound Ben, Chris and I make when we play my songs is something special", says SILVERCHAIR frontman Daniel Johns. "I've been thinking a lot since we finished the album about were this fits into the other stuff we've done. The way I see it the first album was all about naivety, the second one was anger, the third one was depression and the last one was escapism. 'Young Modern' is all about acceptance. It's about embracing who we are as band and just really enjoying ourselves. Hopefully listening to this album will make other people feel what we feel when we play these songs together because I've finally figured out that that's a very special feeling."

[Julio Riddols]

Just read this. Good news for me!



Australian trio SILVERCHAIR has signed on with Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group to release its fifth studio album, "Young Modern", in North America on July 24, 2007. The album will come out on Eleven: a music company, in association with Warner Music Group.

The band is already confirmed for a mainstage appearance on Lollapalooza, Saturday August 3 in Chicago and they have plans for a full North American tour this July and August. Dates will be announced shortly. While they played a handful of acclaimed, sold-out shows in New York, LA and Toronto earlier this year, the forthcoming dates will be the group's first full tour of the U.S. and Canada since 1999.

"Young Modern" is SILVERCHAIR's first album of new material in over five years. The disc is the fastest seller of their incredible career to date, having been certified double platinum in Australia in less than a month. Its lead track, "Straight Lines", has become the group's biggest hit since their 1995 breakthrough, "Tomorrow", racking up a month at #1 on the Aussie singles charts. The album is the follow up to 2002's cult classic, "Diorama", which saw SILVERCHAIR embracing melody and orchestral flourishes and combining it all with brighter, more surreal lyrics. It was a huge creative leap whose Stateside release was impeded by an arthritic condition that prevented Daniel Johns from touring or doing any promotion until a year after its U.S. release. "Young Modern" picks up where "Diorama" left off, expanding the band's sound even further by combining an infectious blend of melodic indie rock with eclectic pop sensibilities.

On "Young Modern", lead singer/guitarist Daniel Johns shared the producer role with Nick Launay (MIDNIGHT OIL, ARCADE FIRE, TALKING HEADS) who had helmed earlier SILVERCHAIR albums "Freak Show" and "Neon Ballroom". "Diorama" producer David Bottrill was brought in as mixer. Paul Mac was again on hand for keyboard duties as he was with the group's two previous albums and legendary BEACH BOYS collaborator Van Dyke Parks reprised his "Diorama" role penning orchestrations for three songs which were recorded in Prague with an 80-piece orchestra.

"It took me a long time to realize that the sound Ben, Chris and I make when we play my songs is something special", says SILVERCHAIR frontman Daniel Johns. "I've been thinking a lot since we finished the album about were this fits into the other stuff we've done. The way I see it the first album was all about naivety, the second one was anger, the third one was depression and the last one was escapism. 'Young Modern' is all about acceptance. It's about embracing who we are as band and just really enjoying ourselves. Hopefully listening to this album will make other people feel what we feel when we play these songs together because I've finally figured out that that's a very special feeling."

..Judging by what Johns said there, this may not be the last we hear of Silverchair, which can only be a good thing.

[Noop]

T-Pain - Bartender
T-Pain - My Girl Got A Girlfriend
Robin Thicke - Lonely World
Robin Thicke - Lost Without U
Robin Thicke - Lost Without U(Fresh Remix)
Robin Thicke - Teach U a Lesson
Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
Lupe Fiasco - Hurt Me Soul
Lupe Fiasco - The Real
Lupe Fiasco - American Terrorist
Young Jeezy - The Inspiration

[Young Drachma]

T-Pain - Bartender
T-Pain - My Girl Got A Girlfriend
Robin Thicke - Lonely World
Robin Thicke - Lost Without U
Robin Thicke - Lost Without U(Fresh Remix)
Robin Thicke - Teach U a Lesson
Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
Lupe Fiasco - Hurt Me Soul
Lupe Fiasco - The Real
Lupe Fiasco - American Terrorist
Young Jeezy - The Inspiration

Lupe Fiasco opened for The Roots when we saw them in February. He did a good job.

[Draft Dodger]

after hearing about him hear, I've been listening to Miko's Life in Cartoon Motion. Love it - it's like candy for my ears

[Young Drachma]

Boxer by The National is a really, really great album.

[Ksyrup]

I'll believe it when I hear it, Kirk...



Metallica (http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/metallica/artist.jhtml) guitarist Kirk Hammett has spoken out about the band’s upcoming album, which he says will be the group’s best record in 15 years. In an interview with Austrian Web site Krone.at (http://www.krone.at/index.php?http://www.krone.at/krone/S52/object_id__70098/hxcms/index.html) — which was translated into English by Blabbermouth.net (http://www.blabbermouth.net/) — the guitarist added that for the first time since 1988’s …And Justice For All, Metallica are bolting the doors and coming up with some brutal thrash riffs.

“It’s our eleventh studio album, but it feels like our sixth,” Hammett said. “It’s just a really spectacular range of songs. This time we’re not afraid to refer to our past music in order to create future music. People will see that we’ve kind of embraced our old vocabulary again and are using that vocabulary to express new things. I’m super excited to make this album, finish it and release it — ’cause then we can go out and play it to the people. We might have stretched our cores a little too much in the last fifteen years, but we’ve always came back to what we originally are and have been. I think with this album we’re definitely going a little more back into our roots.”

The yet untitled disc will include “a lot of really, really fast songs, [and] a whole lot of really heavy stuff,” Hammett said. “There are some songs on that album that are so fast, that [frontman] James [Hetfield] and I kinda look at each other and go, ‘Ouch! Our wrist are gonna fall off.’”

Also, the band are no longer down-tuning their instruments as they have on their past few offerings. Instead, they’re returning to the higher tuning they used on their first five albums. “Because we’ve done that, James’ voice sounds more like it did in the ’80s than it did in the ’90s,” Hammett said. “There’s a lot of changes that we’ve made, but I believe that they are all for the better.”

[Ksyrup]

I've been smitten by a new band I ran across last week, Kiss Kiss. They're like a bizarre indie prog band that uses lots of keyboards and an electric violin, except they manage to maintain a somewhat accessible (and unique) sound. Here are a couple of videos:

The Cats In Your house

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Machines

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[Young Drachma]

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(M.I.A. ~ Boyz)

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(M.I.A. ~ Bird Flu)

It is insane. But....MIA is still killing it.

[Draft Dodger]

"it" being the English language?

[Gallifrey]

I just waded through their forum and it looks like they signed a big deal with Atlantic Records

Now I know one thing, they will not get paid.

[Young Drachma]

Well, she didn't start learning English until she was 13 or so. What do you expect? :)

But besides that....it's an acquired taste sort of deal. You either love it or hate it. There isn't a whole lot of in-between with her. And I can totally see why it'd seem grating.

In other news, I did just hear an album from a really great group from Minnesota called Romantica (http://www.romanticamusic.com/). The CD is called America and it's really great if you're into slow-cooked country-influenced pop (think Ryan Adams) or more baroque pop fare. (Sondre Lerche)

The song "The National Side" was really good and you can hear it on their myspace (http://myspace.com/romantica).

[Draft Dodger]

Well, she didn't start learning English until she was 13 or so. What do you expect? :)

But besides that....it's an acquired taste sort of deal. You either love it or hate it. There isn't a whole lot of in-between with her. And I can totally see why it'd seem grating.


actually, I do like her. just couldn't lay off that fastball

[MikeVic]

So, does anyone know good trance they can recommend to me? The only trance I've ever gotten were two 3-or-4-CD sets... in around 2003. One was called Anthems of Trance, and the other Best of Trance 2003.

I like a few songs on both compilations a lot. Probably half of the songs. But I'm thinking there was got to be more good trance out there in the last four years?

[Ksyrup]

OK, I would say that based on this clip, Metallica is officially cooked. Even Rick Rubin's magic ain't going to resurrect this band. This is some awful punk-influenced garbage. At this point, I think I'd rather them re-record St. Anger properly.


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[Karlifornia]

OK, I would say that based on this clip, Metallica is officially cooked. Even Rick Rubin's magic ain't going to resurrect this band. This is some awful punk-influenced garbage. At this point, I think I'd rather them re-record St. Anger properly.


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When did Metallica become bad religion?

[Karlifornia]

Dola,

I just picked up Spoon-Ga,Ga,Ga,Ga,Ga....I've listened to the first four tracks. I like what I'm hearing so far. I heard them play a song on Letterman last night that just didn't do it for me, but I gave the album the benefit of the doubt.

[Easy Mac]

So, does anyone know good trance they can recommend to me? The only trance I've ever gotten were two 3-or-4-CD sets... in around 2003. One was called Anthems of Trance, and the other Best of Trance 2003.

I like a few songs on both compilations a lot. Probably half of the songs. But I'm thinking there was got to be more good trance out there in the last four years?

You would think....

Anyway:
Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation: Kind of White Stripes, when the White Stripes go for the more incomprehensible stuff. Fun.

A Band of Bees - Octopus: Strangely soulful music from some British white guys. A mix of the Zombies and motown. It works... works damn well.

The National - Boxer: Pretty good music. Sound slightly like Interpol, but slower.

Art Brut - It's a Bit Complicated: Not as catchy or biting as their first album.

Maps - We Can Create: They can create shit. Its like the Postal Service, if the Postal Service were 10x as boring.

El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead: Rap just isn't as interesting as when you were 15.

Dizzie Rascal - Maths + English: See above.

I'm expecting the new Interpol album any day now, and I've listened to the new White Stripes. Its ok, better than the Racontours crap.

[path12]

Dola,

I just picked up Spoon-Ga,Ga,Ga,Ga,Ga....I've listened to the first four tracks. I like what I'm hearing so far. I heard them play a song on Letterman last night that just didn't do it for me, but I gave the album the benefit of the doubt.

Spoon hasn't disappointed me yet, but it always takes me a couple listens first. I'm hoping to pick this up over the weekend.

[MikeVic]

You would think....

Anyway:
Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation: Kind of White Stripes, when the White Stripes go for the more incomprehensible stuff. Fun.

A Band of Bees - Octopus: Strangely soulful music from some British white guys. A mix of the Zombies and motown. It works... works damn well.

The National - Boxer: Pretty good music. Sound slightly like Interpol, but slower.

Art Brut - It's a Bit Complicated: Not as catchy or biting as their first album.

Maps - We Can Create: They can create shit. Its like the Postal Service, if the Postal Service were 10x as boring.

El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead: Rap just isn't as interesting as when you were 15.

Dizzie Rascal - Maths + English: See above.

I'm expecting the new Interpol album any day now, and I've listened to the new White Stripes. Its ok, better than the Racontours crap.

Are these trance, or good rock?

[Ksyrup]

What I'm listening to at this very moment:



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[HerRealName]

Blitzen Trapper - I loves it. I heard a comparison to Pavement with the different song styles from song to song and I can see that a little bit.

White Stripes - This might be my favorite White Stripes cd. It is even better than I even hoped after GBMS and that Racontours bullshit (like Easy Mac mentioned). I must have replayed Rags and Bones 3 times yesterday on the way home from work.

Jason Isbell - formerly from the Drive-By Truckers. It's okay but I was expecting something better. I bet if he knew he was getting kicked out of the DBTs he would have released something stronger.

Interpol - I like it on the first couple listens but it is getting bad reviews. I haven't listened to it enough to pick up on the lyrics yet though.

The National - I never thought they sounded like Interpol before on their previous cds but I agree with Easy Mac. Especially on Mistaken for Strangers, that's the best Interpol song ever made. I like Boxer a lot, maybe even more than Alligator even though there is no song that I like as much as Mr. November.

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga - It's okay, nothing great.

Smashing Pumpkins - Thank God for the internets, I didn't have to buy this shit. Click, delete, and it's gone.

Okkervil River - The Stage Names - this one comes out in a couple weeks. I usually try to avoid downloading advance copies but I failed this time. This cd is outstanding.

[Groundhog]

The Coral - Roots & Echoes

I'm really out of the loop, not even knowing that one of my favourite current bands released an album weeks ago. Listening to it for the first time now with the final track starting up, and overall it's a very "nice" album. These guys are strong melodic song writers, and on this album they have really cut down on the experimental and rawk side of things. When I read a review of the album this morning that really concerned me, but after one listen I don't think it's much of a problem, and I've found that much of their earlier experimental stuff just hasn't aged well with me, while the softer tracks that I glossed over at first now are among my favourites.

I see these guys compared to plenty of other bands, but I'm yet to hear anyone else that writes music like the Coral since the 1970s or late 1960s. If they had been playing back then they would have been huge.

IMO, if you like the Coral, you should like this album. If you've never heard them before but are interested in giving them a shot, start with the 1st album and work your way forward.

[Karlifornia]

Okkervil River - The Stage Names - this one comes out in a couple weeks. I usually try to avoid downloading advance copies but I failed this time. This cd is outstanding.


I listened to a couple songs of theirs on youtube last night...first I'd ever heard of them...I'm gonna grab the CD tomorrow I think....

[kurtism]

A few thoughts on some recent disks (recent to me, at least):

The Cat Empire: Any of their three releases, really. Aussie Latin-Jazz-Pop combo, with great keyboards, horns, and percussion. The singers are nothing to write home about, but the grooves are awesome. Nice summer music.

Soulive, No Place Like Soul: Originally a 3-piece jazz combo (guitar, keys, drums), Soulive recently added Boston singer Toussaint as their fulltime vocalist. Old-school R&B sound with understandably great instrumentation. Plus, this album has a couple live tracks from the pre-Toussaint era.

Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles, Diamonds In the Dark: Alt-country, Americana, call it what you will. This girl can sing, and she picks and writes great songs to boot.

I'm sure there are others, but those have dominated my playlist recently...

[Butter]

After a few listens, I think Emerald City by John Vanderslice is his best album yet. It took me a bit to get into it, but now that I'm there, it's outstanding.

Also, where was I when Myths of the Near Future by Klaxons came out? What a great album. Keeps up some great energy all the way through, and the songs are surprisingly catchy.

[thesloppy]

Are there any other Will Oldham/Palace/Bonnie 'Prince" Billy fans in the FOFC, by any chance?

[Lathum]

OK, I would say that based on this clip, Metallica is officially cooked. Even Rick Rubin's magic ain't going to resurrect this band. This is some awful punk-influenced garbage. At this point, I think I'd rather them re-record St. Anger properly.


Metallicas been "cooked" for over 15 years, it's just there are to many people to young to remember just how amazing they were prior to the Black album.

[korme]

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[path12]

Been on a electronica tangent lately. Just discovered Lemon Jelly and find it excellent background to work by.

[Young Drachma]

Then you might like Manchester Orchestra. This was a band I heard play and made the mistake of not buying their CD at the show, so I had to order it online. Needless to say, I'm on it. Rolling Stone just had an article about them here, and Bright Eyes is mentioned in the sounds like section. Here (http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/13883400/rolling_stones_10_artists_to_watch/9)

Here is their myspace (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=5804691) link, hear a few songs. I'd start with Wolves at Night, then Where Have You Been for some solid stuff.

You know, I listened to them after you suggested it and I didn't like it that much. But it grew on me. Where Have You Been? has turned out to be one of the songs I listen to a lot lately.

[Young Drachma]

Recent stuff I've consumed:

Graduation ~ Kanye West: Not worth all of the hoopla and yet, still very earnest and progressive in terms of the whole package. His worst LP yet, but would be career work for some other artists. I wrote a whole review (http://ronbronson.com/27/?p=182)about it, but I can summarize him pretty easily. He's got all the braggadocio of any other rapper, the introspectiveness of an indie guy, without the nasty emo aftertaste.

Curtis ~ 50 Cent: The pros are, that it's high energy and it doesn't put you to sleep at all. After hearing it, you'll be amped if you're into the genre at all. The bad is that he's not a very good rapper and that it almost seems as if he's bragging throughout the album that this LP means nothing to him at all and that he's so rich that it doesn't make a difference. Whatever works for him, I guess. I have a whole theory on this album after hearing it on my commute today. But that's for my review...

The Donnas ~ Bitchin': They're pretty much the same as they were before. 80's revival act in the form of four chicks from California. They rock out and they're not seemingly concerned with who digs what they do, because they'd make a lot more money being pop whores on MTV. It's a solid release, but nothing out of this world. But not everything has to be..

Lori McKenna ~ Unglamorous [I]It's extremely earnest. I mean, she's just a really great songwriter. And not in a way where she tries to beat around the bush. No, she's telling you the whole story about how he was drunk, how she got knocked up with all of those kids and that even though you get on her damn nerves, she still loves you and wouldn't have it any other way. It's an ode to the "simple life" in a way that I haven't heard articulated by anybody i recent years. At least not with her delivery. "Written Permission" is my favourite track by far.

[Draft Dodger]

I'm a little surprised that I actually liked the Metallica clip above. Well, liked might be too strong a word. Let's just say I didn't want to throw away all my old Metallica tapes like I did when I heard St Anger. But I can picture it being decent when recorded.


anyway, I'm listening to a lot of M.I.A.'s Kala (despite the joke about her above). Love it. Paper Planes is just an insanely fun song.

just picked up the new Ministry, The Last Sucker. I swore them off after Filth Pig, but this, from what I've heard so far, seems a bit closer to Psalm 69 - an album I love.

really dig Prince's Planet Earth. Not great, but the first Prince CD I've liked more than just for a song or two in years.

very disappointed with the new Chemical Brothers (We Are the Night). Seems like 1 or 2 good songs, surrounded by a shitload of noise (and yes, I'm aware that's how a lot of people describe ALL their albums). Not quite giving up yet, but, so far, it's mostly impenetrable.

[Groundhog]

Been on a electronica tangent lately. Just discovered Lemon Jelly and find it excellent background to work by.

Yeah, Lemon Jelly are great background music. I only have their Lost Horizons album, though I also dig their track on the Shatner album.

[path12]

Got back from Austin City Limits festival last weekend. Never had heard Ghostland Observatory before, they kicked ass live. Anyone have a suggestion of where to start with them?

[Young Drachma]

I'm really enjoying The Magic Numbers newest LP, Them The Brokes.

Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings LP, 100 Days 100 Nights is pretty sweet if you have an affinity for 60s soul.

Alison Krauss and Robert Plant have a a put out an album together called Raising Sand and it's brilliant.

Band of Horses, Cease To Begin is also pretty darn good. And lastly, a UK band called Starless and Bible Black (http://www.myspace.com/starlessbibleblack) that have an eponymous debut out now and it's worth checking out.

[Young Drachma]

Got back from Austin City Limits festival last weekend. Never had heard Ghostland Observatory before, they kicked ass live. Anyone have a suggestion of where to start with them?

Rhapsody (http://www.rhapsody.com/home.html) has them.

[Drake]

I just picked up Riot! by Paramore.

Shockingly good stuff, especially the song "Misery Business".

[Bad-example]

John Fogerty has a new release, Revival. Undoubtedly his best cd since Blue Moon Swamp.

[korme]

I just picked up Riot! by Paramore.

Shockingly good stuff, especially the song "Misery Business".

I've been digging what I've heard from Paramore so far... the entire cd is worth the purchase?

[path12]

Jens Lekman -- Night Falls over Kordadala (sp?). I really enjoy his stuff, saw him live at a small club last night and just a fun, fun show.

[Easy Mac]

Editors - An End Has a Start: A slower, boring, larger version of their first album... like every other Brit post-punk band... and it doesn't work either.

Kanye West -Graduation: Like his previous albums, but more trance-lite background music.

Black Lips - Los Valientes Del Mondo Nuevo: Garage Rock, a fun, quick album.

Interpol - Our Love to Admire: A little worse than their first two, but a solid effort.

Cut Off Your Hands - Shaky Hands EP: If you're not over post-punk, then this is a good, short CD. Basically a Franz Ferdinand jr (taking over for Kaiser Chiefs) from New Zealand.

Battles - Mirrored: A bunch of guys get together and make some weird math rock songs. I dig it.

Black Kids - Wizard of Ahhhs: More Killers-ish goodness, when the Killers were good. Maybe mix the Killers with the Go! Team.

Los Campesinos - Sticking Fingers into Sockets: Like the Black Kids, only less Killers and more Go! team.

LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver: Far superior than the first album... probably because its more accessible.

The Pipettes - We are the Pipettes: Technically came out a year ago in the UK, but the US translation doesn't lose much. I don't really like old girl groups, but this CD is catchy and sassy.

More time needed with: Radiohead, The Go! Team, Band of Horses, Okkervil River, needtobreathe, Simian Mobile Disco

[Drake]

I've been digging what I've heard from Paramore so far... the entire cd is worth the purchase?

I thought so, Shorty. I picked it up from the Fueled by Ramen webstore for $9.99.

[Butter]

Black Kids - Wizard of Ahhhs: More Killers-ish goodness, when the Killers were good.

When was this?

[Groundhog]

I'm still listening to The Coral's Roots & Echoes album. I'll be damned if it isn't the best rock album I've bought in... god knows how long.

[Easy Mac]

When was this?

Songs 2-5 and 7 on Hot Fuss.

Also, the Black Kids album can be had free on http://www.blackkidsmusic.com/
(http://www.blackkidsmusic.com/)

[Easy Mac]

I'm still listening to The Coral's Roots & Echoes album. I'll be damned if it isn't the best rock album I've bought in... god knows how long.

I have this, but their last album just bored me so much that I haven't listened to it really (just having a random song show up on shuffle). They always felt like a poor mans The Zutons (until the Zuton's 2nd album, at which point I wanted to give up on bothe bands)

[Young Drachma]

I'm still listening to The Coral's Roots & Echoes album. I'll be damned if it isn't the best rock album I've bought in... god knows how long.

I'd never heard them before. But man, after reading this here and firing it up just now..I'm a pretty big fan of this LP. Good stuff.

[Apathetic Lurker]

Bricks Are Heavy by L7
Thats about it for albums. Plus a smattering of Nightwish, Rock Goddess, Slade, Toby Keith and Hank Jr as the mood hits me.

[HerRealName]

These are the most recent ones that I like...

The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse

Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends

Band of Horses - Cease to Begin

The Broken West - I Can't Go On I'll Go On

BabyShambles (I forget the title)

[Fidatelo]

Metric - Grow Up and Blow Away

Pascale Picard - Me, Myself, and Us

Jeremy Fisher - Goodbye Blue Monday

Wolfmother - Wolfmother

Britney Spears - Blackout

[Butter]

These are the most recent ones that I like...

The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse

This is maybe my favorite album this year. Just terrific all around.

[samifan24]

I'm currently enjoying:

Stereophonics - Pull the Pin
Ryan Adams & the Cardinals - Follow the Lights EP
Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers - Glassjaw Boxer

[Lonnie]

I've been listening to Five Finger Death Punch lately. Really cool name, and their fan club are the Knuckles... that cracks me up.

[Groundhog]

I have this, but their last album just bored me so much that I haven't listened to it really (just having a random song show up on shuffle). They always felt like a poor mans The Zutons (until the Zuton's 2nd album, at which point I wanted to give up on bothe bands)

I don't know if they changed producers or something, but this lattest album is a massive leap ahead of everything else they've done... and I've LOVED everything else they've done. Flawless 60s/70s styled rock, with the psychedelic influences blended in to the music a million times better.

[korme]

So just got the Paramore album, bought to test drive it here now


BTW, I resent that "when the Killers were good" statement!

[Young Drachma]

I'm listening to Paramore now on Zune. We'll see what I think. It's not as bad as I thought it was when I first heard them, but all of the hype turns me off. They're not bad...but then, I listen to a lot of female fronted bands and so, I guess I'm measuring them against that. And most of that pop-punk drivel is the same and they're surely better than that.

The acoustic version of Misery Business is good stuff.

[Groundhog]

BTW, I resent that "when the Killers were good" statement!

Yeah, me too! They've never come close to that point yet! ;)

[korme]

FYI, you can listen to their entire album on their myspace page for a limited time for free:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=11730869

[samifan24]

Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter - I only recently discovered Josh Ritter but this album, which was released this summer, is phenomenal. Ritter been compared to Dylan and has even opening for him on several occasions but has yet to really find widespread recognition here in the States (he's huge in Ireland). Highly recommended.

[Groundhog]

Robert Wyatt - Comicopera

Still needs lots more listens. Initial impression is that it's less song-ish than his last album, but the first couple of tracks in particular are strong.

[MikeVic]

Die Mannequin - How to Kill
Die Mannequin - Slaughter Daughter

Both CDs combined are only nine songs, and about 35 minutes of music. I heard them as the opening act for Finger 11/Sum 41 (which Sum 41 backed out of due to injury) and liked what I heard. After they finished the band was in the hall signing autographs and selling CDs, talking to the people. Bought them both for $5 each and really really like them right now.

[Young Drachma]

Rufus Does Judy At Carnegie Hall is a new live LP by Rufus Wainwright. If you didn't like him before, then you won't like this either. But I think the sound is vibrant and the band supporting him sounds pretty great. And really, to think of how ambitious this project is...and that he basically pulls it off...it's pretty cool.

Not sure I can like it enough to put it into rotation, but I do appreciate it for what it is.

Other than that...I checked this thread out to get some new stuff that I didn't already have, because I'm tired of what I've been playing.

[samifan24]

Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas Box Set - cause it's that time.