If you’re into hillbilly garage rock, you’ll dig this video by Kings of Leon, yet another “three sons of a Southern evangelical preacher with cousin” band. Man, watching this makes me think…I gotta get me some super-tight tapered jeans.
Click here to watch ‘The Bucket’
Latest album ‘Aha Shake Heartbreak’ is in stores and my iPod now.
It’s ok. You can believe the truth. And here it is. This album is one of the greats. One of the greats in the sense that ‘Rubber Soul’, ‘Pet Sounds’, ‘Revolver’, ‘Thriller’, ‘The Bends’, and ‘Joshua Tree’ are some of the greats. And to say that this is the greatest Oasis album to date would be easy to do. After all, it’s probably true. It’s like everything they’ve done prior combines and contorts and melts and forms into these eleven flawless tracks. If you like rock n’ roll, you’ll like this album. If you like post ‘Help!’ Beatles, you’ll like this album. If you like ‘Definitely Maybe’ and ‘Morning Glory’ you’ll love this album.
The opening track ‘Turn Up the Sun’ quickly kicks it off in overdrive and sets the tone. ‘Mucky Fingers’ has an amazing, extremely pounding sound to it that flows through the whole tune, but never gets old. The best part in this track, however, along with ‘The Importance of Being Idle’, is the noticeable difference in Noel G’s vocal range compared to earlier works, which is an awesome addition. ‘The Meaning of Soul’ is a 300 miles-an-hour acoustic equivalent to Bowie’s ‘Suffragette City’. ‘Let There Be Love’ is your instant-classic Oasis song, with ‘Acquiesce’ style vocal handoffs. And Liam Gallagher proves he’s got all the skills necessary in the songwriting department, especially with album highlight ‘Love Like a Bomb’, penned along with guitarist Gem Archer, which surpasses even ‘Songbird’.
Everything Oasis does so well is magnified here. The art of writing music has been perfected, and the fact that all four members pen songs makes the whole collaboration that much sweeter. The hard-driven guitars, excellent melodies, array of instruments perfectly placed and full-on attitude- it’s all here.
If you buy one album this year, hell, if you buy one thing this year, make it ‘Don’t Believe the Truth’. You’ll be listening for a looong time. I know I will.
‘Don’t Believe the Truth’ is in stores now.
Posting this one a bit late in the week…
Letterman
Tuesday, 31 - Bloc Party
Leno
Tuesday, 31 - Aimee Mann
Wednesday, 1 - Beck
Thursday, 2 - Snow Patrol
Friday, 3 - Will Smith
Conan
Tuesday, 31 - Low Millions
Craig Ferguson
Tuesday, 31 - Lang Lang
Wednesday, 1 - Brendan Benson
Thursday, 2 - The Futureheads
SNL
Beck
Note: Word to the smart: Buy the new Oasis album (’Don’t Believe the Truth’ out today!). This group of songs is really amazing. I’ve been listening so much my ears are bleeding, but in a good way. Hope to have a full review tommorrow.
Ever wonder what a day in the life of a funk punk band of misfits like LCD Soundsystem is like? Do you like things that are kinda awesome? Then your fix is here in the form of ‘Disco Infiltrator’. Complete with cowbells, handclaps, single-finger synth and trademark nasaly vocals, the latest from the LCD is pretty rad and I’d be willing to bet it’s next in line to grace the next iPod commercial. If you’re cool you’ll probably like it. Just remember, and don’t forget, you got to shake the waist-uggh.
Click here to watch ‘Disco Infiltrator’
‘Disco Infiltrator’ (single) is available May 31.
At first glance, it might be easy to pass this five-piece rock group off as yet another passe band from Sweden. But you’d be wrong. Dead wrong, kid. Cause these lads bring enough to the table to get excited about.
Mando Diao is like a rock n’ roll voltron. They’ve got the the sounds and attitude of The Libertines, the energy of Supergrass, hooks of The Kinks, and with guitarists/vocalists Gustaf Noren and Bjorn Dixgard, the stolen vocals of the younger versions of Gaz Coombes and Noel Gallagher. With narcissistic lyrics like, “She ain’t as beautiful as me, but she’s as beautiful as she can be”, how can you not dig this band?
‘God Knows’, the second track off their latest album, ‘Hurricane Bar’, is a true rock n’ roll anthem. These guys are all about melody and harmony and it pans out perfect here.
Click here to rock out all day to ‘God Knows’.
‘Hurricane Bar’ is in stores now.
There’s no question that the majority of songs on Coldplay’s first two albums are epic in their own right. And ‘X&Y’ seems to be making no exception, especially after a listen to the album’s first single, the bigger than life ‘Speed of Sound’. The fact that Chris Martin is confident enough to vow to make ‘X&Y’ the greatest album of all time is worth a listen at least.
And there’s no mistaking that ‘Speed of Sound’ is Coldplay. If anyone was hoping for a drastic change you won’t find it on the first single. But if you’re looking for a nice expansion to the current library of solid tunes, you’ll probably be well pleased.
Click here to download the MP3 to ‘Speed of Sound’.
Single: ‘Speed of Sound’ is out tommorrow, May 24
Album: ‘X&Y’ hits stores June 7
‘Gimme Fiction’, the latest album from this three-man band out of Austin, TX, has added another twist to their punk/pop hybrid sound. Following in the critical success of their 2002 album ‘Kill the Moonlight’ (most notable for ‘That’s the Way We Get By’ and ‘Jonathon Fisk’) Spoon have taken a different route by making the new album slightly darker and lots bigger.
‘I Turn the Camera On’, the third track off the the new CD, probably isn’t the best representation of Spoon’s overall sound, but it’s cool nonetheless. With an almost Prince-like, high-falsetto sound to it, this song really grooves.
Click here to download the MP3 to ‘I Turn the Camera On’
‘Gimme Fiction’ (released May 10) is in stores now.
This week in TV music…
Letterman
Tuesday, 24 - Wallflowers
Wednesday, 25 - Ryan Adams
Thursday, 26 - Martha Wainwright
Leno
Tuesday, 24 - Lisa Marie Presley
Wednesday, 25 - Nelly
Thursday, 26 - Nikka Costa
Conan
Monday, 24 - Solomon Burke
Craig Ferguson
Wednesday, 25 - Robert Cray
Thursday, 26 - Layzie Bone
With over 1.5 million copies of their self-titled album selling in the States alone, most hard-edged fans of the tunes know about Gorillaz by now. If not, it’s time to get on the bandwagon. This band, fronted entirely by four cartoon characters, started essentially as a side project created by frontman Damon Albarn (the most underrated musician out there in my opinion) and illustrator Jamie Hewlett (best known for the Tank Girl comics) but has quickly rolled into a full on blitzkrieg. The supergroup is comprised of one of the most innovative collections of musicians around: 2D, aka Damon Albarn (vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass), Noodle (guitars) and Russel Hobbs (drums). The mix of musical backgrounds in hip-hop, rock and funky beats really blends into an awesome collaboration.
This time around on their sophmore album, ‘Demon Days’, original producer Dan “the Automator” Nakamura has been replaced by producer Danger Mouse (most famed probably for the controversial ‘Grey Album’). The new album seems to have taken an approach to more sounds, strings, pianos and synth throughout. 2D describes ‘Demon Days’ as “like someone had taken the first album and colored it in”.
The video for ‘Feel Good Inc.’ is really amazing. It’s probably the coolest video I’ve ever seen. Most notably Noodle playing her six string on the edge of a flying island propelled by a windmill. The bass line is so catchy you’ll have it in your head for days, so be warned. And De La Soul makes a noteworthy feature in this song, making you forget they were ever missing from the music scene. Ha ha ha ha haaaaa!
Click here to watch ‘Feel Good Inc.’
‘Demon Days’ hits the shelves next Tuesday, May 24.
The Duke Spirit, the London based group comprised of four dudes and one sexy chick-with an equally sexy/cool voice, has just entered the music scene and is kickin the walls down in their debut balls-to-the-wall, rockin your pants off without even thinking twice about it ‘Cuts Across the Land’. The sound is raw and dark, but not in the cliched sense of the word. It’s good ole’ rock’n'roll- as in tight jeans and lots of beer.
Click here to listen to the opening track, ‘Cuts Across the Land’.
The LP ‘Cuts Across the Land’ is in stores this week.
‘In the Morning’ is the perfect song to kick off the weekend. With an awesome blend of accoustic strumming, upbeat percussion and one hell of a catchy keyboard riff, by the time you’re through listening to this track you’ll probably have sandals on and a drink with an umbrella in it.
Click here to listen to ‘In the Morning’
Ok, I just had this genius idea. Music video. Setting: band on stage with huge industrial fans blowing all over. Now, cue cute girls skipping school to rush the doors to see the band. And the twist is they all have to bring their pillows and have a huge pillow fight for no reason. Oh wait, Kaiser Chiefs beat me to it. Dammit.
Check out the video to “I Predict a Riot” by this 5-some from Leeds. Obvious influences from 80’s pop, which seems to be the rage these days, but that’s ok cause these guys do it right. (Too bad they added dudes to the pillow fight, though)
“Employment“, the band’s breakthru debut album, is on shelves this week.
“Come Home” is an excellent tune. It reminds me of a really cool guy, but not necessarily a hip guy, looking for clues or tracking someone down. Not because of the lyrics, just the sound. The chorus is kind of an unexpected turn, but brings the brightest moments in the song. Dig it.
If you’ve never seen a Gameboy jam out on an electric guitar, you gotta check this out. Gameboy Homeboy, I dubb you “The Robot (dance)” worthy. I just hope Beck’s 7 year old nephew is getting royalties off these lyrics.
This song is a remix of the more chilled out “Que’ Onda Guero” on the new album “Guero”.
As promised, here’s The Coral tune of the day.
Click here to listen to “Something Inside Of Me“. I’m a huge fan of really simple guitar solos.