Showing posts with label review. Show all posts

Sound City - Real to Reel


Release date: March 12, 2013
Label: RCA
1. Heaven and All by Robert Levon Been, Dave Grohl, Peter Hayes
2. Time Slowing Down by Chris Goss, Tim Commerford, Grohl, Brad Wilk
3. You Can't Fix This by Stevie Nicks, Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Rami Jaffee
4. The Man That Never Was by Rick Springfield, Grohl, Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear
5. Your Wife Is Calling by Lee Ving, Grohl, Hawkins, Alain Johannes, Smear
6. From Can to Can't by Corey Taylor, Grohl, Rick Nielsen, Scott Reeder
7. Centipede by Josh Homme, Goss, Grohl, Johannes
8. A Trick With No Sleeve by Johannes, Grohl, Homme
9. Cut Me Some Slack by Paul McCartney, Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Smear
10. If I Were Me by Grohl, Jessy Greene, Jaffee, Jim Keltner
11. Mantra by Grohl, Homme, Trent Reznor
Dave Grohl's directorial debut in Sound City lands him with positive reviews for this documentary. Being no newbie to the acting world, Grohl has been doing cameos in films such as Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny and The Muppets. However, being a veteran in music throughout the years with Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Probot and Queens, the music to Sound City is definitely a no-brainer accompaniment to the documentary. 

 Sound City captures the sound and moments of well known musicians from the days of Metallica, Nirvana, Fleetwood Mac, Johnny Cash and so on. In this documentary, Grohl includes an assortment of other musicians to be featured in a temporary super group.

Taylor Hawkins filled in for drums on almost everything that Grohl didn't. Krist Novoselic returns on bass after a long hiatus from the limelight. With the likes of Paul McCartney, Josh Homme, Lee Ving, Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk, Trent Reznor and many more, Sound City is a big musical salad bowl that is brimming with different talents from different genres of music. Each sharing their own love and expression for music.

I've always liked Stevie Nicks' vocals eventhough I'm not a huge fan of Fleetwood Mac or her solo work, but her voice makes you understand why she was one of the best in the 70s. I'm quite intrigued that Grohl, Hawkins and Rami Jaffee managed to compose a track to her style. It sounded exactly like what Stevie Nicks would actually sing.

From Can to Can't is another gem played by Corey Taylor, Grohl, Rick Nielsen and Scott Reeder. After hearing the vocals on this track, I personally think that Corey's a good vocalist. It sounds like there's some sort of slow sadness emanating from a suffering man that's finally trying breaking free, that finally does break out in anger, which makes the track even more endearing. Of course the guitar solo in it kicks ass and lends to making the song great too.

I'm not too sure with tracks number 5, 8 and 9 and many will probably hate me for this, but Cut Me Some Slack really doesn't work for me. I like what Paul McCartney did in the 60s, but this track just feels weak and contrived even with such an awesome lineup in it. It might just be a nostalgia patchwork that Dave Grohl always wanted, but it really doesn't bring out the energy from some of the other tracks that are on Sound City.

If I Were Me is an acoustic track with strings accompaniment that, in my opinion, is the most beautiful track in this album. Grohl's heartfelt lyrics and vocal mood singing, "If I were me I'd wait forever, what's your hurry?" really tugs on the strings of the heart. The piano and violin begs and wails with intense sadness that just buries deep into your soul. That's just it. It hits the right spot with such a combination of strong instruments and lyricwork.

Dave Grohl in Sound City Studios
This album is a great idea of experimentation. If you've always wanted to know how Geniuses like Dave Grohl and Trent Reznor will sound like together or how legendary bassists, Paul McCartney and Krist Novoselic or even how Rick Springfield would sound like being the frontman for Foo Fighters, Sound City is the album that would provide the answer.

4 out of 7 sins

Simon Yong - Alien Stole My Whiskey

I'm not so much of an expert on guitar albums. So I won't draw any comparisons to any other solo guitarists throughout this review.

In fact, I think I won't be able to, because Alien Stole My Whiskey is such an enjoyable album that it stands on its own just by sheer energy and creativity.

From the get go, Alien invites the listener with the enticing Blood of Raven. Calm and collected, almost ambient. It's obvious that it is just aural foreplay for the next track which is a total firecracker.

An Ancient March With The King's Pipers is an epic instrumental piece. Mixing all sorts of instrumentation and effects, Alien Stole My Whiskey is far more than just a guitar wankery showcase. In keeping up with the theme of continuity of the album, Seismic Waves picks up where Ancient March left off. Exploding with an intro riff and sweeps you off your feet with its melodic goodness.


Tracklist:
  1. Blood of Raven
  2. An Ancient March With The King's Pipers
  3. Seismic Waves
  4. Listen To The Sun
  5. Namibian Waltz
  6. The Gardener
  7. Kyra
  8. Alien Stole My Whiskey
  9. Blood of Raven (Reprise)

Violins, keyboards, pianos, drums and bass plays almost the same level of prominence on this album as guitar. Each having a beautiful spot in the mix to blend and weave a blanket of sound. Seismic Waves, The Gardener  and Listen To The Sun are perfect examples of the aforementioned fusion of instruments. Melodic and precise, Simon Yong knows what he is good at and takes no time to flaunt it.

As enjoyable as this album is, Kyra got me bored after all the flexing in the album. It does serve its purpose to show the more delicate side of Simon's chops but it feels abit disjointed from the overall theme that seemed to be going on with the rest of the album. And the fact that this sounds like the obligatory track that every solo guitarist album has to have, has got me neither amazed nor disappointed about it. In short, too typical and breaks the flow of an otherwise intense album of riffs and build ups.


Alien is an amazing guitar album that deserves to be listened to by guitar enthusiasts as well as music lovers alike. The songwriting keeps you glued from start to finish and the musical prowess of everyone on the album maintains a level of badassery that many wished they possess. Sure, there are rough edges here and there, and it could have been made better but it also makes Alien a far more personal album by bearing its flaws.

5 out of 7 Sins
Pros: Brilliant musicianship and composition, seamless fusion of instruments
Cons: Album could be longer, Kyra is a wet blanket, wish Blood of Raven was a full song rather than a filler

Palms - Palms LP

Released: 25 June 2013
Label: Ipecac Records
When it was rumoured that Chino Moreno (Deftones) was combining forces with the instrumental remnants of Isis (Jeff Caxide, Aaron Harris and Bryant Meyer), I couldn't wait to get my dose of Palms. Being a long time Isis fan, I was excited to hear what this fusion would sound like after such good albums coming from both Deftones and Isis (prior to their break-up) respectively. With Chino on vocals, it would be an interesting musical alchemy.

Ever since 2010, alot has happened within both bands too. Deftones released their comeback album, Diamond Eyes, Chino fronted a new electronic side project that has released 2 EPs since forming (read the review here) and Isis released Wavering Radiant(2009) and played their swansong tour.








Tracklist:

  1. Future Warrior
  2. Patagonia
  3. Mission Sunset
  4. Shortwave Radio
  5. Tropics
  6. Antartic Handshake
Opening with Future Warrior's slew of guitar melodies weaving through molten bass lines, Palms feels like it is on the right path. However, all that intensity is lost with Patagonia. Alot may disagree with me on this, but this song is boring and repetitive. Other than the sudden burst of energy during the chorus, it really has nothing else going on for it.



Mission Sunset returns the album back to its feet after Patagonia. Every single note in this track keeps growing and growing up till the moment Chino belts it out. It one of those tracks that make your hair stand on end and your head sway to the sonic ocean waves that engulfs your consciousness. There's everything to love and nothing to forget. Must listen. Headphones and dimly lit room recommended.

Following Mission Sunset is the uncanny Shortwave Radio and Tropics. These tracks that possess every drop of goodness from each member and leaves you wanting for more. Unfortunately, the album kind of just goes flat after this.

Not saying that I don't appreciate a good dose of ambient soundscapes and reverb drenched instruments, but following the footsteps of Patagonia, Antartic Handshake does nothing but roll around in a puddle of echos and never finding it's the way out again. Simply said, it's boring too.




It might just be expectation acting on me but there could have been better tracks coming from this insane line-up but apparently only half of the album manages to properly display that. The rest is still bathing in reverb and delay that does little but fill up the background of your headspace.

Writer's fave: Future Warrior, Mission Sunset, Shortwave Radio

5 out of 7 Sins

Pros: Melodies, huge enormous build ups, chino steamy vocal sandwich
Cons: Feels contrived and repetitive at times, could have been more intense

Queens of The Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork

Released: 3 June 2013
Label: Matador, Rekords Rekords
Almost seven years in the making and recovering from a near-death experience, Josh Homme brings the posse back together and unleashes one of the most creatively seductive album of 2013. Leave your left feet outside, Queens of The Stone Age are back and they're gonna make you dance and cry at the same time.

Josh was definitely onto something by including musicians like Trent Reznor, Dave Grohl, Elton John and long-time collaborators, Mark Lanegan, Alain Johannes and Nick Oliveri (didn't see this one coming) in the mix. What resulted is nothing short of an amazing cauldron of riffs, fuzz, thumps and coos, that might just be on par with their critically acclaimed Songs For The Deaf, 2002 (or Rated R,2000, depending on the individual).







Tracklist:
  1. Keep Your Eyes Peeled
  2. I Sat By The Ocean
  3. The Vampyre of Time and Memory
  4. If I Had a Tail
  5. My God Is The Sun
  6. Kalopsia
  7. Fairweather Friends
  8. Smooth Sailing
  9. I Appear Missing
  10. ...Like Clockwork
Opening the trip is brooding bass-trodden Keep Your Eyes Peeled, a track that pretty much sets the mood for almost the whole album. It is a dark and melancholic trip through a dizzying array of conflicting melodies that sound like they're going to fall apart at any moment. But, it won't.

Personally, the album takes a more conceptual approach once The Vampyre of Time and Memory comes in with an almost minimalist composition of piano, drums and vocals and some ambient noises. Followed by If I Had A Tail and My God Is The Sun, I just can't help but picture a scenario of lost hope that turns into anger that finally trancends into a higher understanding of self. I might just be reading too much into the structure of the music and it might just be about sex and banging in the back seats of race cars, but this is my own personal interpretation. So ignore it and enjoy the amazing musicianship if you don't like it.


The rest of the album are chocked full of goodness too, Fairweather Friends is quick and to the point in its delivery of addictive choruses and riffage. Smooth Sailing brings good ol' boogie down QoTSA with classic fuzz solos and sexy basslines. Finally, I Appear Missing brings forth an intense buildup of psychedelic riffs, a chorus that will have you singing along and a drum beat that seems to compliment every peak and trough.


Progressive and daring, solid yet fragile enough to break apart at the slightest prod, and an emotional journey from start to end ...Like Clockwork is a must-listen by anyone who enjoys their share of good music. and I'm probably giving this a full score cause I think Troy is a total vampire cause he is still hot over the years.

Writer's fave: If I Had A Tail, I Appear Missing, Fairweather Friends

7 out of 7 sins
Pros: Creative songwriting, Dave Grohl, captivating from start to finish
Cons: Feels short

Ghost - Infestissumam

Released: 10 April 2013
Label: Loma Vista
With this latest offering, Ghost is out to prove that they aren't just another flash in the pan amongst the myriad of stoner/psychedelic/70s-fused bands emerging from Sweden recently.

Most fans of Opus Eponymous(2010) might just write Ghost off their list of faves as the catchy vibe and cheesy musical references to past great bands are less obvious here. With more focus in place for melodic arrangement of vocals, keyboard parts as well as deeper songwriting.

Infestissumam, while still maintaining the unique with tracks like Secular Haze, Year Zero and the surprisingly beautiful, Ghuleh/Zombie Queen, it still serves adequate fanfare through tracks such as Per Aspera Ad Inferi, Body and Blood and Monstrance Clock.







Tracklist:
  1. Infestissumam
  2. Per Aspera Ad Inferi
  3. Secular Haze
  4. Jigolo Har Megiddo
  5. Ghuleh/Zombie Queen
  6. Year Zero
  7. Body and Blood
  8. Idolatrine
  9. Depth of Satan's Eyes
  10. Monstrance Clock
It is obvious that with this sophomore release, Papa Emeritus II and The Nameless Ghouls aim to set their mark as a band with their own style and musical identity and not just be referred to as "that Mercyful Fate band". With tracks like Secular Haze, Year Zero and Jigolo Har Megiddo giving a more than a slight tap on the shoulder of 70s pop and disco, it is safe to say that the inspiring force behind this album might just be 70s dance music as compared to the more easily obvious Occult Rock direction of their debut.


A personal favourite would be Ghuleh/Zombie Queen and it would serve as the ultimate epitome of Infestissumam stylistically. It begins with a ballad infused piano intro and a cooing Papa Emeritus that stretches for a solid 3 minutes. As weird as that maybe, it's new, it's surprising and it shows depth in Ghost as a songwriting entity. They're not here to satisfy your need for a refresher of the greats in the 70s, they're here to tell you how it would sound like to be a great band from the 70s.

Clocking in at 7 and a half minutes, the song gets a tempo boost near the middle and that is where the real fun starts. With a signature chorus hook that pulls you to sing along and worship openly, tremolo doused guitar lines that weaves a nice thread through the instrumental fabric and the cheesy, scooby-snacked keyboard accompaniment that is just uniquely Ghost. Ghuleh/Zombie Queen is definitely a must to listen to.

Infestissumam might be abit more of a grower than a shocker in comparison to Opus but that's the root of the scrutiny that this album faces. That being the pressure of doing a repetition of what they have done before and being continuously judged based on a great debut. Bands evolve over time and with this album, Ghost's evolution proves that they can do much more than what most would expect.

All in all, as enjoyable as the album is, it is not all power and praise as Idolatrine and Depth of Satan's Eyes feels a tad contrived and lacks the sinful attraction of prior tracks. It is, however, saved by the inclusion of closing track, Monstrance Clock, which is another intense ending to a chapter in Ghost's sermon.

Writer's fave: Year Zero, Ghuleh/Zombie Queen, Body and Blood, Monstrance Clock

 5 out of 7 sins

Pros: Refreshing direction, catchiness intact, deeper songwriting, better production quality
Cons: Too many mid to slow-tempo songs, weaker tracks feels too disjointed

Shining - Blackjazz

Released: 18 January 2010
Label: Indie Recordings
Have you ever wondered if it is possible to mix the erratic juxtaposed noise of early Nine Inch Nails with the abrasive angst of Ministry? And on top of that trickle a fancy touch of prog sensibility?

Norwegian Avant-Garde Jazz/Metal band, Shining, proves that it is possible and there's no boundary to their music that is left unexplored in their mind-numbing 2010 release, Blackjazz.

Fronted by Saxophonist and Multi-instrumentalist Jørgen Munkeby, Shining boasts an extremely energetic and fresh combination of two extreme genres of music; Jazz and Metal. With fuzzy guitar leads, screeching synths and massive growls that could leave scratch marks all over your walls, Shining has not only refined a long-lost sound of the 90s industrial genre but has also made it their own with their unique touch of prog metal and jazz on this 9-track LP.






Tracklist:

1. The Madness and The Damage Done Pt. 1

2. Fisheye
3. Exit Sun Pt. 1
4. Exit Sun Pt. 2
5. HEALTER SKELTER
6. The Madness and The Damage Done Pt. 2

7. Blackjazz Deathtrance
8. Omen
9. 21st Century Schizoid Man (King Crimson Cover)


HEALTER SKELTER is a great stand-out track on Blackjazz, mainly due to the hypnotic saxophone intro intertwining with the fuzzy bassline and sporadic drums. It sounds as though 70s prog got pissed off and went on an all-out rampage. With the absence of vocals, HEALTER SKELTER is definitely highlights Shining's instrumental prowess.


Ending the album with a cover of King Crimson's 21st Century Schizoid Man, this rendition pushes the original further into Schizophrenic madness with louder droning guitars, squealing sax and on top of it all, a very monstrous vocal performance. It just brings an old prog classic back to life from an angle most bands would usually falter. Pure badassery alert right here.

I have nothing but praise for this band, but as much as I enjoy Blackjazz, I would have preferred if they've made longer filler tracks (Exit Sun Pt. 2 and The Madness and The Damage Done Pt. 2) just so it would display a different facade on an already technically amazing band and provide a breather in between all the aural assault.

Writer's Fave: HEALTER SKELTER, Exit Sun Pt. 1, The Madness and The Damage Done Pt. 1/2

6 out of 7 sins


p.s: I know the album was released 3 years ago, but I've only found about them this year and had the strongest overwhelming urge to just review the album. so just enjoy reading it and check them out if you haven't. and if you have, good for you. there's more to come.

Deftones - Koi No Yokan


Released: 13 November 2012
Label: Reprise
Returning stronger than before after their tumultuous 2008 incident with their comeback Diamond Eyes(2010), Deftones brings forth their most defining and daring efforts yet in Koi No Yokan.

Loosely translated as "the sense upon first meeting a person and knowing that the two of you are going to fall in love", Koi No Yokan crushes and embraces all at the same time with beautiful soundscapes in Entombed and Rosemary to infinite intensity in tracks such as Goon Squad and Gauze.

 Opening track Swerve City makes it clear that Deftones are back and they're not just trying to please everyone this time around. Laced with crushing riffs from Stef and the entry into a dreamy chorus where all the instruments seem to unite, it is the perfect precursor to the next track. 

 With awkward love ballad Romantic Dreams, it just makes you wonder if all love songs should start sounding like this. Revolving around Chino's signature wails and Abe's unconventional drumming that keeps spiralling out of control, you begin to realise that the band are definitely riding on a real creative high.
Tracklist:

1. Swerve City
2. Romantic Dreams
3. Leathers
4. Poltergeist
5. Entombed
6. Graphic Nature
7. Tempest
8. Gauze
9. Rosemary
10. Goon Squad
11. What Happened To You?

 First single Leathers is the closest resemblance to anything reminiscent from Diamond Eyes. Desperate shrieking from Chino and the ever-expanding drumline presents the track's subject matter of leaving anything and believing in yourself in the face of adversity all the more convincing and emotional. Personally, I can't wait to see this track being played live and having my mouth water uncontrollably.

Like a real spiritual entity, Poltergeist enters with an obscure sampled clap beat track that almost had me reeling back and thinking whether will this one of those tracks that I won't listen to again. However, that's where I'm wrong when suddenly the beastly 8-string destruction enters and makes this track all the more enigmatic and appealing, and on retrospect, it's pretty much the concept that Koi No Yokan has going on for the whole album.



Clocking an impressive 52 minutes in total, Koi No Yokan keeps growing on you with album staples Leathers, Tempest, Rosemary and Gauze. There's very little space where it feels like the album is just trying to make do and create an easily-digested radio hit single because everything in this album will impress you on different levels.

 Guitar riffs run amock with spacey synth overload, fuzzy basslines agreeing with the unforgiving drumming, Koi No Yokan is a true aural delicacy if you crave original and uncompromised music. Clearly one of 2012's greatest releases.

Writer's fave: Rosemary, Gauze, Tempest & What Happened To You?

7 out of 7 sins

Mark Lanegan Band - Blues Funeral Review

Released: February 6, 2012
Label: A4D

1.    The Gravedigger's Song
2.    Bleeding Muddy Water
3.    Gray Goes Black
4.    St. Louis Elegy
5.    Riot in My House
6.    Ode to Sad Disco
7.    Phantasmagoria Blues
8.    Quiver Syndrome
9.    Harborview Hospital
10.  Leviathan
11.  Deep Black Vanishing Train
12.  Tiny Grain of Truth
Former Screaming Trees frontman Mark Lanegan returns after 2004's release Bubblegum. Once again teamed up with producer Alain Johannes,  Blues Funeral is another respected Blues Rock work of  art with Lanegan's distinctive baritone vocal collaboration with familiar artists such as Josh Homme and Greg Dulli. You might know him for his work with Queens of the Stone Age back in 2000's release of Rated R. His rough scratchy vocals beats the idea of every anti-smoking campaign and puts the attractiveness on this old man. He is one of those vocalist that you'll either love or hate. I don't think there is a chance for an in between.

The bass intro thumps into the first track and single, "The Gravedigger's Song" as a clear-cut Lanegan track similar to his previous works with the Queens of the Stone Age. A slightly mellower following track, "Bleeding Muddy Water", is not a lyrically complex song but musically, as a whole, this album does some justice. Lanegan's collaboration as a band with Greg Dulli in The Gutter Twins was one of the best work he did, and they're often back together doing a track or two. Dulli did a brief appearance on "St. Louis Elegy" and even though the collaboration was just a simple backup vocal, it would serve as the icing on the cake for me as it is for most fans. Much similar to "Riot in My House" which features former bandmate Josh Homme on guitars. Most people anticipates this moment be it with Homme's own band or Lanegan's.


Halfway through, the tracks start to get less organic as electronics begin to take form as the backbone to the tracks, especially for "Ode to Sad Disco". Lanegan has accomplished a new direction on electronics for the first time with this daring approach. The synthesizers and drum machines are still quite subtle as compared to the conventional instruments that he normally uses even though at times it gets brought out to the forefront in the music. "Tiny Grain of Truth" is another example of an Electronic track with a subtle addition of guitars.

The album is musically very appealing and a job well done for Lanegan. His vocals are one of the reasons why I would continue to listen to Mark Lanegan Band, but it is also because this guy knows how to put on an excellent performance despite the slow moody feel of his music.

Recommended tracks: "The Gravedigger's Song", "Riot in My House" & "Ode to Sad Disco".

5 out of 7 sins

††† (crosses) - EP †† Review

Released: January 24, 2012
Label: Self-released

Building up on the creative explosion from previous EP, ††† (consisting of Deftones' Chino Moreno and collaborators, Shaun Lopez and Chuck Doom) brings forth another set of tracks that revolves around the same dark, electronic ambience present from their debut EP.


Tracklist:
  1.  Fron†ier
  2.  Prurien†
  3.  †elepa†hy
  4.  †rophys
  5. 1987
With little to none known about the members of this project other than their prolific vocalist, ††† took me by surprise with their ambience-filled electronic mood music in their first  EP (EP † , August 2, 2011). Being really impressed by the first offering, the second EP was a no-brainer for me to dig into. However, the mood of the tracks in EP †† is a little more darker and moodier than the pretty upbeat first release.


Fron†ier is a great opening track with its sporadic drum beat and changes in tempo and the almost unforgettable melody line for the vocals. Showcasing a mix of spacey guitar soundscapes and synths that engulf you in this delectable aural journey, it is definitely an appetiser for the rest of the EP. Next track, Prurien† is pretty much the same as the Fron†ier but things really start to pick up with my personal favourite and third track, †elepa†hy. With its almost-impossible-to-hate chorus, catchiness and thumping bass line, it is difficult to not love this track. It is such a shame that it all ends too soon to be succeeded by minimalistic †rophys and the finale, 1987.

From left: Chino Moreno (vocals), Chuck Doom and Shaun Lopez (producer/guitarist)

With two EPs released, ††† have nothing else but an LP to release to satisfy fans though personally I would prefer it goes the same way as the first EP cause as good as EP †† is, I realise I will always find myself going back to the debut for my dosage of †††.

And on a little side note, Chino has now joined members of legendary Post-Metal group, ISIS, to create Palms. Now that would be something very interesting, especially to me.

EP †† can be bought at crossesmusic.com.

5 out of 7 sins

Graham Coxon - A+E Review

Release: April 2, 2012
Label: Parlophone Records

After surviving the fall of Britpop and his departure from Blur, Graham Coxon still stays strong with a solo career. He has been called by ex-Oasis guitarist and Battle of the Britpop rival, Noel Gallagher as "the greatest guitarist of his generation". Coxon now releases his eighth album, titled A+E.

Tracklist:

1. Advice
2. City Hall
3. What'll It Take
4. Meet And Drink And Pollinate
5. The Truth
6. Seven Naked Valleys
7. Running For Your Life
8. Bah Singer
9. Knife In The Cast
10. Ooh, Yeh Yeh
Coxon first released his solo album back in 1998, while still with his chart-topping band, Blur. Since his debut solo album, a lot of changes has been made as Coxon explores with different styles and sounds throughout his discography. I remember when I first heard of his debut (The Sky Is Too High), I felt a bit disappointed compared to his work with Blur. It wasn't a pop album as compared to what Blur used to make and his works were really different and unexpected. He is then known to use his solo works to produce less popular music.

First listen to A+E might make you think that it sounds like any other typical Indie album. Judging too quickly won't get you an accurate view on this new release. "City Hall" has an identical drum intro to the Foo Fighter's "All My Life". Coincidence, aye? Just as soon as the next instrument comes in, you don't hear the similarities any more. The first single, "What'll It Take" is a minimalist Indie-Electro track with repeated lyrics. The track is catchy but doesn't specifically have a deep impact. With that being said, I think the intention of the song is just to make you dance with lyrics being sung "What'll take to make you people dance". To be honest, Coxon's not very into writing really complicated lyrics in this album. "Meet And Drink And Pollinate" is also a pretty fun and dancey track to listen to. The song started out slow but halfway through it'll make you clap along to it. After the previous two tracks, "The Truth" is slightly slower paced but it won't bore you. The track was first released as a free downloadable song before the album was released. "Running For Your Life" is a piss and moan hate song, indicating some dislike in its lyrics with more fast crunch distorting guitars.

A more experimental track, "Knife In The Cast" is by far the darkest song written its haunting distorted guitars with the echoing of his vocals sent shivers down your spine. "Ooh, Yeh Yeh" is the second track to release a video and it reminds me of Mark Lanegan somehow. Drumming style is very interesting in this and it's the most different style of music compared to the other tracks in the album. Some might call it old school or even sounds like The Beatles.


Overall, A+E makes a stance in the Indie world and a worthy album leaving you wanting more from this Brit icon. He is also notable for playing all instruments in his solo work. If this is your first encounter with Graham Coxon, you'd probably want to check out the rest of his work, but beware, he is not your average indie musician and he will make every album different from the other. So, listen with an open mind.


Recently released in April, Graham has been touring across the UK to promote his album and also preparing for the Olympics performance in August with what is possibly Blur's last gig of this reunion.

5 out of 7 sins

Hurts - Happiness Deluxe Edition Review

Released: October 31, 2011
Label: Major Label, RCA

Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson were once nobodies. Unemployed and only working on their previous band, Daggers, the duo has had hard times on the dole. Those tough four years has finally led them to disband with the other members of Daggers and out came Hurts. With a home made video spread across the YouTube world, Hurts made their first big break with "Beautiful Life" and soon after signed to a major label. Having been compared to the likes of Depeche Mode and Tears For Fears, Hurts is your guilty pleasure to love 80s Synthpop all over again.


Tracklist:
CD:
1. Silver Lining
2. Wonderful Life
3. Blood, Tears & Gold
4. Sunday
5. Stay
6. Illuminated
8. Better Than Love
7. Evelyn
9. Devotion
10.Unspoken
11.The Water
12. Verona
13. Affair
14. Happiness
15. Mother Nature
16. Confide In Me
17. Sunday (Demo)
18. Devotion (Demo)
19. All I Want for Christmas is New Year’s Day

DVD:
Hurts - Live In Berlin:
1. Silver Lining
2. Wonderful Life
3. Happiness
4. Blood Tears and Gold
5. Evelyn
6. Sunday
7. Verona
8. Unspoken
9. Mother Nature
10. Devotion
11. Confide in Me
12. Illuminated
13. Stay
14. Gloomy Sunday
15. Better Than Love

Music videos:
1. Blood Tears & Gold
2. Wonderful Life (original)
3. Better Than Love
4. Wonderful Life
5. Stay
6. Sunday
7. Illuminated
8. All I want for Christmas is New Year’s Day
I know you are probably wondering why a Pop album is being featured on puresinner, but this is something really worthy for me to comment on as an alternative listener. Happiness was first released in September 2010 and did really well with six other singles. This debut album has earned them a worldwide tour including Singapore and Malaysia. Every track in the album is composed in an alluring and depressing melody and no doubt all of them could sell as singles. They even hit it with a track with Kylie Minogue titled "Devotion". Hurts' sad lyrics about love and women made it deeply emotional combined with the piano, synthesizers, strings, and haunting backing vocals. This deluxe edition has added seven additional B-sides to the CD and a DVD with a live show from Berlin and all of their music videos to date. There's even a dark appeal to the live shows. The intro to their show mimics an elegy in despair and female dancers clothed in black lace and gloomy make-up really gives me an idea that they were actually going for a Goth look.

The band commented that they wrote these songs when they were in a bad time, when they were unemployed, and almost giving up on music. Now that they have achieved a place in the music industry, I'm not too sure how their next album will sound like. The additional songs included in this edition, "Affair", "Happiness" and "Mother Nature" are quite a disappointment. They lost quite a lot of the good sounds compared to the original track list.

Overall, all I can say is this is a really good album for Synthpop fans (minus the additional tracks) and if you missed your chance to catch them on tour, the live DVD inside this deluxe edition will serve you well.

Theo Hutchcraft & Adam Anderson

If there is one pop album you want to be proud of listening to, Happiness  is what you need. While you're at it, listen to their cover of Falco's "Jeanny" here: http://youtu.be/TM927ly20vs.

Recommended tracks: "Silver Lining", "Illuminated", "Stay" and "Unspoken".

6 out of 7 sins

Aliceffekt - Blam, Le Passage Sacrilege Review

Label: 16d Records
Release date: August 6, 2011

Devine Lu Linvega is an illutrator, programmer, creates a language and also distributes his own music under the moniker of Aliceffekt. This Montreal based talent, goes a long way and travels far to get his inspirations.

Tracklist:

  1. BLS01 - Looking forward to yesteryear with XC3N, Xyno & Chan
  2. BLS02 - Passage.4 _ CanalSemestre
  3. BLS03 - Passage.5 _ SemestreMaster
  4. BLS04 - Passage.6 _ MasterDistributor
  5. BLS05 - E Jumpstyle
  6. BLS06 - Solar Flares and better
Aliceffekt recently took the stage at Montreal's famous Kinetik Festival 4.0 where bands and DJs of Industrial/EBM/Eletronic music worldwide shared this five day event. Vermillionth (available for digital download on xxiivv.com) was released based on that performance. Following that release is Blam, Le Passage Sacrilege, and it is available just after three month on the official website.
Devine Lu Linvega

First track starts off short with a distorted conversation clip that leads to a more upbeat track. As Aliceffekt is known for its noise dance tracks, its glitchy mad beats aren't going to be easy for the most seasoned club goers to understand. In fact, it is the reason why Aliceffekt's music has been categorized into the Industrial scene. A Post-Industrial chaos that draws it's experimental structure from pioneering acts such as Throbbing Gristle. Every track crosses into the next track perfectly seeing that all of his works are usually recorded for live performances. This is an album worth listening to when you're up for some headbanging or just kicking out some dance moves no matter what your mood brings you.

Blam, Le Passage Sacrilege is available for free download here at 320kbs mp3.

4 out of 7 sins

D'in Cheung - Hide & Seek Review

Released: September 28, 2011
Label: None

Tracklists:
  1. Pulse of A Living Dream
  2. Sui Generis
  3. Dreamer
  4. Fairytale
  5. Silent Suicide
  6. Hide & Seek
  7. Crying for the Lonely Star
  8. Aurora Borealis
  9. If Life...
D'in on right with Masquer
A man of a thousand talents with musical collaborations from the United States, Russia, Singapore to Hong Kong, D'in Cheung has mastered genres from Pop Rock, Goth to Metal. Born in the city of Singapore, D'in spent most of his time living in Hong Kong. Forming bands like Masquer and Crazimalz (TVB performance) which landed him a successful place in the music industry. After years of putting together his solo debut, Hide & Seek will finally see the light of day later this month.

Sajid Akbar
In this album, D'in captures an Electronic ambience throughout the entire album even with heavier guitar tracks such as "Silent Suicide", which has a structure similar to a progressive rock band I have heard before. "Dreamer" has a slow flow of gentle serenity and is my favorite track even though it's also the shortest track in the album. Biddy Low of Breakbeat Theory guest vocals on "Fairytale", a heartbreaking love song lyrically with a smashing guitar solo. Another guest vocalist is Sajid Akbar, an acoustic musician who contributes in "Hide & Seek", the title song. Somehow, I find his vocals a little restricted here, although it's quite apparent that the man has the ability to sing well. Not every track on this album sounds the same and every time you go through it, it draws more of your attention into understanding the layers, the music and the emotion of the project.

Hide & Seek is a self recorded Electronic album I'd value and it's a job well done among the hype of gimmicky club imitators invading the current music industry. The album will be available for download soon with updates from puresinner. 



D'in Cheung
4 out of 7 sins
* Credits to the photographers. puresinner does not own any of the images.

The Birthday Massacre - Imaginary Monsters EP Review

Toronto Synthrock band, The Birthday Massacre, recently made their upcoming Imaginary Monsters EP available for streaming on their myspace page. Imaginary Monsters features 3 new tracks and 5 remixed Pins and Needles tracks.


Photobucket 


Tracklist
  1. Forever
  2. Burn Away
  3. Left Behind
  4. Pale (Kevvy  Mental & Dave Ogilvie 'Rubber Unicorn Mix)
  5. Control (tweaker mix)
  6. Shallow Grave (Combichrist 'Good For Her' Mix)
  7. Pins and Needles (SKOLD mix)
  8. Shallow Grave (Assemblage 23 mix)
The 3 originals included in this EP are tracks that did not make it onto Pins and Needles and it definitely shows in the composition. As compared to the TBM tracks in the past, which were heavier and fast paced, these tracks feature a more softer and soothing approach even when there are heavy instrumental elements (Burn Away).

As for the remixes, I was glad to see names like tweaker and SKOLD remixing the tracks but the best remix would be last track on the album, a remix by Assemblage 23. In comparison to the other remixes on the EP, this track feels natural instead of feeling tacked on and brings a different dimension to an already great track.

Overall, this EP is a good addition to what was released in Pins and Needles but with three pretty lukewarm originals and 5 decent remixes, it is really not something worth going crazy over unless you're out to collect all of TBM's releases.

4 out of 7 sins

The EP is also available for streaming on TBM's myspace page. Click here to listen to it.

In Each Hand A Cutlass - A Universe Made of Strings

Released: June 24, 2011

The long awaited album by Singapore's rock supergroup has finally been released. So is it worth the wait?

Photobucket 
Tracklist:
  1. The Escape
  2. Inspector Cutlass
  3. Glaciers
  4. The March
  5. Helmets and Fiery Endings
  6. Chocolate and The Lovelorn Girl
  7. Marauder
  8. White Boxes
  9. End of The Line
  10. Hammering The Bones
  11. A Universe of Strings
In Each Hand A Cutlass(IEHAC) consists of Daniel Sassoon(guitars), Roland Lim(guitars), Jordan Cheng(drums) and Amanda Ling(keys/samples). They've recently changed their bassist, so I'm not too sure on whether the new bassic is part of the studio recording or just the live band line up.

Now on to the tracks in the album. Intro track, The Escape creates a build up of sounds to the hard-hitting and catchy, Inspector Cutlass, which features an addictive drum intro that builds up into a barrage of guitars and groovy bass slapping that just goes all out to hook you in and makes you wanting for more.

Next up, Glaciers, one of IEHAC's most epic compositions in the whole album. Clocking in at a little more than 8 minutes, it begins with a dreamy intro that slowly pulls you in and bashes you aurally with its abrupt and loud bridge/breakdown. This song is slow at its build up but once it has reached its climax, you'd definitely place it on repeat.

Next interlude, The March, brings us to the emotionally-charged Helmets and Fiery Endings. Other than the bridge in the track which features a little of that synth/keyboard from Amanda Ling, the guitar playing carries most of the song with its melodic riffs and fills. Following up next is the feel good track, Chocolate and The Lovelorn Girl. To be honest to label it "feel good" is a tad wrong, but as compared to the other compositions in the album, Chocolate and The Lovelorn Girl is more of a lush and soothing journey of textural sounds woven together than a sonic attack to our eardrums. Thus the "feely goodyness" of it.

IEHAC's ambitious approach to songwriting really takes center stage with tracks Marauder, White Boxes and my personal favourite, Hammering The Bones, which features an intro that will certainly raise eyebrows. With its infectious guitar and synth combo that captures your attention, it later teeters off to a purposefully off-timed bridge that's later patched back together fluidly with a crunchy guitar riff and thumping drum line. Definitely a must-listen for progressive music lovers.

In a full overview of the album, A Universe Made of Strings is progressively self-indulgent but still tries to maintain a certain catchiness and familiarity to each of the songs. It might turn off some conventional rock lovers but for those who would like to listen to creativity being tested, they will love A Universe Made of Strings.

However, the few downfalls in the album is that it sometimes gets a little too self-indulgent and the guitar wizardry takes too big of a space on the album cause there times in the album that I felt like there should be something else in place but it usually gets cut short by the brilliant guitar work. I'm not trying to tell IEHAC how they should write their songs, but after listening to the album, I think some of us would agree that the song writing of the album mostly revolves around guitar parts rather than the accompanying instruments.

6 out of 7 sins

Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

Released: April 12, 2011
Label: RCA

I don't know if I just have a strange affinity towards cleanly produced pop-alternative-rock or I'm just drawn to Dave's good looks or just the charming choruses that you will remember all the way to your deathbed, but the latest Foo offering has definitely made me wanting for more.


Tracklist:
  1. Bridge Burning
  2. Rope
  3. Dear Rosemary
  4. White Limo
  5. Arlandria
  6. These Days
  7. Back & Forth
  8. A Matter of Time
  9. Miss The Misery
  10. I Should Have Known
  11. Walk
Wasting Light wastes no time in delivering the good stuff with the intro track Bridge Burning, second single (or was it first?) Rope and followed by the beautiful Dear Rosemary. Just when you thought that those were the only good tracks you'll get in the whole album, you'll be surprised by the gritty and fuzzy, White Limo, that brings you all around Kickass Ave, and drops you off at Arlandria for a more balanced Foos experience with a guitar and drums only verse and a sing-along chorus that will stick to you longer than a coffee stain.

These Days is classic a Foo Fighters "half-ballad-half-rocking out" track a la Resolve out of In Your Honor Disc 1 (2005). After a close 5 minutes of feeling a little melancholic, Back & Forth and Miss The Misery brings back a little of the energy from the first half of the album with the latter being a real firecracker with its tasteful layering of guitar parts and almost unforgettable chorus (duh).

So in classic Foo Fighters fashion, the second half of Wasting Light does lack a little of the energy of the first half and shows a more mature Foo Fighters, but that is not to say it lacks the quality. I Should Have Known and the latest single, Walk, definitely shows a mature side of a band that knows how to express themselves in different ways and not just by wailing and shouting and crashing into their instruments.



Wasting Light, as a whole, is an amazing Foo Fighters album and whatever you're looking for, whatever your mood is, this album has got what you need.

7 out of 7 sins

Amberhaze - Raleigh EP Review

Released: January 11, 2011
Label: KittyWu Records

Giuliano Gullotti, or better known as Amberhaze, is a multi-instrumentalist born in Messina, Italy but found his muse on the shores of Singapore. His debut full-length album, Then We Saw The Stars Again, got his musical project signed under KittyWu Records back in 2009. Since then, he has gained a reputation for his unique ambience-meets-shoegaze brand of music and has performed many shows throughout the island including Singapore's BayBeats, a festival gig promoting independent local and newcoming musicians.










Recently, having sailed off to the Canada, Giuliano mentioned "This is my first winter in a while. After living on the equator for so long, you forget what makes cold seasons so special: the light changes, the nights grow longer, things become still and then it starts snowing..
I hadn't seen snow in a while, either. Or leaves falling". It might just be the weather over there that has helped him get the inspiration for his latest release, Raleigh EP.

Pumpkinseed has a chilling start that brings images of a broken down, vacant room that was made for a child. And when the distant drums comes crashing in, takes a more moodier and darker turn, making you feel like you're all alone with nothing but a broken music box in front of you. Definitely something that tugs on your loneliness but still leaves you wanting for more.

However, the next track, Howland, leaves plenty to be desired in terms of musicality. It is a brilliant ambience track, but it never really did hit the high note that Pumpkinseed managed to leave in our eardrums. It has a low hum for most of the track, and near the end when everything starts to settle together in classic Amberhaze fashion, it just never really did reach a level where you just want to curl up under your blanket and cry.

In From Foxtpoint To Vermont Square is a dark reverberish piano piece with haunting string synths included. This track reminds us alot of the works of Clint Mansell's Moon, and as huge fans of Clint Mansell here at Puresinner, we have to give this track a thumbs up.

The C.P.R. (Beyond Christie), which is supposedly the ending to the industrial drums-laced track, The C.P.R. With nothing but a long engine hum, it's not exactly something what everyone would enjoy listening to. Finally, Vermont Square (First Snow) ends with a less intense track to the whole package. A bit of a letdown.

Giuliano Gullotti

With all six tracks, this EP makes it a worthwhile listening because firstly, it's free. Why else would you not get the EP? And secondly, it's something that you would definitely want to switch on loud in headphones with the lights down and just lie down and absorb every single note, static and chime this instrumentalist has to offer. Raleigh EP manages to dive deeper into what made Then We Saw The Stars Again a brilliant instrumental album.

5 out of 7 sins

I Am David Sparkle - Swords Review

Release date: December 3, 2010
Record label: KittyWu Records


Taken their name off a Malaysian artist, M. Daud Kilau, the band does not actually compose the same genre as him. I Am David Sparkle are the forefathers of Singapore Instrumental/Post-Rock of today. Swords sees the band's second full-length effort after four years of releasing EPs and compilations.

Amran Khamis, Djohan Johari, Farizwan Fajari, Zahir Sanosi

From the opening with Wild Horses to the end with Sleep, Amran and the guys have sent us through an ocean filled with beautiful glowing sea creatures (that are angsty at times. A truly magical and powerful soundscape adventure. Compared to their début, this album has less pre-programmed sounds and samples and personally, I think this is mellower than their début.

The distant sounding of drums in Wild Horses kind of gets you prepared for the ultimate guitar intro. You don't even have to wait for the vocals to be able to feel the emotions cause there won't be any vocals to support any gap anywhere in Swords. It is a very intense intro track to an album full of more intensity. Ghostfuck and A Bad Corpse (Your Majesty) is a two-song epic that has to be divided into two to avoid the risk of exceeding any listener's intensity threshold. Though the latter track is heavier and much aggressive than the former it is still as intense as the intro track.

Heights could easily be a good opening track for playing live as well as Machine which I think they have. Then there's Jangan and Everybody Loves Somebody two of my favourite tracks on the album, steps back from the harsh guitars and falls to a softer dreamy side of the band. Sleep reminds me of what Radiohead would write. Which is not a bad thing at all.

I have been listening to this album for almost a whole month trying to understand how to explain these tracks. But seriously, listen to it and you will understand. Not much words should explain Swords as much as their music can.

After reading this far into the review, you must have noticed how many times the word "Intense" have appeared, it's not due to our lack of a better word but that is exactly what this album is. Pure intensity and intertwining guitar lines that just seems to go everywhere and anywhere and bass lines and drums that keep mashing on your ear drums. MUST HAVE!

6 out of 7 sins

ABIII - Alter Bridge

Release Date: October 11, 2010
Label: Roadrunner Records

Alter Bridge releases their first concept album and the third in their discography. It's pretty hard to imagine how they will be able to outdo their 2007 masterpiece, Blackbird, but surprisingly, AB III manages to get on par and maybe even better than their sophomore studio effort.


Tracklist:
  1. Slip To The Void
  2. Isolation
  3. Ghost of Days Gone By
  4. All Hope Is Gone
  5. Still Remains
  6. Make It Right
  7. Wonderful Life
  8. I Know It Hurts
  9. Show Me A Sign
  10. Fallout
  11. Breathe Again
  12. Coeur d'Alene
  13. Life Must Go On
  14. Words Darker Than Their Wings
Began as a band that culminated from the instrumental remains of Creed; Mark Tremonti, Brian Marshall and Scott Phillips recruited Myles Kennedy and Alter Bridge grew to a massive (albeit underrated) alternative rock/metal band that surpasses any bands that their current members have been a part of.

In 2007, Blackbird was released and personally, it is one of my best albums in 2007. Sadly, Alter Bridge doesn't get much coverage from music media and the release of AB III was pretty much unknown to the general rock masses. However, anyone worth their alternative rock/metal salt, would know about the AB III's release and that Alter Bridge is back with bone crushing riffs and boner inducing ballads.

Considering that AB III is a concept album, it begins its story with a pretty awkward approach in "Slip Into The Void". Programmed bassline and Myles's vocals crooning over it for about a third of the track before the usual signature crunchy guitar riffs, velvety bassline and crashing drums fall in at the 1:30 mark that would plaster a smile on every head banging Alter Bridge fan.

Just when I was pretty confident about Filter's The Trouble With Angels  bagging the best rock album for 2010 (check review here), AB III makes it a difficult decision to make with head banging tracks "Isolation", "Still Remains", "Coeur D'Alene" and "I Know It Hurts" and tones down the aggression in tracks "Wonderful Life", "All Hope Is Gone" and "Life Must Go On".

Mark Tremonti also seems to have discovered a newfound balance for his amazing guitar playing skills to match the music that accompanies it. Comparing to Blackbird, his solos don't really seem to be as long and elaborate, but when it comes forth, you'd better be ready to have your face melted.

Brian Marshall, Mark Tremonti, Myles Kennedy, Scott Phillips
Alter Bridge is a mature rock band that is not all about aggresssion nor all about sappiness too. In AB III, they've managed to balance out their dynamics very acutely by having more structure to musical parts and more post-production work on the music, but in all of its glory, the intensity that was present in Blackbird is missing in this album which can be pretty disappointing to those who are expecting a Blackbird II, me included.

AB III is not a bad album at all, in fact, it is pretty amazing and has me putting it on repeat since release date (similar to The Trouble With Angels) but comparing it to Blackbird makes it less of a masterpiece and 1 short of being perfectly sinful.

6 out of 7 sins

Cosmic Armchair - A Second Look EP Review

Released: August 24, 2010
Label: Stratos Records

I first learnt about this band through the Singapore Dark Alternative Movement (S.D.A.M.) events. Keyboardist, Benjamin Ang often performs as a DJ at those events. Together with vocalist, Jane Lau, the Electronic/SynthPop duo, Cosmic Armchair releases their second EP, "A Second Look".


Tracklists:
  1. Don't Leave Me Here
  2. Conversation
  3. Just One Look
  4. Take You Home
  5. Grey (Second Look Remix)

Upon seeing their performance at Baybeats this year, I'm starting to like what the band is trying to show us. First track "Don't Leave Me Here", gives a brand new revival to New Wave. It's the kind of song with an 80s influence with less cheesiness in synthesizers.

"Conversations" is a direction most local musicians will never represent themselves. There's a recording of a girl speaking in a Singaporean accent repeating in the background. I think it's a brilliant idea. It's better to promote yourself as an Asian than to imitate other culture that you're not, especially for Singapore artists.

I really like how the album is so soothing to the ears with cleverly composed keyboards and vocal parts which can be heard in "Just One Look" and "Take You Home". "Grey (Second Look Remix)" which was previously featured on their debut EP, "A Different View". Compared to the original version which sounded more like FuturePop to me, this one has more of an Electronic feel to it.

The band has justified that they're a serious Electropop band with the quality recording of "A Second Look" and also as an impressive live act. Overall, I think I have spent my money well on getting this EP. My first impressions on them weren't so good but they certainly have progressed from their earlier performances and the debut EP. They certainly deserve more support for their future efforts.

6 out of 7 sins
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)