So i'm getting caught up on some albums that have come out recently or will be coming out soon, (or in kamchatka's case came out in march, but i just got ahold of) and though there is nothing majorly awesome in the list there are some pretty solid albums worthy of listening to at least once all the way through, and nothing that made me want to delete it from my zune asap.
Album #1: Our Lady Peace - Burn Burn
Huh? This band is still making music? I mean, sure...Clumsy is one of the best alt-rock albums of the 90's and happiness... and gravity were pretty good albums...but do these guys really need to keep making music? And i don't mean that negatively...but when every one of your albums since clumsy has sounded almost exactly the same and you couldnt tell one song from the next if you put their discography on shuffle...they still aren't a bad band...i mean sure all their songs sound the same...but it's not a bad sound. Really, i don't want to knock this album, and i'm sure i'll like it more after a few more listens like i did with gravity, but after their last album flopped wouldn't you think these guys would give it up and move on to something else?
Comments/Complaints: It's certainly not a bad album, although, it sounds like every other album they've done since clumsy.
My Ranking: 6/10
Album #1: Our Lady Peace - Burn Burn
Huh? This band is still making music? I mean, sure...Clumsy is one of the best alt-rock albums of the 90's and happiness... and gravity were pretty good albums...but do these guys really need to keep making music? And i don't mean that negatively...but when every one of your albums since clumsy has sounded almost exactly the same and you couldnt tell one song from the next if you put their discography on shuffle...they still aren't a bad band...i mean sure all their songs sound the same...but it's not a bad sound. Really, i don't want to knock this album, and i'm sure i'll like it more after a few more listens like i did with gravity, but after their last album flopped wouldn't you think these guys would give it up and move on to something else?
Comments/Complaints: It's certainly not a bad album, although, it sounds like every other album they've done since clumsy.
My Ranking: 6/10
Album #2: Arsonists Get All The Girls - Portals
Okay, so i get it...the whole...genre bending thing is fun and cool and stuff...and i get it, breakdowns are awesome and "br00tal" and whatnot. With that being said, this is a pretty good cd, i mean it's nothing original or life-enriching or anything but it's a fun listen...it's got a few decent headbanging parts and some pretty cool btbamesque "wtf?" parts...really these guys are like between the buried and me but with less grating vocals and a better guitar sound and alot less creativity. The bonus track at the end is pretty funny though...for the most part.
Comments/Complaints: I kind of feel like a 12 year old girl with purple skinny jeans, brightly colored nike high tops, a pink, neon green, neon blue, bright yellow, and turquoise devil wears prada shirt and 3Oh3! on my list of favorite bands ever when i listen to this album.
My Ranking: 6.5/10
Okay, so i get it...the whole...genre bending thing is fun and cool and stuff...and i get it, breakdowns are awesome and "br00tal" and whatnot. With that being said, this is a pretty good cd, i mean it's nothing original or life-enriching or anything but it's a fun listen...it's got a few decent headbanging parts and some pretty cool btbamesque "wtf?" parts...really these guys are like between the buried and me but with less grating vocals and a better guitar sound and alot less creativity. The bonus track at the end is pretty funny though...for the most part.
Comments/Complaints: I kind of feel like a 12 year old girl with purple skinny jeans, brightly colored nike high tops, a pink, neon green, neon blue, bright yellow, and turquoise devil wears prada shirt and 3Oh3! on my list of favorite bands ever when i listen to this album.
My Ranking: 6.5/10
Album # 3: Rx Bandits - Mandala
FINALLY! An album that actually sets itself apart from the other bands in it's genre...mostly because they span multiple genres, but not in the annoying way, but in the...punk band with pop punk, reggae, ska, and prog rock influences kind of way. When i first heard their last album that i randomly picked up because it looked and sounded cool i was HOOKED on this band...their singers voice is gorgeous and it fits the music so well. Although, i am disappointed at the lack of horns and whatnot on this album i do think it's rather cool that they can keep the same reggae, ska, pop punk vibe with just pure talent alone, so touche' to them for being able to craft a beautiful album despite missing the one element that got me into them in the first place. Also, the intro to "Hope is a butterfly..." is very fall of troyian in nature...but not in the gay way, but in a cool way. This band just simply rules!
Comments/Complaints: Not a boring song on the album. Very chilled and happy and summer time worthy!
My Ranking: 8.5/10
FINALLY! An album that actually sets itself apart from the other bands in it's genre...mostly because they span multiple genres, but not in the annoying way, but in the...punk band with pop punk, reggae, ska, and prog rock influences kind of way. When i first heard their last album that i randomly picked up because it looked and sounded cool i was HOOKED on this band...their singers voice is gorgeous and it fits the music so well. Although, i am disappointed at the lack of horns and whatnot on this album i do think it's rather cool that they can keep the same reggae, ska, pop punk vibe with just pure talent alone, so touche' to them for being able to craft a beautiful album despite missing the one element that got me into them in the first place. Also, the intro to "Hope is a butterfly..." is very fall of troyian in nature...but not in the gay way, but in a cool way. This band just simply rules!
Comments/Complaints: Not a boring song on the album. Very chilled and happy and summer time worthy!
My Ranking: 8.5/10
Album #4: Set Your Goals - This Will Be The Death Of Us
Okay, so here's how i'm going to do this review. I'm going to start from track 1 listening to this album and talk about the songs track by track, if i can make it through every song without getting annoyed it gets a good review, and if it becomes boring/generic/bland/lame then i'm going to turn it off immediately and give it a N/A
Track 1: Starts out good enough, cool drum intro and bass line. Oh, here comes a pretty cool punk rock riff with a very epic vibe to it...okay so i'm feeling it. Okay, so now there is some clean vocals over a pretty cool riff...but i love this whole pop/hardcore punk vibe so i'm not hating it. The second singer sounds better than the first...much less annoying. Song passes.
Track 2: Starts out with a New Found Gloryesque intro, nice sample that bleeds into static...wait it just skipped to track 3
Track 3: Continuation of where track 2 left off with the new found gloryesque pop punk riffs going. But not in a bad way...i kind of like the dual vocal style! It keeps them from getting annoying.
Okay, so i've realized all the songs on here sound alike, not really in a bad way...but in a "i've got enough ammo to give it my full opinion" kind of way. Basically these guys have a very blink 182/new found glory pop punk vibe, but i'm a sucker for that kind of stuff. It's not really anything special, but it's definitely not a stinker.
Comments/Complaints: These guys are pretty good and stuff, but i think the new New Found Glory album is done better, but that's like saying the new Slayer is better than the new Warbringer...of course it is!...because it's their sound...the other band is just adding their take to it.
My Ranking: 6.75/10
Album #5: Valhall - Red Planet
Okay, so here's how i'm going to do this review. I'm going to start from track 1 listening to this album and talk about the songs track by track, if i can make it through every song without getting annoyed it gets a good review, and if it becomes boring/generic/bland/lame then i'm going to turn it off immediately and give it a N/A
Track 1: Starts out good enough, cool drum intro and bass line. Oh, here comes a pretty cool punk rock riff with a very epic vibe to it...okay so i'm feeling it. Okay, so now there is some clean vocals over a pretty cool riff...but i love this whole pop/hardcore punk vibe so i'm not hating it. The second singer sounds better than the first...much less annoying. Song passes.
Track 2: Starts out with a New Found Gloryesque intro, nice sample that bleeds into static...wait it just skipped to track 3
Track 3: Continuation of where track 2 left off with the new found gloryesque pop punk riffs going. But not in a bad way...i kind of like the dual vocal style! It keeps them from getting annoying.
Okay, so i've realized all the songs on here sound alike, not really in a bad way...but in a "i've got enough ammo to give it my full opinion" kind of way. Basically these guys have a very blink 182/new found glory pop punk vibe, but i'm a sucker for that kind of stuff. It's not really anything special, but it's definitely not a stinker.
Comments/Complaints: These guys are pretty good and stuff, but i think the new New Found Glory album is done better, but that's like saying the new Slayer is better than the new Warbringer...of course it is!...because it's their sound...the other band is just adding their take to it.
My Ranking: 6.75/10
Album #5: Valhall - Red Planet
Oh man, there is nothing i love more than a dirty, rotten, down-tuned, doomy as hell stoner rock album. This band has apparently been around for a quite a while and features Fenriz from Darkthrone on drums which is pretty cool, also they are on Phil Anselmo's label Housecore Records, which was good enough reason for me to give them a listen. As far as doomy stoner rock goes this album has the typical cast of characters...but something about it just seems genuine. I mean you actually feel a bit of their soul coming out of the riffs and it is a very dirty, tarred and feathered, baked 24/7 monster of a soul...which...i guess if you're playing stoner rock is kind of the vibe you need to give off...so touche'!
Comments/Complaints: Nothing special, however, if you're driving on a motorcycle with a leather jacket and a darkthrone sticker on your bike and rapidly approaching an empty tank with no gas station for miles and one doobie in your jacket pocket...this is the album for you!
My Ranking: 7/10
Album #6: Red Fang - Red Fang
Now this is what i'm talkin about! Another dirty scummy punk/rock album. These guys play a very dirty kind of rock n' roll. The kind that makes you feel like riding in a fast car or on a motorcycle and going out in the middle of nowhere and drink and adult beverage or twenty and reflect on life. There is a decidedly kyuss/qotsa vibe going on in this song, but not an obvious one...it's just kind of coincidental...there is alot of creativity going on from this band though. This is such a raw album...It's just full of big dirty creative bouncy qotsaesque riffs...there is a very good reason these guys opened a tour for clutch, they are very clutchesque in nature as well which is pretty cool.
Comments/Complaints: If you like Clutch, Qotsa, Viking Skull, Black Sabbath, or Kyuss then you'll love this band!
My Ranking: 8/10
Now this is what i'm talkin about! Another dirty scummy punk/rock album. These guys play a very dirty kind of rock n' roll. The kind that makes you feel like riding in a fast car or on a motorcycle and going out in the middle of nowhere and drink and adult beverage or twenty and reflect on life. There is a decidedly kyuss/qotsa vibe going on in this song, but not an obvious one...it's just kind of coincidental...there is alot of creativity going on from this band though. This is such a raw album...It's just full of big dirty creative bouncy qotsaesque riffs...there is a very good reason these guys opened a tour for clutch, they are very clutchesque in nature as well which is pretty cool.
Comments/Complaints: If you like Clutch, Qotsa, Viking Skull, Black Sabbath, or Kyuss then you'll love this band!
My Ranking: 8/10
Album #7: Project 86 - Picket Fence Cartel
First of all, let me say that there are two kinds of people that are going to review a Project 86 album; the fanboy that's been listening to them forever and still cares about what they have to say, and the pretentious death metal guy that writes for decibel that gets a kick out of putting them down...also you may see the guy in an avenged sevenfold, or slipknot shirt at revolver review it and put it down because he doesnt get it.
Now me, i am a P86 fanboy and have been since '00 when Drawing Black Lines came out. And at last count i am only missing 2 P86 cd's from my collection of bought albums. These guys just have a sound unlike any other band out there...whether they be christian or secular. It just so happens that they are christians who have overcome quite a bit of adversity over the years and still maintained a good artistic vision and a will to tweak their sound ever so slightly on every album to give it that same P86 vibe but with a different twist. It lacks the big riffs of drawing black lines, but it has alot of their signature catchy as hell vocal hooks with alot of really cool riffs and their recently added electronic sound that just makes their music sound that much better. Also, i'm hearing a very thrashy influence on this album, even a few riffs that are semi reminiscent of slayer!
Comments/Complaints: Another solid release by P86 and it keeps them once again head and shoulders above the other bands on solid state that sound like garbage like august burns red, demon hunter, advent, oh sleeper, and...well every other band on that label currently besides Living Sacrifice, norma jean, underoath, and the showdown
My Ranking: 8.5/10
First of all, let me say that there are two kinds of people that are going to review a Project 86 album; the fanboy that's been listening to them forever and still cares about what they have to say, and the pretentious death metal guy that writes for decibel that gets a kick out of putting them down...also you may see the guy in an avenged sevenfold, or slipknot shirt at revolver review it and put it down because he doesnt get it.
Now me, i am a P86 fanboy and have been since '00 when Drawing Black Lines came out. And at last count i am only missing 2 P86 cd's from my collection of bought albums. These guys just have a sound unlike any other band out there...whether they be christian or secular. It just so happens that they are christians who have overcome quite a bit of adversity over the years and still maintained a good artistic vision and a will to tweak their sound ever so slightly on every album to give it that same P86 vibe but with a different twist. It lacks the big riffs of drawing black lines, but it has alot of their signature catchy as hell vocal hooks with alot of really cool riffs and their recently added electronic sound that just makes their music sound that much better. Also, i'm hearing a very thrashy influence on this album, even a few riffs that are semi reminiscent of slayer!
Comments/Complaints: Another solid release by P86 and it keeps them once again head and shoulders above the other bands on solid state that sound like garbage like august burns red, demon hunter, advent, oh sleeper, and...well every other band on that label currently besides Living Sacrifice, norma jean, underoath, and the showdown
My Ranking: 8.5/10
Album #8: Kamchatka - III
This band is one that i've heard of but didnt feel inspired to listen to until a friend of mine one night seemed incredibly shocked that i had not heard them and scribbled their name down on a napkin and insisted that they would blow my mind. Well, after hearing their album that they actually released in march i have to say...my mind is not entirely blown...but it is a pretty good album. I'm sure their older stuff is better because most bands like this usually get worse with age, but there are alot of really cool catchy guitar hooks and the vocalist is obviously swedish, which explains A: the awesome grooves behind him and B: his obviously heavy swedish accent that adds an interesting touch to the vocal hooks. There are alot of very heavy but poppy riffs on this album, and it has an awesome vibe to it, but it gets kind of old after awhile. I mean, you can only hear heavy, groovy riffs with the same vocal stylings over and over so many times before it gets kind of old...but that doesnt mean it's not good, it just means they fail the A.D.D. test like so many other bands before them, and to come.
Comments/Complaints: Good album, well written, lots of groovy guitar riffs and whatnot, but a failure to hold my attention for more than 4 or 5 songs. After track 5 i was already thinking "jeez, theres still 6 songs left?!?!?
My Ranking: 7/10
No comments:
Post a Comment