The Photo Atlas - No, Not Me, Never
Dance-Punk has never been so Local. ... wait ... what does that even mean? Okay, anyway... I've liked the Photo Atlas for a little while now. First time I saw them was about a year and a half ago, well after they formed a fairly large fan base and started to really explode. This is their first big release, and I'd have to say it's a damn good one, but it's certainly not the top of the pops. The boys show promise, and heart, and I think they'll be nationally recognized in no time.
The Photo Atlas - The Walls Have Eyes
Stars - Do You Trust Your Friends?
While the original songs were undeniably astonishing, these remixes don't let down, each one more depressing and beautiful than the last.
Stars - Your Ex-Lover Is Dead (Final Fantasy Remix)
Tech N9ne - Misery Loves Kompany
This shit is off the hook. Phat beats, hella awesome vocals spitting hot fire, hyper sexualized lyrics, what more can you ask for? Very little, because this album delivers.
Tech N9ne - Midwest Choppers
Vietnam - Vietnam
If Vietnam's music sounds like a trip back in time, that's because it basically is. This is Vietnam's second album ... in almost 30 years. The first one was released in 2004. They've been touring for almost all of those almost 30 years ... though "they" is relative, as there have been like 50 people in that band (check out their myspace page for that list). I've only been into them since 05, so I can't say I've been waiting to long for this new release, but I know some people out there are happy that Vietnam is finally making studio versions of all their songs.
Vietnam - Priest, Poet, & The Pig
Vietnam - Apocalypse
MC Frontalot - Secrets From The Future
Nerds have never felt so empowered as they do now that their brethren are getting up on stage and shoutin phat rhymes. MC Frontalot is one of the fore-runners of the Nerdcore revolution currently taking place (that's not to say MC Chris didn't have any effect on the scene ... hell he basically invented it). Frontalot keeps it as real as he knows how to keep it, spitten hot fire from his scrawny little frame straight to your ear holes.
MC Frontalot - I Hate Your Blog
MC Frontalot - You Got Asperger's
Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad
So, basically everyone ever loves this album. This alone set me against it from the start, but as I am trying to get away from thinking in terms of "popular is bad," I gave it a shot, and was happily surprised. There is basically only one bad song on the album, but other than that it's a solid little dance album, cliched rhythms rhythms beats and all. But if you're into this kind of music, you probably all ready knew that. If you're not, I recommend checking it out.
Rihanna - Rehab
Rihanna - Umbrella (Travis Barker Remix)
Manic Street Preachers - Send Away The Tigers
Manic Street Preachers get my "sounds like the children of Queen without trying to sound like the children of Queen" award (I'm looking at you Muse). They've been trying so hard to win me over for a long time (okay, I know they've not been focusing on me, I'm just saying that I've wanted to really like them for while, and that with this album, they've finally achieved, in my heart, success). They got the feel good, pessimistic theme shit down, and it's good to see some good coming from their music.
Manic Street Preachers - You Love Alone Is Not Enough
New Buffalo - Somewhere, Anywhere
Juvenile Chamber music accompanied by an amateurish singer ... but it's so honest and true that you can't help but be won over by it. It's simple and soft, but it's exactly what we need sometimes.
New Buffalo - It's Gotta Be Jean
Helloween - Gambling With The Devil
Gal dang it. I love Helloween. One of my absolute favorite bands of all time. So I loved this album purely because it's nice to hear something new by my boys, but I'll be damned if it doesn't just sound uninspired. I understand that the last album they came out with was destined to be epic and just a bitch to follow up, but that doesn't mean you're not supposed to try. Okay, that's a little harsh, but when I've come to expect Helloween-like success from other bands, when Helloween doesn't come through, I'm upset by this. I loved the album, no doubt about that, and I'll definitely listen to it more in the future, but ... well ... I hope that now they've got this out of their system they can focus on their next project.
Helloween - The Saints
Acacia Sears - Dialtones
Female version of Dashboard style whiny emo kid, except with a girl behind the guitar and the mic, it changes the feel of the music ... gives it a different spin. It doesn't hurt that the lyrics are rather ... intense shall we say. Give this shit a shot:
Acacia Sears - Chrysalis
The Horrors - Strange House
Throwback 70's punk from the only place that ought to be attempting it. these boys come to your town, throw black paint on you, only perform for a good 20 minutes, and don't play your favorite song by them. If they could get away with it, they'd just stand on stage and not play anything. Thankfully they record their songs.
The Horrors - Jack the Ripper
Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
Back in elementary school my art teacher would play music for us, and, at the time, I thought it was pretty weird. Songs about limes and coconuts and others about buffaloes and bathtubs and so many others. I have a feeling that if I were to become an art teacher, I would put this album on as my kids worked on their projects. I think that, when I have kids, I'll put this on in the car or when we're making art.
Animal Collective - Fireworks
M.I.A. - KALA
Tribal Worldly Hip-Hop from across the pond suitable for any hip kid club. If you don't all ready know how hip this girl is, oops you missed out.
M.I.A. - 20 Dollar
Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers
Sweet, well spoken Laura Veirs has a magical way of weaving sounds together. Electro-Acoustic Singer/Songwriter Folk has never been so soft spoken and hopeful. After so many years, I think Laura Veirs finally has an album that she can be fully proud and excited about.
Laura Veirs and Saltbreakers - Don't Lose Yourself
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