Deer Tick - Born on Flag Day
My Thoughts: Love (<)

The last time I listened to Deer Tick before I picked this album up, the hood of my car slammed against my windshield as I drove down the highway at about 75mph, so this band is a band I'll always remember, kind of regardless of whether or not they keep putting out good music. Just our luck that I don't have much to worry about with this band, because Born on Flag Day is every good part about the last record with all the fluff scraped off. BoFD is a thick, hearty folk, alt. country record that puts tears in beers, and drunken feet on the floor to either stumble around aimlessly or to purposefully amble and sway one's sad days away. There are some sad freaking songs on this record, but they're uplifting in ways I can't quite put my finger on. Deer Tick is essentially the new CCR. Take that to the bank.

Deer Tick - Little White Lies
Deer Tick - Smith Hill
Deer Tick - The Ghost

The Dandy Warhols - The Dandy Warhols Are Sound
My Thoughts: Love (<) +

Frankly, I was never a fan of the Dandy Warhols. Just didn't care for it. The last album in particular. This album, I can safely say, is their best work. There is an entirely new direction (it seems) on this record than anything else I've ever heard from these mainstays. The first song is this 7 minute minimalist groove-out that holds it down like an LCD Soundsystem track. They've electronified their sound a little more, giving them a dancier aesthetic, and even though it comes off as cheesy at times, it's cheesy in the way that the Electric Six used to be or 80's music still is. You like it, despite yourself. It's very awkwardly produced, giving it this dead on but very raw and real sound.

Like I said, I wasn't a fan of TDW, so I didn't know until I looked up more info on the album that this release is essentially a re-release of an earlier TDW record, but with different mixing. There's probably a whole story around the album and why this was done, but I don't really care. All I know is that I never really liked TDW's before, and it's possible it's because they, before, weren't willing to take risks like this album is. I listened to the original record, and I just don't think it's as fun as this new mix. If this is anything like what they're like live, then this will clearly be the sexiest act at Monolith this year.

The Dandy Warhols - The Dandy Warhols Love Almost Everyone
The Dandy Warhols - Burned
The Dandy Warhols - Rock Bottom

Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains
My Thoughts: Love (<)

Like a hardcore version of Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah!, Cymbals Eat Guitars' swimming melodies and Islands-esq song structure come together in this noisey, melting rock album which is as unassuming as it is awkwardly engaging. General rock solos slowly dissolve into atmospheric feedback. Common sounding vocals quickly become hectic, wild, and barely controlled. Drums redefining what driving drums means. Unrelenting but soothing basslines. Perplexing synthlines that one can't help be be moved by. the album is a spinning contradiction. I listen to it and can hear the odd things that throw me, but they merge and flow together in ways previously thought impossible.

It's a confusing record, with few hooks and possibly no chorus' at all, but you can't help but love and admire the genius behind these NY kids's piece. There are these hints at possible Neutral Milk Hotel references with horns blaring and fuzz bass that is undeniably awesome, and anything that gets that close to NMH without blatantly ripping them off is in my good book.

CEG happen to be playing Monolith Music Fest. What luck! only a few days away.

Cymbals Eat Guitars - Some Trees
Cymbals Eat Guitars - Cold Spring

Divisible - Less Than Lion
My Thoughts: Love (<)

Divisible is sexy. There is no other word that better fits. Heavy, dark, tribal drums crash and explode throughout the record, accompanied, on occasion, by cymbals that may as well be raining down on a rocky mountain side. Through all this is subtle, smooth bass lines sensuously swim around the chaos, melting away any feelings of unease. The sultry vocals are calming but enticing. The whole effect is like watching a spirit, surrounded by fog, slowly float down the saturday night street, all the while holding back a large, crashing beast that you can't quite make out, except for those damned glowing, terrifying eyes.

The songs are simple in the sense that there isn't a whole lot going on, but with the amount that is going on and how the whole thing is constructed, if there was anything else going on it would feel overwhelming. Each song talks of love and loss of some sort, a common topic, but Divisible gives us enough of their own unique characteristics in songwriting that the songs don't feel stale.

Divisible - Big Machines
Divisible - Everybody
Divisible - Love is the Cost

The Thermals - Now We Can See
My Thoughts: Love (<)

I got into the Thermals because of their song A Stare Like Yours. What solidified my love was their mad mad mad song Pillar of Salt. My story is not an uncommon one. Occasionally, with that story, you can replace that first song with another song off of their album Fuckin A, or just say it all started with Pillar of Salt, and you've pretty much covered a large portion of Thermals fans. My theory on this is because their songs, in true punk fashion, stick to a similar formula of heavy fuzz bass, simple but driving drum beats, and perfectly distorted rhythm guitar, occasionally adding some over-dubbed lead guitar riffs which, in most cases, happen to be the things that draw you into the song. Their songs are so heavily stylized that it's hard to even notice that it is stylized at all, because they're not going for a cliche or obvious style or formula. What I mean is they've tweaked the general indie punk sound into their own thing, making it so the thing that they're trying so hard to sound like is, simply, the Thermals.

That's a roundabout way of saying that their songs all kind of sound the same. And I would have just said that, but saying just that is cheapening, and the point is that every song by them is a single, a pattern that has been present since their early releases. This makes the Thermals more of a band experience, as opposed to a song or album experience. I almost feel redundant in saying that this album is great, because it seems so obvious that this would be the case. The Thermals are one of the most reliable rock bands out there. Of course this album freaking rocks.

I saw them a couple years ago with my buddy JJ, and I can safely say that, save for My Bloody Valentine, they're the loudest show in town. I a little afraid for their set at Monolith, but damn you know I'll be as close as I can get for it

The Thermals - I Called Your Name
The Thermals - I Let It Go
The Thermals - At The Bottom of the Sea

The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
My Thoughts: Love (<) +

I have never been a huge fan of the Decemberists, though I have always admired their work. Their ability is undeniable, but their songs, for me, never really got past the Charming mark. The Hazards of Love is their first magnificent album, in my opinion. There are no pop songs on this record, so it's a little hard to get addicted to, but after a few listens, and once I had a good grasp on the story, I found myself singing it while listening to other records. Now that's infectious.

It is a rock opera. Some people don't like that sort of thing, but I don't think there are rock operas out there that are like this one. I've heard my share of them, being deeply interested in the genre in my teen's, and I can safely say that this is in a realm of it's own, as far as I'm considered.

I had a friend say that he didn't like it because it didn't really sound like the Decemberists, and I have to say I agree with him. It does sound like the Decemberists made the album, but it is a step in a different direction for them, especially when considering the direction they seemed to be going with the last 3 albums. That said, I think the album is truly fantastic. And the guest spots with My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, and Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond bring the album to instant classic in my mind. Truly stunning.

The Decemberists - The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid
The Decemberists - The Rake's Song
The Decemberists - The Queen's Rebuke/The Crossing

Other Bands Play. ManOwaR Kills.

Manowar - Thunder in the Sky EP
My Thoughts: Love (<)

Oh man. Oh Manowar. I do love thee. Manowar's last album was just embarrassing, but this EP shows them in their true form again, just as ridiculous and awesome as they used to be. I don't know why I get worked up over Manowar, but it's just a fact of life. Manowar, for those of you who don't know, were a long standing holder of World's Loudest Band (before it got boring to be the title holder [they are still the record holders for longest heavy metal concert ever though). They are also the self proclaimed Kings of Metal. They have an album and a song titled this to prove it. This also happens to be one of my most favorite records on the planet. The EP they've now released shows that they're just as talented and ... frankly very strange as they have always been. I mean, there's a track on the EP proper called "Father" that they recorded in English, then, for some reason, recorded in 15 other languages, and included every version on a bonus disc. And the only difference is the vocal track, still sung by Eric Adams. He does a pretty good job of pronunciation, I mean, as far as I can tell. Also on the EP is a new version of "The Crown and the Ring," off of aforementioned LP Kings of Metal. Reportedly there's a full length due out at the end of the year. Get your swords and your sweating muscles ready.

so weird. but such are royalty.

Manowar - Let the Gods Decide
Manowar - Father (Japanese Version)

Manowar - The Crown and the Ring (original version from Kings of Metal)

The Naked Hearts - These Knees
My Thoughts: Love (<)

This Brooklyn duo's album is quite a mix of peculiarities. Frequently the bass is tuned and played to sound like it would be more fitting in an 80's hardcore punk band. The guitar, at times, sounds as though it would fit more comfortably in an alt-country/indie rock band. The vocals, both male and female, are spacey and bored sounding, as though they would fit in a sort of non-yelling post-grunge, maybe shoegaze band. The effect is marginally confusing but constantly engaging. The slower tempo gives the EP a chillout sort of effect, which is nice, because I don't think this sort of music would work if the songs were abrasive or fast paced. The album is admittedly simple, but I enjoy the fact that I don't have to really try to like it, because everything about the songs are right there in front of your face, beautiful and unassuming.

The Naked Hearts - Call Me

Stream the rest of the album here:

Child Bite & Big Bear - Child Bite / Big Bear Split 7"
My Thoughts: Love (<)

While I'd only heard one song by Child Bite before, I was not very familiar with them before this split, and it was the first I'd ever heard of Big Bear.

Child Bite's track, Gloom Boots, is a heavily layered track, with multiple horns, vocal tracks, string instruments, and percussion instruments. Mind melting guitar solos, epicly saucy jazz horns, and relentless percussion straight execute your senses.

Big Bear's track, Song 23, is less complicated in the sense that it doesn't sound like it's got as many layers. Math rock seems to be just as big of an influence however. Unsettlingly executed stops and starts coupled with nearly polyrhythmic instrumentation leaves me wanting more, and coming back to listen to it again just to make sure what I just heard actually happened.

A great example of what creative people can do if you just give them a chance to show you what they can do. Simply stellar.

Here are some tracks not on the album (seeming how there are only 2 tracks on the album, I'd feel pretty bad about just giving them to you):
Child Bite - Good Arm Getter
Big Bear - Live at the Middle East, August 2007 (65mb)

Gospel Gossip - Dreamland
My Thoughts: Love (<)

Maybe I'm just randomly happening upon great Minnesotan groups, or maybe there's something in the lakes, but Minnesota is pumping out some terrific stuff these days. Gospel Gossip is a little 3 piece from Northfield, MN that creates free flowing, spacey melodies that churn into grinding indie rock ballads. A clear sense for the dramatic, GG's 6 track record clearly present's the bands knowledge and enthusiasm for creating lovely, energetic indie rock tunes.

Gospel Gossip - Nashville
Gospel Gossip - Pre-Med (Just in Case)

Antony and the Johnsons - The Crying Light
My Thoughts: Love (<)+

Antony Hegarty creates the most heart warming and soul slaughtering music known to man. If you want a sad song, get this man involved. His music is beautiful and terrifying, chilling the room simply by lightly hitting a few piano keys and singing a few syllables. The backing accomanyment on this album weaves itself in your dense carbon matter and invades your senses. It is a SAD album my friends. But it's beautiful. Not my favorite peice of work by this collective, but that's mostly because each song is kind of similar, but if you get in the mood for it, then the whole thing is a triumph.

Antony and the Johnsons - Kiss My Name
Antony and the Johnsons - Aeon
Antony and the Johnsons - Everglade

Looks Like a Rental

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Advance Base Battery Life
My Thoughts: Love (<)+

I've been a huge fan of Casiotone for the Painfully Alone since Etiquette's release, and this EP is a short little collection of re-imagined songs and new songs, all of which prepping the world for the new LP, Vs. Children. They still bring the lo-fi, but they're also still experimenting with pumping up the quality of 1 or 2 aspects of the songs. Not an essential, but definitely for the luvas.

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Old Panda Days (w/ Nick Krgovich)
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Lonesome New Mexico Nights

Boredoms - Super Roots 10
My Thoughts: Love (<)

The Boredoms have, for a long time now, been very near and dear to my heart, and with their most recent release of Super Roots 10, I can safely say they're not going anywhere soon. That said, this EP ... album ... release (lets just say), only really has one fantastic track on it, and it's the track Ant 10. The intro track is mind blowing in that it's a couple seconds of the most mind numbing bassy sound I've ever heard (you need ear buds to fully experience it. It makes your brain vibrate.), and that's only so interesting. The other four tracks are remixes of Ant 10 which, when the original is so everywhere all at once as it is, is kind of pointless, because there really isn't any more ground to be covered once you hear the original track. Decide for yourself

Boredoms - Super Rooy
Boredoms - Ant 10

We Were the Soul Survivors

Pet of the Month - Apples and Oranges EP
My Thoughts: Love (<)

A little EP showed up in my inbox by the one man wonder, Paul Banker, of Chicago, currently going by Pet of the Month. The tracks have a Casiotone for the Painfully Alone feel at times, but not to the extent that it's a rip off. On first listen one can hear that there is a lot of love in these tracks, and a certain amount of knowledge as to how to run a synthesizer. The songs are simple, but like a freshly mined gem, beautiful. A pinch of indie rock and a dab of distortion, the EP is a small portion, but surprisingly filling.

Pet of the Month - My Ghost+ Its Other
Pet of the Month - Pandalismo

"I can't be the one to help you forget, but you might be the one, so I won't give up yet."

The Hollyfelds - Black Heart Blue
Verdict: Love (<)+

(This is a review of The Hollyfelds's new album, but I really don't start saying the really nice stuff about it until the last paragraph, so if that's what you're here for, go to the last paragraph)

I've been a fan on the Hollyfelds for a while now. I've only seen them once since they opened for Langhorne Slim last year, but that didn't really count because I saw them at an Indian food restaurant, and they weren't performing, they were just being people. So when I got word that they'd released a new EP, I was excited to hear it, because everything I'd heard before was just fantastic (I'd still recommend their old stuff too).

This new EP, Black Heart Blue, has a lot of songs about love, but, in keeping with country traditions, the songs lean more towards the painful sides of love. That's right, The Hollyfelds are unabashedly country, and there's no shame in that at all, especially when you go about it in the way these cool kids go about it. When I think of country, I think of Hank Williams singing about how he's lonely (he's crying he's so lonesome sometimes), and women who are rising up and pushing their power in the face of the misogynistic society, but still finding a place in their heart for men (either to use them or to have them there by their side helping them fight the life fight). I've always found this aspect of country music fascinating. Men listen to it to get their blues out, admitting weakness and sensitivity, and Women listen to it to encourage themselves to stand up and fight. I think the fact that the people our country pigeon-holes into the country-rock-listening-group are people who are manly men and battered women. Maybe the music is there to try to get these two to change their ways, kind of showing them the way. A very interesting dynamic I've honestly never heard anyone talk about before (but I've not really done any research on this one...). Really, though, I have no idea what most popular country music talks about, so I could be entirely wrong on this whole concept.

Also, now that I'm thinking about it, pop country could be thought of as the new punk, because punk started out trying to make people hate it (kind of ... I know there's about a billion reasons as to why punk started ... just go with me on this one) ... and a lot of people really dislike pop country, so in that way, it's kind of a punk thing to do.

I bring all that up because I think it needs to be said that pop country, as a whole, is a very misunderstood genre that is frequently ridiculed, and I just can't help but think that's wrong. Sure old county and alt-country groups are respected, but pop country in the last 15-20 years just doesn't get any good press. Well I think the Hollyfelds is a great start to turning that sort of thought process around.

Regardless of all that though, The Hollyfelds really shouldn't be too concerned with what genre they are going to be put into, because they're clearly such great musicians that these things simply just don't matter. Their new album is country through and through, but the sentiments are similar to any other song out there. These musicians are looking for love, having a hard time with decisions, and having trouble with what's truly going on here in this crazy world of ours ... just like every other musician, and, really, person out there, except they have siren-esq voices and a backing band that will make any band rethink whether or not they, like the Hollyfelds, have the skills to pay the bills. (did I seriously just write that? so dorky). The Hollyfelds write scincere, heart breaking, and, over all, catchy tunes that'll put a tear in your beer. The Hollyfelds have yet to release a poorly written song, but if you're looking for the sweetest ears of corn, pick this one, it's clearly the best of the bunch (though their older stuff is seriously nothing to be snubbed.

The Hollyfelds - She's Got You
The Hollyfelds - Hey 52

smancy news from the mouth of the horse (The Hollyfelds' myspace):
Friday night (April 3) we will be celebrating [the release of our new EP] at The Skylark Lounge in Denver (140 S. Broadway). $5 at the door will get you in to see not only us, but also the awesome GT and The Sidewinders! Music will start around 9:30, so don’t be late!

Saturday night (April 4) we will be driving South to Colorado Springs to celebrate. We will be at The Rocket Room (230 Pueblo Ave.) and will be playing with The Chris Winters Show and Roosterd. The show is only $5 and starts at 9:00.

"How Will You Know It's You?"

Pomegranates - Everybody Come Outside
Verdict: Love (<)

The Pomegranates sophomore release is a joyous event. Upbeat songs with hand claps urging and encouraging us to find ourselves and love others, presumably outside of the house. In going through the mixing process with my own group, I've become more aware of how difficult it must be to get the complicated and heavily layered sounds that certain bands want to sound good together. This album is one heck of a great example of what amazing production, to me sounds like. However, I don't have a subscription to Tape Op., so as to whether or not it "officially" sounds good, who knows. As an everyday listener, I'd say it's pretty impressive.

There's a great deal of bright guitars and pulsating bass lines, accentuated by heartbeat drumming throughout the album. The notes from the piano give the album a homey feeling, and, coupled with the chorus-style vocals (overdubbing the vocals occurs more than an a couple times on the album, but it's never so overwhelming as to put one off), the album has a very warm feeling too it. The slow, soft songs are touching, and the faster songs had me bobbing to and fro. All these aspects come together and really make this album a great piece, but there are a few awkward parts to the album where, simply because of how some of the songs are composed, the sounds don't quite sound right. There are a few awkward transitions that are just too jarring, or one or two songs where I really felt like only the surface of the song was scratched, and they could have gotten a bunch more out of it (I assume this because they're certainly able of writing phenomenal songs).

That said, there are some very experimental things that are attempted, jarring transitions and whathaveyou, that absolutely do work, creating some truly spectacular indie rock pop songs. such as:

Pomegranates - Beachcomber
Pomegranates - Jerusalem Had a Bad Day
Pomegranates - Corriander

Tour dates:
** with Wye Oak
*** with Ted Leo

03.21.09 @ Valley of the Vapors in Hot Springs, Arkansas**
04.15.09 @ Brillobox in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania**
04.16.09 @ Southgate House in Newport, Kentucky**
04.17.09 @ The Hideout in Chicago, Illinois**
04.18.09 @ The Basement in Carleton, Minnesota**
04.19.09 @ 7th Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota**
04.20.09 @ Public Space One in Iowa City, Iowa**
04.21.09 @ The Waiting Room in Omaha, Nebraska**
04.22.09 @ The Hi-Dive in Denver, Colorado**(also w/ The Don'ts and Be Carefuls )
04.23.09 @ Kilby Court in Salt Lake City, Utah**
04.24.09 @ Neurolux in Boise, Idaho**
04.25.09 @ The Red Room in Kennewick, Washington**
04.27.09 @ Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, Oregon**
04.29.09 @ The Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco, California**
04.30.09 @ Silverlake Lounge in Los Angeles, California**
05.01.09 @ Trunk Space in Phoenix, Arizona**
05.04.09 @ Opolis in Norman, Oklahoma**
05.06.09 @ Mohawk in Austin, Texas**
05.09.09 @ The Drunken Unicorn in Atlanta, Georgia**
05.10.09 @ Local 506 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina**
05.11.09 @ The Black Cat in Washington DC, Washington DC**
05.13.09 @ Mercury Lounge in New York City, New York**
05.14.09 @ TT The Bears in Cambridge, Massachusetts**
05.15.09 @ Cafe Nine in New Haven, Connecticut**
05.16.09 @ Metro Gallery in Baltimore, Maryland**
06.15.09 @ The Southgate House in Newport, Kentucky***

Visit the band here:
http://www.myspace.com/pomegranatesart
http://everybodyoutside.blogspot.com

"A Magic Bunny in a Hat"

Halloween Swim Team - The End of The Sky
Verdict: Love (<)

I wasn't really certain what to think about Halloween Swim Team at first, but I knew that I would enjoy it on some level as soon as the album started. It's like a lo-fi indie-rock-centered version of the Knife. They also seem to take a certain amount of influence from Múm. They appear to be mostly a beat machine, a Moog, and a singer.

They are, in fact, a bass player, a drummer, and Moog-playing singerman, though the album really does sound a bit too electro to really be 3/4 live instruments, but hey, something just don't work on the album like they probably do live.

That said, this album is smoooooooth as silk. Each track winds and twists around your brain, making it plan your next dance party (making sure to include HST on the playlist.) Okay, this is getting ridiculous. What I mean to say is that the album is great, though there are, admittedly, a few low points when it sounds like they just turned the Moog on, held a chord down, changed the chord every eight bars, and put a basic drum beat under it. the only thing that doesn't sometimes feel like it was just phoned in is the vocals, but they sound like they're the only live thing on the album, so that's not surprising. However, these low points are fairly few and far between, so the album, as a whole, is very enjoyable. A great start to what I hope is a great career.

Halloween Swim Team - Coincidence
Halloween Swim Team - The Magick Song
Halloween Swim Team - Inside/Out TV

An Horse - Rearrange Beds
Verdict: Love (<)

I wish I actually could say I had a sixth sense about albums, but that's nothing more than a fantasy of mine. When I see names of bands, or album covers that are particularly interesting, I usually think that the music is also good. There is no conclusive evidence that this is in any way, shape, or form, true, which makes sense. However, I think to myself that I've got a good run with these things, because I only remember when I was spot on, and forget when my intuition was wrong.

I got lucky with An Horse's new album Rearrange Beds, because I love their name in all its grammatically horrific glory, and the cover art just draws me in. I'm lucky because the album is just fantastic.

The first thing that stood out to me was how well mixed the album is. It's like audible butter it's so slick and smooth and pleasing. Everything sounds so organic it "insert cliche here." The next big thing that really struck me was that the songs are kind of oddly constructed, or, at least, sound like it, but they still come across as undeniable pop songs that you find yourself wanting to sing along to before the first listen is over. Damon Cox, drummer, is one of the best drummers I've heard in a while, which says a lot. What I mean isn't that he's the fastest, or can do polyrhythmic beats with each of his body parts, but that he understands what kind of drum beat works for the song, which is the biggest challenge for a drummer. He's clearly quick as bullets (as is evident in the rolls he performs on occasion), but it never feels like it's too much. Kate Cooper (vocals/guitar) reminds me of Tegan and Sara pretending to be John Darnielle (the mountain goats) with vocal stylings similar to Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs). That's not to say she doesn't sound exactly like herself, but that's the best way I can describe her unique style. And that's it, there're no other members, which I actually just found out as I began writing this, which, to me, says that the two put out so much life that they sound like a 4 piece at least. The album is, by all standards that I can think of, full of vivacity and just entertaining as hell.

That said, by about track 6 I get a little bogged down by the style, and I find myself kind of zoning out. But, that said, track 7 brings it down a notch, making the inevitable return to style and rise in emotion much more powerful, which is just a very smart move. The second half of the album, on a whole, is slower and more melodic than the first, which makes it a little lopsided. Other than those nit-picks, it's a solid album. It's no blockbuster, but it's a solid foundation for a band that clearly has the knowhow, and the elbow grease, to lead us to a new land.

An Horse - Postcards
An Horse - Little Lungs (removed by request)
An Horse - Horizons(removed by request)

Black Gold - Rush

Black Gold - Rush
Verdict: Love (<) Black Gold's album has chill, sexy songs, almost in the vein of the new resurgence of lively disco (as opposed to the initial rise where there was about as much life in it as there is in a robot zombie), but more in the style of the new pop-centered cheerful radio punk that is going on. The only difference between Black Gold and that sound may be the fact that I actually enjoyed Rush.

At times the album comes off of a U2 mixed with Queen sound (Run), but other times it seems like they've invited Andy Butler into the studio to dictate how things were going to go (Detroit). That may seem like I'm saying the album doesn't have a cohesive feeling about it, but that's not my intention at all. The songs flow from one to another neigh-seamlessly, but without sounding just like the last track. The producer(s), I have a feeling, should be feeling just as proud of this record as Than Luu and Eric Ronick surely must. I mean, the album is an undeniable beast of a record.

That said, it's not revolutionary. Most of the songs follow regular song structure format, or, at least, they sound like they do, and, for me, that doesn't really strike my fancy. I mean, when you have a song in 3/4 and the drum beat is as boring as it is in most pop 3/4 songs (Canyon), I'm automatically going to be judging your song. No, maybe another drum beat wouldn't have fit the theme, then, for me, that means the theme is no good. I only have my own opinions on this one though, so who knows in the end. There are some very tried-and-true methods on this album, but sometimes those things can be the genius of an album. Like I said before, I really did enjoy this album. But every time I listen to it it gets a little more stale. That might be because of how often I've heard it over the past few days though. Certainly something to factor in.

It's an album you instantly want to sing along with. And that's something few artists can claim. Well done Black Gold.

Black Gold - Detroit
Black Gold - Run
Black Gold - After The Flood

'08's Music to Love More Than Music: Love, Pt. 1

Stay tuned for the next 2 sections: "Love More" and "Love More Than Music." They'll be up in the next five or so days. Then, after they're up, a post describing my favorite album of the year will be up. Hurray!

Love (<)
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Town Topic EP
Basically anything that Owen Ashworth touches turns to gold. As far as my opinion is considered, that is. This EP is no different. I absolutely adored it. I only wish there was more to it. But next year there shall be! (his next full length is coming out next yr).
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Ice Cream Truck

Dragonforce - Ultra Beatdown
one could not forgive such a title for an album unless one understood that the band that named their album such was a band such as Dragonforce (i.e. the rebirth of Power Metal.). I honestly think that there will be few bands to follow in the footsteps of Dragonforce in terms of popularity (I'm certain bands like HammerFall are currently scratching their heads asking what exactly they're doing wrong), but that aside, Dragonforce is a damn good band. I'm certain I would have liked the album more if I like the singer more (I believe him to be the weakest member of the group, as good as he is).
Dragonforce - The Fire Still Burns

Aaron Jerome - Time To Rearrange
A very eclectic release, to say the least. Some songs are jazzy, some are straight up Hip-Hop, others are ambient and soothing, others are energetic and rocking. Mr. Jerome is a fantastic DJ/Producer, and this is evident in the fact that, despite the fact that these songs span so many genres, each song just sounds awesome. He knows music.
Aaron Jerome - Reel Time (feat. Voice)

The Roots - Rising Down
Sometimes listening to Black Thought spit rhymes is a little uncomfortable, because he doesn't do things that are stereotypical ... sometimes. He still uses a lot of the stereotypical words, but I can only imagine that's his upbringing coming out. If he were to be completely stereotypical or vice versa, it wouldn't be uncomfortable, but the switching puts me a little on edge. The Roots will always be a great band in my mind because they truly are a hip-hop band, and that's rare, and I think we need to cherish rare jewels like The Roots. This is a Roots album, and it sounds like them, so if you like them, you'll like this.
The Roots - Rising Down

Say Hi - The Wishes and the Glitch
With a name change came a change in how the group approaches music ... at least that's how I saw it. Some people didn't like the new album, some people absolutely adored it. I did enjoy it quite a bit, but it was not an album of the year. the live show was particularly confusing when they didn't appear to be able to get the emotions that were portrayed in the album across. Still, a very touching and great album.
Say Hi - Northwestern Girls