iPod Shuffle
I've been doin' the iPod shuffle recently, deleting lotsa old albums that I either grew tired of, felt that they were a waste of space, didn't like etc. So away with a lot of stuff including some Japanese electronica that was just a bit... boring after a while. Also I dumped Belle & Sebastian's newer albums cos I was kinda getting irritated by them. Long ago, I used to lurve Kruder & Dorfmeister, but even they have been thrown out as well. Disk space is precious and 7 year old chill just sounds bland now...
So out with the old, in with the new. I brought in a few new signings, all on free transfers. Hehe.
Rachael Yamagata - Happenstance
Having just reheard more of the album, I begin to discover why people are saying this is good. Review in the Life! section puts it as one of the top albums in recent times. She's huskier than Norah, edgier. A little bit like a poppier Karen O gone jazzy perhaps, beatles-esque in bits, driving rock/pop. Its pretty nice songwriting overall with a good, full bodied sound.
The Postal Service - Give Up
Comprising members from Death Cab For Cutie AND Dntel. This has to be good. But its not amazingly fantastically great. It doesn't pack the same melodies that Dntel and Death Cab had down pat. Its still ok but I think I'd prefer either Death Cab or Dntel alone. This kinda feels like they went the way of Belle & Sebastian with an even more off the beaten path route. Still some decentish melodies. A little overindulgent on the electone perhaps.
Idlewild - Warnings/Promises
Their debut 100 Broken Windows was rather terrific because there was this raw edginess and sharpness in the sound. Remote Places was more accomplished and had this grander, bigger sound, fuelled by their newfound success in bits but it was fuller and more refined from before. Warnings/Promises doesn't seem to follow quite as much. Instead, it seems nicer, more gentle, softer. A good listen but perhaps its hard to match up to the fantastic Remote Places.
New Order - Waiting For The Sirens Call
New Order's best remains what they've already put out. WFTSC continues on the keyboard aided sound that the Order have been associated with for so long. Heard Krafty on MTV and I liked the colors in the video. Its a lovely little single thats somewhat contemporary but somehow manages to sneak a lot of the old Order into this track, courtesy of a signature bassline. It feels like a modern retro sound, like the 80s were updated with tighter production, still the same synth and bass.
Thievery Corporation - The Cosmic Game
Features a lot of featured artistes, including The Flaming Lips and David Bryne to mention a few. They've had collabos before, with Ben Folds in particular, so in that respect it feels like they took that sound and made a guest album concept. It sounded great from the off and for the most part retains the vintage Thievery sound. This time round, they run the gamut of indie to reggae to hip-hop to Indian inspired sounds to bossa. Bryne sounded like Arto Lindsay. Still Smooth.
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
There's a bit of fuss on this one. I can see why. They sound pretty unique. The beats bang down fast and furious. New Order following the Trail Of Dead via The Killers. A punkier Rapture. A pacy Idlewild. On a whole, they've got an interesting sound somewhere along punk, rock and the new electro. Blue Light is actually a pretty nice little ballad track. Love the rollicking drums.
Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, Its Morning
A long little story starts this album off before launching proper into the first song. Obviously this isn't going to be a typical ride in the American countryside. I suppose Ryan Adams obviously comes to mind and perhaps Bright Eyes is somewhat in the same vein although Adams would be the more palatable of the two. Perhaps, it was just too country for a non-American.
Bright Eyes - Digital Ash In A Digital Urn
Its interesting that he's got a country/folky album on the one hand and goes to make an excess in the digital medium on the other. Unfortunately, I don't particularly find this foray any more interesting than Wide Awake. I felt tired listening to this. Didn't offer anything new either way. A lengthy spiel on countrified electronica.
Feeder - Pushing A Moment
Feeder never seems to disappoint. Every album they've put has got great songs and a particular sound, with enough additions and alterations to keep things interesting, which was exactly what I was craving for, after sampling loads of new stuff. Something familiar, something that you know you can't go wrong with. Good stuff. Great sound. I used to think they were some American indie band with no hope. Then I put on the headphones at HMV. A good follow up with great melodies and driving pop/rock.
Kaiser Chiefs - Employment
Another one of the next great things. (There seem to be a lot this time round) I can't say I'm a big fan. Blur comparisons abound on reviews that I've read. Listening to the album, I can understand why some might say they'd link it with Britpop and Damon Albarn's 4 piece. At some points, you think they're of the new wave yet, they seem to stick out like sore thumbs. In parts, they're Franz Ferdinand-ish but campier and more ridiculous. (Not that that was an insult) A unique compilation of English noise.
Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten
I'd heard her singles forever everywhere I went. Then I heard I Bruise Easily on MTV, which I thought was a pretty cool little Mandalay-like track. Soulful singing and girlier than Pink. Which is a great thing, because I always found Pink rather undelectable. Miss Bedingfield has a lovely, husky voice that certainly goes a lot easier on the ears. A decent mix of electronica, hip-hop and rock on a quintessentially pop album. Half good really.
Razorlight - Up All Night
Deceptive piano opening leads into a Strokes-esque sound. They might be oft-compared to any of the new wave, but on some tracks they do deliver something that gives a spark of a difference. The title track's actually rather lovely as well. It started like it was going to be rather lost amidst the mass of next great things but it's got some hooks that need some time to open up and break into. Pretty good.
The Bravery - The Bravery
Another tirade of trendy dance/rock. The Bravery at least sound good, if commonplace amongst the variety of new wave bands. Some pretty good tunes and somewhere between Franz Ferdinand and The Killers. Nice little drum bits and kinda fun overall.
So out with the old, in with the new. I brought in a few new signings, all on free transfers. Hehe.
Rachael Yamagata - Happenstance
Having just reheard more of the album, I begin to discover why people are saying this is good. Review in the Life! section puts it as one of the top albums in recent times. She's huskier than Norah, edgier. A little bit like a poppier Karen O gone jazzy perhaps, beatles-esque in bits, driving rock/pop. Its pretty nice songwriting overall with a good, full bodied sound.
The Postal Service - Give Up
Comprising members from Death Cab For Cutie AND Dntel. This has to be good. But its not amazingly fantastically great. It doesn't pack the same melodies that Dntel and Death Cab had down pat. Its still ok but I think I'd prefer either Death Cab or Dntel alone. This kinda feels like they went the way of Belle & Sebastian with an even more off the beaten path route. Still some decentish melodies. A little overindulgent on the electone perhaps.
Idlewild - Warnings/Promises
Their debut 100 Broken Windows was rather terrific because there was this raw edginess and sharpness in the sound. Remote Places was more accomplished and had this grander, bigger sound, fuelled by their newfound success in bits but it was fuller and more refined from before. Warnings/Promises doesn't seem to follow quite as much. Instead, it seems nicer, more gentle, softer. A good listen but perhaps its hard to match up to the fantastic Remote Places.
New Order - Waiting For The Sirens Call
New Order's best remains what they've already put out. WFTSC continues on the keyboard aided sound that the Order have been associated with for so long. Heard Krafty on MTV and I liked the colors in the video. Its a lovely little single thats somewhat contemporary but somehow manages to sneak a lot of the old Order into this track, courtesy of a signature bassline. It feels like a modern retro sound, like the 80s were updated with tighter production, still the same synth and bass.
Thievery Corporation - The Cosmic Game
Features a lot of featured artistes, including The Flaming Lips and David Bryne to mention a few. They've had collabos before, with Ben Folds in particular, so in that respect it feels like they took that sound and made a guest album concept. It sounded great from the off and for the most part retains the vintage Thievery sound. This time round, they run the gamut of indie to reggae to hip-hop to Indian inspired sounds to bossa. Bryne sounded like Arto Lindsay. Still Smooth.
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
There's a bit of fuss on this one. I can see why. They sound pretty unique. The beats bang down fast and furious. New Order following the Trail Of Dead via The Killers. A punkier Rapture. A pacy Idlewild. On a whole, they've got an interesting sound somewhere along punk, rock and the new electro. Blue Light is actually a pretty nice little ballad track. Love the rollicking drums.
Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, Its Morning
A long little story starts this album off before launching proper into the first song. Obviously this isn't going to be a typical ride in the American countryside. I suppose Ryan Adams obviously comes to mind and perhaps Bright Eyes is somewhat in the same vein although Adams would be the more palatable of the two. Perhaps, it was just too country for a non-American.
Bright Eyes - Digital Ash In A Digital Urn
Its interesting that he's got a country/folky album on the one hand and goes to make an excess in the digital medium on the other. Unfortunately, I don't particularly find this foray any more interesting than Wide Awake. I felt tired listening to this. Didn't offer anything new either way. A lengthy spiel on countrified electronica.
Feeder - Pushing A Moment
Feeder never seems to disappoint. Every album they've put has got great songs and a particular sound, with enough additions and alterations to keep things interesting, which was exactly what I was craving for, after sampling loads of new stuff. Something familiar, something that you know you can't go wrong with. Good stuff. Great sound. I used to think they were some American indie band with no hope. Then I put on the headphones at HMV. A good follow up with great melodies and driving pop/rock.
Kaiser Chiefs - Employment
Another one of the next great things. (There seem to be a lot this time round) I can't say I'm a big fan. Blur comparisons abound on reviews that I've read. Listening to the album, I can understand why some might say they'd link it with Britpop and Damon Albarn's 4 piece. At some points, you think they're of the new wave yet, they seem to stick out like sore thumbs. In parts, they're Franz Ferdinand-ish but campier and more ridiculous. (Not that that was an insult) A unique compilation of English noise.
Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten
I'd heard her singles forever everywhere I went. Then I heard I Bruise Easily on MTV, which I thought was a pretty cool little Mandalay-like track. Soulful singing and girlier than Pink. Which is a great thing, because I always found Pink rather undelectable. Miss Bedingfield has a lovely, husky voice that certainly goes a lot easier on the ears. A decent mix of electronica, hip-hop and rock on a quintessentially pop album. Half good really.
Razorlight - Up All Night
Deceptive piano opening leads into a Strokes-esque sound. They might be oft-compared to any of the new wave, but on some tracks they do deliver something that gives a spark of a difference. The title track's actually rather lovely as well. It started like it was going to be rather lost amidst the mass of next great things but it's got some hooks that need some time to open up and break into. Pretty good.
The Bravery - The Bravery
Another tirade of trendy dance/rock. The Bravery at least sound good, if commonplace amongst the variety of new wave bands. Some pretty good tunes and somewhere between Franz Ferdinand and The Killers. Nice little drum bits and kinda fun overall.
posted by Unknown @ 12:16 AM
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