Static Revenger – Love Song Surprise
From the outset this was an intriguing album and right up my street; the vocals have been played about with on Track One, which gives them a soft otherworldly feel. Track Two had me hooked from the opening bars, it’s a fantastic sound, the vocals are very different on this track yet they are of the same quality. The wide range of sounds, (and I can hear just about every instrument I can think of in there,) really does work, this is a simply stunning track and I love the way it climbs steadily to the finish it’s fantastic. Track Five is an electronic sensation, you’ll either love it or you’ll hate it, I loved it. I found Track Seven to be weak for its blandness, though it isn’t dire by any stretch of the imagination, but Track Ten was a major disappointment.
Overall this album is excellent, though I’d have preferred to hear some more imaginative lyrics, which would tie in better with the excellent and unique sound. Track ten is abysmal; I’d have preferred not to have it on the album at all.
By J.Greenwood
The Heavy – Great Vengeance & Furious Fire
One of the early surprises of the 2008 comes in form of The Heavy’s debut album. The songs sound like a perfect throwback with a mix of a lot of contemporary elements. A band they can be compared to would be The Dirtbombs but they take the garage rock and give it more blues, soul and flavor. The Bath group does not disappoint for ten tracks and over thirty minutes.
The albums standout song “That Kind Of Man” instantly transfers you back to something from the 70s. The horns combined with young Kelvin Swaybe’s falsettos vocal make this song what it is. The song is so good that it instantly jumps the album up on its own. The album starts with “Brukpocket’s Lament.” The track sounds like a fuzzy and crackle recording of something out of the 30s. The quality of the recording gives it a lot of authenticity. “Set Me Free” kicks things back up with some cowbell and has this great live and raw touch. “Dignity” tuns things up with some fast bass and turns out a classic sounding like early Primal Scream. “In The Morning” continues the blues rock tradition with another burner.
“Great Vengeance & Furious Fire” from the start is an dirty, epic and gritty album. Originally out last year in the UK I am pleased I was able to get a chance to listen to this rare hybrid.
By John Siwicki
Colin Meloy – Sings Live!
The concept here is an interesting and it works. Decemberists singer Colin Meloy releases a solo acoustic live album while playing the bands songs including some rare ones and throwing in a cover or two for good measures. You get songs like “Devil’s Elbow” (from Meloy’s former band) and “Bandit Queen” (from the Picaresqueties EP) and he even breaks into a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” at one point.
This is a hard album to dissect because it is a essentially just Decemberists songs done acoustically. The best part of the record is when Colin is talking about his song “Dracula’s Daughter” calling it the “worst song I have ever wrote.” The fact that he included it and how long he discusses it really mixes up the record quite a bit and adds a little fun to the record.
Hearing all these songs stripped down I think they just sound better with the full arrangements because they all start to lump together. Colin does have great audience interactions and is a really fun guy in between the songs. Going through the whole thing once was fun but I just do not see going back to it very frequently.
By John Siwicki
M83 – Saturdays=Youth
This is the second record Anthony Gonzalez has made as the sole genius behind the M83 name. Anthony did not do this alone. He got production assistance on Saturdays=Youth came from Ewan Pearson and Ken Thomas. They have produced such works as Sigur Ros and The Rapture. There has been some buzz about these songs as Anthony has gone for a traditional structure for his songs. While, there is moments on the record that follow a certain rigger just look at the first single “Graveyard Girl.” That does not take anything away from this sweet record. In some cases it even enhances the record.
The record does shy away from the digital arena and turns to a sythn based 80s sound in a lot of the songs. The sound has already turned away a few fans. But, this new shift in the sound makes each song really pop out at you.
“You, Appearing” starts off the album with a stretched out and atmospheric sound. A young falsetto vocal in the background of this complex backdrop is an interesting introduction for the album because ever so quickly the sound shifts away from that. “Kim & Jessie” hits your right out of the gates with some pounding drums and hooky sythn line. As the build up to the chorus is going you might thing a bigger payoff would ensue but sadly its still just picks up slightly. “Skin of the Night” takes things back a bit with a quietly and eerie tune with a great vocal to compliment. “Graveyard Girl” just keeps growing on me and it is a song that I have been going back to a lot. The song deals with a young girl as show in the breakdown with that frighting aside about how she feels it all to late for her. “Couleurs” is a feast of sounds being blasted in your ears lead by a charging sythn line. “We Own The Sky” is another beautiful piece of ambient magic. The song takes on a journey for fives minutes slowly building and make a lot of quick movements. “Too Late” is a really minimal and sparse but portrays this odd level of elegance and beauty in the notes. “Midnight Souls Still Remain” carries out the album with a massive eleven minute ambient piece with not a lot of movements or changes.
The album might turn a few people off as there is a lot of variety and things you might not expect from an M83 record. “Saturdays=Youth” is one of the finest albums of this half of the year as it gives you everything you could want: songs to fall asleep to, songs to lift you and songs for…well I can go on and on.
By John Siwicki