Forced Listening - Alt & Indie Style

[Happymeal]

bump

[Tomahawk]

ok, dibs

[Tomahawk]

I wanted to do the Belew track, but it's a bunch of clips from different songs, rather than just one song, so I couldn't really review it. It does sound like an interesting album though. But instead I chose...

National Skyline - October

Well I've never heard of this band, so I'm going in with no expectations.

Starts off with light guitar, sounds like it'll be a nice lil poppy song. The vocals aren't doing much for me. He seems off key. Maybe he wants to sound that way, I dunno, but it's annoying, and it's distracting me from what is otherwise a very nice song. He does sound ok in that "save all your violence" part, that's really good and catchy actually, best part of the song there.

And now it's over. It was a nice lil poppy song, but I spent most of the time distracted by the vocals. It has the potential to be a good song, like I've said it's very "nice", but I just can't get past the singer. Oh well.

5/10

Songs for the next person:

20 Minute Loop - Jubilation (very catchy alt pop with an edge, can be downloaded at this site: http://www.epitonic.com/artists/20minuteloop.html)

Hilltop Hoods - The Nosebleed Section (Australian hip-hop, very old-school-feeling)

Neu! - Hallogallo (Kraut-rock. Warning, it's 10:07 long.)

[Wanker]

dibs

[Tapeworm]

You must get Hilltop Hoods. You MUST!

[Wanker]

Crap, i'm gonna have to decline this dibs. I'm gonna have to re-install Windows soon, so someone else can take it.

[blueyxd]

I'll do it, my last FL for 2004...

[br3ad_man]

You're the first person on this board that i've ever seen mention the band Mae. 'Destination:Beautiful' is a pretty good record, reminds me of 'photo album' Death Cab.

I like Mae, but I've never mentioned them on here :thumb:

Actually, I've only heard "Tisbury Lane", but still.

[blueyxd]

20 Minute Loop - Jubilation

Theres some soft fuzzy feedback and a bass line over the top.
Pretty much straight away theres some female vocals doing a somewhat chromatic drop.
It sounds pretty raw. A man sings too now, the lyrics sound seem to be about cooking body parts, the female vocalist does this strange "hip neh ahy neah" thing. Then there is a more melodic chorus with both vocalists, it does seem pretty catchy and dirty at the same time. It reminds me think of an Eels song that I heard once.

In the 2nd verse, the guy is using a harsher voice and theres a bit of lead guitar, once again, dirty. Chorus again, and it sounds a bit country this time.

Just as well since it leads into a short country break. But goes back to the chromatic dropping bit. Verse 3, back to how the first one went, lyrics sound semi gory still. An attempted guitar solo, now it's reminding me of Muse.

Chorus again, things seem safer now with the melody here, the female singer is putting on a real thick country accent now, and there it ends on a cool harmonized vocal interplay.


It's not really my type of thing, so I wasn't expecting I would enjoy this as much as I did.
I liked the way it flows, the contrasting dirty verse and melodic chours, the structure wasn't totally standard either, especially with those little extra bits thrown in every now and then. Something interesting, catchy, and some harshness all in one, and done well too. 9/10


It kind of reminds me of a band called Bird Blobs if anyone's interested.
but... another time.. right now I feel like recommending some POP, Mainstream style.

Kylie Minogue - Confide In Me - kind of dark

Madonna - Frozen - arty with a little trance influence. Try for the 6 minute version

Spice Girls - Viva Forever - nice and soft, with some flamenco guitar

Just ignore who sings it, that might cloud some peoples judgement. Remember, it's about the music. I would think these will be easy to find, so enjoy.
make 2005 a good one, and the rest of 2004 as well.

[blueyxd]

insane bump

[The Ashtray Girl]

dibs for me then

[The Ashtray Girl]

Already heard the other two, so it had to be

Madonna - Frozen

Soaring minor strings which are very sumptious. Some fuzz and a twangy guitar starts, then she starts singing. Very high and airy, probably the best part of Madonna's voice. Lyrics sound depressing, stuff about 'hate and regret'. A more dancey beat comes in, reminds me of All Saints - Pure Shores and she starts humming with backing vocals, which sounds really good. Quite a mystical, spaced-out sort of song.

More trance-like sounds and we're back to the verse. What sounds like a drum machine kicks in, the quality of which isn't very good, but her voice still sounds great so it's not the end of the world. We're back to the humming and I'm desperately trying to listen to it over the sound of typing, as I like it a lot.

The strings kick in again, and they sound so much better than the rest of the backing track. It'd probably be improved if they were the only instruments. I love the lower range of her tones that she uses as well, it all just sounds so good.

We're now at the 4:30 mark and the song is really finding its own groove, although it can't really go on just like this for another 2 minutes, can it?

This bloody humming is gonna be stuck in my head for ages. I'm not too fussed though.

Suddenly everything dies away and her voice comes out, very clearly with no affectations. Quiet strings once again, but it's mainly silence. Oh, that's the end. My the time went quickly.

That was great, but a couple of marks must be deducted for some bad instrument sounds - 7/10.

My Picks:

Gwen Stefani - Bubble Pop Electric (insanely produced, hyperactive, fantastic pop)
The Flaming Lips - All We Have Is Now (mellow alternative)
Elliott Smith - Amity (gorgeous acoustic)
John Frusciante - Ramparts (very short instrumental alternative)

[The Ashtray Girl]

You know you want to...

[Zmev]

dibs

[Tangy zizzle]

Go Awaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy.

[Tapeworm]

w00t, a new band to check out. They sound AWESOME.

/doesn't check out at all

[pixiesfanyo]

They are like... Bush + G. W. x Metallica = That Band (Who so Ever Will)

[The Ashtray Girl]

dibs

...

Do it. Do it now. Or suffer my wrath.

[Zmev]

Review for Gwen Stefani:

song starts off with techno beat and Gwen talking to some guy named Johnny, tonight is thee night o0o. Verse 1 comes in, cool beat in the back, Gwen singing faster than normal. Bubble pop electric in the backseat? I wonder whats that refering too. Ok verse 2 is pretty raunchy, not bad song, but I wont be listening to this in front of my mom anytime soon. "Tonight Im gonna give you all my love in the backseat" Alright. The bubble pop electric saying thing is getting annoying though. JOnny and Gwen finally meet, and drive off with same beat in back. "Drive into me" ...Oh my. And we're in the chorus again, bubble pop electric agian and agian is really wearing on me, and Jonny drives off.

8/10

My picks:

Dillinger Escape Plan - 43% Burnt (grindcore)
Devo - Smart Patrol/Mr Dna (New Wave/Synth)
Ween - Pork Roll Egg & Cheese (Lo-fi/Humor)
Kyuss - 50 million year trip (upside down) (stoner metal)

Only Dib/review if you havent heard it

[lilsolsman]

I dib because i can.

[lilsolsman]

Ween - Pork Roll Egg & Cheese

Starts of with some drum.. Oh geez, weird vocals! Spacey! This is really weird music. It's sorta fun, in a weird scary kinda way. The verse and the chorus are in the same kinda style. The lyrics are hard to decipher without reading them. The song gets a little boring since there is nothing changing. It's still weird vocals, drum and some kind of spacey guitar. I'm not sure if i like this or not. This is bizar. Now it's breaking down and that only makes it weirder. 3.00 of weird weird music. There's nothing else i can say. It got a little boring nearing the end but it was....... interesting..

7/10

My picks:

Elliott Smith - "Georgia" or "No More" (both can be found at http://www.elliottsmithbsides.com/EitherOrDemos.htm Then click Georgia.mp3 or No More.mp3 and there you go.)

Death Cab For Cutie - 20th century towers (a great slow, pretty song)

Damien rice - Eskimo (this song makes me smile.. so pretty and yay :))

[Zmev]

dibs

[blueyxd]

bump, or I'll do another one

[Happymeal]

dibs

[Happymeal]

Damien Rice - Eskimo

Haven't heard much Damien Rice lately, so I gave this one a go.

Starts off with soft, flowing strumming that slowly gets more audible. Damien enters, sounding uncannily Buckley-like in the first few seconds of his singing. The song, expectedly, is relatively quiet, with him hushing up and whispering occasionally, until the beautiful cello says hello at about 1:20.

The line "so I look to my Eskimo friend" really caught me. It's so simple catchy, it adds to the lush, relaxing vibe. So that continues, with Damien doing some nice falsettos here and there. The excitement builds up as the strings get louder, accompanying the singer, who does a soaring note at about 3:20. Beautiful. An opera singer comes in, which surprised me a bit. I'm not one bit overwhelmed, though thoroughly impressed by this climax. He sings his last few words as the sound dies down.

A very nice song.

8/10

Songs:

Dreamend - Passing (melodramatic post rock) http://www.dreamend.com/music.html*recommended*

Slowdive - Crazy For You(dream pop)

Enon - Rubber Car(perky indie rock) http://www.epitonic.com/artists/enon.html

[Happymeal]

bump

[Wanker]

I can't download the song; it won't let me :(

[Happymeal]

http://www.dreamend.com/aibg/passing.mp3


try it again(right click, then save target as?)

[Wanker]

wait, I think it does work.

But i've got work :upset:

I'll do it later.

[Well_Respected_Man]

- dibs

[Well_Respected_Man]

Dreamend - Passing

Starts on phased mellow delayed guitar playing. It reminds of the kind of stuff I do when I'm playing my Rickenbacker with forty pedals hooked up so this is appealing to me so far. Soon an accompying guitar joins in and the mix is still mellowfied (x1000).

Do these guys have any relations with Explosions in the Sky or do all post rock bands sound like this? If anything they do less accsending and descending pick lines. Now I'm waiting for some sort of release like a big dramatic drumroll or something.

And there's that big drum release, Bravo! The delay mellow theme is staring to pick up. Awesome, right now there's some feedback solo going on, I love it! It's also really loud but I'm not going to bother turning my speakers down at all. They're finnaly playing fast, I'd been hoping they would all song. Yes, even more noise raping my ear, too bad it has to fade out on this, but oh well.

Wait that tottaly wasn't the end of the song, it's still going on. Now the mellow parts seem to fit the piece better. Parts of it remind me of the guitar playing on Fugazi's Sweet and Low. Meh, that ending was kinda weak, but I ended up liking the song more I was expecting to so, Bravo!

My Final Rating: 8/10 Post Rawk!

My Selections:

Soft Machine - As Long As He Lies Perfectly Still (Groovy Prog Rock)
Egg Hunt - We All Fall Down (Ian Mackaye side project, Slighty Industrial Punk)
Magazine - Motorcade (Post Punk, been on my list for 6 months)
Great Lakes - Parachutes (Neo Pysch)

I have all of these on my slsk (WRM) or god forbid AIM (Super Furry OMG)

[Well_Respected_Man]

Perhaps this is too early for a bump seeing as it took 6 days before Happymeal bumped his, but whatever.

[The Ashtray Girl]

I'll dib it.

[The Ashtray Girl]

Magazine - Motorcade

Starts off promisingly, nice Floyd-esque slow guitar chords. Good drum rhythm, I'm really hoping for something good here.

Singing kicks in, it's very low and gravely, but interesting to listen to. Definitely getting into a groove there. Some really crazy backing vocals going on.

Yeah, overall the vocals are a little odd. Guitar solo kicks in, much much faster than the song so far, but really builds up and it's fantastic! Drums kick in and I find I'm trying to type at twice the speed... woah there Amy.

I'm really really interested in this song, can't wait to hear what's going to happen next.

The tempo keeps building up, some really cool bass coming through and keyboards and all sorts of larks.

Ooh, it suddenly slowed right down - very interesting.

Some more impressive soloing, very enjoyable.

Song appears to be going back to the beginning more, I'm not really expecting anything else to happen, we'll have to wait and see.

Oh, I'm wrong, it just did a little build up again. In fact, it keeps switching between the two, how kerrazy! Ok, that little thing's just repeating a few times now, and it's over.

8.5/10 Think I'm going to have to listen to that a little more to get a feel for it, but that was one of the best FLs I've done.

My Picks:

Kasabian - Club Foot (I know, I know, but humour me if my incessant obsessiveness hasn't made you hear this already)[indie rock]

The Decemberists - Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect [alt rock]

Sufjan Stevens - The Dress Looks Nice On You [acoustic]

Explosions In The Sky - First Breath After A Coma [post-rock]

Mercury Rev - Hercules (warning, it's about 8 minutes long) [dream/alt-pop]

[geenat]

dibs :D
There's a Decemberists show in a few months around here, so maybe this will help me decide if i want to go.

[geenat]

The Decemberists - Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect

Ok starts off with a little drum kick and guitar arpeggios or such repeating. I really like this guys voice, its comforting, feels like story time. Chorus type part - simple but nice. Good lyrics. Some keyboards in the back keepin the chord progression going. About ready to get sick of that guitar part, but then the chorus comes again and I am happy. I want to read these lyrics they sound interesting.

7/10 Good stuff, mellow & very listener-friendly. The band seems to have depth, an interesting voice & old fashioned sort of style.
I liked what I heard of Okkervil River too( who the Decemberists will be playing with) so that show is sounding more & more interesting to check out

My picks :
Jeff Beck - Cause We've Ended as Lovers (intrumental, if you like guitar)
The Zombies - The Way I Feel Inside (short n sweet)
Okkervil River - Listening To Otis Redding At Home During Christmas
John Lennon - Jealous Guy (like Imagine but better)

[MemoryMachine]

Yeah, Yeah. Meh.

If someone would kindly do a review of this song:

The City by the Dismemberment Plan (http://www.dismembermentplan.com/plan_audio/mpeg/DPlan_The_City.mp3)

Personal favourite. :D

Edit: Why isn't the hyperlink displaying properly?

[The Ashtray Girl]

mx disabled it

[lilsolsman]

Yeah, Yeah. Meh.

If someone would kindly do a review of this song:

The City by the Dismemberment Plan (http://www.dismembermentplan.com/plan_audio/mpeg/DPlan_The_City.mp3)

Personal favourite. :D

Edit: Why isn't the hyperlink displaying properly?

Well, nobody do this. You have to review before asking others to review your songs. Too bad, eh?

My picks :
Jeff Beck - Cause We've Ended as Lovers (intrumental, if you like guitar)
The Zombies - The Way I Feel Inside (short n sweet)
Okkervil River - Listening To Otis Redding At Home During Christmas
John Lennon - Jealous Guy (like Imagine but better)

are still the picks you can choose from.

[Foustian]

Dibs.

[Foustian]

The Zombies, "The Way I Feel Inside"

Alright, a song from one of my favorite movies of 2004, the Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Great lyrics, very sincere, sensitive and thoughtful. The song is simplistic, yet very well crafted. The background keyboard really gives it a very earnest and somber tone. On a side note, Wes Anderson couldn't have picked a better song for that particular scene. I won't spoil the plot for anyone going to see the film.

Modest Mouse - Twin Cities Made of Ashes
David Bowie - Fame
Talking Heads - Don't Worry About the Government

[dkmaddog]

I'll take this one.

Bowie - Fame
Though not one of Bowie's better works in my oppinion, still one of his most relevant and influential songs. His vocal stylings on this song were quite strong and the music almost has a "new wave-ish" feel to it. When listening to Fame, you can hear how so many artists have today have been influenced by Bowie. Listening to this track can assist you in a better understanding of bands such as The Rapture or maybe VHS or Beta.

The Fiery Furnaces - Chris Michaels
TV on the Radio - Bomb Yourself
Travis Morrison - My Two Front Teeth Part I and II

[MemoryMachine]

TV On The Radio - Bomb Yourself

Bass, drums, sounds pretty standard. Intersesting choice of vocal arrangements and lyrics. Seems pretty Anti-Capitalism. Guitars flitter then fly beyond the yellow horizon of those MBV style vocals. The harmonies dipping and diving while the singer swoons, humming a terrifyingly dull melody. Oh, here come the vocals again, "Bomb Your Country", nothing revolutionary is it? The ending starts swelling to a climax, the tap of guitar notes, is that a drum noise? Reverb!

6/10

Now review my song, asstards.

[lilsolsman]

Now review my song, asstards.

Not if you ask it like that.

[Master Arkam Kannon]

Dismemberment Plan - The City

Imagine overlooking a city from a skytop view, then suddenly being transported to the city streets. You walk the streets and all you see is unwelcome scenery all around the place. You're alone and that's all you can think about, you're in a random environment that anything can happen, everything you once new has changed and people arent friendly. No matter what you do you're not gonna accept the fact that everyone is leaving you and you're stuck in this everchanging horrid place.

Ween - Pushing Up the Daisies
Morphine - Lets Take a Trip Together

[Well_Respected_Man]

Morphine - Lets Take a Trip Together 3:00

No idea what to expect from this song, I've heard of the band name but basically have no clue what genre they are or what they sound like, I keep mixing up their name with Mecury Rev for some reason.

Wow, "Let's Take a Trip Together" starts on a funky jazz vibe with a saxophone straight into the mix. I'm going to amazon to get an idea of the instruments they use. Alright they have two saxophone and a double bass thing going on, this is a really interesting. The vocals come in shortley covered in a layer of fuzz. The singers are alright, somewhat of a letdown. I'm paying far more attention to the saxophones but I admit the singers are providing some catchy hooks now and then.

At 1:40 some weird solo begins. Are they vocals clipped up and repeated or a theremin, as theremins can give off a singing effect. The dymanics also change up a little round this time together and the main theme is repeated about taking a trip somewhere. Things quiet down and the song ends, Bravo!

My Rating: 9/10 I'm going to download the rest of this album for sure.

My Tunes:
Soft Machine - As Long As He Lies Perfectly Still (Best Prog/Jazz Song Ever)
Can - I'm So Green (Funky Kruatrock)
Faust - The Sad Skinhead (Even More Funky Krautrock)
Magazine - I'm A Party (New Wave/Post Punk)

[Happymeal]

dibsies

[Happymeal]

Soft Machine - As Long As He Lies Perfectly Still

So an orgy of instruments start off the song. I really liked that intro, basically. It's so abrupt and straight to the action. There's a lot of stuff going on: the colorful upbeat keyboards in moderato, the frolicking drum lines that's varied and a bit ever-changing, the jazzy bass that's a bit overcast but still audible, and the mildly distorted guitars that give the tune sort of a raw quality.

The plot thickens.. mr. singer there sure sings lively. His voice blends well with the instruments, considering how the thick layers of sound kinda overwhelmed me at first. He sounds a lot like my uncle when I think about it, except he's not singing a boy band song.

Around 1:25 the flow changes a bit, there's some wah with reverb(?) that joins in the party. I'd have to say, without those guitars, the song would've sounded a bit monotonous, though there's little else to complain about. All in all, I'm not overly ecstatic about this song yet; but that's good. Hopefully it'll grow on me when I hear more stuff on this band.

Bravo.

8/10

songs:

JR Ewing - The Exact Same Thing(indie-tinged hardcore)
Kashmir - Kiss Me Goodbye(alt rock)
Elliott Smith - The Ballad of Big Nothing(folky guitar pop)
Squarepusher - Boneville Occident(eclectic drum n' bass?)

[Happymeal]

Or if you can't find any of those, do

Soul Junk - Hogging All the Islands(experimental hiphop)

http://www.epitonic.com/files/reg/songs/mp3/Soul_Junk-Hogging_All_The_Islands.mp3

/early bump

[Well_Respected_Man]

JR Ewing - The Exact Same Thing 3:01

Hmmmm, indie influenced hardcore. Does that make it more experimental or lighter as I don't really know how to gather from that description but I downloaded it anyways.

"The Exact Same Thing" starts on a higly reverbrated distorted guitar line that sounds like its somewhere off in the distance. The tension grows and just before they start rawking out I'm warned by a short clean strum. This song smells like some sort of core song, maybe even more screamocore or metalcore than hardcore. I don't know if I dig it too much right now but it's just fine for when I want to rawk out. I guess that I always end up comparing every song to a Dischord band in Forced listening, but reallly this band sounds just like Q and Not U. Pretty much based off that drum rythmn they do inbetween screaming.

The main theme starts over at around 2:25, the same with the verse. This time they don't sing and the verse is much shorter and the song ends, Brovo!

Rating: 7/10 alright, I might like it more another time.

Songs Choices:
Faust - The Sad Skinhead (Krautrock)
This Heat - Horizontol Hold (Perfect Noise Jam)
Magazine - I'm a Party (Post Punk)

[Well_Respected_Man]

Wow, this is a record.

Bump

[Happymeal]

dibs

[Happymeal]

Faust - The Sad Skinhead

This is the first time I'll be hearing from these guys.

The singer yells a lively "Ohwhooaaawhoaaaaahhh" as he opens the song. Some nice maracas playing accompanies the bluesy funk guitars just before the driving drum beat comes in.

Now I'm not an expert in krautrock but the old guy singing really sounds dead, in a groovy kinda way. His voice adds to the lo-fi feel of the song. Besides the drums, I notice the twinkly percussions on the background(xylophones? I'm not sure). For some reason this reminds me of my childhood.

Speaking of the guitars, they have a nice Captain Beefheart-ey tinge to them, especially the cool solo starting at about 1:07 and again near the end. Other than that there's not really a lot of movement besides the main chords.

Odd. Is what I can say about this song. Which is a good thing. I wasn't really in the mood for this, but it wasn't such a bad listen at all. Overall it's very good. I'll check out more stuff from these guys sometime.

7.5/10

Songs:

!!! - Intensify(disco)
Blood Brothers - American Vultures(piano screamo)
Aimee Mann - Save Me(folky indie pop)
Black Mountain - Don't Run Our Hearts Around (indie rock)
The Dismemberment Plan - I Love A Magician (indie rock)
Soul-Junk - Hogging All the Islands (hip-hop) http://www.epitonic.com/files/reg/songs/mp3/Soul_Junk-Hogging_All_The_Islands.mp3

[dkmaddog]

Great song. Starts with intricate drum beat, and a quick shrill from Travis Morrison, the brilliant frontman of the plan. Then comes in the jarring guitar, which doesnt really seem to go anywhere. Morrison proceeds to come in with a soft "rap" of sorts. A strong, jumping baseline is added to the mix and all of the elements seem to somehow "clash" together beautifully. This sound is what The Dismemberment Plan was best known for throughout their existence. It appears that there is no exact science to the structure of the song, which adds to the odd feel. Morrison's falsetto adds to the urgent sound. The song comes to an abrupt halt and is over just as fast as it began. Sheer brilliance.

7/10



Choices:

Travis Morrison - Change
Travis Morrison - Born in '72
The Fiery Furnaces - Single Again
Robbers on High Street - If You Let Me

[ATM]

Can you upload one of them on yousendit?

[dkmaddog]

So what exactly is yousendit?

/feels like a newb.

Edit. Born in '72 can be found here.....
http://music.barsuk.com/TravisMorrison_BornIn72.mp3

[Bartender]

Bump. Your link doesn't work :(

yousendit is http://s19.yousendit.com/

[Happymeal]

d i b s

[Happymeal]

The Fiery Furnaces - Single Again

Here's another of my attempts to get into this band..

Starts off with fairly space-agey keyboard lines that goes like a more simplistic !!! verse. Drums come along, which sound uncannily like those of a mainstream pop song's. And there's also this blissful neo-psych thing going on that's kinda Of Montreal-esque.

Now here comes the female vocalist. So far the main reason why I get a bit turned off by this band is because of her. For some reason her seemingly inebriated singing style I didn't dig but this time it's a bit more tolerable, maybe because the tune isn't that alienating unlike the songs from Blueberry Boat I've listened to. Plus, her voice really suits the lyrics:

And then my husband he died, oh then
My husband he died, oh then
My husband he died
And I laughed 'til I cried
Oh, to think I was single again

She keeps repeating the line "I wish I was single again" throughout like an anthem.

All in all, it was an above average listen. The guitarwork is solid though a bit underwhelmed because of the keyboards and singing but they go well into the flow. I still get a bit creeped out by them, but not so much anymore. Maybe because I've become used to psych, I don't know. Now to check out a full album..

7/10

!!! - Intensify(disco)
The Black Keys - Hard Row (http://www.espew.com/cgi-bin/spew/1555707/3586.mp3)(indie rock)
Drive Like Jehu - Luau(epic indie rock)
Lovage - Sex(I'm A)(sensual hip-hop)
Enon - Rubber Car(alternative)
The Birthday Massacre - Violet (http://empyrean3.com/tbm_audio/violet.mp3)(goth-ish ambient new wave)

[Happymeal]

giga bump

I'll add this

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Get Down Lover (http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0JE0RT9YF0W4G17NYR11H74JQ7)(blues rock, lots of horns)

[Dave de Sylvia]

dibbs

[Dave de Sylvia]

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Get Down Lover

Begins with very compressed sounding drums, droning horns and a bass-style ascending lead guitar riff. Guitar has a very bluesy tone, slightly overdriven, while the horns become progressively higher, reminiscent of 70's funk. The song is certainly unorthodox.

Horns drop out for the verse, the guitarist plays a sparse, repeating riff, while the drums contineue as before. The singer has an interesting voice, I assume he is the Jon Spencer mentioned in the band's name. The boxy vocal effect reminds me of John Lennon in Well Well Well, but the singer's distinctive American drawl conjures up images of Johnny Depp in Crybaby. I bet the singer idolises Elvis.

Horns re-enter after the verse, and the intro repeats, while the singer shouts "yeah" and "uhh" in the background. The next verse is similar to the first, except the horns are involved now, the interplay with the guitar riff is interesting. Intro section plays again, and there's a solo section of some sort, with the guitar doing some upper-neck tremelo strumming where it would be playing the intro riff.

Next section is a stripped down version of the verse, only the snare drum for percussion and the guitar riff is stripped down to just the highest notes, with faint muted strums for rhythm.

Repeat of "yeah" section and then a short coda of more "yeahing," culminating with cheering and clapping.

Very cool piece, though the singer's voice rubbed me the wrong way. 6/10.

Manic Street Preachers - 4st 7lb (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=16KCF40UBTXA41QCDDLUZ3E0NU)

Val Emmich - Privacy Attracts A Crowd (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=22SU2K1X0RAO01KRFJLIH6K66G)

[Dave de Sylvia]

bump??

[Bartender]

I've got the Val Emmich one downloaded..I'll do it in an hour or so if no one else jumps in. Got packing to do first :)

EDIT: Dibs.

[Bartender]

No idea what to expect, as I've only seen the name before.
Val Emmich - Privacy Attracts A Crowd - 4:39

Starts off light and bouncy, guitar and drums, I think. Just light and easy. Bass comes in, fairly well into the background; surprised I managed to pick it out, as I don't often. There's some other sound that comes in and out every now and then, but I can't place what it is.

His vocals are clean, light. A decent voice, but he doesn't seem to be doing much with it, just singing his way rather standardly through the song. Heavier riff comes in for what I assume is the chorus, and his voice goes up a notch or two in my books, as he seems to really be singing now, rather than just talk-singing along.

Nice little flurry on the drums at the end of a line around 1:40. Pleased me more than it probably should. Another chorus just after 2:00, more or less the same as the last one, followed by a little bridge now, in which he's using his voice a bit better, I think. Some nice light chugging on the guitar in the background, which brings us into what I'd assume would be the last chorus of "privacy attracts a crowd". Sounds like there's a Hammond or something playing in the background, but I still can't really place the sound properly. The song finishes on his saying "Do us a favour" (sounds slightly sarcastic, which I like), and a simple little lick.

6/10, I think. It was okay, but I can't imagine it sticking in my mind much (though if it does, I'll stand corrected). I liked the bass, though, when I could hear it.

earthtone 9 - binary101 (live) (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2P7TJ8WLO5DLJ1UPNI6JY5FBIL) (more R&M material, but no harsh vocals or extreme heaviness)*
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Madeleine-Mary (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=168SCPRAH3RRH2KOZ2K7BMPVGD) (alt. folk)
Aeon Spoke - Silence (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2AR8ICZ3OEATP2KDILE29X0HCZ) (mellow rock from former Cynic members)
Clam Abuse - Message to Geri (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3KSSOM9BE4WFC2G0CBOH8MNVIZ) (weird rock-techno-country stuff from a one-off Ginger sideproject)
Frou Frou - Holding Out For a Hero (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=372KJJYCGHRZM3Q8FPJFASTC0S) (vocal-centred techno-pop cover)

*longer than 6 minutes

I'll try and get yousendits done for the others as soon as possible.

[AndreTheHyena]

Dibses.

[AndreTheHyena]

Do I have to use Yousendit when I make my recommendations?

[Well_Respected_Man]

No, but some members rely on it to get FLs done.

[Dave de Sylvia]

It often happens that we can't find the songs on p2p programs, and it can delay the thread for days at a time, so it's better for everyone is yousendit is used.

[AndreTheHyena]

Undibs. I have commitments, sorry dudes.

[Bartender]

Bump.

[br3ad_man]

I'll dib it

[br3ad_man]

I've heard the name before, I decided to go for the Frou Frou song.

Frou Frou - Holding Out For A Hero

Starts out with some wierd guitar sounds. Then some female (I think) vocals come in, going "doo doo dah de dum dum". The vocals then come in with lyrics. The verses are pretty cool with some nice effects. The chorus comes in a bit bigger with some cool effects and backing vocals. The song is quite cool, but after a few listens, gets quite annoying. The vocals are nice the first time (it was hard to tell if it was male or female for a while), but after that are grating and irritating. Quite a repetive song.

6/10

Suggestions:

Mogwai - Yes! I am a Long Way From Home (http://s39.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2VWA6C0Z9XO2P2RQE40CZCS7Z3) (post-rock)
The Radio Dept. - 1995 (http://s17.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3K1XEIVUQTK711CZRV9LVGC9UR) (indie)
Naked City - Demon Sanctuary (http://s17.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2XB17KDQU0O4Q0UJEITP5UDE6V) (grind/jazz)
Circle Takes The Square - Non Objective Portrait of Karma (http://www.hxcmp3.com/download.php?band_id=1606&song_id=2786&mode=song_hifi) (screamo...in case someone hasn't heard them yet)

[Bartender]

Dibs.

56K warning :)

[Bartender]

Wasn't my first choice, but some of the others wouldn't work for me so;
The Radio Dept. - 1995 - 3:12

Starts off with what sounds to me to be a very distorted drum beat. It's slightly annoying, but not enough to put me off the song by a long way. Very quickly though (like, a second in), a much nicer simple guitar/bass pattern starts playing. 20 seconds or so in, and the vocals start; very clear voice, sounds British, kind of talk-speaking, with a slight distortion on his voice when he raises the volume sufficiently (or just in the chorus parts, where some distortion seems to be placed on his voice anyway).

1:35 or so, another verse starts, in much the same vein as the last one. There are some slightly unidentifiable sounds, maybe synths, in the background this time, which I like. The chorus is accompanied by a more obviously lead guitar part in the background. I suppose it might have been there in the first one, but I didn't notice it if it was.

The vocalist stops about half a minute from the end, and the same melody that carried throughout the song repeats itself through to the end, with slight variations from the lead, I think. The song fades out on some 'watery' electronic noises, I think.

6/10, I think. It was perfectly enjoyable, but short, and I can't imagine it being very memorable :-/

earthtone 9 - binary101 (live) (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2P7TJ8WLO5DLJ1UPNI6JY5FBIL) (more R&M material, but no harsh vocals or extreme heaviness)*
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Madeleine-Mary (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=168SCPRAH3RRH2KOZ2K7BMPVGD) (alt. folk)
Aeon Spoke - Silence (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2AR8ICZ3OEATP2KDILE29X0HCZ) (mellow rock from former Cynic members)
Clam Abuse - Message to Geri (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3KSSOM9BE4WFC2G0CBOH8MNVIZ) (weird rock-techno-country stuff from a one-off Ginger sideproject)

*longer than 6 minutes

[Bartender]

Bumped before I go to bed.

[AndreTheHyena]

Dibz.

[AndreTheHyena]

I was already a big Bonnie "Prince" Billy fan, so I reviewed "Madeileine-Mary".

It opens with a repeated, hypnotic guitar riff and drum beat, accompanied by excellent dual-vocal harmonies. In the background, a swirling guitar becomes more apparent until about 30 or 40 seconds in when it becomes another major voice, sometimes appearing distorted and crunching. The song fades out rather quickly, at about 2 and a half minutes, but while it lasted it was a great, mesmerizing swirl of alt. folk. 7/10

Now Then...
the Decemberists - "A Cautionary Tale" (http://s46.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3DD1G4H8LAZTO1INWYMR4HG5EJ) (accordian-driven song about murder or something)

the Drive-By Truckers - "Tornadoes" (http://s46.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2SAE92XG65EPM0W0BUYL9GWOVL) (noisy alt. country/country rock)

the Kaiser Chiefs - "I Predict a Riot" (http://s46.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2XECZ4TO1RG201OXLBDBG1EGYG) (NME darlings make Clash-spirited mod rock)

Tom Waits - "Jesus Gonna Be Here" (http://s46.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3071RMGMJVGLT3E7KDWCY46SOJ) (primitive blues genius goes gospel...in his own way)

Uncle Tupelo - "I Wanna Be Your Dog" (http://s46.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0SBVHOQFDLQ1V1QQ6KYSAH8IM5) (Jeff Tweedy's pre-Wilco alt. folk band outdo the original)

[blueyxd]

I'll do that one, in the hope it's something like that other one

[blueyxd]

Drive-By Truckers - Tornadoes

Drums, of a raw variety, keep a slow steady beat. Soon joined by acoustic guitar playing a simple chord progression. Theres a piano in the background playing some notes, not too often, but in the foreground, there is a human male vocalisation, a.k.a. a guy singing. His voice is gruff, yet melodic and quite easy to understand, he has a strong country twang too. He sings about a big storm brewing, a tornado, and the what he is feeling and hearing, "it sounded like a train".

Well, I guess it's not going to be anything like the song I thought it might.. that being 20 Minute Loop - Jubilation, but this is rather good too.

Theres 2 Verses of pretty much no variation bar the vocals, however not boring at all, it sounds so good. At 1:40 it changes a bit, there's no singing, piano and fingerpicking get more noticeable. Just a few bars of this. There is a nice big ambience about this song, that's a plus for me.

There's another verse it seems, but not like the first 2. 2:25 brings another change, back to the original guitar chords, with a bit of a slow solo. It goes on with one guitar doing more ambient lead stuff, but not overpowering the singer. Some nice vocal harmonies too.

The way they do this is pretty good, and as slow as it is, it still seems so right. It gives me imagery of big clouds, rain, wind. We don't get tornadoes here, so I can't comment on that, but towards the end I can see the clouds moving on and the sun coming out. Some U2 type trick I think.

Wow, that was definitely rather country, and I definitely really liked it. Very nice music, and it was much more than just a song. I think it gets a wow reaction from me.
So I will give this a 10/10, it's really good.


__________________________________________________ _____
I have to recommend something really impressive in return...

Anathema - Temporary Peace - ambient, soft rock, only up to about 5:50 is needed, but go up to 7:52 if you want some more waves

Delays - Wanderlust - feel-good britpop

Gordian Knot - Sing Deep Mountain - instrumental melodic technical metal

George - Breathe In Now - really nice soft rock with a female singer

Weddings Parties Anything - A Tale They Won't Believe - punkish sea-shanty about cannibalism. 7 mins - http://www.comcen.com.au/~caracarol/ATaleTheyWon'tBelieve.mp3 and lyrics - http://www.comcen.com.au/~caracarol/tale.txt

[AndreTheHyena]

I'm not going to dibs, I'm just glad you liked the D-BT.

[Bartender]

I was already a big Bonnie "Prince" Billy fan, so I reviewed "Madeileine-Mary".

So..had you heard it before?

Not a dibs, yet.

[AndreTheHyena]

No, not that particular song.

[blueyxd]

I can't dib my own reccomendations. Sadly, YSI is out of the question too.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Delays - Wanderlust (3:58)

The band and title sounds somewhat familiar, but I'm certain I haven't heard the song, so I'll go ahead.

Begins which Jamaican-sounding percussion instrument, xylophone-like, reminds me of a Malibu ad or something. Jangly but distorted guitar enters, playing sustained, full chords, reminiscent of the britpop bands. Female vocals enter, her voice is high, sounds trained, very controlled. The percussion continues even as regular drums come in, aswell as unhearable bass and a very britpop guitar riff.

The vocals seem almost like background noise, she doesn't seem to command the song, for whatever reason. The guitar seems to take the forefront, though it's not over-intrusive. Around 1:08, the guitar starts to play chords and a second female voice, probably the same woman, accompanies the lead.

Repeat of the verse. Singer reminds me of Madonna at times, during her dance phase with William Orbit. The song itself does have a bit of a club feel to it, early 90's acid scene perhaps. The girl's voice is very nice, but it doesn't grab me, she seems overwhelmed by the music. Perhaps my speakers are just crap, though, it's entirely likely.

The format doesn't really change much, there's a nice bridge section around 3:20, which actually morphs into a coda, it is a coda, in fact. It ends quite abruptly, really, the guitar pretty much gives up, leaving some lingering feedback, and the rest of the band stops together on a cadence.

Meh... not bad, but I didn't find it wonderful. I can't see myself listening to it much, but I am a britpop fan so you never know. 5/10.

Butch Walker - Sunny Day Real Estate (Full Length) (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0UPD2ILS6R4P3343JPO0CEU9G5)

Gilby Clarke - Punk Rock Pollution (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0WJ6W6RGQPT4T3D6Q4VS9RG84N) (US Punk)

Our Lady Peace - Somewhere Out There (Rock Mix) (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1L8XVI63MMHQL32L6LITVCMMZA)

[Dave de Sylvia]

Bump

[Bartender]

Deebs.

[Bartender]

I may have reviewed a Butch Walker song before, but I'm not sure (I suppose if I did, it didn't leave much of an impression). I might just be imagining it because of the numbers of times I've seen you give songs by him.
Butch Walker - Sunny Day Real Estate - 4:21

Starts off fading in, crackly sound on the recording (as if it were recorded four score and seven years ago) - acoustic guitar playing, and almost-choral ooh-ing from people. There's one lead vocalist chiming out above the rest, but I don't think this is the "real" format for the song. It feels like an intro.

Confirmed, as all goes silent at 0:28 before instruments (most prominently, a drum beat, some deep bass, and a simple, sing-song keyboard melody) come in. Vocals start at 0:40 or so; slight echo on them, otherwise just a regular voice so far.

The guitars mess around a bit, playing little bits (irregular to the rest of the song) in between or at the end of lines. Backing vocals come in quite well just before the chorus. The chorus itself is alright, but nothing special..all the sounds seem to kind of meld together for it, so that nothing stands out, and it falls a bit flat. After the chorus though, we're back to the minimalist feel pre-vocals, with that cool, plodding piano melody I liked.

The vocals soon come back in (after a little guitar flourish). Nice little variation in his voice on "worse" at 2:17. That was cool. Straight after that, more or less, there's another chorus which seems to fall somewhat flat, as before. Pretty nice solo after it though, which goes on for quite a while, before returning to the chorus. The song fades out on his singing "How long til I'm dry again", but it's not like a normal chorus-line fade-out that many radio hits seems to cop out with. There's a good amount of variation, in the instruments and the vocals, so it's good.

7.5/10, good song. I wasn't too keen on the chorus though, and the end was my favourite bit.

Conflict - pretty much any song from The Ungovernable Force. Most of them are pretty short, so actually more than one would be nice. Lyrics (http://www.plyrics.com/c/conflict.html), which I think help enjoyment of them. Helps mine, anyway.

Conflict - The Serenade is Dead (punk, and again, check the lyrics)
Talking Heads - Mind
David Byrne - Like Humans Do
earthtone 9 - binary101 or walking day (rock/metal)
Hundred Reasons - Clear (not sure)
Jackyl - An Open Invitation (hard rock)
Jesus Lizard - Wheelchair Epidemic (hard rock?)
Loudermilk - 97 Ways to Kill a Superhero (piano driven alt/indie fare)

yousendits up tomorrow, if I can find time :(

[AndreTheHyena]

Dibs.

[Bartender]

Bump before I go to bed. I think he's revoked/forgotten.

[ATM]

I'll do the Loudermilk song if you can YSI it.

[Bartender]

Well I can, but not right now, because I'm off to bed. Sorry. If I get time to yousendit things tomorrow, I'll do that one first.

[ATM]

No rush, whenever you get a chance tomorrow. :)

[Dave de Sylvia]

My copy of windows came with a free mp3 of that David Byrne song.

[Bartender]

Yeah, mine too. It's the only song I know of his solo work :(

I've tried yousendit-ing things now, but it seems anything bigger than about 1.2MB just times out. Sorry.

[ATM]

Dibs

[ATM]

Loudermilk - '97 Ways to Kill a Superhero

Never heard of this band, so I have no idea what to expect.

It starts off with a singer with a nice voice, and a piano. There is also an acoustic guitar playing softly in the background. I like it so far.

The singer has a good range, and is able to sing some high notes that add to the song.

Some drums are added to the mix, as well as some strings. This is the best part of the song. I was hoping a change would come, and it came just as I started to get a little bored.

A sax solo wraps everything up, nothing flashy, just a small solo.

Overall, I liked it. It was very relaxing, and I would listen to more from this group.

6/10

Air - Run (Mellow/electronic)
Nick Drake - Cello Song (Mellow)
Ozomati - Super Bowl Sundae (Hip Hop)
Frank Zappa - Muffin Man (N/A)

I can ysi any of them, if you can't find them else where.

[Well_Respected_Man]

Dibs

[Well_Respected_Man]

Frank Zappa - Muffin Man 5:32

Cool, I've just been Getting into Frank Zappa alot latley with his early Mothers stuff and this apparently with Beefhart who I know is one crazy mofo. This should be interesting.

"Muffin Man" Starts on a swinging harpischord and Frank telling a goofy story about a Muffin. "Some people like cupcakes better, I for one don't care much for them." This is a standard silly Zappa song.

At 1:30 in The song starts rocking. I dig the space organ plinking away in the backround. Ha, Zappa is already doing a dirty lead solo. Wow this solo is at least a two minutes long, Bravo! The rythmn part for this solo is especially catchy because you can hum about the mufffin man to it.

4:30 People start cheering? I didn't think this was live. But apparently it is as Frank names off everybody and there instrument and launchs of into another guitar solo. "Muffin Man" Ends on a fade out.

Rating: 8.7/10 I luved it

My Selections:
The Evens - All These Governers (Ian Mackayes New Indie Duo) (http://s20.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1H0JEB17YG43V03KUSX2BD6F41 )
Circulatory System - Your Parades (Neo Pysch) (http://s20.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=30ATWXFMTCFBD0Q5VMMMIHBSJ )
XTC - Outside World (Quirky New Wave)
Echo & The Bunnymen - Killing Moon (Neo Pysch)
Modern Lovers - She Cracked (Garage Rock)

I'll have Yousendit's up for the one's I have.

[Dave de Sylvia]

dibsibsbs

[Dave de Sylvia]

The Evens - All These Governors

I'm not sure who Ian Mackaye is, but I'll give him a shot.

Begins with a soundbite, "generally I don't speak ill of the dead, but I may make an exception..." which is interrupted by electric guitar chords stabs, which then progresses to become a chord sequence/riff. Boxy drums enter too, I can't detect any bass.

0:22 Vocals enter, male voice, light & breezy, 60's pop tinge to them. At 0:31, the music stops and begins to build again, the guitar playing power chords to the rhythm of the drums, both becoming gradually louder. Goes back to the verse, which bleeds into the chorus.

I should mention the drumming here, it's very lively and varied, which is vital as the song itself is quite repetitive, so the music has to stay fresh. At 2:10, there's a short bridge section, a slow, minor dirge-like section, before the main section returns and leads back to the chorus. Riff again and then we finish.

Short review, but no a bad reflection on the song. I liked it, though I can't see myself listening to it much. 6/10.

Goo Goo Dolls - Bullet Proof (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1U5B3K5KC58K73PMNCXFZ9EHLS)

Ewan McGregor & Alessandro Safina - Your Song (http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2XAFOD4OEIIQO0ER21ZP8SSP1R)

[Dave de Sylvia]

bump

[Happymeal]

****. revoked. my computer just crashed after uploading 3 songs. I don't have time now to do it again:upset:

[Tomahawk]

Dibs.

[Tomahawk]

Goo Goo Dolls - Bullet Proof

I've only heard one song by this band, whatever their hit was... and I hate that song. So I'm going into this with very low expectations.

Here we go. Starts off with a guitar riff, and it's not doing much for me. Now singerman has started singing and... it also is not doing much for me. Now the chorus starts, and it's better than the verses, but it ain't great. The hook is really weak, and it's pretty bland. There's a solo, and it's nothing special either.

This whole song stanks of late 90s radio rock. And that ain't a good thing.

Honestly there's not a lot I can say about this, I thought it was boring. Very bland and uninteresting. Sorry.

2/10


Up next:
American Music Club - Sick of Food: http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1IOUTK3070HVE0BQQFMFL5N6GA

Regurgitator - Just Another Beautiful Story: http://s24.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1M26GKSLXXL1M0F82Y94DQR0KJ

They Might Be Giants - She's An Angel (no link for this one, sorry)

[AndreTheHyena]

Dibz0rz.

And I mean it this time.

[AndreTheHyena]

Regurgitator - "Just Another Beautiful Story"

With a name like "Regurgitator", I was expecting grind, but instead it's a nice, bouncy song. It begins with some squealing synth noises, then fades into a jovial organ line that brings to mind the Eels, the Unicorns, or "Strawberry Fields Forever".

The vocals are gentle and buoyant for the verse, optimistic. Shortly before the chorus begins, there is a Flaming Lips-esque moment, and then the chorus comes crashing in. The vocals change quite a bit for the chorus, and the music turns syncopated, barely undissonant.

For the bridge, after the second verse, there is a breakdown with horns and strings, which may or may not be synthesized, and once again it strongly reminds one of the Beatles. After the second chorus, the weird opening synth sound returns and fades to silence.

Nice, happy song, though I may have misinterpreted it, as I did not pay particular attention to the lyrics. Very enjoyable. 6/10

Try...
the Decemberists - "A Cautionary Tale" (http://s46.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3DD1G4H8LAZTO1INWYMR4HG5EJ) (accordian-driven song about murder or something)

the Firebird Band - "Wake Up" (http://s50.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2IMUWG3APWXGI11MTBR1USWA0D) (electronic post-post-hardcore from Braid's Chris Broach)

the Kaiser Chiefs - "I Predict a Riot" (http://s46.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2XECZ4TO1RG201OXLBDBG1EGYG) (NME darlings make Clash-spirited mod rock)

Tom Waits - "Jesus Gonna Be Here" (http://s46.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3071RMGMJVGLT3E7KDWCY46SOJ) (primitive blues genius goes gospel...in his own way)

Uncle Tupelo - "I Wanna Be Your Dog" (http://s46.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0SBVHOQFDLQ1V1QQ6KYSAH8IM5) (Jeff Tweedy's pre-Wilco alt. folk band outdo the original)

[Dave de Sylvia]

This whole song stanks of late 90s radio rock. And that ain't a good thing.

Actually that's why I like it. But each to their own, I suppose.

Dibs.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Andre, all your links but the second have expired.

[Dave de Sylvia]

The Decembrists - A Cautionary Tale (3:08)

Begins with just an accordion and a drum, playing a slow, plodding 1-2-1-2 melody, the dance of which I should be able to identify but I rather let go of my music theory after school. :( Regardless, I'll soldier on... there's also an acoustic guitar playing bass notes in time with the accordion. The drum isn't a standard rock drum, it sounds like it could be a marching drum. It plays on the offbeat, which is where the emphasis firmly is.

Singer enters on 10 seconds, sounding like a mix between Rufus Wainwright and Morrisey, as I've commented in a previous review of the band. I don't wish to make assumptions, but I get the impression he's gay. That has no relevance to the song, but I thought I'd mention it. It's hard to pay attention to the lyrics, partly because his voice is quite slurred and it's an effort to actually decipher what he's saying, but I understand it's about murder or something. It seems to be a seafaring song of some sort, which would tie in with the choice of dance and instrumentation.

The first big change comes on 1:36 or so, when the singer starts to sing "la da da daa", instruments leave for a moment, the acoustic guitar and drums returning in a waltz style, the pace picks up considerably. The accordion is given free rein for a few moments as it plays its own melody.

On 1:58 the piece returns to its original format, though the accordion is absent, the guitar becoming dominant. On 2:21 the accordion returns to the fray and begins to dominate once again, occasionally deviating again from the main melody. There's a short coda, with shuddering accordion, and the song finishes on "remember what she does when you're asleep." and a cadence, which gives the finish somewhat of a comic end.

A very enjoyable song. Not thoroughly original, but showed very proficient musicianship and it was just fun all-round. 9/10.

Butch Walker - Last Flight Out (http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1TTJ1NQMW08IQ3MTXM3NDA2MS9)

Ewan McGregor and Alessandro Safina - Your Song [Elton John cover] (http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2XAFOD4OEIIQO0ER21ZP8SSP1R)

Exies - My Goddess (http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2QVB900ZZ7KFQ1X90YYE5KOQ08)

Paul Westerberg - Bookmark (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2D3NFWBBH5GUZ2BFTTWK4XUME6)

Our Lady Peace - The Birdman (http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=22P7JBF80NENV2GISHPQ4N05QZ)

[Dave de Sylvia]

Bumpaloo

[Dave de Sylvia]

Bump.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Hmm... bump.

Izzy Stradlin - Ride On (http://s6.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2VENKUBWDVT0P04T2I0YN0NW92) (Blues rock)

Izzy Stradlin - Here Comes The Rain (http://s7.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1ZDW0Y4TUA7SM2TQOBGLGEXAYR) (Blues-rock)

Jason Mraz - On Love, In Sadness (http://s51.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1A3HDFO2Y8PPX0NW9NL5RM59Q) (Acoustic indie-pop)[/QUOTE]

[Bartender]

Bump. Sorry, but all the links are long dead, and I don't have any other way of getting them at the moment :-/

[Dave de Sylvia]

Motley Crue - Let Us Prey (http://s5.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2K76JZ906TXWX0H0SZHM12D2OY) (Metal/Industrial)

Our Lady Peace - Starseed (http://s6.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0VC2R1TK4L18G3SFW6OM4IXCZ3) (Post-grunge avec un Eastern tinge)

[Tomahawk]

Motley Crue - Let Us Prey

I loves me a bit of cheese, and the Crue usually deliver in spades, baby.

Here we go. Crunchy riff starts things off. OK the vocals don't sound fantastic, like not even in that hair metal sort of way. But they're passable. Hey he just said "cancer of the brain". Chorus is a bit disappointing, I was hoping for something a bit catchier.

Still, the thing is, I'm digging this right now. I've got such a soft spot for stuff like this. Although this isn't straight up hair metal, it's definitely trying to be industrial. It's a bit tryhard and quite cheesy, but it's ok I guess.

OK overall... well it's no Kickstart my Heart, but I actually dug it, even though every part of me tells me I shouldn't.

5/10, I guess.

Heres what the next person (in say, another 2 months?) has to listen to:

Mark Lanegan - The River Rise:
http://s8.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3N64RCSU260UR27SA7PFE7NRFJ

Afghan Whigs - John the Baptist:
http://s17.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3IVME45JGSRJ60B34EAKUOGGRF

American Music Club - Gratitude Walks:
http://s17.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0BHAKVUPW44700MZP82W8ZE6PP

[Bartender]

Dibs.

[Bartender]

Despite attempting to check them out for some time now, this'll be my first encounter with the Whigs. High hopes.
Afghan Whigs - John the Baptist - 5:34

Starts off very cool, if rather hard to describe accurately. Whatever it is, I like it. The main part drops away soon enough for the vocals to come in, but the little, slightly ska-influenced (not really, but that's what it brings to mind for me so now I can't think of any better description) jumpy bit of guitar keeps going underneath, and sounds really good. The vocals are good so far too, nothing particularly impressive, but sounds like it'd be a good voice if/when it does something. First impressions matching up to those hopes, then.

Drums and horns(?) build up some energy behind all this, slowly, while the guitars change it up slightly, I think, before we reach a good bit. Singing rather than hushed talking, while the music rather explodes around the vocal. Excellent. Female backing vocals too, I think, or else double-tracked spectacuvocals from the main guy (Dulli?).

Back to the hushed talking bit, with a similar build-up of energy behind him. This is awesome. For some reason this time I was noticing the bass. Tis good bass. And then another chorus, more or less as it was before.

And the last two and a half minutes or so of the song is basically an extended outro. The vocalists (both/all of them) singing "anything for a lover" and "ooh"ing away, while the music continues and the horns mess around a bit. The last minute or so is much more low-key than the rest of the song, with the music all winding down, no vocals, and the horns and (previously unnoticed) strings just playing more relaxedly to the end.

10/10. Can't really give anything I liked that much any less.

Songs;
Nomeansno - It's Catching Up (http://s7.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2WKBZXCASUQUP2WTL7XNWDSXV7) (rock)
Nomeansno - The End of All Things (http://s8.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3RQFK8OO694053F6I1EKG9U8Z6)
Hot Cross - Finger Redux (http://s7.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1H4A7T8EKMAJH1TYSIA6SWFMAK) (emo/hardcore)
Kaada/Patton - Pitié Pour Mes Larmes (http://s14.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0DXHNU6WGMYFO2JJWE9OV99S2L) (?. Experimental/pop, maybe)

[Robert Crumb]

Nomeansno - It's Catching Up

I've wanted to check out these guys for a long time, noting the love they get from folks who's taste I respect. I recently found out they played a show in town a couple weeks ago that flew under my radar so I also want to find out what I missed. Here we go:

Starts out with stabs of sound, then a little hardcore riff and then the singer comes out. Throughout the song, there's a lot of cool dynamics, they start off a verse kind of quiet, then explode. I don't want to say spastic but they've definitely got some qualities that might be considered as such. I'm not the world's biggest heavy music fan but I like this stuff. For lack of better comparison, it reminds me of the Minutemen.

The drummer sounds ****ing great, doing a lot of stop and start stuff. I don't know what else to say aside from, ****. I wish I caught that show. I mean seriously, ****. ****, man. ****.

10/10

(Bad review, I know ****.)

Devin Davis - Iron Woman (http://www.devindaviswebsite.com/Iron_Woman.mp3) (Alternative country indie rock sort of)
Electric Eel Shock - Do the Metal (http://www.demolitionrecords.com/music/ELECTRIC_EEL_SHOCK_DO_THE_METAL.mp3) (Japanese guys rock and rolling)
The National - All the Wine (mp3.insound.com/download.cfm?mp3id=2458) (Indie rock)
Fog - We're Winning (http://www.lexrecords.com/were_winning.htm) (Electro-pop)

[Dave de Sylvia]

Tee hee, this thread was dead for months now it's the most active of the FL's.

No dibs though.

[Bartender]

I'll take dibs, then. Two 10/10s in a row, eh.

Incidentally, I think I've put Alt/Indie-friendly choices in the Pit and R&M Forced Listenings, in case anyone's interested..

[Bartender]

I've heard of them before, but never heard anything by them.
Electric Eel Shock - Do the Metal - 3:03

Starts off with a cool little riff, accentuated by periodic stings from the rest of the instruments. The bass joins in a little more substantially, and then with a distorted intro yell from the vocalist, we're off.

The verse riff basically builds on that which introduced us to the song, and the bass is nicely prominent without overpowering anything important. I'm about a minute in now, and I was about to say that the vocalist sounds a little uncomfortable, perhaps because English isn't his first language, but he now sounds perfectly comfortable. So, good. Another distorted yell introduces a short break back into the catchy riff that started the song, before another verse (which is ended by another yell - he likes them).

A short section of "Do the metal!" before a solo. The lyrics seems to be about rock'n'roll and heavy metal; both things which ride high in my list of favourite lyrical themes.

Anyway, the solo lasts more or less the rest of the song, before a final "do the metal!" bit, and the song stamps to a close and fades out.

10/10. Where can I find more?

Songs;
Nomeansno - It's Catching Up (http://s7.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2WKBZXCASUQUP2WTL7XNWDSXV7) (rock)
Nomeansno - The End of All Things (http://s8.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3RQFK8OO694053F6I1EKG9U8Z6) (rock)
Kaada/Patton - Pitié Pour Mes Larmes (http://s14.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0DXHNU6WGMYFO2JJWE9OV99S2L) (?. Experimental/pop, maybe)
Aeon Spoke - Grace (http://s8.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1WAAF9AXOV1AI0RVEFN37J1NDH)
Aeon Spoke - Silence (http://s18.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=20AVASIPSCCBQ06A1EAXE1NK9Z)

I refrain from giving genre to Aeon Spoke because I know I'd probably come out with "soft rock", and that just makes them sound crap. Suffice to say they're nothing hard or heavy.

[Robert Crumb]

Where can I find more?

There's another song on their webite (right here (www.electriceelshock.com)) but it wouldn't download for me. They seem like the kind of band that would be real nice live.

Not a dibs for now.

edit: also, the middle guy on their homepage is waiting to be someone's avatar.

[Iai]

/makes mental note of future avatar

Not a dib, yet. I will if nobody else has by tomorrow night, though, because I've been meaning to getinto NoMeansNo for ages too.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Kaada/Patton - Pitié Pour Mes Larmes (?. Experimental/pop, maybe)


Stunning song. Only a long-term monogomous relationship with Sweet Child O' Mine prevents me from having sex with it.

[Tomahawk]

,.-*(dibs)*-.,

[Tomahawk]

Aeon Spoke - Grace

Never heard of this band before. No clue what to expect. Perhaps metal? This will be written stream of conciousness style and I'm kind of tired now, so excuse me if it's horrible.

OK, starts off very ambient. Hey here's some guitar, nice and chilled and slow. Drums come in with piano/keys/whatever. All very chilled and pretty. I'm digging this a lot right now.

Here's some vocals. Aww, he wants faith in the world but doesn't know how to love! I don't really dig the lyrics. But his actual voice is fine. I mean, it's nothing spectacular, but it fits the music.

There's not a whole lot of variety in the song, verse chorus etc (oh and here's a guitar solo thing), but it's really nice as it is. Very relaxing and melodic and airy and... stuff. The atmospheric stuff, like the echoing and the keys, is very nice, and it's probably what makes the song good. Like I said, the lyrics are dancing near the flames of cheesiness, but I can overlook that because the atmosphere/mood of the song is so damn good.

Yeah I dug this.

7/10. That's pretty good. This review wasn't. Apologies.

Next up:

Mark Lanegan - The River Rise:
http://s8.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3N64RCSU260UR27SA7PFE7NRFJ

American Music Club - Gratitude Walks:
http://s17.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0BHAKVUPW44700MZP82W8ZE6PP

The Pogues - Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six:
http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0XKB31OJBUIAA1YV693J53AYUX

[Bartender]

Dibs.

[Bartender]

Another band I've been interested in checking out, again thanks to an MXican, so here we go.
American Music Club - Gratitude Walks - 4:17

Starts out with piano. Anyone who happened to follow my Forced Listening reviewing travels, weird though they may be, would know I'm a sucker for piano. So this starts well.

Anyway, the piano's just playing a simple little melancholy thing, and it doesn't stay alone for long; pretty soon the vocals and the rest of the band all come in, following in the slow footsteps of the piano. I'm not too keen on the guy's voice at first, it seems a bit too direct (or I suppose you could say "unsophisticated") for the music, but after a while he doesn't seem so bad.

There seem to be lots of little things going on throughout the song; no major dynamic shifts in sound or anything, just little odd bits throughout, while the body of the song carries on. I might have heard some kind of horn instrument just then (0:34 or so), but I'm not sure. Lots of these bits are hard to identify, so I won't try.

Chorus starts just before 1:00, and seems a little lacklustre. Now bad enough to ruin the song, though, and it heads straight off into another verse anyway, before another chorus c2:00.

Up til now it's all been very nice, but nothing especially grabbing. The end of the song doesn't change that too much, though it introduces some variation in the music which is enjoyable. And it just ends, with a rather abrupt fade-out (does that make sense?), after another chorus.

7/10, I think. It seemed a bit directionless, but otherwise was alright. Kinda reminded me of Aeon Spoke actually, though without the ambience.

Songs;
Nomeansno - It's Catching Up (http://s7.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2WKBZXCASUQUP2WTL7XNWDSXV7) (rock)
Nomeansno - The End of All Things (http://s8.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3RQFK8OO694053F6I1EKG9U8Z6) (rock)
Kaada/Patton - Pitié Pour Mes Larmes (http://s14.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0DXHNU6WGMYFO2JJWE9OV99S2L) (?. Experimental/pop, maybe)
Aeon Spoke - Silence (http://s18.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=20AVASIPSCCBQ06A1EAXE1NK9Z)

[blueyxd]

Dee eye bee ess

[blueyxd]

Kaada/Patton - Pitié Pour Mes Larmes

Good reviews all round for this musical project. Now I hope to add another one.

Strange sounding intro pianio and pizzicato strings, Mike Patton sings something, then someone who sounds like Usher doing an R'n'B sounding harmony.

Then into some minimal piano and operatic female vocals. Things are a bit random at times, which is something I don't really like. Luckily there isn't much of that. However up until about 3 minutes, the song seems very aimless. I like the instruments used, especially the percussion.

From 3 mins, it seems to be following something more musical, a slight country influence starts it off, then it moves on to something experimental and maybe neo-classical. Mike Patton sings more in this part, it's slow and plodding, I'm finding it a bit boring to be honest. At the very end, which seems a bit sudden, it reminds me of The Beatles.


I don't know what to think, it's probably one of those songs that takes time to grow on you, and being my first listen, I just find it a bit random in the start, and unfocused towards the end. I do like some of the instruments and sounds a fair bit, which I guess saves it for me.
I'll just have to give this some time to sink in, since it's unlike Bartender to recommend something for no other reason but for someone else to gain something from it, much like me ;).
7/10

____________________________

The Red Paintings - The Streets Fell Into My Window (http://www.comcen.com.au/~caracarol/The%20Red%20Paintings%20-%20Walls%20-%2002%20-%20The%20Streets%20Fell%20Into%20My%20Window.mp3) - very art rock

[Bartender]

Deebs.

[Bartender]

Never heard of this guy before, but I decided to take this one since I'd heard a Marvelous 3 song before.
The Red Paintings - The Streets Fell Into My Window - 5:38

Well, two seconds in and so far this is kicking arse. It started off on a rising and falling violin (I think), just playing up and down. Very cool thing to start on. Soon joined by a vocalist. Well, a narrator, really, as they're just talking. They sound like they're actually narrating a story too - the first thing to come to mind for me, for whatever reason, was Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events, but it could be any kind of narrative book - so, yes, narrator.

I think he's narrating Alice in Wonderland.

As he gets to the bit about getting up to pick the daisies, we get some very nice, very precise sounding, guitar (I think). Working really well so far.

Drums, and I'd assume other instruments, come in shortly afterwards, along with some "aah"ing backing vocals, as the guy's narration gets more hectic (louder, more intrusive). Singing starts, as opposed to talking. The voice isn't definitely the same as the narrators, but neither is it definitely not the same guy. The drumming's very cool; tribal-esque, without being overdone or overblown.

The drums stop, except for a single thump every now and then, for the chorus - at least I think it's a chorus. The chorus is strange in itself; cold without being emotionless, slow without being boring. Interesting. Glissandos on the violin in the background.

Slightly marred here, as the song is skipping quite a bit. It doesn't totally ruin the flow though, and only lasts about ten seconds, if that. After the chorus, the drums and heavier guitars come back in with a vengeance, before allowing the violin to play largely on it's own for a while.

Leads into another chorus, though this time, everything get's a bit..frantic. But in a good way; everything swelling, etc. Very cool.

And all of a sudden, it calms down; we're back with the pensive da-dun-da-dun-da-dun that joined the violin at the start, as the similarly pensive narrator comes back to continue his narration. The words of the chorus are sung around, interspersed with, the lines of the narration, and we fade out with everything but the narrator in silence.

10/10*. Awesome awesome awesome.

*ignoring the skipping file

Songs;
Solomon Burke (w/the Blind Boys of Alabama) - None of Us Are Free (http://s10.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=36022016GLYZC0QX9TQCW3NDKA) (soul - a civil rights/protest song, in the vein of A Change is Gonna Come)
Mr Bungle - Golem II: The Bionic Vapour Boy (http://s11.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2S3MGQRWZT58B3UXLSMO7V8RL8) (genre? Mr Bungle? hahahahhaha)
Mr Bungle - Retrovertigo (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=313V84HPRGE2U3QDIU508P3X1I) (ahahahahahahah)
Mr Bungle - Vanity Fair (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1PQB2V1UQYYP624FR36405164S) (...)
Murder By Death - You Are the Last Dragon (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0NTWVUYCP8YA60P9SZDXMH1Q4Y) (alt/indie fodder, with violins and pianos and things)

[Bartender]

20 hours seems a decent time for a bump.

[Wanker]

I'll dibs this. Give me a while though, please.

Murder By Death - You Are The Last Dragon

Just reading the band name would make me almost :rolleyes: at first, but my opinion quickly changed as soon as I heard how mature the band's music actually was.

The song starts off with a sole piano playing a fast littloe number and is quickly joined by guitar. The two instruments harmonize and are joined by violin.

Soon, the music halts and short, fast guitar licks surface and are follwed by rolling drums. The guitar stops but the drums keep going and the singer starts singing. Under him is the piano and violin playing quietly as to not drown him out. Little busts of guitar intertwine with the mix as the verse moves along into the chorus.

Around the 2:30 mark, the music slows down once again and the violin is heard over piano and drums once again. The drums and violin stop and the song fades out with the piano.

This was a surprisingly enjoyable song. Not a huge fan of the vocal styling, but other it's a good listen. 7.9/10

Bark Psychosis - Shapeshifting (http://s51.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2EOB4R5J1TEVX3ON3LX7EFIO5D)
Broken Social Scene - Shampoo Suicide (http://s51.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0MDGIVZTP24YJ09RWC8GSHJQJF)
Do Make Say Think - Ontario Plates (http://s51.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2FEVAFQVUZVI60JTW6Z1SBZQ6I)
Flying Saucer Attack - Unknown (http://s51.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=04FDXB5ACXW8B1QCZRUSY2CWVE)

[Bartender]

Dibs. Return the favour in giving me a while, though.

[Wanker]

No prob, bob.

[Bartender]

Longer even than I anticipated; sorry for the wait.

This band is permanently linked in my memory with mx's review of You Forgot It In People. I've heard a couple of tracks by them on Launch, and they were pretty good.
Broken Social Scene - Shampoo Suicide - 4:07

Starts off with rather a low-fi feel, emphasis on the percussion, I think. It's a pretty good start, calm, could lead into something good. Some very cool low pitched "chk-chk"s and high-pitched clean bits from the guitars. About a minute and a half in now, and all it's been is this simple repetitive rhythm section with these awesome clean guitar stings.

Having said that, it's now changing up a bit, with vocals coming in. Sounds like more than one vocalist, or more than one vocal track. Either way the vocals are waay down in the mix, probably on purpose. At first I found it annoying, but now (about 3:30 in) it seems a pretty cool effect. Just all layered, repetitive; would be hypnotic if the vocals didn't sound like the Saetia vocalist talking, i.e. if they were a bit lower, more droning, less lively.

Anyway, it just repeats like that til the end, so there's not much more I can say about it. Good song.

8/10

Songs;
Solomon Burke (w/the Blind Boys of Alabama) - None of Us Are Free (http://s10.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=36022016GLYZC0QX9TQCW3NDKA) (soul - a civil rights/protest song, in the vein of A Change is Gonna Come)
Mr Bungle - Golem II: The Bionic Vapour Boy (http://s11.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2S3MGQRWZT58B3UXLSMO7V8RL8) (genre? Mr Bungle? hahahahhaha)
Mr Bungle - Retrovertigo (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=313V84HPRGE2U3QDIU508P3X1I) (ahahahahahahah)
Mr Bungle - Vanity Fair (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1PQB2V1UQYYP624FR36405164S) (...)

[Wanker]

Dibs again.

Solomon Burke - None Of Us Are Free (5:29)

The song begins with a man tapping his drumsticks and giving the old "1-2-3" and then a slow, jazzy drum comes in along with clean acoustic guitar, bass and jazzy keyboard (at least that's what I think it is). Burke himself has a very pleasant baritone voice.

The guitar line stays the same throughout the song with a few variations. But for the most part, it's the same catchy tune. The lyrics definietly relate to some sort of protest theme, with the lines, "None of us are free," sung through the chorus.

After the chorus there's a keyboard interlude that leads into the next part.

Its gets a little quiet again but then goes right back into the chorus with (assumingly) Burke singing over several other men's voices. One is a really deep bass that I'm liking a lot.

Towards the end, they repeat the line "None of us are free, one of us is chained, none of us are free." And then it fades out with cymbal and low piano.

It really was what I expected I guess because Bartender mentioned that it is a War Protest song. So I expected a catchy tune with a lot of feeling and that's what it was.

8.3/10

Bark Psychosis - Shapeshifting (http://s51.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2EOB4R5J1TEVX3ON3LX7EFIO5D)
Do Make Say Think - Ontario Plates (http://s51.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2FEVAFQVUZVI60JTW6Z1SBZQ6I)
Flying Saucer Attack - Unknown (http://s51.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=04FDXB5ACXW8B1QCZRUSY2CWVE)
Ruby Zoo - Noonday Breeze (http://s37.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1KOUGBJI4PLXH2F1BJUJDRATMJ)

[blueyxd]

takes one to take one (d word)

[blueyxd]

Do Make Say Think - Ontario Plates

I've seen the name a few times, but I've only heard them about 0 times.

I was expecting pure post rock, but it's slightly jazzy, the drums fade in and out each bar.
A clarinet buzzes around playing a lead melody, with the string section as backup chords. I think there's trumpets in here too. It's sort of upbeat, and not at the same time. The drums have a sense of urgency about them, but the rest of the music isnt like that..

3:30 the drums bust out of the repetitiveness and seem to improvise more, guitar becomes more prominent, sounds a bit like Mogwai and theres a buzzing bass or cello, giving it some edge.

4:30 It drops right back for a bit, with a guitar that sounds out of tune... but it soon comes back with power. This bit seems like it's trying hard to be something it can't. It lacks something really gutsy, I don't know what, maybe its because the drums still sound jazzy, it just seems really thin here.

The power slowly builds a bit more over time, but I think it would have been better to start this bit with full power. Trumpets add a triumphant sound, though it sounds strange
and it goes a bit improvised and frantic towards the end.

Not bad, it was easy to listen to. A change in the timing of thier power distribution would make me like it more. And.. I don't know what else to say. 7/10

__________________________
Fagan - Beautiful Mundane (http://www.fagan.com.au/mp3/beautiful%20mundane.mp3) - trip hop

Decoder Ring - Collapse Coming On - like Mogwai on speed (still not that fast)

Custard - Monkey - tacky-experimental-pop

Conjure One - Center Of The Sun - laid back dance

Rumors Of The Big Wave - Nightmare - prog pop-rock

XTC - Greenman - pagan pop-rock

Salmonella Dub - Push On Through - dub, for the passive listener

Simon And Garfunkel - Wednesday Morning, 3 a.m. - acoustic folk

[Bartender]

Dibs.

<_< >_>

[Bartender]

okay, I remember really liking the last Fagan track I heard/reviewed (Dante, I think it was called - awesome name), so I've got high hopes for this one.
Fagan - Beautiful Mundane - 4:17

Starts off with a desolate, howling sort of noise, and what sounds at first like a clock ticking, which resolves itself into a beat, part of the music, pretty soon. Mellow male vocals come in, somewhere between rapping and singing. Female vocals follow shortly, again, semi-singing, semi-talking. That clicking beat is still going on in the background, so I've not much to say. It's all just very serene, calm, and peaceful.

Vocals drop away for something in the way of an instrumental section, in the form of a few layers of occasional distorted noise, and some very nice, slow violin (the violin I remember being a nice touch from Dante). Vocals come back in without going back to the previous musical structure - again, first male, then female. The girl is definitely singing now, and there's lots of echo on hers and the guy's voices (layered sounds in the background, underneath the music).

And the song just fades out on an ambient piece of noise, and a last piercing note from the violin.

8/10, I think. Another good track, but I don't think it is (or will prove to be) as memorable as Dante.

Songs;
Mr Bungle - Golem II: The Bionic Vapour Boy (http://s11.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2S3MGQRWZT58B3UXLSMO7V8RL8)
Mr Bungle - Retrovertigo (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=313V84HPRGE2U3QDIU508P3X1I)
Cocteau Twins - Aloysius (http://s10.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=29JFBV1BUO1S20R9JQM0KB9A7Z) (alt. pop/rock, featuring the incredible vocals of Liz Fraser)
Mr Bungle - None of Them Knew They Were Robots (http://s10.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2ZGMGJAB5YJ0L3TFO0US71ZGG9)
Mr Bungle - The Air-Conditioned Nightmare (http://s10.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1LFD4VLGFJQU90OZYY5PBFMEKC)
Gang of Four - I Found that Essence Rare (http://s11.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1GXJ8H8BX6V8E1IIXV5G6PK72H) (post-punk)
The Polyphonic Spree - Section 11 (A Long Day Continues) (http://s18.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=28YMDZ4FYNX001LOZWTZ0OHGW6) (the happiest band in the universe - long)
The Polyphonic Spree - Section 12 (Hold Me Now) (http://s18.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1QNNXB88X97LA3PW4EEI5JI7KM) (the happiest band in the universe)

[superpeer]

Dibs! :)

[superpeer]

Mr Bungle - None of Them Knew They Were Robots

Ok; I've heard a lot of Mr. Bungle obviously. The Patton craze on this forum doesn't allow me otherwise. I haven't actually heard them though. It's supposed to be some funky sort of metal. So Aight, I put it on.

Cool start! What's this, haunting synths and funky drums?! Nice. Now the vocals kick in, good of course. They are sung over a energetic bass line and the synths are still there, there is also some kind of brass instrument, which is cool.

Now the guitar goes a bit chaotic and Mike is shouting in the background. Ah, chorus? The vocals seem to have an effect on them, it's a pretty cool chorus.

Bass interlude, eh? This is a good one, shame it's so short. There are those funky sounds again, and some sort of bubbles. :\ And now he's hiccupping? :\ Yeah, weird stuff. I like the bubble interludes and the trumpets remind me of Tom and Jerry/cartoon music.

Yep another verse and something that sounds like a camera, this song seems to be very long. More interludes, chorus returns. This reallly would be the perfect soundtrack for Tom and Jerry - Halloween.

Ah, all over. Well, I liked it, it was certainly very interesting and as a song, it was also good. Perhaps a tad too long.

8.7/10


Therapy? - A Moment of Clarity (http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3EHQ5FEZLM0HT2LZ5XBP4MLPK6) (Not quite as weird, but a great track with great lyrics. It's one from Therapy?'s alt-y period. Enjoy)

Swervedriver - Last Train to Satansville (http://s18.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=02TP8Z0JRH87O192G62150YL02 ) (Shoegaze/ drive in your car rock)

[Bartender]

Which song were you reviewing?

[superpeer]

Title and new song edited in now.

[Bartender]

Thanks. Dibs.

[Bartender]

Don't think I've heard them before.
Swervedriver - Last Train to Satansville - 6:45

First thought; cool song title. Starts off with a pounding drum beat and guitar note which kind of explodes into the start of the song, before settling down into a rather nicer chugging rhythm. Sounds like a nice bassline.

Vocals come in, and they're just 'normal' male vocals (in as far as you can standardise a voice, I mean), and the songs just kind of..playing. Not much I can find to say. Oh, there's a nice kind of jangly guitar bit in the background. After the minute mark, the vocals cut out and there's a short, pretty cool instrumental section (involving variations on that jangly, spiralling guitar), before we're back with that awesome bassline. I can see what you mean about it being driving music; just listening to it (especially the quieter, chugging parts with the prominent bass) I see vehicles racing down highways. This'd probably make great music for some kind of car scene in a film.

That^ whole pattern basically repeats itself - awesome bassline, vocals come in for verse, vocals leave, instrumental section, back to awesome bassline - which takes us up to about the halfway point in the song. From there, the awesome bassline section extends itself for a long time, with various sound effects (engines revving, for example) and musical variations (feedback squeals, non-lyrical vocals, little guitar solos) buried deep in the background. About forty-five seconds from the end now, and it looks like the song's just going to go out like this. The feedback and messing about with guitars gets more pronounced as it goes on, and the song just kind of fades out.

9/10. It probably would have been just a seven (maybe an eight, for the gradual breaking down guitar at the end), but well..I really liked that bassline.

Songs;
Mr Bungle - Golem II: The Bionic Vapour Boy (http://s11.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2S3MGQRWZT58B3UXLSMO7V8RL8)
Mr Bungle - Retrovertigo (http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=313V84HPRGE2U3QDIU508P3X1I)
Cocteau Twins - Aloysius (http://s10.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=29JFBV1BUO1S20R9JQM0KB9A7Z) (alt. pop/rock, featuring the incredible vocals of Liz Fraser)
Mr Bungle - None of Them Knew They Were Robots (http://s10.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2ZGMGJAB5YJ0L3TFO0US71ZGG9)
Mr Bungle - The Air-Conditioned Nightmare (http://s10.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1LFD4VLGFJQU90OZYY5PBFMEKC)
Gang of Four - I Found that Essence Rare (http://s11.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1GXJ8H8BX6V8E1IIXV5G6PK72H) (post-punk)
The Polyphonic Spree - Section 11 (A Long Day Continues) (http://s18.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=28YMDZ4FYNX001LOZWTZ0OHGW6) (the happiest band in the universe - long)
The Polyphonic Spree - Section 12 (Hold Me Now) (http://s18.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1QNNXB88X97LA3PW4EEI5JI7KM) (the happiest band in the universe)

[superpeer]

Hey! Ho! Let's Dibs!

[superpeer]

Cocteau Twins - Aloysius

Right-o. I've heard a lot about this band as well, but I haven't heard them.

Starts with some acoustic chords and then the guitar continues a nice little acoustic riff with some effects on. Sounds dreamy, there are also some atmospheric sounds in the background. Then the drums kick in, they seem to be produced by a drum machine. An excellent beginning to this song.
Then the vocals, it's a songstress. High vocals, very medieval sounding, the language seems to be some sort of Celtic language, I'm not sure, I can't understand it anyway. The vocals are maybe a tad too high in the mix or something, not perfect anyway. But still good at times. They are growing on me, though. The song keeps to go back and forth -Verse, chorus-. Hmm; the song ends abruptly.

Well, it was certainly a nice song, the intro where the guitar was in the spotlight was probably the best part, very atmospheric and dreamy song. A good one.

8/10

Ye song(s):
Therapy? - A Moment of Clarity (http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3EHQ5FEZLM0HT2LZ5XBP4MLPK6) (Not quite as weird, but a great track with great lyrics. It's one from Therapy?'s alt-y period. Enjoy)

[3rdplanet]

dibs

[3rdplanet]

A Moment of Clarity - Therapy?: 6:02

I have heard a song or two by these guys and have enjoyed them. Hope this track doesn't break the pattern.

The song opens with a very chilled and electronic sounding opening, already something I didn't expect, very nice mellow stuff, off to a good start. The 'chick-chick-chick-chick's speed up and a couple of thunderous effects are played which kind of dissipate the calm before. Great intro.

So after the just over a minute intro the guitar starts playing its chords, not breath takingingly awesome, but not the horrible cheesy strummy kind. The vocals come in soon enough, nice voice, very fitting for the guitar. The transitions from electro part to guitar to inclusion of vocals feel a little rushed; if they had been extended I think it would have worked a lot better.

At the 1:40 mark the major riff has already begun, and again it feels like to may have came too soon. Although this riff does kick major ***, very stark and powerful, really love it. The kind you want to let blast out even though it's very late and PC speakers do no justice to.

After this strong section the song settles itself in that in-between area of full throttle and slow, sorta mid-throttle. Lots of bell on the ride which always good. The vocals are resting back in the song.

Instead of falling back into another full throttle section it drops to a very quite section, mostly snare and ride with very quiet guitar and vocals. This bit I don't like, doesn't do anything for me.

After a little 'flump-flum' on the toms the kick *** riff blares out again and firmly cements itself as the best part of the song (apart from the electro intro). Also during the second half of this section the singer lets fly and provides the higher less constrained vocals you knew from the start his was capable of. They suit this end section really well.

The song lulls into a sort of 'break-down' section and doesn't rise back up to the riffage again. The volume drops and the chords come back again to cap this song off.

Overall, a very enjoyable and oddly quick 6:02. This track was quite different to the other songs I have heard by this group. On this songs own merits I give it an 8.5/10.

Forced Listening:

Ellen & Ben - The Dismemberment Plan (http://s21.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1RF5DDXGF7BDB32WPL7GHXUM4K)

Big News - These Arms Are Snakes (http://s23.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0YUR2QUSNEL0Y3LJQF5BWRBXSK)

Time is an Imploding Unit/Waiting for Green - Biffy Clyro (http://s27.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2GBLVMCSQG53A223TAV9B29R7R) <-- Just shy of ten minutes this track is, so watch out.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Dibber.

[Dave de Sylvia]

:cry I had a review written for this and it was eaten by the forum :( I hope you don't mind if I summarise a bit, it's quite late.

The Dismemberment Plan - Ben & Ellen (5:01)

I went into a bit of detail on the sound of the track at first. It immediately gave me a Brendan Benson vibe, the repeated synth melody and the funky bass/drums gave it a lovely modern power-pop feel. The vocalist, and indeed the band as the song progressed reminded me of Semisonic, which is a good thing I reckon.

The first three minutes consisted of a straight verse/chorus structure with little really to tell between. There's a very folky feel to it. The song is very much based around the words and the story, rather than the music. While I like this type of song, I don't feel there was enough to really keep me interested. It was far too bland to hold my attention, in the way Dylan's Tangled Up In Blue does, for instance.

Around the 3:00, it felt like the song was building to something. There was a short burst of energy with the band playing louder and faster, but it died out, and the song simmered out in a mess of synth noises, which disappointed me. I felt the song could really have gone somewhere, but it just seemed to die. Overall, I can only rate it 5/10 - not one of the band's better songs(from my experience).

DieCiS1e7E - Zoe (http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2BPPFPTCE79GR2XTU9Y9S7E9NJ) (Rock n' Roll - Spanish lyrics)

Our Lady Peace - Starseed (http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3CWBW55X4BDSO2WGH0D96LIJ4X) (Alt-rock with an eastern tinge)

Guns N' Roses - Rocket Queen (http://s39.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1O19021CNBKVN2V346NRXLQD1O) (Hard rock)

[Dave de Sylvia]

Bump.

[3rdplanet]

deeeeebs

[3rdplanet]

I agree with you about Ellen & Ben, it is a bit of a tedious song with the repetitiveness of it, but I love the melody.

Starseed (Armageddon Remix) - Our Lady Peace: 4:02

The eastern twinge can be heard in the plucky guitar intro, it's very quiet also, which with hindsight works nicely contrasted with the louder parts about to come up.

In the bridge section from intro to first rock part there is some really nice driving bass (great tone) and the drum sound really good too. It is really reminding me of The Screaming Trees so far. A long snare roll takes the song to the second part of the bridge section and it is sounding even more like The Screaming Trees, which is no bad thing at all. The guitar goes into a bit of full overdrive for a small section (sounds very nice) and eventually the song drops down into the first versey part.

The vocals come in now and don't particularly grab me, but they aren't awful by any means, just something I feel I would have to let grow on me about the band. That said, his 'ehyeeayyeeehyeeayyee's in the pre-chorus soon after the verse are really cool.

The chorus part (1:30 - 1:48) doesn't quite do it for me as it's a bit too 'weak' compared to the full over-drive part if you get me.

The song repeats the verse/pre-chorus/chorus pattern (I think, there aren't any inclusions of different parts) until around 2:50 where there is a brief section where the drummer plays a really tasty fill and then the guitar solo begins.

The solo is average. It doesn't/didn't really get me; it is a bit low in the mix I feel.

The song goes on to resolve itself in a pretty typical rock fashion and with the band fading out at the end.

The song has a really nice driving bass line and the guitar works really well with it. The drumming is really cool and the vocals are decent. All in all I would say it was a very good track and would rate it as a 9/10.

Forced Listening:

Time is an Imploding Unit/Waiting for Green - Biffy Clyro (http://s27.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2GBLVMCSQG53A223TAV9B29R7R) Pop-Punk/Alt. Rock - 9:23

Big News - These Arms Are Snakes (http://s23.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0YUR2QUSNEL0Y3LJQF5BWRBXSK) Punk tinged rock? - 3:18

Witness - The Screaming Trees (http://s23.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=38QOKDHWFFF9T02XTV7RWT2QBD) Alt. Rock - 3:39

[Dave de Sylvia]

It is really reminding me of The Screaming Trees so far. A long snare roll takes the song to the second part of the bridge section and it is sounding even more like The Screaming Trees, which is no bad thing at all.

In light of this, could you recommend me any of their tracks I'd enjoy(I've dl'ed the one in your FL)? I've been meaning to check them out.

No dibs though.

[3rdplanet]

I only have Dust by them, but good tracks off it are All I Know, Halo of Ashes and Gospel Plow.

Infact, I could upload it to one of the YSI threads if you would like me to.

[Dave de Sylvia]

That would be swell, very much so. And dibs...

[Dave de Sylvia]

Screaming Trees - Witness (3:39)

Considering my last song was compared to this band, and that I've been meaning to listen to them since my Mark Lanegan obsession began, I've decided to review this song.

Songs begins with eastern-ish guitar playing octaves, reminiscent of Starseed reviewed above or early Pearl Jam. I like it. Drums slowly enter, becoming louder and louder. The drumming is very good, a little bit jazzy, but with plenty of rock in them too. Bass is mixed low, I can't make it out. The two guitars work well together, never playing the same thing, creating good interplay.

Vocals begin. They're not spectacular, but they do the job. I think Lanegan's voice is more suited to his solo stuff, slower Tom Waits-style music. He doesn't stretch his voice at all, sticking to his limited register. Reminds me of Eddie Vedder/Pearl Jam again.

Guitar break around 2:14 - not much to say about it. It echoes the guitar melody from before with some wah-wah help, and it pops up again behind the subsequent chorus. It's a nice section, it keeps the song going at a nice pace. The chorus repeats until the end. Not much to say about the song, other than that I liked it. It's a standard grunge-era tune, but it works very well. 8/10.

DieCiS1e7E - Zoe (http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2BPPFPTCE79GR2XTU9Y9S7E9NJ) (Rock n' Roll - Spanish lyrics)

Guns N' Roses - Rocket Queen (http://s39.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1O19021CNBKVN2V346NRXLQD1O) (Hard rock)

Motley Crue - Too Young To Fall In Love (http://s7.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=143OYHJAJTNU20SX4LQZ2AJLKK) (Glam rock)

Marvelous 3 - Little Head (http://s5.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3FFBDRIX4LNYN3CJOVU1ZCXM0W) (Silly power-pop)

Oasis - Acquiesce (http://s39.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=04DL0LXOVNS3Z2CEKFLN22XEP1) (Britrock)

[Bartender]

Ibid.

[Bartender]

Haven't heard them before. Not sure what's going on with that name :-/
DieCiS1e7E - Zoe - 3:23

Guitars fade in for a couple of seconds, and then we're hit with some cymbal-heavy drum beats and a good rock riff. The cymbal goes away for the drums to pound in an intro, and the riff takes over fully. I really like this riff. The bass is quite easily heard underneath too, which is nice.

Basically carries on like this until the vocals come in around fifty seconds in; Spanish lyrics, as promised, so naturally I have no idea what's being sung. It sounds like there's more than one voice there, though; one main vocalist and one or two more supporting him rather quietly in the background. About a minute and a half in now, and I'm assuming we've hit a chorus. I think the guitar's playing a little mini-solo behind the vocals, too. It's all been very high-energy so far.

Vocals cut out, and the guitars get slightly deeper and slightly heavier for a pretty cool little instrumental midsection. Reminds me of something The Wildhearts do in some of their songs, actually. The vocals come back for a short while, and then the guitars return, briefly, to the part they played in that midsection, to end the song on a pretty cool note. Unfortunately this means there isn't much for me to say about it, which results in a short review :-/

I was thinking about 7/10 for most of the song, but then that midsection pushed it up to around an 8/10. It also gets +5 points for having a positive reference to the Wildhearts made about it, so;

13/10

Songs;
William Shatner (w/Joe Jackson and various others) - Common People (http://s43.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1SQ60BMAO21RJ178MEZ81TGF4Y)
Johnny Cash - The Wall (live) (http://s43.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3P6C68LJSGT5I0VTWGYSZ8F8XB)
The Polyphonic Spree - A Long Day Continues (http://s18.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=28YMDZ4FYNX001LOZWTZ0OHGW6) (the happiest band in the universe)*
The Polyphonic Spree - Hold Me Now (http://s18.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1QNNXB88X97LA3PW4EEI5JI7KM) (the happiest band in the universe)
North - Through Fire (http://s32.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1EXLY4UYJ9VAC0RXP7A9X7J564) (relaxed, slightly funky alt/indie)
North - untitled bonus track (http://s32.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3RN2V6Z5RZ4052IZKYXUQZH054)
Thirst - State of High Piss Off (http://s29.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2H8H5N1OB9IY233EIZFCC5S98G) (alt/hard rock?)

[Dave de Sylvia]

Diibs

[Dave de Sylvia]

North - Through Fire (5:40)

Never heard of this band, so...

Begins with some jazzy, hotel-lobby piano, it's nice and relaxing, not quite what I expected. The band eases itself in around 0:30, with bass, wah-wah guitar and cybmal-heavy drumming. The drums are very much in the background, but they help maintain the laid-back mood.

Singer enters around 1:10. His voice is very much suited to the music. Very relaxed, the kind of voice you'd expect from a singer in a jazz band. I get the impression he's not too important in the overall mix, however, they seem to be a very music-oriented band, which would prefer just to jam away. I have no idea where I gained this impression, though.

Guitar is very prominent, taking leads after the first vocal and the second. The first follows the pattern of the piece to date, the same tone, the same tempo etc. The second sees the guitar gain some... gain and break out a bit. I like the fuzzy tone, especially on the second half of the second solo, when it combines with the wah-wah to make an irresistable sound. It has a Hendrix-throwback quality which reminds me of a Carpenters song which I can't recall the name of.

That's actually a good thing.

This solo leads us back to the hotel-lobby piano, and fade away. That flew by. I guess I was right about the singing being a side-note. On repeated listens, I really like this. Quite relaxing, and something I can see myself listening to on occasion. 8/10.

Butch Walker - Mixtape (http://s4.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0QBXQP2LZA4XT23N2T28BPLUK1) (Pop)

Butch Walker - Alicia Amnesia (http://s5.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2TL61688FDNLP3CRWZ3Y1JIZYZ) (Pop-punk++)

Rufus Wainwright - Oh What A World (http://s4.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3FKDDWIR0SOVN229A3RQ0TLX7L)

Rufus Wainwright - 14th Street (http://s4.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=233XDMLNOY6RV2F35H8T8DKZ8R) (Amazing)

Guns N' Roses - Rocket Queen (http://s39.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1O19021CNBKVN2V346NRXLQD1O) (Hard rock)

Motley Crue - Too Young To Fall In Love (http://s7.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=143OYHJAJTNU20SX4LQZ2AJLKK) (Glam rock)

Marvelous 3 - Little Head (http://s5.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3FFBDRIX4LNYN3CJOVU1ZCXM0W) (Silly power-pop)

[Dave de Sylvia]

Bump

[Bartender]

Dibs.

[Bartender]

I enjoyed Get Down, which I reviewed in a different Forced Listening I believe, so I thought I'd try another.
Butch Walker - Alicia Amnesia - 3:23

Starts off with a quick drum roll, and then a riff. It definitely seems to be a pop punk riff, although it's quite long and winding for pop punk. There's a nice chunka-chunka bit about halfway through. Anyway, this riff repeats a couple of times, and then vocals come in.

Walker's vocals remind me somewhat of Freddie Mercury. I've said this before, and the only person I've said it to so far has assumed I meant his amazing singing talent, which I don't. I mean the kind of half-rapped, clipped vocals (the kind Freddie used in We Will Rock You, for example). There's a better example in the other Butch Walker song I know (the aforementioned Get Down), but here it's not really any different, only less pronounced. I swear the guy is channeling Freddie Mercury.

So anyway, I like his vocals. Lyrics seem to be about just a particularly forgetful girl (every man's dream, I'm sure), which makes for some amusing lines. Sung chorus (or pre-chorus, tis too early to tell yet) around 0:50, before a rather loud single repeated guitar note for him to sing "she doesn't know my name". Drawn out cry of "aliciaaaaa", a couple of repetitions of the riff, and then another verse. Much in the same pattern as before. A very cool little bridge part after the next chorus, with some doo wop-ish vocals, and then swiftly back to the chorus before the song draws to a close.

7.5/10, I think. I didn't like it as much as Get Down, but it was still pretty good.

Songs;
William Shatner (w/Joe Jackson and various others) - Common People (http://s43.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1SQ60BMAO21RJ178MEZ81TGF4Y)
Johnny Cash - The Wall (live) (http://s43.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3P6C68LJSGT5I0VTWGYSZ8F8XB)
North - Through Fire (http://s32.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1EXLY4UYJ9VAC0RXP7A9X7J564) (relaxed, slightly funky alt/indie)
North - untitled bonus track (http://s32.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3RN2V6Z5RZ4052IZKYXUQZH054)
Aereogramme - Post-Tour, Pre-Judgement (http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3RYJ4843BOX0M3ARG2Q02QHJPE)
Aereogramme - Hatred (http://s29.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3RWWDZP32I2H935WY8DGBNLLN4)

[br3ad_man]

Dibs

[br3ad_man]

I've never heard anything from this band before, but I've heard them talked about, so lets see.

Aereogramme - Post-Tour, Pre-Judgement

Starts with some cool drumming. Some nice vocals and a lovely chord progression on a clean guitar come in. Then...holy crap! An explosion of awesomeness! There's some hard drumming, distorted guitar and an incredible organ. Now some vocals. This guy's vocals rule. Goes back to the softer part of the clean guitar and then goes back into the big part.

I'm liking these lyrics, though I can't say what they are about right now. Goes big again and then drops back to just bass, some light cymbals with toms and a pretty little guitar lead. Builds up slightly before the vocals come back in. Some cool lines..."fu*k the devil, fu*k myself" sounds really cliche, but the delivery is great. Wow, now it's heavy again and the dude is screaming, sounds a bit like Converge. And that's the whole song. Wow, amazing.

10/10 That song was way too good, I'll definitely be checking out this band more, starting now.


Songs;

The Jolly Rogers - The Party Punch (http://www.thejollyrogers.org/thepartypunch.mp3) Alt Folk/Pirate Pop
The Jolly Rogers - Oh Be One (http://www.thejollyrogers.org/ohbeone.mp3) as above
Thomas Newman - Shawshank Redemption (stoic theme and end credits) (http://s12.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1UPNEPBUQGNVP3OOAA0UTVM22K) Film Music

[blueyxd]

dribbles

[blueyxd]

The Jolly Rogers - The Party Punch

A strummy, bouncy guitar opens it, just a couple of chords. The vocalist starts up, and he sounds like Ben Folds meets the Modest Mouse singer. It's pretty simple, just guitars, singing, and simple percussion with claps.

It's pretty happy, and melodic, though I don't hear anything piratey, as promised.
In the second half is quiet choirs, with a bit of Beach Boys sound, the main music powers up a bit, more noticeable than the the first half. The guitar riff is getting a bit repetetive, but it's pretty fun and it doesn't matter.

But the last 50 seconds or so sounds totally unrelated, with bad strumming and bad singing... I'll ignore this bit..


Yeah, that was pretty mellow, slightly tacky in it's simplicity, and the singer's shaky voice, but a good type of tacky, like Custard or Presidents of the USA, just for indie. I wouldn't have liked something like this, a year ago, but for now, I enjoyed it.
8/10

_________________________________
XTC - Greenman (http://www.comcen.com.au/~caracarol/XTC - Apple Venus - 06 - Greenman.mp3) - 70s pagan pop-rock

[Bartender]

Dibs.

[Bartender]

I've heard of these guys, and for all I know I've heard them before now. Still not really sure what to expect, though.
XTC - Greenman - 6:01

Starts off with a rather familiar sounding little tune; sounds like it's being played on an organ of some kind. Quickly resolves itself into a rather sweeping and grandiose kind of sound, which instantly brings to mind Lawrence of Arabia for some reason. Small flourish in the strings (I think) before the vocals come in about thirty seconds in. Multiple voices (at least two, anyway), and they sound pretty good. Not amazing, but good clean voices for this kind of smooth song. The melody is really good too. Memorable, but not in an annoying way. Lyrics are just about "the one called the greenman". Little playful flute melody during an instrumental break/chorus, and then the next verse starts.

I'm noticing the bass now (at least I think it's the bass). It's really good, deep and nice-sounding. Harmonised vocals for a while, before what is either a repeated fragment of a line, or some non-verbal sound. The guy's voice wavers a bit around 2:55, but it's not all that noticeable.

About four minutes in now, and so far it's just repeated what it's done up to now. I'm liking this song. It's very sweeping and grandiose, lots of could-be-dramatic strings and such, but which aren't especially intimidating or overwhelming. Different instruments, such as percussion, the bass, the flute, get their chance to do their thing every now and then. And..there's not much more I can say about it. It's six minutes long, but there isn't much variation, and it just basically repeats itself through to the end (and a strings fadeout).

7/10, I think. It was enjoyable, but a bit overlong and faintly annoying for some reason. I liked several aspects of it though; the variety of instruments, the flow of the verses, and the general vastness of the sound, in particular. Sorry for the short review.

Songs;
William Shatner (w/Joe Jackson and various others) - Common People (http://s43.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1SQ60BMAO21RJ178MEZ81TGF4Y)
North - Through Fire (http://s32.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1EXLY4UYJ9VAC0RXP7A9X7J564) (relaxed, slightly funky alt/indie)
North - untitled bonus track (http://s32.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3RN2V6Z5RZ4052IZKYXUQZH054)
Aereogramme - Sunday 3:52 (http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2G0BKDMF1POEY129DVMLF271TD)
Aereogramme - Hatred (http://s29.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3RWWDZP32I2H935WY8DGBNLLN4)

[breezer]

dibs on
aereogramme-sunday

[breezer]

very smooth, mellow chello(that spelling's gotta be wrong) opening. Voice comes in, also quite nice. hope this speeds up a little right now though. drums and guitar i think come in at same time, makes you appreaciate this new fullness. Right about now this seems like the kind of song that would bring tears to my eyes if anything sad had recently happened to me...luckily that is not the case. oh and now thats a violin that just came in. wow the harmonies really are beautiful, but to be honest every time the voice comes in the song is worse for it. the ending=just simple guitar with vioce, now I am liking this voice a lot more.

Alright well that was a song that if I was in a certain mood i would have loved, but at any given time I would not go out of my way to hear it. 6/10

[breezer]

oh yeah
Muse-Muscle Museum

[Dave de Sylvia]

Disb, but try to upload the song in future and/or include more than one recommendation.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Muse - Muscle Museum (3:59)

I'm quite the Muse fan, but I don't have Showbiz, so I haven't heard this song before. I hope to be impressed.

Begins with a repetitive two note synth riff, which is soon joined by some heavy, but laid-back drumming, before developing somewhat to include more notes. Some tasty clean electric guitar joins in with the drums, sliding up and down. The guitar leaves again, and Bellamy begins to sing. His voice is very clear and roughly follows the notes being played by the synth. I don't like this comparison, but he sounds alot like Thom Yorke here, even in his mannerisms.

After the verse, the guitars return... roughly muted they build up metal-style to the loud chorus. The typical Pixies/Nirvana quiet verse/loud chorus thing is going on here. Cliched but effective, I like. Instead of the guitars exploding in for the choru, as expected, the guitars reverts to a high arpeggio sequence, while the drums, bass and synth become louder to provide the necessary heaviness - nice move. Belammy's voice is great throughout the chorus, I love his voice.

After the chorus, the verse repeats in the same fashion as the first, and then the chorus repeats. Instead of reverting back to the verse again, Bellamy begins to wail, into which bleeds a wah-wah soaked guitar note, which is further distorted. It's almost seemless, I didn't notice it had become a guitar note until half-way through.

This song was really good, though I expected little else from Muse. It added a few nice twists on the typical rock song format, and the use of instrumentation was excellent. 9/10.

Butch Walker - Mixtape (http://s4.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0QBXQP2LZA4XT23N2T28BPLUK1) (Pop)
Butch Walker - Alicia Amnesia (http://s5.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2TL61688FDNLP3CRWZ3Y1JIZYZ) (Pop-punk++)
Rufus Wainwright - Oh What A World (http://s4.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3FKDDWIR0SOVN229A3RQ0TLX7L)
Rufus Wainwright - 14th Street (http://s4.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=233XDMLNOY6RV2F35H8T8DKZ8R) (Amazing)
Guns N' Roses - Rocket Queen (http://s39.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1O19021CNBKVN2V346NRXLQD1O) (Hard rock)
Motley Crue - Too Young To Fall In Love (http://s7.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=143OYHJAJTNU20SX4LQZ2AJLKK) (Glam rock)
Marvelous 3 - Little Head (http://s5.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3FFBDRIX4LNYN3CJOVU1ZCXM0W) (Silly power-pop)

[Bartender]

His review didn't deserve a review that good in return :)

Dibs.

[breezer]

his?

[Dave de Sylvia]

His review didn't deserve a review that good in return :)

Dibs.

Haha, well it can't hurt to show him/her how to do it properly. Plus I really like Muse :cool:

[Bartender]

his?

As in yours. Don't take offence, since it's the first I've ever seen you do, I wasn't really bothered, and I'd rather have more than less people playing the game. It was just a little short and disappointing.

Heard and liked before, as you know. I was debating which to do, but I figured I might as well go for the only Butch Walker there I've not yet heard.
Butch Walker - Mixtape - 4:05

Starts off with some quite piercing piano (in so far as piano can be piercing). It sounded a bit like nursery rhyme-style piano at first, but it's soon joined by some acoustic strumming, which makes it sound all the more mature. It's just these two for a short while, until the vocals begin.

He sounds less like Freddie Mercury, this time. Probably because his vocals are a lot more laid back and relaxed than I've heard previously. I would say "drawled", I think, if he had a southern accent. Anyway, light percussion starts up at the same time (and the piano stops, I think); it's nothing special, which is unsurprising, since the focus is very much on the vocals. There's no great change in style on the chorus (except for the most concerted effort at singing I've heard from Walker so far, in a few lines here and there). The piano returns for short instrumental breaks post-chorus, pre-verse.

Pretty cool part now (around 2:00) after the second chorus; the vocals use that slightly more commanding, jerky delivery, and there's some flashes of distorted guitar here and there. Goes straight into another chorus. Multiple Butches join in for backing vocals. After a few repetitions of a chorus line, the song goes quiet, and some slightly distorted drumming starts, while the music builds up slightly around it. The bass here is nice; warm, good tone. It never builds back up into a chorus, it's just something to fade the song out on, but it reminds me somewhat of a NIN instrumental.

8.5/10. Bits of it weren't anything special, but I liked the outro, which makes it a solid 7. The extra points come from just the fact that I really like the basis for the song. It's essentially (so far as I can make out, in one listen) a love song, but it's about the person who gave him the bext mixtape he ever had, which, unlike most love songs, is a sentiment I can somewhat relate to.

Songs;
William Shatner (w/Joe Jackson and various others) - Common People (http://s43.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1SQ60BMAO21RJ178MEZ81TGF4Y)
North - Through Fire (http://s32.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1EXLY4UYJ9VAC0RXP7A9X7J564) (relaxed, slightly funky alt/indie)
North - untitled bonus track (http://s32.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3RN2V6Z5RZ4052IZKYXUQZH054)
Aereogramme - Sunday 3:52 (http://s26.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2G0BKDMF1POEY129DVMLF271TD)
Aereogramme - Hatred (http://s29.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3RWWDZP32I2H935WY8DGBNLLN4)

[Bartender]

Bump.

[Jacaranda]

Dibs. I'll try this.
North - Through Fire

[Jacaranda]

North - Through Fire
I've never heard of them so I'm not sure what to expect.
Well in the start there is a nice little piano build up that sounds like a Norah Jones song. Then about 30 secounds in the Bass and cymbals comes in and I then have an idea that a deep voice will comes in, which I was hoping against and to my surprise a nice mellow soothing voice comes in.

The song starts to sound a bit like a upbeat jazz. The singer I can't really hear exactly what he's saying but the words he is singing reall flow and keep the song in a mellow sleepy state. About 2:45 into the song he stops singing and the guitar picks up with the piano still jamming away. The guitar solo reminds me of something Santana would do. Sounds sorta like a TV theme I dunno maybe I'm just tired. Then it stops and the singer comes back singing his rhythmic style still sings only about a line or two then the guitar comes back in.

Sounds like a faster version of the first solo but this time the piano is louder and slowly gets louder as the guitar plays. The guitar does its thing for about a minute then it dissappears leaving us with the piano. The piano slows tempo then slowly builds and the drums make the first sound thats caught my attention since the begging. The guitar comes back in playing my favorite part out of the three little solos it had. This time it reminds me of a sort of David Gilmour thing. Then the guitar just drops again, and agian leaving us with the piano to say good bye.

Sorry for all the comparisons this song sounded like so many songs or had little pieces that reminded me of songs but overall a really steady song. Despite only having singing in about one min of this 5:30 min song it kept me interesting with the changing of tempo and the guitar solos that were the same sounding yet different. And when the singer did sing I thought the words just really flowed.

8/10 I don't usually like these songs they tend to bore me but as stated above this was different.

Hope that was good.

The Bees - Horsemen (http://s23.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=15KOZ3537WUW017DV4WO7CYQXF)

Secret Machines - Nowhere Again (http://s23.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=298QWACOIR6XU0BKWUWZGMFNJU)

[3rdplanet]

dibs

[3rdplanet]

Note to Grateful Dead - Dust - Screaming Trees (post&link) (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8210167&postcount=2685)

Horsemen - The Bees: 3:29

I haven't heard of these guys but if they are as good as the Secret Machines are they will not be bad at all.

The song opens with some choppy guitar chordy bit things, reminds me of Neil Young already and that's no bad thing as far as I am concerned. The vocalist comes in and his voice is very plesant, kinda strained a bit, the voice and the guitar compliment one another.

Bum-tap, the drums and bass come in and with that the first annoying part to the song, a **** marracca. The cowbell tries to fight the annoyingness of the marracca but it's too down low in the mix to do much. Ah well let's carry on.

The next section is quite cool, organ, bass and piano with some floaty vocally kinda stuff in the background. This short piece finishes and goes back to the choppy guitar stuff, rinse and repeat this pretty much until 2:39 when the solo section begins.

The solo is pretty rad, reminds me of Josh Homme but that's due to my lack of knowledge of guitarist names.

It carries on after the solo with more of the guitar until it ends in a pretty unsatisying way, even after the solo.

Overall I did enjoy it, not something I would normally listen to or look for myself but I will keep my ear to the ground for more stuff by them. I give this track an 8/10.


Forced Listening:

Time is an Imploding Unit/Waiting for Green - Biffy Clyro (http://s18.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0M5D22FBG867O17LUF94ZB0N8V) - Alt. Rock/Pop-Punk, 9:23 long.

Tonight my Wife is your Wife - Reuben (http://s18.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0P5N9ZTH0HB42EO5BH0Q4WT3X) - Pop-Punk/Rocky Tinges, 3:07 long.

The Mission - Queensrÿche (http://s23.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0LGC3UCHXC26P2AYOFQSOK72EV) - Prog (Power tinged) Metal, 5:47 long.

I Know Your Name - Bee & Flower (http://s5.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0NLVRG775PCYA0JO8J45M8I2R3) - Woman and Violin and things, dark, 4:50 long.

What You Feel - Buffy the Vampire Slayer Cast Musical (http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1V8M134QDYKHB0BM3ANAJN0SXG) - ****in' Jazz-a-matazz, 3:01 long.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Ooooooh, thanks. :)

And dibs.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Queensryche - The Mission (5:47)

I've never heard Queensryche, but I've heard plenty about how great they are, so I'm looking forward to this.

Begins with distant talking, sounds like a TV Newscast or something, before a deeper voice announces "Bless me father for I have sinned" and glass breaks. The song begins.

Some very clean electric(electrocoutsic?) guitar is heard, there's two of them - they first play in between each other but soon begin to play in unison. The singer soon enters - he has quite a deep voice... in fact he sounds like a person with a high voice singing low. His voice is quite good, reminiscent of Roger Waters on 'The Wall' - there's reference to a wall in the lyrics, perhaps it's a homage.

Soon, electric guitars crash in, drums and bass immediately follow. Drumming is standard 4/4 rock stuff, straight except for a fill at the end of each measure. Bass plods along, it's very... bassy, sound good. The electric guitars are distorted, and along with the singer remind me of Iron Maiden. Winding, harmonised guitars provide a counter melody to the singer's now high, operatic voice. I like his voice, though the music seems a little camp for my taste.

Guitar solo around 3:30, backed by synthesised strings. It's quite straightforward metal stuff, ends on a squealy note. Then returns to the singing as normal. The backing vocals are great, sends a shiver up the spine. The piece fades out on this theme, with a final stop-start finish.

Decent tune, but not my usual listening material, and not what I expected from the band. 6/10.

Butch Walker - Mixtape (http://s4.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0QBXQP2LZA4XT23N2T28BPLUK1) (Pop)
Butch Walker - Alicia Amnesia (http://s5.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2TL61688FDNLP3CRWZ3Y1JIZYZ) (Pop-punk++)
Rufus Wainwright - Oh What A World (http://s4.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3FKDDWIR0SOVN229A3RQ0TLX7L)
Rufus Wainwright - 14th Street (http://s4.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=233XDMLNOY6RV2F35H8T8DKZ8R) (Amazing)
AFI - Death Of Seasons (http://s37.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1JEFW3TIITYY620OID43IGCMMH) (Goth/Punk)
Motley Crue - Too Young To Fall In Love (http://s7.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=143OYHJAJTNU20SX4LQZ2AJLKK) (Glam rock)
Marvelous 3 - Little Head (http://s5.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3FFBDRIX4LNYN3CJOVU1ZCXM0W) (Silly power-pop)

[br3ad_man]

dibs

[Dave de Sylvia]

*pokes*

[3rdplanet]

I can take this now can't I?

if so dibs.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Yeah, he's exceeded the time limit by about 14 hours.

[3rdplanet]

14th Street - Rufus Wainwright: 4:44

The song opens with guitar, piano and (drunkenly slurred?) vocals. Piano and vocals are the predominant instruments/things in this part and all sounds really good. The drums and bass add themselves to the song very soon with a 'dum-dum-dum-dum-dum' bit. The song is a lot livelier than I was expecting. Got a nice waltz 3/4 feel to it and the piano really sounds good.

The backing vocals during the chorus section (38 seconds for first chorus) are really good as well. There is a nice definition between the two different sorts of singing going on.

The song has lots of short section with the switches from verse to chorus and back but there are so many different instruments in certain sections (I think there is a harmonica in the second verse but it's really low down I can't be sure.) There's almost too much to mention. The brass instruments at the 1:30 mark onwards are great; they really give the song some oomph.

2:25 and there is a little more laid back part which is quite as appealing melody-wise but good none the less. At the 2:50 mark the song starts a gradual descent into a piano only piece which I really like.

Of course the song comes right back up again where it plays out with the chorus towards the end. There are many little alterations to bits of the song here and there, but it does start to drag a tad which is a shame.

The band eventually fades out until there is just a bit of banjo playing left, which in turn fades out itself.

I have to say I really like the whole togetherness of what was going on, and there was a lot of it to co-ordinate and what not. The song seemed to drag a little I felt though as it neared the end as it seemed to hold on for the sake of it but I bet it would sound fantastic live, especially with some improv in there.

Overall, I would give the track a 9/10. But a weak 9/10. More like 8.8/10, but that's a silly score.

Forced Listening:

Time is an Imploding Unit/Waiting for Green - Biffy Clyro (http://s18.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0M5D22FBG867O17LUF94ZB0N8V) - Alt. Rock/Pop-Punk, 9:23 long.

Tonight my Wife is your Wife - Reuben (http://s18.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0P5N9ZTH0HB42EO5BH0Q4WT3X) - Pop-Punk/Rocky Tinges, 3:07 long.

Metric - Pelé (http://s13.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=02OQAH79TV44D0T8ZESNFFXU10) - Very calm Post-Rock, 6:20 long.

I Know Your Name - Bee & Flower (http://s5.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0NLVRG775PCYA0JO8J45M8I2R3) - Woman and Violin and things, dark, 4:50 long.

What You Feel - Buffy the Vampire Slayer Cast Musical (http://s22.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1V8M134QDYKHB0BM3ANAJN0SXG) - ****in' Jazz-a-matazz, 3:01 long.

[br3ad_man]

Sorry for not doing my dibs before :upset:

I'll do this one right now though.

[br3ad_man]

Metic - Pele

Nice guitar riffs at the start and some cool drumming. There is a really nice fill right at the beginning of the song. The song is constantly changing and this is a very good thing. I think I can hear some electronics in the background, which is cool. The strange thing about this song is that it is always changing, but it stays the same for the whole 6:20. The little section where everything cuts out, around 3:23 is one of the best parts of the song, I really love it.

This drummer really is great. He's starting to build up the song with some top snare work. Now the song is fully built up, but doesn't go into massive heaviness, which most post-rock band do (this is something that annoys me). The keyboard in the background is pretty amazing. I like the ending, the way everything just gets softer.

Nice stuff, it has some good groove.

7.5/10

The Jolly Rogers - The Party Punch (http://www.thejollyrogers.org/thepartypunch.mp3) Folk Pop
The Jolly Rogers - Oh Be One (http://www.thejollyrogers.org/ohbeone.mp3) Folk Pop
Thomas Newman - The Shawshank Redemption Soundtrack (this is two parts of it mixed into one) (http://s12.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1UPNEPBUQGNVP3OOAA0UTVM22K) Film Music
The Jolly Rogers - The Pirate's Anthem (http://www.thejollyrogers.org/piratesanthem.mp3) Folk Pop

[blueyxd]

dib

The Jolly Rogers - A Pirate's Anthem

I hope this one is piratey, the other one I tried wasn't. Maybe it helps that I just had Modest Mouse on, I'm in the right listening frame. This is just a bit cleaner in all aspects. Though it's not sounding a bit piratey! :(

Acoustic guitar strums and piano chordage, a soft flowing 6/8er. It changes quickly to a harder (yet soft sound) with a high guitar. The singer still sounds incredibly like Ben Folds meets Modest Mouse singer.

At 2 minutes is a more melodic bit, which is a good thing, but it's interspersed by some semi-yells to counter it. The piano "lead" is pretty simple and repetetive, but it works all the same. Then after a bit, the music softens once again, and this time it stays that way, all the way through the fade out to the end.

Where's the pirate sound??? It would be really cool to hear. Anyway, it was a decent piece. I find when they try to sound rough it just doesnt work, they seem much more suited to the softer parts of their music. I couldn't really focus well on the individual bits, but it didn't put me off.
8.2/10

__________________________________________
The National - Daughters Of The Soho Riots (http://www.comcen.com.au/~caracarol/The National - Alligator - 05 - Daughters Of The Soho Riots.mp3) - soft indie

Simon And Garfunkel - The Sound Of Silence - acoustic folk

Violetine - Finer Place - rock

Rumors Of The Big Wave - Nightmare - prog pop-rock


0-second bump, come on

[Robert Crumb]

duh-da-duh-dubbaduh-dibs.

[Robert Crumb]

The National - Daughters Of The Soho Riots

I quite like this band from what I've already heard but I've been putting off buying their latest album. No good reason for that, really. Maybe this will be the one that pushes me over the edge. I've already got a general feel for what they sound like so let's see...

I really dig the singer's voice, deeper than most, that kind of delivery that I think goes really well with the basic melancholy indie pop style they've got going on. The actual song starts of with a simple, driving beat. A nice guitar melody to go with that and the tune plugs along and the singer drops in. There some piano stabs now, and it continues that way until we get to the bridge chorus style steez.

We circle about, but I don't know, there's like a softly growing intensity, nothing so noticeable. Maybe I'm just tweaking out. Very straightforward song all and all, ends on some hi-hat crashes and poof, we're done.

Just a simply, wonderfully solid song, perfectly executed for what it is. Made me want to buy the album even more so I think it succeeded in its goal (and my subconscious desire.)

8.5/10

_______________________
A few tunes...

Innaway - Rise (http://www.some.com/mp3/Rise.mp3) (Indie-psychedelic rock)

Pistol Star - Mr. DJ (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00075VVG0/104-0956925-1444718?v=glance) (Alterna-soul)

Devin Davis - Iron Woman (http://www.devindaviswebsite.com/Iron_Woman.mp3) (Singer/Song writer-Indie rock)

Summer Hymns - Something's Going On (http://www.summerhymns.com/SomethingsGoingOn.mp3) (Psychedelic pop)

[Robert Crumb]

bomp

[Well_Respected_Man]

Innaway - Rise

I've always had much luck from Mr. Crumb during Forced Listenings so I'm expecting to rather like this song even if I actually hate it, deal?

I haven't heard of the band but I'm always on the look for a pysch indie band so this shall be interesting.

Starts on ambient nature noises with wind blowing. Then tamborines or something joins in to give a somewhat spooky vibe. Fantastic I dig the organ and "The Benefit of Mr. Kite" type bass line. Other smalls things in the backround add to the overall mood especially the vocals.

Drums join in and the song goes heavy pysch in a sinister way. I can't help but compare to it some heavy metal riffs with that dual guitar octave thing going on. Needless to say I enjoy this part, it was short and it fillled it's role.

Back to the moody organ line with sparse percuassion. This times a singer accompianys them. I dig his vocals, I think he said something about sunshine or I'm complety bias. The backing vocals are amazing and eerie. . One more heavy pysch jam this time with more noise and freakout, fantastic.

I usually listen to a song twice or so for FLs and I have to say I like it more the second I listened to this song. I'm going to download the album.

My Rating: 9.5/10

My Choices:
Blur - Universal (Britpop)
Nick Drake - Place To Be (Acoustic)
Radiohead - The National Anthem (Alternative)
Lou Reed - Perfect Day - (Piano Ballad)
Buzzcocks - Time's Up (Punk)

[blueyxd]

deyab

[blueyxd]

Nick Drake - Place To Be

Finally I'll get to hear his music, apparently it's good.

Sweet melodious acoustic guitar strums, sounds like folk to me.. these chords carry right through the song. It could be just one guitar played well, it sounds like 2 though. His vocals are very soft, with an airy feel, this go really well with the music. He leaves space for just the guitar, as to not overload the song.

Well, I might have to listen to the lyrics because there isn't much else to say about the music. Firstly he is remembering being young, can't exactly say what he remebers. Seems he has changed from a happy young man to a sad old man. I can't understand the last verse.. or stanza, but no doubt it fits.

It's simple but nice, guitar and vocals were nicely balanced and it all fit. It also had some kind of raw goodness that can't really be defined. I don't have much else to say.
Good. 9/10

________________________________
Custard - Nervous Breakdance (http://www.comcen.com.au/~caracarol/Custard - Loverama - 06 - Nervous Breakdance.mp3) - indie-disco-pop-rock

Decoder Ring - Collapse Coming On - like Mogwai on speed (still not too fast)

Electric Light Orchestra - Yours Truly, 2095 - 80's synth rock

Rumors Of The Big Wave - Nightmare - prog pop-rock

[CleverRecords]

Dibbity dip dip dibs

[CleverRecords]

Custard - Nervous Breakdance

Didn't like the vocals right at the beginning, but they quickly improved. Excellent bass line, very groovy. Piano adds to the sound very nicely. Lyrics are a little cheesy, but considering the genre, that's to be expected. Overall, it sounds like a less poppy and less produced version of The Killers. I'd recommend it to Killers fans, actually.

Groovy, 8/10.

The Paper Chase - I'm Going To Spend The Rest of My Life Lying (Got me as far as genre)
Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Good Times (3 Stroke) (Soul/Funk Rock feel to it)
The Bad Plus - Do Your Sums/Die Like A Dog/Play For Home (all 1 song) (Neo-Jazzish rock)

[CleverRecords]

Crap, I've killed the Forced Listening thread....

[blueyxd]

no you didn't, sometimes it takes over a week for any action to occur

[CleverRecords]

Lazy bastards.... Rate my music, **** you all!

[CleverRecords]

Bump

[Dave de Sylvia]

Your review doesn't warrant continuing the thread.

[CleverRecords]

I wasn't aware that I had to write a full magazine column. There's only so much I can say about one song.

[Dave de Sylvia]

You don't have to write a magazine column, but anything above 4 lines would be great. To put it in perspective, I could write more than 4 lines on how bad, and how devoid of effort, your review was.

[CleverRecords]

If it's that much of a problem, I'll write a longer one. Personal attacks are not necessary.

[Dave de Sylvia]

That wasn't a personal attack...

[Robert Crumb]

dibs

[Robert Crumb]

Wovenhand - Sparrow Falls

Okie dokie, long download for me. I kinda didn't expect the guy to have this powerful of a voice, very much gospel. Not really paying attention to the lyrics, though. Mostly assuming since I got this from the Sounds Familyre websitesand all the other songs had names like "To Love Like The Father & Son" and "I Saw a Mighty Angel." In any case, that wouldn't matter because this guy's voice is all sorts of fantastic. It's that kind of big, booming, overpowering type, the kind that rapes your ears and has the gall to lay in bed and light a cigarette afterwards.

Very pure folk rock going on here, hold on, the phone's ringing.

So it starts off simply enough, little acoustic picking, sounds like a little slide going on too. Everything's adding up, it's very dramatic, almost overly so. But it sounds just right to back up the singer's immediacy. At around 2:20, there's a really awesome instrumental part. The piano really drives the song a lot, I think, works works very well. If everything was dropped and it was just a piano-driven ballad, this would probably sound good. Although not as nearly as fantastic as it does.

Not exactly the most in depth review but I liked it. The whole thing sounds like a sinking ship, or something teetering on the edge of a cliff waiting to be pushed off. I really dug this, gonna have to try and remember to pick something up by these guys.

9.5/10

Let me find some songs...

[Robert Crumb]

Magnolia Electric Co. - The Dark Don't Hide It (http://www.scjag.com/mp3/sc/darkdonthideit.mp3) (folk rock)

The Beach Boys - Surf's Up (Pop)

Peanut Butter Wolf - Necromancin' (Indie hop hop)

Rita Lee - Calma (MPB, Brazilian pop)

[Happymeal]

dibs

[Tangy zizzle]

Hurry up, cos I wanna get in on this.

I feel like shitting on your favourite bands.

[Happymeal]

Keep your pants on. It doesn't get any better than 0.9 k/s.

[Tangy zizzle]

My lord, that is slooooooowwww.

[Happymeal]

Rita Lee - Calma

I was lucky enough to find this unqueued. This is the first time I'm listening to Rita Lee, and also the first time I've seen her name in the internet, I think. Not really sure how Brazilian pop would sound cause samba and bossa always come to mind when I someone mentions that country.

Rita Lee immediately joins in the fray of harp-like guitars and soft but assertive drum playing, she whispers and croons the title of the song as it begins. The bass then keeps things going, and it gets a bit livelier and soothing again at certain intervals. At first I thought it was just a usual 70's pop ballad then the psychedelic organs and the fairly husky horns enter(a saxophone in the background?) and it's turning out to be quite an eclectic but cohesively graceful tune.

Speaking of Rita, she sounds quite the diva herself. She would definitely fare well in a purely bossa nova act the way she sings quiet parts and raise her voice expressively. I don't think I understood a word she was saying when I listened to "Calma", but I suppose it was a love song as I heard "baby" somewhere.

All in all it was a really enjoyable listen and an impressive composition with all the instruments it incorporated. It's really nostalgic and sweet, mainly due to her voice. I think I'll get some more of her stuff sometime.

9/10

Songs:

Weird War - Grand Fraud(lo-fi, 70's inspired rock)

Royal Trux - A Night to Remember(rock)

Out Hud - 2005: A Face Odyssey(instrumental hip-hop-ish electronica)
http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3TIF2YTNSJFEE2J0MCPKDDV2LL

The Black Heart Procession - Tropics of Love(bossa-influenced)
http://www.epitonic.com/artists/theblackheartprocession.html

[Tangy zizzle]

Dibs.

[Tangy zizzle]

Out Hud - 2005: A Face Odyssey

Hrm, intro isn't too bad. Seems slightly funky, but has an atmospheric and serious vibe happening. It's quite trancey, sorta Orb or Infected Mushroom-type stuff. Hello excitement? Doesn't really go to far, either that or it's just building up slowly. Nice little piano interlude(s). This isn't what I expected. Not a trace of hip-hop whatsoever. Get's kinda cool around the 3 minute mark, but it's still boring. **** I could make this song sound cool, whats wrong with these people? It's stopped in the middle, oooh maybe something cool'll happen... no, no. This is decent but it has nothing keeping me in my chair, I could take a leak and come back and not have missed anything. I like the last part, it's spacey. Rub some crunk on't!!

Meh. I liked it, but I probably won't listen again.

5.5/10

Shuggie Otis - Inspiration Information (soul/funk with slight psychadelic vibes)

The Make-Up - Pow! to the People (sexed up boogie rock with bad organs and a bitchin' solo)

Wire - 12XU (Punk/post-punk stuff, nice 'n short)

Beehive & the Barracudas - Dirty Soughts (Dirty, noisy punk/rock stuff. Coolest band.)

[ThisUserIsAPipebomb]

Bear Vs. Shark- 5,6 Kids (3:49)

Weird noises in the intro before the guitar, I like that. It sounds like there's a crowd there, but really far away. Hahahaa I just realized this was the song my friend was singing to me the other day. He just kept saying "1 2 3 4 5 6 killers" and I was totally lost. I like this guy's voice it's really raspy. I really like the guitar in the chorus it's got a really cool sliding sound to it. Alot of the guitar seems really repetitive but the guys cool voice seems to make up for it. The breakdown sounds sweet, I like the barely noticeable drum/high hats whatever that tinkling noise is in the background. Is this the same guy singing? He lost all his raspiness all of a sudden. The way it goes back into the chorus, from the breakdown is sweet. I'm not really sure what it is but it sounds really good. Uh oh, weird things are going on at the end of this song. Didn't like the weird sound at the end at all. Just annoying.

9/10
___

Reccomendations:
Devo- Uncontrollable Urge (Electronica/New wave/punk)
Flaming Lips- Yoshimi battles the Pink Robots part 1 (Electronica/indie)
Epoxies- Need more time (electronica/punk)

So much electronica stuff :upset:

[Happymeal]

dibs

[Happymeal]

Epoxies - Need More Time

I've read some stuff about this band in the punk forums but other than that this is the first time I'll be hearing from them.

Ok, some high-pitched synths at the start of the song, sounds like someone got punched in the nads and their voice got warped or something like that. Steady drum beat and Blondie-like female vocals kick in, it's got that 80's feeling to it. Pretty formulaic and straightforward, I don't think I'm gonna expect more than the usual verse-chorus-verse punk song structures. Well it is pretty catchy, with the girl going "I don't care why, I need more time" in the chorus and the backup guy vocals going "oooohhhhhhhhhh" and another one going "ooh-eeh-ooh-eeh-ooh-eeooh". The synth still goes on consistently throughout, and there's a short solo somewhere in between.

I can't decide whether this would be a new-wavey punk or punky new-wave song that was given a 21st century facelift, but really, I just found this as a candy-coated riot grrl tune that's about as standard as the songs in the same league that came before it. I won't say that this is a bad song, it's very catchy, I'll give it that, it just needs a little more oomph and variety. If I hear better songs from this band I'll probably listen to them some more. For now, I'm a bit disappointed.

6/10

Songs:

Cougars - Flatbrush(noisy garage rock with horns?)
http://s43.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2PKH35E7XIYW80BU2FU9FXVABP

Nation of Ulysses - N-Sub Ulysses(post-hardcore)
http://www.southern.com/southern/band/ULYSS/17971.html

The Black Heart Procession - Tropics of Love(bossa-influenced)
http://www.epitonic.com/artists/theblackheartprocession.html

Soul-Junk - Hogging All the Islands(Hip Hop)
http://www.epitonic.com/artists/souljunk.html

[Happymeal]

bmup

[Dave de Sylvia]

Could you, or someone else, upload one of those songs? Preferrably the James one. I can't locate any of them on kazaa right now.

[Dave de Sylvia]

No bother, I got the James song. :)

And dibs.

[Dave de Sylvia]

James - Born Of Frustration (4:36)

I know nothing from this band apart from 'Sit Down', which has bombarded me from various directions for what seems like my entire life, but has never bored me or convinced me to explore further. I was surprised to see somebody say they were like the Smiths in another thread, but I can hear the similarities clearly in this track, without needing to search.

The intro starts out like U2 crossed with Billy Idol, a mixture of Edge-style heavily echoed guitars and breezy synths, before a picked acoustic guitar introduces the main theme. The singer (James?) lets out a high-pitched hoot (Tarzan?) which morphs into a Red Indian wibble wibble thing as the trumpets enter. This is definitely interesting.

The singer reminds me again of Billy Idol, his gruff, perhaps exaggerated English accent dominates the mix, demanding to be noticed. The verse is good though, holds my attention very well. The trumpets return for the chorus, which consists of alot of "lalalalala" before reverting to the pre-verse hooting.

The second verse is similar. The lyrics are simple but interesting, they sound better than those of the first verse. The pre-chorus again features trumpets but in a more mournful tone, as the singer sings "Talk talk talking about who's to blame." This section has Morrissey/Smiths written all over it, the style is all Morrissey and the singer seems to recognise this as his voice becomes very similar to the man's. This leads into the chorus, which leads into an extended bridge, though the song seems to have slipped out of conventional structure into a free form of sort.

"All this frustration... Born of frustration" The song title is incorporated into a modification of the bridge part, which is the song's pinnacle, continuing through another pre-chorus and back to this part, which I now realise is the chorus.

Very excellent - 9/10. Will listen much in future.

Butch Walker - Get Down (http://s1.ultrashare.net/hosting/fs/fab368d597dad1f6/)
Butch Walker -Into The Black (http://s1.ultrashare.net/hosting/fs/55e976f521795332/)

[Dave de Sylvia]

bump

[Dave de Sylvia]

Bumpppp

[blueyxd]

Its been a while, I'll give it a try

[FreaksRefuge_numero2]

I wanna try it, but if you beat me to it then by all means go ahead.

On a 'James' related note, I know the guitarist. He teaches at my college. He does a lesson called 'Live Performance Workshop' which basically teaches you various forms of aspects of improving live performances, and different forms of improvisation and stuff. It was a VERY cool lesson, and he's a majorly cool guy.

[FreaksRefuge_numero2]

Butch Walker - Into The Black

Intro - I quite like the drum sound, although it sounds a little over-produced, it works. The vocals aren't bad either. Quite typical indie-rock vocals but not in the annoying british-trend way.

0:46 - The guitar comes in, this bit made me jump at first, maybe it's because it's quite sudden, or it could be because it's 2.40am. Pleasant chorus, typically 'anthemic' and 'uplifting'.

1:09 - verse 2, I like the way they've added to the texture with the lead guitar and more drums. Was a nice addition. Just followed by a chorus.

1:57 - Guitar solo, bit boring, nothing stands out about it. Would've worked better with a sonic youth or a mars volta-esque solo, but thats just my taste probably.

2:16 - Bridge, now this is a bit sappy. This sort of ruined the song for me. Sounds like something from an Evanescence song (without a chick).
Then the outro is basically just the chorus repeated. There is also backing vocals singing another part to add texture though I thought it wasn't really needed here.

All in all, it was a good song, but in no means a great song. Nothing grabbed me about the song. I think I'll download the other song anyway and try that one out too, but this song didn't really do much for me. Overall about 6/10.

Yourcodenameis:milo - Audition
Biffy Clyro - My Recovery Injection
(download links will be up tomorrow)

[blueyxd]

hey I Had dibs

Butch Walker - Into The Black

A smooth one note melodic synth riff and reverby drums are what I first hear, it's slightly industrial.. Vocals come in, and they sound nicely sad and a bit haunting even. It reminds me of a city at night, somehow... A stop-start bass line joins in. Everything is fitting together nicely.

ARH, the chorus hits, hard. I was hoping the quieter part would have gone on for longer, maybe with a build up to this. I should have guessed from previous BW songs that this would follow a typical structure. Anyway, the chorus is much more melodic than the verse, but the guitars are distorted, drums are harder and the singing is louder.

The softer verse returns to my enjoyment, just with some ringing guitar notes this time. Much like the first, it goes heavy for the chorus after a multiple-of-8 bars. The same chorus, but that leads into a mini guitar solo. Then there's a softer bridge section with some reverse synth effects, I know it won't last long...

Nope, back to the chorus, which I've heard twice already, nothing new to say about it. Fade outro of the soft stuff again...


What I want to hear some time is a Butch Walker song that doesn't follow any common structure. I did like the music in the intro/verse quite a bit, but they let the structure dictate the song and it changed far too quickly for me. The contrast with the heavy chorus was a bit too much as well, I thought. For a melodic pop-rock song, it was fine.

7/10. It could have been higher if the musical elements were given more room to grow.

___________________
Decoder Ring - Collapse Coming On (http://www.comcen.com.au/~caracarol/Decoder Ring - Spooky Action At A Distance - 01 - Collapse Coming On.mp3) - indie post-pop...? instrumental






BUMP

[CarnageFairy]

Bump. Also:

Decoder Ring -- Collapse Coming On

Starts out with synth noises which fade out and give way to a piano line and reverby guitar. This slowly gains momentum and more layers until a drum line kicks in. The song is moving along nicely at this point, leading into a slower part, which explodes again into a more excited state with a lead guitar part and the piano and synth lines swelling around it. This is obviously the climax, which with a final note fades down to nothing.

Sounds like the end of a soundtrack to a movie with a happy ending. Highly melodic and rather catchy.

8/10
__________________________________________________ _______________

The Eels -- Woman Driving, Man Sleeping (Alt. Rock)
hddp://s63.yousendit.com/d.php?id=1LOBJEU7UJB4W1TOMLTSU7IYSO
Sage Francis -- Sun vs. Moon (Underground Rap)
hddp://s63.yousendit.com/d.php?id=RLAMOBBZVI8WYUZ4B4D7DB4G

[blueyxd]

Eels - Woman Driving, Man Sleeping

I was very impressed by an Eels song the other day, so now I'm after some more.

It's got an acoustic guitar leading the music, some pretty simple chords. The vocalist is loud and clear.. singing about the song title pretty much. It's well worded, I like the line "white lines shooting by". Light drumming comes in to carry the guitar and singing. The music and words together do have a good relaxed night-driving feel about them, a little lonely too.

The chorus sounds different, theres some ambinet sounds.. It's about the man dreaming, but nothing interesting, just about apartments. The chorus is pretty short. I heard some piano in there too.

Another verse with some more good lines. "A little metal box under the stars" makes things seem really insignificant, but it's cool. Another chorus follows, same as before. It's a pretty simple song, and I'm liking it.

In the end of the song, the song title is repeated, and a very simple electric guitar line and a quiet piano joins in as it fades out.


Well.. probably one of the best simple songs I've heard in a while. It was all about setting the mood, and it did a great job. I really liked the lyrics too, it was poetry to music. Not such an exciting or interesting song, but what it lacked, it made up with, some hard to describe goodness. I'm definitely getting more Eels songs now. 8.7/10

________________________________________

Karnivool - C.O.T.E. (http://www.comcen.com.au/~caracarol/Karnivool - C.O.T.E..mp3) - prog/technical nu-metal

[OrbDragon]

Dibs

[OrbDragon]

Karnivool - C.O.T.E

Starts with dark ambient noise...drums come in with a cool guitar effect. The drums are pretty intense. It's got a cool riff that sort of cuts of. Suddenly the song chills down after a drum break. The vocalist has a very soft tone, guided by electric piano. Drums and guitar comes in....drums are in a strange time signature. This part is pretty relaxing. The singer sings in falsetto now...it sounds a bit forced. The heavier distorted guitars move in nicely. The second part of the chorus if very built around the drums. I don't like it when the singer sings in falsetto...he sounds better in his normal singing voice. A brief part with acoustic guitar that blasts into a heavy melodic 3/4 part. A short guitar solo. This is turning out to be a bit of an epic tune. I like this part, when the acoustic guitar blends in with the electric part for a mo...with a breathy synth in the background. The song has good riffage, with heavier parts mounting into melodic tranquil parts. It's much better than most other 'nu-metal" but definately nothing I haven't heard before. The breathy light production is a breath of fresh air though. 7/10


My picks:

The Delgados - Bits Of Bone (alternative)
Thomas Dybdahl - From Grace (acoustic/singer-songwriter)
dEUS - Suds & Soda (alternative rock)

My msn is stresspuzzlealmanac@hotmail.com ..... if you can't find them...you can get them off me.

[kyle_libertine2]

dibs

[kyle_libertine2]

Ok I decided to do Deus - Suds and Soda. Because I know absolutely nothing about them.

It starts interestingly, Im hearing a high-pitched noise and im not entirely sure whats making it, perhaps strings? A lightly distorted guitar enters with a really cool sound, is mixes things up a little with a few mutes. I like the voice quite alot although I can't really make out what he is saying due to the odd style of the backing vocals.
The guitar has now changed and has led into a chorus. the chorus is very catchy and now there is a womans voice too (the way this is done sounds , dare i say it, Ash-like). Then it kind of follows the same pattern back through anoher verse into the second chorus.
Im loving the instrumental, im rubbish at distinguishing instruments though so I dont know where its coming from. Anyway it fits the song brilliantly and adds a new vibe to the song. The backing vocals come in again (which have grown on me) and there is a sense of climax with two vocal lines going on. The song comes to an end almost abruptly despite the climatic feeling.

I thoroughly enjoyed this song, it was very catchy and I think Im going to check some of their other work now. I would give it a 9/10, nice song :thumb:

I will upload some songs and then edit them in..

Nebula - Long Day (stoner rock)
hxxp://s52.yousendit.com/d.php?id=2MPWF1A1J08WG326BU7RF2EG4S
J Mascis - Ammaring (laid back, Dinosaur Jr-ish rock :confused:)
hxxp://s52.yousendit.com/d.php?id=1QAK8PQ319Z442CZIHITJ6TUS8

[blueyxd]

well I guess dibs it is

[blueyxd]

J Mascis & The Fog - Ammaring

I dont think I've ever heard either J Mascis or Dinosaur Jr, but I'm expecting something relatively indie-rockish.


Nice and easy intro, a relaxing feeling comes from the melodic guitar and that ambient sound. Singer starts, he sounds a bit.. familiar. Chris Cornell with a slight country accent? This all continues relaxedly for a while.

The chorus is similar in feel, just with different chords, and so it sounds sufficiently different while keeping the flow going. Guitar solo follows with the chorus music, its good, no off notes either.. nice. Late in the solo there are loud bursts of sound.

Back to the verse music with vocals, I think I like this part the best, it sounds nice. I just wish it was warm here now so I felt more a part of the mood created. I havent listened to a single word sung, I'm just taking in the sounds. The singing stops for a bit for some lead guitar over the verse. The slight country vibe is coming through in the music too.

After the second chorus is a noisy guitar solo, and it gets noisier.. this is a bit of a put off for me, especially that it's a random slide solo.. I don't like random. But soon everything backs right down after that and the ambient melody takes it softly to the end.


Pretty good, I'm finding simpler music more enjoyable lately. Stuff like this will help me further. I found nothing super impressive about the song, and apart from that slide solo, it was just a nice, easy song to listen to. I'd go for more.
8/10


___________________________
Simon And Garfunkel - The Sound Of Silence (http://www.comcen.com.au/~caracarol/Simon%20And%20Garfunkel%20-%20The%20Sound%20Of%20Silence.mp3) - acoustic folk

[ZEROthirtythree]

Glad to do so if you can explain YSI to me.

:lol:

[OrbDragon]

dibs on simon and garfunkel

[OrbDragon]

The Sounds Of Silence

I know this song, but I didn't know the title...now I do. Starts with a nice simple piano intro...with Paul and Art singing simultaneously "Hello darkness my old friend, I've come to talk with you again" with a soft tone. Their voices work really well together. The lyrics are amazing "...pure poetry...and without sacrificing the beautiful flow of the vocals. Throughout the song, Simon & Garfunkel sing simultaneously. Sometimes poetic songwriting really put the essence on lyrics, while the music takes a backseat, but it's not the case here. The music itself is simple and straight up but it serves it's purpose. The vocals give the song it's wry magic. The lyrics "the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls and whispered in the sound of silence" are sung in a more triumphant and haughty way...giving the song a nice climax. Great song...I'll check out more by them. 9/10



My picks:

Jaga Jazzist - All I Know Is Tonight (prog rock/electronica/jazz)
Thomas Dybdahl - Pale Green Eyes (folk pop)
Timesbold - Bone Song (folk/americana)
Kaada - Black California (alternative/experimental)
Ella Fitzgerald - Cry Me A River (jazz)