Since it's about 2/3 the way through March, it's probably a good time to take a look at your February releases:
Field Music - Tones of Town
Part Belle & Sebastian, part Spoon, part Futureheads (yeah, what the fuck?), these three Brits fail to match the quality of these indie stalwarts (and the Futureheads). While an enjoyable listen, Tones of Town has little depth or imagination. Relying too much upon vocals and harmonies, Field Music failed to fully develop and explore their sound.
Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High
The Chicago faux-punk band returns with another round of instantly likeable/danceable power pop songs. While not as strong as "From Under the Cork Tree", "Infinity On High" has some very strong efforts, highlighted by "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs", a not so subtile cut at their MySpace following and early contender for song of the year. Unfortunately, there are some uninspired portions of this record and the Kanye West remix of "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" on their MySpace page is complete garbage (I know MySpace remixes shouldn't count against an album, but it's just that bad. Check it out: http://www.myspace.com/falloutboy ).
Bloc Party - A Weekend In the City
Bloc Party leads off their highly anticipated second album with "Song For Clay (Disappear Here)" a blistering song that adequately captures Kele's fear to "merge on the freeway". The songs immediately following "Song For Clay" match the high points of "Silent Alarm", describing the boredom of modern life in both music and lyrics. "Uniform" is a bit contrived and forced, but still interesting. Then somewhere around Track 6 ("On") the listener begins to realize the horrible truth; "A Weekend In the City" has been front loaded and is steadily declining in quality. On the six songs that conclude the album, Bloc Party sounds unsure of the message they want to send or how they want it to sound. The one thing they are sure of is that none of these songs can last less than an excrutiating 4:23. A fast start with an unfocused finish leave "A Weekend In the City" feeling like a major disappointment, but what should we have expected, it's modern life.
March Releases:
Arcade Fire, Low, Air and Albert Hammond Jr.
22 March 2007
13 March 2007
VH1 Top 10 Countdown
It was on my DVR, so here is a run down of the shit America is listening to...
10) Christina Aguilera - Candyman
X-tina is back and looking classier and sexier than ever (take that Britney!) and kinda rocking out on this big band, post-WWII era song. Christina is discrete with her vocals and sexual references and this song is pretty enjoyable (again, take that Britney!).
9) Nelly Furtado - Say It Right
Timbaland gets the beats right, but Furtado is underwhelming, especially on the chorus. Would somebody get J-Lo singing in English again so we can get this girl hip hop lite stuff right? Also, the video sucks.
8) Fall Out Boy - This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race
Chi town's fav pop punkers return with a follow up as disappointing as the White Sox 2006 title defense. Sure it was over .500, but not championship caliber. The video is moderately something, but I'm not sure what.
7) Blue October - Into The Ocean
Whew, I was starting to think American's stopped listening to terrible metal-lite. Somebody get Aaron Lewis on the phone, he may still have a market. Blue October added some generic strings and female backing vocals in an attempt to get idiots to think their music has merit, nice job guys. I guarantee this song is huge at West Virginia sorority houses.
6) Nickelback - If Everyone Cared
The twenty seconds I spent fast forwarding through this song were excruciating.
5) Evanescence - Lithium
Hey, it's a bad American Idol audition combined with the Trans Siberian Orchestra. The music is mildly interesting, but this chick is bad. Why couldn't they just play the Nirvana classic? Wouldn't everyone like that?
4) The Killers - Read My Mind
One of my favorite Killers songs and a pretty decent video. Nothing trying to be too cerebrial here, just hanging out in Japan, well done guys. Also, Brandon Flower's new mustache needs a solo album, of this much I am certain.
3) Regina Spektor - Fidelity
Nice effort by Spektor and an excellent video tie in. Everything here works with everything else, maybe the folks that vote in the VH1 Top 10 Countdown know what they are doing.
2) Augustana - Boston
It just wouldn't be VH1 without a piano ballad and Augustana is happy to oblige. This song is completely paint by numbers:
piano, check
lyrics about being misunderstood and wanting to start over, check
rising strings as the song reaches a climax, check
video on the beach, check.
softly singing the sappy lyrics over just the piano as the song fades out, check
1) Daughtry - It's Not Over
WHOA, apparently Aaron Lewis's phone hasn't been turned off and apparently he had enough Staind money left over to buy a pair of leather pants. "Let's start over, I'll try to do the right thing this time around, It's not over, A part of me is standing in the crowd, this love is killing me, but you are the only one, It's not ovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvver". America you have really spoken.
10) Christina Aguilera - Candyman
X-tina is back and looking classier and sexier than ever (take that Britney!) and kinda rocking out on this big band, post-WWII era song. Christina is discrete with her vocals and sexual references and this song is pretty enjoyable (again, take that Britney!).
9) Nelly Furtado - Say It Right
Timbaland gets the beats right, but Furtado is underwhelming, especially on the chorus. Would somebody get J-Lo singing in English again so we can get this girl hip hop lite stuff right? Also, the video sucks.
8) Fall Out Boy - This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race
Chi town's fav pop punkers return with a follow up as disappointing as the White Sox 2006 title defense. Sure it was over .500, but not championship caliber. The video is moderately something, but I'm not sure what.
7) Blue October - Into The Ocean
Whew, I was starting to think American's stopped listening to terrible metal-lite. Somebody get Aaron Lewis on the phone, he may still have a market. Blue October added some generic strings and female backing vocals in an attempt to get idiots to think their music has merit, nice job guys. I guarantee this song is huge at West Virginia sorority houses.
6) Nickelback - If Everyone Cared
The twenty seconds I spent fast forwarding through this song were excruciating.
5) Evanescence - Lithium
Hey, it's a bad American Idol audition combined with the Trans Siberian Orchestra. The music is mildly interesting, but this chick is bad. Why couldn't they just play the Nirvana classic? Wouldn't everyone like that?
4) The Killers - Read My Mind
One of my favorite Killers songs and a pretty decent video. Nothing trying to be too cerebrial here, just hanging out in Japan, well done guys. Also, Brandon Flower's new mustache needs a solo album, of this much I am certain.
3) Regina Spektor - Fidelity
Nice effort by Spektor and an excellent video tie in. Everything here works with everything else, maybe the folks that vote in the VH1 Top 10 Countdown know what they are doing.
2) Augustana - Boston
It just wouldn't be VH1 without a piano ballad and Augustana is happy to oblige. This song is completely paint by numbers:
piano, check
lyrics about being misunderstood and wanting to start over, check
rising strings as the song reaches a climax, check
video on the beach, check.
softly singing the sappy lyrics over just the piano as the song fades out, check
1) Daughtry - It's Not Over
WHOA, apparently Aaron Lewis's phone hasn't been turned off and apparently he had enough Staind money left over to buy a pair of leather pants. "Let's start over, I'll try to do the right thing this time around, It's not over, A part of me is standing in the crowd, this love is killing me, but you are the only one, It's not ovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvver". America you have really spoken.
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