The Hives, what the crap? Timbaland? Justin Timberlake? Pharrell "Timbo" Williams? To many "timb"'s. If you haven't heard, the Hives are coming out with a new album, The Black and White Album, due on October 9th in North America, the 15th in the UK. They've recorded 20 to 30 songs, 7 of which produced by Pharrell "Timbo" Williams. Some guests include Pharrell, Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland.
What has happened to my new favourite band? I've always known the Hives for their unbridled rocking RAWK. Alas, it seems time has changed, and hip-hop is now sneaking it's fingers into garage music. None of this makes sense to me. What does Timbaland want with these Swedish rockers, can't he be happy with, ugh, the Pussycat Dolls? And, Justin, bring your friggin' sexy back somewhere else! Leave indie music alone. Last but not least, Pharrell Williams. Does he even have an album? I swear he features in everything that has to do with hip-hop or pop music. New Toy Story movie? Pharrell is fucking in there being the sly looking bastard crooning over Mary!
All in all, I just wanted promising news about the Hives, not some crap about the recent flavour of the month rapper (Hint: It starts with a Timb)
-Lucas Thurston
Sunday 26 August 2007
Thursday 9 August 2007
Review: Frienship Opprortunity by Deerhoof
Every freaking time I hear a Deerhoof song I wish I was in the band. I can just seem them rocking the fuck out. They are one the most exciting and vibrant bands out there. It is always hard to explain Deerhoof to people who have never heard them either. To quote Jeph Jaques from Questionable Content, "Unlike your typical Guitar Center shredders, they take what is obviously a lot of technical ability and translate it into a batch of rock songs that are alternately rollicking, surreal, psychedelic, and HEAVY." The sheer amount of rock that Deerhoof produces in 2 minutes is more than some whole bands do in a lifetime. Ah, but that is the Deerhoof from the absolutely mind-blowing The Runners Four from 2005. The question every asks now, can they top it?
No, not really. This album is completely different than The Runners Four, but that doesn't mean it is not as good. Friendship Opportunity is more like Milk Man or Apple 'O because of its use of synths. The songs are more poppy, but poppy in the sense that they don't melt your face and then explode your skull. These songs make there way into your mind and imbed themselves over time. This is more like the thinking man(woman)'s Deerhoof album. The band is trying new things. For example, "Whither The Invisible" is an emotional piano/synth song with Satomi Matsuzaki singing softly. The most surprising thing is that it works.
Then there's "The Perfect Me". An odd organ with blistering drums beats drive this song along at break neck speeds. "Kidz Are So Small" probably is the most disturbingly odd song on the album. With lyrics like 'If I were a man and you a dog, I'd throw a stick for you' it's got to be good.
Of course Deerhoof does pull out the ol' guitars on some tracks "+81", "Cast Off Crown", and "Matchbook Seeks Maniac" all are more guitar driven. Yet, only "Look Away" is the most like the Deerhoof of the past. At 11:46, with the classic Deerhoof guitar tones, it takes the listener back to days of yore with Reveille.
Deerhoof is changing, at least they did for this album and I welcome the new 'Hoof with open arms.
Rating: 4/5
Tracklisting:
1. The Perfect Me
2. +81
3. Believe E.S.P.
4. The Galaxist
5. Choco Fight
6. Whither The Invisible
7. Cast Off Crown
8. Kidz Are So Small
9. Matchbook Seeks Maniac
10. Look Away
-Lucas Thurston
No, not really. This album is completely different than The Runners Four, but that doesn't mean it is not as good. Friendship Opportunity is more like Milk Man or Apple 'O because of its use of synths. The songs are more poppy, but poppy in the sense that they don't melt your face and then explode your skull. These songs make there way into your mind and imbed themselves over time. This is more like the thinking man(woman)'s Deerhoof album. The band is trying new things. For example, "Whither The Invisible" is an emotional piano/synth song with Satomi Matsuzaki singing softly. The most surprising thing is that it works.
Then there's "The Perfect Me". An odd organ with blistering drums beats drive this song along at break neck speeds. "Kidz Are So Small" probably is the most disturbingly odd song on the album. With lyrics like 'If I were a man and you a dog, I'd throw a stick for you' it's got to be good.
Of course Deerhoof does pull out the ol' guitars on some tracks "+81", "Cast Off Crown", and "Matchbook Seeks Maniac" all are more guitar driven. Yet, only "Look Away" is the most like the Deerhoof of the past. At 11:46, with the classic Deerhoof guitar tones, it takes the listener back to days of yore with Reveille.
Deerhoof is changing, at least they did for this album and I welcome the new 'Hoof with open arms.
Rating: 4/5
Tracklisting:
1. The Perfect Me
2. +81
3. Believe E.S.P.
4. The Galaxist
5. Choco Fight
6. Whither The Invisible
7. Cast Off Crown
8. Kidz Are So Small
9. Matchbook Seeks Maniac
10. Look Away
-Lucas Thurston
Review: Exit Decades by Cut City
A couple months ago, news got out that the, at the time untitled, new Interpol album had leaked. With eyes alight with excitment at the chance of hearing the work by everyone's favourite gloomy New York post-punk band, everyone flooded to their respective torrents sites. A torrent of the album Mastodon was waiting. Eagerly, people downloaded it, and were oddly surprised. Some thought it was indeed Interpol, but no, Mastodon was obviously a false leak. False leak or not, this album wasn't half bad. As it turns out, Exit Decades by the Swedish bad Cut City was said false leak. It's lovely little mistakes like these that can turn out to be amazing discoveries.
I heard about this false leak and I was interested in Cut City. I aquired Exit Decades, and immediately the reason for the confusion with Interpol was obvious. Every song has a nice layer of reverb. The guitars are spiky and fast and the bass plays driving and jumping riffs. Hell, even the singing and lyrics sound similar. But, Cut City manages to constantly keep my interest. All too often some Interpol songs sound all too similar, but Cut City manages to keep me utterly enamoured.
The 80's definitely shine through on these songs. You can see Cut City really going back to the roots of the post-punk movement on this album. Unlike other 80's-ish bands, none of these songs sound rehashy or tired. In fact, each song can be easily imagined on college radios now or even in the 80's.
Certain songs stand out, of course, one being "Just Pornography (For M.E.)". Shimmering reverb-drenched guitars and interesting drumming make this song a must hear. The best song on the album, for me, is "The Dull Miles (Exit Decades)". The sorta-title track is driven by an amazing bass riff, which just keeps plowing on. Everytime I hear I can't sit still. Then it all fades into this janky soundy synth with odd feedback. It is a perfect song, utterly perfect.
My only small problem with the album is that it never slows down, ever. Nearly every song just rockets along. There is not a peaceful song on the album. Furthermore, it seems they may have just used almost the same tempo throughout the whole album. These are just small problems though, and it will never stop a band that was, at first, mistaken for Interpol, and is now one of my favourite post-punk bands.
Rating: 4.5/5
Tracklisting: Exit Decades By Cut City
1. Like Ashes Like Millions
2. Manoeuvers
3. Numb Boys
4. Anticipation
5. Damaged
6. Such Verve
7. Rival Trial
8. Just Pornography (For M.E.)
9. The Dull Miles (Exit Decades)
-Lucas Thurston
I heard about this false leak and I was interested in Cut City. I aquired Exit Decades, and immediately the reason for the confusion with Interpol was obvious. Every song has a nice layer of reverb. The guitars are spiky and fast and the bass plays driving and jumping riffs. Hell, even the singing and lyrics sound similar. But, Cut City manages to constantly keep my interest. All too often some Interpol songs sound all too similar, but Cut City manages to keep me utterly enamoured.
The 80's definitely shine through on these songs. You can see Cut City really going back to the roots of the post-punk movement on this album. Unlike other 80's-ish bands, none of these songs sound rehashy or tired. In fact, each song can be easily imagined on college radios now or even in the 80's.
Certain songs stand out, of course, one being "Just Pornography (For M.E.)". Shimmering reverb-drenched guitars and interesting drumming make this song a must hear. The best song on the album, for me, is "The Dull Miles (Exit Decades)". The sorta-title track is driven by an amazing bass riff, which just keeps plowing on. Everytime I hear I can't sit still. Then it all fades into this janky soundy synth with odd feedback. It is a perfect song, utterly perfect.
My only small problem with the album is that it never slows down, ever. Nearly every song just rockets along. There is not a peaceful song on the album. Furthermore, it seems they may have just used almost the same tempo throughout the whole album. These are just small problems though, and it will never stop a band that was, at first, mistaken for Interpol, and is now one of my favourite post-punk bands.
Rating: 4.5/5
Tracklisting: Exit Decades By Cut City
1. Like Ashes Like Millions
2. Manoeuvers
3. Numb Boys
4. Anticipation
5. Damaged
6. Such Verve
7. Rival Trial
8. Just Pornography (For M.E.)
9. The Dull Miles (Exit Decades)
-Lucas Thurston
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