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12 song album with the emphasis on the songs, delivered by a vocalist who sounds distinctly like Tom Petty after a nose job, in other words he's got the same lilt and style but way less nasally, although it's not all like that since, as early as "Carefree", he reverts to this more Kim Mitchell-on-valium styled vocal. There's a distinctly Max Webster-meets-Tom Petty styled tint to the songs although they tend to be more keyboard driven than guitar-led, with more of an expansive ballad-esque quality to them, the presnce of organ giving the songs concerned more of a UK seventies feel. The range of paces and styles are quite varied, within this kind of stripped down ELO-meets-Petty styled eloquence, many of them taken at a slow-mid tempo and telling tales of love, loss and emotional turbulence in general, all very personal no doubt, but you fail to receive the necesary dose of angst that the singer is trying to shell out to his listening masses. That said, it's...
THE PERISHERS - Notorious
Nettwerk 		Any thoughts that you might have the next Pink on yor hands are immediately dispelled when the opening track reveals that you might actually have the next Sophie Ellis Bexter on your hands, not exacly the most entertaining prospect, that's for sure. A somewhat simple slice of vacuuous pop unfolds with a sliding vocal veering towards flat, on top of a lurching electro-percussive beat that threatens to take over as you sit there listening to this godawful song, equally bad chorus and hoping to god that the rhythm would bury the thing for once and for all. But, you move on in hope. "Without You" revelas a similar rhythm only slower, a vocal that's initially starker, a song that tells about life and love in tried and trusted traditions, while the whole thing bores you to death. Rather than wait for it to end you move on, and find that "My Way" (noticing that so far, all the track titles have been titles of more famous songs) is just as bad as what's gone before, more...
Kristi - I'm Just A Girl
Grooveland Records

Altsounds thinks Kristi - I'm Just A Girl is terrible
When Calif. based She Wants Revenge released their debut album back in 2006, it fast became apparent that they had created the soundtrack for a new generation of music fans craving more than a love song. The disc offered a voice and a rhythm for scorned lovers, bored housewives, jaded hipsters, gender-benders and club-kids across the nation, all seductively swaying their hips and pouting along to the undeniably catchy tunes it had to offer. “Tear You Apart”, soon became a Top 5 Alt. Radio Single and was one of the biggest hits and radio spun tunes of 2006 helping the band to sell more than 300,000 copies of the album which is no small task for a debut disc. "This is Forever" continues where the self-titled debut left off, veering down the same path of thought provoking emotional dance music with familiar themes of love, loss, betrayal, all to the tune of a harder yet catchier beat. The formula really hasn’t changed, and the lyrics are a bit ridiculous at times but the songs...
She Wants Revenge - This is Forever
Hey tell ya what, this Bob Dylan guy's pretty good, I predict big things for this young man. To be honest and serious, I'm always a bit sceptical about compliation releases such as these. Time and again it seems like a shameless exercise from the label to milk their ownership of an artists' material to the hilt and capitalise on floating fans, father's day, or father christmas. At the same time....I do personally recall buying a handy 'introduction' compilation of Led Zeppelin many years ago which well and truly got me into them and made me thirst for more. So maybe I'm being a complete hypocrite. And maybe, in this snipetty myspace-hopping age, a compilation of an artist's best work can serve in the same way as checking someone out online, and can prompt further interest. Disregarding the fact that ample Dylan compliations are already out there, this release provides a concise and (almost) chronological guide to the legendary singer. It's a bit like humanity has chosen Bob Dylan...
Bob Dylan - Dylan
Columbia Records 		When I heard Jimmy Eat World was coming out with ANOTHER album I felt two things: Excitement, to hear new music from Jimmy and nervousness, because how many amazing CD’s could a band possibly produce? When it hit stores October 16th I hoped it would be worth spending my money on. And my-oh my, was it ever.. The newest creation by Jimmy Eat World was highly anticipated by long time fans of the Arizona based band. Chase This Light was released by Interscope Records on October 16th. This being the bands tenth album released among many EP’s and full lengths goes from extremely energetic with songs like, “Electable(Give It Up)”, to emotion-getters like, “Gotta Be Somebody’s Blues.” This album definitely gives off the classic Jimmy Eat World vibes and sounds to all listeners out there, it could be the soundtrack of anyone’s life. In comparison to their last album, Futures(2004), it has more of a calm, melodic, and acoustic feel to it with songs like, "Dizzy" and "Carry You". ...
Jimmy Eat World-Chase This Light
Interscope Records

Altsounds Recommends Jimmy Eat World-Chase This Light
There was much talk this past summer on the internet about the direction of the upcoming Dashboard Confessional album. After the somewhat disappointing public response to their Dusk & Summer collection, word was that Chris Carrabba was going to steer the material and production back to the more intimate stylizing of their earlier work. While The Shade of Poison Trees does fulfill these prophecies, for the most part, there is still bombast to be found throughout the album. Returning producer Don Gilmore does a fantastic job of staying out of the way and letting the band's nuances shine through the output. Fans of Carrabba's older output will rejoice over "Fever Dreams" and opening track "Where There's Gold…" with their acoustic instrumentation and campfire sing along choruses. If you've ever seen footage of the band live, you know how one of their contests can seem like a revival. The song "Thick as Thieves" will lend itself to this tradition well. It's no wonder the melodic...
Dashboard Confessional - The Shade of Poison Trees
Vagrant Records

Altsounds Recommends Dashboard Confessional - The Shade of Poison Trees
The first thing that sticks its head out on Kamera's debut album, Resurrection, is the revivalist production sound. Bjorn Öqvist's heavy handed 80's synthpop production doesn't do the band any favors. Next time, if there is one, this 5 piece should seek out someone who could roughen up their material a bit. The band is signed to the same label as Coldplay, Nettwerk Records, in the states so the suits there probably have the pop charts in their sights. It's a shame because they aren't really ready for the heights their label expect them to reach. Kamera have already been releasing music in their native Sweden for the past few years but US fans will probably lump them in with other new wave revisionists like The Bravery. While this might not be entirely fair, tracks like "Borderline" and "TV Lights" with their heavily keyboard laced hooks don't help the matter. Sure, moments like the dance floor ready "Fragile" would probably work well in a club setting but on your home speakers...
Kamera - Resurrection
Nettwerk Music Group 		Nikki Sixx has achieved notoriety more for his drug use and sexual exploits than his music in the last few years. While his newest project, Sixx A.M., might not change that completely, it is certainly a (12) step in the right direction. The veteran Motley Crue songwriter joined up with former Beautiful Creatures guitarist DJ Ashba and singer/songwriter James Michael to form this new venture and the results will actually surprise many of the critics who have written the band off as another rock star's self indulgent side project. The Heroin Diaries is an album that packs musical punch but doesn't sacrifice any of the material's melody in the process. From the brooding march of "Van Nuys" to the pleading strains of "Life Is Beautiful," the album gets off to a fine and attention grabbing start. What really grabbed this writer's attention were the left of center hooks like the ones found on "Pray for Me." Just when you get settled into the sugary chorus the second half of the song hits...
Sixx A.M. - The Heroin Diaries
Eleven Seven Music 		The positive use of “control freaks” is quite unusual. One such case of this is when it’s applied to Les Savy Fav. The Brooklyn natives have had complete control over their music since their forming in 1995, achieving something many bands never do when signed. Their generous label Frenchkiss Records (with Wichita Records releasing in the UK) has stuck with them and let their creativity flow, and has in the past been amply rewarded. The success of their first album paved the way for the label to promote and release other artists like The Hold Steady and Thunderbirds Are Now. After a long hiatus, the band are back with a new album called Let’s Stay Friends, appropriately titled as this album stands to affirm not only the band’s internal relations, but also those of other musicians. Making appearances on the new album include Modest Mouse/The Black Heart Procession drummer Joe Plummer and all members of Enon. Good friend Chris Zane was even called in to produce the album. ...
Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends

Altsounds Recommends Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends
The bio Universal sent me for Another Animal isn't really doing them any favors. I will spare you the bad storytelling and simply give you the highlights. This band is essentially Godsmack, with Ugly Kid Joe frontman, Whitfield Crane on vocals. Godsmack (minus Sully Erna) wrote a number of songs over the last few years that never made it onto Godsmack releases. There was so much material, they decided to release the tracks as a side project, called Another Animal. The songs were recorded over 3 weeks in Boston, and Another Animal is now on tour with Alter Bridge, a band with a very similar story. Now, on to the album... The band says that the songs are all over the place, genre-wise, but it sounds to me like they are simply hitting a few different points on the grunge rock scale, save the incredibly out of place song 'The Thin Line' which is a very strange attempt at a straight up punk song. The rest of the album, however, contains the thick rhythms and heavy guitars that all...
Another Animal- Another Animal
Universal Records

Altsounds Recommends Another Animal- Another Animal
I've never heard of Fast Computers. I would guess they are a local favorite in their hometown of Portland, Oregon. They remind me very much of the other bands I receive from that part of the country (indie electronic...kind of space rock crammed into a pop structure). Like if Spiritualized and The Beatles had a failed abortion that grew up to be marginally attractive but socially retarded. I will admit that Fast Computers are at the more talented end of that sad spectrum, since their album DOES contain a number of listenable tunes. Even some that suggest a real knack for the kind of songwriting that separates the pretty good bands from the damn good ones. However, their album Heart Geometry, only hints at greatness without ever fully embracing it. At a few points I found myself really getting into it, when the songs were more up-tempo and the vocals were on point. Unfortunately that was never maintained through an entire track and I ended up shaking my head much more often than my...
Fast Computers- Heart Geometry 		I must admit that I've always associated The Donnas with the mental image of one of the pastiched bands that visit Springfield on The Simpsons, clad in leather and with super spiky 80s hair + Flying V's abounding. Alas, The Donnas don’t make it easy to banish away such images from my head, especially when their album bears the tongue-cheeking title ‘Bitchin’, and has songs called ‘Girl Talk’ and ‘When the Show is Over’. It appears, though, that The Donnas won’t mind such comparisons one bit. They unashamedly want to believe that stadium hair-rock is still roaring and alive, and pretend that nu-metal, Coldplay, or the whole nineties have ever happened. Perhaps when they’re recording they close their eyes and imagine they’re supporting Bon Jovi in 1986. Wearing an objective hat for a minute, ‘Bitchin’ is good for what it is and good at what it does, which is to burst forth bold, blatantly loud, distorted pop-metal to perfectly soundtrack American under-age drinking or Uni...
The Donnas - Bitchin'
Cooking Vinyl
JASON REEVES - THE MAGNIFICENT ADVENTURES OF HEARTACHE And other frightening tales…. By FridaeMattas
JASON REEVES' MAGNIFICENT ADVENTURES
FRIDAE MATTAS

Altsounds Recommends JASON REEVES' MAGNIFICENT ADVENTURES
All Time Low have officially hit the nail on the head with their new full length album "So Wrong, It's Right". Their newest masterpiece is catchy, vibrant and upbeat. Opening track, "This Is How We Do", gets you in the mood to dance almost instantly. The beat is contagious as are the riffs. "Six Feet Under The Stars" and "Holly" are both songs anyone can relate to, creating a warmth in the biggest Scrooge. The entire album gives off ridiculously good vibes, leaving you smiling. The harmonies of the boys show true talent at what they do, and the lyrics show their playful sides. This is definatly an album to be put at the top of your wish list. Their music is full of passion and fun, making them such an easily liked band. Pop-Punk and Powerpop are immensly popular at the moment, and these boys shows us all why. This band are destined for big things. Review written by Hannah Eklund
All Time Low - So Wrong, Its Right
Hopeless Records

Altsounds Recommends All Time Low - So Wrong, Its Right
It's been a while since New Found Glory released a new album, and in my opinion, they should have waited longer and for them to have an albums worth of their own material. Their new album "FROM THE SCREEN TO YOUR STEREO - PART 2" consists of the band’s own take on soundtrack songs from popular movies from the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s. SWEET FANNY ADAMS! Self-produced by the band in a studio in Tyler, TX, many of the band’s friends came by to lend a helping hand on vocals including Lisa Loeb, Adam Lazarra from Taking Back Sunday, Will Pugh from Cartel and Sherri DuPree from Eisley. There frankly doesn't seem to have been much thought put into the structure of this album or the choice of tracklisting. Although the NFG cover versions tend to be feistier and more energentic than the original versions, you have to question whether it was the right move putting this out as an album or instead opting to release it as a more compact EP as they did with their 2000 EP From The Screen To...
New Found Glory - From The Screen To Your Stereo 2
Drive Thru Records

Altsounds thinks New Found Glory - From The Screen To Your Stereo 2 is terrible
Not having previously known a thing about Hostage Life, it took just a few nanoseconds upon mounting their CD into iTunes for me to see what sort of music they had in store for me, greeted as I was with such fantastic eye-grabbing titles as ‘When I Get Cancer’, ‘****, I Hope You’re Not Pregnant’, or ‘Hostage Life Are ****ing Alive And Well’. ‘Walking Papers’ is the second full-length album from the Toronto 5-piece, released in the UK under London-based punk label, Household Name. Stalwarts on the scene in their hometown, one excited Ontario reviewer calls the album “hands-down the best release to come from a Toronto punk band in at least five years”. The record seems to be pretty much a concept album: about themselves. This is either very postmodern or very narcissistic, although I’m swaying toward the latter. It’s funny though, because as it’s a punk album this doesn’t seem to matter and kind of gives a license to do whatever the hell they want, which is absolutely fine by me. ...
Hostage Life - Walking Papers
Household Name 		Tim Kasher has become an indie rock renaissance man through the many creative hats he's worn in the last few years. Most famously, his band Cursive has achieved the kind of indie rock success most bands never seem to gain yet will devote years in a van trying to. Since 2000, Kasher has had an outlet for his softer and more introspective material through his band The Good Life. Help Wanted Nights finds the band exploring a far more country tinged sonic terrain than previous efforts. A strong Wilco influence is felt throughout the songs. A melancholy mood threads the album together with songs like "Rest Your Head" bringing Neil Young's more somber moments. The jumpy rhythms of "Keely Aimee" come at the perfect moment in the tracklisting lifting your attention just when things seem to be getting too sleepy. This is the kind of album to put on the stereo on a Sunday morning and just kick back. Carlos Ramirez
The Good Life - Help Wanted Nights
Saddle Creek 		If I went with what I've heard about The Schoolyard Heroes on the internet, I would have another Yeah Yeah Yeah's rip off in my CD player. Luckily for me, the hype was wrong. The YYY's have never had a tsunami like Ryann Donnelly as a vocalist. The singer possesses a range that defies any expectation you might have of a young singer. But the band's mystique isn't limited to just Donnelly's vocals. Steve Bonnell's guitar work evokes traces of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez's playing in At The Drive-In. The guitarist was also schooled in the world of metal and this is apparent in his devilish riffing in "Children of the Night" and "Razorblade Kisses." The lyrical imagery Donnelly uses reminds this writer of Glenn Danzig's in his Misfits days. For evidence just check out this zinger from "Dude, Where's My Skin," " Take off your skin and dance with me/cut off your tongue and sing for me." The band has acquired quite a following in the Pacific Northwest thanks to two previous albums and heavy...
The Schoolyard Heroes - Abominations
Stolen Transmission Records

Altsounds Recommends The Schoolyard Heroes - Abominations
Puppet Strings from New Jersey's The High Court is the kind of album that most people will forget after they press "eject" from the CD player. Sure, there are plenty of hooks and more than adequate performances from the band, but nothing stands out enough to truly pull you in. Songs like "Alien" and "She'll Never Know" are catchy but ultimately come off like Fall Out Boy throwaways. Vocalist J.B. even sounds like Patrick Stump in some places. It would have been interesting to see the band branch out beyond their obvious influences and go into fresher directions. Carlos Ramirez
The High Court - Puppet Strings
I Surrender Records 		'Holly' is the debut album by American/Canadian/Japanese singer-songwriter Justin Nozuka. Despite not even being old enough to buy a beer in his birth country, (and the fact of the album being financed by his mother), it is a mature collection of expressive acoustic folk songs packed with strong harmonies. His decision to stave off major label interest and do things his own way certainly wins artistic brownie points, and while many influences have obviously left their mark here, Nozuka manages to carve out a sound of his own. This is due mainly to foregrounding his strong and soulful voice - which is frankly quite exceptional and has an incredible range - with understated production. On 'Oh Momma' in particular you could be forgiven for thinking an adolescent and still-black Michael Jackson has stepped into the studio. As a whole the collection is reminscent of a "Welcome to the Cruel World" Ben Harper, with the timless slide guitars of 'Be Back Soon' standing next to the more...
Justin Nozuka - Holly
debut album from young american songsmith 		After a summer of festivals which has taken them from the backstreets of their native Liverpool (Matthew Street Festival) all the way to the idyll of Malawi (the unique Lake of Stars Festival), The Wombats release this EP at the end of August as an enticing taster for their full-length debut, 'A Guide To Love, Loss And Desperation'. Presumably the summer got in the way of finishing the latter, hence the wait until late October. Drummer Dan bangs out a stomping, tight and constant beat, accompanied with equal gusto by his fellow Scouser (with curiously non-Scouse accent) on supple vocals and choppy guitars. Norwegian Tord completes the three-piece on an ever distorted bass. On first listen, you'd be forgiven for thinking The Wombats are another faux-dishevelled Indie band making tired references, with production and instrumentation to match. But they're not. In fact, their lyrics and production alike put pay to any such theory, and instead both are intricate and with a canny touch...
The Wombats - The Wombats [EP]
Smart, catchy, and all together drastically fantastic is the only way to describe KT Tunstall’s second album. Yes, it’s called Drastic Fantastic, but heck, I can see why. Rarely does anyone put out a second album better than their first, but this is one of those special moments. I really like it! The single, Hold On, is incredible, and sticks to you more than that glue you use to slather all over your hands and then peel off. The lyrics are fabulous, well thought out, and smart. She has definitely come out of her shell and has proven to be my exception to the rule that most female singer-songwriters are just crap. Uhoh, I can hear someone out there saying “but what about…!” I just don’t care for most of them though, and feel that their looks and sultry singing style gets more attention than their music. However, back to KT, she is fab, and you should all know it! I especially liked Somewhere Soon. It is a beautiful song and you kinda get that feeling that she really enjoys...
KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic

Altsounds Recommends KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic
I was never a big fan of this band when I heard the 'tales told by dead friends' EP. There was something missing that I couldn't quite put my finger on. The songs were okay and it had the catchy melodies, but just didn't seem to have the 'it' factor that every 'next big thing' band claims to have these days. Then I heard this record… This is honestly my favourite record right now and has been since hearing it for the first time at 2am whilst riding shotgun in the van on a familiar motorway during tour. It had been put on my ipod by a friend and I'd put off listening to it because of those EP memories. But alas the measly 2GB nano that I'd stolen from my sister was full of exhausted albums that had been sleeping around with our ears and van stereo that past few days. So I give 'a lesson in romantics' a shot. Enter headphones. Wait is this the same band? This guys vocals are incredible. Both guys!
Mayday Parade - A Lesson in Romantics
Fearless Records

Altsounds Recommends Mayday Parade - A Lesson in Romantics
LINKIN PARK – MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT Warner It has been a while since I put up an album review. Choosing wisely as to whose album I would write about next, then I thought to myself and decided that Linkin Park were the lucky fellas who I am going to slice and dice or feverishly jibber on with excitement, about the amazing work they have done. Many major labels out there feel as if they need to exact the formula of what sells. What they fail to understand, is that too much of a good thing also applies to music. Once the radio play is off the hook, rolling out spin after spin hourly, hearing the same artists and songs all time. The tune then becomes “Played out” I get sick of crappy music easily, once sick of the tune it then goes out of style. Major Labels die for the spins and sales flooding our ears with garbage, tricking the tweenies and teenies with asstastic tunes. The radio is to blame for the overload of crap, Music programmers really need to get their ears checked, in...
LINKIN PARK -- MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT
FRIDAE MATTAS
With influences from some of indie music's greatest heros, what less can you expect from Les Savy Fav? "What Would Wolves Do?" is fantastic and lovable from the first 30 seconds and keeps getting better and better. The album must be fantastic, and is well worth a listen for anyone who loves Modest Mouse, The Blackouts, Ozma, The Features, The Changes or those who just wanna dance! MySpace.com - Les Savy Fav - Brooklyn, NEW YORK - Indie / Experimental / Rock - www.myspace.com/lessavyfav :thewave:
Les Savy Fav - What Would The Wolves Do? Single

Altsounds Recommends Les Savy Fav - What Would The Wolves Do? Single
Trapt isn't a household name but if you have been listening to modern rock radio in the last 5 years you'll know their signature hit "Headstrong." The band has put out 2 studio albums and while their fanbase continues to grow organically, their new label has chosen to go with a live album for their new release. The only new material on the disc, "Stay Alive" and "Everything To Lose," is mediocre at best and doesn't really justify it's place on the album. The live material is complimented by tight musicianship from the rhythm section as they hold a solid foundation for Simon Ormandy's slinky guitar lines. Chris Brown's stage banter and vocal performance is engaging throughout and the crowd seems to be appreciating it from start to finish. Listen as they scream the choruses of "Still Frame" and "Echo" along with the singer. Though a live release this early in their recording career might not have been the most obvious choice for Trapt, this album still wins the listener over with...
Trapt - Trapt Live!
Eleven Seven Music 		Adema started out with nothing but promise. After their initial single, "Giving In" garnered radio support their eponymous debut album gained gold status. But after original vocalist Marky Chavez quit after their second album, the band found themselves musically gutted. The remaining members regrouped and released Planets with new vocalist Luke Caraccioli. The band's bad luck struck again when he then quit the band after a few tours in support of the album. Credit the band for persevering and recruiting singer Bobby Reeves for their new release Kill The Headlights. The change of frontman doesn't seem to have changed the band's creative path as the album keeps close to the melodic aggro-rock the quintet is known for. "Open Till Midnight" wouldn't sound out of place on modern rock radio and "Days Go By" even tips its hat at Incubus and Trapt. Early in Adema's career the band were tagged as "nu-metal" by their detractors but it's tough to argue when you hear the down tuned guitars of...
Adema - Kill The Headlights
Immortal Records
Long known for their brand of psychobilly on steroids, California's Tiger Army return with Music From Regions Beyond, their 4th album. Working with producer Jerry Finn (Morrissey, Blink 182) the trio seem to have abandoned the sound that brought them to the forefront of their scene. Instead of the revved-up rhythms found on their earlier work, the band now wraps their material with a prominent melodic sheen. Songs like "Forever Fades Away" and the 80's synthpop influenced "When The Cold Rain Falls" would have sounded completely out of place on their first few records but fit perfectly in this collection. The person who has gained most from the pairing with producer Finn is frontman Nick 13. His vocals have never come across as assured as they do on these songs. There isn't a better example of this than the bittersweet "Where The Moss Slowly Grows." The acoustic shuffle closes out the album in a 1960's western feel. While Music From Regions Beyond might alienate some of their...
Tiger Army - Music From Regions Beyond
Hellcat Records 		Ok, listen. Apparently there is all this hoopla about how Atreyu have changed their sound on Lead Sails Paper Anchor. It's the typical scenario where fans of the old sound think they have sold out while others who were never that into them have now found something to embrace. Bands evolve. They change. They have to. You can't make a whole career off playing the same song over and over unless you're Nickelback. For bands that aren't Nickelback, you have to explore new sounds. Artists are constantly on a quest for something new and different. Whether they achieve that, however, is another story. On paper, Atreyu are doing everything a band like theirs should be doing. They recorded a full length album with a high production value and wrapped it up in rather impressive packaging. THAT'S how you sell CDs in this digital age of downloads- 12 songs, video, nice artwork. They're giving people something to OWN. Unfortunately, where they fall short is in the actual quality of the songs...
Atreyu- Lead Sails Paper Anchor
Hollywood Records 		Sixteen years in “band years” is basically forever. Or at least, that’s how long it seems like Michigan-based Mustard Plug has been in existence. But like a fine wine, aged cheese or a vintage ride, the pioneering ska-punk sextet has fully matured into a limitless musical machine — all the while maintaining the respect and admiration from its peers and fans that have long supported them. “In Black and White” is thought to be a return to form of sorts, as Mustard Plug recently headed back to the famed Blasting Room recording studio in Fort Collins, Colo. to work with veteran punk producer Bill Stevenson — the same studio location and producer of the band’s wildly successful 1997 full-length Evildoers Beware. While In Black And White’s title may nod to technology of the past, take one spin of the new album, and you’ll instantly notice a record that’s as colorful and current as ever, crammed full of ear-grasping melodies, thanks in large part to the band’s strong songwriting...
Mustard Plug - In Black and White
In Black and White

Altsounds Recommends Mustard Plug - In Black and White
This album landed in my mailbox over a month ago. As summer said farewell and the rain rolled in, it became apparent that this review would not be easy. Remote Islands are by no means an easy band. They don't roll out with the straight forwardness of most bands and their choice of instruments is longer than most bands track listings. In fact, Remote Islands isn't even a they. Remote Islands is in fact one guy, Colin Pate. That said, there are some guests scattered around the album.Smother Party is the perfect title for this album. The whole thing is like a layer of honey that lays on you for hours. The thing with honey, however, is that while some are sure to lavish such a situation (being covered in honey can't be all that bad, can it?), others will wash this stuff away the second it hits. So patience is a virtue with this album because with repeated listens, Smother Party does reveal itself. However, the closer you hold your ear, the better. "Constantly Changing" is in fact, the...
Remote Islands - Smother Party (Isota Records)

Altsounds thinks Remote Islands - Smother Party (Isota Records) is terrible
Something about Birdmonster's horrendous name and straight forward sound hints at limitless humiliation. From the first song, the band gives the impression of being all press photos and e-mails lists. However, as the album progresses, Peter Arcuni and his 3 pals spin and weave a throbbing wheezing super villian of an album that hints at Tapes N' Tapes and early Built to Spill.The heart-on-sleeve ballad Balcony stands out as an instant fan favorite. With the frolicking bass that makes lovers hold hands and a glowing chorus that erupts before your eyes, it commands attention regardless of your place in the crowd. An epic revenge tale, it details a man falling for a woman named Rita in a bar. He falls for her and and joins her as she robs a bank in the town that took "from everything had."Everything refers to her husband who died 3 years earlier and before the song ends, the narrator is arrested and taken away in cuffs, all in the name of love. Arcuni's voice is spot on as it crashes...
Birdmonster - No Midnight (SpinART Records)

Altsounds thinks Birdmonster - No Midnight (SpinART Records) is terrible
What do we know about the young Icelandic by-way-of Norway solo artist, Gisli? Well, we know unequivocally that the strongest comparison point for his brand of shtick-heavy mid-90's alternative pop-rock is Beck. His press release refers to him as "the Icelandic Beck," just in case we couldn't get to that comparison on our own. So, he sounds like Beck, it's true, that much is clear. What's not clear is whether liking Beck would be considered a prerequisite or a detriment to enjoying Gisli's brand of alt-pop. Gisli could potentially tap into, literally, millions of fans that have bought Beck albums worldwide, and that's not even including those people that have picked up Eels and New Radicals records and absolutely had to have that Butthole Surfers track, "Pepper." But will they want to? I wouldn't consider myself a huge Beck fan, but I do respect the guy and occasionally enjoy some of his recordings, like the mellow, understated singer/songwriter tunes on Sea Change. What I...
Gisli - How About That? (EMI)

Altsounds thinks Gisli - How About That? (EMI) is terrible
It is hard to imagine only four people in this band. I mean, sometimes it seems like one musician with eight arms and then sometimes it sounds like a gang of eight musicians with eight arms each and a few extra mouths to sing and play some trombone, to boot. The name of the game for this New York band is rhythm. Michael McCurdy's drums stutter and collapse and build through every track, aided by the strange and wonderful percussion of Russell Greenberg. Who would think adding chimes to the crescendo parts would add that much more intensity? Luckily, these guys did. Their quest for rhythm and their use of the vibraphones might get the Hi Red Center a lot of comparisons to Tortoise, but there is much more youthful exuberance in this band's music, rather than resigned jazz chops. This music falls closer to the work of A Minor Forest, Menomena, and even the Make-Believe. It is math-rock mixed gloriously well with the voices of the mathematicians themselves. These are songs of the...
Hi Red Center - Architectural Failures (Pangaea Recordings)

Altsounds thinks Hi Red Center - Architectural Failures (Pangaea Recordings) is terrible
This is the eighth full length from this somber and obviously prolific folk-rock-country-whatever singer/songwriter, and I have to say it is probably my favorite release from him and his band of musicians. While it doesn't have the readymade Calexico sound that "Devotion and Doubt" did, this has something more emphatic in its sound, something more emotionally charged (if that is possibly with Buckner's abnormally reserved vocal delivery). "Meadow" is one of my favorite rock records of the year, mixing the simplest of ingredients (guitar, drums, bass, keys, and voice) into a far more complex and interesting sound than I thought possible.The track, "Window", hidden fairly late in the record, is the perfect example of this restraint and maturity of songwriting, without seeming tired, old, or recycled. It begins with urgent guitar strumming and just keeps building and building, only to crash on the rocks with gentle Rhodes notes. Then it's off to the races again for an equally bracing...
Richard Buckner - Meadow (Merge Records)

Altsounds thinks Richard Buckner - Meadow (Merge Records) is terrible
With a line-up healthily reminiscent of Scottish pop of yore whilst entirely indicative of a new heritage being created, The Poems are an odd hybrid of vintage and modern pop. Boasting contributions from Isobel Campbell and Norman Blake from Teenage Fanclub, as well as alumni from Del Amitri and The Proclaimers, 'Young America' is a record that is extremely aware of its origins and the rich history of the Scottish pop back-catalogue. Enough contextual rubbish. We don't need it, because 'Young America' is a noble and engaging pop record containing all the hallmarks of the works it is emulating. There is a tremendous bitterness that rears its head on 'So Soon', arriving the moment we hear the cooed line 'don't go taking us for granted, we will break your heart'. According to pop music rules, such venom can only be placed against the sweetest and simplest of melodies, lilting carefully along like The Byrds with an angry itch. And while it does seem to be an odd juxtaposition of Belle &...
The Poems - Young America (Minty Fresh Records)

Altsounds thinks The Poems - Young America (Minty Fresh Records) is terrible
The world of found sound is absolutely bewildering. And bewitching. In an ever-increasing circle of audio enthusiasts, compiling audio oddities has become a pastime. But interest in this hobby of sorts has also started to receive some wider attention. Found Sound is a pretty broad label actually. There's the literal aspect of it, FOUND; Found in a thrift store, found at a garage sale, found in your grandma's attic, these are generally recordings that nobody really knows exist. Whether recorded on a whim or with the grandest of hopes and aspirations (no matter how distanced from reality they were), these are the sounds of obscurity. They can often also be the sounds of a secret. Another facet of ‘found' is, something that wasn't necessarily meant to be found. Things literally recorded by accident or recorded with no audience in mind. Audio diaries, and answering machine tapes... remember those? In his liner notes Smigel talks about old answering machines and their likelihood to record...
Jacob Smigel - Eavesdrop: A Wealth of Found Sounds (None)

Altsounds thinks Jacob Smigel - Eavesdrop: A Wealth of Found Sounds (None) is terrible
The fourth record for this Portland artist, and the first on Mark Kozelek's boutique label Caldo Verde, "The Absent and the Distant" is a rich and diverse collection of songs, ranging from the opening instrumental piece ("Song for a Sinking Ship") to gentle yet spooky laments, played out on piano, guitar and other spaced-out electronics. It is this constant exploration of sound that makes this album so likable. Not merely limited herself to voice and piano and guitar, Repp, with comrades Adam Selzer (of Norfolk and Western), Joe Haege (of 31Knots), and a cast of other friends create a monumental sound, fit for a symphony hall, but condensed to songs about one person's times and troubles.Take the sixth track, "I'll Walk You Out", for example. A solemn thump of an 808 kick and reverbed out drum machines create a slowed down march, with a mellotron and piano floating above, or perhaps sinking below. From out of it all rises Repp's voice, as seductive as anything Beth Gibbons did in...
Corrina Repp - The Absent and the Distant (Caldo Verde Records)

Altsounds thinks Corrina Repp - The Absent and the Distant (Caldo Verde Records) is terrible
As Dimanche a Bamako begins, among the first words uttered are "How are you?". Although these are asked by a child to Amadou and Mariam, it might as well be directed at anyone who listens to this record. Dimanche a Bamako focuses in large part on life in their native Senegal, but more importantly, on including the rest of us in their community, and how this can be accomplished person to person, and on a larger scale, between peoples. Songs like "La Paix" calls for solidarity between African neighbours; "Politic Amagni" warns about the destruciveness of politics and appeals for honesty and integrity from those in power; the final song, "M'Bife Blues", puts it most clearly by asking, "I love you, you love me, where is the problem?". The album was recorded by none other than Manu Chao, and his presence is very much felt throughout, particularly on songs like "Senegal Fast Food", in which he takes on lead vocals, or Camions Sauvages, with his signature percussive ska-like guitar...
Amadou and Mariam - Dimanche a Bamako (Nonesuch)
When a band is as simultaneously well defined and non-descript as My Latest Novel, one has to wonder exactly where to place them in relation to other music. This is not to label them as one of those wildly un-categorised bands with as little reference points as possible, and it is not to dismiss them as a rip-off of anyone. They are somewhere between those, but in a very good way. When they first shot to a small degree of fame in Britain earlier this year, a gaggle of wet-trousered critics fell over their own idiocy in branding them 'a scintillating mix of Belle & Sebastian and The Arcade Fire' or some guff like that. They have elements of both, with some healthy Post-Rock flourishes and some beautiful violin playing. They signed to Bella Union in the UK, the home of Explosions in the Sky and Lift To Experience. Now they are label-mates in the US with Sigur Ros. The band stayed very quiet and didn't bother with many interviews, instead preferring to tour relentlessly and release...
My Latest Novel - Wolves (Workers Institute) 		I've found that while yes, there are a great number of fans of the Fiery Furnaces, many people are under whelmed by the publicity that they have attained over the last few years. And hot on the heels of the recent Bitter Tea, which has garnered reviews from both camps, Matthew Friedberger has released not one, but two discs of new material for the reviewers and bloggers to quibble over. Winter Women is a "straightforward" selection of songs, while Holy Ghost Language School is the more experimental of the two. And before I even start, it's not really possible to make the usual double-album critique that this could have been chopped into a better single record. The two parts are different enough that they need to be treated, and listened to, separately.I believe that it's hard to argue that Matthew Friedberger can show himself to be a talented melodist. This is evident in songs like "Under the Hood at Paradise Garage", which opens the Winter Women disc, or in the harmonica-laden...
Matthew Friedberger - Winter Women/Holy Ghost Language School (859 Recordings) 		My girlfriend, Amanda, and her little sister, Alaina, walk in the kitchen this morning and hear me listening to Spinform's new Ambient Electronic record, Bryter Tystnaden. They ask me what it is, and I explain that I will be reviewing this record, but haven't thought about what I'm going to say about it yet. I'm kind of into it, as a wind-down-the-night kind of a record, with it's mix of mellow glitch-tronica and Natural sounds, the Swedish Spinform (aka Unai, real name-Erik Möller) produced this album in an old deserted Swedish mansion, and it sounds like it. Before I can come up with any other descriptives, breakfast is served and we sit down together, while I leave the album playing in the background. Over fresh mozzarella and tomatoes with tasty Mimosas, the girls begin to talk about what they think of the record: "Um, this totally sounds like the 'Sounds of the Rainforest' our parents bought in the early nineties!", Amanda says. "Maybe it's the champagne, but I'm getting...
Spinform - Bryter Tystnaden (Hobby Industries)
Back in the carefree, unaffected days of my youth, Ladyfinger (ne) would have totally rocked my balls off. Long before I became a jaded, crusty critic who had heard it all before, I only cared about the music. I didn't factor in labels or where each band's sound would fit within the grand scheme of things. Nor did I consider originality or influences or press packets. I liked what I liked and that was that. Ladyfinger (ne) is a band I would have liked a lot during those formidable days of wonder. Heavy Hands, the appropriately titled debut for this Omaha based four-piece, comes at a curious time for the Saddle Creek label and rock music in general. Could it be that these tee shirt clad every-dudes are holdovers from a bygone era? A missing link from the mid / early 90's underground hard rock revolution? Reminiscent of aggressive, post punk fare like Seaweed and Helmet, it's not often that I hear no-frills rock like this anymore. More importantly, I never saw it coming from the Saddle...
Ladyfinger (ne) - Heavy Hands (Saddle Creek)