Album Review I'm From Barcelona - Forever Today

On the new album Forever Today from Sweden's I'm From Barcelona, listeners may wonder why the band feels that it needs to split the paycheque 29 ways between all of their bandmates.    This is certainly not a symphony orchestra and the only other proper pop group with this quantity of musicians is Beirut, but that little troupe makes a beautifully sophisticated racket.    However, after listening to I'm From Barcelona's newest LP multiple times, the band does not leave a discernible impression, apart from raising some suspicion that one of the firing squad of vocalists might be exiled member of Canada's Barenaked Ladies, Steven Page.   

I'm From Barcelona - Get in Line


I'm From Barcelona - Charlie Parker


I'm From Barcelona - Studio Documentary

Album Review Yuck (self-titled)

On Yuck's new self-titled album, we see the London band absorbing the concepts of three of the finest modern rock bands of the past 20 years: the storytelling of John Vanderslice, the guitar artistry behind Built to Spill and then toward the dissonance of early Sonic Youth.    And a naughty video for their track "Rubber" ain't gonna hurt either.

Yuck - Rubber


Yuck - Georgia


Yuck - Suck

Album Review Jonny (self-titled)

If you have loved the band Ween, as yours truly has, get yourself Jonny's "You Was Me", "Wich is Wich", "Candyfloss", "Bread", and "I Want to be Around You."    Make an iTunes folder with all your Ween albums and then place these five tracks from Jonny inside of it.    Set it to random and enjoy.    Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake and Euros Child of Gorky's Zygotic Mynci have built a childlike masterpiece.

Jonny - You Was Me

Jonny - Wich is Wich

Jonny - Candy Floss

Jonny - Bread

Jonny - I Want to be Around You

Album Review Lanu - Her 12 Faces

Australian funk band The Bamboos' frontman Lance Ferguson released a tidy little chill-out album away from all the brass that typically surrounds him.    There are some interesting moments on a fairly typical journey from vocal tracks to instrumentals, yet thankfully with only one vocalist, Megan Washington.    For fans of the mellow vibes inherent in this musical realm, it's nothing that can be considered breakthrough, but "Beautiful Trash", "Fall", "Jean Paul", and a clever French rendition of Roxy Music's "More Than This" are worthy treats.

Lanu - Beautiful Trash


Lanu - Jean Paul

Album Review - The Generationals - Actor-Caster

We're hearing some enormous creativity within modern music and Actor Caster by New Orleans' The Generationals is spellbinding pop by two guys, a girl drummer and then another dude helps out occasionally.    It starts out in a rather early Love & Rockets vibe, moves to New Order, and then by the fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth track, you'll know that I've got it all wrong.    What I do know is these folks that call themselves The Generationals are developing some extra freshness with their quirky songbook.    Delicious.

FREE Download of the new Rarities EP by The Generationals
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The Generationals - Ten Twenty Ten


The Generationals - Tell Me Now


The Generationals - Please Be It

Album Review Gangpol Und Mit - 1000 Softcore Tourist People Club

On French duo Gangpol Und Mit's newest full length album "The 1000 Softcore Tourist People Club", one should expect the unexpected due to the band's inclusion onto Mike Patton's Ipecac record label.    This is the third oddball release of the year that we've witnessed alongside The Go! Team's "Rolling Blackouts" and Fujiya & Miyagi's "Ventriloquizzing".    However, there is little consistency in Gangpol Und Mit's 2011 entry and it occasionally elicits a surprising sense of terror amongst the goofy melodies,  as can be witnessed on "From Your House to the Universe," which is typical of the artistic licence for which Ipecac is infamous.

Album Review Grails - Deep Politics

Portland natives Grails have assembled a dark and stormy album entitled "Deep Politics" that seems a worthy soundtrack to conflicted character studies indicative of a Darren Aronofsky film.    Unlike fellow instrumentalists Mogwai, Grails have built a compelling argument with more patient and organic growth inside their songs, employing unexpected flourishes and occasionally bursting into symphonic episodes that make for exciting repeat enjoyment.

Grails - Deep Politics

Album Review Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will

On Mogwai's newest album "Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will", you'll find everything you'd expect from Mogwai, but with their instrumental dial twisting itself to sinister a little more frequently.    These gentlemen of Scotland now have seven proper albums, not including their live and soundtrack work, yet each song on the album seems to progress in much the same way with either a dramatic speeding up, slowing down of the subject matter, or a hearty bashing of their respective instruments.    Mogwai bring in some vocals this time out, laying it on with effects much like Trans Am have continued practicing on their past 3 albums, which became a little tiring for TA, but is a fresh idea for Mogwai.    Check out the new album "Deep Politics" by Grails, which takes a fresh direction in this same musical realm.

Mogwai - Rano Pano

Album Review Glasvegas - Euphoric Heartbreak

Scotland's Glasvegas have created another Bono friendly release with their newest LP Euphoric Heartbreak, showing that they are prepared for the same massive venues to which U2 has become accustomed.    The vocalist tells a variety of stories within the songs, two regarding homosexuality, and frequently explodes from his heavy Glaswegian accent into stadium sized warbled vocals.    A similar vocal affectation is shared by their namesake group Your Vegas, who were mentored by global superstars Duran Duran during their 2005 tour.    After repeated listens, it seems that "You" and "Shine Like Stars" are the only truly mesmerizing tracks on this long player.

Glasvegas - You



Glasvegas - Shine Like Stars

Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood is the Controller: Review

Apart from his crucial role as guitarist, songwriter, and collaborator for one of the most successful bands in rock history, Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood reveals that he also has a soft spot for dub and reggae.    In 2008, Jonny compiled some timeless tracks in this genre from the Trojan record label that began in the late 60s and was home to likes of Desmond Dekker [iTunes] and The Jahlights.    The female back-up singers responding with "Doop Doobity Doo" on Lee 'Scratch' Perry's "Bionic Rats [iTunes]" are brilliantly effective.    Marcia Aitken's 12' mix on "I'm Still in Love [iTunes]" are prime examples of Mr. Greenwood's exceptional ability to sort through the finest dub and give us a reason to still love the reggae establishment for its continued vitality.    Yah mon.

Jonny Greenwood is the Controller - Marcia Atkin "I'm still in love" 12' mix



Jonny Greenwood is the Controller - Lee 'Scratch' Perry "Bionic Rats"

Album Review Pentagram - Last Rites

After at least 4 years of picking the charred bits from their blackened hearts, Pentagram return with a bloody terrific apology to Satan on their newly released Last Rites album.    Filled with heavy guitar à la Monster Magnet, Kyuss, and the doomed Alice in Chains, it will be ringing in the ears of its target market for many months to come.

Pentagram - Call the Man



Pentagram - Death in the First Person



Pentagram - Nothing Left

Album Review Federico Aubele - Berlin 13

Argentina's Federico Aubele released his newest album "Berlin 13" one month ago on Thievery Corporation's ESL Music label.    Federico's 3rd album is a finely tuned mix of smooth Latin guitar, Spanish/English vocals that bear similarities to Yello's German vocalist then pressed through Thievery Corps' more dubby global influences.    The first time I heard it, my son had put iTunes on repeat single track mode, but it wasn't until the fourth time through Berlin that we noticed that the song couldn't possibly be over 15 minutes long.    This is a testament to how smooth the album flows, which may be a detriment to its poignancy in your music collection in the future.    The definite keepers are Berlin, No One, Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue, Efemara, and 13.

Federico Aubele - Berlin



Federico Aubele - No One



Federico Aubele - Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue

Exposed breasts on album covers cannot save The Luyas, Cut Copy or Young Prisms

Sometimes albums that truly disappoint do so because of a serious flaw or misjudgement of their audience that absolutely destroys the enjoyment. Canada's The Luyas disrespect the crucial song #2 position on their newest LP "Too Beautiful to Work" by selecting the song "Worth Mentioning" that sounds like a drummer and his full kit falling down a seemingly infinite staircase along with a Salvation Army volunteer and their Christmas kettle with bells.    On Cut Copy's newest album Zonoscope, the Aussies barely break a standing pulse rate in an organic garden, which bodes for an absolutely boring listen.    Or, in the case of San Francisco's Young Prisms' latest "Friends For Now", they doggedly lose focus toward feedback rather than melody and songsmanship.    Topless models on any of their artsy album covers cannot save them.

The Luyas - Worth Mentioning



Young Prisms - Feel Fine



Cut Copy - Need You Now

Album Review Chemical Brothers - Hanna Soundtrack

When reading that the Chemical Brothers had made the soundtrack for an icy action thriller called Hanna that begins in northern Scandinavia, the viewer/listener will wonder how the pair would immmerse their block rockin' beats into a proper film.    For those who haven't been watching Chemical Brothers' growth, their sound has been becoming more filmic with their last album "Further" that was rumoured to be a framework for several short films.    How the Chemical Bros' material has supported the film is to accentuate the confusion and excitement that Hanna feels encountering religion, technology, fear, and love with their frigid, and at times, paranoid aural backdrop.    You'll even hear the actors whistling soundtrack segments to grow the relationship of the actors to the film's score.    Best soundtrack that I've heard since David Holmes' Oceans 12 soundtrack, which was magic for the film and, now, as collection of timeless tracks hand-picked by a production wizard.    Hopefully, Hanna does the same for the Chemical Brothers.

FREE Download of Remixed Chemical Brothers Hanna Soundtrack - Click down arrow below Info at right of Soundcloud object
Chemical Brothers - Hanna (Movie Soundtrack Remixed) by listothis

FREE Download of Swoon by Chemical Brothers (Bassworm Remix) - Click down arrow below Info at right of Soundcloud object
Chemical Brothers - Swoon (Bassworm Remix) by Bassworm

Chemical Brothers - Container Park (Hanna Soundtrack)



Chemical Brothers - The Devil is in the Beats (Hanna Soundtrack)



Chemical Brothers - Hanna's Theme (Hanna Soundtrack)

Album Review Peter, Bjorn And John - Gimme Some

Sweden's Peter, Bjorn and John continue to move their sound forward with only 2 guitars, drums and a few human voices on their latest LP Gimme Some that was just released a couple of weeks ago.    Like America's Marcy Playground or Canada's Sloan, they deliver their action-packed album with clever touches along the way.    PB and J make the whole album appear effortless for them and you can tell that the boys are also having a great time playing.

Peter, Bjorn and John - Breaker Breaker


Peter, Bjorn and John - Second Chance



Peter, Bjorn and John - Lies



Peter, Bjorn and John - Tomorrow Has To Wait



FREE Download of Peter Bjorn John - Second Chance (RAC Mix)
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Peter Bjorn John - Second Chance (RAC Mix) by DingoBar



Peter, Bjorn And John - Gimme Some Tracklist:

1. Tomorrow Has To Wait (Peter, Bjorn And John - Gimme Some)
2. Dig A Little Deeper (Peter, Bjorn And John - Gimme Some)
3. Second Chance (Peter, Bjorn And John - Gimme Some)
4. Eyes (Peter, Bjorn And John - Gimme Some)
5. Breaker Breaker (Peter, Bjorn And John - Gimme Some)
6. May Seem Macabre (Peter, Bjorn And John - Gimme Some)
7. Cool Off (Peter, Bjorn And John - Gimme Some)
8. Black Book (Peter, Bjorn And John - Gimme Some)
9. Down Like Me (Peter, Bjorn And John - Gimme Some)
10. Lies (Peter, Bjorn And John - Gimme Some)
11. I Know You Don’t Love Me (Peter, Bjorn And John - Gimme Some)

Album Review Rainbow Arabia - Boys and Diamonds

Sometimes a band's name should be enough warning to potential listeners to heed the warning like broken electrical equipment that you should refer servicing to qualified service personnel.    Rainbow Arabia is that LA hipster band gone wrong.    With its allusion to northern Africa and, good heavens, a rainbow, there are enough disparate concepts also within each song that eventually break this record.    The odd goth act CocoRosie bears some resemblance in terms of unorthodox vocals, lyrics and arrangements, but Rainbow Arabia add far too many components to their mix and it is rendered unlistenable.

Rainbow Arabia - Without You



Rainbow Arabia - Boys and Diamonds

Album Review Britney Spears - Femme Fatale

It is difficult for Britney Spears to be taken seriously.    We've seen her consistently undulating for the camera, rubbed her backside onto the laps of other dancers, and be kissed and licked by multiple partners throughout the years, while also enjoying regular tabloid rotation.    Professionally, Britney seems to have got things under control, as over half of these new tracks on her newest Femme Fatale are a refreshing refresher for Spears.    The last proper album that BS released was Circus and she was working with multiple mega-producers, but the only catchy bits were the sexy liner photos.    If you want to save some money, you will not need Drop Dead Beautiful, Seal It With A Kiss, Big Fat Bass, Trouble For Me, Criminal, Up N' Down, Selfish or Don't Keep Me Waiting, as these tracks quickly lose the momentum of an otherwise clever release from one of our regular tabloid queens.

Britney Spears - I Wanna Go.

Album Review:Malachai - Return to the Ugly Side

As the story goes, a fella from Portishead discovered Malachai and it's easy to notice the many reasons why he loved them.    The two (and sometimes three) piece Malachai released an intriguing piece of work entitled Return to the Ugly Side earlier in February and it begins with symphonic sampling, moves towards a Strawberry Fields Forever intro, then heads back through hip-hop beats and samples a la Jel and continues weaving in and out of late 60s psychedelia.    Tack on some vocals that sound a bit like the Flaming Lips and you've got yourself an intriguing listen.

Malachai - Let 'em Fall



Malachai - Rainbows



Malachai - Mid-Antarctica



Malachai - Let 'em Fall (live in studio)

Album Review The Liberators - The Liberators

The Liberators self-titled debut brings us a proper instrumental funk album from Australia with, seemingly, more horns than you have fingers.    You can file this alongside other similar modern groups such as Quantic Soul Orchestra, The Bamboos and Poets of Rhythm, all of whom bring their funk from surprisingly fresh angles on their respective albums.    The Liberators' release is a refreshing, unhurried piece of afro-soul with the occasional vocal track to spice up the flavour, most importantly on the mesmerizing funk of Let It Go.    And the first single Rags to Riches is delivered as a mock promo for a Blaxploitation film, which is proving to be a clever marketing tool.

The Liberators - Rags to Riches



THE LIBERATORS - Let It Go feat. Roxie Ray by The Liberators - Afrofunk

The Liberators - Let It Go w/Roxie Ray



The Liberators -Multiculture

Album Review:Oh Land - Oh Land

This album has everything going for it: a cute Danish filly with an even cuter voice with an SUV full of global super-producers and a tight little eleven track album of simple, effective pop songs.    However, I think that one of these English speaking producers should have been honest about some of the English expressions Ms. Oh Land uses or, better yet, suggest that she have kept it in the Danish language.    There are some great lyrics in the hit song Sun of a Gun such as "You could make the blue sky blush" that are quickly overshadowed by hearing about "That voodoo you do" on the next song.    My mother had her own cute Swedish/English expressions, but I would have recommended that she avoid naming her hit song "Ding-a-ling Dum Dum", which she used as an admonishment when I would get too silly as a child.

Oh Land - Perfection


Oh Land - Break the Chain


Oh Land - Sun of a Gun


Oh Land - Voodoo