Surfer Blood is a very poppy and unique surf-rock band from West Palm Beach. If you haven't heard of them, definitely check them out. Their first album, Astro Coast, is simply fantastic. It brings together a multitude of influences and blends various different styles, while still retaining a certain surf-rock vibe.
Speaking of vibes, "Floating Vibes" is a fantastic opener to this album. Its super catchy melody will get stuck in your head, but in a fantastic way. "Swim" is a somewhat weak point on the album, though don't get me wrong, it's still pretty good and there's a cool breakdown halfway through it. "Take it Easy" sounds like a Vampire Weekend song, though personally, I think these guys pull off that sound way better than Vampire Weekend do. "Harmonix" slows it down slightly and has a really nice, mellow vibe to it. "Neighbour Riffs" is a fantastic instrumental with some impressive and catchy guitar work (you'd be surprised how easy it is to get this song stuck in your head, despite it being instrumental). "Twin Peaks" is another one of the "pretty good" songs on the album, but really I find it to be somewhat forgettable.
Next up are the two Jabroni songs. "Fast Jabroni" is a nice love song but it's not very strong, and it pales in comparison to "Slow Jabroni," which I believe is the strongest song on the album. It starts off melancholy and has no drums, but it's got a fantastic build and an even better finale. "Anchorage" is another of the sadder songs on the album, but it is still wonderful. And finally, the lovely sendoff that is "Catholic Pagans," which finishes with "Sorry, We Have to go," and adds a fantastic finishing touch to this album.
All in all, this is most certainly an album to listen to on the beach, at sunset, after a long day of surfing and hanging out with friends. There are, however, a few problems with this album that need addressing. First off, the songs all sound too alike. Though a few stand out, it's very hard to distinguish which song is which, as they don't change it up enough. It's all in the same key and tempo. Still, their impressive instrumentations and their unique sound make them a very unforgettable band. I give Astro Coast an 8.5 out of 10, and I can't wait to hear whatever else they have in store for us!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
ODDSAC
Animal Collective has always been somewhat of a favorite band of mine. So naturally, when I heard they were making a movie, I thought to myself, "What an excellent idea!" In doing a bit of research on this film, I found that it has been in the making for 4 years and features contributions from all four band members for the first time since 2008's EP Water Curses. The first thing I'd like to point out is that this is no ordinary film. Running at 54 minutes, it's sort of a mix between an '80s horror film and a David Lynch short, and as such, it is absolutely terrifying at some parts. Even so, the visuals are absolutely stunning. Between evil vampire-creatures and monsters that dance creepily in front of fires, this film has some very powerful imagery. I have a few problems with it however, the first being an 8 minute sequence of White noise and bird-like shapes all over the screen. That particular sequence felt like an eternity, and really didn't have to be that long (though it was still pretty cool). The other issue is that there seems to be no real message conveyed through the piece, or even a real central narrative, just short vignettes that all relate to one another through the appearance of images and color motifs. Still, it's definitely an experience, and I recommend getting it as soon as it comes out on DVD (Or Blu-Ray, if they decide to go that route, and you have the technology required), as it's nearly impossible for me to describe this film to you, as the images in the film are just so mind-blowingly trippy. If you like Animal Collective, this film really captures their spirit both sonically (they did, after all, write and perform the music for the film) and visually. I give it an 8 out of 10.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Valleys Of Neptune (FIRST REVIEW, ZOMG)
Three Words: Jimi is back! Valleys Of Neptune, Jimi Hendrix's 9th posthumous studio album, is so for the nicest thing to grace my ears this year, and it's hard to believe that it's taken so long to release these treasures from the Hendrix Estate's vaults. Seriously guys, you gotta be faster with this stuff. So here we go, my first album review:
The first track, a newer (and cleaner) rendition of the "Hey Joe" b-side "Stone Free," is a testament to Jimi's raw power and mastery over the guitar. It's followed by "Valleys Of Neptune", which would have fit snugly on 1969's Electric Ladyland, and is an extremely catchy tune. Its music video is equally fantastic, with its array of psychedelic visuals (including some epic kaleidoscope moments). Check it out!
As you can see, it kicks ass. "Bleeding Heart," a testament to Jimi's gradual transition into funk (which was, unfortunately, never fully realized), features two solos that really pack one hell of a punch. This one also has a video, but I don't think it's worth putting it on here, as it doesn't do the song any justice. "Hear My Train A Comin'" is my favorite track on the album, as it's an example of just how good Jimi was at creating some of the best blues out there. Any Hendrix fan has heard this song before on numerous live recordings, but the studio recording really does it some justice, as you get to hear Jimi playing it in top form, with one of his cleanest and meanest solos. "Mr. Bad Luck" is one of the lower points on the album. It's a simple blues riff, and that's fine, but its too short and sounds like something that was churned out in a couple of takes, making it the weakest track on the album. Next up is an instrumental (and damn good) cover of Cream's classic "Sunshine of Your Love." Personally, I would prefer hearing Jimi sing this song, as its lyrics are right up his alley, but it's still a solid track, with a jam portion that could only have been inspired by seeing Santana at Woodstock. "Lover Man" features another amazing solo, and is mostly instrumental (save for two choruses, 2 minutes into the song), and is yet another showcase of the man's tour de force. "Ships Passing Through The Night" has some strong moments, but it doesn't stand up well with some of the other songs on the album. However, it's got a fantastic solo starting at about 3:20 which continues until the end. Next is a rendition of the Experience classic "Fire" with a new solo and tighter playing, and though it's much harder and features some better playing, it's not nearly as charming as the original version. "Red House," another re-rendering of an experience classic, has been slowed down from the original. However, unlike the new "Fire," this new "Red House" is simply fantastic, and it goes without saying that this song is one of Jimi's undisputed masterpieces. "Lullaby For The Summer" is great, but it almost sounds unfinished, as if Jimi was hoping to sing a bit on it. Don't get me wrong, I love me some instrumental music, and Jimi has hit it home on this one. "Crying Blue Rain" also feels the same. The "Yeaaaah yeah yeahs" and "Ooooohs" throughout the song suggest that he already knew exactly what to sing, but hadn't written any lyrics yet, and doesn't round the album out as nicely as it should.
In conclusion, Valleys Of Neptune is mostly terrific. It showcases some of Jimi's best recordings that you've never heard, and it's definitely worth the small monetary sacrifice required for such things. I give it an 8.5; a generally awesome score. Go out and buy it immediately, or if you're too lazy, torrent it. I don't really care, but this album does need to be heard, as it is definitely my favorite of the posthumous Jimi collection.
The first track, a newer (and cleaner) rendition of the "Hey Joe" b-side "Stone Free," is a testament to Jimi's raw power and mastery over the guitar. It's followed by "Valleys Of Neptune", which would have fit snugly on 1969's Electric Ladyland, and is an extremely catchy tune. Its music video is equally fantastic, with its array of psychedelic visuals (including some epic kaleidoscope moments). Check it out!
As you can see, it kicks ass. "Bleeding Heart," a testament to Jimi's gradual transition into funk (which was, unfortunately, never fully realized), features two solos that really pack one hell of a punch. This one also has a video, but I don't think it's worth putting it on here, as it doesn't do the song any justice. "Hear My Train A Comin'" is my favorite track on the album, as it's an example of just how good Jimi was at creating some of the best blues out there. Any Hendrix fan has heard this song before on numerous live recordings, but the studio recording really does it some justice, as you get to hear Jimi playing it in top form, with one of his cleanest and meanest solos. "Mr. Bad Luck" is one of the lower points on the album. It's a simple blues riff, and that's fine, but its too short and sounds like something that was churned out in a couple of takes, making it the weakest track on the album. Next up is an instrumental (and damn good) cover of Cream's classic "Sunshine of Your Love." Personally, I would prefer hearing Jimi sing this song, as its lyrics are right up his alley, but it's still a solid track, with a jam portion that could only have been inspired by seeing Santana at Woodstock. "Lover Man" features another amazing solo, and is mostly instrumental (save for two choruses, 2 minutes into the song), and is yet another showcase of the man's tour de force. "Ships Passing Through The Night" has some strong moments, but it doesn't stand up well with some of the other songs on the album. However, it's got a fantastic solo starting at about 3:20 which continues until the end. Next is a rendition of the Experience classic "Fire" with a new solo and tighter playing, and though it's much harder and features some better playing, it's not nearly as charming as the original version. "Red House," another re-rendering of an experience classic, has been slowed down from the original. However, unlike the new "Fire," this new "Red House" is simply fantastic, and it goes without saying that this song is one of Jimi's undisputed masterpieces. "Lullaby For The Summer" is great, but it almost sounds unfinished, as if Jimi was hoping to sing a bit on it. Don't get me wrong, I love me some instrumental music, and Jimi has hit it home on this one. "Crying Blue Rain" also feels the same. The "Yeaaaah yeah yeahs" and "Ooooohs" throughout the song suggest that he already knew exactly what to sing, but hadn't written any lyrics yet, and doesn't round the album out as nicely as it should.
In conclusion, Valleys Of Neptune is mostly terrific. It showcases some of Jimi's best recordings that you've never heard, and it's definitely worth the small monetary sacrifice required for such things. I give it an 8.5; a generally awesome score. Go out and buy it immediately, or if you're too lazy, torrent it. I don't really care, but this album does need to be heard, as it is definitely my favorite of the posthumous Jimi collection.
An Introduction
Hey folks,
So I suppose since nobody has ever heard of me, I might as well give people a rundown of how this blog will work. It's gonna be mostly an album review blog, with occasional movie reviews, book reviews, or posts on whatever I feel like talking about. The music I listen to is pretty diverse, so there should be something in here for everybody. The album reviews themselves will have quick song by song critiques, and then a final verdict on it (rated out of 10). They'll be on recent albums (except for once a month when I'll do a classic album review and music recommendations), and their format will probably evolve quite a bit as this blog goes on. Movie reviews will be less often, and I haven't decided how to do them, but I do know that the first one I'll review is Animal Collective's ODDSAC (showing at the Arclight on the 22nd, if anybody's interested). To the 3 people who end up following me (if that many people even DO), thanks for your support.
Cheers,
-TM
PS: I'll also review any albums people request (if they sound interesting enough)
So I suppose since nobody has ever heard of me, I might as well give people a rundown of how this blog will work. It's gonna be mostly an album review blog, with occasional movie reviews, book reviews, or posts on whatever I feel like talking about. The music I listen to is pretty diverse, so there should be something in here for everybody. The album reviews themselves will have quick song by song critiques, and then a final verdict on it (rated out of 10). They'll be on recent albums (except for once a month when I'll do a classic album review and music recommendations), and their format will probably evolve quite a bit as this blog goes on. Movie reviews will be less often, and I haven't decided how to do them, but I do know that the first one I'll review is Animal Collective's ODDSAC (showing at the Arclight on the 22nd, if anybody's interested). To the 3 people who end up following me (if that many people even DO), thanks for your support.
Cheers,
-TM
PS: I'll also review any albums people request (if they sound interesting enough)
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