Stayu Tuned For more of my misguided, interesting, lame, confused, poorly written,gooofy reivews!

Among many other words, but that is beside the point. I am trying to review every CD I have listened to, which should be 200, by the end of the year. And since I am playing catchup I will probably review those that came out in 2009 and 2010 frst, and occassionally put in one from this year, so if you're thinking that record came out 2 years ago, that is why. I haven't reached 200 yet. still have a few from this year just been listening to those from the two prev years when I write the reviews. What to expect? I'll get to both of Usher's latest, Mumford And Sons,Slash, Baroness, Alice in Chains, Florence and the Machine,both of Rihanna's latest records, Fleet Foxes, Tyler the Creator, Beasties, Theory of a Deadman,Tron Legacy, Inception sdtk, Arcade Fire, and many more

NKOTBSB "NKOTBSB"

This will probably be the shortest of the reviews because it basically is hits of Backstreet Boys and New Kids on The Block to try and form one of the ONLY super-boy bands of the new millenium. It features Five of the biggest hits from each band including "Hangin' Tough" and "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" from New Kids, and "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" and "I Want It That Way" from BSB. There are two new songs "Don't Turn off the Lights" which is okay, and All In My Head" which is better, and a mashup which is nice melding some of their biggest hits in one song and it sounds good.I believe they were all rerecorded and the two new ones recorded together.The best song feature is void since it is technically a compilation.                                                                                                                                                                                           

"FELA!"

A good deal of these records I find out about by year end lists and amazon's best album lists is one of them, Which has the top 100 customer and critic cds of said year (seperate lists) and has the ten best    records released that year in each genre. This one was found in the Best Broadway/Vocalist category based on  FELA! Broadway's tribute to a great musician and political messenger. "Everything Scatter" is a great funky horn-laden track that has a child's choir singing yeah yeah yeah as he says his peace. I can be redundant and say the same thing for every song, but I'm not going to. He can play trumpets and horns really well, and showcases his talent in the next song with the 15 minute beast "Yellow Fever," and adds some nice piano at the last two minutes. "Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am" has the Kuti singing "My friend has just come from prison/Him dey look for work,/Waka* waka day and night, *(walk)/Police man come stop am for road,/He say, “Mister, I charge you for wandering”/Waking him dey find/PALAVER, HE DEY FIND."  Well, let's just say that long songs are easily his forte because this next one is over 26:00, and goes by name of "The Teacher Don't Teach Me No Nonsense" is about how the music can be a teacher and how it works both ways: "For this world go start, /When the teacher, schoolboy and schoolgirl jam together /Who be teacher? /I go let you know," but also sing that in different situations and environments the teacher changes, such as when westart to work Government is teacher, but who teaches the government? Culture and tradition which is repeated after every line in the next verse. Oh, "Lover," if you can be serenaded with my music, as I'm feeling horn-y; a nice instrumental piece with a great brass section. You're offended aren't you, and now you're going to have your friend hold me "Upside Down?" To do that for 14 minutes is not good for the victim. Could we just do it for half of the song? Now you're swaying with the music, and I'm starting to get sick.  What the heck happened? what am I listening to now? I must've blacked out, and I think I missed the last track, good thing too because I would have to pay a lot out. Wow, last track is "Expensive SH*T" How much would it have cost me? I heard I missed a great song, and I had some of my listening time stolen by the "International Thief Thief". He plays Horns too? Sax, you mean? No thank you, I'm not interested., but I do love the sound of the instrument. "Water No Get Enemy" basically states that water has no enemy for everything needs it and if they are without it, they will die.Who wants to die? Well, not everybody,and unfortunately not everyone has the luxury of making that choice,  as this song was written for those without that choice, and with little water to begin with. Are You a "Zombie?" Yeah, why don't we just leave this review at that. But then we would not get to hear "Sorrow Tears and Blood" or The jazzy "Shakara," both great additions. The former of which addresses how their system of justice does not follow its purpose"Police dey come, army dey come/Confusion everywhere/Hey yeah!/Seven minutes later/All don cool down, brother/Police don go away/Army don disappear/Them leave Sorrow, Tears, and Blood." "Coffin For The Head of State" says more than it leads one to believe and the instrumentals are spot on. What a "Gentleman" Mr. Kuti was to write a song such as this, and how it was placed at the end with its wonderful sax and "You dey go your way, the jeje way/Somebody come bring original trouble/You no talk, you no act/You say you be gentleman/You go suffer/You go tire/You go quench/Me I no be gentleman like that." IFIHadToChoose Only7SongsTheyWouldBe: Everything Scatter, Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am,The Teacher Don't Teach Me No Nonsense, Lover, Zombie, Sorrow Tears and Blood, and Shakara.                                                                                                                                       

Magnetic Man"S/T"

The first Song "Flying into Tokyo" has beautiful strings and instrumentals and a great way to "takeoff" the album. The dancehall stomp of "Fire" with the awesome vocal delivery of Ms. Dynamite sounds really great.The One Two Punch of "I Need Air" and "Anthemic" is great; Angela Hunter contributes great vocals on the former track, and the latter has some nice horn toward the four minute mark; it can be an anthem for dancing. "The Bug" is really cool with great whispery female and robotic male vocals,interesting, talking about a kind of contagion; well the beat is pretty contagious and makes you want to "Bug Out." The lyrics are just menacing and unforgiving though:"I am the bug in this global community/Ravage your conscience with total impunity/I am the bug in this global community/Seek and provoke degradation and lunacy/I am the bug in this global community/Go tell your new God to beware of my heresy/I am the bug in this global community." The next song would be nice to play "Ping Pong" while listening to it. It has these beats that sound as if a ball is going back and forth, and a nice loop in the background with some sfx, and a nice beat comes around 4:20. First impressions often make it hard to change them, but this "Perfect Stranger" had a great one with wonderful vocals by Katy B. Know one thing that makes me "Mad?" How good music gets overlooked, because there is no money in it, but that's a real frivolous thing to be mad at, there are so many things that are Muuuch worse.This song has a great ethnic-techno flavor. "Boiling Water" features Sam Frank on vocals and is a good listen,partly because of it percussive attack. "K Dance" with it's slow beat that then has this assisting low beat with the preceding and some high techno spits which then goes to land. "Crossover?" The Big Time? Katy B returns on this one and these are on the other end of the spectrum "I could put your every wrong to right/I will be your sanctuary tonight/Crossover and come inside/Crossover and come inside/I'm the only friend you'll need to know/Give me all your troubles let them go." "Box of Ghosts" is a nice spacey, slightly eerie instrumental with a great sound, and "Karma Crazy"almost makes you feel as if you are "Getting Nowhere." John Legend lays down his beautiful soulful vocals on a subject with no soul; a great beat and muted bass-bloops works well with his vocals. "Electronic world, supersonic girl/We keep holding onto nothing/We keep typing, we're not talking/We lose endlessly, world won't get by me/I feel like I'm onto something/We keep moving, we're not there yet" is this commentary on the current state of communication, how verbal communication is falling behind that of texting, typing, facebooking, skyping (technically that is verbal communication, but it rhymed so I kept it). IfICouldOnlyChoose7SongsIWouldChoose: Flying Into Tokyo, Fire, I Need Air, The Bug, Boiling Water, Box of Ghosts, Getting Nowhere

Chris Brown "Grafitti"

                                                                                                                                        With an album cover this cool, the album has got to be amazing! The First single,and track, "I Can Transform Ya" has a great appearance by one of the biggest in the biz, Lil Wayne; who gives some great lines as always. Some auto-tune,a good beat and a little guitar part in there (really short, but there). "Sing Like Me" is a song about how there are so many other vocalists and how he should sing, and be, like himself. "Crawl" the second single is a redemption song as he sings "we will crawl/till we can walk again/then we'll run, until wer'e strong enough to jump/then we'll fly (until there is no wind?)," but it has a good positive message and nice instrumentals. Nice piano and drum machine; why do you have to be "So Cold" when I give you a compliment? Song post breakup? With his attempt to redeem himself, but his love will not give him that second chance. "What I Do" is often times go song by song and give a short review or short description(among many other things in general), but what Chris does in this song is address haters, get his swag on with DJ Khaled, works his pipes, and gives us a great song to bob our heads to."Famous Girl" has this great headbobbin' beat and wonderful vocals he also gives nods to Dreezy, Kanyeezy, Keyshiazy, Beyonceezy, and Keri Hilseezy ( I know that looks real lame). "Take My Time" really showcases great vocal from Brown and has great soulful guest vocals that sound really nice. What I don't like is there is simulated sex in the song with female voiceovers in the song, but this song focuses more on the vocals. "I.Y.A." has a some nice autotuned vocals and backing vocals with a slow techno vibe."Pass Out" is a techo-dance mess which works really well with the autotuned vocals and borrows a sample from a song that I have heard, but cannot recognize;this is a great dancing song,not too fast, but a good enough speed to dance with onself. "Lucky Me" is a great song to listen to,and has this nice hook.; it is a more personal song it seems as he mentions that he has to put on a smile even if he is damaged, and be strong to avoid being eaten alive by the vultural critics and haters who will attack on sign of weakness; ok, the second part was mine. "Fallin Down" is another great song is about the fame and how all these people are now watching what you are doing, and some are just waiting to watch you fall because some people love to see others fail.Sad but true; the instrumentals ar great in this song: slow beat ,but some nice keys (low though). Now with the bonus disc there are like six more songs, and "Gotta Be Ur Man" is the first song, and a great start to the second disc. "Movie," has Chris talking his girl into making one, and the lyrics are definately suggestive "Girl your wardrobe is the same suit that you wore on your birthday,/Baby girl know I want you, want you in the worst way.Those are probably the worst lyrics, and make him look really bad, but he is a young guy wih hormones abound, and guys can be /are highly sexual beings, so it's understandable,but those lyrics really scream especially considering what happened that same year. "For Ur love" and "I Need This" are great songs to balance the sexuality of the last song with some sentimentality and devotion.The last song "Brown Skin Girl" has an appearance from Sean Paul as he puts his reggae-dance flavor on it. Now the bonus tracks were nice, but some were just better as a bonus track, I do like the "Gotta Be Ur Man" the most of those said tracks, so this album was really good, but was overlooked and did not gain as much attention because of the the whole incident between him and Rihanna,which was not acceptable. If I had to Choose 7 of the Best Songs they would have to be: I Can Transform Ya, Crawl, What I Do,Take My Time, Pass Out, Lucky Me, Fallin Down.

Amadou and Miriam "Welcome to Mali"

                                                                                                                                    Autotune, drum machine beats, and keys? has that been done before? Yes, but on the first track,Sabali, it sounds so great, fresh even. "Ce N'est Pas Bon" has this great guitar work, strumming and toy piano with a great beat. "Magossa" is pure magic and makes one want to dance. "Djama" makes on want to dance even more with great instrumentals and this great dancing beat, lyrics are in a different language,but the music speasks to everyone; it just depends on if they listen. Several beat changes and tempo changes. Awesome!"Djuru" and "JeTe Kiffe" were great songs as well, but "Mastieladi"  has awesome guitar work with the surfer rock vibe and awesome beat; is one of the best songs on here. As if it couldn't get better the trip to "Africa" with K'naan gets better with great instrumentals, horns, cowbell (sounds like it, but I don't think it is one),and  vocal interplay between the A&M and their guest. "Compagnon De la Vie" starts off with wonderful horns blues/funk guitarwork, and this beat that may be classified as blues, but doesn't quite sound like it; together it sounds great. "Unissons Nous" featuring Keziah Jones has this funky/samba flavor, with great vocals. "Bozos" can be a pain, but this beat and the strummming is nice, is that mandolin? Lovely piano too. Even if one can't understand the lyrics I can understand what this song is about...I Think. " I Folllow You" is easily explainable; to wherever one is that they will follow them, madly in love, and unwavering in their allegiance to; great instrumentals and th vocals display sincerity and emotion. "Welcome to Mali" is a funky dancing song with samba flavor(has more funk on this one though), and the voicebox thing that Frampton uses; I think for a real short time. "Batoma" and "Sebeke" are good too. The whole album is great ,but if you had to check out only seven songs Check out these: Sabali, Ces N'est pas Bon, Je Te Kiffe, Mastieladi, Africa, Compagnon De la Vie, Welcome to Mali.

311 "Uplifter"

      Sifting through the wreckage of the mess that was their last album as one made in a rush, which was admitted to; it had several good songs such as Frolic Room,Whiskey and Wine, Speak Easy, Solar Flare, Waiting, and It's Getting Ok Now, as well as the namesake track. But this one seems like a return to form that starts with the great tribute to music, "Hey You". Either that or it's a tribute to fans,which I thought it was at first,but read these and it may help determine:"gotta tell you my long time friend/I think of all those years you saw me through tears/And the good times that we spend/Hey you/You're my constant companion/You always let me explain just what I'm saying/And we've just begun," but the first line confirms trib to music. "It's Alright" is so and brings the good vibes. Let's "Mix It Up!" with their trademark reg-hop style beat and some nice guitars with a song that makes you want to sing along and dance inside."Golden Sunlight" has little splash of the oriental flavor which sounds nice for a change and a nice chillin' song. "India Ink" with its funk-metal roots and an ode to a love by a tat ;"I write your name on my arm with India ink/Baby I told you once before it's not what you think/I drink it in with a sip/But I really want to chug/You know I take what I can get/ Give me a dub, now/You're even cuter/When you get crossed/Just stamp on your foot/And try to be the boss." "Daisy Cutter" is an ode to a girl named Diasy who makes them go crazy,who knows what they're after which has this nice solo in the song. Hexum tries to simulate the interactive quality of concerts as he says "Now clap your hands to the beat,"and you cannot help but feel ready to. "Too Much,Too Fast" isanawesomemotherf'nsiongwithagreatguitarsoloandgreatvibesabound! "Never Ending Summer" has this aweome intro "311,311!!" and the drums are loud and in the forefront but the vibes get you pumped to kick some -ss, at 2:30 is where it gets real cool, with an awesome solo, and the 311 that kicks major a--; Just makes you feel so good as it is an awesome tribute to summer. "Two Drops in the Ocean" is a great slow and sentimental songwith a nice reggae-light, this side of "Amber." The next song is basically talking about writing and using your mind, intellect, and creativity to create "Something Out Of Nothing." "Jackpot" is a bonus track that is a nice funk-metal throwback with great vocal interplay between Nick Hexum and S.A. Martinez, and great instrumentals. "My Heart Sings" is another nice song to end the album. And Now... IfIHadToChoose7Tracks,Only,TheyWouldBe: Hey You, Mix It Up, Golden Sunlight, India Ink, Too Much, Too Fast, Never Ending Summer, Two Drops in the Ocean.

Phoenix "Wolfgang Amadeus Pheonix"

                                                                                                                                   A few years ago the blogosphere exploded and the end of the year lists placed this record at the top several times, and for a good reason,it is a pretty catchy record. The record starts with the one two punch of the awesome singles "Lisztomania," which has a nice punk beat and wonderful keys, and the great "1901." "Fences" has this great bass in the back with a head-bobby contagion that if you cannot dance, then you cannot resist bobbing your head to the beat,the little acoustic strumming before the chorus, and the last fifteen seconds have this short instrumental which is good to end the song. "Love is Like A Sunset Pt 1" has lovely keys, and after the first minute starts to slowly build into the second minute where more instrumentals are added; sounds really nice.The beat comes around 3:45 where then it starts to go into this funky rhythm, and the beat picks up as the climax is coming to a close where it just takes flight and evens off with some distortion. Part two is next and has vocals despite only being 1:56: "Right when it starts it ends/ohhh when did we start the end?" ; great lyrics and it ends nicely too. Love the intro (which returns at the end) of the next song with it's driving beat and bass which ask where one would go with a "Lasso" and if they would mind crashing into me (vocalist, Thomas Mars) How about going to "Rome," which sounds like a nice idea if you are listening to this song. Let's go, in fact let's "Countdown" till the departure which makes us sick, sick,sick, for the big sun. But seriously: "Die and succeed/I say it out loud but she just don't care/Girlfriend" who would want a "Girlfriend" like that? The song is nice but this seems like a song for a crush that has no idea of the writer's existance or just shuts him out before he is given achance, that stinks!!!!! The final song, "Armistice" comes in charging like one with nice keys. I'm bored, and so are you, but before we leave let me say that the best songs are: Lisztomania,1901, Fences, Love is Like a Sunset (Pt 1 and 2), Lasso, Rome, Girlfriend.

Regina Spektor "Far"

                                                                                                                              Regina Spektor can write some amazing songs!  "The Calculation" has this budding beat, and the piano playing is just great; this son just makes one want to dance and smile just read these lyrics:"So we made our own computer out of macaroni pieces/And it did our thinking while we lived our lives/It counted up our feelings/And divided them up even/And it called that calculation perfect love" She also a great voice, one without needing any aid. The next song "Eet" is about finding yourself because "you spent half your whole life falling behind/listening to headphones to drown out your mind/It was so easy, and the words so sweet." Or how life passes by as you listen to music, you don't experience that time as you're listening to music, because you are caught halfway in living and part in paying attention to the music. The instrumentals and vocals are great. "Blue Lips" is about a person who feels as if he has come from another planet of blue, as he has stumbled into faith, but this planet has this nice backbeat and easy waves of piano.Here is a sample:"He stumbled into faith and thought/'God, this is all there is?'/The pictures in his mind arose/And began to breathe." "Folding chair" is very upbeat, and has a pretty quick pace it's very head bobby and has plentya positive vibes. "Machine" is awesome! It has this killer beat and synergy between the beat and the piano is epic! The vocal delivery is great and changes when appropriate: most of the time they are sung in her beautiful voice, but when she sings "I'm hooked into, hooked into" and the several refrains of "hooked into machine"following immediately after has her delivery sounding mechanical. "Laughing With" is about how most people ignore God unless they need something or after something bad happens to them, because it mentions how no one laughs at God at several life-altering or tragic instances such as in a hospital, war, child did not come home from a party and it's late,etc "But God can be funny/At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or.../Or when the crazies say he hates us/And they get so red in the head/You think that they're about to choke/God can be funny/When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way/And when presented like a genie/Who does magic like Houdini/Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus" Yes, the lyrics are sad but true which makes it more thought-provoking, but is this song pushing her beliefs on those that believe in other faiths or nothing at all? Or is it just simple commentary, because there are those that believe whole-heartedly in God, and those that say that they're of the faith but one couldn't tell by what they do to others. "Human of the Year" is another great song about someone who has won an amazing award and what happens after that recog. "Two Birds" is very upbeat with lovely harmonies and melodies, some nice horn: "Two birds of a feather/Say that they're always gonna stay together/But one's never going to let go of that wire/He says that he will/But he's just a liar." "Dance Anthem of the 80's" just showcases her amazing voice, all of her songs do, and she does this arpeggiating vocal display. Not sure if that's what i mean to say, but it's kind of like what Mariah Carey does, but better."The boys and girls watch each other eat/When they really just wanna watch each other/Sleep/They want to watch, to watch each other/Sleep, sleep, sleep." "Genius Next Door" is a lot more somber toned, and is about someone who discovers that the lake is enchanted, and the person is a secret genius, but is ignored. The lyrics just explain it better than I can; here is a sample "The genius next door was bussing tables/Wiping clean the keptchup bottle labels/Getting high and mumbling German fables/Didn't care as long as he was able/To strip his clothes off by the dumpsters/At night while every one was sleeping/And wade midway into that porridge/Just him and the secret he was keeping." An ode to a wallet and how little is in it, with nothing but an old stick of juicy fruit, pics, and a blockbuster card? Lost is this wallet, but take it to the rental store and track the number to call the lost soul who seems to be reeling. "Wallet" is great, one would think that contents of a wallet or talking about one could not be poetic, but Spektor makes it so.  "one more time with feeling/try it again, breathing's just a rhythm/say it in your mind until you know that the words are right/this is why we fight" are some of the best lyrics in the song "One More Time With Feeling" which has great instrumentals and vocals, as always. "Man of A Thousand Faces" can be about a lost love, lost in reality and memory; maybe the moon is the woman he knows, because it mentions that he goes to a place of no religion and that the moon was a stranger to him. Lost love leads to lost faith, and the moon could be the faith he does not recognize; "And now he sits down at a table/Without anyone's steady instruction/Begins his quiet ascension/To a place of no religion." "Time is all around" is a track not on the standard album but is worthy of inclusion because of the lyrics and instrumentals, and sentiments: "Time is all around/Except inside my clock/Everyone is waiting for their lover to unlock." Live and die by "The Sword & Pen"; "I don't wanna live without you/I don't wanna live without you," but "What if the sword kills the pen?/What if the god kills the man?/And if he does it with love/Well then it's death from above/And death from above is still a death." Also not included on the standard album,but for those lyrics alone should be included.  All of the Songs a are really great, but I will reveal my favorites of the bunch in Best Songs: The Calculation, Eet, Blue lips, Folding Chair, Machine, Laughing With, Human of the Year,Genius Next Door,Wallet,One More Time With Feeling,Time is All Around and The Sword and Pen.

Atlas Sound "Logos"

        "An Orchid" is one of a strummy texture, but the "Attic Lights" shine on the guitar like a folkie. There is some violin around 3:20 and the vocals are slightly distorted alongside the acoustic strumming. While the "Criminals" inquire the victims as to why they live the way they do "He asked me/Why do you live this way?Think of all you could have,/What I would take/Well, have you got a clue?/Why do you live this way?Why do you?/Think of all I'd take." The lyrics are great I will give thenm that and the instrumentals were good too, the vocals are slightly distorted but it sounds alright. "Kid Klimax" sounds as if one is floating through space and they hear this little voice in their head,  kinda garbled, not fully transmitting (interference). Title track has a quicker pace, and some nice ambience in the background,and the beat is nice, but has this change around 2:45 and the mumbly vocals fade away as King Logos leaves the throne; one who leads away decay and gives us the strength to persevere.  While "my halo is strange/ no cure for the pain /my body will burn/ the leaves will still turn." What kind of halo burns a hole in the sky? Only one of Bradford Cox. "Quick Canal" is no short trip! It is easily the longest song that clocks in at 8:38. It is a good driving song, one that gives people space to enjoy the song, but encourages introspection or another type of thinking. It has a nice beat and the vocals are really nice by Laetia Sadier. Just check out these lyrics: "I thought saints were born saints/ I looked in the dirt/ and found wisdom is learnt/ through a costly process/ of success and failure;" so true. "Sheila" is about a girl who can live alone together with it's message's sender. "The Light That Failed" has this nice strumming and gives the feeling of slowly paddling on the water front; this one also allows you to think as you listen. "Walkabout" reminds of that song that goes "it's alright, alright girl" again! I was looking for who wrote that song. It sounds like there is this undeniable deep bass but is under several layers of ambience/keys and this great beat with lovely vocals by Lennox(Noah). "Washington School" is a nice way to end the album.  Best Songs: Attic Lights,Criminals, Kid      Klimax, Logos, My Halo, Quick Canal, Walkabout, and Washington School.

Julian Casablancas "Phrazes For The Young"

                                                                                                                                    It starts out with a nice punk beat and keys, completely "Out of the Blue. " Speaking of that, one of my favorite lyrics is "I know I am going to h#ll in a purple basket/ At least I will be in another world, while your pissing on my casket." Looking "Left & Right in the Dark" is like trying to find why this song is good. I mean I can be redundant and say that the instrumentals are good, which they are, but why bother trying to explain, because words escape me, such as the shapes of things in the dark. "11th Dimension" has this killer beat and synths and organ that would take you out for dancing as long as you paid for dinner; sounds as if this organ came from the southern border dancing with the samba like beat. "4 Chords of the Apocalypse" has a slow beat that has you riding a horse, in the west,wandering aimlessly. Then a piano comes to assist at around four minutes and the song picks up at the last fifty seconds. Maybe this song is dealing with fame, and its effects on the subject's personal/love life: "It's nice to be important, but so close to being despised/It's more important to be nice/adjusting to the wise," or basically how he says he takes her out places and gets her nice things, and then says give anything you want, it's alright with him.I will say that his vocals for the first two records seemed very monotone, and it was hard to tell if any emotion was ever put in his delivery,but with the last Strokes record and this one, his delivery has improved. We had arrived at "Ludlow Street," and by horse, who is tired. We hear some trickling of banjo? "Rivers of Brakelights" come with a quick paced techno beat and some cool keys, but no car. If that wasn't enough there are several beat changes, and triangle? That goes back to that dizzying beat. In the lyrics he mentions getting the hang of it; life?, and towards the end, he mentions that timing is everything: getting the hang of it, and "getting the time on it, everything hangs on this." Walking on broken "Glass" seems as if it should be more painful, but this song has some nice synth, and this great solo at around the 3:30 mark. At first I thought it was about broken glass, but in the lyrics it mentions bulletproof glass, and how dominance and loyalty, and romance and security stay behind bulletproof glass. Is it about living too safe, or living with lies? Let's look at some more:"you can lie to yourself /But don't lie to me/it's what they want." Check more lyrics if you must know more. "Tourist" is a heckuva way to end a record with this great intro, and great instrumentals throughout; it sounds epic without seeming to be overblown. It has some nice horns too. Best Songs: Out of the Blue, 11th Dimension, 4 Chords of the Apocalypse, Ludlow Street, River of Brakelights, Tourist.

Micachu and the Shapes "Jewellry"

                                                                                                                                     "Vulture" sounds angry without actually being angry, it has this steady quick punk beat and lovely vocals. "Lips" has nice beat and some good instrumentals; the songs here are short but sweet ,don't take too long to form an opinion or the song will be over by then."Sweetheart" is the shortest of the songs at 0:52 with a short punky beat and almost sounds like the vocals are being relayed on the fly. "Eat Your Heart" sounds goofy with the vocals...so indie, so who cares.... let's make a song with no lyrics just making mouth sounds with a tinny beat..hi hat? hello, are you there? "Curly Teeth" with vaudevillian sounds, ray gun sfx, then this nice beat which sounds timbaland-esque, more sfx and that's it. "Golden Phone" With its quick metronome/hi hat beat and a little inclusion of distortion for good measure. Cash register sound effects at the beginning, sparse bleeps and several different beats going on at once, or by themselves, this "Ship" manages to say more in less than two minutes than some songs can say in four, and right before it sinks.. Tribal like drums at the beginning, more electronic bleeps, hip hop beat comes..and goes...instrumentals take the "Floor." Percussive strumming attack several different tempos, and beats,da da da sfx. What the flip? Yeah it's great just listen to it. "Calculator" has more electronic bleeps and keys, percussive washing machine, work out on drums, and just another fun song to listen to with  catchy and hummable chorus."Wrong" is the longest song off the record at 3:34 with all types of percussion (cowbells,hi hat,etc..), almost going in a cycle as the beat starts quick and going toward the finish line it slows down again with those darn cowbells. Get to me and "Turn Me Well," I probably should stop before I fell, into a rut of you said what? The song has a nice beat, but I like some of the first lyrics : "I was told desire had a sell by date/ well it's altered and rotted, but still remains/ climbs the promise of no real change/I didn't think you would last this long.." The final song is "Guts" which has a slow beat with gang vocals, and has minimal lyrics, not even half as much as the amount in "Ship," but it was at least a minute longer. Best Songs: Vulture, Lips, Sweetheart,Curly Teeth, Eat Your Heart, Ship, Floor, Calculator, Wrong, Turn Me Well, Guts.

Free Energy "Stuck On Nothing"

                                                                                                                               Title tracks of albums are done over and over again, but how many times have you heard a song with the title of the band in it? Not nearly as often. If it's done, then you want to make sure it represents in the band in a positive light. The song starts out with some cowbell, and great instrumentals throughout. What a great representation of this band the song makes, just a fun song to listen to, and great guitar work. "Dream City" has this nice beat to it, and makes on want to sing along, at the end there is a nice little saxophone; awesome!! "Bang Pop" is another song that has a great beat and some good instrumentals. I love the lyrics  "Completely crystallized/Cherry lips and long hair/With a pair of sunset eyes/ She's from a weird world/A mistake in Earth descent/Neon lips like a rainbow kid/She's poppin gum in the basement." Do you think its about a woman from another world or feels like it? "All I Know" is that this song has a great beat and some nice instrumentals, and maybe that i'm getting lazy? "Bad Stuff" has nothing bad about it! It has a little dual guitar interplay or is it light strings, I think it is the former. It has a nice pace kept by the beat, and the lyrics may be a little repetitive, but when the last ditch effort to communicate is not working, the message has to be retransmitted and submitted several times. I think this is the longest song at 5:44 and ends with a minute of music sans vocals. Listening to "Dark Trance," I realize that the vocalist almost sounds like Julian Casablancas, especially in this song, and that this song sounds like one that they would have written for "Is This It?" or "Room on Fire." There is nice dual guitarplay at the end, the whole song is good, but it almost is as long as the previous at 5:17. "Young Hearts" has a nice steady beat and line of guitar which may have you dancing, or at least bobbing your head, and gives off positive vibes. I like how" Light Love" starts in the lyrics department:"Light Love/ Don't everybody want that love?/ And it's hard sometimes/ 'Cause everybody's uptight love/ Well, you'll find that out." "Hope Child" has some nice lyrics as well, just thought I would add some for a nice change of pace: "Hope child/Give it some time/You're wonderin why/ Well, how much do you want?/ How much will you give?" The final song is called "Wild Winds" which has some nice horns and a good beat, and maybe some sax thrown in there too? This song is the longest at 6:26 and ends with some nice group vocals and instrumentals.                                                Best Songs: Free Energy, Dream City, Bang Pop, Bad Stuff, Light Love, Hope Child, Wild Winds.

Ke$ha better as a Cannibal or Animal?

  So quality is often more important than quantity, but sometimes you get something that has high levels of both, and I seriously have to say I like Ke$ha's "Animal" record better than the "Cannibal" Ep.I take each reord for what is, and it's been said before, but  good music is good music; it doesn't matter what genre it's from. I also like the feeling I get from listening to (most of) the songs, too! I mean I really liked the title track off Cannibal, as well as Grow A Pear, Crazy Beautiful Life, and the two singles were okay,but not as good as the aforementioned tracks. It seemed like it was rushed and did not have as many good song to me. Oh yeah, all music is subjective, and who wants to read something from a pseudo-critic? Anyway, "Animal" not only had the great title track; the catchy singles Tik Tok, Your Love is My Drug, Take It Off, but it also has the awesome album cuts Kiss N' Tell, Stephen, Dancing With Tears in My Eyes, Hungover, Blind, Backstabber, and the comedic Dinosaur. That is why it sounds good as one thing, because then it's just a long record that has great songs, and some filler, and you get more bang for your buck! So you can take your losses, and the price won't be as much if both records were bought seperately. I forgot to anser the question; well, I would prefer her to be an animal because there is a possibility she might eat me, but as a cannibal there is an absolute confidence that I'd be gone by Tuesday. The animal she makes can also be one of many kinnds as she has song that have different moods and flavors.

Ke$ha "Cannibal"

                                                                                                                                         We start back where the last record ended; a year later glitter queen Ke$sh returns with the Cannibal EP, and the title track is a pretty nice way to start the album. The lyrics are kind of unnerving, to some, but let's say that she has a heart but not for this person the song was for, and that the guy is someone she'd stalk in school, but would have nothing to do with her unless she was famous, and now he's where?! At first I thought "We R Who We R' was lame, but is a song that sticks in your head after a few times. The lyrics are kinda lame, but this song has to deal with being oneself and not to be afraid of being yourself; it sounds kind of the "Born This Way" of 2010. The next song is basically about how a rich guy seducing her with money for sex.What did you expect from a a song called "Sleazy?" "Blow" is another good song, single too, with a good chorus and I like the blow-oh-oh-oh-oh-oho-oh refrain with autotune as well as beat change at the 2:30 minute mark. "The Harold Song" is not too bad, but I think I like the keys and beat of "Crazy Beautiful Life" a little better. I like the Lyrics of "Grow a Pear," as well as the wordplay in the title, and the song in general."I'll C U Next Tuesday," but you just have to tell me where to meet. An autotuned kiss-off that is sarcastic in its sincerity. So there is a remix of Ke$ha's title track from her debut album, which has a slower pace and has different synths.                                                                       Best Songs: Cannibal,We R Who We R, Blow, Crazy Beautiful Life,Grow a Pear.

Ke$ha "Animal"

                                                                                                                                I love the first song "Your Love is My Drug," it has such positive vibes that it gives off, and speaks of how the love of the object of her affection gives her a high; a very catchy fun song. "Tik Tok" may seem lazy and idiotic in the lyric department, but this song is made to be sung along to, and made to be a radio hit. The lyrics are fun; the song is fun; and it makes you want to dance. There's a place I know if you're lookin' for a show that plays another dance anthem for those that go hardcore and like glitter on the floor. It's catchy as heck, and it makes you want to "Take it Off."It has a driving beat,and catchy chorus, and some vocal effects. The first song that was not a single "Kiss N' Tell" has this really catchy chorus, with autotuned vocals,  nice beat, and keys. A dance mosh song, fun to dance and listen to. The lyrics are fun to listen to as well; it's a kiss off song, but the vibes you get when listening to the song are positive, so if you don't pay attention to the lyrics too much you won't notice that she may be a little t'd off.. I like the part where She sings "you really should have kept it in your pants/ hearing dirty stories from your friends..." and how she mentions that she could find someone way hotter with a bigger, wow, well.."Stephen" is another cute song, the intro is really nice with Ke$ha singing a three part harmony, and then it kicks in with a nice beat, and great instrumentals. The lyrics are cute, the music that surrounds it is cute, and so is the vocal pout she uses when singing. It's a song that is about a lost love that is kind of depressing, but is addictive,because it can make you feel good at the same time, and the instrumentals just soften the blow of the remorseful delivery."Blah Blah Blah" with 3OH!3 is another one of the singles, and it's ok, but is not one of my favorites. basically talking about skipping small talk and getting down to business; you know what I mean. "Hungover" has this dancehall beat and slow groove that starts but the song picks up after a minute when the chorus starts "Now the party's over, and everyone is gone/ I'm left here with myself and wonder what went wrong..." Another song about a remorseful decision, but this song has no positive energy released, it's sentimental, and depressing; and you're like... you mean it's not vapid?! No, it feels heartfelt in it's sincerity; she's a human being too and can feel real emotions, even if she likes to wear diferent stuff sometimes. The next song, "Party at a Rich Dude's House" goes back to her dance-mosh vibe with a quick beat and synths. I love the intro and instrumentals to "Backstabber," and all the vocal effects sound really good in this one too."Blind" is another catchy song to sing along to, and even if it's about another sour relationship, the instrumentals keep it positive. "Sick and tired of the mess you made me/ I will never let you see me cry/you must be blind you can't see, you'll miss me till the day you die." The next song vcalled "Dinosaur" is basically about older men hitting on younger women half their age. The lyrics are entertaining, and the song is catchy; there is a nice whistle line in the background, and some vocal effects that sound nice. When she says "Hittin' on me Whaaaaat?" she delivers it in this snotty way, but sounds perfect for the song. "Dancing With Tears in My Eyes" is another bad relationship song, but another that has one feel like dancing. "Boots and Boys" has this sexy vocal delivery about two of her obsessions. " I know I've got myself a habit/ but I gotta have it now/I don't care where, work it out/ let me break it down/ I try it on, I take it off/so what you got?" The title song is a nice way to finish the record off, with a a dancingand driving beat beat (Why do I bother mentioning that, It's Dance pop, No?) and nice synths. She really does have a good voice,even if she has some help from the vocoder,but any effects added helped the songs. Best Songs:Your Love is My Drug, Tik Tok, Take It Off, Kiss N' Tell, Stephen, Hungover, Blind, Dinosaur, Backstabber, Dancing With Tears in My Eyes, Animal

Die Antwoord "$O$"

                                                                                                                                                                       Let's just say the first time I listened to this record I was like what the fLIP?!! These guys love to joke around and play with differrent vocal effects. The beat of "In Your Face" is great, but the vocals and the lyrics are what make this song; the vocal interplay of Ninja and the creepy delivery of Yo-Landi Vi$$er make this song work. "Enter The Ninja" was the song that helped them gain some exposure; that starts with Vi$$er's distinct vocals singing "Ay Yi Yi, I am your butterfly/ I need your protection.." and then we hear Ninja's take on rap delivery which sounds almost like talking and kind of clumsy in this one, He says it with conviction and then inr the middle of the song addresses his haters, and those who had said that he could not make a living by making music. This song is good, I cannot lie. "Wat Kyk Jy" has a nice beat and the vocal interplay of vi$$er and Ninja, which again make the song, with a trance or rave instrumentals. The lyrics, and video (which is graphic and kinda f'd up) of "Evil Boy" makes many references to the act of sex and all of the female and male sex organs, nuf said, but he does make a nod to Biggie. "Rich B****" has Vi$$er spitting rhymes of how she came from rags to being a rich B----, which is constantly repeated in the chorus;  she says rich b---- 28 times with an additional word or two in some of the lines, but the chorus is the title of the song at its core. "Fish Paste" goes back to the interplay between the two vocalists, which works well, and has a nice addictive beat. "$Copie" basically talks about sex and that Vi$$er has what you want, but you are never gonna get it, with this addictive house-clap beat and low bass in the back. "Beat Boy" is the longest song at 8:20 which starts with a human oonce(or human beatbox)..that looks wierd in type, and then has a low bass beat. Their lyrics mention a lot of things that have to do with sex in their music. Here is one of the most explicit in this song "With the meanest penis you have ever seen/ you on your period with no tampon...you kneel down and get with the vibe/ your period blood has crystalized." With no sense of humor it can be unnerving, but we know that humans are sexual beings, and some are thinking it, but not ready to write about it. Understandable, because most don't want to offend anybody,and that's ok, but these guys don't care who they offend. They just write it, and let it out. "She Makes me a Killer" has this nice double step off kilter beat and unveils a story of how this woman had driven Ninja to the end, and ripped his heart out ready to kill. It has great background music when he sings "she makes me a killer." Most of their songs have a beat and minimal instrumental inclusions besides the beat, but this one has string-like sounds when he sings the chorus and a nice beat..it sounds epic! The song is 7:29, but does not feel that long, and has several changes throughout. "Doos Dronk" is another song which has more then just a beat and vocals, the vocals are great, and the beat is addictive. This is a drinking or hangover song, which is great to listen to, as they talk about partying, and there is some voiceover work by Ninja and Vi$$er just talking or yelling at each other, kind of. "$o$" has some nice syth and keys to start it off with a nice driving beat, nice instrumentals as there are no vocals,except one line at the end..I think saying "me happy." There were several versions of this record released, but one song that I had heard prior, but was not included that should have been was a song called "I Don't Need You" which has Ninja singing w/ autotune, it's kind of depressing, but is a nice song and break from the usual delivery; which is not boring by any means, but it's nice to hear some singing too.                                                                                   Best Songs: In Your Face, Enter the Ninja, Evil Boy(?), Fish Paste, Beat Boy, She Makes Me A Killer, Doos Dronk, and $O$. Check Out: I Don't Need You

Tribute to Angie V



Shout out to one of my blogging buds, Angie Varona, for inspiring me to write my own blogs, even if they aren't as great as hers or her friend Devilish's. I plan to draw Devilish next.

Thermals "Personal Life"

                                                                                                                                                              With a song called "I'm Gonna Change Your Life" one may have great expectations. It starts with a slightly distorted bassline and Hutch Harris' distinct vocals that continue throughout. It starts out well, but "I Don't Believe You." The song which has a slightly quicker pace, and a woah oah oah oah can have one singing to it within several listens. Maybe it's better if you just "Never Listen To Me," and just listen to that nice beat and bassline and make your own opinions, what are mine but thin layers of nothing. This song has nice solo in the middle and at the end, and the drums come closer to the forefront with the guitar, around 2:30, and then we just follow the sound, follow him down follow him down. He will tell us everything, but should we listen? Hey, everyone should have their voice heard, it just depends on who will listen. It doesn't feel good to be ignored, it's "Not Like Any Other Feeling." The lyrics hit hard especially this one, they hit home with me. They are pretty depressing, introspective, and  kinda existentialistic  "At the top you relax/you only wait, patient the past/ you are only filling up space/ you only exist to be replaced." OW! It does have a nice solo at the end though. "Power Lies," and feeds on the soul who has it without using a moral/humility holster. "Only For You" will I continue,which is really only me, because no one reads this $#!-. His vocals can take a little bit to get used to, but once you do they can be quite engaging, and the instrumentals on this one are nice."Alone, A Fool," but together I'm with stupid. Basically iti is about how he cannot get someone out of his head, and that maybe he broke it off and he is a fool because of it? "Your Love Is Strong" has this quick beat that makes one want to dance and an o-ay-o-o-o chorus. His vocals were delivered with emotion in most of the songs, especially one such as "Not Like Any Otrher Feeling," but this one seems to have a lot of emotion packaged in his delivery. "A Reflection" is always nice to have after one has been doing something, and curious to continue it, or just to make sure one looks okay before they leave the house. The lyrics are kinda depressing again, but this record, from listening to it has been a personal journey for the band as well as the writer of these lyrics; lets just say that a reflection of love and death is all we have left. A form of therapy, most pursuits such as these are. The song ends with some distortion, as it should! well it seems that maybe "You Changed My Life," thinking it was only a one way street, but both have changed each others lives. The lyrics are both positive, and negative, a nice balance that goes back and forth. Best Songs: I Will Change Your Life, Never Listen To Me, Not Like Any Other Feeling, Power Lies, Alone A Fool, Your Love Is Strong, A Reflection.

Chimaira "The Infection"

                                                                                                                                                                "The Venom Inside" is a great track to star off this record with this great guitar intro, start of an epic... then we hear the growl of the vocalist, Mark Hunter, and the drums at the 1:05 mark. It has this slow groove and beat, that is kind of addictive; not a bad start. "Frozen In Time" follows with a slow beat that picks up after a minute, and do I hear light strings? Then it has a little breakdown,and the drums working, but muted. The song ends with some nice guitar. Who is the one that called himself a writer? Not me. "Coming Alive" is better than coming undone, which has his raspy growl more in the line of Corey Taylor's to some extent. Slow beats and nice guitar solo in the song, and as they get to the chorus at the end the dual vocals work well. "Secrets of the Dead" has great instrumentals, and the delivery of vocals works well with this song, "The Dissappearing Sun," has a good intro, and the slow beats work well, though you can still hear the double bass here and there. Around the two minute mark the tempo picks up and we hear some of his screams as he gets his chicken little on "I won't, I won't turn to dust (2x)/ The sky is falling/the end is near/the final warning the sun dissappears;" and the last minute or so ends with brooding guitar.The next song has these muted vocals that then jump to the vile raspy scream of Hunter around the fifty second mark, and interchange several times; the singing you can finally hear around 3:25 mark. This is probably one of my favorites, it has this nice breakdown, nice groove and instrumentals, but the lyrics are dark and depressing. As it should be from a song called "Impending Doom." The chorus goes " these problems don't have solutions/we are rotting inside this cell/our bodies are like a prison cell/only death will save us from this h#ll." "Broken Glass" doesn't seem so bad to walk on when one has survived impending doom, does it? It has this nasty kind of groove and beat changing at 2:15, with some angry pounding and some shredding; double bass drums; and his vocal delivery with ferocity. "Destroy and Dominate" is a good song too, but doesn't hit it's stride until the last minute and a half. Here is where I say it, his vocals work for some of the songs, but when the vocal delivery is the same through every song it starts to get tedious. "Try To Survive" has this great solo at the end,with that slow brooding groove, and some of the lyrics go along the introspective, but redemptive path "I know I haven't been reliable in the past/ you have had a hard time figuring me out/ but I can promise you one thing, one thing/ I can promise you one thing/ never will I/ surrender my fears, surrender my dreams." The final song, "The Heart of It All" is easily the longest, clocking in at 14:52, and has some great instrumentals.  It is also good, because there is a break from the vocals, which aren't bad, but after several songs of growling and no singing, it gets tedious.It starts on a great note and ends on one too!                                                                                                                                                                    Best Songs: The Venom Inside, Secrets of the Dead, The Dissappearing Sun, Impending Doom, Try to Survive, and The Heart of it All

Cults "Cults"

                                                                                                                                                                              Lets start off with a record from this year with a nice beat and some light guitar strumming bass,yeahhh. Love the vocals and the short interplay between two vocalists, but would rather not be "Abducted" by the cults. Pace changes about the 1:55 mark for a half-minute which is a nice change, and then goes back to the quicker speed. Toy Piano starts off leading to a catchy chorus, great guitar line and beat. Makes you want to "Go Outside," no? The next track,"You Know What I Mean," seems like it is a lovechild of "Unchained Melody" in deliveryand percussion/handclaps and the other instrumentals that border those of "Sugar Pie Honey Bunch." It has this cool punk blast that comes at 0:48 and then goes back to the slower part, but then she finishes it off with that blast, longer, and delivers the vocals in a more exuberant way as she did with the first blast. It sounds like it would not work, but is a real cool song. "Most Wanted" has a nice instrumentals that kind of remind me of and older song, don't know the title but it goes"...if that's alright,alright girl," and at the end it says some sore words,we'll leave it at that. "Walk at Nite" has this nice beat, nice bass, and extra added percussion, that makes one want to dance, in a "Bille Jean" style. It then kicks it up a little at the 2:30 mark with nice spacey keys to end it.  "Never Heal Myself" has a dance-y/samba style beat,with some nice keys and guitar, it causes one to want to dance the samba. "Oh My G()D" has a hip-hop beat with nice,catchy driving bass in the back and the same key sound played over and over; I believe it starts with a little distortion, too. Have you ever waited for a song to get to a point? Well,  I "Never Saw The Point" trying to look for one here except for the introspective clash between the need to try and the confidence in ability, and a beat which picks up at the end with slight ferocity after having you dance, maybe? Hey! No one's watching; It's ok. "Bad Things" has piano on the lower keys and a nice steady metronome beat in the background with some toy piano(?), or xylophone which sounds a little too high to be normal piano. Vocal interplay between two vocalists can help a song, and this time it really helps between the male and female vocals, as the bass comes in light behind the vocals and percussion but is audible and keeps it going,while th melody keeps you singing "la da da da daaaa" on "Bumper." A Nice Beat, off kilter instrumentals at times (audible, but not in the forefront), distortion, and vocals of which you cannot hear neccesarily except for the call to "Rave On" with gang vocals and echo effect. Sooo, this record was pretty cool wanna know what the Best Songs are? I would have to say: Abducted, Go Outside, You Know What I Mean, Walk At Nite, Never Heal Myself, Bad Things, Bumper. Seriously, though all the songs were good, but I think these are the ones that I like best.

Dead By Sunrise "Out of Ashes"

                                                                                                                                                                                A side project from LP vocalist Chester Bennington, however he views it as its own seperate entity, asnd not a "side-project," and to prove so his other band put together a kickasz album. He brings the "Fire" on this one; a song with a steady beat and nice guitar,with a U2 kinda vibe. He has a nice voice, but his vocals sound gruff on this one, and the growl towards the end helps the context of fire. After listening to the first song, would you want to "Crawl Back In"? which is a song about being yourself and not changing because others do not accept you, or at least that is what I got from it.He sings with conviction, and you can really feel the power of his determination to resist the peer pressure. The instrumentals are great in this one, with great lead by Shuck and a nice drum beat held by Andra. One of my favorite songs would be the next song. Is it "Too Late" to give the title? The song starts with a nice guitar by Shuck, and this is a song that you can hear his singing voice more clearly, a slow pace, but a song like this should keep its pace. I think I like "Inside of Me" even better with its awesome punk vibe, and guitar solo played by Shuck. Bennington screams a little in this one, as he describes his head as a loaded gun, and asking what is wrong with him,which soon fires towards the end. A short but killer song! We go back to a slower, lighter song, "Let Down," with a nice bed of drum machine beat and drops of keys until the drum kicks in the the one minute mark, followed by a lil' acoustic guitar strumming at a minute and a half; ok I'm bored let's get to the next song. "Give Me Your Name" has a slow pace and the guitar sounds like it has caught country fever, with a pedal steel guitar sound (almost). It is always good to have different paced songs on one album, and these two songs segued well from one to another. Bennington can showcase his voice again, which is not perfect but is effective. He can definately reveal emotion in his voice, we know that already, so now he is proving he can sing. Now, one's idea of suffering and "My Suffering" might be similiar, but not the same. With this song there is no suffering, just a lot of emotion, and screaming, put in the background,with a mean, forceful beat and deep bass. This would be a good song to listen to if one is ticked off. So suffering is not enough? we have to be "Condemned" too? Slower pace than the previous song, but quicker than some of the earlier ones. We have some screaming, a nice guitar solo, dark lyrics,and more screaming to end the song and let you know he is not happy. "Into You" is another great song with nice vocals (this is one of the songs where his singing sounds best), a slow but addictive beat that speeds up around the chorus and hits its stride the at the last appearnce before the song is over,  and great guitar(especially during the chorus). There is something about this song that sounds familiar, but I cannot but my finger on it, it seems as if I have heard this song before, but by another artist. "End of the World" is not without its frustration, or sincerity, but with all the negative energy the song is revealing it would be hard for him not to sound ticked, in fact it would lose its voice without that frustration.The song has this great beat and bassline, kinda funky, and the instrumentals arre driving, just really spot on! "Walking in Circles" can be kind of depressing as he asks "why is everyone sleeping through life?" among other lyrics commenting how most people don't have the oppurtunity to live their life, but just follow their routine on autiopilot. The solo in this one is great, slow but works follows the vibe revealed throughout. The final song ends on a darker note; a slow pace opening with a hip-hop  handclap beat and strumming that works well together, until fifty second mark where the drums kick in, the handclap is still in the background, and the lyrics are depressing, the beat is addictive and the accompanying instrumentals with the slight echo effect give the feeling of swimming in the dark, trying to reach the surface. But with no light to guide us, there is no sense of direction nor hope; it sounds as if he is trying to escape this rapture, but he cannot, he is too intertwined in this relationship as he says "I will surrender my soul/and give you control/ make me a martyr for love/to the heavens above." All of this makes for an interesting and depressing, but addictive song.                                                                                                                                                              Best Songs: Crawl Back In, Too Late, Inside of Me, Give Me Your Name, My Suffering, Into You, End of the World, In The Darkness.

Josh Ritter "So Runs The World Away"

                                                                                                                                                                         So, it starts with "Curtains," a great short instrumental to start the album with. "Change of Time" is next, with soft guitar in the background which is audible, but is not the focus until about a minute and forty-five seconds where the guitar comes out in the forefront. The beat is low, but steady, and keeps the song going.  Repetitive Chorus, as it is basically "time, love (x3) it's only a change of...," but when isn't a chorus repetitive. However the last minute repeats nothing but the chorus ,so that's kind of annoying, but I like the song. The next song  "The Curse" has piano playing in a vaudeville style and light strings,no percussion in this one, but a nice song it is. We have some light horns that show up around three, then get bored,but they return right before the song is over to send us off into "Southern Pacifica." There is a nice strumming style which causes visions of travelling by canoe, a great beat, and some harp(ischord) or is that a synthesizer? Another good song it is. "Rattling Locks" can be a pain, but these locks have a nice beat, and a great guitar part, a good flow. This song oozes sincerity and seems to deal with a relationship gone sour, and he refers to the subject as a black hole asking " are your eyes as empty as they look?."  The distortion, and the refrain of black hole in the song strengthen it as well. Can it work out? We know that if he would rather spend a day in h(#)ll than to rattle her locks we can figure out that it is over. The next song is more positive, at least the instrumentals make it feel so, despite the title "Folk Bloodbath." A nice beat, light strings and/ or sythesizer, with a short but sweet inflection of horns or trumpet at the 3 and a half minute mark.Is that a glock around four forty? "Lock" has nice guitar, and a positive vibe, again I feel I am on a boat..sailing this time! A great song to listen to while sailing; contemplative, hey-ey-ey-ey? I agree yes, this song is light yes, you can be assured yes, that it does not s(t)ink. Banjos begin "Lantern" and serve as the oil to keep this light aflame, piano and organ helps to back up the repeating strumming pattern of the banjo. However, around two and a half minutes the banjo fades and drums take over with guitar comin' in and the piano coming a little bit louder. The synergy is great, so great that organs want to join too, and do so with ease. Now with a song called "The Remnant," you have to guess the song is reaaal serious, the instrumentals play as somewhere in between , but the collective power of the guitar and the beat , repetitive but effective cause the focus to be on lyrics; one of my favorite lines would be "the pillars of creation where they make the planets /The billion tiny teeth that tear the charge from your atoms." The delivery with the slight vocalics-reverb works well. Speaking of creation, we get to "See How A Man Is Made" in the next song, with sincere melancholy vocals and minimal instrumentation, its power follows the less is more mentality, and anything else added to the song would only ruin it, and weaken the power of the vocal delivery. This is the longest song off the record: "Another New World" starts off with a great intro, and follows the same mentality of less is more, with a contemplative delivery, and his search for the Annabelle Lee. Around 5:48 the percussion and piano starts to pick up and almost has the listener sailing on the keys of the piano instead of the waves of the water,and i 'm not sure but is that tenor sax and glockenspiel at the end?great ending to a great song. "Orbital" has a nice beat to this song (kinda punky) with arpegiating piano? no, but the repetition of the piano keys and the guitar make for a change in delivery.Light-hearted, and a joy to listen too, almost makes one think of "Ring Around The Rosie." Strum those "Long Shadows" away, and go steadfast! the pace is quicker than some of the other songs, add percussion about a minute before the song ends and you got for a short ,sweet song with a positive tone and message. It is the shortest song clocking in at 2:20, but is a nice way to end the record.                                                                                                                                                            Best Songs: Curtains, Change of Time,Southern Pacifica, Rattling Locks, Folk Bloodbath, Lock, Lantern,The Remnant, Another New World,Orbital.