You might believe this is the new Muse album, its sounds like, even the voice and singing style by use of falsetto and vibrato of Lang Freeman reminds me of Matthew Bellamy, but well, Sounds Under Radio are a band from Austin, Texas, formed in mid 2005 by Lang Freeman, Bradley Oliver (bass, keyboard), Sonny Sanchez (drums) and Doug Wilson (guitar).
Their song “Portrait of a Summer Thief” was featured on the “Spider-Man 3” soundtrack ant their were the only unsigned band (at that time) to be included in the soundtrack amongst names like Snow Patrol, Jet, Wolfmother, The Killers, The Flaming Lips, etc.
They signed with Sony/Epic Records in late 2008, but after facing inter-label turmoil, they gave up their contract and in mid 2008 released their first full length LP “Cinematica” independently. Read more Sounds Under Radio – Where My Communist Heart Meets My Capitalist Mind (2011)
post rock
Devin Townsend Project – Ghost (2011)
Devin is probably one of the most talented rock artist of the 21st century, he always find a way to surprise us, to explore a new path, to create and share exciting music and feelings with us. And I think we should thank for this. “Ghost” is the closing act of the four piece release started with “Ki†in 2009 and followed the same year by “Addictedâ€. “Ki†was an exciting incursion into a world of ambiental, jazz, blues and rock blending and “Addicted†lead us into the area of power pop/alternative metal. This year “Deconstruction†and its nine tracks drive us into the contorted, gloomy world of post-metal madness, it was a mind-blowing return to the noisy constructions of the Strapping Young Lad era. As Devin promised, “Ghost” is the mellowest one. And “mellow” is the word that quite fits this material. Read more Devin Townsend Project – Ghost (2011)
Buckethead – It’s Alive (2011)
Buckethead now days feels like riffing, so “It’s Alive”, the thirty-first studio album by this workaholic and madman guitarist it’s mainly heavy fuckin’ metal. “Lebrontron” kick off pumping like an Iron Maiden anthem while it’s dedicated to LeBron James, the American professional basketball player for Miami Heat. “Tonka” brings some modern tones into the music while “”Barnyard Banties” introducing funk and industrial colors in the heavy glows. “Crack the Sky” shift back to the more traditional approach and have a nice, quiet, acoustic break. “The Hatch” pumping on a funky theme with twisted turns and noisy cut downs. “Brooding Peeps” slow down to some medium tempo, it’s a quite classic construction, heavy and hard themes are crossing each other and Buckethead offers a nice solo. “Picking the Feathers” it’s a Buckethead trademark experiment with a crushing riff, a Spanish-like guitar and lots of noises, a nice and convenient closing of the material. Read more Buckethead – It’s Alive (2011)
Boris – Attention Please (2011)
“Attention Please” is the seventeenth studio album by Boris, released simultaneously with “Heavy Rocks” and it shows the darker, more emotional side of the band. Four tracks, “Party Boy”, “Hope”, “Les Paul Custom ’86” and “Spoon” are different versions of songs from “New Album”, while “Aileron” are a short cut version from “Heavy Rocks”. Also a version of “Tokyo Wonder Land” was previously released on the “Golden Dance Classics” split release with 9dw.
“Attention Please” is the first album on which all vocals are sung by lead guitarist, Wata and features her intimate, multifaceted vocal style. While Boris are widely known for their ability to breach styles and stretch sonic boundaries of all that is heavy, psychedelic and drone music, “Attention Please” are more airy, ambiental-like, cinematic, unexpectedly clean and sparking, but still pretty dark and exploring. Read more Boris – Attention Please (2011)
Boris – Heavy Rocks (2011)
After “New Album” released on March 16, 2011, Boris are back with the promised two new records, “Heavy Rocks” and “Attention Please”. “Riot Sugar” kick off heavily as it we probably expected while Boris declared that they try to redefine “heavy” and the new “Heavy Rocks” has the same name and cover style as their album released in 2002, although the cover now is purple instead of orange. “Leak -Truth, yesnoyesnoye” sounds a little bit more mysterious and liquid, although the guitar remains heavy and some cutting edge riffs maintain the pulse and once again Boris managed to merged into one their rock and their experimental sides. “GALAXIANS” explode like a punk-rock anthem to twist into some noisy garage rock tune with some heavy metal riffs. It’s (another) crazy stuff, so it’s absolutely Boris. Read more Boris – Heavy Rocks (2011)
Company of Thieves – Running From a Gamble (2011)
Musicians have their entire lives to write their debut, and a year to complete the followup. I guess this is the result of industrializing the music and turn it from art into business. Company Of Thieves take their time with the second album while “Ordinary Riches”, originally was independently issued in 2007 and came out in February 2009 and their second album, “Running from a Gamble”, was released on May 17, 2011. And the waiting for it’s worth. The 13 new songs keeps that friendly, warm, familiar, close and tight feeling which makes Company Of Thieves so bright and special and bring them a feverish fanbase which extended lately.
While Genevieve Schatz reminds me sometimes of Bjork, their music is a nice blending of indie/alternative rock with roots back to The Beatles and soft shades of blues with the gloomy texture of Portishead and the explosion of 12 Rounds (an awesome and unfairly forgotten band). Read more Company of Thieves – Running From a Gamble (2011)
She Wants Revenge – Valleyheart (2011)
Having a deep and dark Depeche Mode after-taste, the Americans from She Wants Revenge are back with their third studio album after a four years gap. “Valleyheart” with its ten brand new songs holds the same Depeche Mode marks, it’s a gloomy, minimalist, but vibrating material with a typical/traditional British taste. “Must Be the One”, the leading single it’s available for free download on the band’s Facebook page. Justin Warfield – vocals, guitar, keyboards and Adam Bravin (aka Adam 12) – bass guitar, keyboards, guitar, drum machine, percussion, programming, vocals get their musical roots and inspiration in bands such Joy Division, but also Depeche Mode, New Order, Bauhaus, Danse Society and the darker areas explored by The Sisters of Mercy. They have been compared to Interpol and My Bloody Valentine. Read more She Wants Revenge – Valleyheart (2011)
Arctic Monkeys – Suck It And See (2011)
Their debut album “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not” released in 2006, became the fastest-selling debut album in British music history, surpassing Oasis “Definitely Maybe” and remains the fastest-selling debut album for a band in the UK since. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, Arctic Monkeys are one of the first acts to come to the public attention via the Internet and receiving attention from the British tabloid press.
In 2005 the band played a critically acclaimed performance at the Carling Stage of the Reading and Leeds Festivals, reserved for less known or unsigned bands. Their appearance was hyped by much of the music press and the band was watched by an unusually large crowd.
They refused to change their songs to suit the industry and resisted signing to a record label and their cynicism towards the industry was such that record company scouts were refused guaranteed guest list entry for their gigs. The success of the strategy was illustrated with a series of sell-out gigs across the UK and Ireland.
But as any fairly tale got to an end, finally they signed to Domino in June 2005. The band said they were attracted to the “DIY ethic” of the label, but the UK’s Daily Star reported that following the record deal, Arctic Monkeys singed also a £1 million publishing deal with EMI and a £725,000 contract with Epic Records for the United States. Eventually the band denied this on their website, dubbing the newspaper “The Daily Stir”. Read more Arctic Monkeys – Suck It And See (2011)
Blindside – With Shivering Hearts We Wait (2011)
I’m not quite a fan of the so-called christian rock or white metal. Jesus and rock are not such a nice couple and actually I’m not a fan of JC, further I don’t accept the idea that somebody else did or should pay for my sins and I didn’t met him yesterday at the corner as many lost souls claimed they does. Well, perhaps I’m gonna rot in hell, but let me worry about this by myself, don’t fucking try to convince me and if I can’t save myself, nobody else dose. My favorite line comes from Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), it’s quite Nietzsche inspired, but it says all: “Your God is dead and no one cares, if there is a hell I’ll see you there.” (Heresy) Practice what you preach, but don’t preach what you practice. Faith should be private as sex. But well, once again, I’m just a fucked-up guy.
But leaving aside all my prejudices, Blindside rocks. Read more Blindside – With Shivering Hearts We Wait (2011)
I Spy Strangers – The Kind Of Dirty You Cant Wash Off (2011)
The term stranger is the traditional way of referring to someone physically present in the Palace of Westminster who is neither a member of parliament nor a parliamentary official. Nowadays, strangers – visitors – can watch debates, and can sit in the Stranger’s Gallery. Historically, visitors were not allowed in at all. Parliament still has the right to debate in private, and any visitor causing a disturbance can be ejected, or even taken into custody by the Serjeant at Arms.Attempts to exclude visitors are usually employed simply to disrupt or delay the House’s proceedings, a kind of filibustering. An MP wishing to interrupt used to shout “I spy strangers”.
This kind of so-called post-hardcore few years back would be labeled without a blinking of an eye emo. Read more I Spy Strangers – The Kind Of Dirty You Cant Wash Off (2011)
