Why we should buy an album? Obviously for the music. Unfortunately the “normal” answer is not quite the right one. As music becomes part of the entertainment industry and artist becomes brands, just like with the clothing, we pay for and buy the brand. Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta aka Lady GaGa conquered the world after releasing her debut “The Fame” in 2008 with some catchy songs, singable choruses, “Poker Face”, “Paparazzi” and later “Bad Romance” from “The Fame Monsters” (2009) were strike at first, easy to memorize, singable, catchy songs. Sledge hammering dance beats, plodding keyboard patterns, pumping drums are not necessarily everything, not without melodies. “Born This Way” seems to be written for performances as part of the show where music mainly becomes secondary and much more matters the costumes, the scenography, the dancers, the lights and lasers and well, for the singer it becomes difficult to focus on singing while she have a main role in the show and have to dance as well, so complicated or consumptive vocal scores are not quite recommended. Lady GaGa becomes part of a pop cabaret, a traveling circus and her music is only an accessory of the whole picture. And that brings be back to the beginning. In that case, if this is “only” a soundtrack, part of a bigger production, why we should buy the album? Read more Lady GaGa – Born This Way (2011)
Reviews
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)
Centox – Centox (2011)
Reminds me mainly of Korn, Centox new album is build of quality and traditional nu metal songs. They are not actually re-invent anything, but this is a nice collection of cutting edge guitar riffs, twisted vocals, pumping rhythms, in few words, they put together that makes nu metal rocks. On the other hand, while Korn seems to lost their direction, “Centox” is a nice piece of traditional, full of energy and screamable choruses album.
Centox came together in the spring of 2006 when founding members Cesar “237” – guitars/vocals and Steve Hart began to write songs at a local studio in their hometown of San Pedro, CA. The two hired Daniel Gomez for guitar duties, and Glenn Ellis on bass, both of whom had been in bands with the founding members prior to the formation of Centox. Rene Araujo was put to the microphone and in 2006 the band recorded a 6 track EP followed by the debut album “”Above Them All”. Read more Centox – Centox (2011)
Decree – Fateless (2011)
Leading us back to the dark and noisy sound of Godflesh, Decree deliver us “Fateless”, an expression of anger and kind of discomfort. Chris Peterson is probably best known for anyone that is familiar with industrial genre for stepping in to fill the void left in Front Line Assembly and Delerium every time Rhys Fulber leaves to concentrate on some other project and as well, Peterson is known as producer for acts such Noise Unit and Unit 187. But Decree have nothing to do with FLA or Delirium, Peterson with Decree going down on a darker, heavier path, exploring noisy and crushing sounds, mechanical cadence and dissonant layers are flow throughout the songs marked by cutting riffs and raw, filtered vocals. It’s quite unfriendly, but extremely intense. Read more Decree – Fateless (2011)
Ad Inferna – There Is No Cure (2011)
Mixing dark EBM with Euro-dance/trance and some Gothic/Industrial twist, Ad Inferna from Bordeaux, Aquitaine, France, returning with their forth studio album “There Is No Cure”. Actually, this is a dark place where there’s no God. The duo of VoA VoXyD – Lead Guitars, Keyboards & Electronics and V. V. Arkames – Lead Vocals moved from Trance (“Trance N Danceâ€) to club oriented EBM (“DSMâ€) and now they go down on a darker path with Gothic shades and blending their Trance roots with the previously incorporated EBM sounds. Powerful beats, dark multi-layer textures, gloomy soundscapes and mixed lyrics, both English and French, create dark and filthy atmosphere. Read more Ad Inferna – There Is No Cure (2011)
Galactic – The Other Side of Midnight Live in New Orleans (2011)
Stanton Moore worked with Robert Walter, Corrosion of Conformity, he’s one of the founding members of Galactic, but he’s also involved in other projects as well: Stanton Moore Trio, Garage A Trois and the Midnite Disturbers. Recently I wrote about Garage A Trois and their latest release. New Orleans outfit Galactic has a well earned reputation as one of the most exhilarating live acts around. Originally formed in 1994 as an octet (under the name Galactic Prophylactic) and including singer Chris Lane and guitarist Rob Gowen, the group was soon pared down to an instrumental sextet of: guitarist Jeff Raines, bassist Robert Mercurio, drummer Stanton Moore, Hammond organist Rich Vogel, Theryl DeClouet on vocals, and later adding saxophonist Ben Ellman. Last year the band released the critically acclaimed genre defying sonic tribute to the Big Easy entitled “Ya-Ka-May”. “The Other Side of Midnight” was recorded during an electrifying sold-out show at legendary New Orleans’ nightclub “Tipitinas” and features a host of guest appearances from the bawdy hip-shaking gender bending “bounce” star Big Freedia to local legends Cyril Neville and Trombone. Read more Galactic – The Other Side of Midnight Live in New Orleans (2011)
Tera Melos – Echo On The Hills Of Knebworth (2011)
Let’s say this from the beginning: this is not “something” easy to digest to the Billboard like music consumers. Actually, Tera Melos after finished tracking for “Patagonian Rats”, they previous record released in 2010, at the hangar in Sacramento, had some additional studio time and decided to record a live, improvised piece for… fun. “Echo On The Hills Of Knebworth” is a 51 minutes track, a stream of conscious, weird, messed up playing, freakout, improvised piece.
Tera Melos have developed a cult-like fan base around the United States. The band was formed in 2004 in Sacramento, California, after the breakup of Nick Reinhart and Nathan Latona’s former band No Regard. They teamed up with Jeff Worms and Vince Rogers. Jeff Worms, left the band in 2007 and as a trio they embarked on their first national tour with The Fall of Troy, Portugal. The Man and Damiera. Read more Tera Melos – Echo On The Hills Of Knebworth (2011)
Absolution – The Other Side Of Nothing (2011)
On the other side of nothing there is Absolution. Stepping in the foot-prints of P.O.D., Godsmack, Drowning Pool and other acclaimed representatives of the post nu metal and alternative metal scene, this band from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, delivering their second album. They heavily promoting themselves in support of their previous, critically-acclaimed EP “Theory Of Existence” sharing the stage with many great acts such as Ill Nino, Nonpoint, Drowning Pool, Tantric, Taproot, RED, Future Leaders Of The World, Ekotren, A New Revolution, Sick Puppies, Otep, CKY, Halestorm, Black Stone Cherry and many more, they gained an impressive following.
Powerful and melodic, passionate and adrenaline pumping, Absolution gained experience and reach its maturity. Read more Absolution – The Other Side Of Nothing (2011)
