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)
rock
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)
Seether – Holding On To Strings Better Left To Fray (2011)
“Fur Cue” kick off exploding with raw riffs, pumping energy like a furious Godsmack track and it sounds like any promising nu metal anthem. But in the very neck song, “No Resolution”, Seether settle down to some Stone Temple Pilots after-taste-like area and the rest of the album balancing between this (post) Pearl Jam and Stained marked genre of indie/alternative rock. “Tonight” sounds quite pop while “Country Song” brings some Southern tastes. Read more Seether – Holding On To Strings Better Left To Fray (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)
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)
Sixx: A.M. – This Is Gonna Hurt (2011)
“If you don’t deal with your demons, they will deal with you, and it’s gonna hurt.” – said Nikki Sixx and mainly this is the essence of this new album. Actually this is “an original soundtrack” to accompanied the book, part photo chronicle and part journal, a follow up to his New York Times bestseller, “The Heroin Diariesâ€, released on April 12th. This Is Gonna Hurt†chronicles Sixx’s experience, from references to his early years filled with toxic waste to his success with Mötley Crüe, his death from an over-dose and rebirth to his addictions to music, photography, and love along with the journey of photographing these images over the past couple of years.
The album debut at #1 in the Billboard’s “Hard Rock Chart”, and also charted on Billboard 200 on #10, #5 Rock Albums, #9 Digital Albums, #3 Independent Album and #16 Tastemaker Album. Another success story. Read more Sixx: A.M. – This Is Gonna Hurt (2011)
Richard Cheese – Live At The Royal Wedding (2011)
Prince William and Catherine Middleton get married. Who gives a shit? Well, it seems a few million of idiots from all over the world. I asked this, I ask again: we’re getting retarded? Yes, we do, because, yes, we can. I don’t wanna sound disrespectful, but hey, what’s so fuckin’ special about already balding Williams? Except the fact that he won the birth lottery and instead born in Somalia and starving to death he was born at St Mary’s Hospital, London, in the right freaky family, well, I think there’s nothing special about this dude. And well, being short, fuck the Pope, fuck the Royal Family, and generally speaking: fuck everybody! (Who’s volunteering to be the first? 😀 )
On 29 April 2011, Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine performed at the royal wedding reception for Prince William & Catherine Middleton in London, England! 😆 The album captures this live “cocktail hour” performance, featuring 15 romantic love songs recorded live at Buckingham Palace. Well, actually I don’t think so, but still, we’ve got a new live recording of Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine. Read more Richard Cheese – Live At The Royal Wedding (2011)
Ben Harper – Give Till Its Gone (2011)
Rock N’ Roll Is Free? Well, according to Ben Harper it is or at least, it should be. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances, activism, actually at the age of 12, Harper played his first gig and since 1992 he released a couple of quality records, shifting his style and approach between different sounds and genres.
His father, Leonard, was of African-American and Cherokee ancestry, and his mother, Ellen Chase-Verdries, is Jewish. His maternal great-grandmother was a Russian-Lithuanian Jew, so being multi-colored, shifting styles and merging genres it’s not quite surprising. But actually beyond his talent, this mixture of colors, shades and musical perfumes make his music so charming. Read more Ben Harper – Give Till Its Gone (2011)
