Well considering i seem to be getting quite a few albums, and i had some interest in my muse review (which shocked me) i have decided to review some albums and put them on here, and possibly further it onto a website of my own in a few manths maybe.

 

Anyways, this is just a copy of the new Muse album that i reviewed the other day, how-ever tonight i shall also do my review of the new dave matthews solo album, which i now have through advance leaking, and will be importing for my birthday next week anyways. yay!!!

 

Music Review

 

Absolution

 

right...having been waiting with baited breath as to the new muse sound, and my only hearing before now was seeing the video to "our time is running out" i was a little curious as to how the rest of the album would turn out.

 

well...

 

kicking off into apocalypse please it's rather heavy on the piano to start with, but it's hardly a bad thing. The piano and drums meld together, with an electric guitar holding the background noise well. The lyrics are somewhat samey, and as we've come to expect with Muse. However bellemy does seem to be a bit stronger on his vocal work these days, a sign of improvement perhaps. The song is somewhat catchy and reminds me of a classic 80's queen sound, so it's defintly rock and not glorified pop as many people have switched to very recently. Good song, and a slight experiement into the song, which i like. One i could and have lsitened to again and again

 

So what's next, well it's "our time is runing out". Most of you will no doubt have heard this by now, and it sounds the same. Catchy, not what i would by defanitioin call classic muse, with the underlying bass guitar as the main beat. But i like it, although i always want the ending to go on longer, no doubt it will when in a live show. strong lyrically and a strong video will help promote the album.

 

"sing for absolution" is next, and opens up in a slow relaxed style, with a piano riff that wouldn't look out of place for some ska bands, and i mean proper 80's ska not this modern day defanition. The bass and drum are steady throughout, nothing over-rides the sound which is good. Still sounding like 80's queen at times during the chorus, which is far from a bad thing. It's catchy, not heavy but mellow. how-ever three minutes in, they hit the heavier rock vibe on the guitars and drums, and bellemy starts pelting out the lyrics. A nice evolution of the song through-out. already showing that this album is classic muse.

 

so "stockholm syndrome", well i must say the start did not impress me. The intro makes this song sound no different to the hordes of songs we see and hear from many other bands out there. Thankfully when matt opens his mouth it starts to sound more like muse, but i can't help but feel dissapointed by this song. The drumming is strong, but the rest i find quite weak. There's nothing special about this song, sure it might be catchy, and might have a basic beat that'll get you tapping your feet or banging your head in concert. But until the chorus i don't like this song what so ever. The piano in the chorus how-ever goes really well, and gives it something a little unique. But when it stops i get bored again. Sadly not a song i wil listen to again and again

 

"Falling away" with you is next on the album, and starts off ever so slowly. With a guitar work that you would never associate with muse. But it is muse, and it's a slow song, somewhat poppy in nature to start with, more indie than pop actually. It' s a nice little riff on the guitar, and it's mellow. Relxaed ater the last few songs. A nice contrast. Bellamy is perhaps at his best, his voice insn't strained and he isn't bawling it out. and it sounds just that little bit different until 1:20 in, when it goes to more classic bellemy style, but it's good, its an evolution. It's nice. The entire song evolves, the drums, the guitar, the piano, his voice, a very strong showing of how a band can work together well and make a raw basic song work so well. how they cna turn an indie based slower song, into a more heavier rock song and back. One of my faves on the album

 

"Hysteria" next, and i guess it's somewhat classic muse, with the bass line that reminds me of a more hyper our time is running out. The guitar work also sounded somewhat familiar but i couldn't figure out why. Although i like the song, it's nothing special. It sounds like the song we've heard a thousand times before, sure it's not bad, which is good. but again, i wouldn't listen to it over and over again. Lyrically the song is quite strong though. And some nice soloing on guitar, but the song just pretty much remains the same throughout, no evolution, just the same and by the end of the song i feel that it's been longer than it has

 

Blackout, well it starts off as though it's a classical song mixed with the greek music. It's definatly different. And thus grabbed my attention. Bellamy's voice suits this style of music perfectly. Infact his voice sounds more like an instrument, it's beautiful. Along with that, the lyrics are wonderfully worked, both uplifting in a way, yet also very sad. It's a wonderful piece of writing and music mixed. If it were a cake, it would be a large cheesecake, not this bland sponge that we get all the time. I like the violin work in this, it adds a new array to muse. but they're not content to stay like that, they try adding influences of rock, and thankfully they add it in slow mixes, so it works well. By the end of the song, it could so easily make you cry. Brillaint, just brilliant

 

"Butterflies and hurricanes" starts off more like Rammstien for a few seconds. But it evolves past the mundane sound when bellamy opens his mouth. Again, the lyrics are brilliant and the voice suits the style. The great thing is, they don't try to jump stright in and rock it, they build it up gradually. You will be tapping your feet to it for a little while, feeling mellow. and it's a nice feleing to have. then wham, the bridge is just a classy mix of style, into the chorus. Classic muse by then. and i'm loving it. it sounds like a different song, they work it well. Again the drumming is strong. the voice is strong (as we've come to expect by now). two and a half minutes in, there's some instrumental bits, that mix classical sounding music with a more rock and roll bit, again a slight queen influence, but like queen, muse can and do pull it off. 3 minutes 22 in and it sounds just like a classical song, all piano and string, such a contrast to some of the song. as much as innuendo was a contrast of styles for queen, so this is for muse. and after the nice piano and string section, we slow things down, make it more depressing, building up frustration with the lyrics, until we finally blow and we're angry again. Bellowing it out, the drums returning, the pain can be heard within the lyrics, oh yes this is muse at it's best

 

"TSP", i am afraid i didn't like much. The drumming was nice and somewhat headbanging, and the voice was strong. but the rest again sounded a little bland from muse. it's not what i expect. although they do have their own definative style throughout, it just sounds like other bands immitating muse. I was not impressed

 

"Endlessly", starts differently to most muse songs again. slower poppier indie vibe again. To me it does sound very late 80's to early 90's. Obviously this was the era that they were gorwing up with, and so are influenced by them, and it's nice. It's not breath taking, it's not amazingly different from other songs, but there are some very nice touches in the song, and it doesn't get out of hand. It never heads into that heavy rock, infact it remains softer throughout. it's nice.

 

"thoughts of a dying athiest" is the bliss of this album. Although i hated bliss, i can tolerate this. the guitar work is simple yet effective. There is nothing spectacular about this song again, but it's muse by defanition, although it's the part of muse i've never liked so much. What i dont like is that the song hardly evolves, and when it does, it feels a little too late for me, but it shows that muse are rock music and nothing else. This song is, in my view is more of the sound of the last album than this one, but it's good for the older muse fans i guess.

 

the final song on the album is "Ruled By secrecy". The title grabs my attention. i like it, and it starts off with piano and a quiet bass guitar. You can feel the pain in his voice and lyrics. the idea that the song is portraying of course varies, but to me it felt like he'd been stabbed int he ehart and was in limbo about what to do. At one moment sad, but starting to relaise that it wasn't all his fault. His frustration buidling, as more instruments join in the song. It's hard to believe how quickly this song goes by, you can feel it building up and up, threatening to break out into a heavier rock song, but it remains quiet for a while, gradually adding energy to it. gradually pushing the limits. before we get into a more rockier tune, but it's more the "my heart has been destroyed" pain rock than anything else. not a sign of anything nu metal in this, which is good. The song doesn't break into a rock song, but it remains mellow throughout, one that could be palyed at a funeral. and a nice quiet ending to the album

 

over-all i liked the album, definatly more stronger than weaker songs, and all seem to be a step up from the previous efforts. The ever evolving sound, a mix of more depressing radiohead, the classic queen and their own style thrown in, will ensure that this album is good and worth listening to several times.

 

my score 88/100

 

after re-listening i am now liking butterflies and hurricanes a lot more than before, up there with falling away as my fave song on this album. which i think i will have to keep the swcore the same, cos 90 plus scores are what i will consider groundbreaking albums of all time, and i don't think this will be a groundbreaking album, but it's definatly far superioir to a lot of the crap we get released these days. It'll be in the top 10 rock releases of this year for sure

 

 

 

Next album to be reviewed "Dave Matthews - Some Devil"

 

and do you have any thoughts on my reviews, or any requests before you go and buy one, i'll see what i can do.

So, The rather famous, regards usa, Dave Matthews embarks upon his 1st solo album. Having recent band memeber Boyd Tinsely do his own rather lackluster solo album, which flopped, and was panned by critics how does the Dave Matthews band frontman hold up?

 

Rather eagerly awaiting within the fanbase, of which i have to admit to being a part of, we've been dying to hear studio versions of two songs that were played on tour, gravedigger and stay or leave, but the rest seem new songs. which is good.

 

so lets kick off this review by looking at the 1st song

 

"dodo" i'm not exactly sure why it's called dodo, as the song seams rather poppy in nature, a little mellow. Somewhat unlike dmb, it's a little strange really. The lyrics are typically dave, about the pain of love in this sense. I'm not sure how i feel, the trumpets are a nice little touch in the song, and no one instrument over-rides the other, like you would expect from someone in a jam band. Infact the song is rather radio friendly. not sure if this is a good thing. the rythm doesn't evolve either, which i don't like. I'm sorry but i don't really like this song on 1st listen, but i'm sure i'll make myself being a dave fan. it's nothing majorly wrong it's just not what i expect. but it's somewhat uplifting, and my own musical taste vary on mood.

 

"so damn Lucky" is the next song on the album. Starts off a bit more typical dave. A somewhat catchy guitar riff, infact it's more a slower, catchy rock/pop song. I quite like how it goes. The lyrics, are as we have come to expect of dave, rather strong. and his voice is solid. This song evolves it's sound as the song continues, which is something i like in my songs. The song somehow inspires me to hope in my own life, which i like. A song that actually makes me think and feel something. As a dave fan it's itneresting to hear a new sound with dave, and as a none dave fan..well i don't know. it sounds a bit different to most mainstream out there. It's got elements of pop, rock and alternative music in there. It somewhat a foot tapping song. a nice solid effort, preferable to "dodo" but my fave part of this song, is the last minute, it's nice. Somewhat comparable to some coldplay with a mix of five for fighting.

 

"gravedigger" oh how i longed to hear this, when i did hear it full studio last week it blew me away. I knew the lyrics so well, i knew the tune, hell i could even play it. It was a sweet song when acoustic solo, moving and powerful. So how is it full band? even better. A much rockier tune, infact the drum gives a lot of that original guitar tune. And dave's voice is strong, although he is obviously much stronger in his live performances when he wails them out. This is the dave i've longed to hear, i always thought his voice would suit a rockier edgier side. The closing minute and a half simply blows me away. Some might say it's somewhat radiohead and u2 influnced, but i would say it goes back as far as led zepplin. Much more classic rock sounding thanany song so far on the album, and amazingly powerful. I love it. I would love to hear this full band and live.

 

"some Devil" a complete contrast to Gravedigger, a much slower, sadder song in terms of the basic tune. Infact the basic tune is just a guitar and daves voice. It's a quite moving song. Nothing spectacular, but it's a mellow, depressing tune. It reminds me of the cure somewhat, although less tacky. It's something that'll grow on you for sure, but if you're ever sad, this is one of those songs you'll pick up and just listen to. A breakup song if i ever heard one.

 

"Grey, Blue Eyes" starts off more tradiotanl dave matthews, a slow drawing start, that has dave doing a slight variont on "ooh" that he can do with his voice. It starts out very simple, with the lyrics and voice rather husky and it gradually builds up. Portraying the feeling within the lyrics. To me this is another breakup song, but my type of breakup song isn't always the same as everyone else. a somewhat depressing song, to follow on from one, yet i think it's a very nice little song, nothing amazingly special but quite nice all the same. It just never gets out of 2nd gear, although it'll grow on me like all slower songs.

 

"trouble" well same title as a coldplay song, is it as good. Hmm, it's a different song. Somewhat more poppy, but i can actually imagine this in a romantic film, after the girl blows the guy off (in the none sexual way) and it's pissing down with rain and he's in the middle of the road mopping around. Dave's voice is as solid as it has been, and the tune, although poppy, is never cheesy. IT's a little more uplifting than the previous two songs, with a nice little verse about halfway through that i really love. "my empty heart begs you, leave me be" is a line i simply love. In a way this is kind of a coldplay song, the coldplay we see without the piano and the basic love riffs thatthey do. At least i find something quite samey. It's a nice little tune, but again it's nothing amazingly spectacular.

 

"save me", now i have a quee song on the greatest hits volume one by that name and i adore it. So how does Dave's effort do? Well it sounds a bit more rocky than most efforts on the album. It reminds me of a sherly crow or alanis song, not exactly sure why. But the electric guitar gradually goes into more complicated riffs, it has a sort of led zepplin, guns and roses riffness to it. for lack of a better word i guess. The song definatly goes a lot more classic eagles rock by the end, and it's a nice ending. Another solid song, another solid set of lyrics, another solid effort really, but nothing amazingly spectacular again.

 

"stay or leave" well having heard this one live a few times during the dave and tim acoustic tour in the spring, i was wondering how it would song. and having loved the lyrics and basic tune back then i waited with baited breath. Obviously the fan's responce to the tune, has influenced the fact that it's remained pretty much the same. The lyrics are some of my faves on the album, and perhaps have some of the best lines in recent works for Mr Matthews. A classic dave matthews song if ever there was one. I personally thought this was going to edge onto a more rock sound in the studio, because that's the way it was sounding live, but it edged to a more indie alternative, which is great. at 2:50 when the song changes slightly, it's a nice indie tune. somewhat like an REM song. and the lyrics become the best of the lot. I really do like this song, so much so that i gave it two lsitens before moving on to review the next song.

 

"an another Thing", do we know this? well yes classic dave fans will know this....it's Little thing renamed. And oh how i love that song. To be fair, it's little thing with new lyrics but same basic tune. A fan fave, finalyl makes a studio release. And it's as depressing here, as ever before, if not more so. The violin bit is a nice addition, and makes the song that little bit more depressing. I don't really know what to say, i have always loved this song, and always wanted it to get more coverage and play than it ever did, but a studio version has blew me away. The new lyrics fit as perfectly as the old ones. The additions to the basic sound add that extra emotion that could only be made up for with his voice when done live. But this has everything. A very classic Dave tune, a slit your wrist, cry your eyes out, "i realise what i miss, i realise what i have song". wonderful on so many levels.

 

"oh" appears to be the title of the next song, it's a very poppy sounding song, but again thankfully not mainstream pop. It's just a lot more radio friendly than some other efforts.a much shorter song than most on the album, and the lyrics are strangely uplifting from dave, more of a get together song than break-up song. This has amore percussionist sound to it than the rest of the album, and some of that south african influence, i think so anyway.

 

"baby", is another more classic dave matthews sound. The voice and lyrics sound very early DMB. It also has some smashing pumpkin elements in it. This is a nice little number, rather short at 2:18 but it's catchy with a strong set of lyrics and the vocals match. Again, nothing spectacular, but it's nice in a more sit back and relax way, while i listen to a sad song. Somewhat bob dylan inspired i think

 

"up and away" definatly has the bob marley influence. Dave clearly giving a tip off to one of his biggest hero's. He even has the marley mannerisms in his voice during the verse. Infact it makes me happy to know that we can still hear songs like this today. It's a really nice song. A nice array of instruments, a strong vocal and some very 70's lyrics and sound. It a retro sound yes, but ti's great. This song instantly grew on me, and if it wasn't 3:30am i would be blasting it out,r est assured i will be at any given chance to do so. Dave adds a rock influence witht he drums later in the song, but still keeping the rather african marley feel to it. A nice mix of styles that works beautifully. I adore this song, and i'm sure it'll be well recieved, infact i think it should be the next single.

 

"too high" has a guitar riff that should sound slightly familiar. It's a slight variation on the chords used in some live eprformances of "too much" and the elvis cover of "stuck on you". It's a chord pattern that has worked well before, and does so here. It sounds a little like travis to me, but also keeps a rather unique dave feel to it. As per usual solid lyrics and voice. And a guitar chord pattern that'll get you tapping you feet. The song progresses from a slow mellow riff, to a more classic rock song. With drums kicking in slowly but surely, and his voice getting rawer and edgier as we go throughout the song. another good example of evolution during a song, which is something that many artists lack these days. Towards the end of the song we get more u2 style, in the late 80's early 90's era, before joshua tree. I like this song, a lot actually. up there as one of my fave's on the album.

 

the final song, is actualyl one already on the album, it's "gravedigger" again but this time acoustically. FOr old school dave fans it's the same tune we've ehard on tour, so why do it acoustically? i'm not sure, but i love this song so i don't mind, and it's nice to hear a good quality acoustic version. and it's actually nice to compare the two versions and see how it both sounds the same yet completely different. Although it's said acoustic, there is also a violin that joins in towards the endof the song, and adds a more depressing edge to it. i love the song, as i've said. so this is a different version,of the same song, that i adore still.

 

So to conlude, i was fearful that this album would be awful. that he'd try too hard to please everyone, but in reality it would seem that dave has gone after his own desires in what he wanted to do. There, are, how-ever few amazing songs on the album. There's ins't a downright awful song, which is good to me, but most are just good solid efforts. This album wont go down as a classic, and hailed as one that'll spawn a new style liek the early dmb albums did and have done. But in regards to band members who will have a career when it's voer for the band..dave has staked his claim. He knows what he can do, he knows how to not toallty mess it up and he has avoice that'll fit varying styles of song, which is proven here. Of course this review is bound to be biast as i'm a huge dave fan, but i would also be a lot harsher on dave had he messed up. The best songs on there, to me, are "Gravedigger", "stay or leave", "up and away" and "an another thing". all very good dave songs that i simply adore. Dave shows his influences from childhood, fromt he ebatles (somewhat"dodo") to bob marley, to bob dylan to u2. it's anice contrast of styles, something different to what we're used to, and thankfully he hasn't gone too mainstream with regards cheesy pop.

 

score

 

80/100

hey garry, can you do a review of Jason Mraz's "Waiting for my Rocket to Come".. i'm interested to see what you say about it. :) Thanks SB!! haha :smug:

can someone get me some good "kings of leon" rev???? :huh:

Wheee...Mraz...jason Mraz...i'm a fanof Mr mraz too...

 

so i'll start witht hat tonight....and tomorrow i'll give kings of lean a whirl, i had somwhat promised a friend i'd give them a listen to anyways. So lets see.

 

 

Jason Mraz - Waiting For My rocket to Come

 

The dabut album, after months of playing at Java joes in the usa, has recieved somewhat rave reviews, but how does it far from me? Well it might end up doing rather well considering i am somewhat a mraz fan...but lets delve properly into this.

 

Track 1 - You And I Both

 

well, the opening track, and you can tell that Dave Matthews was influential on this guy. It starts off in the slow classic dave matthews way, but also in a david gray style. Showcasing some nice lyrics, that unlike most of his heros lyrics are rather uplifting. As the song progresses it gets a little more alternative, mixed with pop. It's quite difficult to explain, especially with the voice, it's a somewhat, you love it or hate it. He can reach quite high note,s as he showcases here. But this song never breaks out of 2nd gear. it remains slow, as i'm sure it's supposed to, but i don't always think the tune matches all the lyrics. A nice solid effort, and one i'm sure i'd be proud of as the 1st track on my debut album.

 

Track 2 - I'll Do anything

 

This starts off a lot more pop rock. The lyrics are a little weaker, in my opinion, than the previous song. Perhas because it's got a poppier feel to it, which i find cheesy. although during the chorus it feels more like it belongs in alternative music, but the rest of the song just somewhat clashes to me. It'll get your feet tapping to it, and his voice is strong. How-ever about 1:40 in to about 2:20 the tune changes somewhat, in very dave matthews style, and i like it, much preferable over the rest of the song. it's far from spectacular, but it's not downright awful.

 

Track 3 - The Remedy (i wont worry)

 

How much airplay has this got? even on my local radio station which plays todays pop and shite hits. It's catchy, it's pop alterntive yes, but it is something i'd rather see more of in the charts than most of the crap we see. It will get you taping your feet, and it will get stuck in your head. And the lyrics are actually well crafted and again quite uplifting, yet at the same time they are also depressing. It's a nice mix. Jasons voice, especially towards the endof the song, is a shining example of how singing should be done. What i like is that he makes a somewhat, rappyish lyrical singing voice, but the chorus is sung in many of his idols forms, again most noticably dave matthews. And the lyrics to the chorus, are something i think many people should sit back and take note of. A nice song, and aperfect choice for a single, i'tll get the radio paly, it'll promote the album, and it's not too far different from the rest of his songs.

 

Track 4 - Who needs shelter

 

This reminded me somewhat of some david gray work. Infact i have to admit to liking this song a lot. It has a depressing edge to it, a darker edge to it that most of the album lacks. He follows very much the style of his heros, and also adds his own little flair to it. The lyrics are again very strong from Jason, and the bridge/chorus has a nice little meld of vocals and instruments, in a rather catchy rockyish beat but not going byond alternative indie mix. Indeed, about 2:15 in there also adds a somewhat radiohead/coldplay element to the song, and then it goes back to it's original way. I like the blend and mix, and it's a strong solid song, that is in completecontrast to he previous song.

 

Track 5 - Curbside Prophet

 

the title of the album comes from a lyric here. This sounds a somewhat countryish song, but it's a nice different approach, although i have to admit i did a paradoy of this song and since i can't look at the lyrics without laughing. But in general his lyrics are uplifting and somehow make me think of Jasons life, to becoming the musical star that he now is in the usa. The way in which he's doing the verse is remanisant to the remedy, but this has a different sound to it all the same. A somewhat willie nelson style song, but it's a nice little song, perhaps weaker in the lyrics themselves than his other songs. but there are parts of it that'll have you singing it. So again, another solid effort from Mraz.

 

Track 6 - Sleep All Day

 

ok, this is back to his dave matthews style of song, some might say a complete rip off, but he openly acknoldges how dave was his fave artist as a kid/teen. The song sounds as though it might be that rockier edge of the album, but it doesn't go beyond the poppier side of oasis. I very much like the lyrics here, definatly a stronger set than the previous song, infact they would make a good poem in itself. Which is always a good sign of strong lyrics. Mraz also restrains his voice for the duration of this song, which is good, i'd get sick and tired of him always doing the same old thing in every song. Again the chorus might be stuck in your head, so it has the pop element but again not cheesy.

 

Track 7 - Too Much Food

 

This has the more rock drum influence here. I'd put this in the more indie vibe than rock, but it has elements. The verse vocals again are getting samey as the remedy and curbside prophet, but that's what'll get the radioplay so you have to do that to help make a mark for yourself 1st albumwise i get. The lyrics are again strong, with the odd weaker line. "shut up, i get shot down" is a little line i absolutely love, not exactly sure why, it just makes me smile. a solid effort. the ending is again the ebst part of the song, a very strong ending.

 

Track 8 - Absolutely Zero

 

this is a rather sad song, one i would expect to see in a relationship or friendship movie after one of the characters has something bad happen and someone is there to help them through it. It has a slower edge a more depressing, raw,d arker edge. Nailing it down as one of my favesongs on the album. The lyrics are the strongest on the album in my view. Infact the song is in a totally different appraoch to every other song, and i love it. Strong vocally, lyrically, musically. It has a natural evolution, it is everything i look for in songs, well those i want to listen to when depressed. i think the most, all round, solid tune on this album.

 

Track 9 - On Love, In Sadness

 

The title of this track i adore. It's my type of title, and has a very dave matthews feel to the guitar work. but aside from the chorus, i don't like this song. it just sounds like several songs i've heard all before, so much so that i don't have much to say on this song. i found it to be weak. simple as.

 

Track 10 - No Stopping Us

 

Trumpets, it sounds like a beautiful south song. But i like them so yay. This is very poppy though. it's a solid little song, but it deifnatly shows the poppier jazzier side to Mraz, which isn't a side i'm that keen on. the only part of this song i like is about 2 minutes in when he goes off on his little alterations of the verse and muscial styles of his vocals and intruments. i dislike this song really, it's definatly aimed at the pop market. although the trumpets are nice touch.

 

Track 11 - Boy's Gone

 

Ah, the intro is already going back the alternative routes i like.thankfully the vocal working of this track are different to most tracks on the album, which is good because i was getting pretty tired of the same style. This song how-ever is nothing special, it's a solid little effort, somewhat ballardish sounding, but less pop element in it and more alternative indie edge. i like it to anextent, but it's not the best on here, although mraz again shows his voice has multiple ways in which is can work, which i like.

 

Track 12 - Tonight, Not Again

 

this is matthews mixed with mraz again. Alternative, and far less pop. therefor already a whole lot better. I would say this is the most matthews influenced song ont he album, even the way in which the vocal expressions go are somewhat a copy. Although it works well for mraz, who for good measure throws a little of that poppier edge in at times to makeit more radio friendly. It's a quite catchy song in places, although i prefer the quieter more depressing edge to this song. Thankfully that poppier edge works it way to more pop rock by the middle of the song, grdually shifting to more rockier edge than pop. Which is much preferable to the cheesier side we'd seen a few songs earlier. A very solid effort, strong vocally and lyrically. A nice way to round the album, with a somewhat uplifting edge as the song continues. i like it

 

So i guess the newcomer to the radio scene, well relative newcomer, has something to sing about. as debut albumns go he's managed to craft himself a very radio friendly, yet slightly different album and colelction of songs than most would have expected. He openly admits his love of dave matthews so to varying degrees it lets him off from being labelled a copycat. He does show a lot of his influences in his work true, but he also shows some originality, which is something the music industry has been lacking for along time, Yes he'll be quite mainstream, but he also knows where his roots are, and i hope this'll mean that after he's in the public's eye he'll try something that bit different. He'll be around for a while , not a one album wonder, as he shows he has talent for vocal and lyric over guitar but still good, and his live shwos have recieved critical sucess and fincancial sucess, as he also plays cover versions of songs aswell, one of which my fave would be his acoustic version of rocketman (elton john). This wont change the face of music and it's nothing that'll stick in your mind for-ever. but as debut albums go, it's a solid entry into the musical world for Mr Mraz, and i look forward to his hopefully evolving sound

 

score 74/100

Wow!! Thanks Garry! That was great!! I must say that i agree with you 100% on Absolutely Zero. That's my favourite song on the album!! :D

 

Oh, and when i saw him live last month, he incorporated a small part of Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" at the end of one of his songs. To be quite honest, I liked his version better. :)

 

Thanks again! :D

thx ..look forward to it! :D

HTTT please :cool:

Well I’m having a little trouble getting the kings of leon album at the moment. I’ll give a song or two a whirl, if I like them I may just buy the album tomorrow instead. So my review for tonight, is an album I’ve been listening to a lot recently

 

Athlete - Vehicles and Animals

 

Track 1 - El Salvador

 

Well surely you’ll have heard of this, it’s the one they play on kerrang. It’s a nice little tune, with a classy brit pop chorus. This is the brit pop of the mid nineties, the blur era is clearly heard from within. The song seems ot be about moving on. A very acoustic sound mixed with the more electro pop era of the blur times bodes well. The chorus is tremendously catchy. Good song to open an album with

 

Track 2 - Westside

 

At one time my fave on this album, opening very quietly, very acoustically, with the chorus lyrics that I like “Where-ever you look, you can see that everybody wants to be part of the rock-scene” a somewhat tongue in cheek yet serious look at the state of music industry these days. The song really hit’s it’s stride toward the end, with another very catchy chorus and tune.

 

Track 3 - One Million

 

Very electro 80’s mix with the acoustic sound of brit pop. A nice contrast, but this is not a song I enjoy, it just sounds a little bland and less catchy than the previous songs. Although lyrically it’s as sound. I don’t really know what to say about this track, it’s just one of those ones I’m used to hearing.

 

Track 4 - Shake Those Windows

 

The voice is sounding very samey here, something that can annoy me. But he gets away with it for the moment. This song opens with just an electric guitar, and then what sounds like a synthesiser. In what is obviously and óde to the music they grew up to. This is a much quieter song than most of the album. It gradually grows, in another evolution of the song. It’s something I very much enjoy in a song, which is why I like this song. It fills in many of the signs I love, and the lyrics are very strong and poignant.

 

Track 5 - Beautiful

 

Perhaps their most famous song, I mean you’ll know the chorus if you heard it, but not the rest of the song. And this is a really wonderful song. Again mixing of style, in a disposition of what has gone before. I like the lyrics to this, but the chorus is again very catchy, and I think the music goes perfectly for it. It’ll be stuck in your head for a while afterwards. I adore this song, plainly and simply put.

 

Track 6 - New Project

 

I like piano’s in songs, and this has one. It plays a very simple chord progression and pattern. But it melds well with the rest of the instruments, in a more rock Ballard song. A slow mellow song, that’s both depressing and uplifting to me. I believe this song will get you tapping your feet in time with the drums, and that’s always the sign of a song doing something right. A good solid song, that’s up there as the best on the album. Towards the end of the song, it goes into very rock orientated mode, and it’s a nice contrast to the beginning of the song. Love it

 

Track 7 - You Got The Style

 

To me, this sounds somewhat like a coldplay song, but I’m not really certain why. I’m not a fan of this how-ever. But again the chorus is damned catchy and you’ll be humming it for hours afterwards, and you’ll remember the words. How-ever I just think this song is now starting to sound a little too much like previous efforts, and it’s getting a little tired for me.

 

Track 8 - Vehicles And Animals

The name of the album is taken from this track, and this is at present my favourate track on the album. It starts off a lot more acoustic than most efforts on the album, I also feel that the lyrics are great. I like the evolution of this song, and the chorus is in true athlete style, damned catchy. I’ve been singing it most of the day actually. I just love this song, it’s as clear cut as that.

 

Track 10 - Out of no-where

 

I don’t like this song much. It is now starting to sound too much like every other song, I guess one does at least try something that little different, but it’s that difference that just annoys me even more. On an individual listen and it’s fine, but I think after listening to the whole album in one go and you get tired of the somewhat repetitive sound. The chorus isn’t all that catchy, which goes against it.

 

Track 11 - Dungeness

 

It starts a little like Vehicles and animals, which again works against this song in my book. It really is all starting to sound the same by this point. The lyrics are quite good, but the good thing about this song is that it sounds a little more grand by the way the vocals are done. T is a solid song, but I don’t feel that it grabs my attention enough

 

Track 12 - You Know

 

This sounds a very personal song, in terms of how the lyrics sound to me anyway. It feels heartfelt, and there is an added emotion in the way it’s sung. It’s a slow acoustic sound, that gradually builds up, to a steady rock ballad. It’s a nice song that’ll have you listening, it’s somewhat different to the rest of the album, in the fact that it doesn’t make you think “heard it all before”. Which is good. The vocals are as strong as any point in the album, and I like the chorus a lot, it’s not catchy really but it has a certain “ooh listen to me” value. By the end of the song, there is defiantly that rock/pop fusion but it works extraordinarily well here

 

Track 13 - Le Casio

 

The final track on the album, is also the shortest and the most pop sounding. It’s not my fave on the album at all. It’s a little bland to me, and repetitive. A poor end to what is a good album in my view

 

My overall opinion

 

Well, as debut albums go, for a British band this’ll neatly place them in the category (and has) of “indie new boys here to stay” but I would defiantly say this is more Brit pop than anything else. I will certainly be listening out for new material, as they do have ah abit of creating a chorus that’ll stick in your head, and that’s something that most groups would be proud of. What I lie, is the fact that they clearly show nods to the styles of music and influences that they had, and have fused them with their own songs, in sometimes a disposition of styles. The album is a little eclectic but not enough. There are too many songs that sound the same, and that’s what holds this album back, because both musically and lyrically this is a fine piece of work.

 

They’ll do quite well, and it captures the feel of the British summer just gone by, but it wont go down as a classic.

 

Score 74/100

 

 

To come:

 

Kings Of Leon

Radiohead

 

be warned Hickyboos...i think radiohead are very over-rated and hardly liked anything on the pre-release leaked thing i heard of the album several months back...should be an unpleasent review for you...but we'll see :)

lol...sim :stunned: n wont be happy :(

 

thx for the kings of leon efforts! :cool:

hey i wanna hear kings of leon, i've not heard them yet. And i am always very eager to hear new works :)

Radiohead - Hail To The theif

 

Track 1 - 2+2=5

 

Well the basic guitar work is something I do like. The voice is as we’ve come to expect from Thom, but I’m not a huge fan of the lyrics in this. About two minutes in and the song changes temp and becomes a rock song. And this is where I don’t like, it just sounds like so many songs I’ve ehard before by so many other artists. Until then it sounds like the good old radiohead of the classic days, but the apparently evolved radiohead isn’t different to most rock acts in this song. I don’t like this song once it changes tempo, starts off well, ends poorly.

 

Track 2 - Sit Down Stand Up

 

Starts off, again classic depressing radiohead manor, but the problem is the sound is rather familiar, although they just about get away with it. The lyrics are nicer than the previous effort “walk into the jaws of hell” but I feel this song is very weak and bland. It has nothing of the radiohead elements I like. It hasn’t got me tapping my feet, nor singing along, nor even wanting to learn many of the lyrics. I don’t feel like this song gets out of 2nd gear, it has an underlying tension but never lets it break free, whilst the more elctro side in the song towards the song make me feel nothing more than that they’ve somewhat sold out to the more mainstream market.

 

Track 3 - Sail To The Moon

 

A nice piano intro, a slow into, a good intro. The song has blues elements in it, and it sounds a bit more like the radiohead I remember. This song does employ a better evolving sound, the gradual increase of both emotion and ambience. Thom sounding like he did back in the ok computer days.

 

Track 4 - Backdrifts

 

Another introduction that fails to hold my interest. Infact it sounds more like a poor mans NIN than radiohead. This song is monotonous to me, the only saving point is that the lyrics are quite good, but to me they just don’t go with the music. It’s a mishmash of sound, a droning noise that I just can’t stand.

 

Track 5 - Go to sleep

 

This has a more country feel to it than any Radiohead song I’ve ever heard before. I’m not sure what to make of this song, it’s nothing special, Thom does his usual high pitched lyric wailing, the lyrics aren’t weak but not really strong. The only part of the song I like is the last minute and a half, where it goes off in more of a tangent.

 

Track 6 - Where I End And You Begin

 

Another long, and none attention grabbing introduction. But the lyrics are strong, and Thom sings them in his age old classic ways. I guess this is what some people are saying that this is a little more experimental from them, but to be honest it doesn’t sound that great. Only the lyrics and Thom save this from being a downright awful track.

 

Track 7 - We Suck Young Blood

 

Now this intro is moody, and I like it. Just a piano, but it has an undertone of “I’m pissed”. Many critics have said this is the worst song on the album, I say to them “break away from everybody else”. This song is so easily great. The mood, the emotion, the power all portrayed, this si what I remember radiohead to be like. This is a song, that if played at the right moment in a life, can break them down to tears. It’s very simple in terms of instruments and vocals, but it is the message and emotion it holds that make this as powerful to me as it is. This was my favourite on the leaked pre-release I heard, and iot’s my fave now. Love it, best song on the album.

 

Track 8 - The Gloaming

The introduction is as best weird and annoying. A very drawn out song, but with lyrics that are strongest, but made weak by the fact they get repeated again and again. The ambience on this track is very good, perhaps it’s best element, is the fact that it is different to most mainstream bands out there, but I can’t help but get bored quickly at this track. I just don’t like it.

 

Track 9 - There There

 

Was the 1st single off the album, with a nice weird music video. The most feet tapping song on the album I think, and I like the guitar. This is a generally solid song, although perhaps the most pop rock song on the album. Had it been anyone else singing this song, it would have been considered rather poppy, but Thom’s voice makes this sound a little different to most other pop rock songs out there, plus the musical talent of the rest of the band do manage to make sure this doesn’t fall into a category of unrecognised songs that sound the same as everything else we hear.

 

Track 10 - I Will

 

This is classic radiohead. The song is again, pretty simple in it’s deployment, but the emotion that it holds, and the lyrics are back in the good classic days, when Thom wasn’t an arrogant little toad. This is a tad short for my liking, I’d liked to have seen this song grow and develop, but it doesn’t, and that ruins it for me. Although it’s up as one of my faves on the album.

 

Track 11 - A Punch up At A Wedding

 

This has a more alternative rock vibe than most of the album. It has a nice piano backbeat that is really quite nice to listen to. The lyrics are quite good, and Thom is doing his usual business regards his voice. But I still feel that this song lacks something that radiohead used to have, perhaps spirit and emotion. Towards the end of the song the music builds and evolves from the basic samey sound the song has, which is nice, but it comes a little too late to save the song for me.

 

Track 12 - Myxamatosis

 

This sounds like most softer efforts from metal bands. Although there is a nice mix of the electric sound on the more “human” element of the song. The lyrics aren’t easily understandable at all but they are alright. And Thoms voice isn’t great although obviously it’s been messed with using computers. I can’t say much on this song except it leaves me feeling empty in a musical sense.

 

Track 13 - Scatterbrain

 

This sounds like a more depressing side of radiohead, again. The sound is getting a little repetitive now, but this is one of the better songs on the album. The lyrics are quite strong, and Thom is his usual self, although not that we expect anything different. This song again seems to actually have emotion, which is what I think this album is severely lacking.

 

Track 14 - a Wolf at The Door

 

The final track on the album, and it’s not a bad effort. IT has a more rappier edge in the way in which the lyrics are delivered by Thom, and it’s nice that he does something different. I quite like this song, it’s quite a mlelow effort despite the array of instruments it has. Thom is also very good at using his voice as an extra instrument towards the end of the song. A solid effort but nothing special

 

conclusion

 

Radiohead are hailed as one of the greatest, most influential bands of our times, and this album was hailed by both critics and fans alike as one of their best, but is it? I think not, there is hardly anything on that album that stands out, that screams “I’m special, I’m special”. Infact most songs are mediocre. I find they virtually all lack emotion which is what I felt radiohead did so well, convey emotion into their music.

 

Musically rather bland, and no classic songs that I want to come back to again and again like so many radiohead songs beforehand. What has this album up as the greatest is the fact that it took a while to be released, that radiohead and that break and the fans were so desperate for new material they’ll buy anything as the greatest. I’m sorry but this is a weak effort and not worthy of any prize it’s won, or hardly anything it’s been put up for in my humble opinion. There have been so many better releases this year, and while I admire the fact that something different was tried, it has failed, and maybe they need to take another break, or just tour. Get back to the roots of why they are in music, of why they made good songs, and actually get that joy they had back. Because this type of album wont cut it for long. And the song panned by many critics and fans alike is the only one I feel is worth listening to several times, and that I may go back and listen to again and again. I think this is a poor effort, and that the hype has made people believe in something that isn’t there, more a fake plastic album than a bend in the right direction. If you want to get into radiohead then pick up the bends, or ok computer, or even pablo honey orkid a, but this is by far the worst radiohead album out there.

 

Score 41/100

WHAT?!?!?!?! :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:

 

right - in two years time when i have some proper free time again i will write a counter-review

 

watch this space

 

(hopefully not for two years) - come back then(ish) :lol: :angry:

41/100!!??? WOW!!! :o

sorry - i forgot to say thanks for taking the time to review it :cool:

 

everyone has an opinion and different tastes... kudos for doing it so enthusiastically ;) :D

come back then(ish)

 

*marks calendar* :lol: :lol: :lol:

hey..41 was only cos they tried something different, they got extra marks for that...now if i were to do ok computer..then it's probably be double that score, and same for the rest of the radiohead albums, i just think this album is the worst they've done..as i said in review :)

i think you may have mis-read their intentions as it is not really an attempt at providing something different. it's more a focus back to what is important to them at the time and prosducing a simple and honest format for that

 

still - it's never going to be to everyone's taste - i feel that it may be their best album but then i am bias :rolleyes:

well hail to the theif was just not what got me into radiohead.

 

i am probably the only person who adores the bends album, of cours ei like kid a and ok computer but less so than the bends, not a uge fan of pablo honey though.

 

Meh..i'm still waiting on kings of leon to arrive :)

The Bends is a great Radiohead album, could listen to Street Spirit, Just, My Iron Lung... for eternity.

 

But unless I'm mistaken the title of this thread was not "Which Radiohead album is the best?"

titles can change, and how many threads stay on tobic, this amazingly has been a somewhat natural evolution of discussion, and ocne i put another review up, it'll be back on track :)

 

but the bends is my fave radiohead album