I was thinking about a random thing this evening after I got home from work. Soundtracks. Why? I don’t know. I do know that I have a few favorites … Lost in Translation and Garden State. I’m sure there are others, I know a lot of great movie scores, but I’m talking about soundtracks. Essentially a compilation of great stuff that’s supposed to go with the movie at hand.
What other soundtracks should I check into?
Under Great White Northern Lights
I was wondering through my local Best Buy looking for an album by Matisyahu, I came across Under Great White Northern Lights by the White Stripes. I’m a fan of the White Stripes, I listen to most of Jake Whites other explorations into music. All that being said, I’m not sure why they put this live recording out for purchase by the general public. I’m not even sure how to describe the felling I had initially listening to this recording, but i’ll try.
Disgust.
This single handedly makes sure I’ll never see the White Stripes in concert. Maybe it was an off night … however if they recorded and released it to the public I guess they think it’s rad. They changed arrangements on songs and the songs they didn’t change sounded awful and pitchy.
I’m totally unimpressed and wishing I could return this album.
In the coming days I’ll be reviewing the following albums:
Talk to you then.
The Hazards of Love
I’ve only recently discovered the Decemberists, shame on me. I picked up The Hazards of Love last week while out with friends. The album can be best described as a concept album telling a story of young woman, Margaret who fell in love with shape shifting beast, William.
As I’ve read other review most if not all have the same theory: you must list to this album beginning to end … I whole heartedly agree, this album is amazing. They dabble in harder rock sounds while staying true to their folk roots, the guest female vocals of Becky Stark and Shara Worden are simply lovely. Do yourself a favor and buy this album!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Track Listing – The Hazards of Love
Shazam!
Have you ever been somewhere and heard a song and could not remember the name? Then buy an iPhone and download the free app Shazam … or maybe download it for one of the many options that it supports.
It’s a little quirky when it comes to background noise but it works well otherwise, it will allow you to save the artist and song for later review. It’ll let you throw out a sweet tweet, buy the song, or watch the video.
Someone I work recommended that I install the app Remote this past week, at the time I was using my iPod Touch. As I posted yesterday my wife and I changed carriers and we each picked up a 16GB iPhone G3 S.
It’s time to accessorize, let’s talk apps.
Remote is very nice, it’s a simple app that allows you to control your iTunes library from your iPhone or Touch. It also allows others on your network browse your library and listen. It will apparently also work with Apple TV, but I can’t speak on that. I’m not touching on every aspect of the app, those interested in it should download the FREE app it and try it out!
Muse
Well, I was taken by surprise yesterday when I found out Muse was “deploying” a new song from their forth coming album The Resistance. What I mean by deploying is the fact they’ve been letting fans play a puzzle to unlock various parts of the song. Today was phase 6 of 6, and now the whole song is out. I’m sure you can now Google the song and or look it up on Youtube and listen.
I’d say it’s a good song, it has me looking forward to the September 14th release, while that is the only date I can find at the moment I’m guessing it’s the UK date, I’m still trying to find the official US date. The song is a slow piano laden song that builds upon itself with Queen like vocals.
I feel like I need to read 1984 again.
Muse – United States of Eurasia:
You and me are the same
We don’t know or care who’s to blame
But we know that whoever holds the reins
Nothing will change
Our cause has gone insane
And these wars, they can’t be won
And these wars, they can’t be won
And do you want them to go on
And on and on
Why split these states
When there can be only one?
And must we do as we’re told?
Must we do as we’re told?
You and me fall in line
To be punished for unproven crimes!
And we know that there is no one we can trust;
Our ancient heroes, they are turning to dust!
And these wars, they can’t be won
Does anyone know or care how they begun?
They just promise to go on
And on and on
But soon we will see
There can be only one
United States!
United States!
Of…
Eurasia!
…sia!
…sia!
…sia!
Eurasia!
…sia!
…sia!
…sia!
Eurasia!
…sia!
…sia!
…sia!
If you’ve never listened to Ryan Adams I’d like to suggest that you do, he might be a pompous arrogant man but he makes good music. Go pick up a few of the following albums:
* Heartbreaker (2000)
* Gold (2001)
* Demolition (2002)
* Rock N Roll (2003)
* Love Is Hell (2004)
* Cold Roses (with The Cardinals) (2005)
* Jacksonville City Nights (with The Cardinals) (2005)
* 29 (2005)
* Easy Tiger (with The Cardinals, but billed as solo) (2007)
* Follow the Lights (with The Cardinals) (2007)
* Cardinology (with The Cardinals) (2008)
Passion Pit and Phoenix.
Two Bands that I want to get albums from. I’ve been hearing them on the Sirius XM U the Indie Rock Sirius/XM station.
I intend to pick up Manners from Passion Pit and Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix by Phoenix, these are getting added to the list of albums I already mentioned:
Pete Yorn – Back and Forth
Moby – Wait For Me
The Dead Weather (Jack White/Alison Mosshart) – Horehound
Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King
I’ve been a long time Dave Matthews Band listener; I’m a bit biased when it comes to their music. I’ve seen many many live shows and I’ve been around other fans so I know the kind of passion they hold for the music. As a whole as the band has gained commercial success with albums such as Everyday and Stand Up some of the fan base has been disappointed as those album never seemed to live up to the big three: Under the Table and Dreaming, Crash, and Before These Crowded Streets. With the death of the founding member and saxophonist Leroi Moore, the band was shaken to its core and knew that the forth coming album was important to the band and the fans. They delivered to us Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King, Groogrux being Moore’s nickname in the band, the first album since Before These Crowded Streets that features Tim Reynolds on guitar.
The albums opens with Grux a Moore solo track that makes you realize what this album is about … him. The song trails into Shake Me Like A Monkey a funky love long with some funky lyrics, what DMB album would be complete without that? Funny The Way It Is the album’s first single starts with some light guitar work and lyrics filled irony intending to make you think about several different topics. Lying in the Hands of God is slower song laced with Moore’s saxophone work that is one of the most evident tributes to Moore on the album. Why I Am reported to be the album’s second album is a one of the other songs about Moore and also gives us the albums title: “Still here dancin with the GrooGrux King. We’ll be drinkin Big Whiskey while we dance and sing and when my story ends it’s gonna end with him. Heaven or Hell I’m goin there with the GrooGrux King.” Probably one of the most fun songs on the album Alligator Pie gives us an upbeat tune to get down to. Matthews has two daughters named Grace and Stella. If you’re a fan you know the name Grace is mentioned in several songs. He features Stella in this one, with Stella asking “Daddy when are you going to put me in a song?” One of my personal favorites from the album is Time Bomb, which Matthews states the he’s a ticking time bomb that nobody saw coming until he blew his top. The song builds in a way that makes you think of a bomb, slow and steady while continually gaining pressure until it explodes exclaiming: “Baby when I get home, Help me pick up the pieces. You can hammer in the final nail, I wanna believe in Jesus.”
The album feels more true to their original sound and spirit; they’ve gathering themselves off the ground after Moore’s death and shook off the dirt. This album may not satisfy those fans who are more into a pop sound than a DMB sound, but I think fans will start referring to the Big Three as the Big Four, at least they should.
This album is the one we’ve been waiting a decade for.
- 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Track Listing: