Music: 5/10 Vocals: 1/5 Lyrics: 3/5 Production: 4/5
Total: 13/25: C-
I have a friend named Earl. I downloaded Earlimart. Earlimart is much cheesier than Earl.
There's nothing wrong with this album. There's just nothing right about it either. It is very generic pop rock music. It comes close on a few occasions to be good but never gets there. The singer kind of breathily rasps his vocals. At least the production is pretty good.
Basically, don't download Earlimart. There is nothing here to like or dislike making me wonder why they tried at all.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
The Whigs - Mission Control: B-
Music: 9/10 Vocals: 3/5 Lyrics: 2/5 Production: 4/5
Total: 18/25: B-
The Whigs is a good band that could be great. First some accolades. Rolling Stone named them the best unsigned band in 2006. Esquire gave them a best drummer award in 2007. And I label them best bar band of 2008. Well, that last one isn't worth much.
The Whigs as a band are fantastic. Biting guitars. Really good drums. And a fantastic bass player. They range from balls-out rock to more moderate fare. And they are recorded fantastically. In fact, this should be used as a reference on how to record bass guitar. The composition is also great. The guitars bite but never go low to interfere with the bass. The drums sit perfectly. The bass has a great low end and yet clear upper end to hear the pluck of the notes. But after that here's where it goes wrong.
The singer isn't all that good. Yeah, he croons and yells. But really, it's the guitar player who happens to sing. Get a real singer and let the guitarist sing backup and you've got one terrific band. Top tier. And perhaps the producer knew it. The vocals are mostly put behind the band and lots of reverb. And the lyrics aren't all that good either.
If you saw these guys in a bar or small venue you'd think they were the best thing ever. But on a CD the flaw of the singer really stand out. He's not terrible. He's just not good enough for this band. And it may hold them back from really taking off.
Total: 18/25: B-
The Whigs is a good band that could be great. First some accolades. Rolling Stone named them the best unsigned band in 2006. Esquire gave them a best drummer award in 2007. And I label them best bar band of 2008. Well, that last one isn't worth much.
The Whigs as a band are fantastic. Biting guitars. Really good drums. And a fantastic bass player. They range from balls-out rock to more moderate fare. And they are recorded fantastically. In fact, this should be used as a reference on how to record bass guitar. The composition is also great. The guitars bite but never go low to interfere with the bass. The drums sit perfectly. The bass has a great low end and yet clear upper end to hear the pluck of the notes. But after that here's where it goes wrong.
The singer isn't all that good. Yeah, he croons and yells. But really, it's the guitar player who happens to sing. Get a real singer and let the guitarist sing backup and you've got one terrific band. Top tier. And perhaps the producer knew it. The vocals are mostly put behind the band and lots of reverb. And the lyrics aren't all that good either.
If you saw these guys in a bar or small venue you'd think they were the best thing ever. But on a CD the flaw of the singer really stand out. He's not terrible. He's just not good enough for this band. And it may hold them back from really taking off.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Mark Lanegan Band - Bubblegum: B-
Music: 5/10 Vocals: 5/5 Lyrics: 4/5 Production: 4/5
Total: 18 of 25: B-
Mark Lanegan was the singer for the Screaming Trees, a terrific band. He is a part time singer with Queens of the Stone Age as well as other side projects. This album came out in 2004. I've always loved Mark's vocals so I was eager to check out his solo work.
Mark's vocals can be described as whiskey soaked with a healthy dose of cigarettes and low enough to rattle the floor. He has a truly amazing voice that really is totally unique. So it comes as no surprise that the vocals on Bubblegum are fantastic. Coupled with several duets, including two with PJ Harvey. In fact, those two are excellent songs.
Most of the album focuses on Mark's vocals and leaves the band in the background. One exception is the song "Strange Religion" which features Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan from Guns and Roses fame. But for the rest, the band is secondary which hurts the overall experience. Much of the music is fodder and pap. He even has some fuzzy guitar in a tunnel overtop a drum machine. Ug. Mark can certainly get a better canvas for his voice. The exceptions are the slow and somber duets which Lanegan croons over.
Give Mark a real band and he would be king of the world. Maybe in this new world where the labels aren't as important, perhaps the Screaming Trees can rise again to their former glory. But for now, if you're a Lanegan fan, pick up Bubblegum. There are certainly a handful of great songs. But if you've never heard of him, pass by this album. It's just not good enough.
Total: 18 of 25: B-
Mark Lanegan was the singer for the Screaming Trees, a terrific band. He is a part time singer with Queens of the Stone Age as well as other side projects. This album came out in 2004. I've always loved Mark's vocals so I was eager to check out his solo work.
Mark's vocals can be described as whiskey soaked with a healthy dose of cigarettes and low enough to rattle the floor. He has a truly amazing voice that really is totally unique. So it comes as no surprise that the vocals on Bubblegum are fantastic. Coupled with several duets, including two with PJ Harvey. In fact, those two are excellent songs.
Most of the album focuses on Mark's vocals and leaves the band in the background. One exception is the song "Strange Religion" which features Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan from Guns and Roses fame. But for the rest, the band is secondary which hurts the overall experience. Much of the music is fodder and pap. He even has some fuzzy guitar in a tunnel overtop a drum machine. Ug. Mark can certainly get a better canvas for his voice. The exceptions are the slow and somber duets which Lanegan croons over.
Give Mark a real band and he would be king of the world. Maybe in this new world where the labels aren't as important, perhaps the Screaming Trees can rise again to their former glory. But for now, if you're a Lanegan fan, pick up Bubblegum. There are certainly a handful of great songs. But if you've never heard of him, pass by this album. It's just not good enough.
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Cardigans - Super Extra Gravity: B
Music: 8 Vocals: 5 Lyrics: 4 Production: 4
Total: 21 of 25: B
Come on, we all remember that super sugary pop song, "Lovefool" from the 90s. It was great. Avid Cardigan fans hate that song because the band is "better" than that. Well, they're right.
First, Nina Persson has a pitch perfect voice for rock/pop music. It's beautiful, sweet, and sultry all at the same time. The harmonies are spot on. And hell, she's beautiful as well. She also writes pretty good lyrics for the genre. She certainly draws you in to listen more.
Then you hear the band. They write really great rock/pop songs. The highlight, "I Need Some Fine Wine and You, You Need to Be Nicer" has a great riff and biting lyrics to make a song you'll repeat often. "Black Cloud" and "Good Morning Joan" are great little pop numbers. But the album shifts into slower and more powerful songs such as "Losing a Friend" and "Holy Love" that show Nina's soulful side.
There's really only one song that doesn't make the cut. Everything else is good to great.
The album is also recorded extremely well. Everything is well placed and balanced. Maybe a little more bottom end would push it to perfect.
This is a really good album that deserves a listen if you like lighter rock fare. It's honestly an album that I'll be listening to years from now.
Total: 21 of 25: B
Come on, we all remember that super sugary pop song, "Lovefool" from the 90s. It was great. Avid Cardigan fans hate that song because the band is "better" than that. Well, they're right.
First, Nina Persson has a pitch perfect voice for rock/pop music. It's beautiful, sweet, and sultry all at the same time. The harmonies are spot on. And hell, she's beautiful as well. She also writes pretty good lyrics for the genre. She certainly draws you in to listen more.
Then you hear the band. They write really great rock/pop songs. The highlight, "I Need Some Fine Wine and You, You Need to Be Nicer" has a great riff and biting lyrics to make a song you'll repeat often. "Black Cloud" and "Good Morning Joan" are great little pop numbers. But the album shifts into slower and more powerful songs such as "Losing a Friend" and "Holy Love" that show Nina's soulful side.
There's really only one song that doesn't make the cut. Everything else is good to great.
The album is also recorded extremely well. Everything is well placed and balanced. Maybe a little more bottom end would push it to perfect.
This is a really good album that deserves a listen if you like lighter rock fare. It's honestly an album that I'll be listening to years from now.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Dub Trio - Another Sound Is Dying: D
Music: 3 Production: 3
Total: 6 of 15: D
Well, I really should have found out what "dub music" was before I got this one. Dub is the art of taking other people's music, removing the lyrics, accenting the rhythm section, and then adding lots of trippy echoey effects. That certainly isn't anything I want to listen to.
Enter Dub Trio. Sampling iTunes and any rock/metal person will be drawn in. The three musicians on guitar, bass, and drums are outstanding (limited vocals). They tear it up with some incredible metal riffs. You'll be pumping your fist in the air and want to pummel the person next to you. Oh, but then it goes wrong. After about 20-40 seconds (after the iTunes preview) it goes into that trippy, echoey, reggaey sound which makes you want to burn your own ears out. Suddenly you're frustrated that such a talented band that could produce some incredible metal instead decided to do dub. Of course, if you love dub more than life itself, Dub Trio is your savior. But, that's not me. Stay extremely far away.
Total: 6 of 15: D
Well, I really should have found out what "dub music" was before I got this one. Dub is the art of taking other people's music, removing the lyrics, accenting the rhythm section, and then adding lots of trippy echoey effects. That certainly isn't anything I want to listen to.
Enter Dub Trio. Sampling iTunes and any rock/metal person will be drawn in. The three musicians on guitar, bass, and drums are outstanding (limited vocals). They tear it up with some incredible metal riffs. You'll be pumping your fist in the air and want to pummel the person next to you. Oh, but then it goes wrong. After about 20-40 seconds (after the iTunes preview) it goes into that trippy, echoey, reggaey sound which makes you want to burn your own ears out. Suddenly you're frustrated that such a talented band that could produce some incredible metal instead decided to do dub. Of course, if you love dub more than life itself, Dub Trio is your savior. But, that's not me. Stay extremely far away.
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