Day: January 12, 2007

Now…here’s an album which makes me come back for more. I haven’t felt this way about an album since We Were Born in A Flame by the Sam Roberts Band. Speaking about the Sam Roberts Band, I saw this hilarious interview with the band for This Hour Has 22 Minutes where the interviewer asked if Sam Roberts felt it was a sign that there was a band actually named after him and if that was how he decided to join. Hilarious.

Mike introduced me to My Chemical Romance, the emo/punk/whatever band whose singer wore a bullet-proof vest on stage for the last tour ‘just because’. I enjoyed their second album, didn’t really give their first album a chance, and was minutely turned off by their performance at the Scotiabank Place last year. So, I didn’t bother rushing out to get their third album The Black Parade.

But then I started reading the reviews. Comparisons between Ziggy Stardust and Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness? What album evokes such a review? The same reviews kept coming in – best of the 2000s! THE defining album for this musical age. Well, I had to pick it up.

I knew it was loosely based on a cancer patient dying so I figured it would be the standard morbid affair that My Chemical Romance is affiliated with (and embrace).

This album blew me away with it’s catchy hooks, soaring guitar lines (reminiscent of Queen sometimes) and a different vocal take from the singer this time around. I can’t put this album down and it is probably my second fave album of 2006 (next to Chemical City of course). I even picked a copy up for my sister. I hope she enjoys it.

iplaying: Spoonful of Sugar – Matt Mays (…When The Angels Make Contact)

Hey, I dig Audioslave. I’m not overly in love with them to the point where I have to order an autographed poster of them for $20, but they are an excellent band. Krista picked this album up for me for Christmas and I listened to it a few times while driving to and from Hearst. The standard fare from Audioslave…I would say it’s probably better than Out of Exile, but I’d have to listen to it a few more times to really make a judgement. However, I must say that I haven’t felt the need to go back and listen to it numerous times so this may be a bad sign.

iplaying: Spoonful of Sugar – Matt Mays (…When The Angels Make Contact)

Ah, my love/hate relationship for Matt Mays is starting to become a full-blown love relationship. We all know the story…I went to see Sam Roberts Band and Matt Mays was opening for them and he blew me away. Promptly picked up his debut album which irked me as it was country-rock tunes and not the hard hitting rocker that I just saw on stage. That changed when his second album came out along with El Torpedo.

So when I heard there was a new solo effort out, I cringed. Would I like it? Has Matt Mays changed a bit in his solo ways so that I would appreciate it? Now, before I continue, let it be known that his debut album has grown on me and I enjoy it. But it took awhile. Actually, that’s the mark of a great album. The albums which you take forever to appreciate end up being your faves.

When I was home for Christmas, I met up with Angele at the Legion who was talking about how she knows Matt Mays and the boys of El Torpedo (you can visit Angele’s myspace page, complete with original, excellent tunes! At www.myspace.com/angeledesjardins) and how his new album is mind-blowingly amazing.

Well, I was hooked. I figured I enjoy the rest of his music, all I needed was a push. I haven’t even listened to the entire album yet as I sit here writing this, but I am impressed. …When the Angels Make Contact is a soundtrack for an unfinished movie he was making until funding ran out. Dark, moody, cruising the highway on your motorbike tunes cover the map of this album with some fun appearances by Buck 65 (Canada’s own hip-hop) as well as some hilarious visual appearances of Sam Roberts in the video. I am digging this album and am even contemplating skipping my class on Wednesday to check him out at Barrymore’s. Actually, that’s a lie. I’ll probably go but skip out early. It’s the least I can do.

iplaying: 1 For the Motor – Matt Mays (…When The Angels Make Contact)

Have I not talked about how amazing this album is yet? I ended up downloading this when it came out with fears that if I purchased it outright, I may receive another copy for Christmas. That never happened, so I picked the actual physical incarnation a week ago, but have been listening to the mp3s about month now.

What can I say? Let’s start at my musical tastes. I enjoy remixes. I enjoy mash-ups. I enjoy anything that twists a song around and breathes new life into it. That is what ‘Love’ is. George and Giles Martin went back to the master tapes of the Beatles and constructed new tracks from within. For example, you may have the drums of one track blending into the song of another. Or just the vocal track for a song (like ‘Because’). It’s a beautiful piece of work. I am tempted to go to Las Vegas to take a look at the Cirque du Soleil performance for which this soundtrack was created for.

I recommend you pick this album up. Don’t even tell me you don’t like the Beatles…just pick it up. But if you breaks your heart to hear a song deconstructed and built into a Frankenstein-like monster, then don’t bother.

What really piques my interest is the fact that there are various rumours flying around that the entire Beatles discography has been digitally remastered. Considering they were already knee-deep in the master tapes, I don’t see why this can’t be true. It’s to gear up for the release to the digital realm, which there is a rumour that Apple Inc. will win the rights to sell them on their iTunes store. I don’t own many Beatles albums for this sole reason. I have been waiting for the digitally remastered versions. For those who don’t really know what the difference is, do yourself a favour and pick up Ride The Lightning both the original and the remastered copy. It’s amazing what difference it can make.

iplaying: When The Angels Make Contact (Matt Mays – …When The Angels Make Contact)