Album Mini-Reviews

Here’s a recap on some albums I’ve picked up over the past while:

Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed: This year may be the year of the Rolling Stones for me.  One of the bands I’ve been meaning to get into over the years…I decided to take a look at some of the top picks from the Stones and time and time again 1969’s ‘Let it Bleed’ made it onto the list.  So far, so good.  I’ve listened to it a few times and I must say that the classic rock universe is an interesting one in that there seems to be less killer albums from front to back (with smash hits and whatnot) but they form a more cohesive package, hence an album.  That’s the way I feel with Let It Bleed (a play on The Beatles Let It Be of that year)…there’s a few songs that are really hard hitting but the rest are fairly lowkey to me but the whole album has a great feel to it.  That’s what I want to accomplish when creating an album.  Back in the day, you had more albums coming out faster also…one a year (if not two a year like Zeppelin!).

Nine Inch Nails: Ghosts I-IV: Trent Reznor and company have released an instrumental album.  After hearing a preview of Ghosts I (the two disc set is split into four mini-albums entitled Ghosts but really, it’s just a hodge-podge of instrumental noise), I realized that the album would not have full out instrumental tracks like A Warm Place from The Downward Spiral.  Instead, it’s a bunch of instrumentals strung together that are erratic and really don’t form an entire piece of art.  But in that, he may have accomplished a piece of art which resembles our daydreams (a comparison he was trying to do) considering daydreams stray from one thought to the other.  While I am not turned off by the album, I realize that I won’t actively want to listen to Track X off of Disc 2.  It will be more of a ‘I want some background music while I study one night.”  Interestingly enough, he probably cleared a million bucks off of making instrumental noise and laying it on in album form.  Man, I wish I could do that.

Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend: Maren suggested this one as a killer album that her and Allan-Paul listened to the entire time they down in Florida.  I downloaded it to give it a try before picking it up (a process I seem to be doing more and more over time after getting burned from mediocre purchases) and I would have to say that it is some catchy music but hasn’t caught me in a stranglehold yet.  It’s got this indie/reggae flair to it and it definitely something that can be deemed summer music.  I enjoy the different song structures and instrumentation on the album but we’ll have to see if it stands the test of time on the iPod.  I would recommend that everyone give it a listen though…some people may end up loving it!

Theory of a Deadman – Scars and Souvenirs: All right!  New Theory album!  Highly anticipated after their great sophomore effort Gasoline.  However, after a few listens, I am on the fence with their third album.  They have followed the same formula as their last (hard rock coupled with ballads, which is definitely a good rock formula) and the music is great but it’s the lyrics that have put a sour look on my face.  They really harp on points like having girlfriends who cheat on them (at least three songs on the album) and then there’s this one song called I Hate My Life which is cringe-worthy just because it talks about how much his job is awful or his wife’s nagging is getting on his nerves and then there’s this one line about lifting your middle finger to the world and I’m thinking was put in there just to have a great rock and roll concert moment with the entire crowd lifting that one appendage in unison.  It just seems…contrived.  But I really like the music and I would say 65% of the album has decent lyrics.  It’s just a shame that 35% put a bad taste in my mouth.  Theory – Get out of the working man lyrics and bring us some old gems.

The National – Boxer: I’ve saved the best for last.  I was reading an extensive interview with Raine Maida and they brought up this one band called The National and how Boxer was a beautiful album.  Intrigued to get into some new music, I downloaded it and fell in love.  The baritone vocals, the piano, horns and guitars bring you to this other level.  The drumming is an amazing part of the album…it just brings the songs up a level.  I really fell in love with this album and went out to pick it up in physical form the week after.  It is a worthwhile purchase.  There’s something moving about the music….it’s not rocking in the guitar rock kind of sense.  I can’t even think of a comparison…Wikipedia says they are indie rock but that term is getting WAY overused.  When I think of indie rock I think of guys who can’t really play their guitars well but know how to write a good riff and they drink Labatt 50.  I wouldn’t say they are indie rock….they are on tour with R.E.M. this summer so I recommend you give them a listen.

Up next on deck to listen to a little more before a proper review: Rolling Stones – Exile on Main Street, Wintersleep – Welcome To The Night Sky, Boys Like Girls – Boys Like Girls, Ashes dIVIDE – Keep Telling Myself It’s Alright