30 album reviews of 2006 in June

[pattentank24]

The Strokes- First Impressions of Earth

Everyone wants to be different or difficult even so called snobby rich kids.
First Impressions is the sound of that pompous socialite thinking you know making good consistent 35 min albums like a modern day Ramones is so OVER did you every get tired of the Ramones.

Did I say Tired because that's the first thought i get when I listen to Juilan sing this outside of classic Strokes like "Fear of Sleep" or the screams of "Vision of Division"

It's not the worst thing for the Strokes to try to expand their sound but it's just feels like an uncomfrotable new pair of shoes you keep waiting for them to break in but it just never seems to happen.

"Ask Me Anything" was yet another new trick that doesn't claim to be a massive shift but it does work on so many levels from the Lou Reed vocals,to the Magnetic Fields production more of this and maybe a few more interesting ideals than say ripping off the chorus of "Mandy"("Razorblade") and they may have made a breakthrough album to expand their new wave rep.

Don't think I don't really like this album when their on "You Only Live Twice" is possably the best opening track yet say whatever you want about "Juicebox" but when the Juilan reaches full howl you know they still mean business, "Ize of The World" proves they can do slow tempo,I know quite the shock.

The awe of Is This It? has worn off
Room on Fire is better than you ever gave credit to
so where does that leave First Impressions?

For me
right next to Oasis Be Here Now I still like that album but still thought at certain points man this could be so much better

(7)

[skvorisdeadsorta]

Ohhhh...... I like this thread.

[rockysigman]

Me too.

[bowiglou]

For those of you more articulate and knowledgeable than I, though I don't keep up on new music the way I use to, I would love to see your perspectives on a few of my 2006 purchases thus far:

Bruce Springsteen-- We Shall Overcome (Seeger Sessions )
Calexico-Garden Ruin
RHCP--Stadium Arcadium
Flaming Lips---mystic ...something or other!!
Arctic Monkeys
Neil Diamond--12 Songs (though this may be a 2005 release...not sure)

...and my personal fave thus far: Belle and Sebastian--Life Pursuit

my least: Arctic Monkeys (hype, hype, hype!!)

[skvorisdeadsorta]

Bow,

I personally find that the current Belle and Sebastian album is a classic that was shit on unfairly by several music critics. When I look out at some of the indie bands that started from the late 90s, I always look at the ones that will be listened to in 25 years. Belle and Sebastian is definitely of that caliber. I don't even think most bands could even scratch at the surface of greatness of "If You're Feeling Sinister" much less anything on the new album. They also get points for experimenting with their sound with usually sound and beautiful results.

The new Flaming Lips is a little too much on the Pink Floydisms at times, but never the less I like it as a whole much more than "Yoshimi". It's not as fun as their early stuff, which I have been buying the new vinyl reissues faster than I can keep up with, but nevertheless it's a solid release from a solid band. I think they hit their orgasm with "The Soft Bulliten", the 90s equivalent with "Pet Sounds" and now we get to hear them age pretty gracefully after that. It's a pretty decent record with "The W.A.N.D." being my favorite.

I only really listen to "Nebraska" and "Born to Run" by Springsteen and I was surprised at how good some of the Seeger sessions songs were and also how trite. I liked it okay, but not enough to buy it.

The new RHCP is pretty good. At first I thought it was crap, but then it grew on me more and more after several spins. I can honestly say that now I think it's really good and Frusciante is still the man of the hour on the guitar.

I personally have always had a fondness for Neil Diamond and I love that Rick Rubin makes so much money by telling legendary artists, "please don't do something that sucks". It's some of his best lyrics and I can't wait to hear more in the series if he gets the oppurtunity to do another one.

I saw the Arctic Monkeys and I have to say that they are so impressive for such a young age. Those guys are like 19 and 20! They have the feel of an early Who and if they don't implode, I think they could have a long and very fruitful career.

[skvorisdeadsorta]

Also, anything by Calexico is good. Anything.

[Kensterberg]

I'm not quite ready to write up a review of The Seeger Sessions yet, but my take on it is that it's in the same ballpark as The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle. In fact, it is the first record that Bruce has made since that sophomore effort that sounds like it was made by the same guy who recorded Wild Billy's Circus Story and Kitty's Back. It's a lot looser than most of Bruce's studio work, which generally works to its benefit. As a preliminary matter, I'd say it's a four star record, and worth the time of anyone who has invested much effort in following Bruce this far. But it's not on a par with Nebraska, The Rising, Born to Run, or The River.

I think Skvor has Arctic Monkeys nailed. Listen to this and think about The Who Sing My Generation, Never Mind the Bollocks, The Clash, and Definitely Maybe. It's a great debut record by a very young band. If they can keep it together, they could become a great band, but as it is they've cut a first album that is more energetic and fun than 99% of the stuff out there, with guitars that kick and bite, and a lead vocalist who just might be as good as he thinks he is. Huge potential.

[bowiglou]

skvor, great comments..I just adore Belle and Sebastian..I did read some of the reviews and they were a bit mixed......but I adore it for the same reasons you commented on......as for the Lips, I have to say Skvor, thus far, I still like Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi alot more than there recent release.........it just doesn't quite grab me, but give it time!!

Ken, I am just SMITTEN with the Seeger sessions..seriously, I watched the DVD this weekend and what I would give to be in the house whilst recording Mary Don't You Weep or Erie Canal or Joe Henry...................considering I was a lukewarm Bruce fan, though I had the predictable albums for many years: Born to Run/Darkness on the Edge of Town/The River/Nebraska/Born in the USA/Tunnel of Love, it was with the Rising that I became a huge fan..and now the Seeger Sessions.............I am just floored with the energy and cohesiveness of the band..what is this, something like 12 musicians!!

oh yeah, my one other 'hyped' CD that I bought that I probably wont' be listening to after next year is "she wants revenge'.......interpol/human league meshing, that is fun, self-indulgent and ultimately forgettable...should have saved my $8.99!!

Starting to really like RHCP..though, as I thought, the funk-laden numbers just don't do it for me.................

Calexico, thus far, is my 2nd favorite LP of 2006....akin to Los Lobos, this is a talented, modest, amazingly lyrical band.........what a talent........

[kool]

Placebo - Meds

A pretty good album. Some of it classic Placebo. Nothing really new, but then again, I don't see AC/DC fans complaining about their idols either. I have heard from a couple of die-hards though that it's a bit too 'slow' in parts. It is, but I don't mind it at all. Actually, a couple of the standouts here are the slower paced numbers.
Better than Sleeping With Ghosts, not quite Without You I'm Nothing. Standouts: "A Song To Say Goodbye", "Infra-Red", "Drag", "Pierrot The Clown", "One Of A Kind".


Prince - 3121

I've been a Prince fan since he told us to party like it's 1999. This is not his best album, hell, it's not even in the top 5, but still a pretty strong collection of songs. Oddly enough, the even numbered tracks are the standouts. Check out tracks 2, 4, 6, 8 ["Lolita", "Black Sweat", "Love" and "Fury" respectively]. Better than Musicology but it aint no Purple Rain, and anyone being realistic here, didn't expect it to be either.


Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium

Like I've already said on their board over here, I really love this album. It's been almost a month now and thanks to its vast length, I'm still not tired of it. [Although getting used to it at first was a bit too much]. It's got everything great about the Peppers' past, minus the profanity. Great funk ["Hump de Bump", "Charlie", "21st Century", "Tell Me Baby"] hard rock ["Readymade", "Storm In A Teacup"] phunky rock ["She's Only 18", "Torture Me"] and some pretty sweet mid-tempo moments ["She Looks To Me", "Desecration Smile", "Slow Cheetah"].
Given a chance, there's enough stuff on this record to please just about everyone who is [or was] a fan of the band.

[frag]

bow - I've got to agree with Ken on Springsteen's new one. I'm loving it, so far. It's a very fun listen...very rewarding.
I agree with you on the Arctic Monkeys. All I hear is a lot of hype. Some good things, but I don't think it lives up to the hype. And yeah, they may be a better band later, but that's neither here nor there.
The new Chili Peppers didn't impress me, but then again, I'm not a big fan at all of the new direction they've taken since Californication. Some stuff I dig, but as a whole, I just don't feel it. Note that I was never huge into the Peppers though, to begin with.
I keep meaning to check out the new B&S, but something else always comes to mind. Maybe next time...maybe next time.

[Adam]

kool said:

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium

Like I've already said on their board over here, I really love this album. It's been almost a month now and thanks to its vast length, I'm still not tired of it. [Although getting used to it at first was a bit too much]. It's got everything great about the Peppers' past, minus the profanity. Great funk ["Hump de Bump", "Charlie", "21st Century", "Tell Me Baby"] hard rock ["Readymade", "Storm In A Teacup"] phunky rock ["She's Only 18", "Torture Me"] and some pretty sweet mid-tempo moments ["She Looks To Me", "Desecration Smile", "Slow Cheetah"].
Given a chance, there's enough stuff on this record to please just about everyone who is [or was] a fan of the band.

I wholeheartedly concur.

[luke]

frag said:

I agree with you on the Arctic Monkeys. All I hear is a lot of hype. Some good things, but I don't think it lives up to the hype. And yeah, they may be a better band later, but that's neither here nor there.

I'm not seeing where the hype is. With the sole exception of NME, all I've heard are reviews akin to Ken's, that this is a young band with great potential with more ass shaking pure rock 'n roll songs than we've heard in at least a decade. This is 100% accurate.

NME hypes EVERYTHING to shit, it's what they do best. The NME hype machine does not equal actual hype...it equals NME blabber mouthing.

[pattentank24]

We Are Scientists- With Love/Squalor


Everybody sounds exactly like this band.
By everybody I mean
the Futureheads
Hot Hot Heat
Franz Ferdinand
Arctic Monkeys,who There opening for June 10
Ok now that the Gang of Four references are out of the way
Why do I like this album
Every song sounds just a little different than the last
But yet it's insainely catchy and hard to remove from your eardrums
I like everyone of those bands more than this debut.
But I love the sense of humor these guys have with it's rock music to dance to nothing more/nothing less
for 35 min it's just Fine

(6)

[skvorisdeadsorta]

Eh, I'd rather buy The Cribs to tell you the truth. I am not crazy about We Are Scientists. They don't offend me and maybe that's the problem. I have no feeling in my gut when I hear there music.

[kmc]

Yeah, but the Monkeys were in fact hyped to death. I mean, they had a thing on them on VH1's best week ever. Here's my thing with them: I think they're a good band. They have potential. But you know, so does Magneta Lane. The press they've gotten, and even the overblown "these guys have the potential to be amazing" talk that they've been receiving for a while now seems to be a little underserved.

That said, I like Magneta Lane a lot, and think they have the potential to be great.