Elvis is alive!

The Rare Sound Machine - Beauty Machines

2010-06-04T18:56:00.003-07:00

The Spanish band The Rare Sound Machine released their first recording "Beauty Machines" (downloadable from their My Space site) an EP with six splendid pieces of instrumental progressive rock, powerful and determined, in which they don't beat around the bush and from beginning make it clear what they do: progressive hard-rock, with guitar always at front and clear references to bands like Dream Theater and Tool. With power chords and great solos, enough to let clear the technical soundness of Alvaro Diez and company, but avoiding cloying virtuosity, this guys from Madrid makes intense and dynamic music, maybe a little austere for progressive standards, that over 40 minutes gives no truce nor rest with songs like "Temazo", vigorous and sharp, "N", with metal and Tooleans flashes, or the masterful "Jorge's", dedicated to disastrous George W. Bush who "participate" with fragments of his extremists speeches. Besides being an excellent presentation and overwhelming sample of what The Rare Sound Machine can do, "Beauty Machines" is one of those progressive rock albums that, from time to time, assert the "rock" part to "progressive rock" label. -CORANNIEIT-

The Rare Sound Machine, Beauty Machines
TRSM-Indie, 2009

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site

The Paper Chase - Someday This Could All Be Yours Vol.1

2010-05-28T19:32:00.001-07:00

Third album, first of two conceptual albums that have planned from this cult's band, makers of impossible melodies, in which they play 10 songs, each with the name of a catastrophe, ranging from conventional indie rock to avant-garde ballads. Capricious music that from chord to chord moves from anxiety to sweetness, from dissonance to catchy ditties, and from tenebrous to innocence. Although at first listen "Someday All This Could Be Yours Vol.1" may sound a little bit dispersed, in the end the Texan quartet manages to make the combination of wandering pianos, incidental noise, changing rhythms and strange but strongly melodic lines, becomes in some kind of indie/noise-pop with a little touch of experimental music. Captivating and slightly freaky. -CORANNIEIT-

The Paper Chase, Someday This Could All Be Yours Vol.1

Kill Rock Stars Records, 2009

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site

The Woodlands - Self Titled

2010-05-21T19:25:00.002-07:00

Another record to the American indie folk inventory courtesy of the Portland (where else?) based husband-wife duo The Woodlands, who debuted with this self-titled album produced and published by themselves, making 10 pieces of bucolic and austere folk/pop. While Samuel is in charge of music, unplugged, and lyrics, almost poetics, Hanna contributes with her so sweet (i mean really sweet) voice, sometimes barely whispering, creating songs that moves between oppressive melancholy and levity moments in which the couple allow themselves a little joy. Despite the limited instrumentation and extremely honeyed Hanna interpretations may cause after some tracks the album falls into monotony and cloying sweetness, this is not a bad record; it is saved by a few "bon iverean" touches and good moments on tracks like "We Can Stay", "Anymore" or "In The Dark Of Monday" that, at the end, makes of "The Woodlands" a pretty record. Ideal for "Grey's Anatomy" soundtrack. -CORANNIEIT-

The Woodlands, Self-Titled
The Woodlands-Indie, 2009

Links:
My Space Site

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Summer Of Fear

2010-05-14T18:42:00.001-07:00

Miles Anthony Benjamin Robinson debuted a couple of years ago with a magnificent album that in someway was overshadowed by the legend that accompanied him (homeless, junkie and dealer in New York, later discovered by Chris Taylor from Grizzly Bear and Kyp Malone from TV On The Radio). Leaving behind the morbid about this period of his life, Robinson delivers his second album "Summer Of Fear", an album honest, sober, in every meaning of the word, free of any indie smugness, in which he makes warm, refined rock/pop that's flows smoothly, as he sings lyrics trying to revive the lost innocence by recalling "I remember seventeen / I remember being honest, horny, healthy, and clean / I remember briefly believing / That I 'd been born to be the one" ("Always An Anchor"), though ultimately there's no illusions and he knows that nothing is easy "And it's not that bad / to be bored and sad / When the dreams you've had / are just bets gone bad" ("Hard Row"). Despite the stormy and dark his inspiration can be, Robinson makes of "Summer Of Fear" a nitid and shiny record. A true gem. -CORANNIEIT-

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Summer Of Fear
Saddle Creek Records, 2009

Links:
My Space Site

Peter Gabriel - Scratch My Back

2010-05-01T13:55:00.005-07:00

On the premise of "no guitars, no drums," the maestro Peter Gabriel introduced his new album "Scratch My Back", a covers album which, however, is so interesting for two reasons: the first one is the spectrum of artists and bands of which Gabriel select songs, ranging from contemporaries, such as David Bowie or Lou Reed, to "new values" such as The Arcade Fire or Bon Iver, without missing consolidated bands that are right in the generational middle, as Radiohead or Elbow. The second reason is that Gabriel, accompanied only by piano and classical orchestra, practically re-invented each song through versions in which an introspective and serene tone predominates, even dark sometimes, making each piece barely recognizable. Maybe "Scratch My Back" is not the most exciting or innovative album from Peter Gabriel, at least not in the usual sense, but it is certainly an album worth to listening enjoyment. -CORANNIEIT-

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site

Diablo Swing Orchestra - Sing-Along Songs For The Damned And Delirious

2010-04-23T19:12:00.000-07:00

Combining extreme metal with symphonic arrangements is not exactly something new. If besides we're talking about a Nordic band the thing seems really predictable. However, this is not the case of "Sing-Along Songs For The Damned and Delirious", second album from the Swedish band Diablo Swing Orchestra who deliver 10 amazing songs in which they manage to meet all symphonic metal canons (from demonic voices to string arrangements, and from crushing riffs to the "break-a-glass" soprano voice) while at the same time they pass through swing, Balkans music and even some Latin touches. Thus, while most of their colleagues look for the operatic exquisiteness and grandiloquent classical arrangements, Diablo Swing Orchestra goes trough burlesque, theatricality and joy, with songs like the opener "A Tapdancer's Dilema", in which power chords engage to swing jazz, or "Lucy Fear The Morning Star", a song with afro-latin percussion in which we just don't know whether to make some headbanging or to shout "Azucarrrr!" while (Oh! gothic-metalhead sacrilege!) dancing deliciously. Demonstrating that there is always an exception that proves the rule, Diablo Swing Orchestra delivers a very good symphonic metal disc. Anti-solemn and exuberant. Sabor! -CORANNIEIT-

Diablo Swing Orchestra, Sing-Along Songs For The Damned And Delirious

Sensory Records, 2009

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site

madhatteR - Universal Thinking Stops Time

2010-04-16T19:51:00.000-07:00

In a so fucking arid scene, as the national rock is (i'm talking about mexican rock scene), an effort like "Universal Time Stops Thinking", from the Queretaro's band madhatteR, should be, at least, a remarkable occasion. Unfortunately works like this, away from commercial standards and which did not originate in Mexico City, Guadalajara or Monterrey, often go almost completely unnoticed. Moving between post-rock, progressive rock and post-metal accents, "Universal Time Stops Thinking" (by the way, it can be downloaded from the band's site on last.fm) is a record composed by 7 pieces, almost all of them instrumental, in which madhatteR runs over the same roads of bands like Mogwai or Indukti making music in which a punchy and intricate bass is guiding powerful guitars, that in songs like "God Hates Ugly Music", acquires a dark and sinister touch, approaching, keeping all proportions, to the style of the masters of Tool. On the other hand, the quartet also shows its friendly face in light themes such as "Anderson Council" while in "Daemonieke Reprise" they experiment with electronic music. Perhaps just with vocals as weak point, and despite the limited studio production, madhatteR delivers a cerebral, well done and full of good moments record. -CORANNIEIT-

madhatteR, Universal Thinking Stops Time

madhatteR-Indie, 2007

Links:
My Space Site

Los Campesinos! - Romance Is Boring

2010-04-09T19:28:00.001-07:00

Asserting itself as one of the most prolific bands nowadays, Los Campesinos! presents "Romance Is Boring", their third album in just 2 years (plus a couple of EPs), which includes, for if this were not enough, 15 tracks. While the quantity and, it is fair to say, the quality has never been problem for this guys from Wales, perhaps some thing that is beginning to be noticed is the lack of variety. Though "The Sea Is a Good Place To Think Of The Future", an excellent song that was published on their website in October last year, led us to expect a record a little bit more "profound" and ambitious, "Romance Is Boring " still maintains intact the style of the band featuring, once again, funny, energetic, partying music. Spontaneous and effusive rock/pop with accelerated rhythm guitars here and there, splashed with some violin and the pampered interpretations of Gareth Campesino!. Plenty of catchy & irresistible melodies, almost with a single on every theme, "Romance Is Boring" does not contain any innovation but, in some way, it patent the "Campesino" sound which, after all, is not bad...not at all. -CORANNIEIT-

Los Campesinos!, Romance Is Boring
Arts & Crafts, 2010

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site

The Flaming Lips - The Dark Side Of The Moon

2010-04-02T19:12:00.000-07:00

The (often over-rated) Flaming Lips have fulfilled his threat and present their version of one of the Pink Floyd's masterpieces. Signed in conjunction with Stardeath and White Dwarfs, Wayne Coyne's nephew band, and with the participation of Peaches and the iconic punk Henry Rollins, who practically opens the album (perhaps some kind of reconciliation between the punks and Floyd?). Somehow Wayne Coyne and company shown them selves conservative and in a general way they respects almost entirely the original version changing just some things that "lighten" the sound of the work. So, the relaxed and trippy tone of "Speak To Me / Breathe" is now presented as an accelerated introduction with a frenetic bass and spectral guitars, "Time", with the unforgivable omission of gilmourean solo, becomes a sweetened interlude between "On The Run" and a reprise of "Breathe" which follows "The Great Gig In The Sky" in which Peaches, keep the hot style of Clare Torris, but adds a gritty, visceral tone. It is from "Any Color You Like" when the Lips take a little "risk" to close the album with flashes of psychedelia and funk touches. Without the trippy sound of "Dub Side Of The Moon" or the originality of "Dark Side Of The Moon A Capella", this "Dark Side ..." sounds too cautious and is saved more by greatness of the original version than by the Coyne and company work. A plain good version. -CORANNIEIT-

The Flaming Lips, The Dark Side Of The Moon
Warner Music, 2009

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

2010-03-26T19:36:00.002-07:00

When you see the cover of "Sigh No More" the first thing that comes to your mind is: Does the world need another Felice Brothers clone?. But is enough to listen "Sigh No More" and "The Cave", the songs that open the album, to immediately change your mind. Practically with an unplugged sound, this British band has the sensitivity to capture, even better than many of their American colleagues, the essence of folk, country and bluegrass (which, considering they coming from the urban-London, is something not to be ignored) to make 12 crafted pieces of clear, intimate and extraordinary warm folk/rock. From emotion, between melancholy and celebratory, of "The Cave" or "Roll Away Your Stone", in which Winston Marshall happily untie his banjo, to the introspection and severity of minor keys in "I Gave You All " or " Thistle And Weeds ", the quartet, beside let us clear that they definitely are not a Felice Brothers clone, give us music as simple as brilliant. A joyful and cordial record. -CORANNIEIT-

Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More
Island Records, 2009

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site

Baroness - Blue Record

2010-03-22T19:24:00.001-07:00

There are times we want our ears to be drilled without mercy. That's when we listen to heavy artillery from bands like Lamb Of God. But there are times when we want to hear good metal, hard and strong but without risk of permanent hearing damage. That's when a record like "Blue Record," the second album by American band Baroness, enters the picture. This quartet formed in Georgia, included, by the way, in the next Coachella Festival lineup, features 12 hymns, heavies, energetics, theatricals, with hard guitars always galloping (although not necessarily aggressive) and old school melodic solos. Heavy metal, pompous and raw at the same time, which intersects with alternative rock, doom metal and, following the path of bands like Mastodon, touches of progressive metal perhaps with not much complexity but in pieces like "A Horse Called Golgotha" or "War, Wisdom And Rhyme ", with textures, instrumental passages and rhythmic changes, is enough to give another level to their sound while songs like "Jake Leg" or "The Sweetest Curse ", rude and direct, maintains the metal rage in the album. A magnificent metal disk: epic, vital and noisy. -CORANNIEIT-

Baroness, Blue Record
Relapse Records, 2009

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site

Willowz - Everyone

2010-02-19T18:58:00.002-08:00

"Everyone" is the latest material from American band Willowz in which they play spontaneous and lively music that combine the visceral and urgent nature of punk and garage with a casual and supposedly candid so Californian attitude. The quartet presents 10 fast songs (mostly shorter than 3 minutes) in which, except for a couple of seventies flavored ballads, they go from obvious allusion to the raw & pure White Stripes garage in pieces like "Repetition" and "You Do ", to The Strokes melodic garage evocation in songs like "Destruction" or "I Know ". So, "Everyone" is not an album that will change rock history but it gives us a bit of fresh music. Fun and enjoyable. Is not that enough?. -CORANNIEIT-

Willowz, Everyone
Dim Mak Records, 2009

Links:
Official Web Site
My Space Web Site

That Fucking Tank - Tanknology

2010-02-12T18:42:00.008-08:00

When a band proclaims that works "challenging the assumption that 'good' music has to be made 'professionally' " and also has songs with names like "Keanu Reef", "Dave Grolsch" or "Bruce Springstonehenge" is not unusual not being taken seriously. Fortunately this seems not to be a concern for That Fucking Tank, English duo formed by Andy Abbott on guitar and James Islip on drums, who in "Tanknology" delivered 10 songs of instrumental psycho-hard rock with touches of stoner and progressive rock, so close of bands like Monkey 3 or, nowadays disappeared, The USA Is A Monster. By combining progressive structures, of some complexity, with catchy, almost metal, riffs, the couple link up pieces to create long passages that sometimes sounds as if Abbott is playing in his living room testing his new effects processor while Islip drums sounds impetuous and ease. Taking the do-it-yourself philosophy for a fun and carefree (but not careless) road, That Fucking Tank delivers a record with playful, powerful and imaginative music. -CORANNIEIT-

That Fucking Tank, Tanknology
Gringo Records, 2009

Links:
Official Web Site
My Space Web Site

Noah And The Whale - The First Days Of Spring

2010-02-08T17:57:00.007-08:00

Noah And The Whale debuted last year with "Peaceful The World Lays Me Down" a good album but not more than the average dozens of records from indie bands with a semi-low fi acoustic folk /rock that included, but of course, some violin. Something really interesting must have happened so that now they can deliver a record as "The First Days Of Spring", an ambitious and sophisticated work conceived as a sort of accompaniment (or vice versa) to the homonym film created by guitarist and vocalist Charlie Fink. Curiously, although Fink and ex-band mate Laura Marling break up seems to be the inspiration and guiding line of the album, "The First Days Of Spring" has a joyful spirit even though has moments of fully melancholy. Combining gentle & introspective folk/pop with nice orchestral arrangements that are used either, give a twist to songs like "The First Days Of Spring", which opens the album in a majestic way, or to create a divertimento, choirs included, in "Instrumental I"/"Love Of An Orchestra”, Noah And The Whale have given a turn of the screw that has led them a big step forward. -CORANNIEIT-

Noah And The Whale, The First Days Of Spring
Cherry Tree Records, 2009

Links:
Official Web Site
My Space Web Site

Pelican - What We All Come To Need

2010-01-29T23:11:00.010-08:00

Pelican is one of those bands that hardly make a bad record. His discography is probably one of the most consistent of the post-metal scene and "What We All Need To Come," their fourth album, is not exception. In it, these young masters of metal plays long pieces of heavy music full of chiaroscuros in which Trevor de Brauw and Laurent Schroeder-Lebec guitars continue alternating distorted riffs and chords, full of power, with moments of lightness and, if we can use the term, a certain delicacy, playing an instrumental heavy metal that at times approaches to progressive rock, post-rock and stoner rock. For some tracks the band includes Greg Anderson (Sunn o)))) and Aaron Turner (Isis) in addition to Allen Epley (Shiner) vocals in "Final Breath", first non-instrumental song recorded by the quartet (although actually this does not improves the sound of the band). Perhaps slightly more relaxed (so to say) than "City Of Echoes" or "The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw", "What We All Need To Come" stay at the same level as their predecessors but specially keeps the well known Pelican´s dark power. -CORANNIEIT-

Pelican, What We All Come To Need
Southern Lord Records, 2009

Links:
Official Web Site
My Space Web Site

Joaquín Sabina - Vinagre y Rosas

2010-01-22T18:21:00.000-08:00

Sabina breaks a 4-year silence with "Vinagre y Rosas" a generous album that includes 14 tracks with the classic "Sabina stamp": elaborate, poetic and smart lyrics. Songs full of sensibility but also with touches of cynicism and black humor. Musically, accompanied by his inseparables pals "Pancho" Varona and Antonio Garcia de Diego, Sabina walks on several roads from ballads to blues and from disguised "rancheras" to New Orleans sound and even 2 or 3 rock songs that he was debt us for a long time. So, along about an hour we're found in "Vinagre y Rosas" the different faces of Sabina: the eternal love's outsider in "Tiramisú de Limón" and "Agua Pasada", the incorrigible in-his-sixties, and picky father in law, in "Viudita de Clicquot" and "Oh! Carmela ", the bard of the times in "Crisis" (surprisingly rocker) and the lifetime rebel in "Violetas Para Violeta", some kind of adaptation of chilean songwriter Violeta Parra song "La Carta", converted by Sabina and company in an exquisite blues that the pace of military drums close the album with Sabina singing "Preguntale a los milicos/Que hicieron en La Moneda" (Ask the milicos (militaries)/What have they done in "La Moneda"). So, showing a great shape, Sabina deliver his fifteen album. A great album. Long life to "El Flaco". -CORANNIEIT-

Joaquín Sabina, Vinagre y Rosas
Sony BMG, 2009

Links:
Official Web Site

Soulsavers - Broken

2010-01-08T18:36:00.002-08:00

Third album from English musicians and producers Rich Machin and Ian Glover who have created an exceptional album, musically sophisticated but emotionally raw, in which they composed all the music and for vocals called for a multitude of partners led by Mark Lanegan (ex-Queen Of The Stone Age) and Australian Rosa Agostino (best known as "Red Ghost") but which also involve Mike Patton (Faith No More, Fantomas, etc..), Jason Pierce (Spiritualized) and Richard Hawley. "Broken" is a brilliant and thrilling album that walks rock, soul and some blues giving us over an hour of dense, sensual and dark music, with a delicacy that contrasts, and is complements at the same time, with Lanegan's rough and slummy voice (perhaps one of the best kept secrets, and wasted talents, of the American scene) reaching moments of absolute beauty and emotion. From the poignant desolation of "You Will Miss Me When I Burn" (original by Bonnie "Prince" Billy) to the hopeful "By My Side", "Broken" is a profound and luminous record. A masterpiece. -CORANNIEIT-

Soulsavers, Broken
V2 Records, 2009

Links:
Official Website
My Space Website

Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg

2010-01-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

Wolfmother broke out loudly in 2005 with a superb debut album, in which they exploited their power-trio formation playing an impetuous hard rock, strong and with a remarkable freshness despite its obvious references to the seventies sound of bands such as Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. After 4 years, an internal fight that left Andrew Stockdale, guitarist and singer, as the only original member of the band, and a change of lineup that includes a second guitar in the hands of Aidan Nemeth, the nowadays quartet presents "Cosmic Egg", their second album, in which they maintain the direct evocations to 70's hard sound but it seems that on this occasion Stockdale bets for a simpler and raw sound leaving aside the elaborated and semi-progressive passages of his previous record going now more to stoner and hard rock in its purest form. With a first part with a lot of punch but without any transcendent, "Cosmic Egg" go better from the second half with solid songs in which they recover some of the freshness and vitality of "Wolfmother" album doing songs like "In The Castle", "Phoenix", "10,000 Feet", which flirt with heavy metal (including a riff that evokes "Kashmir" by Led Zep) and even "Far Away", some kind of power-ballad. At the end, "Cosmic Egg" is a just good enough to muddle through but without the brilliance of its predecessor. -CORANNIEIT-

Wolfmother, Cosmic Egg
Interscope Records, 2009

Links:
Official Web Site
My Space Web Site

We Were Promised Jetpacks - These Four Walls

2009-12-25T09:46:00.000-08:00

Imagine Los Campesinos! becoming profound and melancholic. Or perhaps Frightened Rabbit with double power. It would probably be something similar to what the Scottish band We Were Promised Jetpacks does in "These Four Walls", their first album, in which, without any leaks, delivers 11 songs that combine frenetic attacks of rhythm guitars, evoking in someway Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah first album, with some of The Arcade Fire melodic drama doing music that by moments reach an impressive force. Through compelling harmonies and some energy that borders on punk, the quartet constructs in crescendo songs, stretching the rope slowly until blow up, going from intimacy and sweetness of plucks and softly chords, to moments of explosive catharsis in which the guitars of Adam Thompson and Michael Palmer, coupled with the intense Thompson performances that, just like music, goes from shyness to euphoria, transform songs like "It's It's Thunder and Lightning", "Short Bursts" and "Keeping Warm" into truly anthems. "These Four Walls" is an album effusive and intense. A fortunate debut for these Scots. -CORANNIEIT-

We Were Promised Jetpacks, These Four Walls
Fatcat Records, 2009

Links:
Official Web Site
My Space Web Site

Rammstein - Liebe ist für alle da

2009-12-18T18:36:00.002-08:00

The good thing about being a band like Rammstein is that no one expects that each album sounds different. With a sound practically patented what we expect in every Rammstein album is furious music. Hostile music. And this is precisely what these industrial metal veterans does in "Liebe Ist Für Alle Da" their sixth studio album, which, considering what they did in very regular (not to say mediocre) "Reise, Reise "(2004) and" Rosenront "(2005), is not to be overlooked. It seems that this 4 years pause has enable these Germans to recalibrate the gears of the machinery that produced records like "Sehnsucht" or "Matter" and deliver 11 songs (15 in the special edition of the album) of aggressive and tense metal, with the guitars of Richard Kruspe and Paul Landers bringing back their impetuosity with sharp and overwhelming riffs, while Christian Lorenz left electro adornments to do arrangements a little bit more complex and symphonic that together with the always threatening and theatrical performances of Till Lindemann gives the music a slightly sinister touch. Although at times the sextet drops his guard to make themes with semi-acoustic and melodic touches as "Roter Sand", quiet and dispensable, or "Frühling in Paris", a power-ballad in which Lindemann shows that sometimes even him has a "sweet-heart" by singing "softly" (for his standard) a few lines in French, "Liebe ist für alle da" is equilibrate by pieces like "Rammlied", "Ich Tu Dir Weh" or "Wiener Blut" with the classic "Rammstein sound": hard, crushing, unsuitable for delicate ears. Not the best record from Rammstein but the more decent that the band has delivered this decade. -CORANNIEIT-

Rammstein, Liebe ist für alle da
Universal Music, 2009

Links:
Official Web Site
My Space Web Site

The Cave Singers - Welcome Joy

2009-12-11T19:06:00.000-08:00

Among the sea of bands and singers sailing nowadays through the indie scene under the trendy flag of folk, find a band like The Cave Singers is a balsam to be thanked. Unlike many of their colleagues who use folk and americana just to sound cool enough, this trio from Seattle has no restraints to play folk & country music with no conditions frequently crossing the border with rock. With a basic and direct sound, "Welcome Joy" is a warm album, with no false claims, in which Derek Fudesco and Pete Quirk (who also plays harmonica and melodica) vivacious guitars are accompanied by the soft drums of Marty Lund. With gentle and acoustic pieces like "Summer Light" or "Leap" as well with songs a little bit more rocker and energetic such as "At The Cut" or "Shrine", "Welcome Joy" always maintains a cozy and vibrant mood despite the "simplicity" and, at times, austerity of the music. A good record for those looking for a taste of folk and americana without poses. -CORANNIEIT-

The Cave Singers, Welcome Joy
Matador Records, 2009

Links:
Official Web Site
My Space Web Site

Street Sweeper Social Club - Idem

2009-12-04T18:35:00.001-08:00

After a long time flirting, Tom Morello and Californian rapper and MC Boots Riley (The Coups) finally concrete their collaboration by presenting their first recording "Street Sweeper Social Club" an album with 11 "hymns for the revolution ", says Morello candidly (sorry for the mistrust, but now days i do not believe too much in revolutions, especially those that are called from 1st. world comfort), who in addition to the guitar also takes over the bass while Stanton Moore plays drums. With Riley rap and Morello's always fierce guitar, the music of Street Sweeper Social Club brings nothing new to what Morello have done before and may possibly be a throwback to his time with Rage Against The Machine. So, while Riley (maybe less singer but so much better rapper than Zach de la Rocha) raps flawlessly so "incendiary" lyrics that inevitably fall into political correctness (strike out the "mo-ther-fuck-ers" Wall St. speculators and the corrupt lords of war is now days revolutionary? really?), Morello deliver solid and sharp riffs with some occasional solos, garnishing the whole thing with catchy choruses and the slightly funky drums by Moore. Although it is unlikely "Street Sweeper Social Club" becomes the soundtrack for a revolution, it is an acceptable album, or funny at least, with austere and repetitive music, but also with moments of power and vitality that for over 40 minutes can make happy to RATM nostalgics and, of course, some globaliphobics. -CORANNIEIT-

Street Sweeper Social Club, Idem
Warner Music, 2009

Links:
Official Website
My Space Website

Grand Lake - Nevermint

2009-11-27T01:29:00.003-08:00

From the Bay Area comes the first recording of Grand Lake, the new project from Caleb Nichols, Port O'Brien ex-bassist (by the way, Port O'Brien have just released "Threadbare" their second album), who along with Jamenson Swanagon and John Pomeroy presents "Nevermint", an EP that barely exceeds 20 minutes and in which trough 8 tracks these Californians offers a simple and catchy rock-pop sound despite the music sometimes has a dark and melancholic mood. Although some tunes have a vague sound even not totally finished, there are songs like "Concrete Blonde On Blonde", with some little touch from The Arcade Fire sound, "She's A Hater", rhythm and perfect to dance, or "Oedipus Hex" with some power chords (although content), which show the potential of Nichols and company and make "Nevermint" an interesting first step that perhaps with a good polish could become a very good album in the near future. We'll see. -CORANNIEIT-

Gand Lake, Nevermint

500 Records, 2009

Links:

Official Website

My Space Website

Rodrigo y Gabriela - 11:11

2009-10-30T15:34:00.006-08:00

So far away is the time when this couple of Mexican ex-metal heads used to play their guitars on the streets of Dublin to live. Now days they play one day in Tokyo and the next day in Coachella or Bonnaroo festivals, so they can afford to release a record as "11:11" with guests like Strunz & Farah and Alex Skolnick. "11:11" is some kind of conceptual album with, precisely, 11 songs, each dedicated to an artist who, to say the duo, has influenced or inspired their music in some way ranging from Astor Piazzolla to Carlos Santana and from Pink Floyd to "Dimebag" Darrell. Although the "Rod & Gab" well-known power-acoustic-instrumental sound remains with no change, there is some news: for the first time there's no covers (remember that many turned to see this guys for their wonderful versions of songs like Metallica´s "One", Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" or Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven"), on the other hand, perhaps realizing that the formula was beginning to run out, the duo incorporates instruments like ukulele, oud, darbuka and piano as well as including, also for the first time, an electric guitar with an Alex Skolnick solo. Though at sometimes can be slightly monotonous, "11:11" is a good record of (OK, let say it) world music with "Latin flavor" and rock flashes (though some people still think that this is flamenco music). -CORANNIEIT-

Rodrigo y Gabriela, 11:11
ATO Records, 2009

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site

Jonsi & Alex - Riceboy Sleeps

2009-10-23T18:45:00.000-07:00

After release a couple of singles (one of them, "Happiness", included in "Dark Was The Night" compilation and that they signed still as Riceboys Sleeps) "Jónsi" Þór Birgisson (Sigur Rós) and Alex Somers (Parachutes) finally delivered his first album "Riceboy Sleeps" with which they materialize the musical side of this collaboration initially conceived as a visual art project (Somers, Birgisson's boyfriend, has designed much of the art of the Sigur Rós albums) but now naturally extended to music field. Recorded exclusively with acoustic instruments and the participation of Amiina string quartet, Sigur Ros regular collaborators, and the Kópavogsdætur chorus, "Riceboy Sleeps" is a record dense and relaxed at the same time in which Birgisson and Somers not only do not stray the sound of their "main" bands but making it even more radicalized to create quite atmospheric and ethereal music. OK, let say this: next to "Riceboy Sleeps", "Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust" the last album by Sigur Rós, could be almost considered a conventional pop album. Over little more than an hour "Jónsi" and Alex create long, dreamy, barely whispered soundscapes that gently swaying between ambient and experimental music. At first listen "Riceboy Sleeps" risks to end up being one of those records that are played as background music in "relax sessions", but it's worth listen it with attention, let your guard down and being involved to enjoy the almost celestial atmospheres created by Birgisson and Somers. -CORANNIEIT-

Jonsi & Alex, Riceboy Sleeps
Beggars XL Recordings, 2009

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site

Muse - The Resistance

2009-10-23T16:25:00.009-07:00

Among the army of Radiohead clones that emerged last decade few bands can today claim to have found his own style. Fewer can boldly stand alongside the Oxford masters (to overcome them is so much to ask for, remember that Thom Yorke and company are cooked separately). One of these bands is Muse that just had delivery "The Resistance" their fifth studio album. There is not much new to say about Muse music. Everything in their work is excessive and still yet it sounds perfect. Keeping almost the same sound of "Black Holes And Revelations", the trio deliver intense, ambitious, elaborated and perhaps a little more bombastic, if possible, music. The guys from Teignmouth left behind the "floydians" album covers but keep their epic style with a progressive rock touch on tracks like "The Resistance", "Unnatural Selection" or "United States Of Eurasia/Collateral Damage" (with an obvious wink to Queen) songs in which they carry their rock/pop to cinematic limits by combining monumental orchestral arrangements with the powerful guitar and passionate interpretations of Matthew Bellamy. The album closes with "Exogenesis" a 3 movements mini-symphony in which Bellamy gives vent to his classical piano accompanied by Edodea Ensemble. "The Resistance" is an impeccable album that assures Muse to be on all "Best Of The Year" lists. It is also a great opportunity to take a rest of the low-fi/do-it-yourself fashion and enjoy a little bit of glamour. -CORANNIEIT-

Muse, The Resistance
Warner Music, 2009

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site

Volcano Choir - Unmap

2009-10-09T18:42:00.000-07:00

After the extraordinary debut that he had with "For Emma, Forever Ago", a magnific album and certainly some of the best that came out last year, it seems like Justin Vernon, best known as Bon Iver, is avoiding to take the final step to record the dreaded "second album": earlier this year he recorded "Blood Bank" a 4 tracks EP; then participated with a couple of songs in the Red Hot compilation "Dark Was The Night"; now, resuming a pre-Bon Iver project, he meets again Wisconsinites pals Collections Of Bees to create Volcano Choir and release their first album. Those who expect to find in this new work of Vernon something like "For Emma, Forever Ago" will be disappointed. While "Husks and Shells", "Island, IS" and "Seeplymouth" opens the album in a hopefully way, from the fourth theme everything becomes blurred and the record takes an experimental turn, as if Vernon will continue what he began with "Woods", the final track of "Blood Bank", and which on this record includes a new version now named "Still". From this point "Unmap" takes place with a quiet and relaxed sound with Vernon talking rather than singing, accompanied by evocative chorus, incidental noises and some kind of instrumental minimalism (sometimes just the drums, sometimes just with an atmospheric organ) that makes the music sound scattered and at times a little bit tedious. "Unmap" is not exactly an electrifying album, it takes patience and some zeal for Vernon to take away all that pretentious packaging that it comes wrapped in and enjoy it. Maybe that's the way it should be. After all is not a Bon Iver album. Is a Volcano Choir album. -CORANNIEIT-

Volcano Choir, Unmap
Jagjaguwar, 2009

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site

The Thermals - Now We Can See

2009-10-02T18:31:00.004-07:00

"Now We Can See" is the fourth album from this Portland band in which they make simple, powerful and catchy rock, with some punk touch but quite melodic. Without reaching the Green Day's "sophistication" but not falling in Blink 182's bland happy punk, music by The Thermals is doubtless inspired and based on punk but also contains an undeniable pop touch, maybe because of the pop/folk background of guitarist Hutch Harris and bassist Kathy Foster, band mates also in Hutch & Kathy, that makes the trio's music sounds very friendly and digestible. Harris comes easy playing chord by chord to assemble circular, rhythmic and light music but also with some substance. 10 solid tracks that always keep a high intensity level including provocative songs as "I Let It Go" or "When We Were Alive" fast and distorted, but also slightly poppy songs like "Now We Can See", with a chorus rather than sticky, viral, or "At The Bottom Of The Sea" some kind of power ballad with tints of melancholy. Punk or heavy-melodic-pop. Power or melody. It doesn't matter. "Now We Can See" is an impetuous and absolutely enjoyable record. -CORANNIEIT-

The Thermals, Now We Can See
Kill Rock Stars Records, 2009

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site

Marnie Stern - This Is It And I Am ...

2009-09-25T18:26:00.001-07:00

With the horrendous title "This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That" (supposedly a quote from the English philosopher Alan Watts) and a cover deceptively innocent, the amazing guitar player and songwriter Marnie Stern, considered by many a true shredder, presents her second album, a frantic and noisy record in which the New Yorker does not beat around the bush and from the first moment shoot an attack of riffs, power chords and an endless series of guitar pirouettes. Stern gives no rest or truce and with no company but runaway drums, a shy bass guitar and some occasional keyboards, she creates 12 songs with a swishing and visceral sound, with complex and volatile structures that change from moment to moment. With the same sense of chaos of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (a much focused sense of chaos, paradoxically) and a tapping technique that will have proud even to Eddie Van Halen, Stern does not hide her impeccable technical level but unlike many of their male counterparts, she does not falls into the typical "look-i-can play thousand-notes-per second", and avoids the excess (the John 5 kind of excess, for example) going well beyond guitar pyrotechnics to make songs, chaotic and intricate yes, but well-defined songs that without losing the sense of melody goes from punk and hard rock to RIO and noise even touching experimental. "This Is it. .." is a vertiginous and exciting album in which this girl shows that there are many female guitar players. Female guitar players such as Marnie Stern, not so many. -CORANNIEIT-

Marnie Stern, This Is It and I Am ...
Kill Rock Stars Records, 2008

Links:
Official Website (at Kill Rock Stars)
My Space Website

Gustavo Cerati - Fuerza Natural

2009-09-19T00:53:00.008-07:00

After refill his bank account with the Soda Stereo 2007 reunion tour, Gustavo Cerati returns with "Fuerza Natural" his fifth solo album in which seems like we finally recover Cerati as a guitar player, maker of organic and warm music . Yeah, is true, since "Ahí Vamos", his previous album, Cerati moved away from electronic sound and pick up guitar as base for his music again but, unlike the pompous and distant sound of "Ahí Vamos", in "Fuerza Natural" he put aside his avant-garde pursuits and focuses on simplicity and melody. The result could not be better: without fall into easy tunes and maintaining the refinement that characterizes his music, the argentinian deliver 13 songs with which we connect since the first chord of "Fuerza Natural" is played, song that along with "Déjà Vu" and "Magia" starts the album in a energetic way, with an enthusiastic and optimistic spirit to continue in a soft and rhythmic mood with songs like "Tracción A Sangre", "Desastre" and "Cactus", a sort of melancholic stylized chacarera, giving it a slightly bucolic and andean folky breeze to the middle part of the album. At the end comes the dreamy stillness of "Sal" and "Convoy" to close with "Hoy He Visto A Lucy" a 9 minutes trip with obvious reminiscences to The Beatles. Cerati arrives to his 50 anniversary with a great album. A flawless record which in some way, and without even suggesting the "Soda Stereo sound", he shows once again that ability to make engaging and perfect rock/pop songs. "Fuerza Natural" could be the album that we have been waiting from Gustavo Cerati for 12 years. -CORANNIEIT-

Gustavo Cerati, Fuerza Natural
Sony Music, 2009

Links:
Official Website
My Space Website

Stellastarr* - Civilized

2009-09-13T23:58:00.008-07:00

After 3 years of silence since "Harmonies For The Haunted" (for some a "misunderstood" album, for others simply a bad record) the American quartet Stellastarr* is back with "Civilized", third album in their not too prolific discography and which seems to confirm that they are one of those bands that suffer the curse of having debuted with an extraordinary album which, 6 years later, is still a obligatory reference to their work and somekind of "shadow". "Civilized" is composed for 10 tracks which include pieces such as "Tokyo Sky" or "Graffiti Eyes" which sounds like the band tries to return to their "roots" combining power and spontaneity with Michael Junin's guitar generating all kinds of melodies, taps and riffs that are mounted over the distorted strings Shaw Christensen rounded with Amanda Tannen choruses (whose bass, indeed, has improved notably). On the other hand there are songs like "Robot" or "Numbers" in which New Yorkers show they have not broken up with that eighties new wave darkie sound that characterized his second album (perhaps they aren't trying to do so anyway). "Civilized" is a regular record so close to be good: it have power, it have punch, from the middle part of the album, with "Graffiti Eyes", the funny "Zombie Prom" and the powerful "Warchild," the album reaches really good moments but at the end something happen that there is nothing that definitely catch us. Unlike "Stellastarr*", their debut album, there is not any memorable song like "My Coco" or "Jenny", there is not the urgency and freshness of "Pulp Song". Certainly better landed that "Harmonies For The Haunted", but even without reaching the level of "Stellastarr *", "Civilized" shows a good band with the potential (already shown by the way) to make brilliant songs but which maybe this time lacks a bit of ambition, a last effort to get a good record without any objection. -CORANNIEIT-

Stellastarr*, Civilized
Bloated Wife Records, 2009

Links:
Official Website
My Space Website

The Sounds - Crossing The Rubicon

2009-09-09T19:28:00.001-07:00

"Crossing The Rubicon" is the third album by Swedish band The Sounds in which the band maintain the sound of their previous albums and preserves the Nordic tradition of good pop bands with rock ambitions. 12 songs light, extremely melodic, with catchy choruses and Maja Ivarsson's voice reminding us frequently to Karen O. Pop in all its forms: epic, synth, dance, power, dream, almost always bright and strong but sometimes near to be insipid just saved by the Felix Rodriguez's guitar which is responsible for giving substance to the sound when it begins to get so sweetie and danceable. Pop pure and delicious, with great punch and a sleek simplicity. Without pretensions, "Crossing The Rubicon" is a light and perhaps slightly superficial record but absolutely enjoyable. -CORANNIEIT-

The Sounds, Crossing The Rubicon
Original Signal Records, 2009

Links:
Official Website
My Space Website

The Dead Weather - Horehound

2009-08-09T12:59:00.001-07:00

If after listen "Consolers Of The Lonely", The Raconteurs second album, we wondered: Does anyone misses to The White Stripes? After listen "Horehound", the debut album of The Dead Weather, the new superband founded by Jack White (and probably, along with Chickenfoot, one of the few that deserve the adjective these days) which also involved Alison Mosshart, The Kills vocalist, Dean Fertita, Queens Of The Stone Age keyboardist, and Jack Lawrence, from The Greenhornes and The Raconteurs, the question (perhaps a little bit unfair since White is not alternating with a support band nor beginners) that is floating on the air is: Is Jack White a genius of actual rock?. If in "Consolers Of The Lonely" White exploded the opportunity of have the "creative counterweight" of Brendan Benson and to play with a real band, with enough solvency to make more elaborated music, in "Horehound" what he gets is boost and enhance the garage sound of The White Stripes taking it to another level and give it some sophistication without lose a bit of his powerful and visceral nature. 11 pieces of hard and volatile music, in which White let Fertita take charge on the 6 strings (with a style very similar to White but less frenetic), and except for "Will There Be Enough Water?", a dark blues that closes the album, he abstain from play guitar taking charge, along with Lawrence, of the drums and share vocals with Mosshart and her raspy voice. "Horehound" is an extraordinary album, 43 minutes of austere elements music but with a robust and overpower sound, as garage as bluesy. Is Jack White a genius of actual rock? The White Stripes, The Raconteurs and now The Dead Weather seem to give us the answer: absolutely yes. -CORANNIEIT-

The Dead Weather, Horehound
Third Man Records, 2009

Links:
Official Website
My Space Website

Black Flowers - I Grew Up From A Stone To A Statue

2009-08-08T22:34:00.008-07:00

First album from this quartet from Glasgow formed by musicians who have been wandering through different projects and now coincide in this kind of "superband" called Black Flowers. Led by English drummer Alexander Neilson, the quartet delivers "I Grew Up From A Stone To A Statue", a brief record , just over 30 minutes, in which the band offer 5 pieces that evoke English folk and medieval music, specially the vocals parts, combined with sixties psychedelia and a strong tendency to improvisation. While the opener "Calvary Cross" goes from total softness, with delicate and subtle vocals, to moments of wildness in which guitar and organ build intense passage of psychedelic jamming, other songs such as "Hot Crosses" or "And Words Fell Like The Malting Blossom" offer amazing moments with ethereal vocals barely accompanied by chaotic percussion or electro guitars. The record ends with Lavinia Blackwall singing "Sweets Rivers Of Redeeming Love" a sweet folk ballad. While not extraordinary “I Grew Up From A Stone To A Statue" is an interesting effort, although, due to the nature of the band, with a certain ephemeral smell. -CORANNIEIT-

Black Flowers, I Grew Up From A Stone To A Statue
Bo Weavil Recordings, 2009

Links:
Bo Weavil Recordings Official Site

Crippled Black Phoenix - 200 Tons Of Bad Luck

2009-08-05T23:04:00.011-07:00

In what moment the sound of a band change from have influences of to it's a copy of? Is it "bad" to copy the sound of a band if the result is pretty good? This kind of questions come to mind after listen "200 Tons Of Bad Luck" the second album from Crippled Black Phoenix, the British collective group founded by Justin Graves (Electric Wizard, Iron Monkey) and its membership includes Mogwai bassist Dominic Aitchison. Covered all the way by an evident and permanent floydian shadow "200 Tons Of Bad Luck" is a good album in which we will not find an original sound, but high-level music ranging from post-rock to progressive rock. Music with long instrumental passages, peppered with incidental sounds and voices, mostly of it relaxed but also with moments full of enthusiasts Gilmourean guitars. While the first part of the album have a complete and shameless Pink Floyd sound, with songs like "Burnt Reynolds, with an introduction very close to "Shine On You ...", "Rise Up And Fight", almost a "One Of These Days" clone and "Time Of Yer Life / Born For Nothing / Paranoid Narcoleptic Arm Of Empire ", a long suite of 18 minutes with noticeable evocations to "Wish You Were Here" and "Dark Side Of The Moon" albums, towards the middle it tends more to Mogwai sound playing a little bit more obscure and aggressive songs like "444" and "Whissendine" just to close with the ethereal and instrumental "I Am Free Today I Perish." A very good album that could make happy to any Pink Floyd fan. -CORANNIEIT-

Crippled Black Phoenix, 200 Tons Of Bad Luck
Invada Records, 2009

Links:
Official Website
My Space site

Fuck Buttons - Street Horrrsing

2009-07-24T17:49:00.005-07:00

How Mogwai (or even Sigur Rós) sounds like if they play electronic music? Maybe it would be something like "Street Horrsing" the first album of British duo Fuck Buttons, recorded, by the way, with the collaboration of John Cummings, one of the Mogwai guitarists. Frequently crossing the border to noise and experimental music, this guys from Bristol deliver, in just 6 pieces, over 50 minutes of intense and quite cerebral electronic music, in which, perhaps in some kind of conceptual album, the songs are not only linked but almost all of them revolve over the same musical idea using the same elements, structures and sounds that makes us feel like the whole album is just one song executed cyclically with different nuances. Music that comes in waves, with dreamy beginnings that rising gradually until reach epic climaxes in which we are overwhelmed by uncontained loops, deranged screams and distorted voices. Despite its repetitive and mechanical nature, the music from "Street Horrrsing" flows so playful and somehow, behind laptops, keyboards and other toys we can feel the "human" touch of Andrew Hung and Benjamin John Power. First class electronic music, barely suited for the dance floor and absolutely freaky. -CORANNIEIT-

Fuck Buttons, Street Horrrsing
ATP Records, 2008

Links:
Official Website
My Space Website

Soap&Skin - Lovetune For Vacuum

2009-07-17T23:32:00.006-07:00

In some kind of Antony and the Johsons meets Devil Doll, the surprising Austrian girl, Anja Plaschg, better know as Soap&Skin, deliver her debut album "Lovetune For Vacuum" a record rather than depressive, dark and slightly macabre but also full of beauty and emotiveness. 13 songs with a truly dark sound, without chorus nor melodies, in majority of which this young lady, just 19 years old, is accompanied only by her piano played almost all the time in a disturbing and sinister low pitch, occasionally supplemented with electronic effects and strings arrangements. With a pretendedly fragile and delicate voice, Plaschg shapes her interpretations making them sometimes atmospheric and ethereal, barely whispering her desolate lyrics, while in other pieces she sounds openly passionate and theatrical. With songs like "Sleep" or "Marche Funébre", "Lovetune For Vacuum" is a record with a permanent dark and melancholic tone sprinkled with just a few moments of "brightness" in songs like "Cry Wolf" or "Brother Of Sleep." Tense and sometimes distressfully music but with a sensibility as dark as delicious. An excellent debut for this girl. -CORANNIEIT-

Soap&Skin, Lovetune For Vaccum
Play It Again Sam Records, 2009

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site

Heartless Bastards - The Mountain

2009-07-10T23:03:00.007-07:00

Featuring a new lineup, in which guitarist/singer Erika Wennerstrom, seems to be the only permanent member of the band, the American trio Heartless Bastards presents their third album "The Mountain" playing music without ornaments or elaborate arrangements, powerfully rocker but with high doses of country and folk. Wennerstrom has a strong voice, with a deep tone and a style that sometimes recalls Linda Perry, and manages her interpretations to fit perfectly with the sound of each song whether pieces like "Early In The Morning" or "Out Of The Sea" in which the band sounds like a real power-trio with the strong and vibrant Wennerstrom guitar in front of, or in quieter songs such as "Had To Go", a dark folk/country theme with banjo and violin, or pleasant acoustic blues "Could Be So Happy" that this band from Ohio executed flawlessly. However, the best moments of "The Mountain" are achieved when the impetuous Wennerstrom guitar is wrapped in the country spirit that dominated throughout the album by delivering songs like "The Mountain", with a delicious steel guitar sliding over the distorted Wennerstrom guitar, "Witchy Poo" or "Sway" both with a southern sound, hard and evocative at the same time. From beginning to end, "The Mountain" is a vigorous and easy to enjoy record. A refreshing back to the basics. -CORANNIEIT-

Heartless Bastards, The Mountain
Fat Possum Records, 2009

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site

Iggy Pop - Préliminaires

2009-07-03T19:53:00.001-07:00

People says "Change or die". Perhaps affected by the recent death of his old buddy Ron Asheton, the venerable Iggy Pop appeared taken this words seriously or at least that is the impression this leaves us after listening to his most recent material "Préliminaires" an amazing album in which except for a couple of timid, very timid attempts (for example "Nice To Be Dead"), Iggy forgets almost completly about rock, not to say punk or hard rock, and delivers 12 tracks ranging from jazz! to french chanson and from bossa-nova to the New Orleans sound. Yeah, at this point of his life and after survive for over 40 years in the most crude and wild side of rock, Iggy does not have to prove that he is a rude guy; in fact, he does not have to prove anything to anyone. Anyway hear Iggy sing, in rigorous french, "Les Fuilles Mortes", a french jazz standard, or "How Insensitive," a original bossa-nova from Antonio Carlos Jobim seem to be an excess ... even for Iggy. Disconcerting to the first listening, even repellent to those who expect the Iggy from "Skull Ring" or "Brick By Brick" (not to mention those waiting for The Stooges), "Préliminaires" is an album that demands multiple listenings to discover, occult under all that apparent "softness", to the darker and most rebel Iggy in recent years. The Iggy that gives us exactly the opposite of what we expect. Thus, when we expect rawness and fury, we get the beauty and sensitivity of "I Want To Go To The Beach" or "Spanish Coast", when we expect the distortion and the clangor we get the funk and the "electronic" from "Party Time" or the blussy and acoustic guitars of "He's Dead, She's Alive ", when we expect Iggy Pop we receive ..."Préliminiaires". A dark, intense, slummy beautiful album, and yes: an Iggy Pop album. -CORANNIEIT-

Iggy Pop, Préliminaires
Astralwerks, 2009

Links:
Official Website
My Space Website

Heaven & Hell - The Devil You Know

2009-07-02T23:44:00.010-07:00

After having met in 2006 to record 3 songs to be included in the compilation "Black Sabbath: The Dio Years", this old metal masters decided to return for their old glory and met again to record "The Devil You Know" first studio album that they sign as Heaven & Hell and with wich they break the silence that the band have mantain since 1992 when recorded "Dehumanizer" still like Black Sabbath. There is not much new that can be said about the music of these veterans: the Butler-Appice duo is the solid and strong base on which is mounted the slow, very slow and crushing guitar of Tony Iommi, the unique and original "Lord Of The Riffs, to deliver the crushing chords and nice solos that give the crude and primitive element of the music while, in the other hand, the impeccables performances of Ronnie James Dio, who in his nearly 67 years shows that still have voice for a while, give it the melodic and theatrical touch. Combining the classic Sab sound, slow and dark, of themes such as "Atom and Evil" or "Follow The Tears", with the melodic and energetic sound of songs such as "Bible Black" and "Neverwhere", this venerable quartet deliver an excellent classic metal album demonstrating that the devil knows more because he is old than because he is the devil. -CORANNIEIT-

Heaven & Hell, The Devil You Know

Rhino, 2009

Links:

Official Wesite

My Space Website

The Decemberists - The Hazards Of Love

2009-06-26T18:55:00.001-07:00

The Decemberists have their fifth album, "The Hazards Of Love," a splendid job in wich they use the conceptual album format again now to tell the story of Margaret and William, lovers whose romance is threatened by William's mother "The Queen". Assemble over small suites that revolve around a melodic line that is repeated with different nuances throughout the album, the 17 tracks are linked to form a "single piece" of about an hour in wich the quintet continues the path that began with his previous album, "The Crane Wife," delivering an elabotared album with a highly theatrical style in which no detail is left to chance, but maintaining the simple and warm sound that has characterized his music. If in "The Crane Wife" Jenny Conlee keyboards dived the band into 70´s progressive rock sound, in "The Love Of Hazards" Chris Funk guitar leads them to bordering hard rock limits with passages filled with powerful riffs and chords that are interspersed with sweet and bucolic moments generated by Colin Meloy acoustic strings. In the vocal part the band has invited Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Becky Stark (Lavender Diamond), who lends her sweet voice to "Margaret", and Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) playing "The Queen" , who just need to participate in 3 songs for almost steal the album with her intense interpretations, in total harmony with Funk´s hard guitar, which sounds even more captivating than those achieved with his own band. With "The Hazards Of Love" The Decemberists deliver us a real gem (again) and, for those who still doubted it, show that since long time ago they ceased to be a pretentious little indie band to become a mature and brilliant band while Colin Meloy confirms that has formed, along with Win Butler (The Arcade Fire) and Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade, Sunsent Rubdown, etc.) somekind of holy trinity of indie. Amen. -CORANNIEIT-

The Decemberists, The Hazards Of Love
Capitol, 2009

Links:
Official Website
My Space Site

The Wanting Comes... + An Interlude (extract)

The Abduction Of Margaret... + The Queen´s Rebuke

The Hazzards Of Love 3 + The Wanting Comes (reprise)...

The USA Is A Monster - Space Programs

2009-06-26T18:53:00.003-07:00

"Space Programs" is the fourth and probably last album of American duo The USA Is A Monster who recently announced their separation and even have shutdown both their official and My Space websites. An album composed by 7 pieces with an anti-solemn and casual/funny character ranging from psychedelia to progressive rock, and from RIO to space rock, developing a surprising complex and powerful sound in despite of the austere instrumentation that is limited to the guitar of Colin Langenus and the Tom Hohmann drums (plus some keyboards). With a remarkable interest in Native American cultures, reflected in many of their lyrics and also permeating the music, the sometimes mantrics interpretations by Hohmann and the sharp and vigorously stoner guitar of Langenus assemble electrifying passages where the music acquires a "mystical" and hallucinating touch. With pieces such as the impetuous opener "Cocaine Weeding", the splendorous and trippy "Frozen Rainbows", and specially "Tulsa," almost a religious experience, "Space Programs" is progressive rock without ornaments, solid and delirious. A trip. -CORANNIEIT-

The USA Is A Monster, Space Programs
Load Records, 2009

Links:
Load Records

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz

2009-06-26T18:51:00.000-07:00

New album from Karen O and company in wich seem to be get away from the “alternative” sound still showed in "Show Your Bones" delivering now an album with a more varied sound but also much closer to pop. While the trio has never been the non plus ultra of rock, and dance music has been not entirely strange to his discography, songs such as openers "Zero" and "Heads Will Roll", rather than rhythmic, shamelessly discotheque music or "Dragon Queen", another poppy dance song with 80´s influences, may be disappointing for those hoping to find the melodic but full of energy and guitars music that the band had delivered in their last album in pieces like "Cheated Hearts" and "Mysteries". However "It's Blitz" is not a bad record, irregular perhaps, and contains good songs in which New Yorkers recover some energy like "Softshock" the third song in which Nick Zinner guitar stands out for the first time in the album, or "Fortune And Shame" aggressive and slightly noise, as well as others in wich calm arrives like "Skeletons", a quiet, almost atmospheric piece in which Karen O is accompanied just by idyllic keyboards and "Hysteric" a beautiful dream pop in wich for a moment we do not know if we are listening to Karen O and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs or to Amy Millan and Stars. At the end "It's Blitz" is an uneven album in which we are often tempted to push the "Next" button and then we find songs that tempt us to push the "Repeat" button. One of those records that leave us with a bittersweet taste. -CORANNIEIT-

Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It's Blitz
Interscope, 2009

Links:
Official Website
My Space site

Mastodon - Crack The Skye

2009-06-26T18:49:00.000-07:00

Masterfully combining the full power of metal with progressive rock cerebral structures, this band from Atlanta give their fourth album "Crack The Skye" which like its predecessor, the furious "Blood Mountain", is a conceptual album about a bizarre story that include Rasputin, the Tsarist Russia, astral travels, spirits and demons. Perhaps slowed and less aggressive than "Blood Mountain", but also so much darker and ambitious, "Crack The Skye" confirms that the quartet's music goes far beyond the power chords and headbanging delivering 9 songs (including instrumental versions of a couple of pieces) with an elaborated and full of nuances sound without losing its hard, heavy and often clangorous essence. Much closer to Tool than to Dream Theater, Mastodon go in prog metal using, without abuse, progressive elements (passages, structures, etc.) to achieve a more sophisticated sound while maintaining an always rude and visceral attitude. With the guitarists Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher playing wild chords but also solos that winks to David Gilmour, the album passes so overwhelming between pieces as "Quintessence," with a progressive start and final explosively heavy, "Ghost Of Karelia" , with a phantasmal riff that immediately takes us back to "Schism" from Tool, and "The Last Baron" a monumental, and perhaps the best summary of Mastodon's music, such that at the end leave us exhausted and not by their 13:00 minutes of duration, but by the intensity that reaches: after 3 minutes of simple and almost inconsequential metal "The Last Baron" takes off and starts to level up until it reach a quite progressive passage, with no signs of metal, then turn into a 100% Toolean music full of power that leads to the headbanging, finishing with another Gilmourean solo. Without rest nor truce along 50 minutes, Mastodon delivery in "Crack The Skye" elaborated and ambitious music, but above all, no-mercy intense metal. -CORANNIEIT-

Mastodon, Crack The Skye
Reprise, 2009

Links:
Official Website
My Space Site

Joe Gideon & The Shark - Harum Scarum

2009-06-26T18:47:00.000-07:00

A brother-sister power-duo. Using as primary instruments guitar and drums respectively. With an austere but powerful sound based on blues. Where we heard this before? However, despite many similarities, the music of this London duo sounds completely different to the "brothers" White of Detroit. With the unsophisticated but intense and effective Gideon’s guitar, which in some songs is changed for bass guitar and Gideon no doubt to use some distortion to create crushing riffs, and accurate and precise drums of Viva, Joe Gideon & The Shark deliver in "Harum Scarum" music in a simple and overwhelming way with a clear and vibrant blues vein despite the dark atmosphere that wraps the 9 songs that compose it. With a voice that makes listening a lot longer than he is (let say he has a voice of an old men) and a vocal style in which he often talk more than sing (maybe because the duo elaborated lyrics are small stories of disappointment, love, loss and crimes) Gideon interpretations at times evoke Iggy Pop and Johnny Cash (in particular when he talk) providing warmth and emotion to each song. Including decidedly vigorous songs as "Harum Scarum", "Civilization" or "Johan Was A Painter An Arsonist," a tasty and distorted blues, others that combine delicacy with moments of explosive guitars as the poignant and epic "Kathy Ray" or the accelerated "Hide And Seek" with Viva playing the piano, and also some moments of serenity as the beautiful and heartbreaking "Pale Blue Dot" that closes the album, "Harum Scarum" is a great debut for this real brothers band that definitely promises great things. -CORANNIEIT-

Joe Gideon & The Shark, Harum Scarum
Bronzerat Records, 2009

Links:
My Space Site