When last I wrote I was deep into the new release by BT - "These Hopeful Machines". While I could live without 95% of the remixes the 2 hour plus mixes that make up the double album is pretty good. I did really enjoy the slowly haunting cover at the end of "The Ghost in You". It was a nice touch and this new album does have it's moments and it did remind me of Chicane at times. However, making it continual without individual trax IS unforgivable. ***
Best Coast is a new band which has a former member of Pocahaunted as its leader. This band is nothing like the former. This is a lo-fi affair and I can feel the music will be a grower on me. Singles and EPs have been released thus far: "Make You Mine" [EP], "When I'm With You" (single), "Sun Was High (So Was I)" (single), & "Something In The Way" [EP]. A concise full length could seal it for me. ***1/2
Uncut & Mojo magazines discs for Feb 2010 are interesting. The Uncut disc is bands influenced by Hendrix. It's not a super impressive collection. The Mojo disc is a compilation by Amorphous Androgynous (The Future Sound Of London). It has some interesting music I've never heard of but it's not amazing.
Patty Griffin is back with a new release "Downtown Church" (2010). Gospel is NOT my forte. However, there are several beautiful songs on here like the opener "House of Gold" and a duet with Emmylou Harris and one with Julie Miller. Those were the highlights for me. **1/2
The duo, Phantogram released their debut "Eyelid Movies" (2010). At first, I wasn't sure if I thought it was crap or really good. Turns out when I gave it another spin, I found it to be really good! ***1/2
Estroe-"Elemental Assets" (2010) is an electronica mostly instrumental save for a track with guest Miss Kittin (who I LOVE) and this is a great sounding album which heads directly to the dance floor. ****
Machinefabriek recently gave away a free download of older trax "De Jonge Jaren (2001-2004)" which is a fantastic collection of music. I'm a BIG fan and have even snatched up some limited edition Machinefabriek vinyl over the years. Just an amazingly creative brilliant soundscaper like Fennesz. However, their music is not the same. There are surprises on here that aren't like the past 5 years of the sound of Machinefabriek. However, everything on here is excellent and I am excited to have this collection. *****
Enigma have just released a 3-CD collection "The Platinum Collection". Disc 1: Greatest Hits. Disc 2: Remixes. Disc 3: Lost Trax. UGH! Why did anyone like this? I still can't believe I even bothered and wasted all this time on this 3-CD!! Well, truth be told, I found it so bad that I forwarded tracks so often I was done in no time at all. No rating because it's so bad and contrived drivel. File with yanni...
Sade-"Soldier Of Love" (2010). I'm going to say it up front. CASH COW!!!!!! Now that I've said that, I am a bit of a Sade fan. I thought it would be nice to hear her again. However, the single is a total bore, thus being a BAD single. The album heads on a downward spiral real quick and there is an unforgivably bad track on here as well. There are 3 songs on there that are worthy of being in her catalogue: Morning Bird, In Another Time & The Safest Place. Were it not for these 3 it would have been a total waste. *
My favourite pick of this bunch this past week, is the new release from The Soft Pack-"S/T" (2010). They used to be called The Muslims, but for obvious reasons that didn't continue to work for them. This album is GREAT! It gets off to a great start and (nearly) doesn't stumble. It's not perfect but it's full of power and action and that is just what I wanted from it. ****1/2
Yeasayer are back with their 2nd album "Odd Blood" (2010). I must say, that is an accurate title for this band for sure. I don't recall finding their debut frustrating. In fact, I recall quite liking it. This one has it's moments and then it has possibilities that veer off into territory I feel they should have strayed from. The track "Madder Red" is what I think should have been the initial single for this album instead of "Ambling Alp". I've noticed online that people are picking "Love Me Girl" as the next single. This song is a PRIME example of what I'm talking about. The first half is brilliant and then what happens is a disaster! WHY!! That's what I was saying as it was playing, along with "this is SO wrong". There's no denying their talent. It's here. However, too many ideas within one song can ruin the whole bunch girl! ***
This next one is exquisitely delicious and my 2nd best pick of this batch. It's by Pantha Du Prince - "Black Noise" (2010). An ear candy electronica journey that is just fantastic. Apparently he is a popular German remixer highly in demand. Hearing this new solo album I can clearly see why. I love everything on here. Just check it out. *****
The Watson Twins return with "Talking To You, Talking To Me" (2010). I was expecting a less than stellar album after reading so many reviews saying it was boring and bad and why did they bother. Hello? Did we hear the same record? Guess not. I like it. These girls can sing and play and it's not a departure from their previous records, but it's good. There are strong songs on here and they clearly confuse the genre boundaries which is something I liked about them from the first time I heard them a few years ago. It's not perfect but it's not bad either. ***1/2.
Ok, that's all my reviews for this week. Onto the list for new releases this week and it's another massive one! Until next time, happy ears!!!!
MARCH 2
1. AFTERNOON SAINTS (LEE RANALDO, DAVID WATSON, CHRISTIAN MARCLAY & GUNTER MULLER)-“SHIRLEY JANGLE” (3/2)
2. DAVID AUGUST-“SWEDEN ROOF” (Single) (3/2)
3. ATHLETE-“BLACK SWAN” (U.S. EDITION) (3/2)
4. BABYBIRD-“EX-MANIAC” ( IMPORT) (3/2)
5. THE BLACK BOX REVELATION-“SILVER THREATS” (3/2)
6. BOMB THE BASS-“BACK TO LIGHT” (3/2)
7. CHRIS BROKAW-“SOLO ACOUSTIC, VOL. 3” (3/2)
8. DAVID THOMAS BROUGHTON-“BOATING DISASTERS” [EP] (2/15)
9. CLIFFORDANDCALIX-“LOST FOUNDLING” (1999-2004) (MIRA CALIX AND GUY FROM SEEFEEL) (3/2)
10. CLOGS-“THE CREATURES IN THE GARDEN OF LADY WALTON” (3/2) (WITH SUFJAN STEVENS, SHARA WORDEN & MATT BERNINGER FROM THE NATIONAL)
11. DARK DARK DARK-“BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT” (3/2)
12. EDITORS-“YOU DON’T KNOW LOVE” [EP] (LTD EDITION) (3/2)
13. EL GOODO-“COYOTE” (3/2)
14. FENN O’BERG-“IN STEREO” (3/2)
15. 4HERO & DJ MARKY-“THE KINGS OF DRUM + BASS” (3-CD) (3/2)
16. JOHN FOXX-“MY LOST CITY” (3/2)
17. PETER GABRIEL-“SCRATCH MY BACK” (DELUXE EDITION 2-CD) (3/2)
18. GOLDEN TRIANGLE-“DOUBLE JOINTER” (3/2)
19. GROOVE ARMADA-“BLACK LIGHT” (3/2) + “PAPER ROMANCE EP PART 1” (2/9)
20. JOHN HIATT-“THE OPEN ROAD” (3/2)
21. INERTIA-“KLONED” (COVERS CD) (3/2 IMPORT )
22. JAGUAR LOVE-“HOLOGRAM JAMS” (3/2)
23. KAMMERFLIMMER KOLLEKTIEF-“WILDLING” (3/2)
24. LITTLE BOOTS-“HANDS” (3/2)
25. LOSCIL-“ENDLESS FALLS” (3/2)
26. MAVIS-“MAVIS” (3/2)
27. THE JOHN MOORE ROCK AND ROLL TRIO FEATURING THE LOOSE MOORELLES-“ROLL YOUR ACTIVATOR” (3/1)
28. MOTORPSYCHO-“HEAVY METAL FRUIT” (3/2)
29. PICASTRO-“BECOME SECRET” (2/22)
30. POLAR BEAR-“PEEPERS” (3/3)
31. EMMA POLLOCK-“THE LAW OF LARGE NUMBERS” (3/2)
32. PORTUGAL THE MAN-“AMERICAN GHETTO” (3/2)
33. FIONN REGAN-“SHADOW OF AN EMPIRE” (IMPORT ) (3/2)
34. RIPPERTON-“NIWA" (3/2)
35. ROGUE WAVE-“PERMALIGHT” (3/2)
36. THE RUBY SUNS-“FLIGHT SOFTLY” (3/2)
37. SEABEAR-“WE BUILT A FIRE” (3/2)
38. VALGIR SIGURDSSON-“DRAUMALANDIO” (3/2)
39. THE STRANGE BOYS-“BE BRAVE” (3/2)
40. A SUNNY DAY IN GLASGOW-“NITETIME RAINBOWS” EP (3/2)
41. THESE NEW PURITANS-“HIDDEN” (3/2)
42. ANDREW THOMAS-“BETWEEN BUILDINGS AND TREES” (ON KOMPAKT) (3/2)
43. SETH TROXLER-“BOOGYBYTES” VOL. 5 (3/2)
44. MIKA VAINIO & KOUHEI MATSUNAGA-“SPLIT EP” (ON IMPORTANT RECORDS) (3/2)
45. MIKA VAINIO & SEAN BOOTH & KOUHEI MASUNAGA-“TELEPATHICS MEH IN-SECT ER CONNECTION” (ON IMPORTANT RECORDS) (3/2)
46. MIKA VAINIO-“TIME EXAMINED” (BOOK + 2-CD) (3/2)
47. A WEATHER-“EVERYDAY BALLOONS” (3/2)
48. JOSIAH WOLF-“JETLAG” (FROM WHY?) (3/2)
49. WOLF PEOPLE-“TIDINGS” (3/2) (ON JAGJAGUWAR
50. YELLOW SWANS-“GOING PLACES” (3/2)
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