OT: New Music?

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 1:59 pm

Brando70 wrote:
pk500 wrote:Really good calls on Chris Knight (It's NOT Peter Brady from "The Brady Bunch" ) and Mumford & Sons.

The description of Mellencamp's voice with Earle's soul was perfect for Knight. Damn good storyteller, too.
My first reaction when I heard one of his songs was, "How have I never heard of this guy?" Next month I'm going to snag The Trailer Tapes, where it's just him on the guitar.

I'll have to check out Mumford & Sons. Hoped they would be on eMusic but they're not, at least not yet.

cowbell.fm

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 1:57 pm

Really digging the first full-length release by Alberta Cross, "Broken Side of Time." Has a moody, Crazy Horse vibe mixed with British rock overtones that I'm relishing.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:00 pm

There's a Jimi Hendrix Experience tour looming, for those interested. Among those performing is Jonny Lang, one helluva talented young man.

Link:

http://www.experiencehendrixtour.com/

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:06 pm

Teal wrote:There's a Jimi Hendrix Experience tour looming, for those interested. Among those performing is Jonny Lang, one helluva talented young man.

Link:

http://www.experiencehendrixtour.com/

There a new album of long-lost Hendrix tunes that was released this week. Snagged it last night, and it's damn good. Then again, it's Jimi!

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=am ... fqxztsldde

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:23 pm

Anyone pick up the Them Crooked Vultures CD? Didn't see anyone mention it in this thread.

Saw them on SNL a few weeks back and recognized Grohl but did not realize that was John Paul Jones. Also Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:49 pm

Pete wrote:Anyone pick up the Them Crooked Vultures CD? Didn't see anyone mention it in this thread.

Saw them on SNL a few weeks back and recognized Grohl but did not realize that was John Paul Jones. Also Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age.

Zune pass'd it just a little while ago...Listening to it right now...trying to decide what I think of it.

Grohl played the drums on QotSA album a few years back and JP Jones(along with Jimmy P) played a couple of Zeppelin songs with Grohl and Hawkins when the Foo Fighters were at Wembly a couple of years ago.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:52 pm

Pete wrote:Anyone pick up the Them Crooked Vultures CD? Didn't see anyone mention it in this thread.

Saw them on SNL a few weeks back and recognized Grohl but did not realize that was John Paul Jones. Also Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age.

Got it a couple of months ago. It's solid but doesn't have staying power.

The record amounts to hero worship of Zeppelin and Jones by Grohl and Homme. Some very good, Zeppelin-esque grooves but little that's truly memorable.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:57 pm

pk500 wrote: The record amounts to hero worship of Zeppelin and Jones by Grohl and Homme. Some very good, Zeppelin-esque grooves but little that's truly memorable.

The song Im listening to right now(Gunman) sounds more like something from Bowie

As far as worshipping Zep. Anyone wants to steal from Paige...works for me.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 11:28 pm

A cool find when I went to the Aussie BBQ in LA (aussie pre-sxsw showcase) was Children Collide. Kinda like 90's altern-a-rock, but surprisingly not cheesy. Totally worth a look for fans of that kinda thing(me included on occasion). Catchy stuff & good driving music.

Badger_Fan · Post by **Badger_Fan** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 11:27 am

No discussion on the new DBT record? I like it. Shonna's songs are much improved and Cooley is still awesome. Anyone else?

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 11:48 am

Badger_Fan wrote:No discussion on the new DBT record? I like it. Shonna's songs are much improved and Cooley is still awesome. Anyone else?

Was going to post about it but wanted to give it a few more lessons. It is really good and growing on me more with every listen. "Birthday Boy" could be a Top 5 song in their catalog. I dig the rock feel and agree that Shonna's songs are really good. If you like Drive-By Truckers it's a no-brainer.

A few others:

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, The Brutalist Bricks--A nice return to form for Ted Leo after the meandering Living With the Living. There's an infectious level of energy on it, and a couple songs like "Even Heroes Have to Die" and "Bottled in Cork" have that classic TL rough-but-catchy feel.

Titus Andronicus, The Monitor--Jersey garage band makes Civil War-themed concept album. It's a WTF? that works. Definitely not for everybody, but they had me by the third song when they used a shouted "You'll always be a loser" for the chorus.

Chris Knight, The Trailer Tapes--The Kentucky maestro unplugged, recording songs literally in his trailer. This guy can really write some amazing songs.

High on Fire, Snakes for the Divine--Metal up your ass. I've hardly listened to the back end of the album because I keep playing the first two songs over and over. The second song is called "Frost Hammer" and sounds exactly like what I expected a song called "Frost Hammer" to sound like, which in my book is awesome.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 12:05 pm

Badger_Fan wrote:No discussion on the new DBT record? I like it. Shonna's songs are much improved and Cooley is still awesome. Anyone else?

I've been all over it, but like Brando, I wanted to give it a few listens because at first I was a bit let down. But now I really like it.

My initial biases against any new DBT record are two-fold: One, I want another "The Dirty South" or "Decoration Day." Two, I want Jason Isbell back in the band because I think that was DBT's perfect lineup.

Once I realize those two things aren't going to happen, I can always view a new DBT record objectively. It just takes a few spins of the new record for me to realize that.

I really dig the new record. It's tighter and much more focused than "Brighter Than Creation's Dark," which was about 10 songs too long.

Patterson Hood's lyrics about the desperation of the American working poor, especially from a Southern perspective, are more biting than ever without being overtly political. Hood is an amazing storyteller, not a poster of political placards.

The first four songs on the record are as good as anything that DBT has done. The rest of the record has a few gems. I particularly like "This F*cking Job" and "Santa Fe."

But the biggest surprise to me is how the pop sensibility of the band -- lost when Isbell left the band -- has returned a bit with the maturation of Shonna Tucker's songwriting and singing. "You Got Another" is a gorgeous tune, and "It's Going To Be I Told You So" is a bouncy, Stax-infused tune.

My only disappointment about this record is that Mike Cooley is too much of a bit player on this record. Cooley is one of the wittiest lyricists and songwriters in American rock, as evidenced by "Birthday Boy," to which Brando referred. He also wrote "Get Downtown" and the lovely, record-closing "Eyes Like Glue."

Cooley's levity is essential because Hood can be a bit of a one-trick pony, writing songs almost exclusively about Southern despair or tragedy. Hood does it better than anyone, but it can drag at times, as it did on the last record.

But I think the pleasing emergence of Tucker as a singer and songwriter is pushing Cooley a bit too much to the background, which is a shame.

That's the risk you run with a band this good. Most bands struggle to have one guy who can write a decent song; DBT has three great songwriters. It's the reason Isbell left the band, along with the fact he and Tucker had just divorced; I hope DBT doesn't lose Cooley or Tucker, too.

This is a really good album. Not quite up to the incredible run of "Southern Rock Opera," "Decoration Day" and "The Dirty South," but few bands ever could pull off a three-album run that strong.

Still, picking between DBT albums is like picking between supermodels. A nice problem to have.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 3:46 pm

pk500 wrote:Still, picking between DBT albums is like picking between supermodels. A nice problem to have.

Maybe the most consistently good band of the 2000s. While I have my favorites, every album I have from them is really good, and the stretch from Southern Rock Opera to The Dirty South is incredible. They manage to evoke real emotions in their music and sympathy for their characters, avoiding the melodrama and pathos usually lesser artists use to achieve those results. It's been nice to see them getting more and more recognition over the years without losing their touch.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 4:37 pm

Brando70 wrote:Maybe the most consistently good band of the 2000s. While I have my favorites, every album I have from them is really good, and the stretch from Southern Rock Opera to The Dirty South is incredible. They manage to evoke real emotions in their music and sympathy for their characters, avoiding the melodrama and pathos usually lesser artists use to achieve those results. It's been nice to see them getting more and more recognition over the years without losing their touch.

Dead-nuts on, Brando. I can't think of another band that moves me to rock and moves me to tears -- usually within the same album, too -- more consistently than DBT.

For example, I was cranking last night to "Guitar Man Upstairs" from "Southern Rock Opera," an absolute sh*tkicker of a tune. Then I jumped over to "The Living Bubba" off "Gangstabilly," which is just such an incredibly sad, poignant song about a musician friend of the band's who continued to play live shows while his body was full of AZT, dying of AIDS. Or what about on "Brighter Than Creation's Dark," going from the achingly sad "Three Daughters and a Beautiful Wife," about a mass murder in Richmond, Va., to the rollicking "3 Dimes Down" on consecutive tracks?

You could play that kind of quality emotional hopscotch all night with DBT.

A rare, rare gem of a band.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Apr 06, 2010 11:10 pm

I'm a MASSIVE Guns N' Roses fan, but oh, dear, Slash's new solo album is an open bag of garbage that has sat in the summer sun for three days.

He took the Santana "Supernatural" route, bringing in different lead singers for each track. The result is a jumbled mess that is so bland, so lacking in the dangerous bite of G N'R or even the one or two good songs of Velvet Revolver. It's paint-by-numbers hard rock.

I think I'll be hard-pressed to hear five worse albums this year than this. It almost sounds like a parody album, a Spinal Tap-like record. There might be three decent tracks out of 14 -- the songs with Lemmy and Iggy Pop, and the instrumental with Dave Grohl and former G N'R bassist Duff McKagan.

Slash needs to get back with a focused band -- soon. That G N'R reunion can't come soon enough.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 12:21 am

pk500 wrote:I'm a MASSIVE Guns N' Roses fan, but oh, dear, Slash's new solo album is an open bag of garbage that has sat in the summer sun for three days.

He took the Santana "Supernatural" route, bringing in different lead singers for each track. The result is a jumbled mess that is so bland, so lacking in the dangerous bite of G N'R or even the one or two good songs of Velvet Revolver. It's paint-by-numbers hard rock.

I think I'll be hard-pressed to hear five worse albums this year than this. It almost sounds like a parody album, a Spinal Tap-like record. There might be three decent tracks out of 14 -- the songs with Lemmy and Iggy Pop, and the instrumental with Dave Grohl and former G N'R bassist Duff McKagan.

Slash needs to get back with a focused band -- soon. That G N'R reunion can't come soon enough.

Slash should "join" an established band (kind of like when Dave Grohl joined Queens of the Stone age or Jonny Marr with Modest Mouse) to help restore his image as a guy who cares about music. Or maybe not. Who is taking Slash serious at this point anyway? He's kind of like this cartoon character that shows up on letterman or an episode of the apprentice every now & then.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:38 am

Saw 'The Low Anthem' last night. HOLY CRAP! These kids definitely know what they're doing. What a great sound.

Just downloaded their newest album and it's good but doesn't do the live show any justice (like most good live music).

This month has been/will be crazy for live shows for me...Puscifer, Little Dragon, Beach House, The Low Anthem, Japandroids, Hot Chip, The xx, Passion Pit & Trans Am.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:12 pm

Every once in a while an album completely grabs me from the first play and doesn't let go. For the last few days I've been listening to the self-titled album by Fang Island and it's one of those albums that brings me more joy with each play.

Their music takes a lot of familiar influences and then blends them into something completely unique, a prog-metal-indie rock-emo-pop concoction that sounds incredible. There's bits of classic Yes (especially some of the organs), Satriani-ish guitar licks, metal riffs, classic 70s FM radio, palm-muted punk-pop guitar lines, gang vocals that never sound shouted, and songs that cover an incredible amount of ground in three-and-a-half minutes while still being catchy.

Check out their song "Daisy." If you like that, you'll love the rest.

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:55 pm

It's not "new" music, but I was interested to read that Soundgarden dusted off a bunch of songs from their back catalog (some haven't been played since 1990) at the recent "Nudedragons" show they performed in warming up for Lollapalooza:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/;kw=[13193,126314]

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 4:10 pm

Beach House is a great mellow sub-pop sound. Probably closer to chill-out alternative.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 3:46 pm

Guilty Pleasure alert: Apples in Stereo's Travelers in Space and Time. It's unashamed ELO/70s-era Todd Rundgren love-fest. It'd all be for nothing if the songs weren't so f'n catchy. Makes me want to buy a vocoder asap.

Badger_Fan · Post by **Badger_Fan** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 11:09 am

Tons of great stuff coming out (or already out). The new Gogol Bordello record is good, and if you have a chance to check 'em out live you need to run, don't walk, to get tickets. Most energetic show I've ever seen.

Hold Steady day is Tuesday with the release of "Heaven Is Whenever". Really excited for that one, though I'm still sad that Franz left the band.

And a week after that you have "High Violet" from the National. Love those guys and am hoping they hit Minneapolis soon.

There is also a new Gaslight Anthem record coming out in the next couple of months. All in all, I'm pretty excited. What are you guys looking forward to?

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Mon May 03, 2010 12:32 pm

Yes, there is tons a great stuff coming out now. May is usually the kickoff to lots of new album releases. My list however, is completely differetn than yours

Slash was a horrible way to kickoff the spring releases for me. I like 3-4 tracks, but the rest is very boring. I kept waiting to hear him wake up and unleash something with some real energy. The Fergie track is my favorite right now, partially because it's great to hear her rock out and to sing something that doesn't not have the exact same throught the whole song.

He really does need to get with someone who can help him channel his talent. I'm not sure who has wasted their talent more, Slash or Axl.

Ratt's Infestation has been a pleasant surprise. Didn't expect this to be very good, but it sounds just like classic Ratt, minus some of the backing vocals. Many quality tunes with a couple of clunkers. The lyrics can be a little too cheesy, but overall it's not bad for a hair band. Yes, it sounds like it could have been released in 1986, but that's a good thing for them.

Sevendust - I'm still working through this one, but so far it's been real good. Some of the later albums got a bit monotonous, but this one (so far) seems to have some variety of sound to it.

Bullet for My Valentine - This one does sound a little "samey" all through. Not a drastic change from their last 2. This band will likely turn into a lot of others for me in that I'll take all the good tracks from their catalog and whittle them down to a greatest hits list.

I've been doing that a lot lately as I am running out of space on the iPod, and I don't have the time to listen to all the bands I have now. There are very few bands in my iPod that contain multiple complete albums anymore.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon May 03, 2010 12:43 pm

Badger_Fan wrote:Tons of great stuff coming out (or already out). The new Gogol Bordello record is good, and if you have a chance to check 'em out live you need to run, don't walk, to get tickets. Most energetic show I've ever seen.

Hold Steady day is Tuesday with the release of "Heaven Is Whenever". Really excited for that one, though I'm still sad that Franz left the band.

And a week after that you have "High Violet" from the National. Love those guys and am hoping they hit Minneapolis soon.

There is also a new Gaslight Anthem record coming out in the next couple of months. All in all, I'm pretty excited. What are you guys looking forward to?

You can listen to the new albums by The Hold Steady and The National in their entirety through NPR:

http://www.npr.org/templates/player/med ... =125870816

Enjoy!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon May 03, 2010 12:45 pm

matthewk wrote:Slash was a horrible way to kickoff the spring releases for me. I like 3-4 tracks, but the rest is very boring. I kept waiting to hear him wake up and unleash something with some real energy. The Fergie track is my favorite right now, partially because it's great to hear her rock out and to sing something that doesn't not have the exact same throught the whole song.

Absolutely. A terrible record. Probably the most disappointing straight-ahead rock release since Chickenfoot, which also was wretched.

There are about three songs I like on Slash's record: The instrumental with Dave Grohl, and the songs with Iggy Pop and Lemmy Kilmeister. The rest are pure shite.