Review: The Gaslight Anthem- American Slang

To say The Gaslight Anthem aren't influenced by Bruce Springsteen is to say that you aren't really reading this. It's a damn lie. The Boss even showed up on stage with them last year at Hyde Park and sales of their album "The '59 Sound" shot up. There's now a generation of bands influenced by The Boss, some for the worse (The Killers), but rest assured, The Gaslight Anthem are for the better, and "American Slang" is a step into proving that.

The album is loaded with sing along anthems played at break neck speed with life or death consequences, it's pretty awesome stuff that even Joe Strummer himself (another one of the band's influences) would be proud. Songs like "American Slang" and "Boxer" are forceful with Brian Fallon's croon and fast pacing guitars with sing along hands in the air choruses ready to dominate your next festival...or ballroom.

Another charming thing about the band is their writing. Brian Fallon's lyrics are so descriptive and his indulgence to reminisce on nearly every tune here is remarkable. Most song writers don't have the great story writing arc that Fallon does, but when he speaks, you feel as if the guy is actually familiar with life in the 50's or the blue collar, lunch pail American life.

If you're a fan of the style, there's not much to dislike here, but the songs do run into each other after a little while and it's a formula that they already perfected the last time around, it makes the rest of us wonder if they'll be ready to break out of a comfort zone and start exploring anytime soon. Still, it doesn't pose as a problem, since they do it so damn well, and it's better than most of their counterparts who are either The Killers or are signed to label mates Sideonedummy.

The Gaslight Anthem are a different kind of punk band. They're not crazy about overthrowing the government, and they're not a bunch of guys who would look to sell out once the pop-punk train comes calling. You get the feeling that they're in it because they love doing it. They're making music for normal people by normal people, it's the kind of stuff you'd like to put on, pop open a beer, and talk about your...bad pun...wait for it...Glory Days.

*** 1/2 out of *****

Interpol release new video

If you haven't seen it yet, it's worth a view. The band are hard at work getting ready to release their fourth album as well as a tour. And with the absence of bassist Carlos D, and the addition of Brandon Curtis on keys, it looks like they'll be alright.

Review: Various Artists- Eclipse Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Twilight is a part of American culture sadly. But the marketing genius' have made sure to spare nobody. The soundtracks to Eclipse and New Moon have featured artists respectable to just about everyone except for the demographic for Twilight, since you know, they'd much rather listen to Adam Lambert than Thom Yorke, and probably can't tell you that Beck's first album was called "Mellow Gold".

The wait for the soundtrack was a good one, artists being announced one at a time, and they had some heavy hitters. The likes of Muse, The Black Keys, The Dead Weather, Vampire Weekend, and Band of Horses getting tracks on the coveted soundtrack, sadly, it could be said that most of these contributors left their dignity at the door, offering nothing but b-side material, some that would've been best not to have been heard at all.

Metric kicks things off with "Eclipse" but it sounds mailed in, much like the band on their latest album "Fantasies". Muse deliver the single from the album "Neutron Star Collision", a song so over the top and full of cheese, that it would've felt at home on last year's shit sandwich album "The Resistance".

The Bravery follow with a horrible synthpop tune in "Ours" that sounds like the worst song The Killers have ever put to tape, and after all, The Killers kinda suck to begin with. A Florence and the Machine track comes next, making for the first of only four good tracks out of this 15 song marathon.

Tracks by The Black Keys, Vampire Weekend, The Dead Weather, and Band of Horses, sound absolutely flat and mailed in, with the latter being the most boring song on the album not credited to Howard Shore. The choices in these songs are poor, making for a huge misfire to convert young fans who otherwise would have no interest in these bands who aren't dominating Top 40 radio.

There are some good tracks though. Beck and Bat for Lashes make "Let's Get Lost" a duet that's as fun and interesting as it is dark. UNKLE and The Black Angels breeze through "With You In My Head" making it the best song off the soundtrack. Unknown band Eastern Conference Champions make due with "A Million Miles An Hour", showing up the indie counterparts who are cock of the walk.

The album has some big names, but ends up being a complete dissapointment on most ends. These songs were left on the cutting room floor and should've stayed there. The soundtrack comes off as trying a little too hard to be cool and it shows, in the end, it doesn't pay off, but would you think any less coming from the Twilight banner?

** out of *****

Review: Chemical Brothers- Further

The Chemical Brothers are arguably the best big beat musicians out there. Capable of holding arena sized crowds with their huge beats and sometimes great insturmentation, it's easy to see why they were in such high regard. The past decade however, hasn't been to kind to Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons. After the release of the virtually flawless "Surrender" in 1999, what followed was a trio of true hit or miss affairs. With that behind them, they're playing with house money and nothing to lose, making for their newest release as somewhat of a triumph.

Further opens up with "Snow" a soft opening and Stephanie Dosen's beautiful voice back fand forth, easily syncing into "Escape Velocity" making for a teriffic opening one-two punch. While "Snow" is soft and almost passing off as a lullaby, "Velocity" is another run of the mill clubber that the Chemical Brothers have always been great at making, and with the near 12 minute length, it's a marathon that's worth running.

The album does have its down points though, "Horse Power" comes off as a goofy dance number complete with horse noises and a frat boy beat. "Swoon" follows, but seems out of place and a little dated in sound, making for the middle of the album to be kind of a drag to get through, though it does become rewarding in the end.

"K+D+B" follows "Swoon" with its percussion heave beginning and goes into full out trance, making for the album's standout track. "Wonders of the Deep" follows and ends the album on a high note and eases the listener's tension and caps off a very solid, yet short effort from The Chemical Brothers.

The questions of if they were in a funk are answered here. Easily the best later career album they've made, even if it doesn't rank up there with "Surrender", yet it doesn't try to. Further is a success because it goes back to the drawing board and takes its time to engage you, as long as you engage it. And the more paitent you are with it, the better.

**** out of *****

Review: The Roots- How I Got Over

The worlds of hip hop and indie rock are coming closer together. Whether it's Jay-Z showing up at a Grizzly Bear gig, or Kid Cudi sampling Vampire Weekend, hip hop has finally taken a shine to something vastly different. The Roots on the other hand, have always been respected by anyone. They've built a reputation on great hooks, Black Thought's lyrics, and one of the best live acts around. So it wasn't really a surprise to see Jim James of My Morning Jacket and Joanna Newsom guest on the latest offering from the kings of Philadelphia.

How I Got Over is easily the best album they've done since "Things Falling Apart". Once again, the band is superb with their jazzy hooks and low tempo beats, but what shines on the album is the awareness of the lyrics. Black Thought has always been one of the best lyricists not only in hip hop, but in any genre of music, and though the band has always had some politically charged lyrics, they're at the top of their game, mostly because unlike most rappers trying to sound smart, Thought is and comes across as someone who could be on CNN's Crossfire.

Musically, the band can't be topped. The best thing about them has always been the addition of live insturmentation opposed to sampling the hell out of everything. Maybe it's the fact that they play five nights a week as Jimmy Fallon's backing band, but the band sounds tighter and as confident as ever, making for their best offering of jazz music in years.

And with everything on the table, those collaborations I mentioned earlier, they work. "Dear God 2.0" uses "Dear God" from last year's debut album from Monsters of Folk, complete with vocals by MoF/My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James. While a Joanna Newsom sample drives "Right On", making for two of the albums standout tracks.

If there's any problem with the album, it's the length, running way short of its 42 minute running time. But if there was any question if they could deliver another great album while constantly working on a late night show as a backing band, they've answered the call and up the ante again. We can only hope with their busy schedule, we don't have to wait too long for another album.

**** out of *****

Rated R to be remastered

Some time ago, Queens of the Stone Age/Them Crooked Vultures frontman Josh Homme hinted at a remastering of their 2000 breakout album, Rated R. And thanks to a Facebook post, it looks as if it's coming soon, August 3rd to be exact. The remasterd edition will contain b-sides from the era as well as the disc itself. This is good news for fans who don't want to hunt down all the EP's and such. Needless to say, it's about time, Rated R is one of the best rock albums released in the past decade and served as a easy road toward their masterpiece Songs for the Deaf in 2002.

The best albums of the first half of 2010

2010 has been one of the best years of music that we've had in a while. More and more indie bands have been crashing the top 10 with albums and as in recent years, we've seen more reunions that we'd probably care to see. I have chosen 10 albums from the first half of the year that have been spectacular. Keep in mind, albums by The Roots and Chemical Brothers come out tomorrow, and later this year, we expect material from Arcade Fire, Clinic, and possibly Radiohead.
10. She and Him- Volume Two
Actresses shouldn't be able to write decent music, much less a good album, but what we have here is everyone's favorite Plain Jane, Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, teaming up to deliver their second album of A.M. Radio gold! It's cute, it's adorable, and it's some of the catchiest music released this year. Ward doesn't try to overcompensate and Zooey's voice works wonders for one of the best surprises of the year.
Song to check out: Don't Look Back

9. Band of Horses- Infinite Arms
Ben Bridwell is the only remaining member left of the original lineup, but that's okay. Band of Horses is to Bridwell what Queens of the Stone Age is to Josh Homme. That being said, the band is back with songs that are appropriate for the summertime and are full of southern rock riffage and Bridwell's sweet voice which miay be the best in rock and roll. While most have viewed it as a step back, it seems as if this is the most complete BoH record yet, and a great sign of things to come.
Song to check out: Factory

8. MGMT- Congratulations
MGMT pick up where they left of on the second half of their debut, instead of crafting danceable hits for your party mixes, they've transcended into freaky psych pop and have made one of the best Flaming Lips albums ever. There's no singles here, and they run long, but each listen is rewarding, and anyone who doubted MGMT could not craft an album better than their first, can now be counted out. Congratulations trumps the debut in every way possible.
Song to check out: Brian Eno

7. Titus Andronicus- The Monitor
Some New Jersey punks decided to make an album loosely based off of the Civil War, they ended up creating a second album that ranks up there with their splendid first album. The Monitor is full of passionate songs played loud and fast with bagpipes and yelling, whiskey soaked and ready to fight, these songs pack a punch that'll leave your ears ringing for hours after it's ended. It's fun, it's loud, and it's everyting rock and roll should be.
Song to check out: A More Perfect Union

6. Vampire Weekend- Contra
Songs about having rich people fun, hanging around the eastern sea board and just being happy and fortunate. The guys from Vampire Weekend aren't modest about their surroundings, but they write great, upbeat songs and have fun doing it. Contra isn't as good as their debut, but that would've been a stretch, instead they got creative and craft and experimented a little, and still wound up making one of the year's best albums. This is afro-pop at its finest.
Song to check out: Cousins

5. Owen Pallett- Heartland
Somewhere out there, Brian Wilson is wishing he wrote this album. Mr. Pallett writes a hard to follow story, but with his arrangements and Christopher Cross like voice, he crafted an amazing album that with each listen, gets better, and easier to follow.
Song to check out: Lewis Takes Action

4. The Black Keys- Brothers
After their two weakest efforts, The Black Keys have returned with one of their best efforts yet, combining the early lo-fi charms of their earlier works, and the quality production of Attack and Release, Brothers has the best of both worlds in a greatly sequenced album that runs quicker than its 55 minute length. Brothers is the sound of the band taking what made them great in the first place and showing everyone, they can still bring the rock, high production or not.
Song to check out: Howlin' For You

3. LCD Soundsystem- This Is Happening
What may be the last release from James Murphy's outfit, is also the finest. This Is Happening has more songs with Murphy reflecting on his age and partying and the world surrounding him, but it is accompanied by his best beats yet. More introspection than previous albums, but it's not a bad thing, if this is truly the last we hear of LCD Soundsystem, you better believe that they went out on top.
Song to check out: I Can Change


2. Spoon- Transference
Britt Daniel has rallied the troops together for the seventh and possibly best effort yet from Austin natives Spoon. The tracks are lo-fi and sound as if they were only done on one take, and Daniel's voice sounds as rough as ever, but the genius of Spoon has always been that with any style thrown at them, they seem to perfect it and with that, they've become one of the most well respected bands in the land. Transference is reason why.
Song to check out: Written In Reverse

1. The National- High Violet
As if there was any question! The National have had two of the most acclaimed albums of the past decade and the most highly anticipated album of the year, it's safe to say they delivered. High Violet doesn't have anthems like Abel or Mr. November, instead, it just has songs that speak to the mind of the middle aged man like nobody around. Matt Berninger is one of the best lyricists around and he proves it here as he also sings with one of the most powerful and distinctive voices around. The National have slowly become the best band around, and with High Violet, a trilogy masterpiece is now born.
Song to check out: Afraid of Everyone

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