MGMT - Oracular SpectacularEven Greg Dulli himself said he really liked these guys and thought they were great. That was enough reason for me to finally check out their record. It has a very interesting sound. It's like a throwback album to no genre or period in particular. You definitely get a 60s vibe on a couple songs, but it doesn't feel like it's intended. It just seems like these guys like what they like and play what they feel like. To be honest, I'm only really into a couple songs on it. "Time to Pretend", "Electric Feel", "Kids", "Pieces of What". The other songs are interesting, they just don't grab me as much.
Right Away, Great Captain - The Eventually HomeThe second part of a trilogy of albums by Andy Hull (Manchester Orchestra) that continues the story of the 17th century sailor and his descent into insanity because of his wife's infidelity. The story takes place almost three years after the first album ended with the sailor becoming the Captain. It's about him coming home and having to deal with his feelings towards his wife, his growing insanity, and his urge for murder. Why doesn't he just get over it?? Beats me. Anyways, the production on this is definitely better than the last one. The first album was mostly just acoustic guitar, but this one has better sound, more back up vocals, better arrangements, and it just plain sounds better. The lyrics are really well written. Even though they all mostly follow the same theme of bitter resentment, it doesn't really get too old. There's a confessional and personal quality to them that is unshakeable.The album can get really dark. Trust me. This is the kind of album you listen to alone, laying down in bed, with only the music and your thoughts to comfort you.
"Devil Dressed in Blue", one of the acoustic numbers of the album. It's about putting his inner demons into song.
"Memories From a Shore", a song I like from the album that is a good example of the arrangements I'm talking about.
Right click, Save as would be good.
Coconut Records - DavyCoconut Records is the solo project of Jason Schwartzman. You know, the actor from Rushmore, The Darjeeling Limited, I Heart Huckabees, Shopgirl, etc. He was also one of the founding members of the band Phantom Planet, where he played drums. He's broadened his instrumental horizon by playing the majority of the instruments on Davy, which is his second album. It's been a pretty good listen. The production seems to have improved and the songs just seem better written. I guess you could say it sounds like indie rock by way of the Beatles because of the keys, acoustic, and the bright poppy melodies that show up in it. It's catchy stuff. His lyrics still aren't the greatest, but I've heard worse. I like how the songs can get stuck in your head for days, but not in that annoying way. Definitely not in an " I Kissed a Girl" way, which led to getting purposely Rickroll'd multiple times to get it out of my head.
http://www.myspace.com/coconutrecords
Shearwater - RookI was a Shearwater virgin. Then I listened to this album. I'm not sure what to say about it. My friend Bill said Jonathan Meiburg is his favorite vocalist, but not necessarily singer. I didn't understand that when he told me it, but now I think I do. I literally can't understand half of what Meiburg is freaking saying. His voice goes into these high pitched little wisps and it's just not decipherable. Then during usually singing, he does it such a way that the words sort've roll together. It's like Jeff Buckley and Morrissey's voices got it on and had a baby. However, it sounds really really pretty. It goes well with the music, which is definitely a highlight. Some songs bring in the strings, acoustic, and piano, and some rock out with distorted guitars and a nice beat. Meiburg's voice also changes according to what the music needs. In some soft acoustic, piano driven song, his voice goes into those little wisps. Then when rocking out, he's belting it all out. His voice has many ranges. So yes, he's a great vocalist. I haven't gotten toooo into this album though. It's really nice to listen to, but I just can't get into it. It might be the whole "I don't know what he's saying" thing or because the majority of the songs are slow, but it doesn't mean it's bad. It's just more appropriate when you want to listen to something a little beautiful.
Just give it a listen.
http://www.myspace.com/shearwater
Lydia - IlluminateThat's a pretty cover. I just really dig it. Anyways, I haven't gotten to spend a lot of time with this one. I'll put this simply though: If you like Copeland, you will like this. The lead singers sound similar, the style is really similar, the sound is similar, the only real difference is the songwriting and the addition of a female backup singer. I'm not that much into Copeland though, so it's hard to get into this one. The instrumentation and songwriting are a highlight. Everything's well put together and the vocals are done well enough. Though I wish the female singer would get more opportunities to shine. Layers and layers of sound cover every song, it's like a sonic tapestry for your ears. It gives it some serious atmosphere. Anyhoo, if you like Copeland, give it a listen. If you don't, then you probably won't this much either. If you just want to listen to something pretty, give it a listen. I appreciate the work put into the album and it's well done, but I honestly probably won't play it that often. Maybe if I was in the mood for it.
http://www.myspace.com/lydia
Fleet Foxes - Fleet FoxesThis was on a gagillion "Best of 2008" lists. I had to check out what was so bloody amazing. It sounds like someone picked up a group from the 50s and brought them back here to record some tunes. The singing is quite good on it ( and he's almost as good a vocalist as Meiburg, except I can actually understand what this guy is saying) and I like how the backup vocals give it that oldies vibe. The rest of the instrumentation is pretty good. Though from what I've heard, it's not as good as people make it out to be. Not saying it's bad, but just reaaaaaaally overhyped. To me, I haven't really felt a personal connection to it nor have I heard anything that really makes this band any different from some others. I have to admit, it's still a really solid album all around. I can see why alot of people put it up on their lists. I'll have to give it a few more listens since I haven't spent that much time with it.
http://www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes
Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's YouI know what you're thinking. You think this is some weird joke that I'm listening to Lily Allen. My credibility has gone out the window. My credibility is really going to go bye bye when I tell you how much I like it. Seriously, this is a good album. I was surprised. I just listened to it out of curiosity. I was pleasantly suprised. It turned to be as much about sex, drugs, and love as any album in Greg Dulli's repetoire, as critical of fame and the state of the world as we are when we look at Lindsay Lohan, and as personal and honest as our most revealing songwriters. It's also quite funny at times. She wrote all the songs, went to LA, and recorded them all at one time, rather than what most people like Allen do which is co-write and produce with tons of people. I also really like the use of accordian as a primary instrument in one of her songs. It's rare that you hear that. I didn't think I was going to like the song about George Bush (it's called "Fuck You", subtle, I know) , since I don't like most political songs (In Sum 41's case, a whole freaking album). But it sounds so quirky, cute, and odd, that it's hard to even think of it as anything political. Anyways, I really liked the album. I have since listened to the first one and it's just way too "usual pop singer" for me, but I like this one.
I'll write a new post that's more recent and totally NOT a post I had written in January that I haven't posted.
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