Arctic Monkeys: A Review of Humbug 2009

Solid. This is how you could describe the Arctic Monkeys’ upcoming album Humbug. May it’s because it has been a long time since hearing an album from this band, this album insights visions of Oasis of the good years and of more current bands like My Morning Jacket. Nobody likes direct comparisons, so remember Humbug insights visions not comparisons to the other bands mentioned. Arctic Monkeys received a large amount of attention for their first major song release I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor only to be somewhat forgotten by the rest of the world in the years following. Originally the sound of the band was rough in execution and considerably more static in its content, not so for Humbug. The Arctic Monkeys have refined there sound not to any point of annoyance, but to the point and station of precision that musicians seem to attain over time. Humbug has a permeating tone that rests comfortably between the now and the then. In that it incorporates certain characteristics more associated with psychedelic rock of years gone by while retaining much of what made them so popular in recent years. Humbug is a solid album and may even get better over time, certain song off of the album deserve special attention, Crying Lightning, Secret Door and Cornerstone.

Release Date: August 30th 2009
Track List
1. My Propeller
2. Crying Lightning
3. Dangerous Animals
4. Secret Door
5. Potion Approaching
6. Fire And The Thud
7. Cornerstone
8. Dance Little Lair
9. Pretty Visitors
10. The Jeweller’s Hands

Neko Case: Middle Cyclone

Who is this Neko Case? A voice that’s as familiar as it is implacable, Neko Case has been apart of Canada’s most unrecognizable export for years, and its not soft wood lumber or Brian Adams. Neko Case has been the better part of the New Pornographers lead vocals, but don’t box her in. Case has released eight solo projects over the years, making good use of her velvety soft vocals, in a style that has been more country western than the indie pop rock we have heard here in with the New Pornographers. But in her latest album Middle Cyclone, there has been a distinct shift away from the heavily country influences, which for the most part put off fans trying to follow Case off of the success of the New Pornographers last album Challengers. Let’s put it this way in previous Neko Case sole albums we heard a style more akin to the likes of Shania Twain, while in this album we are more in the Ryan Adams territory. Kind of a bridge between country and alterative rock, a nomads land where artist like Ryan Adams, Deer Tick, and Aimee Mann dabble oh so sweetly in. You can Add Niko Case to that list, as Middle Cyclone offers us a kind of gentile recounting of acts of love hate and all the things that make up the tapestry of musical lyrics. With a voce like Neko Case there is little that comes out that does not have some appeal. That does not mean that there are not a few gems to pay special attention on this album, People Got A Lotta Nerve, I’m an Amimal these two will no doubt have a resounding affect on any listeners.

The Whitest Boy Alive: Rules A Review

The Whitest Boy Alive would technically be described as shoegazer band, a title that becomes self-evident when watching the band perform not because the band members are bashful, but because their musical technique requires a lot peddle work in order to pull off. Personally, their sound seems more akin to an experimental jazz band with elevator music influences. Don’t let that description dissuade you, this band which hails from Germany have cornered the market with this style of music as their niche. The lead singer of this band is also the front man for another, possibly more relaxed band called the Kings Of Convenience. The Kings Of Convenience were and are a excellent band, attracting the likes of Feist to lend vocals on an album. But enough about The Kings Of Convenience, the latest offering from The Whitest Boy Alive, Rules is complex yet allows for a pleasant listening experience. Don’t expect anything too heave from these very white boys, all of the tracks off of this album are melodic and only reach a pace more akin to brisk jog than a head banging heart pounding power ballad. But, that is what the band is going for in terms of their musical style, that being said, Rules is great for what it is. Definitely not for all people and more of an acquired taste to be sure, but what The Whitest Boy Alive have going for them is quality. Rules is very refined and polished which makes it worth multiple listens. Some must have tracks off of Rules are, Courage, Dead End, High On The Heels, and 1517.

Modest Mouse: No One’s First And You’re Next

Modest Mouse is set to put out a few unreleased tracks from their past two albums as well as some B-side material. B-side material is always something to be excited about for almost every band, containing the less commercial more experiment side of a band. With No One’s First And You’re Next we get a solid compilation of the best the band has to offer. If anything at all, No One’s First And You’re Next is a great introduction to Modest Mouse newcomers. These are not the overplayed tracks we are all so familiar with… Float On. These tracks are quite fresh, for those of us who do not listen to artists B-sides or even pick up singles. Which in this case is a good thing, since this compilation of unreleased or semi-unreleased songs is… good. Mind you, this album is small only having eight tracks so you shouldn’t be expecting a Good News for People Who Love Bad News, sized offering. Though, No One’s First And You’re Next is a must have for any Modest Mouse aficionado and makes for a introduction to the band’s pleasant musical style, with its near barking vocals and imaginative incorporation of instruments and melodies. One of the featured tracks King Rat has a dead celebrity connection, as Heath Leger’s production company was connected with the making of the music video for that song. Great songs from this album are, Guilty Cocker Spaniels, Autumn Beds, History Sticks To Your Feet.

No One’s First And You’re Next: Track List

1. Satellite Skin

2. Guilty Cocker Spaniels

3. Autumn Beds

4. The Whale Song

5. Perpetual Motion Machine

6. History Sticks To Your Feet

7. King Rat

8. I've Got It All (Most)

Billy Talent: Billy Talent III

Billy Talent III the very creatively titled album recently released by Billy Talent a band which has reached the heights of success with there own brand of angry punk rock. As tight as the new album may be, it lacks the raw power of the band’s older work. It would be nice to say that this album is just the same old Billy Talent and leave it at that, but the band has moved through different phases and they have become progressively more limp-dicked as time has gone by. Billy Talent III, relies more on the plateau factor than any real innovation. Plateau Factor? You see once an indie band such as Billy Talent emerges from its humble starts, playing in pubs and at parties, and they make a name for themselves then they become locked into a SOUND. With Billy Talent that sound, was good, a style which throbbed with angry energy and marked a generation with a few serious power songs that could kick off anything and maintained. Though, that same sound from then on is the identity of the band and is how others identify also the band, that is when the plateau factor occurs. It is an ugly fact, but we can say that Billy Talent came, saw and conquered… with their first couple of albums and now it is time for them to change or fade away.