I've been away for a long long time....

Hey there. I've been so busy over the past couple of weeks, what with finals in college, and turning in other work, trying to secure an internship, all that good stuff. I've barely had time to LISTEN to any music, let alone review it. But now, summer is here, and hopefully I will have a lot more time for recreational writing.

More reviews are on their way (at least from me.) Thanks!
Check back often.

Brand New-The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me

I know this is a few years old, and that it mainly appeals to the emo crowd...but deep down, I think we have to admit, we can all be a little emo at times, so bear with me. It's definitely a guilty pleasure, and I'm not afraid to admit it whatsoever.

The album opens with a quiet introduction, which is basically spoken word over quiet guitar. Within a minute, you are blasted by a rapid crescendo, and yelling. It is by far the most expressive, with its highs, lows, and crescendos.

The second track, "Millstone", is one of the album's ballads. It is more melodic, and has far less screaming than the other songs on the album. It uses the drums to its advantage, with the song growing quiet and only vocals and rudimentary guitar over them.

"Jesus Christ"...This song is purely aimed at getting with emo scene girls.

Track four, "Degausser", flaunts an eerie sounding chorus. The voices ring in dissonance, creating a creepy and melancholy sound.

Track six, "You Won't Know", another screaming, crescendo-ing song, gives the album back its intensity after the last three mellow tracks. It's a lot more angry than the first track, and basically the entire CD.

"Welcome to Bangkok", mainly an instrumental, fills your ears with distortion pedals, some weird background synth, and random yelling in the background, is definitely unecessary to the overall album.

Track eight, "Not the Sun", is a song about unrequited love by a scorned man. Despite its depressing topic, its sound is one of the most upbeat on the album.

"Archers" comes the closest to their older sound, still filled with anguish, but holding a lot more melody than other tracks.

The last song, "Handcuffs", is a mellow ballad that is a little pretty, with acoustic guitars, and keyboards. It's like letting out that last sigh, after you've let go of your anger and frustration, which Brand New had no problem expressing on the other tracks on the album.

Overall, their sound on this album is more dark and melancholy than on previous albums, which featured a more emo-punk sound than just plain emo. It's not their best CD, and maybe they are overrated, but I'm fine keeping this in my guilty pleasure file.


The Damage:



4 out of 5 mustaches

Radiohead-Amnesiac

Alright so I'm aware that this album has been out since 2001. But I think it would be incredibly naive for anyone to deny the fact that Radiohead has had a major impact on a wide range of artists. And the unfortunate thing is that until recently, I have never explored their music for myself. But I've finally come to realize that there is something truly astonishing about this band.

This album has been written off by many people as the band's "Kid B" album, since Kid A was written around the same time and has a similar experimental vibe. However I think Amnesiac has a slightly different feel to it and stands on it's own as a fantastic album.

The opener, Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box starts off with a subtle, yet moving electronic drum beat. Keyboards and vocals then come in. Spacey layers and digital noises are eventually added. This isn't my favorite track but I think it sets the mood for whats to come.

The second track, Pyramid Song, is in my opinion the highlight of the 44 minutes offered here. The song has a mellow beginning similar to many other Radiohead tunes. However, the buildup of the string section throughout is breathtaking to say the least. Thom Yorke's vocals add to the ethereal impression of this song as well.

The third song here is a bit of a departure from the previous two. Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors is a little more industrial and definitely has a more delirious feel to it. It's interesting nonetheless.

Next is You and Whose Army? I couldn't help but notice the jazz influences that seep through when listening to this. Everything from the delicate "ooing" and upright bass in the beginning, to the sound of the drums that come in around 1:50. It's a dark, haunting piece of music that is enjoyable but ultimately feels a bit out of place on the album.

The album picks up once again with I Might Be Wrong; another upbeat track that would have fit well on Kid A. Here, Radiohead do what they do best. Layers of guitars, keyboards, electronic beats, and other bizarre noises are added in successive layers from beginning to end until it ends abrubtely around 3:48. I personally enjoyed how the song picked up again after that point.

Knives Out, the sixth song on Amnesiac, instantly reminded me of older Radiohead because of the chord progressions and atmospheric nature. The way the guitar and bass are intertwined creates a very spacey mood similar to that found on tracks such as "Subterranean Homesick Alien" and "No Surprises" off of OK Computer. Once again, Yorke's voice is stunning and compliments the overall vibe of the song.

Following this is Amnesiac/Morning Bell which is an alternative version to Morning Bell off Kid A. It's a very eerie tune that definitely induces a feeling of paranoia. Lyrics are another story. The majority of the lyrics on this album are not easily interpreted, but this song is particularly strange. When Yorke sings "Cut the kids in half", it's anyone's best guess as to what he is referring to.

Dollars & Cents is another favorite of mine. A groovy bass line is repeated in the background while a restrained, echoing drum beat drives the song. Guitars are frequently added and the string section picks up near the end . It appears as if Yorke intended to use his voice as another instrument on this one. Other than the string section, the vocals are really the only melody that is carried.

The next two pieces of music, Hunting Bears and Like Spinning Plates are mostly instrumental but are decent additions to the album. The former is a short, but strange track. If you listen closely, wind is blowing in the background and random pick sliding on the guitar can be heard. It also sounds like it is running through a tape loop. Like Spinning Plates is an equally strange track in that it kind of sounds like wings are flapping in the beginning. I also noticed that a backwards effect is used on certain parts but the vocals are normal. It provides a very creepy sensation when listening to the song in good headphones.

Last, but certainly not least is Life in a Glasshouse. This song is probably my second favorite track among those on Amnesiac. A variety of different instruments are used including a trumpet, trombone, and oboe which all sound great. It's a suitable closer to a great album.

I wouldn't call this a classic and it's certainly not as cohesive as Kid A. However, I do think it has a lot to offer and it has a number of songs that are strong individually. Whether you are a new or old fan of the band, I would highly recommend Amnesiac.

The Damage:



4 out of 5 Mustaches

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

For the The Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ fans who were anxiously awaiting another raw art rock album, It’s Blitz! will not deliver. On their third studio album, released on March 31, 2009, Guitarist Nick Zinner has traded in the raw garage band riffs for electronica. It was to be expected that eventually The Yeah Yeah Yeahs would turn to the dancey indie pop genre, but I was not prepared for this quick split from their usual dirty and unprocessed sound. Nothing lasts forever, as you can see songs like “Bang” soon became Show Your Bones’ “Turn Into.”

The first track, “Zero” has a catchy hook, and is what radio singles are made of. “Heads will roll” is a great dance track, as well. Track 4, “Skeletons”, paints the image of little drummer boys in your head, but in a good way. It makes you feel the urge to do something epic whenever you hear it.

“Dull Life” is the gem on this album. Its sound is the closest to that of Show Your Bones. It still grasps the ear of the electronic fan, but thrusts some of that raw power of their previous albums in your face.

“Runaway” begins with a really delicate piano, and eventually crescendos with a string section, and then ends with a more powerful, and somewhat redeeming, percussion section.

The album ends on a downbeat, with the final two tracks being neither raw nor dancey. The tracks are pleasant, but not impressive.

I won’t say they're selling out yet, but “Runaway”, the seventh track on It’s Blitz!, is being featured on the episode of Gossip Girl premiering on April 20th. I believe this electronic change was the right idea for the fans of the band, but I find it a disappointing one. This is a good album for the genre it was reaching towards, but unfortunately, not the genre that the fans are used to.



The Damage:



3 out of 5 Mustaches

Channel Theory - These Things

These Things, the debut album of Chicago-born Channel Theory is an insightful, refreshing experience, all printed onto a disc. The group seems to pull influence from bands such as Something Corporate and Death Cab For Cutie. The sound of the record itself isn't too different from most singer/songwriter albums, but a small sense of individualism is present in this release.

The album in itself is instrumentally light, using a normal bass/drums/guitar/vocals setup, with several appearances by piano. This isn't a bad thing however, as most of the songs are vocally driven. The album never gets too fast, most of the songs are relaxing and easy on the ears. The vocalist's voice reminds me of another singer, who I can't think of right now, and the bass guitar throughout this whole release is very captivating.

These Things gets off to a good start, with the opener Figure It Out, followed by A Theater of My Own and Press Start to End, which effectively carry the album on. Things slow down a bit when acoustic The Pressure of Silence hits, but begins to regain its momentum when the fifth track I'm Still Here plays. The seventh track (Work of Art) brings back a positive feeling to the album, and Hold Tight boasts guitar lines similar to older Circa Survive. The album would not be what it is though, without the closer Paint the Sky.

This release pulls through successfully as a debut release from a new artist, but may not effectively stack up against similar styles unless a sense of uniqueness is added into the next release. Not all bands need to be different, but it seems like something is missing from most of these songs.

Keep your eyes peeled for more from Channel Theory in the near future.



The Damage:



3 out of 5 Mustaches

Suidakra - Crogacht

The ninth studio album from Suidakra, titled Crogacht, comes off as a sheep among the flock in Metal albums. These German rockers have apparently been going strong for over a decade. I guess you can tell by the lack of anything exciting on this release. It seems that they borrow a lot from already-been-popular Cradle of Filth on this album, or maybe it was the other way around. Don't judge, I'm not too familiar with Sudakra's work. Either way, within the first two songs of the album, a "been there, done that" vibe is clinging to my brain, aside from the bagpipes toward the end.

I'm going to start off saying that first off, I didn't know that using bagpipes was "metal." I mean, anyone can use whatever instruments they want to in recordings, but it sticks out like a sore amputated thumb. By the fourth track, there's already enough bagpipe. Yet, they still decide to open the fourth track with a bagpipe-ridden intro, after which guitars repeat the bagpipe's part. For some reason, it's not sounding as good as the bagpipe just did. Okay. This is a serious problem. The GUITAR isn't sounding as good as the BAGPIPES just did. Problem #1.

That's enough about the bagpipes, I shouldn't beat a dead horse. In all, the album's effort seems to be best defined as "tired" and "overdone." The vocals, sung by "Arkadius" (if that IS his real name) are very boring and monotonous. The fifth track, "Feats of War" features some very oddly placed female vocals. This is really not doing it for me. I think the best part about this band is the drummer, who still doesn't really add much style or flair of his own to the performance. It seems like there's too much ride cymbal use on here for it to be considered a great Metal drum performance. Everyone has their own choices and styles, which is why this is MY personal review, and not the review of the world.

So, take this review into consideration or leave it, but personally, I'm going to leave this one on the shelf. The overall unenthusiastic performance and "cut-and-dry" style of Sudakra's Crogacht is definitely a turn-off for me. As mentioned earlier, I'm not familiar with the band, and they may have been known for being pioneers of metal by incorporating Celtic folk songs into sections of their Metal performances, but it's not flying with me.



The Damage:



1 out of 5 Mustaches.
Recommended if you like the sound of Metal. Not recommended if you don't like hearing the same thing in Metal all the time.

The Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site

Play the video at the bottom of this post to read along with the music!
Reconstruction Site is a bold, painfully honest release by Canadian group The Weakerthans. This album embodies the encounters of a grown man with the occasional train-of-thought of a child. Lyrically, Reconstruction Site delivers a message that anyone can relate to.

The first track, (Manifest), contains a tangled bunch of words with meaning to those who look for it. The song is an excellent album opener, complete with a horn section and the feeling of sarcastic optimism towards the end.

The Reasons kicks things off to a start, describing the relationship between two companions. The chorus repeats “I know/you might roll your eyes at this/but I’m so/glad that you exist”, and the ending of the song really opens the gate toward the rest of the album.

Reconstruction Site (song) embodies the deep thought process of a man in the world, citing memories of his. This is the ultimate storytelling song, bringing back memories throughout his life. The instrumentation displays these references very well, with several riffs reminiscent of Barenaked Ladies.

Psalms For The Elks Lodge Last Call seems to depict an older man’s thought process as he sits inside of an Elks Lodge, thinking about the inevitable. The guitars in this song are very well-written, and the vocal harmonies and auxiliary percussion bring a new feeling towards the end.

Plea From A Cat Named Virtute is one of my personal favorite tracks on this album. The lyrics are written through the eyes of a cat. The cat notices its owner dwelling in depression, and offers suggestions on ways to quit being down in the dumps. The chorus in this song is exceedingly catchy.

Our Retired Explorer briefly describes the story of an explorer in Antarctica who dies while on an expedition. Several references to exploration authors are made here.

Time’s Arrow is a nice break from the preceding high-strung tracks. It serves as a very nice breath of fresh air. The lead guitar in this song really helps make the song, and the drum pattern during parts of the chorus help to keep the listeners’ attention this far into the album.

No song has represented the service in a hospital like (Hospital Vespers) does. The lyrics describe a man staying with a companion of his while under treatment, as the treated person’s life comes to an end.

Uncorrected Proofs seems to tell the story of two people who can’t hold a relationship together because of colliding interests and life interfering. Listen to the chorus in this song, this band has a way with being catchy.

A New Name For Everything seems to depict a person who never has fully lived their life in the way they’ve wanted to. A lot of cool little guitar parts are in here, some sound like a slide guitar, which has never sounded so good until now. The Weakerthans continue the formula that they’ve perfected.

One Great City! seems to be a personal insight of Winnipeg. Several situations around the region are described in this song. It’s a really good song to relax to, and provides a chuckle or two at some points.

Benediction is more of the same classic Weakerthans formula, with some flashy female vocal duet parts, this song didn’t really do too much for me.

The Prescience of Dawn wraps up a lonely man’s struggles into a four-and-a-half minute song. These lyrics can get hard to decipher sometimes, but they make sense when they’re listened to, it seems.

(Past Due) is a rendition of (Manifest), with a more electronic sound to it, and it wraps up the album nicely by introducing the end as similar to the beginning, but with a little room for change. Maybe the lyrics have shown this too.


Overall, The Weakerthans’ Reconstruction Site provides a good listen. It occasionally trails on, especially toward the end, when some of the songs start to sound the same. The lyrics and vocals are probably one of the best parts of this band. Personally, I think it makes good driving music, mostly for longer car trips.


The Damage:

3 out of 5 Mustaches