The Last of 2008

OK, this is it, the final review blog of 2008. It was a great year for music, but 2009 looks like it will be hitting us with some winners. Find out more in my next exciting blog! It’s getting kinda crazy around here, what with all the winter madness shaking things up. Hey! I just saw an awesome concert yesterday, by Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles. A fun, rip-roarin’ show, I even got to meet the band, a bunch of nice fellas and lady. Check my facebook for pics. Otherwise, have fun for ‘09!

For The Kids Three – *** – As kids albums go, this one is the coolest, but I’m not sure how that translates to kids. I can see kids liking some of the more traditional fare on here, but much of it might be a bit too smart for most kids.

Longwave – Secrets Are Sinister – *** – I like Longwave quite a bit, and this album is basically more of what I like, I don’t see a lot of difference from previous albums, so that’s a bit disappointing, but otherwise, it’s a pretty good album.

Aprilsrain – Stellar Transmission – *** – Another band I saw on a year-end list. It is a pretty good album, very interesting, mellow, yet enough pop-i-tude to get me through the day.

Shane Nicholson – Familiar Ghosts – *** – Good stuff from Shane Nicholson, he does great in the world of mainstream pop, doing something that is both interesting and unique, but using the tools of solid rock/pop songs.

Tahiti 80 – Activity Center – *** – I like this band a bunch, this album does keep that style up and running, while not having some of the catchier songs found on many of their previous albums, but it is still enjoyable.

What makes a great album?

What makes a great album anyway? I wonder about this a lot. On these reviews, I base my decisions on first impressions, based on one listen, and often, I come back to my reviews and question my decision. Because the thing that happens is you revisit records. Sometimes the stars are aligned so that something just hits you right on that first listen, but when you revisit, things have changed, and you see it through different eyes.

There is the phenomenon of expecting a lot out of something because you remember it being so great, then you hear it again and get disappointed. And sometimes you are disappointed with something on first listen, but then you hear it again, and are surprised that you do enjoy a lot of the record. Then there is the old standards, usually stuff you were into when you were a teenager. Some of it is embarrassing, once you have knowledge of better stuff out there, but some of those records, as bad as they may be, you always come back to them, and you start singing along, and remembering how much you enjoyed it in your younger days.

Does it make it a great album? Not neccessarily…that’s why music taste is so varied and there are no wrong answers when it comes to your taste. So here’s some albums I heard recently, maybe one day they will be classics, at least for somebody.

Plover – Plover – ***1/2 – A collaboration between Glen Phillips, Garrison Starr and Neilson Hubbard, this is a hauntingly beautiful set of songs. There are no rockers here, just some slow but powerful songs. Wonderful rainy day music.

Suzy & Los Quattro – Stick With It – *** – Fun garagey pop, with a spanish accent. A wonderfully sweet release by this band. Lots of great riffs, creative vocals, and just fun.

RemoteTreeChildren – Veteran of the Loudness Wars – *** – Glen Phillips again, this time a electronic power band. Very cool sounding and interesting to hear Glen go a little overboard with the production and vocals.

Kyle Andrews – Real Blasty – ***1/2 – A real blasty record (sorry couldn’t help it). But seriously, that is a good description. The production of kind of electronic soundscapes, with strong percussive elements, make this a record both enjoyable on headphones, or blasting out of a stereo.

Little Jackie – The Stoop – ***1/2 – A cool record indeed, very soulful, yet not overboard, exciting arrangements, and a cool vocal style, make this very enjoyable. The subject matter is pretty much all about summer in the city, and just hanging out, dealing with all the stuff that comes along with it.

After the Fact, the Stinging Aftertaste of 2008

I’m sure many of you face the same struggle after all those year end lists come in. People obviously have varied tastes, and it is often difficult to tell if you will like something someone puts on a list. I submit to you these reviews of 5 CD’s I saw on best of ‘08 lists and tried out. With the exception of Scot Sax, they are all new artists to me. And the results are mixed, some I really liked, some fell a bit flat. I think there is a tendency for high expectations (if they put it on a list it must be GREAT!!) Good luck.

The Revisionists – The Revisionists – *** – Fun and cool rock/pop. A very enjoyable record. High energy and short.

Paper or Plastic – Don’t Be Like That – *** – Good, mid-tempo pop. There some really fun songs and is presented very well. A little too much of the 80’s-esque sounds, including a non-ironic sax solo, but that can be overlooked for the most part.

Peter Adams – I Woke With Planets in My Eyes – *** – Very good pop, with a lot more experimental/atmospheric elements. It is enjoyable, but I like a bit more punch with my music.

Scot Sax – While She Was Working EP – ***1/2 – This is a cool record from Scot Sax, very subdued and experimental, but interesting and good.

Tim Ten Yen – Everything Beautiful – *** – Good, keyboard heavy pop. Interesting vocal style and unique lyrics, but lacking the bite I like in my music.

2008 is over!!

OK, now that 2008 is done, we can start reviewing 2009 records, right? Well, not quite. I still have some 2008 releases to gab about. Oh wait, nobody really cares, huh? Well OK then. But most of these records were not really candidates for my best of list, so if you wanted to see one of these on that list, this is the reason. So enjoy and have fun!

Rob Bonfiglio – Bring On The Happy – ***1/2 – Awesome set of songs from Rob, who just has a fantastic style of clean crisp pop, soaring overhead and makes you feel great.

Billie The Vision & The Dancers – I Used To Wander These Streets – *** – A very low-key and introspective record. While lyrically very playful and interesting, it is bedded by a soft musical landscape, which works great. Overall a very fine record.

Lazlo Bane – Guilty Pleasures – *** – Fairly good covers record. It is a bit long, though, and many of the songs are not altered too much, only in vocal style. But there are some highlights, including a rousing rendition of “Lime in the Coconut”, some appropriately stark renditions of songs like “All By Myself” and “I’m Not In Love”

The All-American Rejects – When The World Comes Down – *** – Good solid radio-ready pop songs. Not a lot of depth here, but it is enjoyable none the less. If you are looking for crisp, shiny, pop songs, to just have fun with, this is it.

Stars On Mars – Poster – ***1/2 – Cool swedish pop. Great female vocals with attitude. It plays out much like a rockier version of Persephone’s Bees. Some very great, fun songs on here.