Review the latest album or single you purchased

[raithrover]

Funny, I thought we had something like this, but maybe it didn't have a sticky.

So, review the last album or single you checked out. I suppose I should get the ball rolling although I'm more doing more retro these days and hearing some of my vinyl for the first time in years, here's one for you:

Johnny Greenwood - There Will Be Blood OST
Rarely do I pick up a soundtrack nowadays, most are nothing more than showboating fashionable selections, pieced together by a music producer who has little to do with the film. Soundtrack space is prime real estate (to quote the advert), so its wonderful to hear an original piece. Greenwood is best known for his work in Radiohead, but here its a classical, brooding clutch of songs that ooze atmosphere, dread and distrust. A fine way to kick off a week.

[coxy]

Various Artists - Juno OST (

last.fm

|amazon)
Whilst watching the movie Juno, one of the things I instantly realised was that the soundtrack was really good. Like Jason said above, soundtracks are usually "nothing more than showboating fashionable selections, pieced together by a music producer who has little to do with the film", however the music really works within the context of the film and shares the twee indie retro atmosphere that the film carries. Apparently, quite a few of the tracks featured in the movie (and therefore on the soundtrack) were hand-picked by Ellen Page (Juno) herself. Some of the artists on this release are well-known to most, such as Buddy Holly, The Kinks and The Velvet Underground - and Belle and Sebastian (to a much lesser extent) - but others have benefited greatly on the popularity front due to the films release, delivering to the mainstream the likes of Kimya Dawson, The Moldy Peaches and Kimya Dawson... again.

[coxy]

The Young Knives - Superabundance (amazon)
Hmm, I love The Young Knives - their last album was great, and I got their second today. I've listened to it once so far and my first impressions are that the album starts off well, really well, but then trails off a bit. Most of the later songs are slower and less "i can turn this up and jump around the room like an idiot" - which isn't what I was looking for. It's not bad, its just not what I expected. The first half of the album is kick-ass... as for the rest, maybe it'll grow on me.

[coxy]

The Old Romantic Killer Band - You Don't Know How To Love (

last.fm

| amazon | piccadilly records)
Debut single from The Old Romantic Killer Band. It's amazing. I love these guys. I have nothing more to say - except for that the CD is far cheaper from Piccadilly Records than at Amazon.

[iknowgungfu]

They sound nice and bluesey.....album anywhere yet?

[iknowgungfu]

Just bought the single from Piccadilly.

[coxy]

They sound nice and bluesey.....album anywhere yet?

Not that I know of. This is only their first single; there will no doubt be one on the horizon though.

[iknowgungfu]

I read a review of a live performance somewhere (drownedinsound maybe?) and they said they have only been playing in a band for 6 months!!  Fast work to get signed eh?

[iknowgungfu]

Really liking the single, I can't stop listening to it.  Exactly what I have been hankering for for a while.  In some ways they remind me a little of Gomez, particularily the B-side.

Their demo tracks on Myspace are a bit rougher and bluesey.

[raithrover]

PRE - Epic Fits
English band on a US label (CD SkinGraft, LPs's Love Pump), sounding like a trapped female in solitary confinement backed by a chorus of stray cats. At times amidst the noise, some tunes and other bobbins break through.  Very promising debut.

[coxy]

Really liking the single, I can't stop listening to it.  Exactly what I have been hankering for for a while.  In some ways they remind me a little of Gomez, particularily the B-side.

Can't particularly say I'm a fan of Gomez; but that's mainly because I haven't bothered checking them out.

[Kiroquai]

Guillemots - Red (not out until tomorrow, but got an early copy)

Having listened to their debut album 'Through the Windowpane' until my ears bled, the long wait for Guillemots' second album became something rather like Chinese water torture after they released a couple of excellent tunes from it a month or so ago. Having listened to Red once, my initial impressions were confused. Having listened to it twice, I was slightly disappointed. Having listened to it a third - and it turns out final - time, my final judgement is that I am really disappointed.

They've ditched the whole atmospheric ballad/pop thing and gone with some horrific mish-mash of styles, some sounding dangerously like George Michael (Big Dog) and others like Scissor Sisters on more drugs than they know's good for them (Last Kiss). It flits around never really finding a groove to settle into and then tails off with a whimper with 'Take Me Home', which is about as forgettable an album closer as they could have picked. Turns out that Kriss Kross and Get Over It - the two single released prior - are the only two real highlights on the whole record.

I appreciate that bands move in different directions and take different influences at different stages of their careers, but as with Goldfrapp's latest, Red proves that this isn't always for the better.

So, generally, boooo.

[coxy]

I downloaded a whole load of albums last weekend and have listened to them once or twice... or some, more so. I bought this one today because I think it's actually so good.

You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into...
by

Does It Offend You, Yeah?

Over the past year or more I've heard the name of this band mentioned in various places, but have somewhat been put off by the name - it just didn't make me want to check out their music. Well, their album was released recently (I don't even know if it was their debut album?) and I downloaded it to give it a listen. The album is quite varied in its style, delivering a mix of electronic dance-punk mixing it up with what could sound like your favourite indie band.

As it happens, I owned one of their songs already - on some random remix CD (maybe) that I listen to all the time - and didn't even realise it was by these guys.

This album is slowly climbing up the charts, I believe. Go dig out a torrent or something and give it a listen. Or buy it, of course.

[Monty]

Having recently dug it out to play again, over the last week I’ve had a bunch of songs from Guitar Hero 80’s stuck in my head which I then downloaded.

18 and Life – Skid Row
Round and Round – Ratt
Hold on Loosely - .38 Special
Play With Me – Extreme
I Wanna Rock – Twisted Sister

A couple of days of listening to these and a few more songs came to mind which I downloaded to fill out the ‘Cheese Selection’ playlist building on my iPod.

Here I Go Again – Whitesnake
Foreplay/Long Time – Boston
Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
Born in the USA – Bruce Springsteen
Boys Are Back In Town – Thin Lizzy

These songs don’t really need reviewing though. The first 5 sound like the 80’s and I’d be astounded if you’d never heard the last 5.

[Monty]

Having become an overnight fan on the back of playing their GH3 DLC, I donwloaded the Dropkick Murphys album The Meanest of Times through iTunes the other day.

It's such a brilliant album that brings a smile to my face whenever I hear any of the songs. It's just so bouncy and lively and catchy I can't help but love it.

Definitely be keeping an eye out for the next time they play over here.

[raithrover]

The La's - Deluxe Edition
Another version, another remastering of the original release plus an assortment of extra tracks. It's a great album in whatever version, and to hear another unearthed edition is fascinating, albeit frustrating. These guys should have been one of the biggest bands of recent times from the UK.

Instead we're still waiting for the 2nd album. Along with the BBC Sessions disc, this is a great place to start your homage and exposure to The La's.

[MikeFTD]

The Courteeners - St Jude

Just released their first album and have to say absolute class
Hope they are just as good live

[tubaros]

The La's - Deluxe Edition
Another version, another remastering of the original release plus an assortment of extra tracks. It's a great album in whatever version, and to hear another unearthed edition is fascinating, albeit frustrating. These guys should have been one of the biggest bands of recent times from the UK.

I love the Las. The single version of There She Goes is the right one though, dont like the alternative. Think thats the same for most of the tracks off the original album.

[Blueski]

Portishead- Third

Back after 10 years but don't call it Trip-hop. However, it sounds a bit like Trip-hop. I don't know if it will attract any new fans to Portishead, but as a fan its thumbs up. Intriguing, intelligent, ethereal, electronic music.

[Wade McGuiggan]

Operation: Mindcrime by Queensryche.  Progressive Rock/metal concept album from the late 80s.  Awesome stuff.  Dream Theater are quite glaringly influenced by this group.  However, while Dream Theater is a pretty good group, the two albums I have of theirs (Images & Words and Awake) don't match this.  My picks for standout tracks are The Mission and Suite Sister Mary.  In terms of vocal range and power, lead singer Geoff Tate is easily in the same league as Rob Halford, Bruce Dickinson or Michael Kiske.

I haven't checked out the bonus disc yet (live performance of Operation: Mindcrime performed at Hammersmith in 1990).