Music Now!

Archive for September, 2010

Who would have thought that a young cocktail waitress from Texas would eventually have three music labels? Kelly Clarkson won the first American Idol contest back in 2002, and was awarded with a record deal and the chance at a music career. That is when the Texas native released her first music album, Thankful in 2003. It is no surprise either, that that single music album was so well received. Not only did several of the music hits get number one on many hit-lists; but the album sol over two million copies, and the reviews to go along with it.

It took a long while for her to make it in to the music scene. Before winning “American Idol”, Clarkson joined her school’s chorus and began singing late in her youth, at age 13. Even back then, her voice was strikingly amazing, and everyone knew that she would one day have her own music labels. After graduating high school the lively young singer with a powerful voice recorded her own songs while holding down numerous jobs. Some of these songs she put onto websites for people to find the music files. But the downloading music sites were not popular enough for her to get noticed. She then moved west to make an attempt at a music career, but as fate would have it, it wasn’t her time yet. After a series of mishaps while living in Los Angeles, including an apartment fire that left her with nothing, she returned home to Texas.

Luckily, when she returned home, her friends urged her to enter into the contest, and from there, everyone knows what happened. Clarkson’s title choices for her music albums seem to reflect the stages of her career thus far. “Thankful” was released after her Idol win, as she sang her praises to the success of the contest, and the whole experience. But her sophomore effort, Breakaway, symbolic of establishing herself as a successful artist, is free of the ties that bound her to once being a mere contest winner. With “Breakaway” she establishes herself as an independent force in the pop music world. The music album is more hard-edged than her debut and hints of other important pop rock music singers, like Avril Lavigne. But at the end of the day, it’s all Clarkson.

Her Idol appearance proved to the world that she had talent, her first album proved she had a voice. In her second music album, she told the world that she was more than a contest winner. Now Clarkson is now free to shine and to make her own music. Her new music ranges multiple genres with her voice nicely fitting each tune. She hit the Top 10 with the previous music album with several music hits. Highlights from the music album include her number-one hit “Since U Been Gone,” “Behind Hazel Eyes,” and “Because of You.” The latter is a great piano ballad that has the feel of a country-crossover artist. It is perhaps the best song on the disc and showcases Clarkson’s great voice.

Although the subject of many of the songs is the cliché “break-up” theme, it’s still very good. There are few pre-fabricated sounds like drum machines and synthesizers, but Clarkson’s second album does a nice job of proving that she’s the real deal, and she will most likely get even better as she matures as a songwriter.

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Not sure what’s happening with me on this one, but it seems like the more I listen to it, the better Blink 182 gets. Blink 182 stated simply is one of their best CDs to date.

I wish it weren’t the case but, it’s not everyday that I get a CD for review that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can’t force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Blink 182. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

One of the nicer things about a CD like this is with this level of talent even if Rock isn’t your favorite style you still can’t help but appreciate the greatness of the musicians.

If you’re a Blink 182 fan this is a CD your collection flat cannot be without. In fact, this is one of those CDs that you don’t even have to be a fan of lname, or even Rock to know is good. This is just good music. Period.

While the entire album is really very good some of my favorites are track 5 – Stockholm Syndrome, track 12 – All Of This, and track 14 – I’m Lost Without You

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – Feeling This. Good stuff!

Blink 182 Release Notes:

Blink 182 originally released Blink 182 on November 18, 2003 on the Geffen Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Feeling This 2. Obvious 3. I Miss You 4. Violence 5. Stockholm Syndrome 6. Down 7. Fallen Interlude, The 8. Go 9. Asthenia 10. Always 11. Easy Target 12. All Of This 13. Here’s Your Letter 14. I’m Lost Without You

Blink 182: Tom DeLonge (vocals, guitar); Mark Hoppus (vocals, bass); Travis Landon Barker (drums). Additional personnel includes: Robert Smith (vocals); Ken Andrews (various instruments); Roger Joseph Manning, Jr., Jon Morrical (keyboards).

“Snow Patrol” are a five-piece Irish/Scottish indie/alternative rock band from Dundee. Snow Patrol were formed way back in 1994 and currently the band consists of Gary Lightbody (Vocals and Guitar), Nathan Connolly (Guitar and Backing Vocals), Paul Wilson (Bass), Jonny Quinn (Drums) and Tom Simpson (Keyboards). Snow Patrol were originally known as in indie rock band but have moved to a more alternative rock and power pop sound. 

A Hundred Million Suns opens with “If There’s A Rocket Tie Me To It”. It starts off in the distance with the help of synthesizers and gradually sounds louder and gets into the track when the correct momentum hits on. When the guitar comes on, it sounds really good before Gary comes on with his trademark husky yet soft vocals. As Gary sings, the background music carries on and hit a high when Gary goes, “A fire a fire, you can only take what you can carry… A pulse your pulse, it’s the only thing I can remember…” Snow Patrol also gear up the tempo in this part. The remaining 1 minute, If There’s A Rocket Tie Me To It just gets louder and Snow Patrol add some background howls as Gary sings to the end… Great appetizer here… 

“Crack The Shutters” begins with delicate piano-playing. Gary’s voice just works so fine with the piano in the verse. In the chorus,the drums just pound on and Gary goes, “Crack the shutters open wide, i want to bathe you in the light of day… And just watch you as the rays, tangle around your face and body…” The guitar also joins in here and the whole track opens to a new tempo and it sounds more lively. It’s not a fast track overall, but it will work on anybody, including you. Believe me. 

Once “Take Back The City” starts, the guitar just makes me think that this track could be big. I was instantly connected to Take Back The City. The guitar of Snow Patrol just knows how to blend in so well into this track. With the style they’re playing, Take Back The City should have sounded loud and fierce. But Snow Patrol know what we like about them, and they did it again with this track. They never fail to rock and at the same time, remain as soft and lovely as ever. In the chorus where Gary goes, “It’s a mess, it’s a start, it’s a flawed work of art, your city, your call…”, you would be treated with a repetition of rocking guitar riffs that complement its way to Gary’s vocals. Snow Patrol are having a rocking good time with this track, i can definitely feel it. 

“Lifeboats” has some steady guitars going on in the beginning. As the guitar is playing, Gary just comes in and starts singing with his lovely husky voice. No doubt, i like the rhythm of Lifeboats here. Very good stuff! The music just joined by a bass when it comes to certain point that we find Gary goes, “Flashed up in my wildest dreams, like red blood streams, stretch up like vast skies… The veins of you, the veins of me, like gold forest trees… Pushing through and on and in…” Shortly after that, i like the violin-like sound that comes on and off as Gary sings on. If just feels so great listening to it. Lifeboats is one of the tracks that will impress after a few listens. It’s slow and catchy in a way that might give you a wake up call and get you to hit the replay button when the song is nearing the end. And what an ending as well! 

“The Golden Floor” has some hand claps going on in the beginning as the guitar plays on in the background. Gary just enters with his vocals not long after The Golden Floor has started. Throughout this track, the hand claps give an impression that they’re replacing the drums even though the drums are being played on this track, but can hardly be heard as the hand claps overwhelmed it by miles. Snow Patrol are very consistent in The Golden Floor, some may find it dull, and some might like it. Still you just have to try The Golden Floor in order to find out. 

“Please Just Take These Photos from My Hands” brings the tempo back again. The non-stop guitar strumming seem to be the core element that keeps this song going on as Gary just sings his usual stuffs. In the chorus, the guitar takes on a different riff with high tweak as Gary let it out with, “When all this actual life played out? Where the hell on Earth was I? I rack my brains but it won’t come…” It seems that Snow Patrol already got their trademark guitar sound as i always catch them playing in the same guitar style in almost every fast track. As the song is ending, Gary just sings in repetition, “Please just take these photos from my hands…” One of those tracks that reminds me of “Spitting Games” from the album Final Straw. 

“Set Down Your Glass” is a track that brings Snow Patrol from a fast tempo track to a slower tempo track. There are not many instruments being used in Set Down Your Glass, the most obvious sounds are the guitar’s and the vocals of Gary Lightbody. He just possesses the voice of a beautiful ballad and love song singer. I bet Gary would also do incredibly fine if this song were an acapella version. Set Down Your Glass just shows his vocals strength here. Pretty lovely! 

“The Planets Bend Between Us” to me is a beautiful love song ballad. And the lyrics itself contain the album title, “A hundred million suns…” Gary makes an impact with his voice here in the vocals, “I will race you to the waterside, and from the edge of Ireland shout out loud, so they could hear it in America, it’s all for you…” The part where Gary sings, “It’s all for you…” is the best part of all. I just love the way Gary extend his vocals on the word, “You…” Beautiful and love ballad over here, shows Snow Patrol are capable of writing such meaningful and thought-provoking song that manages to capture every person’s heart. This song will melt you, pamper you and the best of all, touch you. 

“Engines” has some howls going on in the beginning before joined by high-pitching guitar riff. After each phrase of singing by Gary, the high pitch guitar riff can be heard in a way that’s almost similar to a dessert after a sumptuous main course. In the chorus, a second guitar can be heard and it possesses fairy tale-like element as it plays on in the chorus along side with Gary’s vocals. One more thing that’s worth mentioning is the cleverly written lyrics, “You say you love me like the silence of the turning earth, you say you love me like the endless roar of modern of life, you say you love me like the laughter and the kissed back tears, you say you love me like the past the now the coming years…” No other word can describe this lyrics except beautiful, unless you can find a better word. 

“Disaster Button” has a fast-paced little guitar in the opening. It sounds like it’s getting up the stairs in small steps. Gary just sings as if he were speaking. When it reaches the right momentum, the whole track seems to be taking off in a loud and fast mode and still, Gary just sings on without using much strength, “Throw forward to later, you look light on your feet, when you whirled in the room, i was nailed to my seat…” The guitars of Snow Patrol seems to be enjoying their part by playing it loud most of the time on Disaster Button. Instead of Disaster Button, this song should be called “Explosion Button” due to its loudness and energy in this track. 

“The Lightning Strike” ends A Hundred Million Suns with a track that contains three different tracks and it’s over 16 minutes long all together. First track is called “What If This Storm Ends?”. It starts with some steady piano playing for a while before Gary enters with this vocals. As he sings, the music seems to get enriched with instruments like horn and trombone. It doesn’t really have a chorus, just a line of words where Gary sings through. Not a bad first track of a three-track song. Entering the second track, it’s called “Sunlight Through the Flags”. As it continues from “What If This Storm Ends?”, it has a faster-paced piano in the beginning. The deal here is when it comes to a point where the guitar just comes in with a slow looping guitar riff in the background as Gary goes, “Worry not everything is sound, this is the safest place you’ve found, the only noise beating out is ours, lacing our tea from honey jars…” In the end, this track just ends with the piano it first played in the beginning. Come to the third track of “The Lightning Strike”, “Daybreak” leverages on synthesizers for its opening. As Gary enters the verse here, each phrase of the verse is sung with an extending and pulling vocals. The music suddenly takes a different turn with the bass coming in with a more obvious sound after the first verse. As it gets further into this track, Snow Patrol just focus more on the music and the most obvious sound is the guitar where again it can be heard playing in a way that Snow Patrol are always known for. A very ambitious ending by Snow Patrol! 

Cheers!
Darren Tan
Indiesurf.com

Not sure what’s happening with me on this one, but it seems like the more I listen to it, the better Rainbow Rising gets. Rainbow Rising simply stated is one of their best CDs to date.

It’s a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I’m more than happy to announce that’s exactly what I must say about this one. There simply is NOT a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all.

Unfortunately, it’s not everyday that I get a CD for review that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can’t force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Rainbow Rising. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

One of the refreshingly nice things about this CD is the way all of the participating artists seem to be really enjoying themselves. Combine that with the overall presentation and you’ve got one of Rainbow most impressive releases ever.

Listen to Rainbow Rising and I believe you’ll find there’s not much to dis-like about it. The songs are inspired, the production is simply outstanding, and this is clearly the work of a group of musicians in top form. So much so that if you’re even mildly into Rock music you’ll enjoy this CD.

While the entire CD is outstanding some of my favorites are track 2 – Run With The Wolf, track 4 – Do You Close Your Eyes, and track 6 – Light In The Black

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – Tarot Woman. Good stuff!

Rainbow Rising Release Notes:

Rainbow originally released Rainbow Rising on April 27, 1999 on the Polydor label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Tarot Woman 2. Run With The Wolf 3. Starstruck 4. Do You Close Your Eyes 5. Stargazer 6. Light In The Black

Rainbow Rising Album Notes Rainbow: Ronnie James Dio (vocals); Ritchie Blackmore (guitar); Jimmy Bain (bass); Tony Carey (keyboards); Cozy Powell (drums).

The Courteeners are an 4-piece indie rock band hailed from Manchester, England in 2006 by Liam Fray (Guitar/Vocals), Michael Campbell (Drums/Backing Vocals), Daniel Conan Moores (Guitar), and Mark Cuppello (Bass). All four were raised from the Middleton area of Greater Manchester and have know each other since they were 10 years old. They even attended Cardinal Langley RC High School together in Middleton. Morrissey (from The Smiths) mentioned his love for The Courteeners on numerous plays and occasions, “Every song was very strong and full of hooks and full of dynamics and i thought, ‘this is great” and that “So many groups in England, they’re hyped and they’re huge and they’re all over the press and they don’t really actually have any songs, they don’t really have anything to offer… but it’s different with The Courteeners, they actually do have very good, strong songs.” Pretty impressive, aren’t they?

St. Jude is such a modern rock and roll album. At times, their indie rock genre can become really radio friendly, and yet they still managed to keep the “indie feel”. Thanks to Liam’s husky voice!

St. Judes kicks off with “Aftershow”. A dark-like atmosphere track that at the beginning, it resembles “Hunting for Witches” by Bloc Party. Take notice at the bass in this song. I somehow find it very groovy in a dark way. Very suitable for the villain role in a movie. During the break.. Liam goes, “Ah…..”. It blends and goes very well the music. It may not be a cheerful or appetizing opener. But it’s still good.

“Cavorting” honestly, is a very radio-friendly track. The guitar riff and playing brings on a cheerful note. As soon as the rhythm guitar and the bass hit in, it sounded very pop-rock. But nonetheless, it’s still a very infectious track, i like the way The Courteeners pluck and riff their guitar after each verse break and chorus. It sounds very light by the way they play it and they seems to be enjoying that particular part. “And now your too tired to eat and your too hungry to sleep…” Smart lyrics eh!

The light-guitar and piano playing of “Bide Your Time” is one of the main ingredients in the success of this song. It begins with soft-guitar playing and followed by piano which enters excactly just at the right time to boost up this song. And until the end, you still can hear the soft-guitar playing which is so addictive and just feels so good to your ears. Try the acoustic version, you might be blown away. From what i heard, it sounds as if the girl which Liam is singing about is no longer around.. “The Temptation is all to great.. Now its gone and its all to late.. I tried and i tried but i never applied..” But he doesn’t sound sad at all.. Kind of coufused.

“What Took You So Long?” starts off with a mid-tempo constant plucking of the guitar. It sounds sort of sad at first listen. However after a few listens, this song by The Courteeeners is not bad at all. Liam sings as if he’s tired of waiting for the girl and came up with excuses such as,”What took you so long, was there a queue at the post office? What took you so long, was there a dirty double-decker stagecoach you just happened to miss?” At the end of the day, they just end up with an argument.. Compared to what Liam sings, “Sometimes I’m bad, sometimes I’m rotten…”, this song is not rotten at all. Oh, the acoustic version is not bad either, could be even better than the album version.

Please don’t stop here but keep reading on… This next track is called “Please Don’t”. It’s an indie rock ballad which will appeal to someone who would like the album to slow down a bit. All is not that slow, the constant and non-stop plucking of the guitar can be heard throughout the whole song. When it comes to the chorus, the music and singing of The Courteeeners becomes a start/stop motion. Liam recalled the past in pain in this song, “But those days have passed and these types of relationship never last… So please dont pretend that we’ll stay friends…” Talking about pain, i kind of enjoy this song.

“If It Wasn’t For Me” is a loud and guitar-packed song that is about a girl who Liam is trying to protect from any harm. If it wasn’t for the lyrics, i wouldn’t even know that this song is about protecting a girl. Liam also sings in a sarcastic way, “If it wasn’t for me then you wouldn’t know them, if it wasn’t for me then you wouldn’t know them…” By the end of the day, it’s ‘them’ whom Liam is trying to protect the girl from. What a twist.

“No You Didn’t, No You Don’t” has a very heavy bass line to it. The guitar and bass are the major unique factors that this track is famous for. “No you didn’t, and no you don’t…” Liam keeps voicing and singing the phrase, recalling the fun he and his friend had while they were still in school. Spending time in garage, doing keys, and being snobbish. Great track with very clever writing of lyrics.

“How Come” is about a guy who is an all-rounder at all things and aspects, from wooing girls and impressing guys. Liam would be the student and learn from him the next time he’s out showing off his stuffs. Smart and witty! A lovely ballad for all to enjoy!

“Kings Of The New Road” explodes! It’s such an explosive track! From the lyrics, The Kings of The New Road and they are always on the road and never go home. “I loved you, i still do, i probably always will do..”, as Liam sings on. It would be a great rock and roll track on the road, or even off the road. Cheers!

Catchy title track! “Not Nineteen Forever” tells the story about a girl who doesn’t wants to get into a relationship and ahem… Some… Liam shoots back with “You’re not nineteen forever pull yourselves together..” Sarcastic yet funny. However the way Liam sings and the music itself prove that this is one of their hit songs. It somehow sounds very cheerful, perhaps is by the way they play their guitars. For a slower version, try the acoustic version.

“Fallowfield Hillbilly” is packed with the riffing of guitar, from start to finish. There are some parts where The Courteeners played the guitars in such a cute way. Nevertheless, it’s quite a loud track.. But loud in a friendly-to-ear way. And at some point, it is as if Liam is screaming rather than singing, giving the final touch to this song. The boy who likes underground band, can’t even tell the difference between an underground band and a normal band.

“Yesterday, Today & Probably Tomorrow” is the final track on the album. It’s another slow and soft ballad. Just a cool and soothing way to close the album. In this song, Liam basically sings about reality and practicality. We won’t know what will happen in the future. As The Courteeners perform, operator announcements can heard on the background and probably, just probably, The Courteeners are leaving to some place.

“Acrylic” can be found in the Special Edition CD. Just like “Not Nineteen Forever”, it’s very radio-friendly and such a happy tune. “Dadadada dadadaaaa oh, all the words they seem to know, all the words in your sons go…” The playing of the guitar can be obviously heard, one second is the voice of Liam, another is the guitar. A fast track with no time to lose.

“Kimberley” sounds like “Kings Of The New Road”. It’s those track that you make you nod your head and tap your feet. And seriously, this rocks and most importantly, it explodes! Liam sings as if he’s singing directly from the microphone, which also makes “Kimberly” sounds so good. Poor Kim, this song is about her drug-filled story.. Instead of being sad for her, this track really rocks!

“An Ex Is An Ex For A Reason” is performed acoustically. The real deal is the last 32 seconds where it truly stands out throughout the whole song. A song that is most suitable for your ex. The real meaning behind this song is in the ex herself.

Rating: The Courteeners play music that is so radio-friendly and yet so indie. It’s hard for me to describe how does it feel, but i can only say that The Courteeners’ music is not something that is fresh or new. And throughout the whole album, their musical scope is monotonous. But at a different point of view, they have played their game well! They are very good in their musical scope, that is really somthing! With this debut album, “St. Jude”, my rating would be 6.8 out of 10.

Stand-Out Tracks (My Picks): Bide Your Time, No You Didn’t, No You Don’t, Aftershow, Fallowfield Hillbilly, Kimberley, Kings Of The New Roads.

Cheers!
Darren Tan
Avid Indie Music Fan