THUS FAR - Reviewing the first 4 months of CDs in 2006
I have to say, 2006 has been off to a rough start for me. There has been a lot of anticipation followed with a lot of let down followed by a few surprises getting through.
First off, the SURPRISES. With all of these bands, I really had no idea who they were til this year and they inspired me to find more music on them or even buy the album if I loved it that much.
the 1900s Plume Delivery
What I thought Belle and Sebastian were going to sound like.
COLD WAR KIDS (link)
What I consider the indie White Stripes. No proper release by these guys yet but you can get everything they recorded for only $12 at the above link. I am looking forward to these guys more than Tapes n' Tapes when I see them next month.
DERT Sometimes I Rhyme Slow
I think this guy did it right, going the Danger Mouse route of mixing great music to gain attention. Take the acoustic album Veneer by Jose Gonzalez and mix it with some of the hottest rap artists out here and voila - magic.
EDITORS The Back Room
The Euro band that did it right when it came overseas with a new sound. Go here over Hard-Fi if you have to choose. Also a great live show with some pounding, moving music.
And to make it a bit easier - I think that Blake Sennet and the Elected (Sun, Sun, Sun) out did Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins (Rabbit Fur Coat) if you had an ear for indie folk pop this year.
Next, the LETDOWNS. You should be ashamed of yourself - get back in the studio.
MYSTERY JETS Making Dens
After promising singles like Alas Agnes, You Can't Fool Me Dennis and Zoo Time, I was pumped for this London group's new style of hippie indie. Unfortunately, going into the studio didn't just compile a lot of tracks for them but unfortunately added too many production effects and over done changes to songs I already liked.
GNARLS BARKELY St. Elsewhere
After the hype of Crazy, I think this album was set to fall. Only a few other solid tracks in my opinion and overall, a much quiter, less raucous CD than I was expecting.
The STREETS Hard Way To Make a Easy Living
After being fans of the past efforts of Mike Skinner, I again thought he would deliver another solid album. However, after listening to 'Hard Way To Make a Easy Living' twice, it has only gotten mildly better over time. It just doesn't go anywhere or feel like there is much diversity in the tracks.
And last, the DECENTS. Nice efforts - maybe better stuff in the future.
ARCTIC MONKEYS Whatever People Say I Am Thats What I am Not
Definitely didn't live up to the hype but a nice album with growing potential. I just wonder how much this has gone to the bands head before their sophomore album.
BAND of HORSES Everything All the Time
Can't say they lived up to the hype I had after hearing St. Augutine or The Funeral but has some growing potential with other good songs like Great Salt Lake
COMPLETE CRAPPERS. Don't make music for awhile.
HARD-FI: I think got mushed into everything else being sent across the seas and the album goes nowhere. NEKO CASE: I had never heard of Ms. Case before Fox Confessor Brings the Flood and while she did get my attention with just 2 songs, the album has a whole is too long and the good songs are very slim compared to the bad. the ZUTONS: This is another album like Hard-Fi where I just don't think much thought was given to the album before it went out. The Zutons really got my attention with their last album Who Killed the Zutons - a variety of sounds and speeds - this just stays flat.
First off, the SURPRISES. With all of these bands, I really had no idea who they were til this year and they inspired me to find more music on them or even buy the album if I loved it that much.
the 1900s Plume Delivery
What I thought Belle and Sebastian were going to sound like.
COLD WAR KIDS (link)
What I consider the indie White Stripes. No proper release by these guys yet but you can get everything they recorded for only $12 at the above link. I am looking forward to these guys more than Tapes n' Tapes when I see them next month.
DERT Sometimes I Rhyme Slow
I think this guy did it right, going the Danger Mouse route of mixing great music to gain attention. Take the acoustic album Veneer by Jose Gonzalez and mix it with some of the hottest rap artists out here and voila - magic.
EDITORS The Back Room
The Euro band that did it right when it came overseas with a new sound. Go here over Hard-Fi if you have to choose. Also a great live show with some pounding, moving music.
And to make it a bit easier - I think that Blake Sennet and the Elected (Sun, Sun, Sun) out did Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins (Rabbit Fur Coat) if you had an ear for indie folk pop this year.
Next, the LETDOWNS. You should be ashamed of yourself - get back in the studio.
MYSTERY JETS Making Dens
After promising singles like Alas Agnes, You Can't Fool Me Dennis and Zoo Time, I was pumped for this London group's new style of hippie indie. Unfortunately, going into the studio didn't just compile a lot of tracks for them but unfortunately added too many production effects and over done changes to songs I already liked.
GNARLS BARKELY St. Elsewhere
After the hype of Crazy, I think this album was set to fall. Only a few other solid tracks in my opinion and overall, a much quiter, less raucous CD than I was expecting.
The STREETS Hard Way To Make a Easy Living
After being fans of the past efforts of Mike Skinner, I again thought he would deliver another solid album. However, after listening to 'Hard Way To Make a Easy Living' twice, it has only gotten mildly better over time. It just doesn't go anywhere or feel like there is much diversity in the tracks.
And last, the DECENTS. Nice efforts - maybe better stuff in the future.
ARCTIC MONKEYS Whatever People Say I Am Thats What I am Not
Definitely didn't live up to the hype but a nice album with growing potential. I just wonder how much this has gone to the bands head before their sophomore album.
BAND of HORSES Everything All the Time
Can't say they lived up to the hype I had after hearing St. Augutine or The Funeral but has some growing potential with other good songs like Great Salt Lake
COMPLETE CRAPPERS. Don't make music for awhile.
HARD-FI: I think got mushed into everything else being sent across the seas and the album goes nowhere. NEKO CASE: I had never heard of Ms. Case before Fox Confessor Brings the Flood and while she did get my attention with just 2 songs, the album has a whole is too long and the good songs are very slim compared to the bad. the ZUTONS: This is another album like Hard-Fi where I just don't think much thought was given to the album before it went out. The Zutons really got my attention with their last album Who Killed the Zutons - a variety of sounds and speeds - this just stays flat.
posted by JONATHAN at 4:51 PM
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