Friday, September 25, 2009

Noisettes - "Beat Of My Heart"

Noisettes - "Beat Of My Heart": "A new wave-styled rocker from the new Noisettes record. Singer Shingai Shoniwa puts a twist on the proceedings with her retro rock'n'soul vocals, giving the tune a little extra character, not to mention helping the whole thing feel like a 60s pop tune with modern production."

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Deftones - "Change (In The House Of Flies)"

Deftones - "Change (In The House Of Flies)": "When I first heard the Deftones, I hated them. I thought they were just abrasive music with screaming and I pretty much immediately wrote them off. Then, with only two albums of said music under their belt, they stepped up their game to deliver an album (White Pony) that was heavy but just as moody and often, oddly, delicate. This song is a great example of their blend of crushing chords, nuanced atmosphere and almost lush vocal parts. This record may have made them bigger than they had been before, but it's still completely underrated."

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Duran Duran - "Hold Back The Rain (US Album Remix)"

Duran Duran - "Hold Back The Rain (US Album Remix)": "When Rio first came out, I got it on cassette - and never had it any other way until I traded up for a compact disc, years later. Imagine my surprise when I found out that "Hold Back The Rain" (and several other songs, including "My Own Way") now appeared in abridged or completely alternate versions from what I knew. It turns out that the cassette version of Rio was taking advantage of the 'new' cassette format and used extended versions of tracks, as opposed to the vinyl release. That's all well and good, but overlooks the fact that the versions on the cassette were AWESOME - like this one. Now all the versions I know and love have been collected, along with the 'original' vinyl versions, on Rio (Collector's Edition). Good on ya, EMI."

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The Bravery - "Slow Poison"

The Bravery - "Slow Poison": "The Bravery take the jagged alt rock of their first record, apply the softer corners of their second record and wind up with this catchy (if upbeatly gloomy) homage to...well, probably Echo and the Bunnymen and other new wave Brit rockers.
(And, an odd footnote to yesterday's post, this song is from the guy who helped write Shakira's 'She Wolf'. How weird is that?)"

Monday, September 21, 2009

Death Cab For Cutie - "Meet Me On The Equinox"

Death Cab For Cutie - "Meet Me On The Equinox": "I was kind of surprised that the lead single from the upcoming Twilight soundtrack uses the word 'equinox' - but since this is the same year where Shakira used 'lycanthropy' in a song, I guess we're raising the intellectual pop stakes now. All that aside, this is an interesting blend of the vibe of "Soul Meets Body" with the more adventurous musical style of Narrow Stairs - and feels like the 'missing' single that record should have had. I hope the Twilight association powers it to some extra airplay."

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Ringo Deathstarr - "In Love"

Ringo Deathstarr - "In Love": "Forget about the usual "sounds like Band X meets Band Y" band description - if you've ever wondered what it would sound like for the Jesus and Mary Chain to cover "Soon" by My Bloody Valentine, you need not wonder any longer. Not that I mind - I like the sound - but that's almost eerily exactly what it is."

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys - "Empire State Of Mind"

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys - "Empire State Of Mind": "I'm glad the VMAs shined a light on this song - I think it was a good choice for the show and a good song. Although am I the only person who thinks Alicia's chorus vocal part is reminiscent of Res' "They-Say Vision"?"

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

A Place to Bury Strangers - "In Your Heart"

A Place to Bury Strangers - "In Your Heart": "New music from APTBS. It's not quite as overwhelmingly fuzzed as the debut record, but it's still abrasive and pounding - and I mean that as a complement. That's the way they should sound!"

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Snowden - "No Words No More"

Snowden - "No Words No More": "Snowden takes on Love and Rockets. I like it - but where is the new album??"

Friday, September 04, 2009

Isaac Hayes - "Chocolate Chip"

Isaac Hayes - "Chocolate Chip": "Solid, if somewhat standard 70s funk - but it's the nearly-non-chorus of "What's my name? Chocolate chip! Chocolate chip!" that helps it to stand out, even if in a somewhat odd way."

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions - "On the Low"

Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions - "On the Low": "I want a little more mellow in my day today and this song is going to help me do it. On my favorite track from her first solo album, ex-Mazzy Star frontwoman Hope serves up a lazy groove with her trademark vocals up front, keeping things simple with a few lush touches. It's laid-back but with enough energy to keep your head nodding in time with the beat. I'm pretty sure she's the one rocking the harmonica, too."

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Redd Kross - "How Much More"

Redd Kross - "How Much More":
"How much more can I take before I go crazy again???

But seriously, this is a fun, flipped-gender take on the Go-Go's original, but possibly even more bubble-gummy. Total power pop."

Tuesday, September 01, 2009