Blogcritics Author: Matt Freelove

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

Concert Review: Editors and stellastarr*

Matt Freelove — Tue, 4 Apr 2006 00:46:13 EDT

I am not usually the first in on the new bands. I usually wait for some of the other esteemed music bloggers to sift through the 50,000 CDs they receive in search of good music. Once I read some particularly glowing review of a song, complete with an MP3 download, I give it a listen and go from there. That's how I came upon Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Sufjan Stevens, Wolf Parade, Band of Horses etc.Editors is a band that doesn't fit that description for me. I read about them in early 2005, well before their debut album The Back Room, was even released in the U.K. A short blurb in one of the British music magazines likened the band to (surprise) Interpol and Joy Division, which was enough for me to go searching for the mp3s on line. I first wrote about them way back (in blogging years) in July of last year: Editors are releasing their debut album, The Back Room, later this month. What I've heard so far is amazing. Their current single "Blood" has this gem of a lyric-"Blood runs through your veins, that's where our similarity ends. Blood runs through our veins." The music is at times Joy Division, and at times U2, thanks to some icy guitar riffs. Can't wait for these guys to come to the States. In some ways, it feels like forever since I first heard their music. I mean, shit, I wrote about Clap Your Hands Say Yeah in the same post and I have seen them 32 times since. Editors? No such luck. With the exception of a couple of NYC shows earlier this year, they had not played in the States, until now.The show last night at The Trocadero was billed as a co-headliner for both stellastarr* and Editors. Mobius Band opened. stellastarr* definitely had a nice following there, and some folks who came for them didn't stick around for Editors. stellastarr* played a mix from their self-titled debut album, as well as songs from 2005's Harmonies For The Haunted. They sounded great, especially lead singer Shawn Christensen, who has an amazing voice. And they looked great, too. Specifically, bass player and all around hottie Amanda Tannen. I overheard more than a few folks who stuck around asking, "Who is coming on next? Editors? Never heard of 'em". Credit the complete lack of radio support in Philly for any indie music. I'm not even sure NPR station WXPN is playing Editors. The band came out and played the majority of The Back Room, including crowd pleasers "Munich", "All Sparks", "Blood", "Bullets", and closing the encore with "Fingers in the Factories". The only song I really wanted to hear that they didn't play was "Someone Says". I fully expected Editors to be pretty boring on stage, and definitely not interact with the audience. More shoegaze than sweat, if you will. However, they were the complete opposite. Frontman Tom Smith is a young Dave Gahan, dancing around on stage and really getting into the show. If I didn't know the band better, I would really appreciated the fact that he practically introduced every song by name, which really helps when you're trying to download the songs off of iTunes when you get home from the show. Lead guitarist Chris Urbanowicz was very attentive to the audience, going so far as to share his half consumed Yuengling Lagers to the faithful up front. One can only hope it was merely a gesture of goodwill, as opposed to a rejection of a Philly tradition.I glanced around near the end of the show to see how those who hadn't heard of the band were reacting. They were still there, enjoying the hook-filled songs that make Editors such an enjoyable band to listen to. There is no initiation period; no need to listen to the album 5 times to "get it". The songs come right out and grab you the first time you hear them. The combination of an electric live performance and a solid repertoire of well written tunes for a young band make this one of the best shows I've been to in some time. Interested in more?More pictures from the show are available for your viewing pleasure. And don't forget to check out a review of The Back Room.

Matt Freelove and Brian St. Brian are the braintrust behind The BM Rant, covering good music, bad celebrities, and the city of Philadelphia.

CD Review: Editors - The Back Room

Matt Freelove — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 06:04:27 EST

There is simply no way to discuss Editors without mentioning the band's uncanny resemblance to legendary post-punkers Joy Division in terms of vocals and music, if not lyrical themes. Don't let the suggestion that Editors is a Joy Division tribute band turn you away from checking out their debut album, The Back Room. If you are a fan of Joy Division, then you'll appreciate the Ian Curtis-ish vocals of Tom Smith as well as the dark gothscapes that the band creates while still sending you through eleven hook-filled, danceable tracks. Comparisons to Interpol are apt as well.The Back Room is one of the most consistent albums I've heard all year. Practically every song is driven by a strong guitar presence that is at times U2-like in terms of icy guitar riffs per song. The percussion's determined beat ensures that the band doesn't sit around lazily navigating through the songs.Of the eleven songs on the album, seven are the fast, guitar-driven variety, while the remaining four slow things down and rely more on Smith's vocals to carry the track. The juxtaposition of the slow and fast songs makes for a versatile, complete album with better than average lyrics to boot."Blood" is an-impossible-not-to-like rocker with an unmistakable goth hook and the damning lyrics, "Blood runs through our veins/That's where the similarity ends". It's my favorite track on the album."Munich", the first single from the album, employs, as many of the tracks do, a dominant angular guitar line and dense drumming."All Sparks" follows a similar ethos, but this time the guitars run up and down the register and the drums chase the line for the duration. Smith tells us that "All sparks with burn out...in the end." It's another instantly catchy song that is highly danceable. "Fingers In The Factories" and "Bullets" are two more standout tracks among the fast tracks on the album."You Are Fading", "Open Your Arms" and "Camera" all provide Smith and Co. the opportunity to slow things down. The instrumentation is largely sparse, proving that the band doesn't need to blow your doors off to get their point across in song. Where Editors set themselves apart from the gaggle of sadsack Joy Division wannabes is that they create a anthemic sense of urgency with their arrangements, and the lyrics seem to have been written on something more substantial than a couple sheets of toilet paper.A superficial look at a press photo of the band, or a bad review from some asshole who thinks that moody dance music should have died when Ian Curtis did should not deter anyone from giving Editors the 43 minutes it takes to realize how good this album really is.

Matt Freelove and Brian St. Brian are the braintrust behind The BM Rant, covering good music, bad celebrities, and the city of Philadelphia.

CD Review: We Are Scientists - With Love And Squalor

Matt Freelove — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 14:36:40 EST

The search for "the next big thing" is undertaken by indie bloggers and music journalists the world over on a daily basis, and many times that "next big thing" becomes a big dud in short order. Last year, The Bravery received big press in advance of their debut on Island. Turns out that it took only one listen for most folks to write them off as derivative garbage packaged for unsuspecting music buyers. Kasabian, The Caesars, and Louis XVI are other examples of crappy bands being given undeserved love until folks had the opportunity to look past the hair gel and leather pants and actually listen to the music.Which brings us to New Yorkers We Are Scientists, an indie rock three piece that has had their debut released on the not so indie Virgin Records. The fact that they hail from New York ratchets up the hype even more so, as the vibrant rock scene in The Big Apple, buoyed by New York bloggers like Brooklyn Vegan, Central Village, Stereogum, Yeti Don't Dance and I Rock I Roll cover indie shows with a blanket large enough for every venue in the city.So, how is the album? Can it live up to the hype? Is We Are Scientists the next big thing? In a word, maybe. The band members are a patient bunch--forming in 2000 and releasing several EPs before finally landing with a label and putting out an LP. Many elements of the album suggest a fully mature band; one in which all members know their defined place in the group, and very little stepping on of toes. However, while the album is fantastic in spots, it is a maddeningly frustrating tease in others. They remind me of Green Day in some ways, most notably on "This Scene Is Dead", which is not necessarily a compliment, but I find their soft punk elements far less grating than I do their more famous counterparts.The album's first single, and the one most recognizable by discerning indie rock nerds is "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt". The song features a brain invading guitar hook that singer Keith Murray provides as the frame for his desperate vocals.No song, with the exception of one ("Textbook"-one of the real strong tracks on the album), even sniffs 4 minutes long, and most hover around the 3 minute mark, which I always appreciate. Most of the songs are shot out of a cannon, with very little opportunities for a slow down. One song where they have an opportunity to change up the pace is "Can't Lose", which, at a lean 3:31 still finds time to slow up in the middle, but the band doesn't see the song to a real climax, and I feel like some horny high school kid waiting for the payoff after a date, and the girl just kisses me on the cheek.With 12 songs on the album, and only a couple that really feel like they weren't as fully formed as they could have been, it is certainly a solid debut album that suggests that WAS has more to offer down the road. A live show that is well regarded among the hipster set, and a few really good songs and the band will no doubt be closely watched in 2006. A few more hooks, a slower song here and there, and these guys will explode in the future. In a good way, that is.So, are they "the next big thing"? Probably not, but do they really need to be? Being a good band in a city that is crawling with bands trying to sound half this good, that seems nearly good enough to me.Essential Tracks: Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt, Lousy Reputation, Textbook, This Scene Is DeadDownload Inaction | mp3Rant Rating: 73Editor's note: This work of yours now has another venue for success - and more eyes - at the Advance.net Web sites, a site affiliated with about 12 newspapers.One such site is here.

Matt Freelove and Brian St. Brian are the braintrust behind The BM Rant, covering good music, bad celebrities, and the city of Philadelphia.

"Miracles Do Happen": 12 West Virginia Miners Found Alive

Matt Freelove — Wed, 4 Jan 2006 00:11:35 EST

Update: This information was tragically updated later - 12 of the miners are dead, and only one has survived. More information on the mining disaster here40+ hours, 1 body, and lots of fingerpointing later, CNN is reporting that the 12 remaining miners have been found alive. The one miner who died is being identified as Terry Helms, who was dropped off at a spot close to where the explosion happens, called "The Belt". The levels of carbon monoxide were said to be 3 times higher than what could be inhaled for even 15 minutes. So hope for survival certainly waned as the hours progressed. The families started to change their collective demeanor from sadness to anger at the slow, tedious process that was the rescue effort. The coal company, International Coal Group, has received significant criticism for taking so long to rescue the miners. The company stated that the deadly levels of noxious fumes prevented them from moving any quicker. West Virginians stated on television multiple times that "miracles do happen" and that they were holding out hope for all of the miners. For one family, it is still a tragedy, but for 12, a miracle truly took place in that mine.

Matt Freelove and Brian St. Brian are the braintrust behind The BM Rant, covering good music, bad celebrities, and the city of Philadelphia.

CD Review: stellastarr* - Harmonies For The Haunted

Matt Freelove — Tue, 3 Jan 2006 23:49:38 EST

There is a sense of nostalgia that permeates stellastarr*'s latest album, Harmonies For The Haunted, more so than any album I have heard in the last year. There have been many albums put out by bands intent on sounding like 80's revivalists. stellastarr* takes it a step further by sounding as though their music was ripped right from Top 40 radio in 1985. There is no derivation of previous acts; it's simply the perfection of a sound that is often imitated, rarely with this much success.The marquee song on the album is "Sweet Troubled Soul", which has received significant airplay on satellite stations like Sirius' Left of Center due to its irrepressible hook, coupled with singer Shawn Christensen's commanding vocals. It's like a hipster version of "Runaround Sue". "Love and Longing" has a U2 quality to it, mostly due to some Edge-inspired guitar work. "Damn This Foolish Heart" is another standout track that, despite its somber lyrics, is an upbeat song that wraps up with Christensen lamenting his duped ticker. In fact, the majority of the songs on the album juxtapose depressed lyrics with fun disco beats. There have been comparisons between stellastarr and fellow New Yorkers Interpol, to the extent that stellastarr* have glommed Interpol's sound. While the guitar work bears some similarities, there is very little evidence that stellastarr* is trying to structure their sound around Interpol's blueprints. Interpol's writing is superior to stellastarr*, and they choose sounds that fit in with their lyrics more so than their counterparts. Does Harmonies For The Haunted break new ground and signal the advent of some musical awakening? No, but the band has managed to craft a 10 song long player that shows enough different looks to keep you interested well past the point that other more critically acclaimed albums leave you bored out of your skull. It's amazing that a band like stellastarr*, with RCA as their label, is unable to gain a footing on terrestrial radio. Their sound is very accessible, and while the different soundscapes can be appreciate by more discerning audiophiles, Top 40 fans would appreciate the generous hooks that are the staple of the MTV generation.Harmonies For The Haunted all but assures us that we have not seen or heard the last of stellastarr. They have far too many interesting ways to tell us that they're tortured about love and loss. Grab your leg warmers and Cabbage Patch Kids, stop complaining about too much "80s music" being made, and get into stellastarr*. Editor's note: This work of yours now has another venue for success - and more eyes - at the Advance.net Web sites, a site affiliated with about 12 newspapers.One such site is here.

Matt Freelove and Brian St. Brian are the braintrust behind The BM Rant, covering good music, bad celebrities, and the city of Philadelphia.

One More Week Of Howard Stern Before He Gets "Sirius"

Matt Freelove — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 23:15:29 EST

In less than a week, one of the greatest radio careers ever will end one journey and begin another. Howard Stern, nemesis of the prudish and faint of heart, will leave New York's WXRK, and a large syndicated network spanning the country, to begin broadcasting on Sirius satellite Radio in January.We can all argue back and forth whether or not Stern is a sexist, racist and misogynist, not to mention the Anti-Christ himself. There is plenty of fodder for both sides of the debate. Yet, few can argue that Stern has not been one of the most influential entertainers of the last 25 years. His brutally honest daily dialogue with 10 million listeners per day has revolutionized the way we listen to radio. There are 100's of sub par "shock jocks" roaming FM radio across the world doing Stern's show to audiences in markets where Howard doesn't have a presence. The poor listeners don't even know they're listening to the radio equivalent of Milli Vanilli.Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Opie and Anthony, Al Franken etc. have all benefited from the trail blazed first by Stern, who created a format that, though initially shunned by radio talking heads, was embraced by listeners, and consequently, advertisers.The last 10 years have not been kind to The King of All Media. His divorce 6 years ago rocked his world, and made for some of the greatest radio broadcasts he ever did. It was truly amazing to listen to a man travel the emotional arc that divorce is. Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction and FCC fines followed in 2004, ringing the death knell for Stern's show on terrestrial radio. Stern was hesitant to sign the five year deal with Infinity that started in 2001, so the further tightening of so-called "indecency" guidelines, and the lack of support from the radio industry, forced Stern to take his entire crew and flee to the safe haven of Satellite Radio--a medium un-regulated by the FCC. Stern's contract is for 5 years and $500 million. Commentators like Bill O'Reilly have made it out as though all of this money makes it to Stern's checking account. They're wrong. The total cost includes overhead, construction and other costs associated with the show.While conservative senators talk of finding ways to regulate satellite radio, they'll be hard-pressed to do so since the listener must first buy the equipment, install it, and then pay a subscription to hear it. Built in security features make the need for the FCC to stick their nose in Satellite a complete waste of time, not to mention an abuse of power.Stern's last few months on terrestrial radio have been eventful ones, with old show favorites returning for one last conversation with Stern and Howard rifling through piles of old tapes to listen to one more time before they are never heard again (Howard was unwilling to pay Infinity Broadcasting's $30-40 million price tag for his tapes).The last two months have also seen Stern fighting with Infinity's bosses, a war that resulted in a one day suspension on November 8 for excessive promotion of Sirius Satellite Radio.This coming Friday is Stern's last show on WXRK. Howard will take a 3 week vacation, and return to "Howard 100" on Sirius. Stern will also have Howard 101 as well to broadcast Howard-centric programming 24 hours a day. For the last month or so, Sirius subscribers, including myself, have been privy to many of Howard's new ideas, including "Tissue Time with Heidi Cortez"-a bedtime phone sex romp with the aforementioned Cortez. Other programs include "Meet The Shrink", where a psychologist sits different screwed up members of Howard's "Wack Pack" to do some therapy, "Howard 100 News", a hard news show aired at 6 pm daily that is complete with professional radio news anchors covering every conceivable thing happening in Howard's life, as well as at his Sirius headquarters. two stations and 48 total hours per day of programming by Howard. Buckle up.While many will say that Howard's move to satellite is some type of victory for the social conservatives who are trying to hijack our nation, I see it the other way around. Howard is far too talented of a broadcaster to be limited to 4 hours per day of programming. He has now been given the opportunity to create his own radio network of sorts, and do the type of programming he feels he has been depriving his listeners of. Don't expect Howard to say fuck every 2 seconds though, or for him to start banging strippers on his console. He'll be nastier, but it will always be funny first.Check out a virtual tour of Howard's new digs at the Howard Stern Studio. As a subscriber, I must say how much I love the 2 radios I have--1 for each car. The technology is dummyproof, and the non-Howard programming is fantastic. The music stations span every imaginable genre, and the talk and sports available are staggering. In fact, it's much easier to find yourself having nothing to watch on cable than having nothing to listen to on Sirius. I have tested XM satellite as well, and I definitely prefer the Sirius' technology and programming to XM's, even if Howard wasn't heafding there. That's just the icing on the cake.Check out Sirius' lineup and radio selections at their official website.

Matt Freelove and Brian St. Brian are the braintrust behind The BM Rant, covering good music, bad celebrities, and the city of Philadelphia.

My Favorite 20 Albums of 2005 (and some I hated)

Matt Freelove — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 20:16:32 EST

As the year winds down, it's time to look back at the year that was in music, at least the music I give a shit about. Here are my top 20 Albums of 2005, and then some other categories:20. Bright Eyes--I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning This album is missing from a lot of folks' Year End Lists, and I think it's a matter of short term memories. The album came out nearly a year ago, but it includes some absolutely fantastic songs, including, "Old Soul Song", "We Are Nowhere And It's Now", "The First Day Of My Life", and "At The Bottom Of Everything". C'mon folks, if this album was just released, folks would be all over it. Sometimes you have to let an album sink in. You can't just jump all over everything you just heard and call it the best of the year.19. The National--Alligator-An album that grew on me with time. "Baby, We'll Be Fine" is one of my favorite songs of the year.18. Franz Ferdinand--You Could Have It So Much Better...-More ultracatchy pop from Franz. This album may not be as good as their debut, but it's pretty damn close, and in an age where sophomore slumps tend to be the rule and not the exception, that's pretty good.17. Martha Wainwright--Martha Wainwright-Ballsy debut album from the other Wainwright sibling. "Bloody Motherfucking Asshole" is the best song that will never be played on regular radio. The rest of the album is a nice mix of folk, rock and pop.16. British Sea Power--Open Season-Some argue that British Sea Power sold out on this second album, opting for accessibility over art. I think they captured the best of both. Their debut album, The Decline Of British Sea Power, is tough to penetrate at times, and while there are some really good songs on it, I had trouble really loving it. No big shock, since I definitely prefer artists who maintain some pop sensibilities (the Arcade Fire) over bands that have a disjointed, chaotic sound (Broken Social Scene). "It Ended On an Oily Stage" and "Oh, Larsen B" are two favorites from this album.15. Aberdeen City--The Freezing Atlantic--I came upon these Bostonians late this year, but their debut album is proof positive that Americans can make post punk as well, even if its not quite as good as the Brits.14. Kaiser Chiefs--Employment-When I reviewed the CD in March, I said it would be on year end Best Of lists, and I was right. Probably further down than I thought at the time, but let's chalk that up to over-enthusiasm. Still, The Kaiser Chiefs made a raucous, fun record that still had great tunes to go with the tongue in cheek delivery and stage show. They're also the only band on this list to play Live 8. Not too shabby.13. Depeche Mode--Playing The Angel--Some compared this favorably with Violator--an act of gross hyperbole. It IS, however, their best album since Songs of Faith and Devotion. It is obvious that DM has been listening to current trends in music, and they have responded accordingly. That isn't to suggest that the band is glomming off of their fellow bands, but rather that they tend to see trends happen, and them execute them better than anyone else.12. The Hold Steady--Separation Sunday-I love albums like this: Rock N Roll with a singer whose voice you can understand, singing lyrics you don't necessarily get. But they force you to listen to what they have to say. 11. Death Cab For Cutie--Plans-The indie set really had their way with Death Cab for releasing Plans. I'd love to have seen the Pitchfork review if the album had been released on Barsuk Records. They lost points just for going with a major. This is not a bad album. It's accessible, well produced, and expertly executed by the band, even despite a few missteps like "Someday You Will Be Loved".10. The New Pornographers--Twin Cinema-This album really grew on me after repeat listens, and now it cracks my Top Ten of 2005. I can only imagine how excited that must make the band members, who are religious readers of the "Rant". Really, they are....really.9. Editors--The Back Room-It hasn't been released in the US yet, but I feel compelled to put it on my list regardless because I love it. Folks dismissed Editors right off the bat for being Joy Division sounda-likes, but I disagree. Editors sure have some similar elements, but they are their own band. Almost every song on this album is on my favorites playlist on the iPod. If it gets a proper US release in 2006, I may just include it on my Best of '06 list, too. Why? Because I can. Go get your own blog.8. Wolf Parade--Apologies To The Queen Mary-The Lennon and McCartney type co writing from Dan Boeckner and Spencer Krug makes for a two faced album that is an aggressive, raw introduction to this next big thing from Canada. As far as I'm concerned, it's The Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade, The New Pornographers, and then the rest of Canada.7. M Ward--Transistor Radio A vastly underrated album, possibly because of high expectations after 2003's The Transfiguration of Vincent, but Transistor Radio stands on it's own as a low-fi folk journey that celebrates a time when regular radio was actually relevant. 6. My Morning Jacket--Z A delightfully post retro album that seems entirely genuine. It cannot be shoehorned into any genre. Z crossed over multiple musical landscapes in making one of the best rounded albums of the year. "Into The Woods" is one of my favorite songs of the year.5. Shout Out Louds--Howl Howl Gaff Gaff While the album has been bouncing around in Europe since 2003, it was not released in the US until this year, and thank God. It's just a well crafted pop album with a great mixture of keyboards, guitars and simple lyrical elements necessitated by a Swedish band exploring their second language of English.4. Sufjan Stevens--Illinois Another installment in Steven's ambitious "50 States" project. What makes these albums more than just a sterile history lesson is the one-off references that he makes to certain parts of a state's lore, such as the song "John Wayne Gacy" a beautifully crafted song that tells the story of the serial killer. Sufjan Stevens is good enough to turn Gacy into the object of a great song, that's fucking talent. "Chicago" and "The Man Of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts" are my favorites from the album.3. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah--Clap Your Hands Say Yeah The hype has turned to derision by many of the very bloggers who built the hype in the first place. It's a shame, because their album was easily better than all but 2 LPs released this year. Lead singer and creative force Alec Ounsworth walked us through his worldview over the course of 9 strong, full formed songs, 2 well crafted instrumental pieces, and a strange album opener called "Clap Your Hands" which sounds like a carnival act. The mixture of upbeat guitar riffs and soaring keyboard parts made for great complements to Ounsworth's unique lyrics. "The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth", "In This Home On Ice", "Upon This Tidal Wave Of Young Blood" and "Details Of the War" are just four of the great songs on this confident, DIY self-release.2. Antony and the Johnsons--I Am A Bird Now Antony's stripped down cabaret arrangements and nakedly personal lyrics about personal discovery and sexual ambiguity made for the most unique album I heard all year. "For Today I Am A Boy", "You Are My Sister", "Fistful of Love", and "Hope There's Someone" represent 4 of the best written songs of the year. Antony's compelling persona guarantees that we'll be hanging on his every word for years to come.1. Bloc Party--Silent Alarm My favorite album of the year. It starts with the feverish beats of "Like Eating Glass", and end 14 songs later with the moody, Depeche Mode-like drone of "Compliments". I usually prefer an album that keeps itself to 12 or less songs, because few bands can maintain excellence over that many songs. Silent Alarm is an exception-there is nary a dud on this album. It's an orgasm or punk energy with thinking man's lyrics and ridiculous guitar riffs and drum fills. New single "Two More Years" proves that Bloc Party won't be a one-album wonder.Honorable Mention1. Razorlight--Up All Night-A little discussed addition to the Brit pop ranks. I liked this album a lot more than most folks seemed to. 2. Engineers--Engineers-They were better live than in the studio, but this is a good album, although it reminds me a bit too much at times of Pink Floyd. 3. Animal Collective--Feels-Just haven't listened to it enough to fall in love, but I like the album. It's a bit impenetrable at first, but grows on you with repeat listens. 4. Sleater-Kinney--The Woods-A violent album. A heavy album. A good album. Just not one of my favorite albums this year. 5. Sigur Ros--Takk-I know they are loved by the indie crowd, Brian included, but it didn't wow me. Maybe I just don't "get" Sigur Ros much as everyone else. It's beautiful music, but it represents something I'd prefer in the background as opposed to something I want folks to shut up during so I can hear it. 6. The Magic Numbers--The Magic Numbers-A nice album, but I don't really see myself popping it in all that often. 7. M.I.A.--Arular-A very cool album. Probably a bit overhyped in my opinion. My wife loves it, so it needs to be recognized.Disappointing1. Coldplay--X&Y-I actually don't dislike the album, but it's just harmless MOR bullshit masquerading as high art. Chris Martin cares far more about commercial appeal than he does anything else related to making an album. 2. The White Stripes--Get Behind Me Satan-1 listen is enough. The only song that stuck with me was "Doorbell", and I hate that song now, too. 3. The Bravery--The Bravery-These guys can have all the pissing matches they want with rivals The Killers. Frankly both bands are boring, but The Killers at least have the tunes to back up some of their false braggadocio. The only worthwhile song on this album is Honest Mistake. Remove the rest from your iPod and you'll be fine.I Own These Albums Now, And I'm Willing To Sell Them For $ .041. Broken Social Scene--Broken Social Scene-Noisemaking masquerading as music. Not a discernible hook to be found on this meandering, ponderous recording. I listened about 5 times to the album. Usually exorcising the sound from my speakers with heavy doses of The Arcade Fire's Funeral. Their debut album, You Forgot It In People, sucks too. Just a little less.2.. The Caesars--Paper Tigers-A example of letting a single, in this case "Jerk It Out" from the iPod shuffle commercial, sway me to buy an album that totally sucked.So there it is, my Year In Music. Here's hoping that 2006 is at least as good.More music, mp3s and other stuff at The BM Rant.

Matt Freelove and Brian St. Brian are the braintrust behind The BM Rant, covering good music, bad celebrities, and the city of Philadelphia.

CD Review: My Morning Jacket--Z

Matt Freelove — Thu, 1 Dec 2005 22:36:33 EST

Dreaming is one of life's great mysteries. Sure, there are plenty of talking heads ready to tell you what they mean and why you have them. But the real source and meaning of our own personal dreams are a nut that we'll never crack, and that is what's so cool about them. They are so close to us while remaining frustratingly confusing. My Morning Jacket's new album, Z, deals alot in dreams. Lead singer Jim James brings us into two of them on "Into The Woods" and "Dondante". His ethereal, echo filled vocals lead the kind of music you'd probably hear at the funeral for a carnival worker. "Into The Woods" is the best song on the album, and the one you should absolutely download.While "Into the Woods" and "Dondante" are near psychedelic both musically and lyrically, the band throws curveballs at you with tracks like "Off The Record" which sounds like something The Beach Boys may have recorded. "What a Wonderful Man" is a straight up hard rock number lasting less than 2 1/2 minutes, and worth every second of it. "Wordless Chorus" is another standout track with interesting time signatures, keyboard and drum work. Listen closely enough to the lyrics of the song for a taste of what Jim James thinks of America today. The album itself is a dream; a throwback record of 10 dissimilar, but equally kick ass songs that conjure up country rock, The Beach Boys and much of what made 70's rock so good. I have yet to listen to the album with my headphones on, opting for mp3s playing through the car speakers or the computer. I may need to spin this with the CD, something I never do anymore. There is so much subtle instrumentation, specifically of the keyboard and percussion variety, that I'd love to hear it in it's original format.While I haven't given MMJ much notice over their 3 previous records, its time to really dig into their discography. If those albums are even half as good as Z, they'll be must haves.

Matt Freelove and Brian St. Brian are the braintrust behind The BM Rant, covering good music, bad celebrities, and the city of Philadelphia.

CD Review: Aberdeen City--The Freezing Atlantic

Matt Freelove — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 22:16:59 EST

It is striking how British Boston-based Aberdeen City sounds. Singer/bassist Bradley Parker's emotive vocals, the icy guitar riffs and the geek rock persona all conjur up thoughts of English, not American, acts. Freezing Atlantic, Aberdeen City's debut album, is a call to arms for better indie rock in the States. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of great indie acts here: Sufjan Stevens, Death Cab (still count as indie), and Iron and Wine are just a few. But much of American indie music tends to a lighter, more folksy slant. Yes, there are plenty of punk and emo bands tearing up the Stars and Stripes, but I'm talking about that middle ground between acoustic and angst. Enter Aberdeen City. A four piece that, despite their serious attitude toward making music, don't seem to take themselves very seriously. The bio on their webpage tells us that lead singer Brad Parker, "built a sensory deprivation chamber in his parents' attic. After spending a week inside, Bradley emerged filled with incredible insights." Ok. A humorous group of guys from New England looking to share their tunes with the masses? I'm interested. Described by Alternative Press as "what it would sound like if the Strokes and Interpol had a love child". I don't think I could explain it any better than that. The songs on The Freezing Atlantic range from energetic post-punk anthems to slower, more introspective songs. The album speaks to a range of creative ability that few bands are hanging their hats on these days. There are a couple of tremendous stand out songs on the album, specifically album anchor "God Is Going To Get Sick Of Me", the cryptic lyrics of "In Combat" and "Another Seven Years", and the controlled aggression of "Sixty Lives". Ok, I just named half of the album. Without even discussing my fondness for the desperation of "Mercy" or the lamentations sung in unison with great ryhtm section work on "Pretty Pet". It's one of the few songs on the album where the lyrics are relatively straight forward in terms of getting to the heart of the issue at hand. Excuse my jingoistic desires for rock equality. But a good band from America is coming to a sweaty club near you a lot sooner than if they play every Academy gig in England first. In fact, Aberdeen City recently came to Philly and they are currently on the West Coast supporting this album. Missing their show at The Khyber in late October is "the one that got away" this fall. But I've got an impressive debut to tide me over until they find their way back to the East Coast.MoreAberdeen City--Official WebsiteIn Combat (MP3)More music and other stuff at The BM Rant.

Matt Freelove and Brian St. Brian are the braintrust behind The BM Rant, covering good music, bad celebrities, and the city of Philadelphia.

New Music Sampler: Soft--"Higher" | MP3

Matt Freelove — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 23:49:03 EST

Anytime I get my hands on new music, I immediately add it as a "5 star" song on the iPod, so it drops right into my favorites. It just makes it easier to get my hands on it as I'm listening. More often times than not, even if I like the song, it doesn't stay on the Favorites list. That's reserved for the songs that I could listen to on a loop if necessary. So when I received an email from the band Soft about their new single, "Higher", I added it to the Favorites playlist. After listening to it about 10 times, it's there to stay. The song is the embodiment of what Reinick's ultimate goal is for his band: music for mass consumption. He told popmatters recently, "Our goal for the record is for it to be like INXS's Kick. We'd like every song to be a huge Top 10 single." If the remainder of their first EP, Soft EP, sounds anything even close to "Higher", they're on their way."Higher" sounds like a cross between Keane and Coldplay. Reinick's vocals are the windswept, epic type that makes Keane such a pleasant listen, but the music is fuller than Keane, a band that eschews the use of guitars in deference to the piano.This is one of the best singles I've heard this year. Download it now, and make it a 5 star song on your iPod, too.Soft-Higher (mp3)Soft--Official WebsiteSoft's EP is available for purchase at Insound.More music reviews, downloads, and other stuff at The BM Rant.

Matt Freelove and Brian St. Brian are the braintrust behind The BM Rant, covering good music, bad celebrities, and the city of Philadelphia.