http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Sun, 17 Oct 2004 21:52:12 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/ Phillip WinnSunday, 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. Administration0@blogcritics.org Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/10/17/215212.php Seth WerkheiserAll-female, alt-rock, lo-fi and catchy - Arcade jangle their guitars and put together enough melody and grit to make for an interesting album. Into the Light is fun, as it doesn't seem to take itself too seriously. I mean, a few of the riffs here take me back to mid-90's grunge, you know... when riffs actually could be hummed. Maybe it's just the aging rocker in me, but Arcade brings back some solid memories. I lived with a girl who listend to all the Righteous Babe kind of bands, so this takes me back to those days. Well, minus living in a walk-in closet, but we won't get into that.Loaded with thick and warm guitars Arcade is a band to take you back, and they recorded an album good enough to last you for the next year or so. The melodies and harmonies are good here, and the lyrical wording is superb. They're on Woodenman Records, I think, as their name has been removed from their roster. Probably some band-naming legal thing, ya know? Music21094@blogcritics.org Sun, 17 Oct 2004 21:52:12 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/08/09/204840.php Seth WerkheiserRock and roll that leans heavy on clean channel guitar? Studio slickness that doesn't harm an album? Oh yes. The new Hives album, Tyrannosaurus Hives, rocks with the slick charm you've known for years, but were too scared to confront. Quick and to the point, catchy when needed, and even dipping into some electronical gadgetry, The Hives belt out a 12 song, 30 minute gem that drips with sarcasm, dry wit, and even hints of political jabbing.The album is currently ranked 143 on Amazon.com, and there's 60 new or used copies starting at $7.99 which is a good deal. Celebrate stripped down rock & roll and pick this up. Turn down the treble a bit to save your speakers, and do your best Mick Jagger impersonation while you listen.Oh yea, enter this Hives contest and win a Vespa PX Scooter. How cool would that be? Music18464@blogcritics.org Mon, 9 Aug 2004 20:48:40 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/24/133803.php Seth WerkheiserQuick and sharp, Prologue is a rock album through and through. While not as guitar heavy as other current rock albums these days (as in, "Boy, I'd hate to be the bass player in this band"), the production is perfectly balanced, keeping your attention on those huge melodic vocals which is a strong point of this release. If you were writing home to a loved one, or breaking down in tears at every stoplight in town, well, this would be the album to have in your CD player. This is a pretty album, quick to avoid the "passionate rock" title or that dreaded three letter curse word that bands love to avoid. If big sounding rock is your thing, then The Evan Anthem is probably a good purchase for you. Check out The Evan Anthem eCard. Music17793@blogcritics.org Sat, 24 Jul 2004 13:38:03 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/19/210105.php Seth WerkheiserOne day this past week my mailbox was stuffed with FIVE padded envelopes. Well, here's four of them reviewed.Yellowcake - Since You Ruined The Earth The insert shows a doll of President George W. Bush in military garb with a helicopter burning in the background. Song titles include America, You Need a New President, You Met With Energy, and Give It To The Rich. Studio polished, this sounds like old Porno For Pyros with a tinge of... 90's guitar rock? Distortion, singing, and a steady drum track throughout. Think Nine Inch Nails with, of course, a big time anti-W. Bush angle. Not sure how many minds this might change, or how many anti-W. Bush folks might be interested in a collection of prog-rockish tunes with lines like, "Give it to the rich, give it to the right."Thomas Simon WalkAbout - Soundtrack Ummm... interesting field recordings, with loads of background noises, percussion, and clever instrumentation but nothing that really catches my fancy for too long. If you need something for long drives or study music, this is pretty good, and of course, for a movie soundtrack that's it's job, right? To blend into the background?Joey's Loss - Unwelcome Travelers and Other Brave Men Excellent layout and design. Good post-hardcore sound without getting too sappy or too angry. Bravo to the song, Thoughts of Indian Removal, and the well thought-out lyrics throughout.Underoath - They're Only Chasing Saftey So this release isn't like the older Underoath albums. Aren't you glad you aren't either? Imagine if you worked the same job, ate the same meals, and took the same college courses for four years straight. Blah. Cut these guys a break. Anthem like, good ole rock, quiet breakdowns that build back up (that's called dynamics, kids), and sparse use of the often overused chugga-chugga speed bumps. A good screamy album that your girlfriend might even enjoy. Music17621@blogcritics.org Mon, 19 Jul 2004 21:01:05 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/07/131501.php Seth WerkheiserThis record will be over by the time I write this review. With only eight minutes and 18 seconds of run time it will barely give me a chance to think through the first paragraph. But that's just it. This record doesn't let you sit still. As soon as you get into the groove of a song and let its beat infect your feet the song will end. Your feet will be a twisted mess on the dance floor and your raised hands will slowly fall to your side. This band is a combination of dance, funk, hardcore, and vocals from a bird of prey. With more keyboards then guitars you won't be able to stop yourself from thinking '80's. Just remember that when you put this disc on to have your dance shoes tied are ready. You won't have much time.Luckily you can hit repeat and keep the bootie shaking hits playing all night long.Written by Mark Brandt for Buzzgrinder.com - A Tasty Buffet of Music News and Useless Opinion Music17202@blogcritics.org Wed, 7 Jul 2004 13:15:01 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/03/183442.php Seth WerkheiserThis record is lie. It is a lie in the name of rock 'n' roll.Tora! Tora! Torrance! was a rock 'n' roll band with punk rock intensity, loud guitars, solos, and snotty/bratty vocals. To be blunt, they rocked my socks off, but wait, what is this? The third track. Suddenly, after some intensely great rock 'n' roll this weird space rock jam session appears. And it appears until the 8th track where it only partially looses its grip on this, potentially amazing rock 'n' roll band. The 9th (and final track!!) is a total waste. It's like the space jam sessions earlier on the CD, only with less structure, coherence, and purpose then the other tracks. Think of the least interesting jam session on the Mars Volta disc, now make it less interesting and make it last for 8 minutes and 42 seconds.I'd love this album if it were an EP with all the filler was cut out, but it's not. I'm sorry guys, but you lied and I'm not sure if I can take you back.Written by Mark Brandt for Buzzgrinder.com Music17088@blogcritics.org Sat, 3 Jul 2004 18:34:42 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/02/111331.php Seth WerkheiserIf you're tired of people drooling over your iPod, and how well it works with your iTunes music shopping experiance, rejoice; Dell will give you $100 if you send it to them to recycle (once you buy their Dell DJ 15 for $199).From CNET: "We want to help drive further awareness of the products we have available and...the plusses we have to offer," said Dell spokesman Jess Blackburn. Thus the iPod offer "is a way to call out what separates us from the understood leader in this particular market." Awareness? Have you even seen Dell's TV spot for their MP3 player? It's the one where the loser guy undercuts the local kids and sells lemonade for 5 cents, and mows lawns for $1 or something. They show the DJ for about five seconds. Compare that with the iPod - Apple's latest commerical has the The Vines - Ride blasting, along with the memorable dancing multi-colored figures. Dell, there's your awareness! Sci/Tech17047@blogcritics.org Fri, 2 Jul 2004 11:13:31 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/07/02/081014.php Seth WerkheiserWhat do you get when you combine Britpop with warm harmonies and Flaming Lip-like grooves? The answer is Athlete. I was hesitant about listening to this and the opening track El Salvador confirmed my fears. It's not that this is bad music; it's just not my cup of tea. I put aside my bias and gave it a listen, what I found was uplifting music that is warm and sunny. Athlete does indeed have a bright future by combining various styles and making it their own. They utilize techno beats and repeated choruses that draw the listener in and make you feel all warm and fuzzy. You know like that time you stole a kiss from the prettiest girl in class or when you ate your Malto-meal too fast. Athlete are unique with winning tunes like Out of Nowhere and One Million - the sky is the limit for this band. Imagine Robbie Williams covering XTC while the Flaming Lips play the music, then you've got a good picture of Athlete. In fact almost everyone can appreciate this except me; thank God I got it for free. When is the new Weezer album coming out again? Written by Ben Matulich for Buzzgrinder Music17042@blogcritics.org Fri, 2 Jul 2004 08:10:14 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/06/28/090227.php Seth WerkheiserIt is hard to follow up a masterpiece but that is what Jeff Tweedy and company did when the showed the world Yankee Hotel Foxtrot in 2002. YHF was hailed by critics and put on the top of the best of lists at the end of the year. But that is all hype by pious music journalists and psuedo intellectuals who spend too much time stroking their egos and reading MOJO. Wilco is Jeff Tweedy's band. He is Wilco. That is why I was eager to wrap my ears around the new release A Ghost is Born. I found that this album gets better with repeated listens but at times Tweedy seems to be pushing the sonic experimentation too far. I am talking about the migraine induced Less Than You Think. The white noise and constant hum will have you thinking that you are at a gigantic construction site with metal screeching dozers and grinding cement trucks. Why? Wilco needs to stick to what they do best. The lush harmonies and Beatlesque music of Summerteeth are gone in favor of long and drawn out guitar solos. The formula seems to work on great songs like Hummingbird and Spiders (Kidsmoke), and all in all this is another Wilco classic. I would put it behind their opus Summerteeth and the distant blip filled Yankee Hotel Foxtrot but its good enough in its own right. If you take away the awful Less Than You Think then it could be perfect. Wilco remains one of the greatest American bands and for that I can forgive them for one bum track. Written by Ben Matulich for Buzzgrinder Music16886@blogcritics.org Mon, 28 Jun 2004 09:02:27 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/06/27/214728.php Seth WerkheiserReleased back in October of 2003, this release from Lujo Records is about as timeless as they come. When noisy yet catchy is in order, The Evaluation won't let you down. Dominated by treble-soaked guitar work, We Built the Gun That Causes This Unending Fear is an adventure in the disjointed and hapless rock that we've come to expect from the Lujo family.Don't think, though, that this is some 45 minute jaunt of hard-to-listen-to noise rock. No way. While gritty, the album can be easy on the ears, especially during the many meandering guitar break downs and hands-on-the-hips sing alongs. Heck, some parts are even pretty.All together a solid effort. Great production, solid song writing, and enough noise to keep your CD collection from being too emo. Music16876@blogcritics.org Sun, 27 Jun 2004 21:47:28 EDT