Original Release Date: March 20, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving. Just finished dinner with the family (my wife’s) and they hit the road for the beach. I am staying in NYC and going to see the NIT games tomorrow and then off to AC for the Legends Classic on Saturday. It’s been a nice week run of basketball. Due to that I have been delinquent on writing any new reviews. I listened to several new albums in the last few weeks. This one was recommended by a friend at work. He has a band and a new album himself which I will be reviewing in the coming weeks. About a month ago we both happened to be in San Francisco on business and we went out for a few drinks one night. As we started talking music he mentioned two bands to me. One will be reviewed soon as well. The other band was LCD Soundsystem. I had never heard of them. He was stunned. Not in a music snob way. He was just stunned. He said I should check them out. Here it goes.

1. Get Innocuous!: Total synth beat that builds piece by piece. I can see myself hitting a Casio keyboard in my bedroom designing this one. When the beat drops in around the 1:45 mark and the drums hit ten seconds later you kinda find yourself bobbing your head. Stop. Look. Listen. It’s not Vanilla but it is the devil child of David Byrne/Talking Heads mixed with multiple european 80′s synth pop. It’s pretty fun actually. RECOMMENDED

2. Time to Get Away: It’s fine, but I guarantee it was in a Volvo commercial. I am pretty fucking sure it wasn’t. Exactly.

3. North American Scum: This one definitely was in a car commercial. Fuck. Which one? But its awesome anyway.  “We’ve been on trains and been on planes until we think we might die. Far from North America. Where the buildings are old and you might have lotsa mimes.” Cause we’re North Americans. Infectious. Maybe annoying; despite some Rock Lobster guitar licks, I still like it. RECOMMENDED

4. Someone Great: A throbbing/pulsating electronic vibration machine launches at you here. Wow that was a questionable sentence. Stream of conciousness writing tonight. Some beeping starts to come in at 1:20. Literal beeping. It’s like a computer orgy. Some hard cord 80″s euro pop comes ripping through here. Depeche Mode mixed with Pet Shop Boys. It’s so all over the place and still works it makes me kinda think it’s genius.  “And it keeps coming and it keeps coming till the day it stops….I wish we could talk about it. And there, that’s the problem. When someone great is gone. ” PICK OF THE ALBUM

5. All My Friends: Cool Piano open. One minute long. “You spend the first five years trying to get with the plan and then the next five years trying to get back with your friends…..and then it falls apart……….and we’re running out of drugs and the conversation fades away. I wouldn’t trade on stupid decision for five years of life” . Might be worth a listen. RECOMMENDED

 6. Us Vs. Them: Another layered song that keeps building on itself. Some disco/Chic feel creeps into this at the 2 minute mark. It keeps firing along but I never got into it really.

7. Watch The Tapes: “It’s not getting better it’s just getting old”. Werewolves of London at the 1:25 mark.  It’s fine. worth a listen but doesn’t leave anything that makes you want to rush back in.

8. Sound of Silver: God this song sounds like the beat of an 80′s song that had a female lead singer. I can’t find the name of the band or song but it’s on the tip of my tongue. It’s driving me crazy. If you think of it send it to me. The song I am hearing in my head is a bit slower. “Human and emotion” somewhere in the lyrics. I digress. This is worth one listen just to see if you can help me remember that song. Definite one hit wonder.

9. NY I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down: Can’t argue with the message.

The Overall Album: It is clearly influenced by 80′s pop and that classic synthesizer based production yet it is much more progressive in it’s approach, composition and lyrical quality. It fades by the end and needs to finish strong with only 9 songs. They seem to let songs linger for a touch to long. A touch tighter and I would have rated it even higher. It’s still a sneaky good/interesting album and worth a listen.

Album Rating: 6 of 10 stars

Original Release Date: October 9, 2007

Hi. Back again with another album I listened to on my West Coast swing. This was recommended by a friend (Amy) a few weeks ago at dinner. We got talking about Carnegie Hall as my wife and I were heading there to see Ravi Shankar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Shankar). She said the only band she ever saw play Carnegie Hall was Band of Horses. That got me intrigued and I asked her what album I should try. She recommended Cease to Begin so I picked it up.  I’m up on a school night writing this, so this one will be a bit faster than the others, but I wanted to keep pace, so here we go:

1. Is There a Ghost: Right away I can’t help but hearing The Samples inside the vocalist. If you never like The Samples his tone might set you off. You’re warned. Some simple repetitive lyrics that don’t really add or inspire are laced through this. Some power chords that feel oddly soft. It’s fine I guess.

2. Ode to LCR: An almost Neil Young life riff here. The hook goes back to feeling like The Samples. It blends nicely I think and its lyrically much more compelling to listen to.

3. No One’s Gonna Love You: A pretty song. The most radio ready it seems. Some sad lyrics that actually get lost in a more up beat melody. I like when songs push and pull like that. It’s solid all the way around. RECOMMENDED

4. Detlef Schrempf: This song just grabbed me. And the title just makes it even more awesome. Sad, delicate, well written. A little gem. PICK OF THE ALBUM

They would have been free tears instead of throws of he heard this song

5. The General Specific: Napster said these guys sing a “woodsy blend of mid-tempo rock”. I’m pretty sure if you are in a band and someone writes those five words describing your band you have the legal right to molotov cocktail said writers house in at least 15 states. Anyway, they probably wrote it after hearing this. Pass.

6. Lamb of Lam: Quick punch instrumental. Not really sure why it’s here.

7. Island on the Coast: Up-tempo “strummy” song if that conveys anything at all (sorry). No real opinion here. Forgettable.

8. Marry Song: Some vocal harmonies. A bit too twangy for me to get excited about. If you like twang though–get your feed bag.

9. Cigarettes, Wedding Bands: I like the hook here. Read the lyrics and the song elevates itself even more. Some pain comes through here, in a good way. RECOMMENDED

10. Window Blues: “I been a fool. I been a fool. No revelations in water. No tears in the booze.”

The Overall Album: I have to say that I did not know what to expect but I generally enjoyed the album. It’s a short body of work and I think there are a few too many weak links for a 10 track album. If only for discovering track 4 it was worth picking this up and giving it a spin. I don’t think Ill rush back to this album any time soon but I do think a few of these tracks will get integrated into my “favorites” and for that I can only be grateful.

Album Rating: 5 of 10 stars

Original Release Date: October 1, 2009

So I am sorry it has been a few weeks since I posted anything. I have been traveling for work and have been away from the computer. I actually listened to this album on my way from San Francisco down to LA the weekend before Halloween. I forget how I found this album or even heard of the band but it seemed like a something I might like so I went for it. I guess it was appropriate that I gave this album a spin on my flight to the city of angels since that is the birthplace of Breakestra. This is clearly the most funk based effort I have tried. Let’s give it a look:

1. Need a Little Love: A baseline straight out of SHAFT. Can’t help but hear Lenny Kravitz mixed with Jimmy Hendrix on the vocals here. Nice horn section comes in around the 1:30 mark. It’s 100% Funk. Solid open. RECOMMENDED

2. Dark Clouds Rain Soul: Funk Flute. Look out. A different vocalist here which changes the style. This thing is dripping Curtis Mayfield. A great little hook makes this a keeper. Did I mention the flute work? “If you don’t try to find the sunshine, you’re sorry ass ain’t gonna do nothing in this world- except get old”

PICK OF THE ALBUM

3. Come on Over: I just couldn’t get going here. It sounded like it could be a great piece of music (maybe a touch formulaic) but the female lead “Afordyete” was a pass in my book.

4. Back at the Boathouse: Funk organ enter stage left. Three words= Medeski, Martin & Wood. All instrumental here and I guess due to the heavy organ work I couldn’t help having flashbacks of MMW. These guys can jam, no doubt.

The Medeski, The Martin & The Wood in the lab

5. Get it Right: The most pop driven piece to this point. It’s fine, easy to listen to but nothing truly standout.

6. Show You the Way: Percussionist Davy Chegwidden shines here I think. It sounds a little like WAR (another Cali product from Long Beach) . You know WAR you just forget you do — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_(band)

7. Me and Michelle: Some strong violin work guides this instrumental

8. I Don’t Wanna Wait: Feels light, uncommitted and generally forgettable

9. No Matter Where You Go: Some James Brown “All right now’s” and some horns hit you. Where is Maceo helping James with his cape? (Click in and scroll down to learn about the cape routine — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown)

10. Posed to Be: Just don’t love rap over stuff like this, sorry Chali 2na.

11. North East to Nippon: Another MM&W instrumental here.

12. Lowdown Stank: A TON of James Brown pushing through here. Sounds almost like a cover to be honest. Cape play is fully on.

13. Joyful Noise: It feels like their most uplifting effort. I catch a touch of Sly & The Family creeping in. It’s easy to latch on to, and I think it is probably the most commercially digestible track I’ve heard (if they even care about that). The kids can play their instruments. RECOMMENDED

14. You’ll Neve Know: Another instrumental. I feel like I should be in a smoky van driving west with the muppets.

Dr. Teeth would like Breakestra

15. Set the Sun: Solid close. Some nice vocals finish things up.

The Overall Album: Well if images of WAR, Curtis Mayfield, Sly and the Family Stone in front of a rainbow and Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem don’t sum this album up for you then I am at a total loss. It’s funk all the way through and you can clearly hear these guys have chops. They have been deep in the vinyl listening to the past greats and it has clearly shaped their musical sensibilities. It’s a generally fun album and its something you could throw on in the background to any party you were having to keep the crowd happy and moving. These guys are probably best heard live and I am sure the album doesn’t deliver the true essence of Breakestra. I think on the margin the album is a bit too long and there are too many average cuts to make this a real standout. I would definitely give some of the recommended tracks a try though. They can throw some funky spice into your next play list. The fact this album hit in 2009 and not 30 years prior will be hard to discern. These guys are talented musicians, probably not for the mainstream but when you hear them jam it just reaffirms why so much radio ready pop music sucks.

Album Rating: 5.5 of 10 Stars

Original Release Date: August 18, 2009

The same work friend who recommended RAA also recommended The Cave Singers. It’s a fairly tight album (around 35 minutes) and the trio from Seattle Washington have some nice potential. Let me run through the tracks quickly here (I am battling a head cold so I am keeping this one brief):

1. Summer Light: Some soft guitar work which slowly opens up around the 1:20 mark. Some female background vocals add some nice depth. It’s a simple construction. It works nicely. RECOMMENDED

2. Leap: Some earthy folk rock again and you can see this is going to be the speed of the entire album. A Springsteen like harmonica hums at you around the 1:30 mark. A head nodder all the way home. This is a song that makes you want to drive a long midwestern highway on a sunny/warm day.  RECOMMENDED

3. At the Cut: The sound is very Ryan Adams to be honest. Not bad but not very original.

4. Shrine: Bongos and some nice guitar picking open this up “See the world roll by in your sunset eyes”. They let it out around the 3 minute mark. Did you hear that? Rusted Root is conjured quickly. I wish they let it really go but they held it back for some reason. Still its fun. PICK OF THE ALBUM

5. Hen of the Woods: Again a nicely controlled piece of guitar work drives this. It’s a pretty song but nothing but a fleeting memory really.

6. Beach House: It sounds like the other songs lumped together. Nothing great here. Sorry.

7. VV: The Faces get channeled here. A tiny sense of  ’Ooh La La’ seeps in.

8. I Don’t Mind: Forgettable

9. Townships: It’s feeling highly repeatable at this stage.

10. Bramble: A really pretty song to close the album. It feels like sitting along on your porch and watching a summer rain storm.

The Overall Album: Definitely the most folksy rock album I have consumed to date. I think it’s a solid effort and really enjoyed 3 of the first 4 songs. However for an album that is this short to feel this repetitive shows me that this band isn’t fully formed. They need time to work on some more depth, variety and detail for them to really stand out. These guys clearly have some talent but it feels like they are still getting comfortable with each other musically.

Album Rating: 5 of 10 stars

Original Release Date: August 18, 2009

So a friend of mine emailed my wife the other day (he was originally a friend of my sister in law that we have since hung out with more and more over time) and asked us if we wanted to go see MuteMath when they came to town in the next few weeks. I replied that we would be out-of-town the night that MeatMap was playing. I guess I should have know that a band name I had such a strong and negative reaction to would also produce an album a had an equally strong and negative reaction too as well. The crazy part is I love Doug’s taste in music (the said friend from above). He is one of the few guys who truly appreciates some good old school Michael McDonald. A gem in the rough. So, Doug, I apologize in advance here. I figured since I had so little positive commentary I could at least liven this album review up with some illustrative imagery. Let’s get on with it:

1. The Nerve: The Stereo MC’s as done by a cover band but without the punch or grit you would have gotten if the Stereo MC’s actually would have performed it.

Deep Down and Dirty

2. Backfire: Maroon5 as done by a cover band, with a tiny less ‘complete pussy’ vibe draped all over it.

Yup, we still suck even in a hot tub

3. Clipping: I like the piano work on this but the break is just soft and leaves you totally bored. Some cool violin enters in the middle of this track. I like the sonic quality but the lyrics/vocalist just miss.

4. Spotlight:  The OC Season 4 wanted its episode 1 track back but MeatMap wouldn’t give it to them. That’s right, the shitty Bar Mitzvah band you hired is now covering a gay version of Oasis. Yes, I couldn’t believe there was a gayer version of Oasis either.

5. No Response: Largely average but the most salvageable to this stage. I’m not begging you to listen to these though. Solid composition but weak lyrics and vocals yet again.

6. Pins and Needles: Seriously? Now it’s a Michael Buble cover band. I think they invented the first one on earth actually.

7. Goodbye: Some U2 guitar riffs early, then a Jamiroquai cover band appears at the break. Listen to it, it will rear its head on you. I promise.

The Jewish Disco Indian

8. Odds: It’s fine I guess but easily forgettable and generally boring. Terrible lyrics again. Disney and Mickey Mouse have more soul.

9. Electrify: I bet when they wrote this song MuteMath decided they wanted a track to really show them “rocking out” and they wanted it to have a strong name that was super cool like “Electrify”. Loading my gun at this stage.

10. Armistice: The title track (gulp). Some Robert Palmer horns here then BAM, the Jewish Disco Indian is back in full force. It is the most lively of the tracks on the album though.

11. Lost Year: Loaded and cocking the hammer.

12. Burden: Exactly what you have to bear while listening to this album until the beautiful silence of the bullet comes swooshing in.

The Overall Album: Almost comical really. There is a tab next to an album on Napster (that’s right I keep it real) when you buy it called “Other Members Like”. When I clicked on it after I wasted 11 dollars on MeatMap it recommended (1) A barium enema (2) Roller skating (3) the show Glee (4) Michael Buble cover bands (5) Road trips to Chernobyl.

Doug, I love you buddy but this one is a ‘thanks but no thanks’. Good luck holding onto this rocket ship.

Album Rating: 2.5 of 10 Stars

Original Release Date: July 7, 2009

A friend at work recommended I try these guys out so I decided that anyone who thought that coming from rural Alberta was considered an advantage was worth a listen. I also had my buddy Kevin weigh in on some recent posts. He commented that I should do away with star ratings on individual songs as he thought that a 2 star and 4 star song are both largely forgettable long term. I agree so I am simply going to give you a RECOMMENDED and PICK OF THE ALBUM on songs going forward. I will still rate the album on a 1 to 10 star rate but I agree with him on the micro analysis at the song level. I don’t know much about this group but I do know they are a Canadian trio that garnered attention without a label. On that alone, these kids have some street cred. Let’s check out the album:

1. The Ballad of RAA: Some honest vocals hit you here. A nice little keyboard comes in. A layer of violin comes in later and finally the drums drop. I liked the composition. I wanted this song to really open up on me but they held it back for some reason.

2. Rush Apart: Vocals actually have some Billy Corrigan/Smashing Pumpkin hints. The beat comes in with a Cecilia like feel. A punchy less song, under 2 minutes.

3. The Dethbridge at Lethbridge: Another quick hitter with some solid drum work all the way through. Some female vocals drift softly over the driving beat.

4. Don’t Haunt this Place: An energetic carefully wrapped effort here. Great crisp drum work. A pretty violin controls the mood. I actually found the female vocals a bit distracting. None the less a solid song and worth hearing again. RECOMMENDED

5. The Deadroads: It opens with a great rambling drum beat. The break hits at the 1:33 mark and it feels like their most inspired effort to this point in the album. RECOMMENDED

6. Drain the Blood: A nice lead guitar here which leads into some more tight drum work. Easy to listen to all the way through.

7. Luciana: I couldn’t help but get a Violent Femmes/Corrigan cocktail here. Ehh.

8. Frank, AB: An odd name for a good song. Though a second listen the cooing female vocals sound very similar to “Deadroads”. The total composition is much more layered. Nice synthesizer work here gives it nice texture. RECOMMENDED

9. The Air: Some pretty guitar work with some simple and soft piano makes this light and breezy just like its title.

10. Sleep All Day: Synthesized organ and a nice drum beat. Almost sounds like Semisonic right here. I like Semisonic. Some simple but smart lyrics “If you try to be nice, then I’ll try to be nice too. And if you try to hold on, then I’ll try to hold on to you” PICK OF THE ALBUM

11. Four Night Rider: Another under two minute effort. Doesn’t grab me. Sounds like a lot of songs you have heard before to be honest.

12. Edmonton: Another effort that is fine but largely forgettable.

13. In the Summertime: A nice tempo and some pretty lyrics make this a nice finish for the RAA.

And in your summer dress I was holding you/But you were holding less/It’s not the words it’s the ones you stress/I love you is I love you just don’t love me less

The Overall Album: A pretty earnest and honest effort. On the margin you like these songs and you like this band. After a first listen however you will not find any songs that sear themselves into your musical membrane. But if you give this a second and third run (which isn’t hard since the total album comes in around 40 minutes) you find yourself really enjoying many of the cuts. Again, this isn’t a band that is ready to blow you away with creativity and explosive musical sound. They are a band that will charm you with honesty and simplicity and in some ways, that could be the biggest advantage the trio from Alberta has going for them.

Album Rating: 6 stars

Original Release Date: May 18, 2009

I’m not sure if you can recommend an album because it makes you feel happy but on that emotion alone it would be worth your time to go get Manners by Passion Pit and give it a spin. I discovered the band as I was surfing around WXPN.org, Penn’s public radio site (which I highly recommend), looking for some new music and some new sounds to try out. I had no idea what I was about to uncover. Very rarely do you hear a band that is so unique and original that they simply change the way you think about genres. It is in our nature to label things I think. Especially music. It helps us identify what we like, or at least what we think we like. In reality it probably puts a negative filter on too much stuff you would actually enjoy. As soon as you hear something is Alt Rock, Rap, Adult Contemporary or Metal you layer on your preconceived notions about that style of music and it makes it hard for an artist or a band to ever get around the label to grab your attention. I had no idea what to expect walking into Manners but I heard a short sample of Sleepyhead and The Reeling on their site and I liked the energy level enough to give it a try. I guess if I was attempting to classify the album before I listened to it, I probably thought it was going to be a techno/pop album. I guess in many ways I was right, but in reality what Passion Pit has produced is truly and magically unique. It is without question the most original and creative piece of music I have heard in a long time and I am absolutely thrilled to have discovered them fairly early on in what I believe could be a long and dynamic career. Let me take you through the songs (another 11 song album/I’m three for three on that so far), and then I will expand on the entire album below.

Do yourself a favor and go see these guys play

1. Make Light: Right off the bat I like the groove and I hear some of the Death Cab for Cutie sound inside the track (I can see why they opened for them recently). Michael Angelakos (lead singer) hits you with a high falsetto voice. It’s hard to decipher what he is singing about for most of the track (and the album too) but honestly, by the time this song hits the 2 minute mark and the chorus/break you don’t even care.  Here comes a sound explosion. Synthesizers and drums cover you in plush sounds. Right away you can sense this band is something you didn’t expect and in a really good way. 8 of 10 stars

2. Little Secrets: Did Lisa Lisa and The Cult Jam  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Lisa_and_Cult_Jam have a love child with Junior http://www.last.fm/music/Junior/_/Mama+Used+to+Say (great video here btw)? When you hear this track jump out at you, you are going to be instantly thrown into an 80′s R&B time machine. A few minutes into this I started thinking to myself, who are these guys!?!  This song just hooked me right away. By the time the children’s choir breaks in at the minute mark it is quickly faded out in a doppler effect, a short pause and then you are hit with the drums hard once again. This track will be on any workout mix you make yourself. It’s so intoxicating and full of positive energy that I find myself asking my wife if she has listened to the album yet. I want to share the joy of it and pass it around. Passion Pit is a great little secret but it’s one that is too good to keep to yourself.  10 of 10 stars

3. Moths Wings: Softer guitar licks open here, then a burst of sound and piano that almost has a Coldplay like feel to it. I hear pieces of Death Cab again too. When the break hits you the rush of piano and synthesizer sounds give off an expansive feel. Completely different that Little Secrets but carefully constructed and powerful all the way through. 8 of 10 stars

4. The Reeling: Some techno layered funk blasts you in the face here. Then we cut into a synthetic piano driven song that Depeche Mode or The Pet Shop Boys would have killed to produce 20 years ago. Another chorus of child like voices and a fantastic hook. God damn these guys are throwing it down. You still can’t understand the lyrics but at this point you just don’t care. 10 of 10 stars

5. Eyes as Candles: Another soft almost 80′s pop intro that you can’t help but love. Another break that is just fabulous. An anthem of na, na, na’s come bursting out at you. Plush and layered sounds keep you nodding away here. 9 of 10 stars

6. Swimming in the Flood: Violins open and that Depeche Mode beat box feel comes at you again. This is slower and drives itself with an almost heart beat cadence. It still feels unique and fresh in so many ways. Sounds explode at the 4 minute mark and drive this synthesizer laced ballad all the way home. 7 of 10 stars

7. Folds in Your Hands: A tiny piano tinkles through the song in its early stages as more synthesizer melts in. At the minute mark you are yet again hit with another wave of full sound, a short stop and then WHAM—some techno stylized beats drop and you’re nodding your head again. “Feel it rain” Yes please. 9 of 10 stars

8. To Kingdom Come: Kick drum hits early here and you get some Death Cab rearing its head again. They finally take a step off the accelerator on this track. It’s solid but it’s not great. At this point you are almost happy to see these guys are human. 5 of 10 stars

9. Sleepyhead: Crushed techno beats and some Zapp & Roger http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapp_(band) like synth voice production gets layered over clapping hands. If they took a play off on To Kingdom Come they didn’t wait long to come storming back. The falsetto/angelic voices hit you hard at the minute mark and layer perfectly over the thumping beats. More synthesized happiness is draped all over you. 10 of 10 stars

10. Let Your Love Light Grow: They accidentally quote Genesis at the open, or maybe they do it intentionally. Either way, it’s great. Another beautiful chorus, children’s choir, positivity, beats and layers wash over you. Just awesome. “Let your love grow tall” 10 of 10 stars

11. Seaweed Song: Well, they close it with one last catchy break that has 80′s funk and pop layered into it all in the best possible ways. At this stage you are just proud of yourself for finding these guys before the masses no-doubtedly will. 8 of 10 stars

The Overall Album: Wow. That’s really all I can say. Passion Pit brings so much energy, happiness and sophistication to this first effort you actually wonder if this is an accident of nature and they are doomed to live in the shadow of this album for the rest of their career. The ability for this band to blend rock, techno, pop, R&B and funk is so wonderfully sublime that you seriously wish nothing but the best for these guys as they start their career. I admit it is very hard to understand Michael Angelakos for much of the record. Upon a second and third listen you actually begin to pick up some lyrics and the album grows even more complex, layered and wonderful. My recommendation is to simply listen to this for fun and let the fantastic originality of this album run away with your ears. After you enjoy it at a base and visceral level go back and dig into some of the lyrics. You will find an album that is both as complex and sophisticated in message as it is fresh and fun musically. Passion Pit is an early leader for best new band of the year and Manners is a complete success on almost every level.

Album Rating: 8.5 of 10 stars

• Original Release Date: March 3, 2009

Well, I just saw the 360 Tour at Giants Stadium two nights ago so when I got home from work today and headed out on my run I felt like taking the new U2 album for a spin to see what they had. I’ve been a U2 fan for most of my life and discovered them early on as a kid. I think this song is basically what sold me on the band and also what sold me on wanting to go to Las Vegas. I was 12 at the time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fBj2wsimvQ  It all made perfect sense. Heading into my sophmore year the ZooTV tour came to town. At this stage I was all in. I simply loved Achtung Baby and listened to it all summer. The tour hit right as school was heading back into session and I remember a good friend told me he grabbed some nose bleeds seats the day of the show and was coming down to pick me up and go see them at the old Vet in Philly. There were about 6 of us I think. 2 guys and 4 girls and we went into the show early, not because we were desperate to see the opening act ‘The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Disposable_Heroes_of_Hiphoprisy,  but because we weren’t lucky enough to score any beer to tailgate like every other self-respecting teenager and adult there. As we entered we went out into the 400 level to try to locate our seats and we had a guy who looked very official (glossy name tag and walkie talkie) stop us and ask to see our tickets. What a dick I thought. “They are going to shake us down for being in the wrong section, in the nose bleeds during the opening act? I mean the sun was still up for christ sake. “  And then the guy asked my friend for his ticket. He looked at it and then turned and asked us all for our tickets. “Here we go, we just met the biggest d-bag in the history of rock tours.” And then he turned and looked at my buddy and simply said, “This tickets suck, here take these”. My buddy took one look at them and stopped. “Are you fucking with me man?”. He simply nodded no and told us they were real and to enjoy the show. And then we proceeded down. Down into the 300 level. Down into the 200 level. Down into the 100 level. Down onto the Floor! A guard stopped us. Then he waved us through. We made it past the standing room only GA into the seated floor portion. We were in the VIP area and out of our league. Another guard. Another stop. Then she waved us through. We kept walking. Row 40. Row 30. Row 20. Another guard. Another stop, but again he waved us through. We kept going down to row 5.  This time another member of the official tour stopped us and said, “Did Keith give you these?”. ‘Who? Yeah, I guess’. One final wave through and their we were. And I thought, “Holy Shit! Dead center stage, first fucking row! I can not believe this shit just really happened!!” And then I noticed that the Disposable Heroes were rapping away and playing a hub cab with a power saw only 10 feet from us. I shit you not. Anyway, it was amazing. It was one of the first arena rock tours I had ever been to. It was done on a whim that day. The odds of us meeting that guy/even being there at all were a million to one shot and we just stepped in shit. The concert was incredible. We were 16 years old and front row at U2. It was something from a movie but it really happened. Needless to say, if I wasn’t a fan already, that experience basically had me bought and paid for. If that guy is still out there, maybe even still touring with the band I just want to say THANK YOU! And to my buddy Chris Forte, THANK YOU! for taking me with you that night. I still remember it almost like it happened yesterday. I can’t believe it was 17 years ago. God, writing that just made me feel really old.

'Desire' encore during ZooTV tour

We were so close that for the encore (above) the speakers sprayed out fake money with Bono’s face on it. I held on to my dollar and ticket stub from that night for a long time. Alas, at some point I lost them both. But luckily I still have the memory. So, fast forward to Wednesday night. You could see I was excited to take my wife to the show, she had never seen them before. But in my heart I knew it would never be as good as ’92. My buddy just texted me tonight when I told him I went to the show and said “Bet we had better seats back then…unless u were in Bono’s pants that is….”.  He was right. But we still had a lot of fun. If you have not seen it, U2 has outdone themselves again. After the success of the ZooTV tour I remember hearing about the new spectacle of a stage they created for the POP tour. They actually played at Franklin Field when I was attending Penn during that tour/but I fucked up and never went. Stupid.

The Lemon dropped right on campus and I missed it

For the current 360 tour, the band has constructed a giant spider-like apparatus that plays host to a giant custom designed extendable circular LDC screen and a circular foot path that allows Bono to run around the stadium and see fans at all angles. Reports state that it costs the band 750K a day to run the tour whether they are playing that day or not. That’s roughly a 22M a month cost structure. It is the most expensive stage and tour every produced. My only beef, as a co-worker deftly pointed out, is that U2 is good enough to play on a plain stage with some normal lights and still kick ass. They could have saved that 22M of  monthly cost and fed that back into the many causes they champion across the world (aids, hunger relief, vaccinations). I hope the irony isn’t lost on Paul and the boys but maybe it is.

How many hungry kids would 22M a month feed?

That same co-worker also asked me if Bono tied himself to a cross at any point during the performance. And though he didn’t crucify himself publicly during this tour his words about helping humanity seemed to ring pretty hollow under the glow of his man made UFO. But, all in all, they played with passion mostly. Some parts of the concert seemed a bit lost and he sometimes struggled to keep the energy of the crowd up, but U2 is still a super band and they still have the goods to deliver. Not bad for a bunch of guys who answered an add to start a band at the tender age of 14. I give them a lot of credit for being together this long; making some great music and doing a lot of good for humanity too. So, I rambled long enough. Let’s get to the newest effort by the band and run through the song by song breakdown and then the quick summary of the album. And oh, if you have never seen them live, it will never be as good as when we saw them back in 92, but do yourself a favor and spend some of that hard earned money on a ticket. I promise you will see one of the last super bands we have left on planet earth.

1. No Line on the Horizon: I just didn’t get it at first but when I saw them play this live it grew on me a bit. The yodeling became less offensive and more of a rallying cry. There are also some noticable Achtung Baby inspired guitar licks draped on this puppy. It won’t make you want to race to play it again, but it’s a solid effort. 6 of 10 stars

2. Magnificent: Right around the one minute mark this thing breaks open and I instantly thought to myself “this could have been a long lost track from The Unforgettable Fire album” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unforgettable_Fire . A great old school feel to this song. “Only love can leave such a mark. Only love can leave such a scar”. This is one of those sleepers that grows on you fast, much like Red Hill Mining Town http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hill_Mining_Town (read how this track got shelved) on The Joshua Tree. This is my pick of the album. 9 of 10 stars

3. Moment of Surrender: A brooding opening with an organ makes it feel heavy. Bono over extends himself here I think. He’s belting out lyrics but it just doesn’t feel real. The break turns poppy and feels a bit manufactured. It’s one of those songs that just never gets going. It happens to the best of them. 3 of 10 stars

4. Unknown Caller: It takes about 90 seconds for the song to launch itself. The break finally comes in and you really want to like it but the lyrics are just gibberish and leave you thinking ‘what the fuck?’: “Password, you, enter here, right now. You know your name punch it in” Really? You’re sure you want to release that guys. They also used the word ‘Shush’ twice on this track. I agree, please, Shush. 1 of 10 stars

5. Ill Go Crazy if I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight: Yup. This is going to sell a shitload of Blackberries. And why on earth is Bono letting RIM sponsor this tour when his investment firm owns a majority stake of a direct competitor in Palm? http://online.barrons.com/article/SB125374403038135549.html?mod=BOL_hpp_highlight . (Sorry to talk business here but you do have to ask yourself what on earth is going on, don’t you?). Anyway, it’s a good song and it has a strong beat but I can’t help but feeling like they had this in their bag and they just held it back from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Give me some odds and I’ll take the bet that this thing has been around in some form well before 2009.  8 of 10 stars

6. Get on Your Boots: Get on your boots, get on your boots, get on your boots, get on your boots, get on your boots. Ok. I get it. It’s a great baseline though. 5 of 10 stars

7. Stand Up Comedy: This song is 3:25 and there is not a funny second in it. No Thanks. 1 of 10 stars

8. FEZ-Being Born: An opening that sounds like a movie soundtrack takes about a minute to open up. It adds nothing to the song. Two stanzas of lyrics don’t save this generally uneven piece. It feels like a throw away they tacked on. 2 of 10 stars

9. White as Snow: This is the album’s attempt at a ballad. I feel like maybe Johnny Cash could have carried the weight of the lyrics better. When Bono tells me “the land was flat and the highways straight and wide” I picture him singing it from inside a gas guzzling Hummer in that fucking silver cowboy suite from the ZooTV tour and I just can’t believe it. This song just isn’t U2 and I honestly believe they didn’t write it (or maybe I am hoping that is the case). 2 of 10 stars

10. Breathe: Right out of the gate The Edge shreds this thing up. A great rambling lyrical style makes you wonder what the fuck they were doing the four previous songs. The break is strong and Bono feeds into it. This song is complete and you can hear they believe in it and like it. 8 of 10 stars

11. Cedars of Lebanon: I’m not in love with the arrangement on this track. In fact I think it is average at best but it’s lyrically the most powerful song the album delivers:

I haven’t been with a woman, it feels like for years
Thought of you the whole time, your salty tears
This shitty world sometimes produces a rose
The scent of it lingers and then it just goes

That stood me up and relative to much of the aimless rambling on this album it really stood out. The final stanza is foreboding and ends this uneven record with a nice little punch:

Choose your enemies carefully ‘cos they will define you
Make them interesting ‘cos in some ways they will mind you
They’re not there in the beginning but when your story ends
Gonna last with you longer than your friend

The Overall Album: Sadly, it’s massively uneven and generally a disappointment. You definitely get a worldly feel from U2 and they clearly have spent more time traveling the global then 99.9% of the human race. Still, many of the tracks here fail to channel any real energy or belief. You don’t believe they like the songs and you can feel it. Sure it has a few gems but you expect more from a band of this caliber. I’ve never been against experimentation either. Many people panned U2 for Zooropa but I found that album much more layered and sophisticated than this effort (even if it drifted too far into a techno sphere for classic fans). Lemon, Numb, Stay Far Away So Close, Some Days are Better Than Others and Dirty Day are all songs I still listen to and enjoy today. If they brought that level of song writing to this album and still wanted to be experimental it would have actually worked, and worked well. Yet, in the end it’s a band I love and it’s a band that has given me great memories. Unfortunately this album won’t be one of them.

Album Rating: 4.5 of 10 Stars

I’ve always liked The Black Crowes and remember buying the tape: The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, back in my formative years when I was mainly deep into rap. I think I wore the tape out and broke my walkman on it (it was 1992 and was a sophomore in highschool). That year that album and Achtung Baby basically turned my head to how good and how different rock albums could be. I loved them both. I went to see the band with my wife and friend this past year (my first live experience with them). It was an acoustic set at Town Hall on election night. All in all it was a strong show and the group sounded great live/stripped down. I’d have to say the funniest and most telling part of the night was when front man Chris Robinson launched into an angry attack on a fan that persisted on screaming out requests in between songs.  “Serioulsy, I will give you your 50 bucks back and kick you the fuck out of here if you request another song”.  And with that single line you have essentially captured their career. Always original, full of fight and fairly graceless with their fame. It was in this context that I decided to start with the album WARPAINT that debuted in March of 2008. I essentially knew what I was getting with this band and many times with The Black Crowes that is the best and worst thing about them. Rather than review the album first I thought that taking you briefly through each track would be better. At the end I will give you my general “feel” for the album itself. Here we go (I apologize if the song reviews feel more like a stream of conciousness than a real review. I’m no Chuck Klosterman):

1. Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution: A feeling of classic Crowes right from the open. It was a smart choice to lead with this. Maybe a bit too safe a choice. It does feel like its made for radio play and is the single they intended to break mainstream. Generally a good rhythm, the standard blend of background singers over some pretty piano and some nice slide guitar. A solid open. 6 of 10 stars

2. Walk Believer Walk: Great thumping beat that makes you feel like you are under the tent poles sweating through your suit in the summer heat. You can see the preacher whipping the devil out of the faithful as the revival reaches a fever pitch. It’s chord structure is simple and strong. This one has my vote. 8 of 10 stars

3. Josephine: Jesus + Morphine = Josephine. A pretty and sad song about a man’s love affair with opiates. “Diamonds hold the mirror and the spoon it holds the stars”. A great break that has you almost instantly engaged. 9 of 10 stars

4. Evergreen: The hook just pulls you right in. Some great moaning foot pedal guitar that is also foot tapping good. I wanted to listen to this song again as soon as it ended. It’s one that you will hear at live shows more and more. 8 of 10 stars

5. Wee who See the Deep: The guitar chords feel stolen here. Can you name the song you are hearing? The entire song feels a little lost and you never get emotionally drawn in. An extended solo just rambles and comes up empty. 3 of 10 stars

6. Locust Street: Wonderful acoustic guitar work, simple and beautiful. Much more gentle than the rest of the album apart from Josephine. Probably the winning horse on this album. 10 of 10 stars

7. Movin on Down the Line: An opening that feels like an organ ate acid and then began playing into a tunnel; producing a dream sequence soundtrack quality. Then a misplaced funk chord structure is inserted that feels dislocated. Then a break that feels like a classic Crowes standard. I think they tried to pack too much into this song and it just makes for an uncomfortable listen. Less is more and this song proves it. 3 of 10 stars

8. Wounded Bird: I think they wrote and recorded this in a single day. Maybe a single hour. It feels like a throw away filler and something they have written a million times before. 1 of 10 stars

9. Gods Got It: The revival is back on track nine. Get up and start singing and let the band lay their hands on you so you may see once again. Dollar bills flying. Snakes charmed. Fire eaters and con men in every corner. Pass the donation basket. I’ve found religion. 7 of 10 stars

10. There’s Gold in Them Hills: If I had to harbor a guess on a song that Chris Robinson wrote about his broken marriage with Kate Hudson this would be the one. In that context, its sad. We all know how many people have been taking the gold from her hills since the break up. 7 of 10

11. Whoa Mule: Bongos, Harmonica and your head starts nodding. I’m not sure what this song is about but it feels good and the break is simple and clean. You feel like riding (a horse or a mule or something) right off into the sunset on this one. 7 of 10 stars

The Overall Album: On the margin I think The Black Crowes put together a pretty strong effort on WarPaint. There are some great songs and then there are some real duds. That is the most difficult thing to grapple with on this album. When it’s right they kill it and when it’s off it really feels off. You clearly get a spiritual feel from the album. Images of a tented revival and a traveling show full of snake oil and magic come rambling out of several tracks (2 and 9).  Other tracks are going to be long time keepers for the group and will probably show up on future ‘best of’ albums. If you could throw away the 3 duds in the bunch (5,7,8) you would have an album as good as anyone they have ever produced. But an 8 song album probably felt light to them and they pushed it a bit too far.

Album Rating: 6 of 10 stars