CD Review: Brand New

wikipedia.org

Where to begin with Brand New. Back in high school I picked up a cd called Your Favorite Weapon by this band that was trying to break into the "scene". Needless to say, I instantly fell in love with the catchy riffs, pop tendencies, sing-a-long choruses, and wry lyrics. I eagerly anticipated what was coming next from the band, and in 2003 picked up their second disc Deja Entendu on the day it came out. I stuck it in my car and tried to rock out and sing along all the way home, felt disappointed when I couldn't, and passed off the disc as terrible. I picked it back up about 2 months after this and listened to it a bit more carefully....and again fell in love with Brand New. The way that they could contrast loud and soft, the way the bared instruments crescendoed into almost epic choruses and breaks, as well as lyrics that made you think...all of it really captured me. Needless to say, this record was a huge underground success and put Brand New on an almost untouchable pedestal in the indie scene. Which brings us to the present.

For seemigly three years Brand New had done pretty much nothing except a few tours. 9 unreleased, unfinished demo tracks were leaked in early 2006, which got people talking, but again no real word from Brand New. Some people passed it off as cockiness, some as pretension, and some as just pure laziness, but Brand New finally broke the silence a few months before the release of their new CD last week, The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me. They were back.

Now, I love each Brand New cd for a different reason. I love Your Favorite Weapon because it brings me back to early high school...where I could roll down the windows, shout out the lyrics, and get pumped up for 6pm basketball practices. I love Deja Entendu because I think it is one of the best albums front to back that you can find. Each song has a different feel, each song will bring you down and bring you back up, each song really feels like a piece of the whole.

After saying all of this....I am still coming to terms with Devil and God. I want to really like it, I want it to be the best cd of the year. I first heard "Sowing Season (Yeah)" about a month before the cd release and got really excited for the disc. The song starts out from nothing and suddenly erupts into music that makes you want to jump on your bed, run up the wall, and fall down while playing air guitar bent over backwards on your knees. It was the rollercoaster ride that I had really wanted from Brand New. When I got the cd, I eagerly listened to the whole thing right away. My first impression, which is still what I feel, is that this cd never really kicks me in the pants. It's like getting into the blocks at a track meet, hearing "Ready, Set...." and never hearing "Go!". I just kept waiting for it to finally break through and smack me in the face, but it never really came. There are plenty of great songs from the beautiful and haunting, yet catchy "Jesus Christ" to the loud and in your face "Not the Sun" to the grunge feel of "Millstone". However tunes like "Degausser" add a children's shout to the chorus which seems a bit out of place, "Limosine" seems to drag along for its 7 minutes, and "The Archer's Bows are Broken" drives with its drums but has a generic harmonizing chorus and lacks anything memorable for me. The vocals on the cd don't do it for me either. I feel like the screams in "You Won't Know" lack something intangible, and the scratching voice in the first few minutes of "Handcuffs" leaves me wanting more.

My advice on this cd is give it a listen or 6. I still don't know if I like it. I suppose you and I will find out if it makes my top 5 of 2006. Maybe it will take that long for me to wrap my head around the cd and finally realize its greatness...I don't know. But aside from all of this, it is still a good rock cd, and I truly hope that it continues to grow on me. You can listen to a few tracks from all three of Brand New's cds here.

Here are my favorite tracks from Devil and God and Deja Entendu. Enjoy, and Brand New listeners...post some comments....let me know what YOU think of the cd.

Brand New - Jesus Christ

Brand New - Guernica (off Deja)

-and as always...if you are a band or label and would like these songs removed, please contact me and they will be removed immediately...these songs are for sampling purposes only

Saosin

saosin.com

It's almost time to put up some "Best of" lists for the end of the year....and Saosin is a serious contender to be in my top 5 of 2006. I have been listening to them since their debut in 2003 with the Translating the Name EP, and just this year Saosin released their first full length, Saosin.

Saosin is the creation of talented singer Anthony Green. In 2003, their Translating the Name EP was a huge success in the "scene", and it generated a lot of buzz concerning the future of the band. However, Anthony Green left the band for personal reasons in 2004, and left the rest of the band a bit stranded. Saosin was still interested in making music, and auditioned for a new singer. If you listen to the track that is posted off of the old EP, you can see what kind of trouble replacing Anthony Green could be. He has an incredibly unique singing style reaching ranges that few other male singers can. Not only that, but when he sings in falsetto regions, it is just as powerful as his regular voice.

Saosin decided upon vocalist Cove Reber in the end. Old fans of Saosin backlashed against the band, saying that it would never be the same, yet others gave them a fighting chance. After an EP titled the Saosin EP came out in 2005 against the band's wishes, the critics really started to grow. The EP was unfinished and not really made for the public, however the record label pushed Saosin to release something, since their only real material was 5 songs off of an old EP with an old singer. Not only that, but a full album was scheduled for early 2005, and was constantly pushed back with mounting criticism until it's eventual release in September of 2006.

However, take a listen to what Cove Reber and Saosin managed to put together. It has a different feel from the old EP, however it still has the driving drums, a great singer, and guitar lines that will have you playing some serious air guitar. Saosin is really what I would call a "post-hardcore" band...which means to me that they have hardcore tendencies in their music, however with a rock element, and a lack of screaming. The new cd, Saosin, is a bit more subdued than Translating the Name, however it shows an evolution of style, both of which I enjoy very much. Hopefully this is something new for you guys, and hopefully you enjoy it as much as I do.

From Translating the Name

Saosin - 3rd Measurement in C

From Saosin

Saosin - It's Far Better to Learn

Saosin - Sleepers


Check out some more at Saosin's purevolume page.


A little bonus...Anthony Green did start a new band called Circa Survive....here's a track from their debut cd, Juturna.

Circa Survive - Holding Someone's Hair Back

Jay - Z: Kingdom Come

Monstersandcritics.com

This wouldn't be much of a music blog if we didn't address the newest release by one of rap's greatest living legends - Jay Z. Yes one of the biggest name's in rap came out of his self-imposed "retirement" this week with the release of "Kingdom Come". I put retirement in quotes because I rarely believe that musicians retire. It's not like sports where they reach a point where their bodies can no longer perform. They just decide they want a break from music. Then a few years later they decide their creative fire is burning again and they return. And this thought process brings us to Jay's newest album...

This album has left me on the fence a little. While there are times where I really feel that it's another Jay-Z classic, there's also plenty of times where I find myself unable to be encapsulated by the songs in the way previous releases were capable of. There are several very good tracks, including the album's first single Show Me What You Got, which has the epic sound of old. But there are plenty of tracks that do not seem to be on the same level with some of his previous works. Dig A Hole is one track in particular that sticks out to me. The track simply does not groove, and the beat sounds like something produced by a high schooler. Hardly what I would expect from someone who had a hand in the rise of Kanye West by recognizing the quality of his beats.

If you're wondering whether Jay Z is getting a little too old for the rap game, the answer is no. But it is something he might be getting a little self conscious about. The veteran rapper makes numerous references to his getting on in years, both in a "I'm older and wiser now" way and in a "I'm still a young baller" way. These phrases along with his constant mentioning of returning from "retirement" can wear on the listener over time.

So yes this is not the same old Jay Z, but at the same time that is because he is a victim of his own previous success. The bar is high for him, sky high they might say. I tend to liken this album to Michael Jordan's comeback with the Wizards. Overall he played well, and seemed to be capable of doing many of the things the old Michael could do, but when it was all said and done you just wondered whether it was really necessary.

Here's a track from the new album featuring Beyonce; one that I wouldn't be surprised if it's tapped as the next single -

Jay Z - Hollywood (feat Beyonce)


Since I'm on the subject of hip-hip, I also want to make a quick rec. K'naan is a Somali/American/Canadian rapper. His style is very unique, and will probably never make it mainstream because of it, but that doesn't mean it's not good. A quick visit to his myspace page will show this as his styles are listed as hip-hop, folk, and acoustic. He takes a very artistic, even poetic approach to hip-hop, and the beats he employs are not the typical beats you will hear on the radio.

I can't even really describe why I like him, maybe his wise-beyond-his-years attitude and respect for the way the world works. Most rappers rap about growing up on the rough streets, but K'naan grew up on the streets of Mogadishu. He has seen the real horrors of war first hand, and for that you tend to trust what he says. Give it a listen, I guarantee it'll be the best Somali-influenced rap you've heard in a while. Here's a couple tracks from his 2006 release The Dusty Foot Philosopher -

K'naan - If Rap Gets Jealous

K'naan - I Was Stabbed By Satan

Hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving
Alec

Cold War Kids: An expose

coldwarkids.com

It's the truth that this blog isn't all about ska, so I think I'm going to break the mold of every post that we have ever done. Here is a band I think you will like: Cold War Kids. This band has been getting a decent amount of hype in the "scene" if you are into that kind of thing. They just put out their debut album Robbers and Cowards about a month ago, which consists of many songs from their previous 3 EP's.

When I first played the songs a while back, I thought "whoa, that singer has a distinct voice and way of singing." Some people may get a little annoyed at the slightly quavering, yet forceful singing, but when it is coupled with the raw and almost bluesy instrumentation..I think it's a really good fit. It is essentially a keyboard, a drumset, a guitar, a bass, and a singer who really envelops you in the stories he is telling through his songs. One really powerful track is Hospital Beds, which talks about men in a general hospital room and how they really have no choice as to their fate at the moment.

This band definitely has an indie feel, with perhaps a little White Stripes or Strokes influence...but I really think that the minimal instrumentation and the emotional, story-telling singing really set this band apart from what is out there already. Here are a few mp3's that you can check out...let me know if you dig em!

Cold War Kids - Hospital Beds

Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up to Dry

These mp3's are for sampling only and will be removed at the copyright holder's request


-Kyle

Concert Review

Friday night concluded Ska Week with a trip down to Urbana-Champaign to see Reel Big Fish, Streetlight Manifesto, Suburban Legends, and Westbound Train at the Canopy Club. Overall the concert was amazing, and might possibly be the best concert I've ever been to.

The show opened with Westbound Train who are steadily rising in my eyes. These guys put on a great set, and the crowd was much more receptive than the last time I saw them, despite not really knowing their work. Their live show is great because they are all such good musicians, and they had great horn solos that you wouldn't expect at a ska show.

Suburban Legends followed and put on another great set, though their style is markedly different from Westbound's. Suburban Legends put on a show that is all about on stage entertainment. They have catchy songs, choreographed dances, and lots of energy. Their set was better than I expected considering they have had a lot of line up changes recently. Their former singer left the band, and one of their horn players died tragically in a motorcycle accident. But they're back on the road and still playing well. Their new singer isn't as talented as their old singer, and they have a smaller horn section now which makes their on stage dancing look less impressive. The crowd loved them nonetheless and they finished strong.

Streetlight Manifesto was the third band, and by far the most energetic. The crowd went nuts for them, and the pit was out of control (an elbow to the jaw will be my lasting memory). They opened with a powerful horn arrangement that then morphed into their opening song. Streetlight was fast and powerful and the crowd was insane for them, just as expected.

Finally Reel Big Fish came on to close the night. These guys have been around for a while now, and their live show was evidence of it. It was very polished, and their transitions were great. Lead singer Aaron and backup singer/trumpet/guitar Scott have great vocals that compliment each other well, and both do fine singing live. Reel Big Fish played for over an hour and a half with encore, and almost outlasted a crowd. I've never been to a concert before where the crowd was exhausted to the point of not hardly even being able to dance or jump around. But the crowd stuck with it, and were rewarded as they closed with one of their best songs, Sell Out.

So if you can't tell already, I had a great time at the show. All the bands played great sets, the crowd was energetic and fun, and even the venue was really nice. I give the Canopy Club a great rating for providing free water for people, something I've never seen before.

After the show we peeled off our soaking wet shirts and hit the road. Despite ringing ears, sore bodies, and a 2+ hour car ride ahead of us, we knew that it had been a great night.

Ska Week: Westbound Train

Epitaph.com

The next feature this week will be that of Westbound Train, a reggae-ska septet hailing from Boston, Massachusetts. As with Streetlight Manifesto, these guys will be playing in Urbana on Friday along with Reel Big Fish and Suburban Legends. Westbound is quite different from the other bands in the show, and their sound is much more traditional.

Westbound's sound is a base of traditional ska with influences of reggae, jazz, modern ska, and even a bit of country. Lead singer Obi Fernandez has a way of entrancing the listener with his soft voice and legato singing, whether singing about love or revolution, in a soulful style reminiscent of Marvin Gaye.

Musically Westbound Train is more talented than most of the ska bands currently out there. The members met as students at Berklee college of music in Boston, so they definitely know what they're doing with the instruments in their hands, and this is evident in both the horn lines and the rhythm section.

I highly recommend these guys, as they have been growing on me more and more lately. Kyle and I got a chance to talk to the drummer for a while at a show over the summer and they seem like really cool guys and they put on a good show.

Here's a track from their 2004 release Five To Two:

Forever
for sampling purposes only, will be removed at copyright holder's request.


And if you like their groove check them out at purevolume.com or just talk to Kyle or me.

Ska Week: Streetlight Manifesto

source: www.victoryrecords.com

Alec briefly mentioned last post that we are going to a big ska show this weekend down in Urbana-Champaign....this is true. Four of my personal favorite ska bands all in one place at one time is always a great thing. One of the bands that will be there is Streetlight Manifesto.

Streetlight is the creation of Tomas Kalnoky of Catch 22 "fame." If you get to know Tomas's music, you'll see that it is fast, brutal, yet somehow incredibly catchy. His bands always seem to weave intricate horn-lines through and around his incredibly fast singing. Tomas formed Catch 22 in 1996 and after recording their first cd, Keasbey Nights, he decided to leave the band. Catch 22 was and is still going strong (even though they just put out a terrible new cd)...but Tomas decided to start up Streetlight Manifesto in 2001. Their first cd, Everything Goes Numb, seems like a perfect sequel to the old Catch 22 album...uptempo, in your face, shouting, wicked bass-lines, and some I would even say "orchestral" melodies threaded in between the mayhem. The songs make me want to throw stuff all over my room and tear everything off of the walls...which is what is going to make the live show so incredible.

So basically, check out Everything Goes Numb. If you like it...check out Catch 22's Keasbey Nights. (Streetlight re-released Keasbey Nights in a much cleaner form...but if you want the true origins, I'd recommend the original with the poorer production and unintelligible lyrics...maybe I'm a bit biased)


Here is Streetlight Manifesto's Pure Volume site that has one track off of Everything Goes Numb. Let me know if you dig it!

getting things started

Since Kyle has posted the intro to the site(see below), I'll take a second to introduce myself as the second author of the blog. Like Kyle I love music, and I love talking about it as well. As Kyle said, the goal of this blog is to make public the daily conversations we have about music so that hopefully more people can enjoy more great music. In general I am a music lover, and there is not a lot of music that I hate, only stuff that I don't enjoy as much as other stuff. My music interests are pretty varied. In high school I played bass for a metal band, trumpet for a ska band, and guitar for a pop punk band, so I think that kind of indicates the breadth of my tastes.

As a quick beginning I want to share that this week I am listening almost exclusively to ska in anticipation for an amazaing concert that we will be attending on friday. So I'll start off by recommending ska in all shapes and forms. Anything with horns really, they add another whole dimension to music.

Here's the Deal.

So Alec and I have been talking about starting up a music blog for a while now, and we are both kind of excited that it is actually happening. My rationale for starting it up has many aspects. I have really liked music for as long as I can remember...from getting a tiny BOOM drumset when I was 8 years old to singing in the shower last night. I love it when people get a kick out of music. I love it when people dance. Music is probably the only thing that can make 50 year old investment bankers shake it, and yet at the same time make Shakira incredibly hot. I love it when people have memories associated with various songs from certain times in their lives. I love it when people rock out to their Ipod while walking down the street. Truly, I really just love how powerful music can be.

The idea for the blog is this. We'll post some recommendations of ours, some thoughts about music genres, scenes, concerts...but we really just want to get some music discussion started. It's always really cool for me to see a person really take to a band, and I hope that we can get you addicted to some of the same things that we have been for years. So here it is. Our music blog.