Tag Archives: Rock

Ronnie Foster – Two-Headed Freap

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

tight keys driven funky soul jazz rock

Moods

Groover

Thoughts

Real good keys playing, dude lays it down. Like the rest of the atmosphere though wish he would breakup the super tight and quick keys playing into something chiller at times (kind of happens on let's stay together but it's a little to direct, I appreciate his loose-r approach when it feels like he's just letting the scales fly).

Overall this works with the rest of the band laying down groovy soulful tight jams. Feels like a record that would translate well to fans of modern jam bands.

On repeat listens I really only like the first half as the similar and quite busy playing started to get fatiguing.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Ronnie-Foster-Two-Headed-Freap/release/7659623

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul08TkjnuEo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKWHH5j-iOc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWp6ngco92c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhhpMvmCTtw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_Y9MDo5Tc0

Spotify


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Ronnie Foster – Two-Headed Freap

Description: Album Review of Ronnie Foster – Two-Headed Freap


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Madrugada – The Nightly Disease

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Dark alternative rock

Moods

Living with regret, depression caught on tape

Thoughts

I've been a fan of this record for years though only really kept coming back to a few songs ( early album cuts ‘hands up I love you’ and ‘dance for me’). Revisiting the album in its entirety I can appreciate this much more as a cohesive document. Texturally I think they're strongest when things are slowed down – easy bassline and slide guitar, like a modern noir take on the blues. Sivert Hoyem's  commanding voice is effective and works well with the straightforward but poetic lyrics. It can be bleak, like a lonely dusty highway at night: surrounded by darkness but just as aware light would only illuminate a vast emptiness.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Madrugada-The-Nightly-Disease/release/512675

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ne6c3LuD40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNppGG71A-c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhSSKc-EGic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcZ5cKyceKM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN0pENoxVBg

Spotify


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Madrugada – The Nightly Disease

Description: Album Review of Madrugada – The Nightly Disease


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Marnie Stern – The Chronicles Of Marnia

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

edgy pop punk alt indie rock

Moods

Live show, small club

Thoughts

Like it, has an accessible popiness to it while still maintaining an precise edgey quickness (think agile backbeat and little guitar licks ). She's got an art pop thing with her singing that adds a curious dimension. Discogs tags this as experimental which I think is a stretch but it's exploratory.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Marnie-Stern-The-Chronicles-Of-Marnia/release/4378698

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8-pS1yXR8g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P5MSa8EGKE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UdHTtdmQ0A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcbYGQgIqYk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up713oIPRyA

Spotify


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Marnie Stern – The Chronicles Of Marnia

Description: Album Review of Marnie Stern – The Chronicles Of Marnia


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

by ·

★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

Sounds like?

An American rock folk alternative band

Moods

A calmly anxious American masterpiece

Thoughts

It took awhile for me to recognize the genius here. I think I was too  young when I first heard it, I wasn't drawn to it's sound. Even now I wouldn't recommend this to anyone under 30, the essence is lost without that unnerving only adulthood can provide.

At surface level it's boring adult pop, listen a little closer and you'll hear solid American folk songs. Backed by light (mostly) and tight instrumentation, it's just the right amount of precise while not feeling overly polished; a quality which typically bothers me but here it fits. Tweedy's got a pleasant voice and is an exceptional lyricist, switching between abstract thoughts and relatable lyrics on love. Few writers can capture anxiety, in its many forms, so poetically. It's his ability that elevates this album, turning these dense subjects into carthic singalongs. Ultimately the listener is left with a feeling of hope through the reliability in his words. True art captures some element of the human condition and I think Wilco nailed it on Yankee hotel foxtrot

Anyone who's ever experienced that spinning out of control feeling will understand the value of something grounded. The perfect soundtrack for something as enjoyable as a pleasant autumn day or as heavy as your car ride after checking out of the insane asylum.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Wilco-Yankee-Hotel-Foxtrot/release/1073285

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gupjrl5ZSX0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBhj73WtiZU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlxH9-TYseY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efq95Pfqt5U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKj5xIp4Kkg

Spotify


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Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Description: Album Review of Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot


Rating: 5 out of 5

 

American Football – American Football

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Golden age emo meets math rock

Moods

Songs I play when walking over to your place

Thoughts

Adds to the typical somber 'classic' emo format with well timed brass and tasteful/tight percussion. All of this additional instrumentation is good with songwriting that builds in a skillful way. I think it's a stretch to call this emo jazz as it's referenced on Wikipedia but it's distinct enough to call out.

‘Honestly’ is a great highlight showing the strengths of this album: mellow catchy introspection breaking into an extended jam type thing; letting emotion and tension playout in a natural way. You can feel the frustration and confusion of a breakup.

This type of genuineness is what drew me to emo initially and is captured beautifully here. Recommended for golden age emo fans who need something more than the pop-punk mold.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/American-Football-American-Football/release/450722

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NfnXdXpjL0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Uj2JpvsvX4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CU4VGgX0nA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsCBUK_mvY4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr_DMGZ-JrY

Spotify


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American Football – American Football

Description: Album Review of American Football – American Football


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Hot Tuna – Burgers

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

rocking country/folk

Moods

Outside folksy sing along

Thoughts

I appreciate moments of this especially when songs are more bluesy than folksy.

Overall too hokey even with the fantastic musicianship.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Hot-Tuna-Burgers/release/10167287

Listen!

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Hot Tuna – Burgers

Description: Album Review of Hot Tuna – Burgers


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

The Books – The Lemon Of Pink

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

String acoustic sample electro experimental

Moods

There's a creative thread here that's awesome to watch unravel, I love revisiting this album

Thoughts

I've come back to this album a lot over the years, why? Partially because it sounds lovely: an intimate folk album that incorporates just the right amount of sample based electro elements. I particularly love the first few songs but always find myself staying for the entirety.

The primary reason I keep coming back is due to an inspiring feeling that isn't easy to capture in music. It's almost as if you can feel the creative push at work, forcing themselves to explore new territory.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Books-The-Lemon-Of-Pink/release/196682

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiXpi5u5Vu8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiuC8A8eKu4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC0jSezdwTU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1irbhY_dgY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku-g3LiBxmg

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The Books – The Lemon Of Pink

Description: Album Review of The Books – The Lemon Of Pink


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Jim James – Eternally Even

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Dark indie rock, folk

Moods

Chilly breath of death

Thoughts

First time I heard this I was driving upstate late on a Friday night in winter. The empty roads, cold dry winter landscape outside with closed shops providing the only break in landscape seemed a fitting scene for this soundtrack.

I like his style: ethereal, nocturnal and dusky natural singing voice doused in reverb. I found the straightforward pop songwriting a bit boring as an album however.

The ‘we ain't getting any younger’ refrain has stuck with me, something particularly effective about it.

I plan to revisit this and more of his catalog in the future.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Jim-James-Eternally-Even/release/9290528

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u67Tf0lbgzY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-5JUqv8LcY

Spotify


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Jim James – Eternally Even

Description: Album Review of Jim James – Eternally Even


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Cavern Of Anti-Matter – Void Beats/Invocation Trex

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Krautrock open ended free flowing jams

Moods

A ringing E chord and three-dee melodie

Thoughts

Consider this an extension of Stereolab as it's led by Tim Gane. At times they mimic Stereolab and CAN with the organ and spritely bounce so often employed in their songs. I'd say these guys are a bit more laid back and not quite as tight. There's an exploratory rhythm and that's perhaps what invokes CAN, each beat feels like they're chugging into new territory and comfortable with wherever they end up (perhaps this natural optimism is what makes stereolab so infectious).

Pantechnicon is a good one, the keys feel a bit more fun and it signals a more melodic shift overall.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Cavern-Of-Anti-Matter-Void-BeatsInvocation-Trex/release/8143859

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIPfPQslS-s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njkK_YO6Zt0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVNhXIaXtFI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2dZ46U2pl8

Spotify


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Cavern Of Anti-Matter – Void Beats/Invocation Trex

Description: Album Review of Cavern Of Anti-Matter – Void Beats/Invocation Trex


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Paul & Linda McCartney – Ram

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Peak McCartney songwriting

Moods

A car driven by guitar

Thoughts

Fun rock with a moving energy. Paul covers a range of styles from Golden age rock and roll on ‘smile away’ to a Beatles like medley on ‘Uncle Albert’.

This is good chord driven pop at its heart by one of the world's best songwriters. Lyrically things are a little freewheeling and goofy at times but it works.

I found this to be seriously good on my first few listens, might become a personal classic if given enough time.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Paul-Linda-McCartney-Ram/release/4561199

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5qymNPUb1s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2eWWS0QMlc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Swl9Iqh6DQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrthE_waCV8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8pulOnIE5Q

Spotify


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Paul & Linda McCartney – Ram

Description: Album Review of Paul & Linda McCartney – Ram


Rating: 4 out of 5