Lit's CD/Album review thread

[Guest]

Music seems to be popular on Lit, and there are many threads. But more than simply posting what you are listening to, I thought some may want to recommend or warn people about what they have heard. I for one am interested in new music and broadening my horizons.

What music CD/album are you listening to right now that you feel everyone should know about? Good or bad……

What is it about it that you feel people should know?

Is the artist unknown and you feel they should be known to a wider audience? Is it a classic that you just HAVE to rave about? Is it an album you feel badly let down by?

It can be ANYTHING.

You can maybe post a picture of the album cover, a track listing, a musical review, and any links to information about the artist(s) or album in question.

I hope this goes better than my movie one, which bombed without trace, but I fear the worst…. But hey… you don’t try, you don’t know.

 

[Guest]

I’ll start with one I have listened to recently and have played to death.

Oblivion With Bells by Underworld
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o55/DirtyBear69/Music/070628.jpg


1. Crocodile 6.32
2. Beautiful Burnout 8.11
3. Holding the Moth 5.31
4. To Heal 2.38
5. Ring Road 4.33
6. Glam Bucket 5.48
7. Boy, Boy, Boy 6.07
8. Cuddle Bunny Vs the Celtic Villages 2.34
9. Faxed Invitation 4.46
10. Good Morning Cockerel 2.30
11. Best Mamgu Ever 9.12

Bit of general information.
Underworld on this album comprise the duo of Karl Hyde and Rick Smith, and while I think the vocals suffer a bit with the departure of Darren Emerson, their music is as epic and grand as ever. They are an electronic techno/trance band, and their best known song is probably ‘Born Slippy’ http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=K7Pts7AljZQ&feature=relatedwhich was used in the movie ‘Trainspotting’. Their music has also been used in other movies suck as ‘The Beach’ and they did the soundtrack for last year’s movie ‘Sunshine’.

This is their 5th studio album, coming five years after their last one.

1. Crocodile http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CuMjeiDSCOY&feature=related
This was the first single from the album and you can see why. It’s upbeat and happy, with tinkling synth merging to a heavier beat to produce a very catchy dance-orientated tune that should appeal to most. For myself, when I listened to it at first I found it bland, and I missed Emerson’s vocals a lot. But repeated listens reveal a depth to the song and the vocals grow on you.

2. Beautiful Burnout http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=J90oWxtn-yc&feature=related
Crocodiles is merely the extended into to the best track on the album, which has already become a classic among fans of the band. The two tracks merge perfectly. Worth the price of the album alone, this is like 4 or 5 tracks at once and evolves beautifully from quiet contemplation to a stonking drum-based solo. A perfect track.

3. Holding the Moth
This I disliked on first hearing. Probably because I loved the previous track so much. Subsequent listens however reveal a depth to the lyrics in tone and meaning, moving from anger to despair to yearning.

4. To Heal http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=InEyTT-m58s&feature=related
This is a change of pace, with a plaintive violin into that is very touching. Think U2’s intro to ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’ and ‘Barber’s Adagio for Strings’ combined and you won’t be far wrong. It’s a short track and doesn’t really GO anywhere, but in the right mood you will suddenly feel tears coursing down your cheeks.

5. Ring Road http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=GRJ94SzvmPY
This is the story of someone on a train looking at life on council estates and what people have become. On first listen the rapped vocals are amateur and awful, but on more listens the lyrics are very true to life in Britain, and you realise they are supposed to be like that.

6. Glam Bucket http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3i2gnoGdzRA&feature=related
No instruments. No discernable tune. Bloody brilliant. You think on first hearing that it’s just noise and no tune whatsoever. Then an hour later you’re humming it! And you listen again and it all falls together in a glorious dissonant harmony. You may think this is pretentious, but give it a listen and hopefully you’ll agree.

7. Boy, Boy, Boy http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=szZPwkwAeNk&feature=related
The second single from the album features drums from U2’s Larry Mullen Jr. A slow building track that builds (my favourite type of music). I love the energy and anger in it.

8. Cuddle Bunny Vs the Celtic Villages
Um…. If anyone can find any discernable music in this track please send me answers on a postcard. Pretentious twaddle that almost spoils a great album. Thank god I can edit it out for my iPod.

9. Faxed Invitation
With a rhythmic beat and growling vocals, it starts of with very little tune and evolves to a beautiful and uplifting finale.

10. Good Morning Cockerel
This is Underworld’s attempt at ‘conventional’ music. A short piano piece that doesn’t quite do it for me, but hints that they can do whatever they want really. Too short and not developed enough for me. It’s like they lost interest.

11. Best Mamgu Ever http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9szdHrVKD6k&feature=related
A lovely relaxing end track. Just lie down and swim in this. Mamgu means grandmother in Welsh.

All of Underworld’s music requires more than a superficial listen. I heard their music in a club and loved it. But listening at home, you need multiple listens to appreciate it all, as their music is VERY layered and unconventional.

If anyone knows what any of their lyrics are about, please let me know. It’s like they are high and write a stream of consciousness for their songs…. But do I care? No. The music is superb, and the emotions they convey are enough for me.

Brilliant.
9/10

 

[mrtnmoon]

one word: dada. there's a link in my signature to their website, there are songs you can download for free. I have raved about them over and over on this board, but it basically boils down to "the beatles with jimi hendrix on guitar." well worth checking out.

that beatles/hendrix analogy also worked its way into this review I wrote about the debut cd of a band called butterfly jones. it's ok, tho... it's not plagiarizing if you steal from yourself, and the analogy still fits because michael gurley and phil leavitt from dada are also in butterfly jones.

Napalm Springs - Butterfly Jones

"Kind of hippie, kind of trippy, but with a definite modern edge, Butterfly Jones has delivered a debut cd loaded with memorable melodies, cool and insightful lyrics, and the slash and burn guitar of Michael Gurley.

Gurley and fellow dada member Phil Leavitt (along with a cast of.....well, OK, maybe a dozen or so) have crafted a set of songs that touch on a variety of musical styles and emotions. Love, hate, confusion, hope, rock, pop, grunge, it's all there, laced with an acid-tinged psychedelia straight out of the late 60's. Think of the Beatles with Jimi Hendrix on guitar locked in a studio with a drum machine and laying down some jams for the new millennium.

From the self-destructive grunge chorus of the opening title song ("If love doesn't tear me apart, I'll do it myself") to the sparse and haunting refrain of the finale, "Please", this disc rocks ("Anywhere But Now"), rocks harder (the "What the hell's going on?" relationship confusion of "Are We In Love
Again?"), rocks cooler (the detached hipster groove of "Alright") and has moments of quiet, simple beautylike "Wonder" ("Don't it make you wonder, and ain't it beautiful?"). All in all, it makes Napalm Springs a wonderful place to visit....you might even want to live there."

 

[Guest]

Thanks Moon.
I will check out Butterfly Jones.

 

[fire_breeze]

I’ll start with one I have listened to recently and have played to death.

Oblivion With Bells by Underworld
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o55/DirtyBear69/Music/070628.jpg


1. Crocodile 6.32
2. Beautiful Burnout 8.11
3. Holding the Moth 5.31
4. To Heal 2.38
5. Ring Road 4.33
6. Glam Bucket 5.48
7. Boy, Boy, Boy 6.07
8. Cuddle Bunny Vs the Celtic Villages 2.34
9. Faxed Invitation 4.46
10. Good Morning Cockerel 2.30
11. Best Mamgu Ever 9.12

Bit of general information.
Underworld on this album comprise the duo of Karl Hyde and Rick Smith, and while I think the vocals suffer a bit with the departure of Darren Emerson, their music is as epic and grand as ever. They are an electronic techno/trance band, and their best known song is probably ‘Born Slippy’ http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=K7Pts7AljZQ&feature=relatedwhich was used in the movie ‘Trainspotting’. Their music has also been used in other movies suck as ‘The Beach’ and they did the soundtrack for last year’s movie ‘Sunshine’.

This is their 5th studio album, coming five years after their last one.

1. Crocodile http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CuMjeiDSCOY&feature=related
This was the first single from the album and you can see why. It’s upbeat and happy, with tinkling synth merging to a heavier beat to produce a very catchy dance-orientated tune that should appeal to most. For myself, when I listened to it at first I found it bland, and I missed Emerson’s vocals a lot. But repeated listens reveal a depth to the song and the vocals grow on you.

2. Beautiful Burnout http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=J90oWxtn-yc&feature=related
Crocodiles is merely the extended into to the best track on the album, which has already become a classic among fans of the band. The two tracks merge perfectly. Worth the price of the album alone, this is like 4 or 5 tracks at once and evolves beautifully from quiet contemplation to a stonking drum-based solo. A perfect track.

3. Holding the Moth
This I disliked on first hearing. Probably because I loved the previous track so much. Subsequent listens however reveal a depth to the lyrics in tone and meaning, moving from anger to despair to yearning.

4. To Heal http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=InEyTT-m58s&feature=related
This is a change of pace, with a plaintive violin into that is very touching. Think U2’s intro to ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’ and ‘Barber’s Adagio for Strings’ combined and you won’t be far wrong. It’s a short track and doesn’t really GO anywhere, but in the right mood you will suddenly feel tears coursing down your cheeks.

5. Ring Road http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=GRJ94SzvmPY
This is the story of someone on a train looking at life on council estates and what people have become. On first listen the rapped vocals are amateur and awful, but on more listens the lyrics are very true to life in Britain, and you realise they are supposed to be like that.

6. Glam Bucket http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3i2gnoGdzRA&feature=related
No instruments. No discernable tune. Bloody brilliant. You think on first hearing that it’s just noise and no tune whatsoever. Then an hour later you’re humming it! And you listen again and it all falls together in a glorious dissonant harmony. You may think this is pretentious, but give it a listen and hopefully you’ll agree.

7. Boy, Boy, Boy http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=szZPwkwAeNk&feature=related
The second single from the album features drums from U2’s Larry Mullen Jr. A slow building track that builds (my favourite type of music). I love the energy and anger in it.

8. Cuddle Bunny Vs the Celtic Villages
Um…. If anyone can find any discernable music in this track please send me answers on a postcard. Pretentious twaddle that almost spoils a great album. Thank god I can edit it out for my iPod.

9. Faxed Invitation
With a rhythmic beat and growling vocals, it starts of with very little tune and evolves to a beautiful and uplifting finale.

10. Good Morning Cockerel
This is Underworld’s attempt at ‘conventional’ music. A short piano piece that doesn’t quite do it for me, but hints that they can do whatever they want really. Too short and not developed enough for me. It’s like they lost interest.

11. Best Mamgu Ever http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9szdHrVKD6k&feature=related
A lovely relaxing end track. Just lie down and swim in this. Mamgu means grandmother in Welsh.

All of Underworld’s music requires more than a superficial listen. I heard their music in a club and loved it. But listening at home, you need multiple listens to appreciate it all, as their music is VERY layered and unconventional.

If anyone knows what any of their lyrics are about, please let me know. It’s like they are high and write a stream of consciousness for their songs…. But do I care? No. The music is superb, and the emotions they convey are enough for me.

Brilliant.
9/10

Oh thank you! I thought I was the only one who was an Underworld fan... I cannot wait to check this album out!

 

[Tuatara]

For what it is worth my current favourite and recommend is "Rockferry" by Duffy. This debut album by this Welsh lady is just out.

She has a a 60's soul sound / style that is being compared to people like Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick. But no way is she simply copying - it is her own sweet style and sound.

And if you haven't heard of her:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB_qvjeLjjI

Oh, and she nice to look at too!

 

[mrtnmoon]

Thanks Moon.
I will check out Butterfly Jones.

this is where I'm at a disadvantage, since I'm not able to check out any music or videos online. I hope you like them, if you can even find anything by them online.
check out dada, too.

 

[Guest]

Ah well... another one bites the dust

 

[mrtnmoon]

Ah well... another one bites the dust

well, what the hell, DB... just do what I do in my thread when no one is coming by... keep posting yourself. I talked to myself for two whole pages once. I'm sure there are other bands/cd's that you dig. post about 'em.

there's bound to be other people that have an interest in music and will post eventually. or not... but I wouldn't throw in the towel yet.

 

[Guest]

well, what the hell, DB... just do what I do in my thread when no one is coming by... keep posting yourself. I talked to myself for two whole pages once. I'm sure there are other bands/cd's that you dig. post about 'em.

there's bound to be other people that have an interest in music and will post eventually. or not... but I wouldn't throw in the towel yet.

Thanks, but I don't go down that route.

That first post too ages to prep and research... and I wonder if that could be the reason. People like to whip off quick one-line posts to up their post counts (never understood teh fascination with post counts), such as the track they are listening to every 3 or 4 minutes... rather than something like this.

Or maybe I'm just persona-non-grata... who knows?

I just wanted to get to know different music, and was also interested to hear what people thought of my tastes.

At least I know FB likes the same music as me. She even likes Orbital!

And I WILL check out Butterfly Jones, but while I can appreceate Dada and their musical talent and the fact they are good at what they do... I can't get into what they do. Sorry..... but I will give it another shot.

 

[mrtnmoon]

And I WILL check out Butterfly Jones, but while I can appreceate Dada and their musical talent and the fact they are good at what they do... I can't get into what they do. Sorry..... but I will give it another shot.

at least you checked out dada. most people either don't bother, or they don't let me know what they thought. chances are, tho, if you didn't like dada you won't like butterfly jones.

 

[Tuatara]

Your link to the dada mp3 page 404's, but the site itself is OK. I had a listen to a few of their songs via their online media player. They didn't immediately grab me but after a few songs they began to grow on me.

 

[fire_breeze]

DB, I just had the opportunity to download a couple tracks from Underworld's Oblivion with Bells... and my Gods, I love them so far! Thank you. Wow. Beautiful Burnout is phenomenal and To Heal is incredibly poignant...

 

[mrtnmoon]

Your link to the dada mp3 page 404's, but the site itself is OK. I had a listen to a few of their songs via their online media player. They didn't immediately grab me but after a few songs they began to grow on me.

sorry about that.. last time I checked it about a month ago it was still working. I have no idea what's on the media player since I can't listen, but it's going to be updated soon. there might also be songs you can hear on their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/dadatheband

btw: just like DB said about Underworld, dada may take a few listens to catch on. they grabbed me right away, but the first thing I heard by them was a guitar solo so I immediately got caught up.

 

[Guest]

DB, I just had the opportunity to download a couple tracks from Underworld's Oblivion with Bells... and my Gods, I love them so far! Thank you. Wow. Beautiful Burnout is phenomenal and To Heal is incredibly poignant...

I'm glad you liked them FB.

well, what the hell, DB... just do what I do in my thread when no one is coming by... keep posting yourself. I talked to myself for two whole pages once. I'm sure there are other bands/cd's that you dig. post about 'em.

there's bound to be other people that have an interest in music and will post eventually. or not... but I wouldn't throw in the towel yet.

Time to now I think.

 

[mrtnmoon]

Time to now I think.

I'm sorry this thread didn't catch on, DB. I thought about trying to help out by posting more about music I like, but the sad truth is that most of the bands I'm really passionate about are a little off the beaten path. that's not an insurmountable obstacle, but the sadder truth is that I'd be hard pressed to explain why I like them so much.

 

[Guest]

I'm sorry this thread didn't catch on, DB. I thought about trying to help out by posting more about music I like, but the sad truth is that most of the bands I'm really passionate about are a little off the beaten path. that's not an insurmountable obstacle, but the sadder truth is that I'd be hard pressed to explain why I like them so much.

Thanks moon.

I'm just disappointed because I enjoyed doing the first one, and I was hoping to get into some different music maybe.

No probs.. win some lose some. I should have known... really, as this one requres a bit of effort.

Thanks for trying and thanks to FB & Tuatara for the input also.

 

[Tuatara]

Testimony - Neal Morse

Anyone who knows anything about Progessive Rock (prog rock) will have heard of the groups Spock's Beard and Transatlantic, and will also know of Neal Morse - the frontman for Spock's Beard and a member of Transatlantic. For those who know nothing about prog rock - let's start by saying that "prog rock" is NOT "heavy metal" (and I have nothing against heavy metal as such)! Prog rock developed in the late 60's with the application of the complexities of classical orchestral music to "rock" music and a jazz influence. The musical genre has had its ups and downs over the last 40 years but one of its brightest stars in the 90's was Spock's Beard led by Neal Morse. In 2002 they were at the peak of their "craft" ... and Neal announced his retirement from the group. The reason ... religion! Neal had converted to Christianity - not a sudden conversion - it had been a gradual thing; but by 2002 he felt that his journey and what he wanted to do in life meant he could no longer be in Spock's Beard.

That is the background to Testimony - his "solo" album which he wrote and recorded after leaving the group.

Testimony is is Neal's musical autobiography - a story of both his journey in life and his spiritual journey; how and why he got to where he did. And before you say "yuck, a gospel album" - bear with me! One doesn't need to be religious (whatever that means) to appreciate the musical abilities (genius) of this man. It is a long album (2 CD's - 2 hours) and incorporates - rock, orchestral, pop, and gospel influences. Music can be about anything and still be good ... and this is GOOD music. It is a musically and lyrically complex album (even if it is a bit preachy in parts, especially towards the end of the second CD) - but most of it is beautiful and human; sad and joyous. It is one person's real journey. It may not be my journey and I may not have gone down the same road or made the same decisions, but Neal shares his story and lets me appreciate and understand his journey via his music. For those and many other reasons Testimony is a modern musical masterpiece.

My recommendation - beg, borrow or st... (well maybe you shouldn't steal an album such as this) a copy ... take a couple of hours away from distractions and give it a few listens.