Sonics X
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Sonics X
Gossip In The Grain by Ray LaMontagne
I have been a fan of Ray LaMontagne for a very long time. My admiration for his raw sound has been around ever since I first heard songs from his first album, Trouble. It is quite a crime for his album to be released in Singapore four years after it was initially released. Though, I suppose, better late than never, and this man's voice is just so awesome that everybody should give it a listen. I mean, he could read the phonebook and make it sound awesome. That is the raw power of the kind of things he does, and it is of no exception in his third studio album. The album begins with a rather rousing and uncharacteristic song called Your Are the Best Thing. The loud trumpets in the background and the choral voices may seem a little unfamiliar to loyal fans, but he dives right back into familiar grounds with his smooth ballads and raw lyrics. Let It Be Me and I Still Care for You are signature Ray LaMontagne tracks, with his strong acoustic guitar coursing through the melodies and the lyrics. Winter Bird paints a beautiful imagery landscape that is so vivid that you almost feel as if you are present in the song. It's mostly just him and his guitar, his raspy voice tearing through the silences that are between the verses. My favorite track has got to be Gossip in the Grain, which has a very interesting arrangement I must say. To be honest, I don't quite dig the whole country-music type songs he attempted. Hey Me Hey Mama is just too thickly laced with the whole country-music vibe, and it really isn't up my alley at all. You can tell he is trying to veer away from his usual style, but country-music is just not my thing in general, I suppose.
This time around, I am not going wider on the surface, but going in deeper on the artistes and bands that I already know. New bands are hard to come by anyway, which is why I have decided to delve in deeper into the bands that I already know. Save for Clogs, I have known all the other four bands for a while now, and most of their recent album releases have been marked on my calendar for the longest time. So here's the tenth edition of what I have been listening to these days, and I do hope these recommendations are going to help you out in your musical exploration.
Gossip In The Grain by Ray LaMontagne
I have been a fan of Ray LaMontagne for a very long time. My admiration for his raw sound has been around ever since I first heard songs from his first album, Trouble. It is quite a crime for his album to be released in Singapore four years after it was initially released. Though, I suppose, better late than never, and this man's voice is just so awesome that everybody should give it a listen. I mean, he could read the phonebook and make it sound awesome. That is the raw power of the kind of things he does, and it is of no exception in his third studio album. The album begins with a rather rousing and uncharacteristic song called Your Are the Best Thing. The loud trumpets in the background and the choral voices may seem a little unfamiliar to loyal fans, but he dives right back into familiar grounds with his smooth ballads and raw lyrics. Let It Be Me and I Still Care for You are signature Ray LaMontagne tracks, with his strong acoustic guitar coursing through the melodies and the lyrics. Winter Bird paints a beautiful imagery landscape that is so vivid that you almost feel as if you are present in the song. It's mostly just him and his guitar, his raspy voice tearing through the silences that are between the verses. My favorite track has got to be Gossip in the Grain, which has a very interesting arrangement I must say. To be honest, I don't quite dig the whole country-music type songs he attempted. Hey Me Hey Mama is just too thickly laced with the whole country-music vibe, and it really isn't up my alley at all. You can tell he is trying to veer away from his usual style, but country-music is just not my thing in general, I suppose. Albums by the artiste:
1. Trouble (2004)
2. Till The Sun Turn Black (2006)
3. Gossip In The Grain (2008)
Radio Retaliation by Thievery Corporation
The latest album by Thievery Corporation continues their trail of awesomeness. Nobody does house music as good as this duo, and they deliver the most mind-boggling goodness every single time. They are very constant with every album, and I have recently gotten my hands on the Cosmic Game album as well. This album, however, seems to have a greater emphasis and influence from reggae and indian music. I have heard hints of those from the Mirror Conspiracy before, but none as prominent as the ones utilized in this album. That is not to say that this album pales in comparison, though. In fact, I feel that in some ways, the variety of this album puts it on top of a lot of their other albums out there, solidifying them as one of the best bands out there that does house music. You can play this while driving, in a restaurant, or the shopkeeper of some shop - it's going to work in any situation and setting. Thievery Corporation really unleashes their brilliance when tending to the slower tracks, like Beautiful Drug. I love the voice in this song, and the imagery that it generates of a couple making out on the bed. That is the kind of thing that Thievery Corporation does to you. They make you cooler than you are, happier than you are, sexier than you are. It doesn't matter who you are though, they never fail to work their magic with their sounds and change you into a different person until the album ends.
The latest album by Thievery Corporation continues their trail of awesomeness. Nobody does house music as good as this duo, and they deliver the most mind-boggling goodness every single time. They are very constant with every album, and I have recently gotten my hands on the Cosmic Game album as well. This album, however, seems to have a greater emphasis and influence from reggae and indian music. I have heard hints of those from the Mirror Conspiracy before, but none as prominent as the ones utilized in this album. That is not to say that this album pales in comparison, though. In fact, I feel that in some ways, the variety of this album puts it on top of a lot of their other albums out there, solidifying them as one of the best bands out there that does house music. You can play this while driving, in a restaurant, or the shopkeeper of some shop - it's going to work in any situation and setting. Thievery Corporation really unleashes their brilliance when tending to the slower tracks, like Beautiful Drug. I love the voice in this song, and the imagery that it generates of a couple making out on the bed. That is the kind of thing that Thievery Corporation does to you. They make you cooler than you are, happier than you are, sexier than you are. It doesn't matter who you are though, they never fail to work their magic with their sounds and change you into a different person until the album ends. Albums by the band:
1) Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi (1997)
2) The Mirror Conspiracy (2000)
3) The Richest Man in Babylon (2002)
4) The Outernational Sound (2004)
5) The Cosmic Game (2005)
6) Versions (2006)
7) Radio Retaliation (2008)
Lanterns by Clogs
I believe that I introduced Rachel's in the last series of music reviews, and Clogs very much goes along the same lines as Rachel's, though more experimental in certain ways. I am getting hooked to this whole post post-post-rock thing, the whole blending of classical elements and rock - whoever thought of that should be given a medal. Anyway, Clogs is a similar band as a whole, but they go different ways to chill you to your bones with their music. The first time I heard the song 5/4, I was completely hooked to the band. That is not to mention a dozen other experimental tracks in their other album, Stick Music. Tides of Washington Bridge is another great song from this album that stands out from all else, and I believe it is violin being plucked at the beginning of the song. Clogs seem to have the uncanny ability to creep me out, somehow. From their Stick Music album, River Stick has got to be one of the scariest songs I have ever heard. Two violins, four notes, scary as hell. Beating Stick involves guitar slapping, a very interesting take on music which my mother thought to be "really weird". Anyway, I love this band and the albums of theirs that I have. They do require a certain acquired taste, but the end result is definitely rewarding, as it takes you to deep dark places in your mind you never thought existed.
I believe that I introduced Rachel's in the last series of music reviews, and Clogs very much goes along the same lines as Rachel's, though more experimental in certain ways. I am getting hooked to this whole post post-post-rock thing, the whole blending of classical elements and rock - whoever thought of that should be given a medal. Anyway, Clogs is a similar band as a whole, but they go different ways to chill you to your bones with their music. The first time I heard the song 5/4, I was completely hooked to the band. That is not to mention a dozen other experimental tracks in their other album, Stick Music. Tides of Washington Bridge is another great song from this album that stands out from all else, and I believe it is violin being plucked at the beginning of the song. Clogs seem to have the uncanny ability to creep me out, somehow. From their Stick Music album, River Stick has got to be one of the scariest songs I have ever heard. Two violins, four notes, scary as hell. Beating Stick involves guitar slapping, a very interesting take on music which my mother thought to be "really weird". Anyway, I love this band and the albums of theirs that I have. They do require a certain acquired taste, but the end result is definitely rewarding, as it takes you to deep dark places in your mind you never thought existed. Albums by the band:
1) Thom's Night Out (2001)
2) Lullaby For Sue (2003)
3) Stick Music (2004)
4) Lantern (2006)
Elephants... Teeth Sinking Into Heart by Rachael Yamagata
The second studio album by Rachael Yamagata has finally been released, after being delayed since last summer. I must admit, that I was beginning to believe that she was not going to release the new album after some time. Then, of course, she blogged a few months ago about the release of, not one album, but two albums together on the same day. This album represents two parts of her musical styles: Elephants represents the softer and more familiar side of her, characterized by heartbreaking ballads and honest lyrics about love found and love loss. Teeth Sinking Into Heart, however, represents a more gritty and edgy side of her, the side who cannot care less about love and just wants to tear away from a toxic relationship. The surprising thing, for me, was perhaps how good the fast songs are this time around. Happenstance was jaw-dropping for the ballads mostly, and I am not particularly a fan of faster tracks like I Want You in that album. This time around, however, Rachael has developed a much greater maturity for her faster tracks like Accident and Faster. Elephants is definitely a worthy album by itself, as well, with noteworthy tracks like Elephants, Duets (with Ray LaMontagne) and Over and Over. The last part of the album kind of falls flat for me, particularly with Horizon and Brown Eyes. Still, the double release is definitely a great treat for the fans who have been waiting for so long, and they are definitely not going to be disappointed. I know I wasn't.
Albums by the artiste:
1) EP [EP] (2004)
2) Happenstance (2004)
3) Live at the Loft & More (2005)
4) Loose Ends (2008)
5) Elephants... Teeth Sinking Into Heart (2008)
Alive 2007 by Daft Punk
Daft Punk is the closest I'd ever come to dance music, and they do it so very good. They have the ability to make me bob my head to a thirty-second clip over on iTunes Store, and they are also made up of two spacemen who performs live on a giant pyramid - it doesn't get any cooler than that. I have reviewed their previous album Discovery, and this live album is just a treat to the ears from the beginning till the end. The awesome thing about this live album is perhaps its lack of audience cheering and screaming, and more on the music itself. Daft Punk blends all of their tunes together and weave them together into a full album of mind-blowing dance tracks. These dance tracks are not the kind of junk you would find on some cheap compilation techno album. They are not vulgar in the sense that they do not insult your intelligence in any way. Daft Punk takes dance music to another level, and relies on manipulating the beat and the melodies to move the audience. This album gives you no time to rest in between the tracks, and the music just kind of goes on and on and on and on - which is a good thing, especially when we are talking about a live dance album. I know that my family is going to have a thing or two to say about me listening to this album, but I suppose I cannot care less about what they say. This is some awesome music right here, and if only people are going to stop thinking that Kanye West came up with the whole "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" bit in his song, Stronger. Daft Punk did it, thank you very much, and they own Kanye West. Only the Europeans can come up with out of this world music like that, so kudos to them.
Daft Punk is the closest I'd ever come to dance music, and they do it so very good. They have the ability to make me bob my head to a thirty-second clip over on iTunes Store, and they are also made up of two spacemen who performs live on a giant pyramid - it doesn't get any cooler than that. I have reviewed their previous album Discovery, and this live album is just a treat to the ears from the beginning till the end. The awesome thing about this live album is perhaps its lack of audience cheering and screaming, and more on the music itself. Daft Punk blends all of their tunes together and weave them together into a full album of mind-blowing dance tracks. These dance tracks are not the kind of junk you would find on some cheap compilation techno album. They are not vulgar in the sense that they do not insult your intelligence in any way. Daft Punk takes dance music to another level, and relies on manipulating the beat and the melodies to move the audience. This album gives you no time to rest in between the tracks, and the music just kind of goes on and on and on and on - which is a good thing, especially when we are talking about a live dance album. I know that my family is going to have a thing or two to say about me listening to this album, but I suppose I cannot care less about what they say. This is some awesome music right here, and if only people are going to stop thinking that Kanye West came up with the whole "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" bit in his song, Stronger. Daft Punk did it, thank you very much, and they own Kanye West. Only the Europeans can come up with out of this world music like that, so kudos to them. Albums by the band:
1) Homework (1997)
2) Discovery (2001)
3) Human After All (2005)
4) Alive 2007 [LIVE] (2007)
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