Tom Waits – Swordfishtrombones

Review# 111

Another month another of Josh's picks and another album and artist I know nothing about! Even though there have been some albums that Josh has sent my way that I don't mind I usually find them hard to understand the music or concepts - this on the other hand I have instantly taken a shine to. There are a lot of elements here that easily relate (and are likely influences for some) to the music I usually listen to. I love the experimental feel of the album and adore Tom's voice, and the album has a lot of balls to it. I am not huge on the ballady stuff but the rest is quality although I doubt I would like it as much if it didn't sound like Tom smoked about 10 packs of cigarettes and a bottle of bourbon a day!

Underground: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciBAMhLiwyQ

Down, Down, Down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtDptbeqqkQ

Frank's Wild Years: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I9GqxDA4ac

Every Time I Die - Gutter Phenomenon

Review# 110

ETID excel at delivering tunes packed with a punch. From beginning to end the album bowls over everything in it's path with music that is frantic, loud and intense. Lead man Keith Buckley really shows of his pipes, ranging from an intense throaty scream through to clean singing and a rainbow of emotions. I personally found that it takes a bit of time for this album to grow so I didn't listen to it very much when I first brought it but it is well worth the time.

Kill The Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJpuPWkdOr0

Bored Stiff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc1yi66pY2U

Yes - Fragile

Yes are the ‘classical’ touch to Progressive Rock’s big four. This album is probably one of the bands easier to handle moments. Even by Close to the Edge everything was supersized and on a much larger scale. To be honest, I like the larger scale, I still think Tales From Topographic Oceans was their best record and fro a long time I’ve always thought of this album as being Yes just before they hit their stride. Turns out this is just as good as Close to the Edge, in fact is quite a bit more energetic than the more grandiose works.

The moral of the story: music doesn’t have to be eighty minutes long to be progressive. I’ve also rediscovered how fun Mood for a Day is to listen to. The lyrics are kind of tough to take seriously but it’s a fun listen.

Mood for a Day

Wednesday 13 – Fang Bang

Review# 109

It's Wednesday the 13th today so time to listen to Wednesday 13! Fang Bang is the follow up to Transylvania 90210 which I reviewed a week or two ago, I usually play Transylvania to Fang Bang but to be fair but I think I had forgotten about the fun catchy tunes on here! The lyrics are unsurprisingly terrible... So much so that they are awesome. They also cover all the same themes that you would expect from Wednesday (the guy not the day!) so there are no real surprises and with titles like Morgue Than Words, Home Sweet Homicide and Happily Ever Cadaver you would have to be an idiot to not see it coming!

"Contrary to popular belief, even grave robbers have feelings"

Happily Ever Cadaver: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mmqalXYNAc

Faith In The Devil: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwKfulFagdE

My Home Sweet Homicide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMThm9juhwI

The Prodigy – The Fat Of The Land

Review# 108

Hmmm what can I say about The Fat Of The Land? Or Indeed about The Prodigy? Well, I actually quite like three of the tracks on this album... They are the same three tracks most people like/know - Firestarter, Breathe and Smack My Bitch Up. The rest I'm not really fussed about but those three make for good party tracks and Breathe and Firestarter have a decent dollop of heaviness to them that is appealing. I don't necessarily not like the album as a whole, it just falls out side of the realms that I know and understand musically so therefore does little for me. I do like some of the Industrial sounds tuning through the album which makes it heaps more listenable for me personally.

Firestarter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrBLCOpHxvo&feature=fvst

Breathe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmHDhAohJlQ

Strapping Young Lad – The New Black

Review# 107

Strapping Young Lad's fifth and final album takes a step back towards the initial tongue and cheek of Strapping's first album leaving the intense crazy freak out of previous album, Alien, behind. This is still a fantastic album though, you can feel a little that Devin is ready to retire this project but it doesn't really interfere with the overall quality - if anything he has worked it in to add another dimension to it. Some of the album is still rather serious but a goodly chunk of it is heaps of fun like You Suck, Fucker and Far Beyond Metal (feat. Oderus Urungus). I think there is a good vibe on the album and while it's not another City or Alien it is still a fantastic body of work and a good place to retire SYL on.

Almost Again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwuReRw23_0

Far Beyond Metal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl64-xfewrk

Wrong Side: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-ShfiU64U0

The White Stripes – Elephant

Review# 106

Pretentious Wankery? Thats my thoughts anyway. I think I listened to this once many many years ago, but if I did I don't remember half the tracks - probably because they are tediously boring. It's actually rather painful listening to this now. So yeah, the main things I notice now is that it is pretentious, wanky and has terrible drumming. In fact some parts of this album would be reasonably listenable if there wasn't a limp wristed sister-wife behind the kit. I feel like she is too afraid to hit the drum kit lest it breaks! I guess that Jack White does some interesting things (occasionally) with his guitars and if I remember rightly there was a lot of people all excited about him reviving old sounds etc. Seven Nation Army is probably the best thing on here but if you want to listen to some super wankery with terrible lyrics then listen to Little Acorns; "cut off your hair girl, straighten your curls - your problems hide in your curls" apparently!

Seven Nation Army: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J2QdDbelmY

Little Acorns: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz4dVof3mTc