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Takk - Sigur Ros
by Puggers
It's kind of hard to review something like this - the fourth album from iconic Icelandic group Sigur Ros, Takk rather defines efforts to pin it down with precise words and definitions. It's not just that I don't understand Icelandic; even if this were in English, I'm not sure it'd help all that much. The lyrics and vocals feel like ... embellishments on the instrumental side of the music, little flourishes that gild the already quite exceptional lily. That's not downplay the haunting presence of vocalist Jonsi's tones, rather to praise the astounding soundscape that plays out in the background.
The instrumentals are quite a feat throughout this album; ranging from clashing, visceral thunderstorms of music to barely-there trills and scatterings of percussion, there's never a beat too many or few. Sigur Ros manage to paint pictures with their sounds, and they're invariably ones that seem to ally themselves with the band's wild, remote homeland - volcanic swells and fields of emptiness that pull you irrestistably into the narrative of the music.
I lack the technical vocabulary to describe exactly what Sigur Ros do, but they do it expertly. Hoppipolla is the tour de force that will have drawn more newcomers to the band to buy this album, and it remains the stand-out track on the album, invigorating and sparse in turn, soaring and contemplative, and ultimately wonderfully evocative and uplifting. This isn't the only winning track here though - Glosoli and Andvari are both excellent. In fact, the album works as one unit almost perfectly - the whole is arguably a greater triumph than any one song.
If you haven't already got this album, you've almost certainly heard the band's music - it's provided the soundtrack to any number of things, although it's so much more than background music. It's an intense, immersive, inventive experience that really stands out in any field. It's a storm of sound and imagination.
Basically, I liked it. An awful lot. I'm sure you will too.
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Tourist History - Two Door Cinema Club
by Abski2001
Tourist History - Two Door Cinema Club
I came across the band Two Door Cinema Club whilst listening to the radio not long after they released Tourist History. I immediately liked their style, lyrics and sounds and so purchased the Tourist History album.
The band are from Bangor in Northern Ireland and are made up of ... three guys Alex Trimble on vocals, guitar, synthesiser, beats; Sam Halliday on lead guitar, backing vocals and Kevin Baird - bass guitar, backing vocals. Their debut album was released in March 2010 and reached 24th in the UK Album Charts which isn't bad for an indie/alternative band.
Tourist History has ten tracks on it and they are all pretty amazing and I can easily listen to the whole album without skipping any tracks which for me is very good going. The Album cover has a very cute cat looking through the 'O's' in the artists name, again anything with cats and I'm sold. The album was recorded in London at Eastcote Studios in July 2009.
1. Cigarettes in the Theatre
A great opening track with a quiet and subtle guitar intro that soon breaks into a loud, fast and upbeat tune. The strumming is fast and the lyrics are catchy, definitely a catchy and dance tune. I like the way the song is upbeat and then quietens down on the verses. You can see their talent immediately.
2. Come Back Home
Again a soft and subtle intro to the song, this is more about his voice that the big sounds, until the chorus that is. I'd say this reminds me of a bit of an anthem where you're in a club or bar and everyone sings to one another. There's a really catchy clapping sound throughout the track and Alex's voice is very intoxicating. Again guitars ad synth's are present throughout an there's some very good instrument playing
3. Do You Want it All?
One of Two Door's well known tracks. This has beautiful soulful versus and a very, very catchy chorus consisting of one line - Do you want it all? This is a very good track and one of my favourite, particularly the last minute where the music and guitars get nice and loud and they get a bit wild on their instruments.
4. This is the Life
High pitched guitar sounds and a very funky sounding bass. This reminds me of a great summer tune from both the sounds and the lyrics. This is slightly lighter than the rest of the tracks and a bit more mainstream in my opinion. It's good but not heavy enough for my liking.
5. Something Good Can Work
A more folky/summery sounding tune with very fast lyrics! I have no idea what he is saying but it sounds musically pleasing. Again the chorus is upbeat and catchy, but the track has softer sounding instruments throughout. His voice sounds a bit more soulful than rocky on this.
6. I Can Talk
Great intro with the' ah oh ah ah oh' sounds at the start. The chorus is great with fast and furious guitar and bass strumming which goes quiet for the versus making the lyrics seem very extreme. Again there are solo guitar parts and more random backing vocals throughout. Catchy and fun!
7. Undercover Martyn
Released as a single in 2010 this is another popular track, the lyrics are lovely, his voice is lovely. A great catchy chorus, maracas, clicky percussion instruments, what more could you ask for in a song. Again full of energy, fast lyrics and lots of guitar.
8. What You Know
My favourite, amazing high guitar solo to start, very electro, this is such a good dancing tune with great beats that you can swivel to on the dance floor. This was released as a single in February 2011 and is a very popular track for good reason. I again really like the lyrics and can play this over and over again.
9. Eat That Up, Its Good For You
This is not quite as light and poppy as some of the other tracks, still catchy but not quite as good in my opinion. Defineately a bit of a come down after What You Know, However the last minute is pretty epic with fast strumming and passionate vocals.
10. You're not Stubborn
This sounds a bit like a closing track, which of course it is. Just the three guys having fun playing their instruments and jumping around. The chorus is really funky and lively and a good closing track I think, throwing all they have into the tune.
I have been lucky enough to see Two Door Cinema Club live recently and have to admit they sound just as good live as they do on record! Fabulous album, as is their second one. I would recommend buying the deluxe version of the cd which has a second disc with remixes and bonus tracks. This is £8.49 on Amazon right now and the single album is priced at £5.20. Absolutely fabulous band that you can dance your heart out to. Buy!
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Great Burrito Extortion Case - Bowling for Soup
by thehonesttruth
If there is one band that can make me feel like a teenager again, it's Bowling for Soup. It's odd really, as most of the songs they're known for, and certainly this, my favourite album, were released a good few years after I'd outgrown my teens. Maybe it's the sheer cheerful energy and bounciness, and the almost comedic lyrics of the ... song that make me feel young again.
The Great Burrito Extortion Case is Bowling for Soups 9th studio album. It should be noted here that I have the US edition of the CD, which contains the following 14 songs:
1. Epiphany
2. High School Never Ends
3. Val Kilmer
4. I'm Gay
5. Why Don't I Miss You
6. A Friendly Goodbye
7. Luckiest Loser
8. Love Sick Stomach Ache (Sugar Coated Accident)
9. Much More Beautiful Person
10. Friends Like You
11. When We Die
12. 99 Biker Friends
13. Don't Let It Be Love
14. If You Came Back To Me (includes secret track, Outro)
There are several editions of this album, some of which come with extra tracks.
I'd describe bowling for soup as a very teenage band, in terms of both their sense of humour, andin their subject matter. A lot of their songs are silly, but thats not to say they don't address any meaningful subjects, in amongst poking fun at the music industry, the media, and the popular kids. There are a few songs addressing love, and more particularly break ups, but even the songs dealing with the sadder subjects are quite upbeat and catchy.
In terms of actual musical style, I find them quite hard to categorise - they're a little too lighthearted to be rock, not quite anarchic enough to be punk, and not quite cheesy enough to be pop, and although a lot of their lyrics could be considered emo, they are delivered in far too cheerful a fashion. The best description I can think of for them is very tongue in cheek pop punk.
In terms of the actual tracks, there are some that are absolute winners with me. My absolute favourite on the album is High School Never Ends, which compares celebrities to various high school stereotypes, and denounces the media for being just as shallow and vacuous as people in high school with the following lyrics:
The whole damn world is just as obsessed
With who's the best dressed and who's having sex,
Who's got the money, who gets the honeys,
Who's kinda cute and who's just a mess
And you still don't have the right look
And you don't have the right friends
Nothing changes but the faces, the names, and the trends
High school never ends
Despite being a bouncy, happy, catchy song, I think the reason I like it is that it's just something I can identify with. Although I've certainly changed since secondary school, I see friends around me that are almost exactly the same - grown women who should know better talking in LOLspeak on facebook, sharing links of celebs with cellulite,commenting on how hideous everyone is, and still crushing on popstars!
Another favourite, and again one that cleverly hides a serious statement behind the bounciness is 'I'm Gay', which spreads the message, in the bands words, that 'It's perfectly fine to be a happy individual'. Far from being a song about sexuality, it's actually a tongue in cheek complaint about the fashionableness of 'emo' particularly in the music industry. It pokes fun at the misery laden lyrics, the 'my parents hate me' mentality, and the tendency for artists to take themselves too seriously.
One of the more serious songs on the album is 'When We Die', a song about the mistakes we all make in life, and the importance of moving on from them and trying to put them right, before too much time passes and there isn't any time left. Its a catchy song, but a little sadder in tone than many of the others on the album, and I think it is the level of emotion in it, compared to the silliness of some of the other songs, that makes this one stand out on its own.
I can honestly say there isn't any song I dislike on this album. I just really love the style of the band - the bounciness, the guitar, the bass riffs, the singing matched with occasional shouting. There aren't even any songs I would consider weak links - there are some that stand out as being notably different from the rest in tone, such as 'If you come back to me' but they're still great songs, musically and lyrically, and they just go to show that the band can do serious sometimes.
Overall, I adore this album. It's one of my absolute favourites to listen to, as it never fails to raise a smile, nod my head in agreement, and start singing along. 5 stars, a fantastic album.
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