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Album Reviews / Music / Reviews — 26 Comments
25
Aug 09

fun. – Aim and Ignite, Album Review

CD and LP giveaway, details at end of review

fun. Aim and Ignite, Album Review album reviews reviews 2 fun.
Aim and Ignite

Nettwerk
out August 25th

84/100
[Rating Scale]
Buy it at Insound!

[rating:84/100]

Nate Ruess doesn’t really care about traditional structure, tempo, and instrumentation. He doesn’t need to create a memorable, radio-friendly chorus for every song. No, that’s too easy for the former lead singer of The Format. He much prefers throwing in gospel choirs, swing beats, swelling violins and pulsing drums wherever he pleases, not necessarily where the song requires it. He likes to mix it up, play around a bit. He likes to have fun.

That’s why the opening track to fun.’s debut record, Aim and Ignite, is so perfect. Ironically titled “Be Calm,” the song frenetically shifts from a sweet ballad, to a full-blown show-tune number, to a stomp-along head-banger for just two awesome seconds (2:03) and finally to a euphoric marching band anthem. Continue reading →

Album Reviews / MP3 / Music / Reviews — 11 Comments
2
Jun 09

Harlem Shakes – Technicolor Health, Album Review & Vinyl LP Giveaway

Harlem Shakes Technicolor Health, Album Review & Vinyl LP Giveaway album reviews reviews 2 Harlem Shakes
Technicolor Health

Gigantic Music
released March 30th

[81]
[Rating Scale]
Buy it at Insound!

[rating:81/100]
When the Afro-Pop  guitar chords, rickety drums, and wavering vocals fill your headphones at the start of Technicolor Health, you can’t help but to feel a bit wary of the Harlem Shakes. You can’t help but to wonder if the hype was undeserved, if this is a Vampire Weekend or Born Ruffians knock-off band, if you’ve heard this all before. Fortunately, you can’t help but to be wrong.

Because pretty soon, the horns kick in, the falsetto kicks in, and the distinct sound of the Harlem Shakes takes over. Continue reading →

Album Reviews / Feature / Listen / MP3 / Music / Reviews — 21 Comments
13
May 09

Green Day – 21st Century Breakdown, Album Review & Giveaway

Note: PMA gives away each album it reviews. Learn how to enter at the end of the review.

Green Day 21st Century Breakdown, Album Review & Giveaway album reviews reviews 2Green Day
21st Century Breakdown

Reprise
Out May 15th

[74]
[Rating Scale]
Buy it at Insound!

[rating:74/100]
“Dad,” I used to whine, “you had the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Springsteen. All of those bands managed to be both popular and good. But ‘mainstream’ music stinks today. All I have is N*Sync, Nickelback, and Fall Out Boy. All the big bands are one-hit wonders, and it’s embarrassing to actually like them. Even worse, it’s hard to actually like them because of how bad they are. When will I have a band that, years down the road, I can see playing a reunion concert to the same amount of fans they had when I was a kid?” My dad simply reassured me that I would have my generation’s defining rock stars, a band that I could like with no shame. And after two epic rock-operas that revitalized the traditional album, that band has proven itself to be Green Day. Continue reading →

Album Reviews / Listen / MP3 / Music / Reviews — 7 Comments
1
May 09

St. Vincent – Actor Album Review

St. Vincent Actor Album Review album reviews reviews 2
[rating:55/100]

Disclaimer: I have not listened enough to this album to let it grow on me. If it’s indeed a grower, I apologize for this review. But I don’t think it is.

With the first two singles off of Actor, Annie Clark had me fooled. Both “Actor Out of Work” and “The Strangers” led me to believe that Clark (better known as St. Vincent) would be releasing an indie-pop-rock gem; one with lush orchestration, fuzziness, restrained weirdness, and catchiness galore. I was wrong. And because of internet hype, my assumptions, and mostly Clark’s eleven tracks, Actor turns out to be one of 2009’s most disappointing albums. Continue reading →

Live Performances / Movie Reviews / Music / Reviews / Videos — 3 Comments
8
Apr 09

Miroir Noir – Arcade Fire Documentary Review

Miroir Noir Arcade Fire Documentary Review live performances

[rating:90/100]

There’s no other concert movie like Miroir Noir. This is probably because there is no other band like the Arcade Fire.

Yes, I understand that AF models their sound off of other bands. Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Bob Dylan are all cited as influences of the band, and countless others can be named. But no other band meshes such lush orchestration, such beautiful lyrics, such haunting vocals, and such broad concepts in such a fantastic way.

I realize that I am biased, with AF being my favorite band. But that’s the thing: they WEREN’T- until I saw their intense, passionate live show, that is. And Miroir Noir, among other things,  films Arcade Fire concerts in the only way that makes sense- with jittery, fast-paced motions, ever-changing color palletes, and a shaky camera that somehow never loses control. Continue reading →

Album Reviews / MP3 / Music / Reviews — 9 Comments
6
Apr 09

One For The Team – Build A Garden EP Review

One For The Team Build A Garden EP Review album reviews reviews 2

[rating:73/100]
I came up with a new genre, you can take it or leave it: “chill-out music.” Music like Jack Johnson, The Shins, The Avett Brothers. One For The Team fits perfectly into this genre. This isn’t to say that they sound like the aforementioned bands/singers, it’s just that all their tracks have a certain quality about them that just makes you want to sit down and chill.

Their new EP, Build A Garden, is short and sweet. It provides four new tracks and four re-worked ones; all eight of them full of lush, harmonic, stripped-down melodies.

Garden is the perfect EP for an end-of-TV-episode montage, a rainy day, or a long, reflective car ride. The band uses simple melodies and hooks over light, softly strumming guitars. They chant the songs together, giving them a sing-a-long, campfire feel. While this gets a little old towards album’s end, as standalone tracks, almost all eight of them work well, and as an album, for the most part it’s a quality experience. Continue reading →

Listen / Live Performances / MP3 / Music / Videos — 25 Comments
6
Apr 09

Modest Mouse – Satellite Skin

YouTube Preview Image
[rating:48/100]
“Meh” was added to the dictionary this year, meaning “mediocre” or “boring.” I tend to use this word a lot when I review things, so I figured that I should fully define the term at some point. And Modest Mouse’s latest, “Satellite Skin,” gives me the perfect opportunity. Continue reading →

MP3 / Music / Remixes — 9 Comments
3
Apr 09

U2 – Get On Your Boots (Justice Remix)

U2 Get On Your Boots (Justice Remix) mp3
[rating:88/100]

Justice took one of my ten favorite singles of 2008 so far (no, that was not an April Fools joke, I love “Boots,” don’t lose all respect for me please), and made it into something completely new, original, different, and awesome.

Rather than taking “Boots” and turning it into a club-banger, Justice instead chose to change the song’s dynamic, adding soulful piano, horns, and looped Bono. So now, instead of being an awkward-groovy-rock-Radiohead imitation by Bono and company, “Get On Your Boots” is a funkadelic, toe-tapping, head-bopping show-stopper. Continue reading →

Listen / MP3 / Music — 2 Comments
3
Apr 09

Brazilian Girls & David Byrne – I’m Losing Myself

Brazilian Girls & David Byrne Im Losing Myself listen

[rating:79/100]

David Byrne has made sure to keep himself relevant and cool in 2008/09, singing with Brian Eno, N.A.S.A., and now the Brazilian Girls. The ex-Talking Heads singer has been doing a great job, making far from a lame cameo on “I’m Losing Myself,” but instead carrying the song with his enthusiastic talk-singing and sputtering. The song’s got a great groove, with a funky chorus, out-of-control horns and electro-noises; all complemented by exciting, upbeat vocals from Byrne. Not to mention the power-out, shut-down ending with all singers together chanting “ooo” that got a smile out of me. Continue reading →

Listen / MP3 / Music — No Comments
3
Apr 09

Great Lake Swimmers – Everything Is Moving So Fast

Great Lake Swimmers Everything Is Moving So Fast listen
[rating:49/100]
Just like One For The Team’s “Best Supporting Actress,” Great Lake Swimmers’ “Everything Is Moving So Fast” contains beautiful guy/girl vocals and a softly strumming guitar, and doesn’t build into anything more than it’s initial melody would suggest. But “Moving So Fast” doesn’t have anywhere near the catchiness that “Actress” has, it isn’t nearly as memorable, and the song simply moves too slow, dragging the listener along with it. Continue reading →

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