Harakiri by Serj Tankian

Released:  July 10, 2012
Rating:  69.09
Genre:  Hard Rock

This is the new solo album by System of a Down singer/founder.  The music here is something of a hybrid, between his previous, prog-rock, solo work and SOAD's heavy metal.  Tankian's voice is very distinctive, and either you like it or you don't (I do, obviously).  The lyrics pretty angry (the language is not for the kids) and the music is pretty heavy.

I liked it more than the average critic, but opinions were all over the place.  From Alternative Press ("a worthwhile and intriguing listen.") to PopMatters ("The most confusing, drab, inexplicable pop-punk album I've heard in years.")

Check out a couple of my favorite songs from the album and make up your mind for yourself:

• The pseudo ballad Occupied.
• The skittish Ching Chime.

Deep Time by Deep Time

Released:  July 10, 2012
Rating:  73.33
Genre:  Indie

Lot's of bass and percussion.  Electronics tastefully layered in.  The vocal is an elegant, deep toned female voice.  This duo (Jennifer Moore and Adam Jones, from Austin, Texas) just sounds cool; perhaps a little outside of the world most of us live in.  Whether it's above or below is not always clear.

The eponymous album is the duo's debut (sort of.  They performed as Yellow Fever the previous four years, until they got sued because someone else already had rights to the name.)  In any event they never got much notice beyond the local scene in Austin; which is no feint praise.

My favorite song on the album is Clouds.  Bermuda Triangle is a great example of the minimalist vibe they can use.  (Click the song titles to hear the songs via youtube.)

The album didn't make it into the top 10, but it made it to the top 15. And even making on the list is an endorsement. So far this year I've read over a thousand reviews, listened to nearly 200 albums and bought about 50. I definitely recommend giving these guys a listen.

The House That Jack Built by Jesca Hoop

Released:  June 26, 2012
Rating:  70.00
Genre:  Singer/Songwriter

I've read comparisons of her songwriting  to Simon and Garfunkel; of the related artists on Spotify, the only one I recognize is My Brightest Diamond (sort of an operatic chamber-pop); and she's considered a contemporary of the likes of Devandra Banhart (the king of Freak-Folk).  When first contemplating her sound I was having a hard time characterizing it and, frankly, I didn't see the comparisons being made by the professionals.  However, the more I listen to it, I realize that if you could actually put those elements into a blender, you really would get Jesca Hoop.

She was actually discovered by a musical hero of mine: Tom Waits.  She was the nanny to his family for five years.

This is her third album (my first).  I really like a lot about this and would suggest you listen to: 

• The opener Born To.  A great folk pop song.  This is the hyperlink to the official video.
• The beautiful, melancholy Deeper Devastation.  This is a live recording, but it's very clean.

This wraps up the June releases for me. I picked up 6 new CDSs and, although they included Metric and Bobby Womack, both excellent records, the rest of the June releases were really good, but not great.  I picked up 7 albums in June and they are somewhat more varied: from Serj Tankian's hard-rock to Frank Ocean's R&B, inspired by Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.

Happy listening and, please, let me know what you're listening to these days.

The Plot Against Common Sense by The Future Of The Left

Released:  June 12, 2012
Rating:  68.00
Genre:  Punk!

This is some really angry stuff. That said, the 4-piece, Welsh, noise-rock band's fifth album (in just 6 years) has some great moments.  They remind me of early clash. In fact, the opener, Sheena Is A T-Shirt Salesman ( click to hear the full song), seems to be a sequel to the Clash's 1977 Sheena Is A Punk Rocker.  I cannot recommend that you rush out and buy this album.  Look it up and listen to it first.  If you're in the right space for some angry, pounding punk rock, then this is the perfect answer.

Note as one who considers himself pretty liberal, I, for one, hope this is not the "future of the left."  I'm looking forward to some peace and serenity.

The Bravest Man In The Universe by Bobby Womack

Released:  June 12, 2012
Rating:  70.91
Genre:  Alternative R&B

I recommend finding this album on Spotify (or somewhere else) and listening to the entire thing.  If you find as much of it interesting as I do, add it to your collection.  Until then, I'd suggest you give a listen to a couple of great examples of what's here:

• The soulful Please Forgive My Heart
• The supercool Dayglo Reflection, featuring Lana Del Ray

There are two story tracks to follow for this album. 

The first is Bobby Womack, who probably isn't well known (except maybe by name) to most of my contemporaries; or me, for that matter.  He will be 70 years old next March and he's been performing since 1953.  (He met Sam Cooke at that first performance with his brothers; and was later recruited by Cooke, when he formed his own label in 1960/61.)  He's toured behind James Brown and was an early inspiration to Jimi Hendrix.  He wrote the song It's All Over Now, which the Rolling Stones made into their first Number 1 single in England.  He Sang back up for Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin and a featured write for Wilson Pickett.  In the late '60s he had his own R&B Chart hits with covers of California Dreamin' and I Left My Heart In San Francisco.  He wrote Breezin' which became a huge hit for George Benson (and the title track for his best selling album.)  In total, he's released more than 25 albums and contributed to countless more.

Damon Albarn convinced Bobby Womack to contribute to the Gorillaz 3rd album, plastic beach.  They became friends and this album, Womack's first in 13 years, grew out of that friendship.  Damon Albarn produced, composed and played on the album.

Damon Albarn is the second story track.  He's somewhat younger (he'll be 43 within a few days of Womack's 70th B-day) and I've already written some about him, since I'm a huge Gorillaz fan, so I won't devote as much space to him here.  He fronted the Blur, created the Gorillaz and was part of the The Good, The Bad and The Queen.  Earlier this year he released Rocket Juice and the Moon with Tony Allen (from Fela Kuti's band) and Flea (from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  He also released a traditional Opera this year.

In Our Heads by Hot Chip

Released:  June 12, 2012
Rating:  74.55
Genre:  Indie Electronic

Hot Chip made a huge impression on me the first time I heard them back in 2008 (Made In The Dark).  That album would easily be in my top 10 this year.  Their last album (One Life Stand) was a little disappointing to me.

This album is of the same caliber as Made In The Dark.  It's a little more experimental than either of those, but there's a combination of hooky pop songs and gorgeous ballads.

To get a taste I'd recommend The up beat, How Do You Do? or the gorgeous Look At Where We Are.  Both links are to the official videos.  I'm not sure that's a good thing.  Try listening before watching.

The London based quintet released their first EP in 2000 and they've released six full length albums since. 

It's difficult for me to compare them directly to anything else out there.  Musically, I hear traces of (the happier) Beck, LCD Soundsystem and even mid-career Brian Eno, but vocally, I think they're unique.

Synthetica by Metric

Released:  June 12, 2012
Rating:  80
Genre: Indie Rock

Metric had my number one release of 2009, and if you haven't heard Fantasies, all I can say is go and find it.  So here we are, 3 years later and Metric has another amazing album.  It leaped into the lead (so far) for my 2012 Album of the Year honors and it has a decent chance to stay there (though I hear No Doubt has an album coming this fall.

Lead singer Emily Haines' voice is ant once sweet, powerful and sexy.  Combined with the music, coming from the traditional rock combination of guitar, bass and drums, works so well together that I become totally mesmerized and I just can't stop listening!

Every song on the album is excellent.  The two standouts for me are the pounding Youth Without Youth and the girlish Lost Kitten.  Breathing Underwater and the driving title track Synthetica are also absolutely kickin'.  Click the song titles to hear the tracks via youtube, or do yourself a favor and buy the whole album!

This is the 5th album in nine years for the band that generally calls Toronto home these days.  Their backstory is complex, but worth the time, so, if you're interested, follow this link to the AMG write up on the band. 

Spoiler alert:  the liner notes have been printed in reverse image.  But just because they care, they provide a mirrored film to help you read them.  (It didn't)

Generals by The Mynabirds

Released:  June 5, 2012
Rating:  72.00
Genre:  Indie Folk

I don't know that I buy the "folk" part of the genre.  I actually hear a lot of Kills-style punk-blues.  In fact, like the Kills, this is a duo featuring a female lead vocalist (Laura Burhenn) and a male guitarist (Richard Swift) though they both also provide percussion and synthesizers.

With a comparison to the Kills, it's no wonder I love this album.  It doesn't have the stellar standouts of the last two Kills album, but it also doesn't have a throw-away in the 10 song set.

Check out the official videos for the hard driving title track, Generals, or the retro-chic Disarm.

(By the way, this is the sophomore release for the D.C. based band)

Words And Music By Saint Etienne (by Saint Etienne)

Released:  May 29, 2012
Rating:  75.38
Genre:  BritPop

I was once told this is my genre.  I don't know that's true, but there's no denying I find a happy place here.  Clearly connected to the 60's, with influences from 70's disco, 80's dance and 90's indie, this is great listening-music.  The slightly breathy, female lead vocal handles influences from early girl groups to disco queens to Madonna and Gwen Stefani.

This is an intro for me, though the band has existed for 20 years and their origins date back to the two founding members making mix tapes as teenagers in the early 80s.  This is their 10th album, but their first in nearly seven years.

This was a tough disc to come by.  It's still not been released i9n the US and since I couldn't find any news that it was coming, I ordered it as an import.  I paid too much, but damn, it's a great album.

• The half narrated/half sung Over The Border, about the singers earliest memories of BritPop music is my favorite song on the album.  (The chorus actually reminds me of Al Stewart)
• The Last Days of Disco has a bit of a No Doubt feel.
• Popular makes me think of 90s era Madonna (at least the music.)
• The official video (which means a brief advertisement) for Tonight is pure BritPop fun.

The Light The Dead See by Soulsavers

Released:  May 22, 2012
Rating:  71.67
Genre: Downbeat

I may be a little harder on them than the major critics, but I still think this is a great album.

The media refers to them as downtempo.  I'd probably have called it prog rock.  Some of it might even qualify as chamber pop.  Their bio describes it this way "This British downtempo electronica duo with rock, gospel, and country influences was formed by producers/remixers Rich Machin and Ian Glover" and AMG's review of this album characterizes them as "the production duo who prefers the sounds of spaghetti westerns to synthesizers"

This is the fourth full length studio album for the duo from Britain since their first in 2003.   This is my second album from them.  My introduction to the band was 09's Broken, with Mark Lannegan (see earlier review of Lannegan's Blues Funeral) on vocals.  David Gahan, from Depeche Mode, provides the vocals this time out.

To get a sense of who they are, give a listen to the love son In The Morning or the VERY downbeat Gone Too Far.

Urban Turban: The Singhles Club by Cornershop

Released:  May 15, 2012
Rating:  71.67
Genre:  World Music; Pop; Etc

 

This is my third album by the multi-cultural, British quintet in the past 4 years (it's their 7th album since '95) and, in that time, they've gone three completely different directions.  The first album I picked up was Judy Sucks a Lemon For Breakfast in 2010, a 60s style pop album; last year's Cornershop And The Double O Groove Of was full-on Punjabi Pop/Dance; this is more of a mixed bag, some old fashioned AM pop, some dance and some Indian influenced world-style music.

Though of the three, this scores the lowest, it's still a lot of fun and worth a listen.  Try What Did The Hippie Have In His Bag (feature the children of the Welsh Castle Hill Primary School).  Or, better yet, go into Spotify to hear the whole album.

Trespassing by Adam Lambert

Released:  May 15, 2012
Rating:  68.00
Genre:  Pure Dance Pop

I was tempted not to admit I have this, or that I'm keeping it.  It's so mainstream compared to most of my 21st century collection.  And the low rating?  That's mostly the result of too many songs.  The album is 15 songs and nearly an hour long.  If he'd left off 4 songs (that are way too sappy for me) it could have made it into my top 10.

I will assume most of you are familiar with Adam Lambert, so I won't spend much time on his backstory (American Idle runner-up; came out of the closet after the show; got a little too wild for his own good; calmed down and cut a good album.) Stand out tracks (in my opinion) include:

• The 80s-style dance tune Trespassing
• The pseudo-funk song Shady
• Don't hold it against me, but try the Bon Jovi (Slippery When Wet-era) styled Outlaws of Love

Death Dreams by PS I Love You

Released:  May 8, 2012
Rating:  72.00
Genre:  Noise Pop

This is the sophomore LP for the duo from Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

They made a heck of an impression on the less-than-mainstream critics, getting a metascore of 77, but no mention from the New York Times, Rollingstone or All Music Guide.  The worst review the got (3 stars out of five) included the following:  "Lyrics ... come off as exceedingly everyday - as well as vital."  It's pretty cool stuff, but I'm slightly less taken.

To describe the sound, I'll quote from Paste Magazine:  "frontman Paul Saulnier on the glorious fuzzbath that is 'Future Dontcare,' his cracking, Tom Verlaine-esque chirp engulfed in radiant, distorted waves of electric guitar, firing sparks off Benjamin Nelson’s ricocheting snare rolls."  (By the way, Tom Verlaine is the lead singer for the New York band Television.)  Oddly, they also draw multiple comparisons to Cheap Trick.  In any event, they score way high on my "off-beat meter" and remind me a little of Wussy, though they're not quite up in that rarefied air.  For a sampling, check out

• The official video for Princess Towers; or
• The live take of Sentimental Dishes.

Neck of the Woods by Silversun Pickups

Released:  May 8, 2012Rating: 74.55
Genre:  Indie Dream Pop/Rock

The third, proper, full length studio album from the L.A. quartet, and their first since 2009.  This is the first time they've captured my attention, though not the first time I've listened to them.  It's a tremendous piece of work, though, oddly, in my opinion, the album. starts slow.  The second half is far more exciting, with my favorite being the eighth track, Pit.

The related artists list on spotify includes some of my all-time and recent favorites (e.g., Pearl Jam, The Pixies, My Bloody Valentine, The Flaming Lips, Sonic Youth, Modest Mouse and Metric). I'm not completely convinced of some of those relationships, but in any event, I highly recommend checking this out.  A good cross section (click the track titles to hear via youtube.com) includes:

• The somewhat sinister Busy Bees
• The cinematic, and somewhat harder rocking Mean Spirits (this vid is live on Letterman, please forgive the leading commercial.)
• My favorite, the tightly wound The Pit (this is also live on Letterman, you shouldn't have to watch the commercial again.)

Master Of My Make Believe by Santigold

Released:  May 1, 2012
Rating:  70.91
Genre:  Alt Pop and Electronic/Dance

 

Sometimes I understand why a performer spends a lot of time worrying about external issues, like their name:  typically, there isn't much real substance underneath it; or, occasionally, it can be they were cursed with a name that misrepresented what they were trying to do (e.g., Chaim Weitz, better know as Gene Simmons).  But Pennsylvania-raised Santi White (her first album was released under the name Santogold; she had to change to Santigold when she was sued by professional wrestler Santo Gold) brings the goods. 

If I come across less enthusiastic about this album (her second) than I did her debut, it's only because the sound is no longer completely new, although that's not to say this is just more of the same.  With writing support from Alt Rockers Nick Zinner (the Yeah Yeah Yeahs),  David Andrew Sitek (TV On the Radio) and others, there's a lot to discover.  (One suggestion, do not listen to this immediately after Norah Jones.  The contrast is too great and can cause pain.)

Suggested tracks:

• The opener, GO!, with Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
• The alt rocker, Disparate Youth (this is the official video).
• The Keepers, which seems to blend Prince with David Byrne.

 As a mildly interesting side note, all four characters on the album cover are Santi White.

...Little Broken Hearts by Norah Jones

Released:  May 1, 2012
Rating:  75.00
Genre:  Pop Jazz
First, this was produced (in addition to co-written and performed) by Dangermouse, aka Brian Burton.  Those that have followed by blog know my mantra: If Dangermouse is involved, buy it.  This album only reinforces that for me.

I get a real sense of two artists, strongly influenced by their own recent past, coming together to make something wholly different.  From Jones I hear a hint of her country side-project, the Little Willies, and lot from her last album, which she stated was influenced heavily by Tom Waits.  From Dangermouse comes parts of Broken Bells (his project with Shins vocalist James Mercer) and Rome, the Dangermouse/Danielle Luppi homage to the Spaghetti Western soundtracks.

Click the song titles to hear full length cuts via youtube:

• My favorite and the heavily Dangemouse influenced Say Goodbye performed live on Letterman.
• The smoky/sweet After The Fall, also live on Letterman
• The country/pop crossover, Happy Pills, the official video

A couple interesting notes/coincidences here:  Norah Jones first worked with Dangermouse only last year on Rome; On Rome, Jones split the vocals with Jack White; Jack White released his latest album only a week before this came out.  Finally, did you already know that Norah Jones' father is Ravi Shankar?  I didn't, but I think I should have.  (Do you know who Ravi Shankar is?)

Blunderbuss by Jack White

Released:  April 24, 2012
Rating:  75.38
Genre:  Punk Blues

First, let me just say that this albums kicks it.  (Which finishes out an April low on quantity, but high on quality.  All three albums made it into the top 10!)  This album slides easily into the number 4 spot.

Beginning in 1999, Jack White and (and his now ex-wife) Meg (guitar/vocals and drums, respectively) put out the first White Stripes album, by 2007 they had released 5 more albums and won two Grammies (for 2007's Icky Thump: Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group).  While the White Stripes were still performing, Jack White joined the Raconteurs as a guitarist, which released two successful albums (in '06 and '08.)  In 2008, Jack White met Allison Mosshart (of the Kills) when the Kills opened for the Raconteurs.  They released two albums as the Dead Weather (in '09 and '10) with White on drums.

In his spare time he opened his own studio, produced albums for a couple dozen other performers, contributed to movie soundtracks (Cold Mountain) did guest appearances with a number of other performers, from Alicia Keys to Dangermouse and has appeared on film (TV and movies) a dozen times.

And this is his debut album!

Picking just a couple examples off this record is about as hard as it gets. There are just too many great songs, but I've tried to do my best. Click on the following links (full length versions, compliments of YouTube.com)

I'm Shakin' is my favorite. It's got a boogey woogey thing goin' on, reminiscent of some of the angrier early (i.e. '50s) rock.

Sixteen Saltines is a raw, angry song with an angry video to go with it. This is the official video, so you get to sit through a 15 second commercial. It's worth it.

Folila by Amadou and Mariam

Released:  April 10, 2012
Rating:  73.33
Genre:  Worldbeat/Afro-Pop

Folila (which means music in English) started as two albums of the same material.  "Same songs, tunings, and tempos...with Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner, Santigold, Theophilus London, members of TV on the Radio and Antibalas, the Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears, and Bertrand Cantat. The other was a Malian offering, cut in Bamako with master musicians, including Bassekou Kouyaté on ngoni, Zoumana Tereta on sokou, and Toumani Diabaté on kora, to name a few."  They ended up blending it into a single release with the western and African instruments combined.  The songs are sung in English, French and Bambara.

This is just a lot of good music from a married couple with a fascinating back story (see below).  To get a taste, click the song titles below for a link to the full songs on youtube.com:

• Dougou Badia, featuring Santigold
• Wily Kataso featuring feat. Tunde & Kyp of TV on the Radio (this is the official video)

If this whets your appetite, then go to Spotify and listen to the full album or, better yet, BUY IT!

Mariam Doumbia was born in Mali in 1958, became blind at the age of five and taught music and dance at Mali's Bamako Institute for the Young Blind.  Amadou Bagayoko was born in Mali, in 1954, began his musical career in 1968, became blind as a teenager due to a congenital cataract, and attended the school where Mariam was teaching.  Amadou & Mariam met in 1975.  In 1980, the pair married and decided they would make a good collaborative musical team. Over the next five years, they performed in their home country. In 1985, the two toured out of country for the first time. Their first major label release wouldn't come out until 1999.  They've released six more studio albums since then.

Locked Down by Dr. John

Released April 3, 2012
Rating:  76.00
Genre: New Orleans Blues and R&B

March was amazing for new music.  I picked up 6 killer albums and 4 of my 2012 top 10 (so far) were released in March.  At least in terms of numbers, April was much slower, with only 3 new discs deemed appropriate for the collection.

We start off with, what is likely to be, the oldest performer in this years collection.  Dr. John, born and raised in New Orleans, will be 72 in November this year.  This is Southern R&B and Blues.  The AMG reviewer, Thom Jurek, describes it this album very well: "It melds primal rock, careening R&B, and electric blues in an irresistible, downright nasty brew." Dan Auerbach (of the Black Keys) produced the album, shares writing credits and provides most of the guitar work here.  The album is nearly perfect.  Every song absolutely smokes. To hear great examples, click on the song titles below to hear full streams courtesy of YouTube.com

• Ice Age is reminiscent of his hit, Right Place, Wrong Time
• Getaway has a killer solo by Auerbach.
• My Children, My Angels is early-70's psychedelic.

Dr. John's recording career goes back to the 1950's.  Originally a guitarist, he had to give it up when he received a gunshot wound to his left ring finger (while defending a bandmate).  He tried bass guitar and finally took up the piano.

Dr. John has nearly 30 albums, five Grammies (his first in 1989 and his last in 2008) and only one major hit song (1973's Right Place, Wrong Time.)  He was inducted into the Rock & Roll hall of fame in 2011.

Sonik Kicks by Paul Weller

Released:  March 27, 2012
Rating:  70.77
Genre:  British Trad Rock
Guitarist/vocalist/songwriter, Paul Weller, released his first recording as the leader of the English band, the Jam in 1977.  This is his eleventh studio Album since beginning his solo career in the early '90s.  He still has some of that punk/new wave sound goin' on, but with a definite 21st century spin.

Give a listen to a few of my favorites by clicking the song title:

• The Brit pop Kling I Klang
• The orchestral By the Waters (live recording)
• The psychedelic Around The Lake