Ours: Mercy, Dancing for the Death of an Imaginary Enemy
Jimmy, will you marry me?
After 6 years, Ours has finally come out with another stunning release. What else can you expect with Rick Rubin seated in the Producer's chair? Jimmy Gnecco's voice is still as beautiful and tortured as ever. You really feel a tug on your heart when he goes into one of his aching wails. The first half of the album is perfection, second half took a few listens to grow on me. The only thing that I have to complain about is the random female voice that closes the album - at the end of the last track, a female voice begins to sing "and the more you love, you love" over and over. It seems to come out of nowhere and in my opinion it takes away from what is otherwise a flawless record.
* Please demand OURS in Toronto so I can see them again! (see sidebar to demand)
Fast Faves: Black, Murder, Live Again
http://www.myspace.com/oursmusic
Portishead: Third
Oh Dear Beloved Portishead, thank you for returning.
After seeing them at Coachella and having my mind sufficiently blown, I had to grab the new Portishead album. Although it wasn't as life-altering as I had hoped/expected, it certainly was not a let down in any way. Anyone who was a fan of Portishead before will enjoy this album. The contrast of Beth's eerie, hauntingly beautiful voice with the synthetic creations of her male counterparts is just so striking and lovely. This album definitely proves that these Trip-hop pioneers are alive and well, and still just as relevent now as they were when the released their last album of new music over ten years ago.
Fast Faves: Nylon Smile, Machine Gun
http://www.myspace.com/portisheadalbum3
Black Mountain: In The Future
I was gutted that they conflicted with Roger Waters at Coachella. Then I blacked out in the crowd and had to be taken to the EMS tent. As I started to get my bearings back on my lovely cot, I heard a familiar song starting at the stage closest to the tent - I looked over and saw on the screen Black Mountain breaking into "Stormy Stormy High" - the Universe decided I was whining too much.
As you may know, I love anything that sounds like it could have been released in 1973 - and this album definitely harkens back to those glory days of rock, without sounding contrived. The Vancouver natives ambitious sophomore effort does not fall short of its mark. It flows effortlessly between soft psychedelia and pounding rhythms without losing the listener for a moment. In the Future is one of those rare records that you can happily listen to from start to finish. My opinion?: This is definitely one of the Must Have albums of 2008.
Fast Faves: Stormy Stormy High, Tyrants
http://www.myspace.com/blackmountain
IN THE MAIL: 
The Parlor Mob: And You Were a Crow
Can't wait to hear the full album - Heard of these guys through mutual friends and adore everything I've heard of them so far!
http://www.myspace.com/theparlormob
Rilo Kiley: More Adventurous
I likely won't review this since it came out in 2004, but I only recently discovered the joys of Rilo and bought their newest release "Under the Blacklight" first in prep for Coachella. Now that I've seen them (and will be seeing them again at the Pheonix this month) I know it's time to grab this one!
http://www.myspace.com/rilokiley
Posts
3 comments:
portishead was definitely my fav at coachella....too bad I didn't know you then, we could've partied!!
It would have been great to have experienced it with someone who actually GOT IT. (the girl I went with had opposite taste - bad idea)
:)
The female voice singing at the end of the Ours album is Jimmy's daughter, he thought it added a quality of innocense and he kept her voice pure, didn't have her singing perfectly on key with a machine...just natural..I think it's really sweet.
Post a Comment