Of course by a couple hours I meant a few? I had to run to the cinema to catch the latest Sherlock Holmes movie. I missed the first one but I heard it was mediocre. After hearing this one was supposedly better and so on, all I could think of after watching it was "meh". Guy Ritchie was the director, and while I loved some of his flicks, there was just too much going on and not enough plot in this one. Lack of substance seems to me a recurring theme in modern entertainment. Let's check out some stuff with a little more of that shall we?
#15
Owiny Sigoma Band
Owiny Sigoma Band
Who? I hadn't heard of them either until Thom Yorke posted one of his little lists on his website. Thankfully those Radiodudes have pretty good taste in music, because what we have here is a lovely little surprise of an album. It's a fusion of traditional Kenyan music with an English style jam band. The result is really cool.
It has all the esoteric percussion bits you'd expect from something out of the African continent, but also lots of funky guitar riffs and some traditional drum kits to even it all out. They wouldn't be out of place at all at a festival, like say Evolve. Actually I think they'd be awesome to see live. After listening to this album, I bet you'd feel the same way.
Wires
Doyoi Nyajo Nam
Odera Lwar
#14
Battles
Gloss Drop
Ya buddy! Battles returned with their second full length album, four years after their last totally awesome album. This time they were without vocalist Tyondai Braxton who has left to pursue a solo career but the vocals were really secondary anyway so he's hardly missed on this one. The real key to this group is drummer John Stanier, formerly of metal band Helmet, who kicks drum-skin ass like few others.
Thumping drums and pile-driving guitars are trademarks of this band, and this album does not disappoint. It even features some guest vocalists including the magnificent Gary Numan, who is still at his best more than twenty years after the height of his fame. If you want high-octane noise pollution with a hint of direction and the slightest brush of sanity, look no further. These guys are truly a sight to behold live, and this album might suggest it, but really it has to be seen to be believed. Check it.
My Machines
Africastle
Inchworm
#13
Foo Fighters
Wasting Light
At last! A rock album! It's getting harder and harder to convince everyone, myself included, that rock isn't dead. I mean all we really have left are a half dozen decent old timers like these guys to keep the dream alive. Hopefully somebody new picks up a guitar and learns how to play it like a champion soon, because otherwise we're gonna be stuck with pre-fab pop garbage and run-of-the-mill raison d'etre indie rubbish.
For rocking out alone this album leapfrogs over several possibly more deserving albums, but that doesn't mean this one isn't good. It might not be the best Foos ever, but it's still pretty damn impressive considering their first album came out in 1995! Credit where credit is due, it's a solid record and well worth picking up to drown out the mainstream chorus. And while we're on the topic of ass kicking drummers, who else aside from Taylor Hawkins can sing awesome backup vocals at the same time?
Rope
Bridge Burning
Dear Rosemary
EP #5
Parov Stelar
La Fête
If electro-swing was a piece of equipment, then Parov Stelar would be the industry standard. Marcus Füreder is the man behind the music, and he can make you groove like few other. Maybe it's his Austrian roots, maybe he just really likes to swing, whatever it is, he's got it down to a science. This latest EP has more of a tech house feel to it than previous offerings, but it's still swingin' like nobody's business and you should definitely grab the vinyl if you can get your grubby little hands on it. Take caution, though, this kind of music can incite the same kind of scantily clad dancing portrayed in the video below.
Wanna Fête [Wanna Get Remix]
Diamonds
Le Piaf
Back with part 4 tomorrow!
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