Album Review

Album Review: Failure- The Heart Is A Monster

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Since they announced their reunion, I was hoping for a new Failure album. When I first heard Fantastic Planet way back when, I became hooked and was left wanting more. Thankfully in 2014 they returned and took everyone by storm by picking up right where they left off. Their new album The Heart Is A Monster is well worth the almost 20 year wait. Not only does the album seamlessly pick up where Fantastic Planet left off, it takes you further down the rabbit hole only to come out on the other side with an entirely fresh outlook. Songs like “Hot Traveler,” and A.M. Amnesia kickstart the album in a very upbeat way. “Counterfeit Sky” is an absolute stellar track. I had the pleasure of hearing this song live recently, when you hear this song, you’ll know Failure means business! The softer side of the album has songs like “Mulholland Drive.” This song is a little bit Pink Floyd mixed with The Beatles. Other highlights from the album are “Come Crashing,” “The Focus,” “Atom City Queen,” and two older songs that were reworked “Petting The Carpet,” and “I Can See Houses.

Failure have released what I consider to be the absolute album of the year. The dynamics of this band are unparalleled and inspiring. There is something truly special about the music that is made by Ken Andrews, Greg Edwards and Kellii Scott. The Heart Is A Monster is a modern classic without being a throwback album.

By: Brian Lacy

Album Review: Muse- Drones

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When you think of Muse you think of vibrant live shows with lots of lights and lasers. Not to mention the direction they went in after their breakthrough album Absolution. Shedding their Radiohead tendencies, Muse delved deep into their love of Queen. On their now seventh album Drones, Matt Bellamy and company took their love of all things Queen and added more guitars to it. Produced by Robert “Mutt” Lange (Def Leppard Pyromania and Hysteria, ACDC Back In Black), Drones is nestled deep in its concept and the arrangements are very tight, but the lyrics suffer. While the band has always been top notch musicians, the lyrics come across as high school and very conspiracy theory like.

There are a few saving graces on the album though. The song “Psycho” is an extremely heavy rocking song that I dare say should have been the first single instead of “Dead Inside. “Dead Inside” is your typical standard song you would expect from Muse nowadays. “Psycho” brings back that intensity that was found on Absolution and Showbiz. “Mercy” has an Ours-esque vibe in the vocal melody. One of the biggest things I noticed in listening to the album was the guitar style that Matt is playing with now. It’s as though he is trying to replicate Tom Morello’s sound and bring it to the Muse fold. Sadly though his attempt falls flat. This is very noticeable on the songs “Reapers” and “Defector.”  One of the other highlights I found amongst the album was the song “Aftermath.” There is a really sweet melody that goes along with the song and the guitars sound like they are a part of a Cure song, making this one of the more enjoyable songs on the album. Album closer “The Globalist” starts off with an Ennio Morricone type opener, then proceeds to slow things down almost to a halt.

All in all the album as a whole is very underwhelming. I really enjoyed the albums Showbiz and Absolution. I wish they would go back to their Radiohead tendencies but with a heavier feel. Drones tries to show a more mature side of Muse, but it doesn’t quite get there. This album was supposed to be a more “back to basics” album, sadly their idea of basic isn’t what this turned out to be. Here’s hoping Muse gets back to what they started off as and they stop trying to go over the top with all their grandiose and Queen like vibe.

Psycho:

Dead Inside:

Reapers:

Mercy:

By: Brian Lacy

Album Review: Dekades- Dekades EP

11044567_924639807587793_4001341452036311285_oIn the time that I’ve been writing my little blog, I’ve come across quite a few bands that have given me hope in the future of music. One of those bands is Dekades. These goth rockers have been beyond consistent with all the material they have put out. On their newest EP, the band has stretched out past the norm of most goth/Post Punk bands. They have upped the groove and added another dimension that packs a bit more bounce. The rhythm section of Chris Cano on drums and James Carter on bass have a real knack for pushing the groove to the forefront while guitarist Josh Benson provides dynamic structures upon which multi-instrumentalist Matt Shores applies his ambient textures and all this is tied together with vocalist/guitarist Arden Fisher vocal delivery and conviction. Dekades is definitely a band to be on the lookout for.

By: Brian Lacy

Album Review: Faith No More- Sol Invictus

faithnomoresolcdcoverMost of the time when a band announces their return after a very long hiatus, it is usually met with great excitement. At the same time there is always hope that the reunion brings new music from the band. Sometimes it works out for the best and other times it fails miserably like it did with the latest Soundgarden album King Animal. One of the most anticipated albums of 2015 has been the new album from Faith No More. At first when they released their first singles “Motherfucker” and “Superhero” those songs weren’t anything special. If anything they seemed like just fun songs they came up with and released them to just wet the appetite of their fans. I can honestly say that the album itself is quite good. It could be taken as the logical followup to their 1997 swan song Album Of The Year. The band themselves have not lost a step at all during the 18 year gap between albums. If anything, Faith No More seems reinvigorated and ready to take back what should have been theirs to begin with. Songs like “Cone Of Shame, (my personal favorite on the album)” “Sunny Side Up,” “Black Friday,” and “Matador” are all outstanding tracks. Even the first two songs the released fit in the scheme of the album better than they do on their own.

I wouldn’t say this is a perfect album, but it does hit the mark. One of the best things about the Sol Invictus is that it leaves you wanting more. Faith No More really delivered the goods on this one.

Scale of 1-10: 8

Faith No More-Sol Invictus:

By: Brian Lacy

Album Review: Incubus- Trust Fall (Side A)

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When a band is 7 albums into their career, there comes certain expectations for said bands new albums. Sometimes some of the albums released don’t quite hit the right mark, while others go on to leave a lasting impression and inspire others. In the case of Incubus, their career has had quite a few twists and turns. They have managed to put out two really solid albums, 1999’s Make Yourself and 2004’s A Crow Left Of The Murder, while the rest of their catalog is hit or miss, though they have some songs that are really good from those other albums. Incubus’s latest offering Trust Fall (Side A) is 4 songs and 20 minutes of hit and miss. The first song Trust Fall, could almost fit on A Crow Left Of The Murder musically. The vocal melody from Brandon Boyd is very strong and convincing. The rest of the band is really together on that track. In fact after hearing that song you think this could be a really good sign of things to come. Then “Make Out Party” happens. The verse’s have a very obnoxious vocal melody that is cringe-worthy. The chorus is very formulaic, and just doesn’t do anything special for the song. The first single and third track “Absolution Calling,” is catchy as can be for the band. It’s got a groove to the beat and bass line that follows a very catchy melody. At first listen to this song, you wonder what happened to the Incubus of old, but it does grow on you quite fast. Sadly the EP ends with “Dance Like You’re Dumb” a song that is just awful. This songs makes it seem like Mike Eizinger has spent too much time hanging out and working with electronic artists.

So of the four songs, only two of them are worthy, leaving this “Trust Fall” pretty much a Trust Fail (pun totally intended). For the most part I’ve always enjoyed Incubus. Even on this albums that were misses over the years, I’ve found songs that I can listen to. I don’t know what they were thinking with this one. This EP was also self produced, so the lack of having a producer around seems like that made all the difference. Had they gone back to work with Brendan O’Brien (Who has done all their albums since A Crow Left Of The Murder), this newest release could have ended up differently.

Scale of 1-10:  5

Trust Fall:

Make Out Party:

Absolution Calling:

Dance Like You’re Dumb:

By: Brian Lacy

Album Review: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds- Chasing Yesterday

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There is something really special when the main songwriter of a band takes the reigns of their own musical path. Noel Gallagher of Oasis fame has done that once again on his newest album Chasing Yesterday from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. This 10 song album is the perfect setup to spring and summer. There are those trademark melodies that made Oasis songs really shine, but also the signature (and highly underrated guitar tones) of Noel. Leading track “Riverman” starts the vibe of the album off right. It has a sweet melody that allows the listener to get the idea of where the records mood will take them. “In The Heat Of The Moment,” is a rocker. There is also a subtle dance element to this song that makes you want to move. “Lock All The Doors,” is one of those songs that would fit perfectly on an Oasis album. Noel’s voice on this track really shows his ability to lead a rocking song. Not to mention the guitar solo, is simple yet stellar. This is easily one of my favorite songs on the album. “The Dying Of Light,” is a really pretty ballad. This is one of those songs that had that trademark Oasis melody. “You Know We Can’t Go Back,” is another of the more rocking songs on the album. It also is my favorite track on the album. The catchy chorus that comes with it, not to mention the driving beat really carries this song.

Noel Gallagher has really left his mark with this album. It’s the first album to be produced as well as written by Noel and features a much broader array of instrumentation than ever before; the result is a diverse layered album,  that draws from a range of different genres and influences. Oasis will always be the standard fallback, but Noel really shines on this effort.

Scale of 1-10: 8.5

 

In The Heat Of The Moment: Video

 

By: Brian Lacy

Album Review: Anakin- Celestial Frequency Shifter

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Putting aside genre defining, Anakin simply rocks. Their blend of space rock and hooky melodies carry the weight throughout their new album Celestial Frequency Shifter. There is so much space and ambience entangled with the subtle crunchy guitars. Their influences of Weezer, Failure, Hum and science fiction really shine on this release without overpowering the sound that the band has created. Anakin really took their time to craft songs that can stand out on their own or as an album (as it should be). “Astro(not)” is the perfect beginning to this album. The third song “Lucidity,”  really picks up the pace as as hard charging song complete with sultry hooks.  Songs like “Clairvoyanace,” “Ctrl.Alt.Del” and the closing song “Sunbeam,” really strike with the hooks and distorted guitars. There is also another element that this album has, and that is its ability to be uplifting. The way the vocal melodies are mixed with the synths, create this harmonious meditation while listening. Anakin have made an album that is perfect for the start of a new year. Their notions of hope and the thought of what is out there really comes into play.

On The 1-10 Scale: 9/10

 

Anakin- Celestial Frequency Shifter:

 

By: Brian Lacy

Album Review: Marilyn Manson- The Pale Emperor

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There comes a time in every artists career when the inspiration well dries up and it seems like they are just going through the motions because they have to. Then something happens that reinvigorates and inspires said artist. This just happened with Marilyn Manson. Manson’s new album The Pale Emperor, is his best album since Mechanical Animals. Instead of working with his usual writing partner Twiggy Ramirez, Tyler Bates was brought in. You might know Tyler Bates’s work from Guardians Of The Galaxy and Californication. Their collaboration brought out a whole new side of Manson that is drenched in post-punk swagger and his signature haunting melodies. I’ll be honest, I wrote Marilyn Manson off a long time ago after a stunt he pulled at one of his shows years ago, but when I first heard the song “Third Day Of A Seven Day Binge,” I was totally taken aback and very curious as to what this new album would sound like. I’m really happy with what I heard. This album is honest and real. Songs like “Killing Strangers,” “Cupid Carries A Gun,” and “Deep Six” all pack quite a punch that really delivers. Marilyn Manson seems to be on the right track again after a long detour. In a strange way this album is more than just a reinvention, it’s actually an album about a guy who behind all the makeup and persona, really has something to say.

On the scale of 1-10: 9

Marilyn Manson- The Pale Emperor:

 

By: Brian Lacy

Album Review: Foo Fighters- Sonic Highways

 

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When a band reaches a certain point in their career it’s hard to keep things fresh and inspired. For the bands eighth album the gents in the Foo Fighters tried something different. While the idea is a great one, the final product falls a bit flat. The idea of recording a song in a different city is a great idea. Lyrically it just falls flat. The songs feel rushed and incomplete. It’s as though the thoughts were unfinished. The show on HBO is quite interesting and full of a rich musical history. In my opinion the show is way better than the album. The albums eight songs are very hit and miss. The best song I heard on the album is a song called “Outside” which features the great Joe Walsh. This is the best song on the album hands down. This album is very disjointed and not an “album.”  It’s a collection of single songs, that have no cohesiveness. Also the use of Butch Vig as a producer I think was the wrong choice. His input and methods just don’t work for what the band was trying to do, Nick Raskulinecz would have been the perfect choice. The first song “Something From Nothing” is a good track but nothing special. The whole record is nothing special. In fact I’d probably put this album towards the bottom of the list of ranking their albums. I truly thought that after how good Wasting Light was they would continue on a path similar to how that album turned out. Nice try on this one Foos.

On the scale of 1-10: I give this a 4

By: Brian Lacy

Album Review: Black Map- …And We Explode

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I’ve talked a lot about Black Map. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them live a handful of times, and even interviewed them. So it comes with great pride that I review their debut album …And We Explode. This album is full of heavy riffs, pounding drums, pulsating bass, and vocals that soar above the rest of their peers. The use of melody and structures really plays a big hand in making this a great album. It’s really not every day that you can put on an album from start to finish and truly grasp each note, and word. Ben Flanagan’s crystal clear melodic voice really takes the songs to another level while Mark Engles guitar breaks through with sonic heaviness, not to mention the fiery drum performances from Chris Robyn. My favorite songs from the album so far are “Chinasaki,” “I’m Just The Driver,” “And We Explode (part 1).” “Melee,” “Gemini,” “Ropes,” Black Map are the perfect band to help usher back rock music to the masses. I can’t wait to see where they go next. This album is worth a purchase as is a ticket to their shows. So do yourself a favor and check it out!

Scale of 1-10: 9

Black Map- …And We Explode

http://www.blackmapmusic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/blackmapmusic

By: Brian Lacy