What I Can't Stop Listening To: February 2009

now playing: Accept - Balls to the Wall

Hoo boy. It's been a while, hasn't it? Rest assured I still have a few more posts under my belt. There's a few very interesting albums coming out in the next couple months that are definitely deserving of review, including but not limited to the Ghost Hounds' debut album and a new EP from the Sterns. I've also got one review in the pipes for Canadian thrash/melodeath band The Agonist's Lullabies for the Dormant Mind. March will see a lot more activity; this I promise. But until then, here are the five songs I can't stop listening to for February 2009.

05) The Lonely Island - I'm On a Boat (feat. T-Pain)

You already know The Lonely Island, even if you don't realize it. These guys are the comedic geniuses behind the Saturday Night Live Digital Shorts "Dick in a Box" and "Jizz in My Pants". The SNL roots of this group (current cast member Andy Samberg and two writers, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone) has helped these three guys get some major star power, including Jack Black, Justin Timberlake, and Natalie Portman. "I'm On a Boat" is an anthem about how great it is to be on a boat. It also features T-Pain making love with AutoTune (and nautical creatures) to great effect. It's a simple concept that is completely vulgar and completely works. You can buy The Lonely Island's debut album, Incredibad, on iTunes.

04) Ben Folds Five - Alice Childress

I've known about this song for a while, but I went to a Ben Folds concert two weeks ago (which I plan to write about) that rekindled my love for this song. Is it the best song named after a girl that Ben Folds has written? I don't think so. But there's something about the harmonies in the chorus and the soft, quick piano solo that keeps me coming back. You can buy Ben Folds Five's debut album on Amazon and if you're lucky, you can catch the tail end of Ben Folds' current tour.

03) Fleetwood Mac - The Chain

Of course, what can I say about Fleetwood Mac's Rumours that hasn't already been said a million times over? Just because I'm not going through a breakup doesn't mean I can't enjoy the best breakup album ever made. Like many others before me, it's the chorus and the bass breakdown that keep me coming back to this song time and again. If you're one of three people in America who don't already own this album you can buy it on Amazon or iTunes.

02) Coheed & Cambria - Justice in Murder

I've had a lot of people tell me that "Justice in Murder" is the weakest track on No World for Tomorrow, but I have to disagree. Yes, it's simplistic, but I think that makes it easier to digest. Sometimes I don't have the mental wherewithal to take in a half hour of modern prog rock at its best, which is why "The End Complete" falls to the wayside in favor of this song. I'm not a particularly hardcore Coheed fan, but if you are, don't miss your chance to pick up the special edition of Neverender, a 5-DVD, 4-CD box set chronicling last October's four-night performance of the story of The Amory Wars in New York.

01) Repo! The Genetic Opera - Zydrate Anatomy

I feel positively dirty supporting anything that involves Paris Hilton singing, but this song is as addictive as the drug it describes. I haven't seen Repo!; this is the only experience I have with the movie, but what an experience it is. The bass hits hard courtesy of Rob "Blasko" Nicholson (Rob Zombie, Ozzy Osbourne) and what little guitar there is comes straight from Daniel Ash (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets). One listen to this song will have you telling everyone around you how zydrate is packaged for weeks on end. (It comes in a little glass vial.) You can get Repo! The Genetic Opera on Amazon in film and soundtrack form.

That about wraps it up for February. I'll see you guys in March with more reviews. Until next time, keep your eyes on the skies.

Album Review: Rock 'n Roll Children

now playing: Guster - Barrel of a Gun

The members of Finnish heavy metal group Sturm Und Drang are scarcely 17 years old, but they already have two hard-hitting albums under their belt. Rock 'n Roll Children (GUN Records), released on November 10th, follows 2007's Learning to Rock (Helsinki Music Company); comparing the two albums, it's apparent just how much the band's sound has evolved in so little time. Vocalist André Linman is getting more mature not only physically, but musically, as well, and the band follows. The licks are meatier, the drumming more powerful, and the bass lines more rumbling. Yes, compared to the album before it, it's really something special. But how does it stand on its own?

Those expecting influences from Dio from the title of the album would not be entirely far off. In several songs, I noticed inspiration drawn from Skid Row, Accept, Gamma Ray, Sonata Arctica, and of course, Judas Priest. This album certainly sounds like it could holds its own against the greats. However, like many songs from the era of 80s metal, every song on the album follows a fairly distinct formula with regards to construction. I don't think I could listen to Children on repeat for fear of getting bored. It's possible, though, that the band planned for this: At least half the songs sound like they were produced with explicit intent to perform live. These tracks are rife with call-and-response singing, choruses with memorable melodies, and extended solos to show off the band's chops. I'm going to count this as a mark for the album, even though Sturm Und Drang has only ever played one show outside Europe.

The other issue I have with the album is not something for which it is easy to hold anyone culpable. Linman sings in English, and while his grasp on the language is mostly natural, there are a few moments I can think of when his accent makes it hard to understand him. By and large, though, his singing has vastly improved from what it was on Learning to Rock. If the band gets a third try, I have confidence that he'll sound like he's been speaking English for most his life.

When compared with their previous album, Rock 'n Roll Children shows a marked evolution and maturity in the group's sound. As a standalone album, it's slightly more impressive. I have high hopes for this band. They get closer to falling into their own with each song they record. If they keep up this pace, it won't be long before these children become rock and roll men. B

You can import Rock 'n Roll Children from Amazon or download it on iTunes. Sturm Und Drang will be touring Finland through May starting on February 19th. Go here for dates.

What I Can't Stop Listening To: January 2009

now playing: 3OH!3 - Holler 'Til You Pass Out

Before I start with this post, I have a little bit of bad news. The Ghost Hounds, previously mentioned in this post, have had their debut album pushed back from February to late April. I'm not sure what the issue is, but as long as their album is still coming out, I'm happy. Now, without further ado: Here are the songs I can't stop listening to for January 2009.

05) 3OH!3 - Don't Trust Me

A song like this is hard to ignore. From Boulder, CO comes dance-rap group 3OH!3 and their biggest hit so far from this album, "Don't Trust Me". A friend of mine started typing the lyrics at me and I just had to hear it. I wasn't disappointed. Lyrics like "tell your boyfriend / if he says he's got beef / that I'm a vegetarian and I ain't fuckin' scared of him" and "shush girl / shut your lips / do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips" are backed by positively infectious electronic beats and synth, to say nothing of how addictive the chorus is. You can hear "Don't Trust Me" and other songs on 3OH!3's MySpace.

04) Stolen Babies - Filistata

Personally, I don't think there are enough songs about genera of spiders. Enter Stolen Babies, a dark cabaret group from California. With bands like Jack Off Jill and Daisy Chainsaw among my favorite disbanded groups, it's very refreshing to hear the bass lines and combined screaming and singing that I love so very very much again. I have strong hopes for Stolen Babies. I'd hate to see them die before their time. You can check out songs off There Be Squabbles Ahead at Stolen Babies' MySpace.

03) Sturm Und Drang - Heaven (Is Not Here)

Confession time: I love power ballads. I think they are the epitome of modern rock music. (That's not entirely true, but it's close enough.) Sturm Und Drang hail from Finland and were inspired to start a band after seeing a Judas Priest concert. Their harder songs show their musical chops, but "Heaven (Is Not Here)", the closing track off Rock n' Roll Children (which I intend to review soon) lets the boys really shine. One of these days, I'm going to see them live, and my lighter will be at the ready for this song. Sturm Und Drang's MySpace has samples from both their albums so far.

02) Poe - Hello (Full Band Version)

If you follow American Idol, you may know Poe most recently as the girl who does that song that appears in that one Ford commercial all the time. I know her as a magnificent singer and songwriter, as well as the sister of House of Leaves author Mark Z. Danielewski. This song is a remake, originally appearing on her 1995 album of the same name. As far as I can tell, it's a MySpace exclusive; Poe has some tricky licensing problems going on with everything she recorded on Atlantic. I could go on for ages about her, and at some point I will, but at this point I'll just say that the remake turns what was a good song into a great song. You can check it out on Poe's MySpace, along with nearly everything she's ever released.

01) Orleans - Still the One

Ah, Orleans. This song may as well be my perpetual number one pick for this feature. I've been a fan of this song for nigh on 15 years now, ever since it appeared on my parents' wedding tape that my dad played incessantly on long car rides. (Not that I'm complaining, mind.) For a song like this, I don't think I need to explain why it's a classic. The vocal harmonies, two guitar solos, and a cappella breakdown are what do it for me, but your mileage may vary. Orleans are still having fun today; you can listen to all their hits on MySpace Music (including the one that inspired the title of this blog) and keep up with everything the band is doing now on their official website.

That's all for January. I'll see you in February with more of the same, only hopefully I'll be posting more frequently. Until next time, keep your eyes on the skies.

Album Review: Folie à Deux

now playing: Fall Out Boy - Headfirst Slide into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet

Following hot on the heels of 2007's Infinity on High (Mercury), Fall Out Boy presented their fifth studio album Folie à Deux (Decaydance) in December of 2008. I'm not the first and I won't be the last to call Infinity a troubling change in the band's sound, which makes Folie all the more surprising. The band has struck exactly the right balance between the pop-rock anthems they've become known for and a new sound rife with stylistic experimentation and more guest singers than a Live Aid concert.

One thing Folie brings to the table is the hook, clear and prominent in every song. Maybe that's wrong -- maybe the hooks have always been there, but we've never been able to understand them. In between Infinity and this album, it seems vocalist Patrick Stump took lessons in diction. For the most part, the lyrics come out clear as a bell, leaving the mushmouth ways of being a little man who is also evil, also into cats far behind. This turns out for the better; lyrics criticizing emo bands and encouraging listeners to change their own lives wouldn't be half as powerful if they had to be checked and cross-checked with liner notes and lyric websites. And on the subject of subjects, the thirteen songs on this album seem to focus more on the tenets introduced by Ian Dury: Sex, drugs, and rock and roll. While still keeping a poppy feel, Stump wails about having an illicit affair, a Benzedrine addiction, and how nothing can damage his ego, all decidedly rock staples. And he does it all tastefully in a way that will leave you singing for hours.

In fact, the whole band follows Stump in much the same way. In the course of listening, I was taken through pop-rock, classic rock, club, charity chorus (think "We Are the World"), and cabaret, with some songs even showing distinct electronic and R&B influences. Through all these styles, drummer Andy Hurley consistently impresses, showing off his chops in every last song. Guitarist Joe Trohman adds powerful licks and finally gets a few solos, and yes, even bassist Pete Wentz gets his time to shine with the bass-driven "w.a.m.s.".

However, for everything Folie à Deux does right, there are a few things that detract from the experience. Though Stump sings much more clearly, he still suffers from occasional incomprehensibility, most notably when he switches to falsetto. And unfortunately, the liner notes are no help; most of the pages are almost entirely blank, with the only hint to lyrics being through a website given on the last page of the booklet that just redirects to the official fan website, where the lyrics that are provided are wildly inaccurate. While I'm sure the band has a good idea behind this decision -- something like letting whatever you hear be the "right" lyrics -- part of me wishes they had just printed the lyrics in black and white. I do realize that shows some incredible nitpicking, though, so it doesn't detract too much from my final score.

I would be remiss, though, not to mention the incredible amount of guest artists on this album. One track, "What A Catch, Donnie", is a veritable who's who of Decaydance Records. It features guest vocals from Travis McCoy (Gym Class Heroes), Brendon Urie (Panic at the Disco), Alex DeLeon (The Cab), Gabe Saporta (Cobra Starship), William Beckett (The Academy Is...), and Doug Neumann (Doug Does Decaydance). The great Elvis Costello joins the chorus in the very same song. Urie also sings on "20 Dollar Nose Bleed" and DeLeon adds his voice to "Tiffany Blews". Rapper Lil Wayne adds a bridge to "Tiffany Blews", and even Debbie Harry of Blondie gets her piece, singing part of the chorus of "West Coast Smoker". Maybe this album should have been called Folie à Plus. A-

You can find Folie à Deux on Amazon or iTunes. Do your part to save the industry and start buying music again. Fall Out Boy will be on tour with Cobra Starship, All Time Low, Hey Monday, and Metro Station in April. Go here for dates and tickets.

What I Can't Stop Listening To: December 2008

now playing: Mêlée - Biggest Mistake

Every so often, I come across a few songs that I couldn't stop listening to if I wanted to. I'm sure you know the feeling -- something about them is just so infectious, or just unlike anything you've heard before, or just plain good that you want to play it until the metaphorical grooves wear out. In this monthly article, I'll talk about the top five songs that I couldn't stop listening to if you paid me.

05) Anamanaguchi - Helix Nebula

I owe my knowledge of this band to my friend Doug in Washington, who has a much more interesting musical taste than I. But this is of course my blog, so you'll have to settle. It doesn't show very well in the thumbnail, but the album cover for Anamanaguchi's Power Supply is entirely pixel art, which is fitting considering the four-piece group plays chiptune electro-rock that's one part nostalgia to three parts meticulously constructed tunes that put anything that's appeared on the NES to shame. Half the songs clock in at under three minutes, with the whole album barely 20 minutes long. "Helix Nebula" is all about the drums, and near the end, the key change to kick the main riff up to the next level. You can check out the entire album for free on 8bitpeoples, Anamanaguchi's label.

04) Fall Out Boy - 20 Dollar Nose Bleed

Say what you want about Fall Out Boy, but after the disappointment 2007's Infinity on High brought me, it's refreshing to hear a very strong attempt to evolve the band while still keeping that classic sound with their latest offering, Folie á Deux. True to the title of the album, "20 Dollar Nose Bleed" is a song shared by two, with Brendon Urie from Panic at the Disco joining Patrick Stump on vocals. This ode to amphetamines comes off as a bouncy collaboration between both bands with a disturbingly singable chorus and breakdown. My one complaint with the song is that it goes on for about 30 seconds longer with a non sequitur section with little relation to the rest of the song. You can listen to this track and all of Folie á Deux on Fall Out Boy's MySpace; if you like what you hear, you can buy the deluxe album on iTunes.

03) EAR PWR - taco boat

Here's another band I owe Doug for telling me about. I've never been lucky enough to see a live show with North Carolina's EAR PWR, but I've heard stories of audience members being pulled on stage to dance to the surprisingly minimalistic synthpop songs about tacos and the beach. Not one to mince words, EAR PWR tells us exactly this in their first second EP, i like tacos and beach.. (The period is mandatory.) The lyrics rarely get more complicated than "I like waterslide, wiki wiki waterslide" and it works. "taco boat" exemplifies this, as it's just a list of things you'll need to get aboard the almighty taco boat. This includes a stethoscope, a cowbell, and Ron Weasley. You might not remember everything you need, but you'll be singing the chorus for days. Hear "taco boat" and more by EAR PWR at their MySpace.

02) Fall Out Boy - The (Shipped) Gold Standard

No Fall Out Boy song (except maybe the first few bars of "Grand Theft Autumn") has quite gotten into my head like this one. Maybe it's the pre-chorus, singing about proclaiming love but keeping it secret. Or maybe the chorus, begging for a change in the same old complaints, is what resonates with me. Whatever it is, I can't get this song out of my head and I don't think I want to anytime soon. I'm even willing to put up with the fact that the song's title reminds me of Ron Paul.

01) Miranda Lambert - Gunpowder & Lead

Let me make one thing clear: I do not like country music. I do, however, like songs sung by and about badass girls who can and will kick my ass if I look at them funny. It's for that reason that Miranda Lambert's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is possibly the only country album I will ever own. The third single from this album takes the badass girl and puts her among a powerful chorus and a guitar solo, which are all the ingredients I need for a song that I won't soon forget. You can read more about Miranda Lambert on her website and listen to songs off both her albums on her MySpace.

I'll see you all in the new year with new music and new features. Until next time, keep your eyes on the skies.

New Discoveries 2008

now playing: Orleans - Dance With Me

With the new year upon us, it's appropriate for most people with a music blog to talk about the best albums of 2008, or the best new artists of 2008, or the tastiest sandwich of 2008 (which I would have to say was some sort of terrible multi-tiered concoction that needed support beams to stand upright). I, however, plan to talk about some of the best bands I discovered this year. That's a double-edged sword: I don't have to limit myself to this year in music, but I also run the risk of embarrassing myself if I talk about a band that everybody has known about for ages. That's never stopped me before.

The Sterns

Boston-based band The Sterns hit the music scene in 2005 with Say Goodbye to the Camera and delivered again in 2007 with Sinners Stick Together. I picked up their sophomore album a few months ago and was impressed the whole way through with their ability to take guitar, bass, keyboard, and horns and blend high-energy tracks like "Supreme Girl" (about a love affair between Harriet Miers and George W. Bush) and "Twenty-Three Hours" seamlessly with slower songs along the lines of "Rosemary Cross". The quintet-turned-trio is working on a new EP, due out sometime soon. I had the privilege of seeing The Sterns live at the Baked Fresh Festival in October and was not disappointed with any of their new material. Keep an eye out for updates on their MySpace, or pick up their music on iTunes.

Ghost Hounds

It's a real shame California's Ghost Hounds don't have more publicity. In a musical diaspora filled with imitation band after imitation band, they bring a truly unique sound that just can't be found in modern bands these days. These five guys have a heavy blues/classic rock sound with backing vocals in all the right places, real guitar solos, and just a touch of Hammond organ for taste. You can't get this anywhere else. You can look for Ghost Hounds' first album, Vintage Trouble, to hit stores in February 2009. Until then, keep yourself posted on their MySpace and don't forget to sign up for their mailing list.

Paramore

All right, this one's a bit of a stretch, since I've known about Paramore for a while. I did, however, decide to pick up their live album, The Final Riot!, recorded in Chicago on the last show of their Riot! tour. This is without a doubt one of the best live albums I've ever heard. Singer Hayley Williams commands the crowd in countless callback sections, which are my favorite part of any concert, in songs from Riot! and their debut album All We Know is Falling. Just before doing their (unrelated) song of the same title, the band does a brief cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". By the time the show closes with "Misery Business", the energy is pulsing through the speakers at record amounts and it makes me realize just how much I want to see this band perform live. I don't even care if their brand of power-pop is marketed towards the scene kids. (It helps that Hayley Williams is a bit of a fox.) You can find clips from The Final Riot! and more on their MySpace, and if you like that, feel free to check them out on iTunes.

With that, the first edition of Ombrophilia draws to a close. Until next time, keep your eyes on the skies.

Ombrophilia

ombrophilia (äm'brə-fĭl'ē-ə)
n.

1. An abnormal love of rain.
2. A blog about music.