What Are You Listening To?

[CRAZY-HORSE]

THE VACCINES "what did you expect from the vaccines?" cd, 2011. #4 UK, #197 US.

another of those cd's i won when i correctly picked the top 5 singles here in january on the ARIA website...
i had heard of these guys,well, read about them, but not heard them, so i was please to win something i knew nothing about.
debut set from these lads from London,England.
im hearing vague resemblances to Arctic Moknkeys, Strokes, Arcade Fire here...and on my favourite track, similarities to 1980s indi outfit,The Smiths.
i honestly cant see this growing on me much, but it is reasonably good considering it is something i would not purchase.
these guys were also apparently the first act to appear on "later...with jools" in the UK without any material released at that time...guessing Jools Holland must like them!
after getting my links i found some of the live versions are actually superior sounding to the album versions....and yes, there is another bloody "hidden track" on this one(man, i hate those things)

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: post break-up sex
best track: a lack of understanding

tracks:

1. wreckin' bar ** #157 UK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkz1e2-Hdic live-vevo
2. if you wanna * #35 UK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJa90MocQwA live
3. a lack of understanding ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyfcTOM1D08 audio
4. blow it up ** #157 UK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N53j3OalqyQ live
5. wetsuit ** #164 UK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfUANKY2gxM audio
6. norgaard ** #84 UK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VI3q4T-1Jc&ob=av2e video-vevo
7. post break-up sex * #32 UK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHiUKngfops live
8. under your thumb *
9. all in white **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eceht1_F0cA live (above two tracks)
10.wolf pack **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNKHBJHTaYo audio
11.family friend **
12.-hidden track- **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_MFMUN6ww8 audio (above two tracks)

3s=1
2s=8
1s=3

rating: 1.8

[Music Head]

^^
loved your favorite there

[CRAZY-HORSE]

yeh...and it wasnt a single...go figure that one out???

[SteveO]

BJORK - Songs From the Volta Tour (2007)



Bjork Gudmundsdottir recorded this fabulous album live in the infamous Olympic Studios in Paris. It is more of a studio album with no live audience or at least no audible noise from the audience? Bjork sings her heart out in her quirky style as one has to acquire a taste for her voice like we do for Cohen, Dylan and Young...to name a few.

Personally I love Bjork's music and this album is one of those rare birds in which I like all the tracks ! She is an eccentric and eclectic artist and is associated with at least a dozen musical styles. The tracks here feature her with loads of synthesizers and electronica as well as a brass ensemble.

SOUND SAMPLES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TapJtBIHkGA innocence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3biZkA-TNvs army of me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMJzR7lFg4s&feature=fvst i miss you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1Q9ppPPHjU&ob=av2e earth intruders

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDYMfm0JQOE all is full of love *****Live in New York (an amazing performance!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgFajP3vLro pagan poetry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZvEcjUKXR0 vertabrae by vertabrae

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuAvLVa6ryI declare independence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuAvLVa6ryI my juvenile

[CRAZY-HORSE]

to be honest SteveO i have not heard much Bjork..and the ones i have are a bit too "out there" for my taste, but that said, my 22yo daughter loves her.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

LITTLE RED "midnight remember" cd, 2010.

another one of those Corey reccomendations i got some time ago...probably one in ten he offers me is crap,the rest good to very good, unfortunately this one falls into the 'former' catagory.
an Aussie band, been around for six or seven years, this is their second album,it reached #5 over here, two singles: "slow motion" #79, and "rock it" #19 also made the charts.
the album, musically speaking, is divided up into two halves, the first six tracks are very wishy-washy ones with plenty of keyboards and synths, with dreamy vocals, but have beautiful harmonies, this side is where most of my "do not like" track appear....
the second half is more pop/rock based indi sounds, some good tunes,good vocals and melodies/harmonies and i like the majority of these ones, unfortunately the earlier tracks let the album down, thus getting a score of 1.65 in the rating, guess i could have rounded it up to a "like" or down...i chose down, as i would not reccomend this one to anyone based on those crappy first tracks.
on the latter half we are exposed to the odd horn section,flamenco style guitar work,indi ballads and straight rock/pop...no bad tracks in this half, and its a struggle to pick a favourite of those, so listen to the favourite i pick then maybe listen to one or two of the others below it....

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: i cant wait
best track: place called love

tracks:

1. get a life *
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMkkswpj5YY audio
2. slow motion *
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW1Sa2s6TQI live
3. forget about your man **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9slsQrNmJ5A audio
4. rock it *
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoQwwcf2ERU video
5. all mine *
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeZQ7wxct4s live
6. i cant wait *
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irfXrsDkHlg audio
7. place called love **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33iUzxpGVgM audio
8. lazy boy **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpqWCnYSXm8 live
9. little bit of something **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc_b3-SxK5E audio
10.in my bed **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iuUTaqL07g audio
11.follow you there **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5rljKlpfgI audio
12.going wrong **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojoqG-q_aR8 audio
13.chelsworth **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC99EhXX6jw audio

3s=0
2s=8
1s=5

rating: 1.6

[CRAZY-HORSE]

THE LIBERTINES "up the bracket" cd, 2002. #35 UK.

debut set from The Libertines....
a reccomendation from Corey a long while ago, again, one of the few he offered me that i do not like!.
i have a strong dislike to all things they call "modern punk"....its not punk, punk is Ramones, New york Dolls, Clash and Sex Pistols and that genre died a quick explosive death around 1978 IMO.
this one was produced by ex-Clash founder Mick Jones,it does have a touch of his sounds to it in places, and the band do have a slight punk attitude but again...it aint punk!
Pete Doherty's lead vocals are nothing to write home about neither...i think he sings quite flat for the most part, and IMO the only things he excels at are drug and booze binges, assaulting people, and generally being famous just for being famous.
only a handful of tracks on here i like, the rest are total throwaways IMO!

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: horror show
best track: radio america

tracks:

1. vertigo **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoxk6FOFqN4 audio
2. death on the stairs **
3. horror show *
4. time for heroes *
5. boys in the band **
6. radio america **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLM0lS6LNV4 audio
7. up the bracket *
8. tell the king *
9. the boy looked at johnny **
10.begging *
11.the good old days *
12.i get along *

3s=0
2s=5
1s=7

rating: 1.4

sorry for the lack of links.....i basically couldnt be bothered after listening to this dissapointing album!

[CRAZY-HORSE]

THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM "sink or swim" cd, 2007.

debut set from Brian Fallon and Co....
not as good as their two latter albums, but a reasonably good effort IMO,
these guys have drawn comparisons to fellow Jersey singer Bruce Springsteen from music critice since day one...and justifiably so IMO, from the hard edged rock sound,through Brian's raspy vocal style and on to their songs about 'mundane working class hopes' and 'the american dream'.
three on here i do not like, and the only three tracks of the three albums and Fallon's solo set that i do not like...guess they were still honing their sound and writing skills at this time.
three great tracks on here also, tracks 8,11 and 12, track twelve having a bit of a Woodie Guthrie feel to it, but i think track eleven(we're getting a divorce,you keep the diner) just pips them at the post....
overall, a solid set of tracks,but as i said, not their best album...

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: 1930
best track: we're getting a divorce,you keep the diner

tracks:

1. boomboxes and dictionaries **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HH0hT0v0ww audio
2. i coulda been a contender **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8BI_RCX8xE audio
3. wooderson *
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwce61kLGD8 live
4. we came to dance **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELoNVrEcPjw audio
5. 1930 *
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNO1TyvwOio audio
6. the naversink banks **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akQ5Ogw6ggk audio
7. red in the morning *
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58ScUfawBXQ audio
8. i'da called you woody,joe ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsLxQqBvECM live
9. angry johnny and the radio **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq_g5wSTUY4 live
10.drive **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClWHlXWSG9M audio
11.we're getting a divorce,you keep the diner ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw7iYluJwxI audio
12.red at night ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aKW0vjcrwI audio

3s=3
2s=6
1s=3

rating: 2.0

[CRAZY-HORSE]

KINGS OF LEON "come around sundown" cd, 2010....#2 US, #1 UK, #7 AU.

fifth or six album by these three brothers and their cousin from Nashville,Tennessee who now reside in Oklahoma....
mush better affair than their previous effort with that stupid "sex on fire" song which was a huge hit and helped them hit the bigtime...
this one is not quite as commercially sounding as that one, but not as alternative as their previous albums either...somewhere inbetween IMO.
has vague similarities to Band Of Horses and My Morning Jacket in places with a hint of slide guitar in places on the second half of the album...
no real big hits on this one either, but Radioactive did hit the UK top10 and made the top20 here in Australia
still a decent album and probably their best IMO

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: the face
best track: mi amigo

tracks:

1. the end ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU5qmH60HhA live
2. radioactive ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq0tMOpKmgs live
3. pyro **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7NoA0yp_3M live
4. mary **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIIn8BkVlgU live
5. the face *
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzzbLK3XOY8 audio
6. the immortals **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT_74t--kD0 audio
7. back down south ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBOuqyqmtJk&ob=av2e vevo video
8. beachside **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwbTjV6055A audio
9. no money ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTpG-NA5PXA live
10.pony up **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO8gH67VANc audio
11.birthday **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgSPVhwqjX0 audio
12.mi amigo ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvRlk3LPgSY audio
13.pickup truck **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x70T7QYhQyE audio

3s=5
2s=7
1s=1

rating: 2.3

[Music Head]

^^
comes in as my favorite of theirs