Here are the two bands that I feel best summarize where Rock has been and where it is going. While neither band is new, both are still actively releasing better and better material. Don’t mistake this as idolatry, there is always another band that will come along Clutch: The desert-highway-philosophy machine encompasses all that is [...]
Big Business – Mind The Drift
Big Business Mind The Drift: Big Business are back and rocking as ever. It seems that they learned a bit while being in the Melvins. Previous Big Business albums had been good, but became repetitive as they went on. Here the tracks all vary enough to keep the listener engaged. The drumming and riffing are [...]
U2-No Line on the Horizon
U2 No Line on the Horizon: Bono sings lyrics about boots and ju ju men over hip hop beats and incredibly bad fuzzed out bass. Completely fucking terrible in every way possible. I don’t understand how this band has tricked people into buying any of their records after The Joshua Tree. Rating 0/15 quality points
Paul Weller-At The BBC
Paul Weller At The BBC: A good mix of Weller’s three-chord take on soul music, and acoustic tunes. Spanning 4 CD’s one gets a feel for all of Weller’s lyrical capabilities, which are considerable, and his knack for crafting simple tunes. Weller has the fortune of having a great backing band, that completely understand the [...]
The Mighty Orq-To the Bone
The Mighty Orq To the Bone: To my great disappointment this album isn’t power metal, instead its watered down versions of every style of rock popular in the early nineties. The riffs never have more than two and a half chords, and the singer perfectly fits the role of the deep voiced sleazy singer. Not [...]
The Alternate Routes-A Sucker’s Dream
The Alternate Routes A Sucker’s Dream: Like Maroon 5 with a country twang. The exact kind of goofy crap that might actually get on the radio. Avoid at all costs Rating:4/15 silly hats
Arbouretum-Song of the Pearl
Arbouretum Song of the Pearl: I have to give it to these guys for having an original idea and sticking to it. Celtic folk lyrics and melodies lilt in and out of Sonic Youth style guitar freak outs. The crazy thing is it works. This is a really strong album that I think I will [...]
Sweet Cobra – Forever
Sweet Cobra Forever: Sludgy Rock that’s pretty good. This isn’t earth-shattering and after two tracks, you’ve heard all there is to this album. Still if your friend puts it on in the car, you’re not going to complain. I suspect this band slays live. Rating: 10/15 deep dish pizzas covered in mud
Scarlett Johansson-Anywhere I Lay My Head
Scarlett Johansson Anywhere I Lay My Head: Bland unemotional covers of Tom Waits songs. Taking a little bit of Tom Waits signature growl and clang out of his tunes, isn’t a bad idea. Taking absolutely all of it out is. Rating: 9/15 stick to acting points
