Top Ten Holiday Songs by Anastasia Caras and M. R. Brown
The holidays usher in one of the greatest aspects of the music industry, the holiday songs. Radio stations broadcast 24 hour playlists, artists record holiday song albums and something just seems to be missing if presents are opened without these songs playing. Wondering which one’s to save for that special time? Here is the “Top Ten Songs For Holiday Cheers” list:
1. The Kinks – Father Christmas
2. John Lennon and Yoko Ono – Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
3. Bruce Springsteen – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. Alvin and the Chipmunks – Christmas
5. Billie Holiday – I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
6. Vince Guaraldi Trio – Christmas Time Is Here
7. Elvis – Blue Christmas
8. Run DMC – Christmas Time In Hollis
9. Charles Brown – Merry Christmas, Baby
10. The Ramones – Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight With You)
CD REVIEW: THE KILLERS’ DAY AND AGE by M. R. Brown
Brandon Flowers once claimed that Sam’s Town, The Killers’ follow-up to Hot Fuss, would be the most important album in over a decade. How would he hype Day and Age? The man remained silent and let the album do all the talking this time around.
The Vegas foursome is swinging bravado with glam sensibility for excess. As Sam’s Town was pulled out of the Vegas desert, Day and Age is dragged from the strip after a night of hallucinogens and psychedelics. Think more “Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine” than “All These Things That I’ve Done.”
As with previous albums, The Killers’ strength is found in the up-tempo musings. “Human” is an escape into a world fueled by ecstasy-ridden pleasures of blasting noise and catatonic light. As the album’s first single, the track defines Day and Age with dance-rock sensations and vain fury. A vision of dreams and nightscapes, “Spaceman” is essentially David Bowie for the hipsters today.
There is no instrument that is not considered for the album. Multi-layered and complex, the tracks resonate with additions such as horns, synth, piano and bongos. Drawing from influences of Lou Reed and New Order, “A Dustland Fairytale” and “Goodnight, Travel Well” round out a head-trip of a ride.
Irrational at best, the lyrics of many tracks are confusing at times. Flowers will stray from visions and rant through such songs as “The World We Live In” and “Neon Tiger.” Modeled after Bruce Springsteen, Flowers’ vocal ambitions are met with minor parallel connection issues sporadically. Tracks such as “Joyride” also have troubling finding a place on the album because of such musical striations in sound.
A revelation as flashy as the Vegas strip these four musicians waltzed down for many years, Day and Age reinstates The Killers as the kings of indie rock and roll. Flowers is often credited with the success of the band, but the guitar work of Dave Keuning is nothing short of arena-filling sound packed into every song with epic presentation. The glitz and embellished core of the album is, in essence, one of the most authentic looks at the ever-changing force of one of today’s most important rock acts.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
CHINESE DEMOCRACY WORTHY OF WAIT? by M. R. Brown
Chinese Democracy is not worth the 15 year wait. Could any album be? That said, I can continue to review the album based on what it is rather than what it has been built-up to be.
Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy has been the long-awaited brainchild of Axel Rose and the revolving door of band members. Over that time, the album became infamous for being tagged as the album that would never be released. This is Axel’s album, as if anyone needed to doubt, and it would only be released by his word when he was damn well ready. Many, including Dr. Pepper, believed the album would never come out but all were finally satisfied come November 23rd.
The genius and density of Rose lore can be seen sporadically throughout the album. Whether it’s the biting and self-touting “I.R.S” or wall of sound “Chinese Democracy”, the album is unrelenting in its power. Songs are stocked with multi-layered guitars, giving glimpses into the ever-changing mind of Rose. Many may have wondered if Rose could still wail like a 15 year old girl in choir class, which he surely answers in “If the World.” Tracks such as “Madagascar”, which samples the likes of Martin Luther King, its undeniable that Guns N’ Roses can still tear apart speakers. With soul-infused rock as defiant as its singer, Chinese Democracy is founded on rebellion. With both glam and angst, the album kicks you in the teeth and takes you back to waiting outside clubs with torn up t-shirts and denim.
Does it stack up to Guns N’ Roses of yore? For the thirty-something man or woman who still says “Bring back The Rat!” Chinese Democracy will be a welcomed addition to the CD rack. But for the rock listeners today, the album feels oddly irreverent at times and solidifies thoughts that Axel simply may have waited too long. A great album for what it is, but if only it could have been released 10 years ago.
Chinese Democracy is available exclusively at Best Buy, so go buy into the growing corporate monopoly of music now!
Currently in the works is a be-all-end-all top ten list of Christmas songs, a review for the new Killers' album Day and Age as well as Guns n' Roses' long anticipated Chinese Democracy. Until then, check out the hook while my D.J. revolves it:
Tom Gabel of Against Me! has released Heart Burns, his 8 song solo EP from Sire Records. The album carries Gabel’s folk-infused punk rock songwriting with catchy hooks and sing-along choruses.
As though reverting to an earlier sound, Gabel drops his five piece act for simple guitars and drums with more focused storytelling in mind. One standout track entitled “Anna is a Stool Pigeon” tells the tale of two lovers who meet at a protest rally only to realize one is an FBI informant. One of the truest to form folk standouts, the track harkens the songwriting of John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen with Gabel’s trademark voice.
“100 Years of War” and “Cowards Sing at Night” round out the political skewer of Gabel’s long-running angst with current government administrators. Denouncing involvement in war and calling for the lives back that have been lost, these are among the most biting tracks on the album.
Pounding drum machines and four chord songs, which could get mixed in with the sounds of hipster-trendy indie rock lately flesh out the album with “Conceptual Paths” and “Random Hearts.”
Living by his own words, “You don’t owe anything to anyone”, Gabel puts aside prior Against Me! fan criticisms of the band’s current sounds by charging forward with exactly the sound he wants to play. This is Gabel stripped to the bare-bones of what modern rock n’ roll is. Gabel’s online Myspace music page provides listeners with acoustic version videos of each song on the EP. His next closest shows will in New York and Connecticut on November 20th and 21st.
Although the Boston Bruins may not be carrying any torch for Boston sports anytime soon, one of the most exciting players to watch is the young sophomoric Milan Lucic. The twenty year old has many solid years ahead of him, promising to be a future force for the B's. Likened to a Terry O'Reilly, he is a goalscorer and he is a fighter. Check out one of his hits from the other night on Mike Van Ryn of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
To open up the new year of the Student Voice’s Local Spotlight, I recently sat down with the band Clouds. Bassist John Northrup and drummer Michael Quartulli, otherwise known as Q, discussed their new record, their sound, their future, and they also managed to fit in some politics.
Your sound is not generic rock, how would you describe your sound? Would you call yourselves "radio friendly"?
Johnny: We've been described as "The worst doom-pop crap I've ever heard", "…will only really appeal to greasy middle aged virgins who still live at home", and "Hard to listen to and even harder to like."
Q: Any time someone asks what our band sounds like I say the same thing, Loud Rock ’n Roll. That's all it is. We just play rock ’n roll the way we play rock ’n roll. It’s not like we go to practice thinking we have to sound a certain way, which is what I love about this band. We play lots of different styles, but they are all Clouds. We try not to pigeon hole ourselves.
How is the new record “We Are Above You” doing?
Q: Well the new record is out there. Some people love it, some people hate it. The people that hate it seem to hate that we don't stick to one particular genre, which is fine by me. I don't play music so some dude in his grandma's basement will like it. I play music because that's what I love to do. I think we have a good combination of creative forces and we get what we get out of it. I'm proud of our record and can't wait to record more.
What are some of the goals of the band? Is a major, or near-major, label a must for you to accomplish what you have set out to do?
Johnny: Our goals include missing holidays and major events in the lives of loved ones while touring, plunging further into unassailable debt, and not growing up and becoming real people for as long as possible. So far, so good.
Q: Personally, my goal with this band is to play the music that we all want to play and have fun doing it. As far as major labels go, it's something I've never experienced. (Guitarist and singer) Adam McGrath has. He has his horror stories. I certainly don't want to be on a label that doesn't care about our music and only cares about making their tight white asses richer, only to sh*t us out when they realize we can't make them any money. We have a great label now, Hydra Head, that does care about our music and let's us play music the way we want. They have been nothing but generous to us and I appreciate that greatly.
What are some other bands you listening to right now?
Johnny: I just listen to my own songs. Not even Clouds. My solo stuff that no one will ever hear. I'm like Prince, only infinitely less talented and successful. Taller, though.
Q: Brian Eno, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Ray Charles, The Melvins, Billy Bragg and Micah Blue Smaldone.
What can people expect from a Clouds live show? And what local venue do you like playing best?
Johnny: Four handsome, acrobatic gentleman prancing about on stage in front of big, loud amps, and engaging the huge, huge, humungous, appreciative audience of attractive young men and even more attractive young women with our unique brand of what could only be described as off-key caterwauling.
Q: Whether its playing to hundreds of people or playing to the other bands on the bill, we try to play our best. Someone there paid money to see a show so we might as well do our best to give them one. And when there aren't many people there, that’s when we usually break out the covers.
Johnny: I like playing the Middle East Downstairs because the people that work there are awesome. Sound guys, bartenders and bouncers are all cool. We get major drink tickets there!
What is in the near future for Clouds? Recording, touring, or side projects?
Johnny: By the time you read this, we will be on tour with Torche. We will also have just recorded a 4 song EP. As far as side projects go, we are Adam's side project. It says so in all our press releases.
Q: “We Are Above You” is coming out on vinyl. Its the full album on one piece of wax and bonus piece of wax with 4 covers on it. There are two Guided By Voices songs, a Blue Oyster Cult song and a Kinks song. How convenient for us to have this come out just before we head out on a US tour with our good friends Torche (again) and Coliseum for a month. Oct 21-Nov 25. Get the dates at Myspace.com/cloudsrock. But if you're reading this you probably live in Worcester and won't be going to a show in Lawrence, Kansas, huh?
Anything else you'd like to add?
Johnny: If I could just take a minute to address the fine folks in your scholastic institution for a moment with this advice: Vote, dumbasses. Yeah, I know how the electoral college works and yeah, your vote doesn't actually count for much when its all said and done. However, it's your ticket to the 'Complain Game' when things don't go right. Your complaining just sounds like whining if you don't at least participate in the process. Specifically, vote for Obama. Hopefully he'll give us less to complain about than the other guy.
Check out Clouds’ EP “Legendary Demo” and their new full-length record “We Are Above You”. Both are out now on Hydra Head Records.
