tagged w/ Album Reviews
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Obagam
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added this
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1 year ago
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Obagam
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added this
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1 year ago
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They say:
Jim DeRogatis of the Chicago Sun-Times
The rhythms seem stale, predictable and at times ennervating (slowing to a crawl on "Diplomat's Son," a misguided dalliance with dub reggae); the hooks are much skimpier and less memorable, and bandleader and primary songwriter Ezra Koenig has even less insight to offer while bragging of his groovy globetrotting: His idea of insight into our polyglot culture is to brag of drinking horchata, a milky Mexican concoction made from rice, while wearing a balaclava, a Ukrainian ski mask.
The Independent:
Quite literally, a world of fun.
Stereogum:
Once you start really taking the tracks apart, they start opening up in the hook department and it becomes clear they've gone deeper with the production, and emotion.
Entertainment Weekly:
Contra inevitably lacks the slaphappy dazzle of breakout singles like ''A Punk'' and ''Oxford Comma.'' ... If the lyrics sometimes seem to showboat their 10-carat educations (look, Ma, three continents!), the music remains happily inclusive: somewhere between limbo contest on the lido deck and cocktail hour in Cape Cod.
Rolling Stone:
If Vampire Weekend was Rushmore, Contra is their Royal Tenenbaums: brainy, confident and generally awesome.
You say:
@musictweetmusic The album SMOKES...
@aerogare It's like Franz Ferdinand's second album: rather good in its own right but not as good as the début.
@straightgangsta I haven't even listened to it yet and I know it's good haha.
@andyfortson I think it's meh. The singles are good. The rest sounds like b-sides to the last album.
@JeffD44 I wasn't a fan of their debut, but diggin the new VW Contra, it's less chirpy, and feels a lot more textured and adventurous
I say:
I loved Vampire Weekend's last album before it was all that cool and long after it was declared totally over. I spent a lot of that year traveling back and forth to New York and then up and down the East Coast, and the songs had a great "we've all gone to look for America" modern Simon & Garfunkel vibe, very my-life-is-a-Zach-Braff-movie-soundtrack.
Then this year I discovered fun., who share a certain indie-pop sensibility of quirky, plunky melodies and verbosity. But fun.'s "Aim and Ignite"—definitely in my top 10 for 2009—lacks the pretentious English major issues that keep Vampire Weekend from truly being, well, fun. Last week I was driving along the California coast on a brilliantly warm and sunny winter day, listening to "Aim and Ignite" (I know, my life is so hard), and I realized, I think fun. has made Vampire Weekend kind of irrelevant to my life. Then I heard "Contra" and couldn't come up with any good way to refute that. It's not a bad album, but I found it pretty boring. I've heard it before. And if I'm going to listen to something I already have, I'm going back to fun.
Here's the video for fun.'s "All the Pretty Girls," one of 10 absurdly enjoyable tracks off their debut album:
Earlier unfounded opinions:
+ Two holiday treats
+ We were there: fun. in LA
They say:
Jim DeRogatis of the Chicago Sun-Times
The rhythms seem stale,... more
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shana
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2 years ago
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I love when Idols go bad, or at least back to their dancey raver roots. I'm blowing through a never-ending to-do list while listening to Blake Lewis' first album on Tommy Boy Records, out today. Heartbreak on Vinyl is ridiculous, infectious dance music in the general pop-electronica vibe of BT. I like "Sad Song" (see video above) but my favorite on the LP is probably "Binary Love," possibly because it sounds like a love song between robots.
And Tommy Boy seems a much better home for Lewis, where his sound thankfully hasn't been slashed and burned into a more generic mainstream radio format. He'll be playing at the Roxy in LA on Thursday to celebrate the album release.
I love when Idols go bad, or at least back to their dancey raver roots. I'm... more
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shana
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added this
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2 years ago
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This is an new online music magazine with new music reviews and interviews with real music artists from the unsigned and independent music industry. Each week is a new article with a new artist, so come check it out and discover what's new!This is an new online music magazine with new music reviews and interviews with real... more
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TGUP
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added this
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2 years ago
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I recently went to see Miniature Tigers live at The Incubator in McAllen, Texas. I had already been a fan of their music for some time and also a religious listener of their album, Tell It To The Volcano... so when I had an opportunity to watch them live, I drove my happy ass in my 1980 Ford Bronco with no A/C in 100 plus degree weather, not to mention the humidity. It was well worth the hour long trip... It was the last stop on their tour and they were well traveled and weary so I guess I shouldn't complain... Haha. The Tigers, who are based in Phoenix, Arizona, have had a cult following of sorts since last year, however they are quickly becoming nationally recognized thanks to their video for the single Cannibal Queen being rotated on several video shows on various networks.
Their show was something you hope happens at every concert you attend... They involved the fans and crowd, they played as though it was a farewell tour, and they brought the house down with some awesome new songs! Their set was seamless and almost magical! The band's continuous play and Charlie's soulful pipes filled the room with an energy only a great band can conjure. I am glad to say I witnessed future legends in action! Playing their hearts out, and hearts they had, We All Felt Them! It was a real treat and I look forward to the many live sets I will be attending in the future. They are well on their way to becoming the Indie Rock darlings they are! I also look forward to their next album. I wait with held breath. They are well worth it!
The link is for my review of Tell It To The Volcano... I wrote it a few months back and just recently posted it on Allvoices.com as an independent review. Give it a look at let me know what you all think. And if you haven't heard the Miniature Tigers, give 'em a listen and I can guarantee you'll love 'em! Also attend their shows and show your support! They perform at several Phoenix well known live music venues, and also have a myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/miniaturetigers , and are on Modern Art Records Label. CHECK 'EM OUT!I recently went to see Miniature Tigers live at The Incubator in McAllen, Texas. I had... more
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