Corrosive Material

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Review: Arctic Monkeys – Suck It And See

June 23, 2011

Arctic Monkeys – Suck It And See

One of my favorite bands period – always happy to see something from these young guys….and they come through for me again.

They went back something similar to what they started out with: hard drums, screaming guitars, and Alex Turner’s songwriting. It’s a pretty simple, and winning game plan. It’s not that I didn’t like the Josh Homme version of the band, but I felt like his drudge slowed down their flow. James Ford, who worked with Turner in their side project Last Shadow Puppets, “produced” the album (and the second LP), but I’m not sure to what extent. They sound like themselves, as far as I’m concerned.

I’ve read about some Smiths and Echo… influences in certain reviews. And I suppose I see it, but if anything, it definitely doesn’t take away from anything they’re doing sonically. Turner’s lyricism certainly isn’t anything like Morrissey’s, not in tone, or…in anything. At least not to me. Their aren’t any straight up “hits” on the record, but it’s very solid through and through. They are excellent musicians, and the lyrics are still spot on, as always.

Grade: B+. I’ve enjoyed this album, almost as much as the first two.

Pick of the Day – September 4th: The Verve – Urban Hymns

September 4, 2010

The Verve – Urban Hymns

To end my throwback theme week, of music in my era coming up, I really could’ve rattled off quite a few rock albums…..literally dozens of albums – mainly Radiohead stuff, but that would be lazy. Loved this one because of the layers of complexity used throughout – it felt like a cold, late fall day every time I listened to this album (of course it came out in the fall – instant association….also made me want to move to London or Bristol) It’s just about as sublime an album as you’re going to find…and probably one you should have (or already have) as a music fan.

Pick of the Day – August 26th: Killing Joke – Killing Joke

August 26, 2010

Killing Joke – Killing Joke

Something old today – listening to this hard today. It’s really had to know exactly how many bands owe (at least some of) their sound to this band, and specifically this album. I only recently found this album myself, maybe a year ago….but I find it unusually current in a lot of ways. I go back to it when I listen to bands like Nirvana…and then bands I like now, i.e. Queens of the Stone Age, who probably listened to The Joke’s music and found some inspiration in the funk rock sound. I do wish the vocals were recorded better, but shit that was like 30 years ago. Recommended for metal heads, and people interested in the predecessors to bands like Metallica, Foo Fighters, Tool, and many others. Still pretty dope.

Pick of the Day – July 17th: O. Children – O. Children (self titled)

July 17, 2010

O. Children – O. Children (self titled)

It’s been a while, but I have some new rock music and it’s pretty dope. In a sentence, they sound like Nick Cave, fronting and writing songs as a member of Editors, but blacker, both literally and stylistically. The lead singer is apparently an Afro Brit named Tobi O’Kandi, a pretty large, NBA power forward sized man, that sounds like something between Nick Cave (the band’s name comes from one of this songs) and Tom Smith, from Editors. The songs are stadium large, but could be ill at a grungy club venue. The musicianship and Tobi’s songwriting/vocals are impressive and very complete, which is amazing for a debut. The sound is heavy and dense enough for a good manly head nod, but just poppy enough to take the edge off, to the point that chicks that can dance to rock music could go crazy to this.

I’m reading a lot of “next Nirvana, Joy Division, etc.” praise, but that’s very premature at this point. I consider this a nice beginning, an excellent start to a career. But let’s not get carried away. Bands with this kind of sound usually end up producing another album, maybe a third, and then blow away in the fickle winds of British rock music. However, this debut is highly recommended, one of the best rock releases this year. Take it for what it is, as it is, with no future expectations, and you will enjoy this album to the fullest, in very fun, repeated listens.