R.E.M. – Accelerate Face it, R.E.M. have been boring us with a lot of pointless junk the last one-and-a-half decade. So what do you do if you’ve lost momentum? You become that garage band again. Result: 35 minutes of tight alternative-punk-rock that will pull us through the summer. Apart from that awful closer, that is. Score: 9/14 Preview
Foals – Antidotes Last year Oxford quintet Foals released an exciting live 12” full of bleepy math-nerd-indie. Sadly they didn’t include their singles so far on the album which sounds pretty boring compared to the nervous EP. With Battles’ success (Mirrored) in mind though, this band could be this year’s festival surprise, having an intense live reputation. Score: 7/14 Preview
The Raconteurs – Consolers Of The Lonely …and then there was a new Raconteurs album. And boy oh boy, it’s good! Jack White and Brendan Benson produce yet another modern blues rock classic, this one beating the debut by quite some. Stomping rhythms, screaming solos, heavy horn sections, already an album of the year candidate. Score: 13/14 Preview
Los Campesinos! – Hold On Now, Youngster… My head is full of one-two-three-fours and xylophone tingles! I can’t read out loud most song titles on this record without breaking my tongue! Yet cheeky lyrics on joyful melodies also left me unable to stop dancing around my room for the past month! Great dance-pop with guitars! Los Campesinos! make me Clunk-Rewind-Clunk-Play-Clunk! Score: 11/14
Preview
The Kooks – Konk I’ve tried not to mention that stupid album name in this review. But since this record sounds exactly like the debut, they might as well rename it Inside Finally Out. And to be perfectly honest, it doesn’t even really compare to the debut apart from a single or two. Sophomore slump in a nutshell. Score: 5/14 Preview
Previous Editions: IV, III, II, I
The endparty wasn’t there this year, but the extended truck parade did make up for it a bit. The clittenunion was in the scene too, because tits are bad and stuff (tttsss)
Some pictures here.
See also FFWD2006.
Continue reading ‘FFWD2007′
Death metal, death metal .. yes!
Yesterday evening Oslo Norway had some fucked up visitors. The american band Nunslaughter (pic left) played at the local studentclub Betong in the cellar of the Chateau Neuf building. The gig was organised by metal promotor South of Heaven. The organisation had put up three support acts! Value for money or…??
Continue reading ‘Concert Report Oslo’
I don’t really know what to think of the new Spoon record. Why is it called Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga for instance? Is it a rebirth of some kind? Are they secretly smiling as we try to pronounce it in a clear way to the record store owner as we buy it? Is it because a matrix of 5 by 10 “Ga”s in your media player looks so nice? Anyway, it doesn’t make any sense to me…
Continue reading ‘Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga’
To release one of the most anticipated and undoubtedly interesting sophomore albums of 2007 is a hard thing to do right. Arctic Monkeys passed with honors, Bloc Party and Maxïmo Park certainly did well, but what about Editors?
Continue reading ‘Editors – An End Has A Start’
Imagine yourself sitting on the terrace of your beautiful beachside mansion. It’s a beautiful day in July. Or August, but that’s besides the point. You’re enjoying your refreshing and quite possibly alcoholic early evening beverage while a soft breeze blows the hot air in your face. What kind of music would add to a moment like that?
Jack Johnson you say? Or Matt Costa? Or maybe Donavon Frankenreiter?
Continue reading ‘Xavier Rudd – White Moth’
I’m not much of a soundtrack fan. I like movies, don’t get me wrong, but I usually can’t be bothered by listening to the music that was in a motion picture, just for being in it. There is the occasional exception, like the excellent 90s pop record accompanying teen flick Cruel Intentions, containing songs by The Verve, Skunk Anansie, Placebo and many other popular acts. Another example of a soundtrack I really do like is the one to Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain, composed by Yann Tiersen.
Why this introduction? Continue reading ‘DeVotchKa – How It Ends’
More stats.
*and WTF kind of frustated men are living in Elmhurst!?*
Scott Matthews – Passing Stranger
Somehow this record managed to slip by me in 2006. Which, in this case, is a crying shame. So, mea culpa, it’s 2007, welcome Scott Matthews. This guy’s debut breathes more freshness than Paolo Nutini, and sounds more traditional than James Morrison, competitors in his league. Awesome, funky, melodious record. Score: 12/14 Preview (sampler)
Bloc Party – A Weekend In The City
The most anticipated release in the indiescene for the last 3 months; Bloc Party’s second was never going to top the excellent Silent Alarm. How close did they get? The theme of the album, the shallowness of modern day city life, makes it easy to identify with. It’s an excellent representation of the current Zeitgeist. Score: 11/14 Preview
Frank Turner – Sleep Is For The Week
Contemporary protest songs. There’s a market for them somewhere, I guess. Too bad it all sounds so bland. There’s potential, there’s witty lyrics on The Ladies of London Town and he entertains the crowd on the album’s closer, but these are only small highlights, unable to lift this record from mediocrity. Score: 5/14 Preview (Worst Things Happen…)
Little Barrie – Stand Your Ground
Debut album We Are Little Barrie sounded like a jam night at the local pub, with excellent drums, fresh songs and groovy guitars. Their second sounds like you entered the same jam night, 2 years later. Some things should never change. If you liked the first, buy this. If you don’t know them, buy both. Score: 11/14 Preview
Do-The-Undo – Do-The-Undo
First 2007 release of any importance in the Netherlands, former Daryll-Ann guitarist Anne Soldaat’s new band’s debut will enter competition with Johan for the nationals. Their sound is alike, but this record lacks an Oceans-like smash hit. Very entertaining though, happier than THX JHN, and a vital sign of life from the Dutch popscene. Score: 10/14 Preview
Previous Editions: III, II, I
