Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
Spinning Platters album reviews category. Click here to see all album reviews from the Bay Area Music Nerds.
Listening to Jealous Girlfriends’ front woman Holly Miranda’s first solo album, I couldn’t help but think of an old Bjork interview referring to Debut and Post as her greatest hits albums. They stood as a sparkling mesh of every style of music that piqued her interest. And that is the energy trying to burst out here, traveling with Holly from one sound scape to the next. Continue reading “Album Review: Holly Miranda — The Magician’s Private Library”
Of the 25 albums I checked out this week I’m most looking forward to Scanners and Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three making their rounds in The Bay. Continue reading “New Release Round Up 2/16/10 — 25 Instant Album Reviews”
Spinning Platters gets asked to review a lot of albums. And the ones I’ve been hearing lately? Awful. (Yes, I’m looking at you Nick Jonas. Why couldn’t your solo album sound like this!?!). So when I got an email last week from our managing editor Dakin asking me to review Meaghan Smith’s first album The Cricket’s Orchestra I was unsure to say the least. But Dakin told me “She’s a Canadian singer/songwriter who is influenced by music from the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. If you don’t like it, no one will and it would deserve a bad review.” And I’m sure he’s right. Continue reading “Album Review: Meaghan Smith — The Cricket’s Orchestra”
Gil Scott-Heron’s new album I’m New Here is a look back at his life and the lives of the people in his life. On I’m New Here, Scott-Heron starts off with a tribute to the person he considers his mother, grandmother Lily Scott. The majority of the album deals with death, responsibility, and socio-economic issues. Continue reading “Album Review: Gil Scott-Heron — I’m New Here”
I didn’t think I was going to finish up this week. Got sick through the middle. But the fortunes smile on all of you, your reviews are here. Continue reading “New Release Round Up 2/9/10 — 28 Instant Album Reviews”
You would think that featuring love as your sole inspiration for so many years may provide you with more luck on the subject, but in the case of HIM, a steady relationship will always find a way to elude them. Curses! Will their tortured souls ever catch a break? For the sake of their wallets, I certainly hope not.
Continue reading “Album Review: HIM – Screamworks: Love in Theory & Practice”
Tasked to review the new album, The Monitor, from Titus Andronicus, I find it difficult to expand upon my reaction to this album. “I’m pretty sure it’s better than their first album, but I sure do like it a lot less” is what I said. I think it works like this: if you’ve been loving The Airing of Grievances for over a year, and shouted “your life is over” along with the band when seeing them live four times in a week, you may find this album disappointing. Otherwise, I think you’re going to like it. Continue reading “Album Review: Titus Andronicus — The Monitor”
Earl Greyhound’s previous album, Soft Targets, blasted out of the box with “S.O.S.,” a dynamic mission statement that attempted to explain, in five minutes, what Earl Greyhound was all about. While the album didn’t live up to the high standards set by this blistering track, descending into middling bluesy rock numbers by the end, the promise of that one song alone has kept me interested in the band, and earned them all sorts of lauds as the “next big thing.” Now, the band’s new album, Suspicious Package, has arrived, and it also starts with I assumed to be a clear mission statement. What’s the mission this time? Continue reading “Album Review: Earl Greyhound — Suspicious Package”
Oh Mr. Zombie, you’ve done it again. I guess that’s why Rob appropriately named his newest album “Hellbilly Deluxe” part deuce. BUT, for those of you who are expecting this album to be a sequel of the first Hellbilly, you will probably be disappointed. Back in November, I got a sneak peak of Zombie’s delayed production during his Hellbilly tour. Why such a long delay Rob? Although I must say the album was worth the extra three month wait, such a long delay was almost like burying the grave before putting in the coffin.
Continue reading “Album Review: Rob Zombie — Hellbilly Deluxe 2”
Pouria said he wanted to take the week off because he’s burned out on new releases. And then he sits next to me and tells me about all the albums I’m missing. I think he’s actually burned out on being funny. Lucky for you, I’m not burned out on being funny; I’ve hardly begun being funny! Read on, dear readers, for 31 album reviews await. Continue reading “New Release Round Up 2/2/10 — 31 Instant Album Reviews”