I was super busy with work this week. I tried squeezing in more music but just couldn’t. A lot of my time was spent listening to lame music. I will redeem myself next week.
American Ride by Toby Keith – F Toby Keith in the A man. This guy screams douche to me. His lyrics are filled with pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps and small town USA. Blerg.
Forget And Not Slow Down by Relient K – Feels like I should be eating white bread in a really wholesome way. I’d say this album borders on crunchiness but straddles a more Death Cab universe. Way better than Toby Keith though.
Doin’ My Thing by Luke Bryan – Feels like the album title would be the basis of a whole Frisky Dingo Episode. “Rain makes corn. Corn makes whiskey. Whiskey makes my baby,” you can almost here him think ‘wait for it’, “…feel a little frisky.” Also my Frisky Dingo reference happened before I heard that line, FATE.
Love 2 by Air – You know that synthie-kazoo sound that all the electra-kids are so jazzed about? Yea, it’s in this album too. I’m not too stoked on this album, if you want kick-ass electronica then check out Vitalic.
This Is Us by Backstreet Boys – I audibly said, “No way,” when I saw this was the next album Lala.com had to serve to me. These guys are still doing this? Amazing. This is electro-pop fed with a baby spoon. Pretty much what you’d expect.
Give Up The Ghost by Brandi Carlile – This album is decent. Carlile’s voice is like a female Johnny Cash, take that however you want to.
Humanoid by Tokio Hotel – This album feels like the perfect soundtrack for today’s activism spirit. “We are really fed up and will act outraged but we won’t actually do anything about it because I am actually content.” Humanoid is hinting that it’s an album.
The List by Rosanne Cash – The List will be on your stoner uncle’s playlist for a while, and you will think he’s cool for it. But you won’t listen to this album more than once because it’ll be like listening to slow-iced-tea death.
Anywhere But Here by Mayday Parade – Maybe the progression of music has been stuck in a state of stasis since late 90’s alterna. Oh wait, it’s just this band that’s stuck.
There Is No Enemy by Built To Spill – For some reason I thought I was going to hate this album, having only heard of the band. I do not hate it. I opposite of hate it. It’s like the Unicorns got into a big stoner period and wanted to make some crunchy indie tunes. Pretty much easy listening. Hipsters will rejoice for they will have another album to pretend being ambivalent towards.
The First Days Of Spring by Noah and the Whale – Sweeping emotions. I only say this because there are a variety of strings in the first track. That is what the strings are supposed to invoke, sweeping emotions. If you’re looking to be depressed and be sentimental this is the album for you. Love Of An Orchestra is a really odd track. I don’t know why this suddenly popped up. Half-expecting to here Bobby McFerrin on this track.
The Life Of The World To Come by The Mountain Goats – This should come as no surprise to most, this sounds like The Mountain Goats. I like The Mountain Goats, so I like this album. Interesting lyrics, timber voice, and focus on the guitar = Mountain Goats.
Murda Game Chronicles by The Game – Starkly different than The Mountain Goats. No heartfelt voices here. West coast gangsta-rap. I dig it.
Dead Man’s Bones by Dead Man’s Bones – I was really digging this album then felt embarrassed to find out, after a googling, this is Ryan Gosling’s band. I guess since I liked the album, a lot, before finding out it was Gosling…and since I don’t really know who/what Gosling is other than famous…it’s okay I like this album. Don’t hold it against me if he is a douche.
Losing Feeling EP by No Age – I am a big fan of EPs. Gives you a quick peek at a band’s direction. This band needs a map…get it? I was making a reference to the direction bit! Gold.
Kaleidoscope by Tiësto – This album’s cover has some dude popping his collar. Literally popping his collar. The music isn’t a douche-ride though, it’s more of a standard euro-trip. This isn’t a landmark album or anything, but you may like it. Give it a chance.
Love and Hate by Lil Rob – Ummm. I guess this guy is serious. I mean I can appreciate having pride for where your ancestors came from, but I don’t think your ancestors would be bumping tired themes. Just sayin’.
1372 Overton Park by Lucero – Man this album is good. So far my favorite jam is “Can’t Feel A Thing.”
Sad Man Happy Man by Mike Doughty – If you like when Beck uses his guitar, monotone voice, and interesting lyrics then you will like this album. It’s really heavy on acoustic guitar and stories. If a coffee shop were playing this the clientele would think they were in a cool coffee shop.
Jealous One’s Still Envy (J.O.S.E. 2) by Fat Joe – Doesn’t even wait to throw auto-tune at you. Apparently rappers just make club beats these days, and really lame album titles.
The Family Force 5 Christmas Pageant by Family Force 5 – Umm. I guess it’s like cool to make a cool holiday album…this just isn’t it.
Seems like these guys should have taken a page from James Brown’s Christmas album, now that thing is cool. All that being said, a song from this album will no doubt be played during some commercial or TV Show soon.
Bonfires on the Heath by The Clientele – I feel like I should be on some hallucinogens, walking through a field, with a blond hippy to my right experiencing life right now.
Childish Prodigy by Kurt Vile – If garage rock is your thing then you will dig this album. For me it’s a little too sloppy and lo-fi. Songs on this album would be played during the next Michael Cera movie where he plays some histatnt, awkward dude.
The Listening by LIGHTS – Jeezus this is bad. I don’t even know if Claire’s would have this playing while you were searching for your next sparkly plastic ring.
Skitter On Take-Off by Vic Chesnutt – The way this album started off I was thinking I could really get behind it. Really lonely music. Just a dude, a guitar, and drums. It’s super-stripped down. Chesnutt released an album about 3 weeks ago, I guess it had been enough time.
Witness by blessthefall – I really don’t have a feel for who the target audience is for rock like this. A mixture of rock, metal, and crotch. I guess some people are into it, maybe.
Somewhere On The Other Side Of Nowhere by Powerman 5000 – While listening to this album I was super confused. But these guys straightened it out: V is for Vampire and B is for Blood. Just so you guys know.
Threadbare by Port O’Brien – This album makes you feel like you went to the dentist and got a whole bunch of pain killers, but are feeling really good about it.
That Mountain Goats album is being provided on a “pay what you want” deal from their website. I almost never pay for music but I always donate whenever I see the chance.
Pouria, I hope you never tire of posting these, they're awesome.
Thanks for the enthusiasm, sometimes I wonder if I'm being funny enough
My roomate was playing me Dead Man's Bones last night and I also enjoyed it and had NO idea Ryan Gosling was involved until I read this.
Now I actually want to go to the show. Boo. I really wanted to hate his musical project.