New Release Round Up 1/12/10 – 42 Instant Album Reviews

Here are 42 reviews that cover three weeks. Lots of stuff has happened in the past three days. Most notably, a couple of musician deaths and the whole mass crisis thing in Haiti. I think Heidi Montag’s album may have brought upon these tragedies, sort of like a precursor to the apocalypse.

Ollusion by Omarion – This album is pretty much crap. It’s the type of R&B that tries to meld rap, soul, and R&B by throwing over-produced clichés randomly around and hoping it will stick to the average consumer’s sensibility. Formulas equal success, right?

Contra by Vampire Weekend – I never got the appeal of Vampire Weekend. This album feels like a Paul Simon album, the one where he talks about diamonds and shoe souls. Soon, Vampire Weekend will recruit some African or trendy ethnic vocal group to lend vocals on their albums.

Of the Blue Colour of the Sky by OK Go – I mean at least it’s better than the Vampire Weekend album. I particularly like the funky guitar on “Skyscrapers.”  Overall though, it barely elicits much attention.

Y Not by Ringo Starr – I guess people listen to music. People who feel obligated to pick an album up just because some dude was in a hugely influential band. I mean, no one wants to hate on Ringo so buy this album for your mom or dad or some foreigner.

July Flame by Laura Veirs – Sounds like a cross between the lead singer of Little Dragon and Florence and the Machine. The music backing her up is far more impactful, you feel as if you’ve just ended a horrible relationship, one which you wanted to get out of but the convenience of the relationship kept your standards clouded; now everything is clearing up.

Prenuptual Agreement by J Stalin – With lyrical stylings like “When you see the dick don’t act retarded,” how can you not fall in love. But seriously, it’s an okay album, dude’s from West Oakland so I guess that’s cool.

Gentlemen, I Neglected To Inform You You Will Not Be Getting Paid by Charlie Hunter – This sounds very much like listening to a Booker T and the MGs album, which is great.

The Love Uncompromised EP by Jason Castro – I don’t really like listening to comedy albums.

Rain On The City by Freedy Johnston – If you like James Taylor and Tom Petty then you’d love to listen to this dude.

Those Who Wander by The Pine Hill Haints – The album cover made me think some really awesome music could be lurking inside. Sadly it’s not punky or loud enough for me.

Monomaniacs Volume 1 by Chris Joss – Like listening to the soundtrack of your own blaxploitation film.

The Ladies Man by T-Model Ford – Well this is like some blues. It’s pretty raw; apparently he just comes up with lyrics on the spot. From a man who didn’t start playing guitar until his late fifties, this stuff is pretty striking.

Abnormalities by The Spill Canvas – Well it’s definitely pop.

The Fly Above EP by Kandi – Dude, I don’t know why but I liked this album. Kind of surprised me in a big way.

Superficial by Heidi Montag – Wow this is horrible.

Love Will Find You by Saturday Looks Good To Me – Well I don’t know about this duo. Pretty lo-fi. Sounds like the type of thing your hipster friends who own a LP or two would try to convince you was good when in actuality it’s just okay.

“Ruth” by Nana Grizol – The lyrics on here are great, “Cynicism isn’t wisdom, it’s a lazy way to say you’ve been burned.” I like these guys enough to go pay $8 tomorrow night to see them at the 924.

Gretchen Peters by Gretchen Peters – Like this should totally be in some romantic comedy with Sandra Bullock or Renee Zellweger…maybe it already has been.

Pharmacy of Love by Bettie Serveert – Nothing I like more than a rock band from the Netherlands headed by a lady. But this band doesn’t do it for me…they’re like a cross between the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, some 90’s rock band, and Sheryl Crow.

Die Stadt Muzikanten by Woodpigeon – This guy will most likely become popular amongst the Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, Belle & Sebastian crowd. In other words it’s pretty stimulating music to listen to, throwbacky, with some interesting effects. It doesn’t speak to me particularly but people will dig this I think.

Don’t Lie About Me! by Herman Dune – Can totally here the dudes accent, but it’s okay. The music is vintage and interesting. Reggae upstrokes mixed with woodwinds. Interesting and good.

The Autumn Kaleidoscope Got Changed by Black Moth Super Rainbow – Mostly instrumentals. I was excited to see this album but it pretty much is like a Beastie Boys instrumental album circa Hello Nasty.

To Make the World Quiet by Timothy Seth Avett as Darling – Like that chick in Bye, Bye Birdy. Shrilly and annoying, but it gets better after the second track. Like worlds better. Jingly-jangly vibes. Skip the first two tracks and you’ll be fine.

The Flaming Lips And Stardeath And White Dwarfs With Henry Rollins And Peaches Doing Dark Side Of The Moon by Stardeath & White Dwarfs, The Flaming Lips – This was pretty fucking cool. I mean how could you go wrong here? They are mostly doing their own interpretations and the beats are sick.

The Silent Amps by Various Artists – Nothing too spectacular about this album. The only thing I like about it is that I didn’t really notice it.

Weathervanes by Freelance Whales – This thing makes me feel like I’m at some cabin near the beach. But a really cold northern California beach and all you can do is wish you were outside, but it’s too fucking cold. That’s what this album is.

Underground Legend 2 by Lil’ Flip – You really can’t judge an album by its cover or even its title. If I had done that I would have dismissed this album completely. The production is pretty solid and Lil’ Flip tends to flow right to my heart. I like him even more because he makes fun of the air force one/skinny jeans combo.

Not Art by 3kStatic – I guess the album title is assuming you might be confused and they just want to set the record straight. Puns within puns! Basically first song has a lot of grunting, like some dude who just keeps getting punched in the stomach. It’s way too world beats for me.

Pop, Songs & Death: Vol. 1 – The Lightning EP by Wheatus – The first track had me then totally lost me. Had potential but bah.

Never Enough by Jamestown Story – Jangly emo lyrics.

Everyday Life by Lone – Half of the songs got a real decent beat on this album. I think “Swang on 4’s” is my favorite track….I love swinging.

Let There Be Surf by Hawaii Samurai – It’s surf music. Take that as you will. I like taking it as a good thing.

Animal by Ke$ha – This is actually really disturbing. She relates love to a drug that causes you to go to rehab. That is not a good analogy. I really like electro-pop, but this would have to be electro-poop. Get it? Listen to Dragonette instead.

Unbroken by Katharine McPhee – There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this album other than reality. I mean maybe she’s totally feeling these songs and really is lovelorn. But the fake ass cover art and the subject matter screams marketing to me.

Love Will Find You by Findlay Brown – I guess this is like Everly Brothers revival or something. This music would be perfect during some brutal-Scorsese-directed-mobster-beating scene. It would be juxtaposition. You’re grandma would like this jam.

Devil In The Flesh by Dan Melchior, Billy Childish – Like if a blues album had been recorded through a shitty microphone, then played back through a gramophone, and then recorded while it is played back through the gramophone…in England. I like it.

Cocktails by Liquid Soul – I don’t know if this has so much liquid soul. Seems more like liquid button-downs. I feel as if I’ve stepped into a world of too much cologne and muscles.

LOVE Part 1 by Build An Ark – Give me a break. This is straight up some jazz boredom.

Zoroaster by Acid King – Too psychedelic for me dudes.

Chapters by The Dear & Departed – This was teetering on the fine line between good and bad. It dropped into the dark side. The tracks are catchy but the lyrics, not so much.

When The Chorus Walks by Brookhaven – So this is a pretty good instrumental album. Laid back and no words is a great way to fall asleep at work.

Smash Radio Hits by American Death Ray – So I couldn’t tell if this was a greatest hits (it’s not) and whether Viva L’American Death Ray are the same band (they are). The reason I decided to search is because this album is good. Vocals are awesome, they certainly rock, and the album cover is fucking cool. The singer has got a Lou Reed vibe, you’ll dig it.

The Wonder – EP by Backseat Goodbye – Uhhmmmm. Well normally I am pretty secure with myself. This makes me feel guilty listening to, like when I listen to DMB.