Posts tagged Electronic
Album Review: MGMT – Congratulations
May 4th
Electro hitmakers MGMT return for their hotly anticipated sophomore LP.
MGMT – Congratulations
RockOSaurus Says:
Listening to Congratulations is like unwrapping a really large shiny Christmas present you saved till last to open, only to find it contains an Air-fix model. The hype has been immense, yet to really enjoy this album you really have to spend plenty of time to ‘learn to love it’.
Gone are all of the elements which made their debut such a hit single machine. No funky keyboards and instantly catchy tunes. Instead they have been replaced with jingly guitars and mundane melodies. Their quirkyness and likability is still intact on tunes such as the rampant standout track ‘Brian Eno’ & the surf electro-pop opener ‘It’s Working’.
But with tracks as dull as ‘I Found A Whistle’ and as bloated as Siberian Breaks (a 12 minute epic adventure) it feels as if they are purposefully being weird for the sake of being weird. Attempting to jettison your current fan base to upgrade them for better models may be cool and hip, but when this record divebombs their third outing must surely improve.
Sadly Congratulations is one to file next to Be Here Now.
Mr Flowers Says:
MGMT return with a concept album, whose concept is to apparently strip out any standout pop tracks. The result is an album a kin to all the troughs of Oracular Spectacular with out any of the peaks. Brian Eno (the track), comes closest to lifting the dullness, a comparatively fun, fast-paced song with 80s punk overtures. The 12 minute marathon that is Siberian Breaks that goes through some distinct phases like some kind of Simon and Garfunkel-gone-prog love child, but never really does enough to grasp your attention.
If you liked the first album you might be able to be a bit more positive with this latest offering, but for those of us in the other camp will find this a struggle.
RockOSaurus: 3/10
MrFlowers: 2/10
DoesItRock Overall Score: 2.5/10
Does It Rock? Februrary Round-Up
Feb 27th
Plenty of great albums were released this month and we here at DiR.net have picked the best of the bunch to bring to you in a handy Spotify playlist! The widest variety of music in one playlist your likely to find!
Listen now >>> DoesItRock.net – Feb 10 Mix
1) Los Campesinos! – Straight In At 101 … Indie at its multi-intrument bashing best DiR? Review
2) Hot Chip – Thieves In The Night … Electro-indiers best track from their latest disappointing album DiR? Review
3) Seasick Steve – Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde… Steves gravel tones are simply stunning on this cracking blues number DiR? Review
4) The Soft Pack – Answer To Yourself … California fuzz soaked guitars make for an uplifting tune
5) Story Of The Year – To The Burial … Chest thumping rock anthem king kong would be proud of DiR? Review
6) Swanton Bombs – Who’s Asking? … Ranshakle riffing and DIY ethics from this promising bands debut LP.
7) Chow Chow – Suits Like Animals … Re-release for this superb slice of indie rock spiced with electro fun and melody
8) Priestess – Raccoon Eyes… Take the trip back to the 70′s for some scorching Sabbath riffing DiR? Review
9) Plastiscines – Bitch… Spiked garage pop from thes french youngsters, their image is one to savour!
10) Kashmir – Intruder … Beautiful melodies and subtle guitars line this laid back rocker
11) White Rabbits – Percussion Gun … Ample druming drives this near perfect understated indie rocker!
12) Fair – Disappearing World … Mid tempo pop number is as catchy as it is american.
13) Scanners – Jesus Saves … Dark poppers Scanners take a soar towards the light with this sparking tune
14) The Sunshine Underground – Spell It Out … New tangent direction produces at least one fine indie electro rocker
15) Bigelf – Madhatter … Imaging Led Zep with Pink Floyd holidaying in Wonderland, awe inspiring heavy prog rock
16) Taking Dawn – Take Me Away … Breaking band from Roadrunner Records mix metal, glam, with attitude to produce a stonking rocker!
17) Close Your Eyes – xChet Steadmanx … Post-Hardcore lads take on a pop-punk sound, suprisingly it works!
18) Fight The Empire – The Truth Is Out … New British band with some great riffing on the title track of their Debut album, watch out for these guys!
19) Wakey!Wakey! – The Oh Song … Plenty of Ohs on this piano stomper from a star of the american tv show One Tree Hill
20) Cobra Starship – Pete Wentz Is The Only Reason We’re Famous … With Fallout Boy saying farewell, here’s a tribute to their enigmatic bassist on this months Pop Punk Antrhem!
Album Review: Hot Chip – One Life Stand
Feb 21st
The uk electronic ensemble are back with their third album.
Hot Chip – One Life Stand
RockOSaurus Says:
‘Emotional Adventures in Meandering Electroland’ is a much more suitable title for this underwhelming Hot Chip release. It has stripped out the idiosyncratic dancefloor genious of its previous releases, leaving One Life Stand to become inredibly serious and intense lyrical album, more likely to start a boredom induced coma than a tubthumping party.
Tracks of merit are few and far between, the calypso steel drums get a bonging & the star trek phaser effect gathers some interest on the title track, plus album opener Thieves In The Night has some funky upbeat melodies. Just incase you started to overenjoy the album, on I Feel Better they fire up the damned aweful autotune which is plaguing terrible pop singers everywhere to level the balance.
This album will leave many fans reeeling and many a critic raving. Depending on which side of the fence you lie will determine whether you find this a classic release or an uninspiring one. Watch for the remix album!
Mr Flowers Says:
Hot Chip have hit on the novel idea of creating an album of electro, dance-inspired pop with no danceable rhythm. It seems you have to wait forever for songs on this album to get going. Sometimes they aren’t bad when they do finally get going but more often than not they disappointingly never do before the next track starts.
Alley Cats is alright by time gets into it’s 4th minute, and I Feel Better is not bad if you can forgive the autotuning, but unlike their previous releases there are no stand out songs on this album to rescue you from the passionless drone and the repetitive beeps that is the sound of Hot Chip.
RockOSaurus: 5/10
MrFlowers: 5/10
DoesItRock Overall Score: 5
Listen to Hot Chip – One Life Stand now on Spotify!
Album Review: Hadouken! – For The Masses
Feb 8th
Nu-Ravers Hadouken! return with their difficult second album.
Hadouken! – For The Masses
RockOSaurus Says:
Cool name and a cool sound will only get you so far. Good thing then that Hadouken! As one of the leaders of the Nu-Rave pack return with a surprisingly enjoyable album. There are plenty of social commentary witticisms, funky dance floor fillers, rapping and electro/rock crossovers to get even the dullest party started. Album highlight Turn The Lights Out is laced with youthful badditude and disco genius.
Once it has your full attention, For The Masses doesn’t do enough to keep it. Variations on their self defined theme ultimately lead to repetitions of the same ideas and sounds, making it a struggle to get through in one sitting. Unless of course it’s Friday night, you have your best clobber on, readying for a night on the tiles with a living room dance party. Sadly on a dull Friday afternoon in Central London, this album is best savoured in bite size chunks.
Mr Flowers Says:
Hadouken’s dance/Grime combo will always carry a lot of energy, bite and floor-bouncing potential no matter how they tweak it, but the increased use of irk-some Linkin Park-style singing interludes starts to dilute their sound, and the numerous wayward songs (and REALLY wayward songs; I’m looking at you especially, Lost…) towards the back-end of the album go some way to ruin a once seemingly foolproof musical formula.
RockOSaurus: 6/10
MrFlowers: 6/10
DoesItRock Overall Score: 6
Listen to Hadouken – For The Masses now on Spotify!
DoesItRock? January 2010 Round Up
Jan 31st
It’s not typically a good month for new music, but we’ve been scouring the new releases for the best new music of the new decade to bring to you. We have thrown in a few of our favourite tracks for good measure too!
Listen now >>> DoesItRock? – Jan 10 Mix
1) OK GO – White Knuckles … One of the highlights from a pretty leftfield release: DiR? Review
2) Motion City Soundtrack – Stand Too Close … Happy sounding / saddening lyrics wrapped in perfect sugar coated acoustics wth such an immensely catchy melody: DiR Review
3) TAB The Band – Left For Dead In Hilton Hotel … Blast of infectious garagey blues rock from Joe Perrys offspring.
4) Delphic – This Momentary … Big buzz band prove they ar up to the expectation heaped upon them: DiR? Review
5) Eels – Paradise Blues … Poppiest offering on E’s latest downbeat album End Times: DiR? Review
6) Adam Green – Goblin … Short Guitar ditty from anti-folks main man. DiR? Review
7) Citay – Fortunate Sun … Folk centred classic rock with a led-zep swirtling beauty and harmonious intrumental genious.
8) Cold War Kids – Audience of One … Piano stomp taken from their Jan released EP Behave Yourself
9) Spoon – Is Love Forever? … Spiked guitar line mark this lively indie rock tune from latest album Transference
10) Brilliant Colors – Motherland … Uplifting indie guitar rocker with scrambled blurbs of vocal action
11) Laura Viers – July Flame … Beautiful melody and an angelic voice, sit back, relax and drift away…..
12) Lost Prophets – Where We Belong … Thundering pop rock single from the returning welsh rock masters.
13) You Me At Six – Playing The Blame Game … UK pop punk is in safe hands with You Me At Six at the wheel.
14) Hadouken! – Turn The Lights Out … Nu Rave isn’t so much new anymore but can still pull off a catchy pop/electro/rock/rap crossover tune.
15) Manic Street Preachers – Me And Stephen Hawkins … Classic Manics from last years incredible LP Journal For Plague Lovers
16) The Wildhearts – Jackson Whites … Ginger and co. go all mettallica style on this cracking rock number!
17) Japandroids – Rockers East Vancouver … Alternative indie rock from superb sounding canadian duo.
18) Devendra Banhart – 16th & Valencia Roxy Music … The folk stalwart returns with a surprisingly upbeat pop song.
19) The Last Vegas – Whatever Gets You Off … Motley rock and roll from these superb sleazed up hard rockers.
20) All Time Low – Weightless (Acoustic) … Uber catchy tune superbly reworked, Pop Punk Anthem of the Month!
Album Review: Delphic – Acolyte
Jan 19th
Debut LP from Manchesters Delphic, hotly tipped for big things in 2010.
Delphic – Acolyte
RockOSaurus Says:
Step back to the golden electro era with Delphic and their huge array of techno samples matched to swooping melodies. When combined with their subtle guitar backed rhythms provide a superb euphoric backdrop. Clean cut vocals scythe through funk loaded synthesisers producing some seriously 80′s style!
When they ramp up the dance floor ante they come alive like on atmospheric trance clubbing vibes of sound that is the title track Acolyte. Sadly the majority of the tracks drift into floaty swirled masses of electro noise perfect for that lazy evening you had planned. Acolyte is an anthemic listen, it surely won’t be long before Delphic are the soundtrack to your friday night!
Mr Flowers Says:
An album of electronic blips and steady drums patterns. Many of Acolyte’s songs show a band deft at building music and sounds to a swirl of swaying keyboard noises and powerful drumming, backed by melodic lyrics. It’s a tried and tested formula which they stick to studiously.
It’s difficult to pick holes in an album so consistent in providing amiable songs; Counterpoint is instantly accessible and best demonstrates their appeal, yet looking back through the tracklisting album opener Clarion Call, Acolyte and Halycon are all equally good. All in all, it’s an assured debut album from Delphic with enough single-worthy material to make them one to keep an eye on.
RockOSaurus: 6.5/10
MrFlowers: 7/10
DoesItRock Overall Score: 6.75
Listen to Delphic – Acolyte now on Spotify!
Albums of 2007: #6 – 4
Dec 28th
#6
LCD Soundsystem – Sound Of Silver
I am not usually the electronic music fan, but this year there have been some cracking dance albums with this outing being the best of them. The second album from mega-producer James Murphy is a classic electronic album. Sound of Silver is a perfect mix of loop based band driven electro, funky samples and pounding bass. Each track has a cracking melody which really draws you in and takes you on an high octane ride of danceable rhythm’s.
North American Scum is one of the great modern dance tracks, taking scuzzy guitar and driving keys all loaded with superb vocals. More highlights come in the form of the huge looping melody of Us Vs Them the deep dirty bleep riddled Something Great and the piano led frenetic frolic that is All My Friends.
Dance music never sounded so great with LCD Soundsystem’s collection of fantastic adrenaline pumping energy fuelled anthems! Played live these tracks are transformed into rave anthems and should definitely be the electronic score of 2007.
#5
Frank Turner – Sleep Is For The Week
I will admit that I’m not the biggest folk fan in the world, true the odd outstanding lyricist will catch my attention, but on the whole great rock guitars and catchiness is where I lay my musical hat. This maybe why I’ve fallen for this anti-folk album from the ex-hardcore punk front man of Million Dead, Frank Turner. His honest lyrics all seem to hold a sensitive and translucent feel to them with stories of him starting out on the road The Ballad Of Me And My Friends, the aftermath and fallout after a party The Real Damage and being a punk rocker on the fast paced strummer Back In My Day.
More than anything else this is full of cracking upbeat pop songs. The backing musicians push this album to greater heights with the superbly melancholic violin driving the melody on one of the tracks of the year Fathers Day. His vocals are far from an x-factor winner, but that is surely the point! Their strength is in their swaying from driving rousing chorus’s of Once We Were Anarchists to the sweet charm of Romantic Fatigue.
Frank Turner has produced a fine album of simple acoustics’, layered instruments and compelling storytelling lyrics you just want to sit and follow the lyrics sheet to.
#4
Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
We Were Dead… Is the latest chapter In the already pretty long story of Modest Mouse and for me one of their finest. After hitting slight mainstream spotlights with Good News For People Who Love Bad News, the pressure was on to keep the band on top form.
By heck did they succed! Their brand of american indie pop has been spruced up with the addition of Ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr adding his axe slinging skills and a whole lot of publicity. Lead single Dashboard is as good a indie pop song there has been this year with understated tricky guitar melodies and layers of multi-intrumental genious. Florida is another contender for indie pop song of the year with floating guitars and subtle sonic soundscapes making for beautiful listening.
We Were Dead… retains the charm and quirky oddness of previous albums and is showcased on chillout track Fire It Up and strking stomper Education. The mellow on this album is amazing, how they make quiet rock so loud, is amazing. Still when they put their mind to producing great rock tracks again they come up trumps, exibit A We Got Everything.
Monthly Mixtapes: Nov/Dec Round up
Dec 21st
Seeing as December is such a slow month for decent new record releases and I was too busy to post November… here’s the finest tracks from the both those months rounded into a single neat package just in time for christmas!
Mixtape#9 - November/December 07
1, Liars – Plaster Casts Of Everything … Electrock thumper with crazy drums and bounding crescendos
2, Streetlight Manifesto – Down Down Down To Mephisto’s Cafe … Ska Punk at its poppy tops, uber catchy and full of brass
3, The Living End – Living For The Weekend … Aussie rockers show the way in melody, attitude and infectious rocking
4, The Blackout – Prepare for a Wound … Screamo angst punk with just enough pop to ensure plenty of snap and crackle.
5, Band Of Horses … Is There A Ghost … Beautiful Indie rocker with a grandeur sound and amazing atmospheric vocal prowess
6, Against Me – Stop! … Bostonian celtic punks lay back on this little gem
7, Les Savy Fav – The Year before the Year 2000 … Super track from the newly reformed and latest indie buzz heroes
8, Dashboard Confessional – Where Theres Gold … Dashboard never fail to pen a decent acoutic pop anthem or two
9, A Wilhelm Scream – The Horse … Where punk meets metal, this is an axe slinging stonker with endless energy and racious melodic guitar riffage
10, Holy Fuck – Lovely Allen … Sweet melody wrapped up in an evil electro groove
11, Justice – D.A.N.C.E. … French electronic dance music which has cut a groove right next to daftpunk with their sample loaded bass heavy floor filler
12, High On Fire – Fury Whip … New challengers to the prog metal throne
13, Buckethead – Brewer In The Air … Gun’s & Roses temporary guest guitarist playing his own metallic melodic guitar intrumentals
14, The Rumble Strips – Alarm Clock … Fun Fun Fun from the band who are not so dissimilar to Dexy’s Midnight Runners
15, The Starting Line – 21 … Punk-Popper to brighten the short nights.
Monthly Mixtapes: January 2007
Nov 20th
So here goes with a attempted monthly feature (Look even a little graphic, cue game show audience ooooohs and ahhhhs) about what im listening to right now, you never know maybe you’ll discover something you like. Of course not all of these opinions are relevant to the month of January. Hell were not even in January any more, so no dumbass comments please… pretty please!!
Mixtape#1 - Jan 07
1, Cooper Temple Clause – Homo Sapiens … huge chugging fuzz riff
2, The Sunshine Underground – Commercial Breakdown … Brandon Flowers singalikey with catchy melodies
3, Shiny Toy Guns – Le Disko… funky electro beats
4, Ok Go – Don’t Ask Me… Played an awesome gig in Camden Town!
5, 747s – Night and Day … Album opener from this new band
6, DragonForce – Through The Fires And The Flames … Utterly Uplifting Power/Fantasy/Speed Metal, you need to experience this track in its full glory!!
7, The Noisettes – Bridge To Canada … I wish there was, but good track nonetheless
8, The Sword – Iron Swan … QOTSA reminicant classic rock
9, Klaxons – Gravitys Rainbow … Great rockin’ electro/sample tune
10, Cobra Starship – It’s Warmer In The Basement … Panic at the Disco style pop punk
11, Switchfoot – Dirty Second Hands … Mellow classic from american band back on form with new album
12, The Datsuns – Maximum Heartbreak .. Datsuns produce another classic garage rock anthem!
13, Enter Shikari – Sorry Your Not A Winner … Rock, Techno, Hardcore, Pop, Mega Riffage, i mean what more d’ya need?
14, Blood Brothers – Laser, Life … Off the wall vocals on this uber catchy track
15, Monty Are I – Between The Sheets … My guilty pleasure pop punk anthem of the month!
