Plastilina Mosh — Tasty + b sides

• Artist: Plastilina Mosh
• Title: Tasty + b sides
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2007 – Amazon.com

Happy Cinco de Mayo eve! The only thing better than a Plastilina Mosh album is a Plastilina Mosh double album. And that’s what we have with Tasty + b sides. It’s considered a “best of” of sorts, but a slight majority of the songs on the two discs weren’t on any of the first three albums. On the Tasty disc there are four brand new songs and those alone make it worth the price. I love all of them, but my favorite of that batch is “Nalguita.” You can check that one out at the PMosh MySpace page. It’s too good for words. And what’s with that song at MySpace called “Babasonicos remix”? That’s not on any album I have! Curses!

The b sides disc curiously has a number of songs from previous albums, but it also has some really heavy stuff. “Quiero Mi Pastilla” is a hyper-speed punk piece, and “Purrum Pum Pum” is a metallic dirge. Who would think a chorus of “Purrum Pum Pum” could sound so heavy? I don’t think it means anything, but it sounds cool. I’m surprised most of these weren’t on the other releases. The All Music Guide has a good review of this collection, and short clips of all the songs, if you want to know more. Tasty + b sides is a great place to start if you’re looking to get some of their music.

As usual, the album artwork and packaging are excellent. The jewel case comes in a cover with sketches of the fellas. The booklet has a bunch of great photos, and the front cover pic of a couple kissing in the park is fantastic. It evokes the same emotions as their music. The inside of the back of the jewel case contains the words “Happy Listening.” That’s as much a description of the music as instruction for using it.

The Decemberists — The Crane Wife

• Artist: The Decemberists
• Title: The Crane Wife
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 2006 – Christmas gift!
• Keeper: Yes

What? What is this? Sometimes The Decemberists remind me of The Zutons, The Shins, and maybe even Cake. Then there’s that second song “The Island: – Come and See – The Landlord’s Daughter – You’ll Not Feel the Drowning.” Yes, that is the title, and it’s befitting since this ditty is over twelve minutes and moves from sounding like a sea shanty to classic progrock a la Yes. What? The Crane Wife opens with a title track, “The Crane Wife, Part 3.” Later in the album there is “The Crane Wife, Parts 1 & 2” which is also Freedbird-esque in its length. In between there are a number of more accessible, normal format songs, and they are all interesting.

I haven’t figured out the album concept entirely. All the not-of-this-time artwork (much more than shown here) and lyrics make it seem mysterious, and that keeps it interesting. Of course, there’s plenty of mystery in the music itself.

Help me figure it out:
Decemeberists.com
The Decemberists at Wikipedia

The Roots — Game Theory

• Artist: The Roots
• Title: Game Theory
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2006 – Christmas present to myself, Amazon.
• Keeper: Yes

This is one very heavy and dark, but very good album. And an album it is, not just a collection of songs. The Roots’ Game Theory plays like a 47 minute hip-hopera with few pauses and nary a cheerful lyric to be heard. Those lyrics keep me from blasting it in the house when the kids are around, but I’ve managed to hear it enough now to know it’s a great record. My favorites are the high speed, slamming “Here I Come” followed closely by “Don’t Feel Right.”

Kinky — Reina

• Artist: Kinky
• Title: Reina
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2006 – Got it for Christmas!
• Keeper: Yes

Don’t read this yet. First go to the Kinky site, click on “music”, then treat yourself to “I Say Hey” from their new album Reina.

OK, glad you’re back. Just let the whole album play. Kinky has been one of my favorite bands for the last few years, and getting their albums as Christmas presents is becoming a tradition that I hope never ends. The first couple times I played Reina I didn’t like it as much as their other stuff. But now I’m feeling it! I won’t bother to explain their sound, since you’re listening for yourself, but I will say that all of their records make perfect party mixes by themselves. Skip all the work of picking out other music. Mary pointed out that they sound like they’re channeling Devo on “Again And So On.” Bonus!

When I say hey, hey, hey… haaa
When I say hey, hey, hey… haaa
When I say hey, hey,
You better look this way!

Beck — The Information

• Artist: Beck
• Title: The Information
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2006 – Christmas gift!
• Keeper: Yes

I haven’t read anything about Beck’s new record, The Information. I’m sure there are tons of intelligent and thoughtful reviews out there, but you won’t find that here. This is an excellent Beck record, with a little bit of everything and a whole lotta awesomeness. The moods and styles are typically eclectic, but there’s a certain laid back darkness to it. I like it.

Even the total package is interesting. The “Beck” label is a sticker on the case. The insert is a blank fold of graph paper. Inside, and pictured below, is a large sheet of stickers. And maybe best of all there is another disk: a DVD with a video for every song on the album! I’d say it looks like most of them were made the same day with about 30 friends, a couple hundred costumes, a rented mansion or palace, and some nutty video mixing.

You can download the album of course, and maybe even the videos, but where are you gonna get those cool stickers if you don’t buy the disk?

My favorite songs are “Cellphone’s Dead” and “We Dance Alone.” How can I not give this one a “10”?

Visit Beck.com.

Wolfmother — Wolfmother

Wolfmother -- Wolfmother

• Artist: Wolfmother
• Title: Wolfmother
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy / Mary
• Acquired: Not sure.
• Keeper: Yes

These guys have been everywhere in the last few months. Letterman, Leno, movie soundtracks, and I even heard their first single “Woman” used in a recap of the women’s tennis competition one evening during the US Open. Cleverrrrr.

When I first heard Wolfmother’s self-titled album I thought it was the rock and roll equivalent of macaroni and cheese. By that I mean at a glance it was cheesy and familiar, but damn tasty! And of course you just want more and more. Now that we’ve had the disc for a while I can say that it’s much more than that. In fact, it’s a well-rounded meal of music with everything from heavy Sabbathy riffs to pretty pop pieces. Despite some obvious old-school influences and sounds, overall it’s still very modern.

I’ve seen a lot of stuff comparing them to the White Stripes, complaining about it even, but I think that is mostly because of singer Andrew Stockdale’s voice. That said, even my 10 year old son said “this sounds like the White Stripes” on hearing the frantic song “Apple Tree.”

This is a great album that I think will appeal to a lot of folks, even those oblivious to the older influences. And that album cover art in pure genius, hilarious. I was just about to call it “Frazetta-style” when I read the liner notes to see that it is in fact the real deal, a Frank Frazetta original.

Arctic Monkeys — Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not

• Artist: Arctic Monkeys
• Title: Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: May 2006
• Keeper: Yes

Amazon recommended this CD for me, but they also recommended Hilary Duff once. I didn’t buy Hilary’s CD but I did buy the Artic Monkeys and I’m so glad I did.

The tittle of this CD, for me, was reason enough to purchase it.”Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not” is a clue to the band’s attitude and keen observations. The lyrics are brillant. (There are a few explicit lyrics, but the singer’s accent is so thick my kids havn’t noticed them yet). How do people write like that? I’m amazed when song writers can tell a story, to music, (I know that’s obvious, but still impressive) that is witty, smart, down to earth, and makes you want to sing along.

The music is familar, yet not like any band out there. Maybe a little Franz Ferdinand, but tougher. Maybe a little Kaiser Chiefs, but more substantial. They also remind me of Sham 69, and the Ruts. I never get the feeling these guys are trying to be, or sound like something they aren’t.

The track Mardy Bum is what I hear, not often enough, on XM. It’s a slower song and it’s good but the entire CD is packed with great songs: “When the Sun Goes Down”, “Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured”, and “The View From the Afternoon.” A little something for everyone. Check out their web site to view some videos off this CD at ArcticMonkeys.com.

Muse — Black Holes and Revelations

• Artist: Muse
• Title: Black Holes and Revelations
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Mary/Tracy
• Acquired: 2006 – No place special, Target maybe.

This is post number 200 in the “record” collection category. I’m celebrating with something special, something new for you kids and grups out there — “Black Holes and Revelations” by Muse.

This band is so musically ambitious and perfectly weird I can think of few, if any, meaningful comparisons. Despite that, or possibly because of it, their last two records have been big commercial successes, even in the US. Their music is metallic, operatic, funky, melodic, pop and everything else you can think of, and somehow it never sounds diluted. Again, this stuff is ambitious, not the output of a few dudes getting together and just jamming out some verses and choruses. And their timing is impeccable. Just before things get too weird for too long they pull out some colossal riff, drop the hammer, and perform another hard rock burnout.

The last song, “Knights of Cydonia”, is probably my favorite. This piece has everything in it from an Ennio Morricone-sounding spaghetti western guitar, to space alien electronica, to anthemic choruses. Just after the four minute mark something extra special happens that on first hearing was so unexpected, and every time thereafter so anticipated, that I break out in goosebumps. More about Muse.

Priestess — Hello Master

• Artist: Priestess
• Title: Hello Master
• Year: 2006
• Format: MP3
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: On the Interweb.
• Keeper: Yes

Thanks to JT for turning me on to Priestess. This site is named after a Judas Priest song. So, odds are if the band name has “Priest” in it and the sound is heavy I’m gonna like it.

One thing that’s great about “Hello Master” is that Priestess manage to throw down the heavy riffs, change-ups, and the occassional tricky time signature without turning every song into a multi-movement jamfest. Tons of hooks will keep your feet tapping. The single “Lay Down” is probably my favorite. It’s perfectly short at barely three minutes with a great snaky guitar riff. Tidy, and rocking.

Their sound reminds me of Sugartooth, but with better vocals. And maybe a little Raging Slab or even Kyuss in there, but not nearly as weird. Priestess is definitely more pop than those those bands, but pop and heavy riffing ain’t a bad mix. I’m excited to hear something new and heavy without the usual lame Cookie Monster vocals. Frontman Mikey Heppner can actually sing!

Check out the official Priestess site to hear some of their music.

That’s right Keith, I downloaded this album.