Post by Chad Wilkens on Sept 7, 2004 17:59:38 GMT -5
Rachael Yamagata / Happenstance
The problem with Rachael Yamagata doesn't lie with her music; it lies with her timing. Releasing this album in the same timeframe as Norah Jones's new effort got her unjustly mixed up (and overlooked) with the easy-listening set's wet dream (hey, I like her too). I find that she has more soul and depth than Jones, going more into the heart of the matter where Jones simply glosses over them. I really enjoy her powerful, down-to-earth vocals and well-timed piano solos... a great piece of work.
Must-hear track: Reason Why
DJ Tïesto / Just Be
I never thought that I'd say that sometimes all trance starts to sound the same... Sometimes an artist comes out with something that's so new and fresh that it really grabs your attention. Conversely, many times artists simply rehash and remix previously heard sounds. That what happens on Tïesto's new album, Just Be. You've heard all of these sounds before, but just not in this particular order. Then why do I give it three stars? Because it's still well made. BT makes a great cameo. The vocals are a notch above most other Trance vocals. The album has the right flow, start to finish. It's hard to listen to this and not notice that attention was paid in its creation. It may not be 100% original, but it is 100% refined.
Must-hear track: Sweet Misery
Matt Dusk / Two Shots
Since everything retro is in (witness The Darkness and Sister Scissors), I don't see why we shouldn't revisit Big Band music too. Matt Dusk has that Frank Sinatra quality (and even remade Ol' Blue Eyes' Fly Me to the Moon. He's got that vocal boom and the backing band to with it, mostly. In fact, that band is what hurts him the most, I think. It's a bit too much, and he looses control when the din of the orchestra sound. Some of the songs are therefore forgettable. I wanted to love this album, believe me, but in the end, I can only like it...
Must-hear track: Two Shots of Happy, One Shot of Sad
Franz Ferdinand / Franz Ferdinand
So I may be a little late to the Franz Ferdinand party. OK, fine, but gimmie a break, I wasn't missing that much. It's a decent album. If you you like the hit Take Me Out, you'll like the whole kit-and-kaboodle. If that song doesn't make you wet, then don't bother. There's a certain style at play here that, while good and well-made, is either going to work for you or isn't. Yep, it's a love-it-or-hate-it, take-it-or-leave-it proposition with these boys, just because it's so highly stylized. For me, it's OK, but I'm not going to bust a nut whenever I hear it. It's not blatant noise, which is good... heck, I wouldn't have even given it a second look if it was. Which says something. It's got melody and even a catchy style. The little rawker kids are going to eat this stuff up!
Must-hear track: 40 ft
The problem with Rachael Yamagata doesn't lie with her music; it lies with her timing. Releasing this album in the same timeframe as Norah Jones's new effort got her unjustly mixed up (and overlooked) with the easy-listening set's wet dream (hey, I like her too). I find that she has more soul and depth than Jones, going more into the heart of the matter where Jones simply glosses over them. I really enjoy her powerful, down-to-earth vocals and well-timed piano solos... a great piece of work.
Must-hear track: Reason Why
DJ Tïesto / Just Be
I never thought that I'd say that sometimes all trance starts to sound the same... Sometimes an artist comes out with something that's so new and fresh that it really grabs your attention. Conversely, many times artists simply rehash and remix previously heard sounds. That what happens on Tïesto's new album, Just Be. You've heard all of these sounds before, but just not in this particular order. Then why do I give it three stars? Because it's still well made. BT makes a great cameo. The vocals are a notch above most other Trance vocals. The album has the right flow, start to finish. It's hard to listen to this and not notice that attention was paid in its creation. It may not be 100% original, but it is 100% refined.
Must-hear track: Sweet Misery
Matt Dusk / Two Shots
Since everything retro is in (witness The Darkness and Sister Scissors), I don't see why we shouldn't revisit Big Band music too. Matt Dusk has that Frank Sinatra quality (and even remade Ol' Blue Eyes' Fly Me to the Moon. He's got that vocal boom and the backing band to with it, mostly. In fact, that band is what hurts him the most, I think. It's a bit too much, and he looses control when the din of the orchestra sound. Some of the songs are therefore forgettable. I wanted to love this album, believe me, but in the end, I can only like it...
Must-hear track: Two Shots of Happy, One Shot of Sad
Franz Ferdinand / Franz Ferdinand
So I may be a little late to the Franz Ferdinand party. OK, fine, but gimmie a break, I wasn't missing that much. It's a decent album. If you you like the hit Take Me Out, you'll like the whole kit-and-kaboodle. If that song doesn't make you wet, then don't bother. There's a certain style at play here that, while good and well-made, is either going to work for you or isn't. Yep, it's a love-it-or-hate-it, take-it-or-leave-it proposition with these boys, just because it's so highly stylized. For me, it's OK, but I'm not going to bust a nut whenever I hear it. It's not blatant noise, which is good... heck, I wouldn't have even given it a second look if it was. Which says something. It's got melody and even a catchy style. The little rawker kids are going to eat this stuff up!
Must-hear track: 40 ft