Polysics - We Ate the Machine

Released: 2008
Format: standard album (CD or download)

Songwriting: 6
Performance: 8
Recording: 2
First Impression: 8
Staying Power: 6

Before we begin, let's just get one thing out of the way: I despise formulaic, mindless, bubblegum pop music.  Even moreso if it's in a language that I don't understand.

This, though it may be bubblegum pop at heart, and mostly in a foreign language, is far from formulaic or mindless.

Some reviewers called Polysics "the Japanese bastard children of Devo", but I think that's only part of it.  Whereas Devo was content in being intelligent, experimental and weird, Polysics are far more daring, energetic and LOUD!  There is a lot more punk rock, heavy metal and industrial influence than most people care to mention.  Actually, I don't recall any other recent band being so full of piss and vinegar.  The lyrics being a mix of Japanese, English and gibberish (confirmed by a friend who is fluent in all three :P) hardly detracts from the listening experience, as it makes the listener focus more on the music itself.  That music happens to be crazy, abrasive and extremely fun.  It's a pity that the songwriting takes a turn for the worse in a handful of cases, where they try and fail to sing in proper English.  Otherwise it's a solid effort throughout.

In case it matters, the recording quality is among the worst I've ever heard, meaning that it's about average for pop music in 2008.

Suggested sample track: "Rocket"

Recommendation: Worth a spin if you like the heavier side of new wave. Great musical weaponry against pesky co-workers. Do not, repeat, DO NOT listen while driving!

District 97 - Hybrid Child

Released: September 2010
Format: standard album (CD or download)

Songwriting: 7
Performance: 9
Recording: 8
First Impression: 7 
Staying Power: 8

This band was in the mix for "Haken Radio" on http://last.fm, so I felt compelled to blog about it too.  Sorry if you're offended by two prog rock reviews in one night, but I couldn't resist.  Imagine a foundation of classic prog rock, not unlike late 1970's era Kansas, but with catchy female pop vocals.

The album is split into two different parts of roughly equal length, like a flashback to the days of vinyl. "Side A" comprises four mid-length songs, each having its own distinct character, with elements of rock, classical, jazz and pop. "Side B" holds but one song: a 27.5-minute magnum opus in 10 parts.

In the wrong hands, such a musical anachronism could have been a major disaster. Fortunately, all six members of the band are insanely talented, with credentials along the lines of "symphony orchestra virtuoso" or "American Idol finalist". Bottom line: this is some of the most original-sounding and well-executed prog rock ever to be released.

Oh, and did I mention that this masterpiece is also a debut album?

Oh, and did I mention that the recording quality is unusually excellent?

Suggested sample track: I can't find "The Man Who Knows Your Name" on any streaming source, so this will have to do: http://www.youtube.com/user/D97Music#p/u/0/tZaPUJrykAg

Recommendation: Essential listening for nostalgic fans of classic prog rock. Hi-fi equipment highly recommended.

Haken - Aquarius

Released: March 2010
Format: standard album (CD or download)

Songwriting: 8
Performance: 9
Recording: 7
First Impression: 7
Staying Power: 9

Now this is the kind of album that Dream Theater should have released!

Yes; the main influence of Haken is that blatantly obvious, but that's a Very Good Thing.

Whereas DT has stagnated when it comes to songwriting, these fine lads from the UK take it in all kinds of new directions. Though much pomp and circumstance ensues, the changes in style and time signature throughout are neither jarring nor confusing. In fact they provide some much needed levity, strengthening the effect of the more serious parts. There are a total of seven tracks, each having a runtime from 6.5 to 17 minutes. While not a concept album, there is a definite theme. Multiple variations of one particular melody appear throughout, not unlike in DT's "Awake". Of course it takes immense talent to put something like this together without it coming apart at the seams, but these guys undoubtedly have such talent.

If it weren't for the occasional flat note in the lead vocals, I would have given a rare 10 for the performance.

Oh, and did I mention that this masterpiece is a freakin' debut album? How sick is that?!

Oh, and did I mention that the recording quality is unusually good? Here's hoping that this trend continues.

Suggested sample track: "Eternal Rain"

Recommendation: This is essential listening for fans of heavier prog rock. Buy the CD or download the highest quality version available. Set aside 73 minutes of time with your best hi-fi speakers or headphones; savour it from start to finish; repeat as necessary.

15 Minutes to choose 15 Albums

This originated as a typical chain-note time waster on Facebook:

"The Rules: Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen albums you've heard that will always stick with you. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes. Tag fifteen friends..."

I approached it as a "desert island" list, as in I have 15 minutes to choose 15 albums, which would be my only musical entertainment for an undetermined amount of time.  Of course, at first I didn't think too much about why I chose the following albums, but now that I have some time to ponder my decisions, allow me to explain.

Barenaked Ladies - Gordon
Whenever I am down, this goofy, whimsical and yet highly intelligent debut album always manages to cheer me up.  In the days of garage bands and grunge, BNL completely bucked the trend with clean, mostly acoustic, instruments and an old-timey feel.

Dave Matthews Band - Under the Table and Dreaming
DMB spent a lot of time playing live shows before releasing this, their first full-length album.  Thus both this and the follow-up album "Crash" were compilations of songs that they had honed to perfection, then recorded with very close attention to detail.  Yes; their newer material is mostly boring and formulaic, but this album is a reminder that it wasn't always so.

Rush - Moving Pictures
Anyone who knows anything about classic rock knows this album.  From a technical standpoint, it is almost unrivaled, and yet it is extremely catchy and accessible at the same time.  If any of you are sitting on the fence as to whether or not you like Rush, then this album might sway your opinion in a positive way.

Vampire Weekend - eponymous
The indie pop album of the 00's, in my opinion.  Catchy as a wall of Velcro.  Serious talent not taking itself too seriously.  As far as I'm concerned, only two albums of white guys playing African pop music have been worthy of praise.  This is one of them, and the other is...

Paul Simon - Graceland
This one also has real African musicians too.  Again, it's mostly lighthearted and fun, dipping into bits of seriousness for (thankfully) short times.  The 80's synth pop influences add to the quirky atmosphere.  At the same time, it remains accessible to nearly everyone from age 0 to 100.  No one ever got fired for buying a Paul Simon album.

Peter Gabriel - So
This was one of the hardest choices.  I knew I needed one 1980's recording studio masterpiece.  Other contenders included Dire Straits' "Brothers in Arms", Kate Bush's "Hound of Love" and U2's "The Joshua Tree", but this one stood out by being the most inventive while remaining largely accessible.

Furnaceface - Just Buy It
My early 1990's vintage cassette tape of this album lasted through a good thousand plays (no exaggeration), then finally perished recently in a flooded basement.  A friend promptly found a used CD on eBay and sent it to me as a gift.  Two decades later, the punk-funk fusion still sounds fresh, and the socially and politically-conscious humour in the lyrics is still as relevant as ever.

Rancid - ...And Out Come the Wolves
"As wicked as it may seem; as wicked as anything could be."  Sure, it's not as groundbreaking as the likes of Operation Ivy, Dead Kennedys, or insert-your-favourite-old-punk-rock-band-here.  However, musically, lyrically and sonically, this album is nigh perfect.  There is not even a trace of filler.  There are even a few surprises throughout, such as bongos and a bass solo, and oddly enough, these actually strengthen the material.

Fatboy Slim - You've Come a Long Way Baby
If you don't catch yourself tapping your fingers or otherwise moving some body part in time with the throbbing, fantastical melee of sampled beats on this album, then there's something seriously wrong with you!  This one has something for every kind of electronic music afficionado: big beat, hip-hop, house, techno, acid jazz and even a hint of drum n bass.

Metallica - Master of Puppets
I knew I had to choose one classic Metallica album.  It's just really difficult to choose only one album from an entire decade of stellar releases.

Tragically Hip - Fully Completely
Love 'em or hate 'em (I happen to take the former side), The Hip are an integral part of Canada, and this album is a shining example.  Deeply meaningful lyrics, hard rocking arrangements, and just the right amount of wheat and hockey to keep canucks like me satisfied.

King Crimson - Discipline
It's one thing to push the boundaries of musical arrangement, and quite another to push the boundaries of technical ability at the same time.  But the real accomplishment here was in knowing exactly where to set the limits, and thus make the listening experience extremely enjoyable.  In my opinion, no progressive rock release before or since this album has been comparable.

Lowest of the Low - Shakespeare My Butt
It is possible to have both quantity and quality, while keeping things simple and straightforward.  This collection of folk-infused rock gems is a perfect example.  It's a pity that the wheels started to come loose after the first full-length album, but it was an enjoyable ride while it lasted!

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Arguably the best album from the best era of rock.  "I'm in the high fidelity, first class traveling set."  'Nuff said.

Radiohead - OK Computer
Seemingly boundless in its pomposity, melodrama, cynicism and overproduction.  And that's just the artwork on the CD insert!  This is the musical equivalent of heavy narcotics: it will likely fuck one's mind up beyond all recognition, and yet one will immensely enjoy the experience and long for more.

REVISIT: Metallica - "Death Magnetic", as ripped from Guitar Hero 3

Released: September 2008
Format: audio tracks ripped from the soundtrack to the game "Guitar Hero 3"

Songwriting: 7
Performance: 9
Recording: 6
First Impression: 7
Staying Power: 8

No; I haven't run out of content.  I just thought it would be worth following up on a previous blog entry (http://rahkoss.blogspot.com/2010/01/metallica-death-magnetic.html).

It's taken some time, but this album has really grown on me.  Every time I've purged old stuff from my MP3 player, I've thought "no; wait; I gotta listen to it one more time!"  Maybe it's the expert, veteran wordsmithing.  Maybe it's the flawless performance.  Whatever it is, almost a year later, my fondness of it has not waned.

Suggested sample track: "The Day That Never Comes"

Recommendation: listen to the "proper" version of this album (look for "GH3" in the album name on Grooveshark).  Though it is certainly different, I dare you to tell me that it's not as good as the "classic" Metallica, to which many people banged their heads in the 1980's!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

Released: March 2009
Format: standard album (CD or download)

Songwriting: 7
Performance: 6
Recording: 5
First Impression: 7
Staying Power: 6

To blog or to park my ass on a patio chair and drink beer?  Now that the weather's a little less amenable to the latter, it's time to dust off the former.


So here we are with another album that was very highly rated by people who very highly rate such things.  And hey, guess what?  It doesn't suck!  Kind of like what Blondie or Berlin would make if they were still making music worth listening to.  Lots of hooks.  Lots of quirks.  Lots of vintage, buzzy synths.  Lots of fun.  Oh, and recording with some real dynamics for a change (though a bit tinny and crushingly loud in a few places).

Suggested Sample Track: "Dull Life"

Recommendation: Download it; put it on your portable player; let it distract you during a 45 minute commute.

Yes - "Talk"

Released: 1994
Format: standard album (CD, cassette or download)

Songwriting: 7
Performance: 8
Recording: 8
First Impression: 8
Staying Power: 7

Arguably the best album from the 1980's era of Yes was actually a "comeback", released in the mid 1990's following a reunion tour.  As far as new wave influenced prog rock is concerned, it doesn't get much better than this.  Despite its high quality, however, it was doomed from the start due to bad timing.  It makes me cry a little inside to remember that at that moment in time, almost everyone (myself included) preferred grunge.

Suggested Sample Track: "The Calling"

Recommendation: if you like "Owner of a Lonely Heart" or any other recording from the 1980's era of Yes, then you'd do well to give this album a spin.

Bad Religion - "New Maps of Hell"

Released: 2007
Format: standard album (CD or download)

Songwriting: 8
Performance: 8
Recording: 3
First Impression: 8
Staying Power: 7

At the risk of abusing a tired internet cliche: this is the best, Bad Religion album, ever!  It picks up where "Stranger Than Fiction" left off a decade prior, and takes it to a whole new level.  The highly intellectual lyrics, multiple-part vocal harmonies and tight musicianship are exemplary.  The recording quality is craptacular, but hey, it's punk rock, so who cares?

Suggested Sample Track: it's really difficult to choose just one, but "New Dark Ages" will do.

Recommendation: if you like punk rock, then this album should absolutely be a part of your collection.  If you're undecided on the band or the genre as a whole, then this album is a good introduction.

Eight Seconds - "Almacantar"

Released: 1986
Format: standard album (CD, cassette or vinyl; download if you're lucky enough)

Songwriting: 7
Performance: 7
Recording: 7
First Impression: 6
Staying Power: 7

I'll kiss you when it's dangerous - 'Nuff said!

Actually, I could say a lot more, but I'll keep it simple: this album is a rare gem of mid 1980's new wave music.  Yes, I am indeed biased, as the band was based in my hometown, but I will vouch for it any day.  It is just as cheesy and yet as likable as The Fixx, Mr. Mister, Howard Jones, Nik Kershaw, etc.

Suggested Sample Track: "Sincere" (as of writing, there's a decent version on YouTube)

Recommendation: Definitely worth owning if you're a fan of the genre.  Though it is out of print and likely to remain so indefinitely, there are lots of used CD and vinyl copies available.

Dream Theater - "Black Clouds and Silver Linings"

Released: July 2009
Format: standard album (CD or download)

Songwriting: 6
Performance: 9
Recording: 5
First Impression: 6
Staying Power: 5

Don't get me wrong. Dream Theater remains one of the most talented "progressive metal" bands in existence. The problem with such talent is that there is an expectation of consistently high quality. Stray too much from the formula and fans get upset. Stick too much to the formula and fans get bored. Unfortunately "Black Clouds and Silver Linings" falls into the latter category. Though it is flawlessly executed, all the musical talent in the world does not make up for tired songwriting.

There is also a three CD "special edition" of the same album. The second CD is a set of covers. Some are good. Others are boring. One is particularly painful (who sang that song? Freddie Mercury? Well then why don't you let him sing it!). The third CD is a set of instrumental versions of songs on the first CD. Two extra CDs of filler. Say it with me: "meh."

Suggested Sample Track: "The Count of Tuscany"

Recommendation: Unless you're a diehard fan, skip this one. Listen instead to Dream Theater's stellar back catalog ("Images and Words" and "Awake" in particular").

Ben Folds - "Way to Normal" and "Stems and Seeds"

Released: September 2008 and February 2009, respectively
Format: standard album (CD or download), latter with bonus DVD-ROM

Songwriting: 7
Performance: 8
Recording: 4 and 7, respectively
First Impression: 6
Staying Power: 7

In "Way to Normal", Ben Folds rocks the keys again with a collection of very catchy pop songs. Though it is not quite comparable to some of his outstanding back catalog, it should appeal to anyone who likes their rock with a generous helping of grand piano and grandstanding. The only major drawback is the horrid, loud recording. The fans were brutally scathing in their complaints about this. But of course Ben was too sexy to care, right?

Wrong! Ben actually listened to his fans, going back to the studio to produce a "demastered" version of the same album, with a much higher recording quality. He also included a collection of Internet releases and B-sides as a bonus CD. In case that wasn't enough, he threw in a DVD-ROM containing multitrack session recordings of all the songs from "Way to Normal", so that fans with audio mixing software such as Garage Band could remix them to their hearts' content. The result is "Stems and Seeds".

Suggested Sample Track: "Dr. Yang" (make sure it's the version from "Stems and Seeds")

Recommendation: If you're not familiar with Ben Folds, but enjoy older Elton John or Billy Joel recordings, then you would do well to give "Stems and Seeds" a spin, along with the excellent back catalog of Ben Folds Five (note the longer name).

Merton - "Chat Roulette Funny Piano Improv #1"

Released: March 11, 2010
Format: video posted to YouTube

Songwriting: 8
Performance: 8
Recording: 4
First Impression: 8
Staying Power: 5

Chat Roulette is just that: live, one-on-one video chat with whoever happens to be there at the right (or wrong) time.  If you're extremely lucky, then you might get an improvised musical serenade from Merton, the maestro himself.  If you're somewhat less lucky, then you might get an improvised musical serenade from a growing number of Merton imitators.  Some are better than others, but no one save for Ben Folds (yes; Ben actually jumped on the bandwagon!) could come close to the original.

Recommendation: Don't bother with Chat Roulette itself unless you're looking for things that your mother would be ashamed to see (nothing wrong with that, but I digress).  Instead, head over to YouTube to watch the best of the best.

Edit: the original video - four million hits and all - was removed due to "violation of terms of use" (whatever that means), so here is a self-censored version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTwJetox_tU.  The original version can still be found if you look for it.

Konono N° 1 - "Congotronics"

Released: 2005
Format: standard album (CD or download)

Songwriting: 6
Performance: 8
Recording: 7
First Impression: 7
Staying Power: 6

In 2005, Vincent Kenis, producer for the Belgian label Crammed Discs, took a trip to Kinshasa, in search of a legendary African folk band called "l'orchestre folklorique tout puissant Konono N°1 de Mingiedi", or Konono N°1 for short. What made this band quite different from their peers was their use of homemade and reclaimed electric pickups, microphones, amplifiers and speakers. Fortunately, after some searching, Kenis not only found the band, but returned with finished recordings of several songs. The result is the album known as "Congotronics". At first blush, it definitely sounds like African tribal dance music. However, upon closer inspection, the very unusual electric distortion becomes apparent. The distortion is such in integral part of the music that it is nearly impossible to fathom the music in a more traditional, acoustic form. In essence, it is much like rock & roll but with a completely different foundation. As fascinating as it is, I still have to dock a couple of marks for a few songs that sound alike.

Suggested sample track: "Paradiso"

Recommendation: You'll probably either love or hate it, so sample some tracks on Grooveshark and decide for yourself.

Ra Ra Riot - "The Rhumb Line Live"

- Released: September 2008
- Format: series of videos posted to YouTube

- Songwriting: 7
- Performance: 8
- Recording: 4
- First Impression: 8
- Staying Power: 6

Seemingly not wanting to miss out on the buzz generated by Vampire Weekend, another band of kids from New York (upstate in this case) released an album of catchy, classical-laced pop, called "The Rhumb Line".  Though very good on its own, it pales in comparison to a live performance.  The band must have realized this when they quickly followed up with "The Rhumb Line Live" - four songs, spectacularly performed in an attic of a house somewhere in the band's hometown of Syracuse.

Oh, and for the record, the members of Vampire Weekend and Ra Ra Riot eventually became friends.  More on that in a future entry.

Suggested sample track: "Ghost Under Rocks"

Recommendation: If you like Vampire Weekend and/or Arcade Fire, then you will almost certainly enjoy this. Turn up the volume and head over to YouTube!

Underworld - "Oblivion With Bells"

- Released: October 2007
- Format: standard album (CD or download)

- Songwriting: 6
- Performance: 8
- Recording: 7
- First Impression: 7
- Staying Power: 5

This album should be calls "Bells Followed By Oblivion".  First come the bells: three stellar and very danceable tracks, comparable to the best releases from Underworld's glory days in the early to mid 1990's.  Then comes oblivion: eight more tracks that are better than filler, but not even close to the former three.

Suggested sample track: "Beautiful Burnout"

Recommendation: Download and keep the first three tracks ("Crocodile", "Beautiful Burnout" and "Holding the Moth").  Give the rest a quick spin on Grooveshark if you're bored.

King Crimson - "Discipline"

It's been too long.  'Nuff said.  On with the blog!

- Released: 1981
- Format: standard album (vinyl, cassette, CD or download)

- Songwriting: 8
- Performance: 10
- Recording: 9
- First Impression: 6
- Staying Power: 8

This album, in my opinion, sets the bar for progressive rock.  When I listen to more recent music by the likes of Dream Theater, The Mars Volta, or anything else that draws from the genre, I can't help but notice elements similar to "Discipline".  As for this particular album, every song is meticulously crafted, flawlessly executed and expertly recorded.  There is not one song that is anything less than very good.  Though some songs come across as abrasive or boring at first, repeated listening is definitely rewarding.

Suggested sample track: "Frame By Frame"

Recommendation: If you like progressive rock and own a good sound system, then you should absolutely purchase this album for your collection without hesitation. This is definitely one for listening from start to finish, in a quiet room.

Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs

- Released: May 2008
- Format: standard album (CD or download)

- Songwriting: 7
- Performance: 8
- Recording: 7
- First Impression: 5
- Staying Power: 7

"Narrow Stairs" tries to be more progressive and open minded than previous releases, and succeeds apart from a couple of missteps.  Fans who expect something that builds upon previous releases such as "Plans" or "Transatlanticism" will be disappointed.  Admittedly this is not an easily accessible album, and in fact there is not much in the way of radio-friendly pop at all.  However, repeated listening will reveal some very clever arrangements and subtle details.

Suggested sample track: "Bixby Canyon Bridge"

Recommendation: if you can't think outside of the box of verse-verse-chorus-verse, then stay away from "Narrow Stairs".  If you want something a little different, then try listening (and re-listening) to a few tracks.

Sony MDR-V300 Headphones

Here we go with another review of headphones.

- Average price (CAD, not including tax): $60
- Performance: 7
- Value: 8

Pros:
- good noise blocking
- warm and laid-back sound quality hides recording flaws
- excellent handling at high volume (they'll even work as speakers in a pinch)
- reasonably lightweight
- fold-in drivers for portability (fits into coat pocket or handbag)
- thick, extra long cord is very tough and handy when audio source is far away 

Cons:
- warm and laid back sound quality makes even the best recordings sound dull
- flimsy headband is too easy to break
- thick, extra long cord is cumbersome
- extended wearing can be tiresome
- no longer manufactured (but there's plenty of refurbs and old stock if you search online retailers)

Despite their flaws, the MDR-V300 headphones are a great companion for daily commuters.  Even though they don't completely surround one's ears, the headband is tight enough and the pads soft enough that they offer good isolation.  The sound quality is obviously made to overcome background noise as well as hiding the flaws of audio compression and the loudness war.  That said, in quiet environments the flaws really start to show, as the sound becomes boomy and dull.  Furthermore the vise grip of the headband becomes uncomfortable with extended listening (several hours). 

Recommendation: if you listen to music while commuting, can't stand earbuds or huge cans, and take good care of your gear, then you'll love the MDR-V300 headphones.  If you're serious about high fidelity then you'll hate them from the start.

Vampire Weekend - eponymous and "Contra"

It's been a week since my last post, so I'll try to make up for it by reviewing two albums from the same band.

Vampire Weekend - eponymous

- Released: January 2008
- Format: standard album (CD or download)

- Songwriting: 8
- Performance: 8
- Recording: 6
- First Impression: 8
- Staying Power: 8

A pop album should be catchy, intelligent, well executed and free of filler.  Vampire Weekend's eponymous debut album meets or exceeds all those requirements.  The blend of African pop with western classical is certainly unique; in fact I am hard pressed to think of a comparable band.  The closest would be Paul Simon circa "Graceland", or maybe Ra Ra Riot (kind of obscure), or maybe Arcade Fire (OK, that's a stretch!).  Anyway, I think this album rocks.  It is a permanent fixture on my portable player.  I would definitely nominate it as a contender for best album of the 00's.

Suggested sample track: "M79"

Recommendation: if you like world music-influenced pop, then you can't go wrong by buying this.


Vampire Weekend - "Contra"

- Released: January 2010
- Format: standard album (CD or download) 

- Songwriting: 7
- Performance: 5
- Recording: 3
- First Impression: 5
- Staying Power: 4

A pop album should be catchy, intelligent, well executed and free of filler.  Vampire Weekend's sophomore album meets the first two requirements, but falls short on the last two.  The plucky guitars, hand drums and string quartets from the eponymous debut are replaced with distorted guitars, distorted drum loops and distorted synthesizers.  The recording is sadly another casualty of the loudness war.  There is very little differentiating this album from the likes of MGMT, Wolf Parade, Modest Mouse, or countless other indie rock bands.  In other words, it is unoriginal and tiring, to the point that I can not listen from start to finish in one sitting.

Suggested sample track: "Horchata" 

Recommendation: give it a shot on Grooveshark.  Don't bother buying it.  Save your money for a live show instead.

Dylan Hears a Who

- Released: March 2007
- Format: free download

- Songwriting: 6
- Performance: 8
- Recording: 3 (by today's standards) or 8 (by vintage standards)
- First Impression: 7
- Staying Power: 5

This is what happens when a professional music producer, who is a fan of of both Bob Dylan's works from the 1960's, as well as Dr. Seuss' classic literature, has too much time on his hands.  The attention to detail is incredible.  The Hammond organ-steeped instrumentation, the near perfect vocal imitation and the purposely low-fidelity recording are a brilliant homage to vintage Dylan.  The lyrics - pretty much direct readings of Seuss' original texts - lend themselves very well to the musical style.  However, once the comedic novelty wears off, what is left is somewhat boring.

Suggested sample track: "Green Eggs and Ham"

Recommendation: if like Dr. Seuss, Bob Dylan or both, then this is well worth a listen on Grooveshark.  High quality MP3s are also available via the usual suspects, in case you want a copy for your portable player.

The Payola$ - No Stranger To Danger

- Released: 1982
- Format: standard album (vinyl, cassette or questionable download)

- Songwriting: 7
- Performance: 7
- Recording: 4 (caveat - see below)
- First Impression: 7
- Staying Power: 5

Here's another great Canadian rock album that most people never knew existed, apart from the chart topping single "Eyes of a Stranger".  The songwriting, performance and production are good to very good throughout the album, and there are no filler tracks.  The 80's cheese factor however makes it a little less enjoyable after the first listening.

Caveat: the low rating for the recording is because the only complete version I could find was apparently ripped from a very worn out vinyl.

Suggested sample track: though you've almost certainly heard it before, "Eyes of a Stranger".

Recommendation: look for a used vinyl in good condition.  Crank it up on the turntable stereo that you (or your parents) bought at Consumers Distributing ages ago.

Sennheiser PX100 headphones

Wait... what?!  No; this is not a review of music, but instead a device on which music can be played.  I plan to throw such reviews into the mix once a month or so.

- Average price (CAD, not including tax): $70
- Performance: 8
- Value: 7

Pros:
- lightweight
- very comfortable
- very open and revealing sound quality (high quality recordings sound amazing)
- folding headband for portability (fits into a pants pocket)
- well constructed (high quality plastics, metal hinges)

Cons:
- no noise blocking
- very open and revealing sound quality (low quality recordings sound harsh)
- mediocre handling at high volume
- wire is thin and easily broken, especially at joints
- nearly useless carrying case (but hey, it's included, so no big loss)

The PX100 headphones are very much a niche product.  Given a quiet room (home, office, hotel, etc.) and a good recording, game or movie, they outperform many headphones that cost a lot more.  While they're very portable, they don't sound very good in noisy environments (bus, airplane, city street, etc.), especially with the volume turned up.  Their tendency to reveal every flaw also makes modern (loud, distorted) recordings and low bitrate encoded music tiresome.

Recommendation: if you listen to high quality recordings, watch movies, or play games (and don't need a microphone), in a quiet setting, then you'll love the PX100 headphones.  If you listen to modern pop music while commuting, then you'll hate the PX100 headphones very quickly.

Cake - "Motorcade of Generosity"

- Released: 1994
- Format: standard album (CD or download)

- Songwriting: 6
- Performance: 7
- Recording: 5
- First Impression: 6
- Staying Power: 6

Before the albums "Fashion Nugget" and "Prolonging the Magic" sold eleventy bazillion copies, there was this, the debut album.  Though not as well constructed as its successors, the enthusiasm and energy of the performance makes it as enjoyable as any low-budget indie recording.  With Cake's trademark latin and funk influences, acoustic and electric guitar juxtaposition, along with a horn section and old school synths, it's irresistibly fun.

Suggested sample track: "Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle"

Recommendation: if you're already a fan, then this album is well worth adding to the collection.  If you're unsure, then download a few tracks.  Either way, plug in some reasonably loud speakers, crank it up, and maybe get up and dance while you're at it.

Holy F*ck - LP

(yes; I censored the band name for wholesome family goodness' sake)

- Released: 2007
- Format: standard album (CD or download)

- Songwriting: 6
- Performance: 7
- Recording: 4
- First Impression: 6
- Staying Power: 7

If the Chemical Brothers got rid of all their computers and instead played everything with live instruments and sound effect boxes, then this is what might be the result.  Though it seems anachronistic to try to create electronic music without... you know... the electronics typically required, these guys not only pull it off but make it sound natural and fun.  My only real complaint, other than the audio quality being intentionally low-fi, is that the vocals stick out like a sore thumb, all but ruining the tracks in which they are heard.

Suggested sample track: "Lovely Allen"

Recommendation: sample a few tracks on Grooveshark.  Go see a live performance.

The Fixx - "Shuttered Room"

- Released: 1982
- Format: standard album (vinyl, cassette, CD or download)

- Songwriting: 6
- Performance: 8
- Recording: 6
- First Impression: 7
- Staying Power: 5

Canadians and Americans in the early 1980's could not get enough new wave.  The Fixx lends proof to this, as a UK band who sold far more albums overseas than at home.  This debut album is a very solid effort, though a bit eclectic, even borrowing a bit of art rock quirkiness from the likes of Talking Heads.  Though it's catchy, the kitschy 1980's sound wears thin after repeated listening (The Fixx perfectly honed their style on subsequent albums, but I digress).

Suggested sample track: "Red Skies"

Recommendation: look for a used vinyl or CD, then give it a spin when you're in the mood for Cold War nostalgia.

Rammstein - "Liebe Ist Für Alle Da"

- Released: October 2009
- Format: standard album (CD or download)

- Songwriting: 6
- Performance: 8
- Recording: 6
- First Impression: 6
- Staying Power: 7

Forever reinforcing the lederhosen-and-black-clothing-wearing East German stereotype, as made semi-popular by Mike Myers years ago in the "Sprockets" series of skits on Saturday Night Live, Rammstein releases another album that can only be described in the context of their previous albums.  Part industrial, part heavy metal, part synth-pop, 100% Rammstein.  Nothing groundbreaking, really, but just as insane, quirky and enjoyable as their ferocious debut "Sehnsucht".  Now is time on Rammstein ven vee dance!

Suggested sample track: "Liebe Ist Für Alle Da"

Recommendation: if you like Rammstein, then buy this album.  If you don't like Rammstein, then don't buy this album.  If you haven't heard any Rammstein yet, then give the sample track a spin.

Art Brut - "Art Brut vs. Satan"

- Released: April 20, 2009
- Format: standard album (CD or download)

- Songwriting: 8
- Performance: 7
- Recording: 6
- First Impression: 7
- Staying Power: 8

It's nearly impossible to slap a genre label onto Art Brut.  Indie pop rock, power pop and punk rock come close but don't quite match.  The closest band for comparison might be The Ramones, but even then there's only a passing resemblance.  Lead vocalist Eddie Argos assumes the role of the everyday, working-class, loser, then speaks his stories in time with well-constructed erm... indie-power-pop-punk intrumentals and occasional backup vocals.  In any case, it's accessible, clever, entertaining, funny (in a good way) and bloody addictive.

Suggested sample track: "Alcoholics Unanimous"

Recommendation: sample a few tracks.  If you like them, then buy the album, and also sample some of Art Brut's equally impressive back catalog (namely the albums "It's a Bit Complicated" and "Bang Bang Rock & Roll").

Sufjan Stevens - "Illinois"

- Released: 2005
- Format: standard album (CD or download)

- Songwriting: 4
- Performance: 7
- Recording: 8
- First Impression: 6
- Staying Power: 4

This is a perfect example of what is wrong with music reviews.  A complicated, pompous, meandering, prevaricating, self-flagellating album gives fodder for many complicated, pompous, meandering, prevaricating, self-flagellating reviews.  The young, white hipsters then have a massive verbal wank-fest over it, declaring it to be the second coming of "Pet Sounds".

The simple question that the rest of us want answered: does it rock?  The simple answer: no!

The first listening is difficult because of the clashing "progressive folk" style.  Subsequent listenings are even more difficult, because the seemingly complex arrangements become repetitive and tiring.  The not-so-subtle, preachy tone of the lyrics puts the final nail in the coffin.

Suggested sample track: "Chicago"

Recommendation: Unless you are a semi-religious, white, trendy, twenty-something (who cries with friends, in a van), this one is not worth more than a cursory glance on Grooveshark.

Isolée - "We Are Monster"

- Released: 2005
- Format: standard album (CD or download)

- Songwriting: 7
- Performance: 7
- Recording: 7
- First Impression: 5
- Staying Power: 7

By the end of the 1990's I had all but lost interest in electronic music.  It seemed that everything that could possibly be synthesized, sampled, filtered and sequenced was already recorded.  Then along came this album.  Some would try to pigeonhole it into the sub-sub-genre known as "Microhouse", as the tempo is always moderate, and the building blocks are mostly fundamental tones, beeps and clicks.  On top of that, however, is a variety of sampled vocals and real instruments.  This unlikely combination makes it original and fascinating.

Suggested sample track: "Schrapnell"

Recommendation: download a few tracks, then listen to them in a variety of settings.  Resist the urge to dismiss it early, as repeated listening sessions may be needed before it all makes sense.

Saga - "Worlds Apart"

- Released: 1981
- Format: standard album (vinyl, cassette, CD, download)

- Songwriting: 8
- Performance: 8
- Recording: 7
- First Impression: 6
- Staying Power: 8

This album sits somewhere between new wave and progressive rock.  While the former makes some of the songs (most notably the big hits "On The Loose" and "Wind Him Up") immediately accessible, the latter makes it demanding of multiple listening sessions to reveal the detail and depth.  Though the styles of the songs are quite varied, all of them are very good to excellent in their own way.

Suggested sample track: "Framed" (a few low quality versions exist on YouTube) or "Wind Him Up" (not my favourite but readily available on Grooveshark).

Recommendation: make a note to yourself to look for a used vinyl or CD, since the album is out of print as of writing.  Then download the best quality version you can find and play it on a good sound system.

Megadeth - "Endgame"

- Released: September 15, 2009
- Format: standard album (CD or download)

- Songwriting: 7
- Performance: 8
- Recording: 5
- First Impression: 8
- Staying Power: 7

Now this is a what metal album should be: aggressive, blisteringly fast, and loud as hell.  I'm not kidding when I say that this is Megadeth's second best album ever (nothing could ever touch "Rust In Peace").  "Megadave" Mustaine has aged really well, which is to say that he's older, more pissed off than ever before, and channeling all that negative energy into some brilliant thrash metal.  Needless to say, it is a step above that which was recently released by another major metal band whose name also begins with "M".

Suggested sample track: "Head Crusher"

Recommendation: download.  Crank up on loudest speakers available (the recording is stereotypically loud and compressed, so no point in going hi-fi).  Bang head furiously until desired effect is achieved.

Tool - "Ænima"

Released: October 1996
Format: standard album (vinyl, CD, download)


Songwriting: 7
Performance: 8
Recording: 8
First Impression: 8
Staying Power: 6

I was immediately hooked by this album when it was first released, and I feel the same way every time I dust it off and give it a spin.  Its aggressive yet highly intelligent songs are impeccably performed and recorded, interspersed with interludes and sound bites to provide the listener with a much-needed break between each auditory assault.  Regardless, I find it wears thin by the last track, so I have no desire to repeat the experience more than once every few months.  If you're white, male and angst-ridden, then this fine prototype of "new metal" is worth a listen for historical purposes.

Suggested sample track: "Eulogy"

Recommendation: have a listen on Grooveshark. If you like it enough to buy it, then used CDs are not too difficult to find.

Guns N' Roses - "Chinese Democracy"

Released: November 2008
Format: standard album (CD or download)

Songwriting: 3
Performance: 8
Recording: 8
First Impression: 5
Staying Power: 3

I listened to "Chinese Democracy" a total of five times, and this is how it played out:
1. Good job on the recording and choice of session musicians, Axl.  Your compositions come across as severely lacking, but maybe I just need to let it grow on me.
2. Axl, you've let me down - no - you've really pissed me off! 15 years and all you have to show is this festering pile of excrement?!
3. If I listen to it at home instead of on the bus or at work, will it sound better?  I guess it's worth another kick at the cans.
4. You kept me hanging on for 15 years and then you just threw it all away.  I'm never going to listen to another GN'R album again.  My appreciation of music is forever ruined.
5. It just wasn't meant to be.  Live and learn.  There is plenty more music in the tubes, though I'll always have a place in my heart for "Appetite".

Suggested same track: "I.R.S."

Recommendation: save yourself the grief.  Listen to "Appetite For Destruction" instead.

The Dodos - "Visiter"

Released: March 2008
Format: standard album (CD or download)

Songwriting: 8
Performance: 8
Recording: 2
First Impression: 6
Staying Power: 8

These guys know how to put together some great indie/alternative songs.  The instrumentation is mostly acoustic, though you'd be hard pressed to tell from all the crushing distortion in the recording.  No matter.  This album rocks in its uniquely juxtaposed way.  Worth a listen if you want something accessible but completely different.

Suggested sample track: "Red and Purple"

Recommendation: listen to it right now on Grooveshark (http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/songs/?query=dodos%20visiter), using the cheesy speakers that came with your computer.

Spoons - "Arias & Symphonies"

Released: 1982
Format: standard album (vinyl, cassette, CD, download)

Songwriting: 7
Performance: 7
Recording: 5
First Impression: 7
Staying Power: 8

Who knew that a bunch of kids from Burlington (a suburb of Toronto), barely out of high school, could create a truly defining example of early 1980's New Wave?  Many of the tracks share the same tempo, time signature and roughly the same chord progression, and yet they are all uniquely detailed, and catchy as a wall of Velcro.  I was drawn in right away, and had to come back for more and then some.  I still find myself humming the hooks at inopportune moments.

Suggested sample track: "Nova Heart"

Recommendation: download the album, or a random sampling of tracks therein. Add it to your playlist for traveling. Hum along. Pay attention to the road and don't get lost.

Talk Talk - "The Colour of Spring"

Released: 1986
Format: standard album (vinyl, cassette, CD or download)

Songwriting: 8
Performance: 8
Recording: 9
First Impression: 6
Staying Power: 8

I'm a child of the 80's, and I don't care who knows it!  Of course when this album was released, I was only nine years old, and chose to ignore it, preferring the more accessible Corey Harts, Bruce Springsteens and Bryan Adamses of the day.  Now that I am older and more of a stick in the mud connoisseur, I find myself rediscovering past recordings like this one.  This is considered by many to be the band's transitional recording wherein they progressed from radio-friendly pop to a more discordant, experimental, unstructured style.  The huge variations from one track to the next are a bit unsettling at first, but repeated listenings bring much satisfaction.  The composition, musicianship and recording (especially the latter) are so meticulous that something new is revealed each time.

Suggested sample track: "Happiness Is Easy"

Recommendation: buy the vinyl or CD, then play it on a very expensive sound system (go to a very expensive sound store if you must).

Kutiman - "ThruYOU"

Released: April 2009
Format: Series of videos posted on YouTube

Songwriting: 9
Performance: 9
Recording: 7
First Impression: 9
Staying Power: 7

It is not often that I am impressed by something entirely embodied by the Internet.  This album (in the rough sense of the word), however, is truly a diamond in the rough.  One fine day in early 2009, Kutiman (Ophir Kutiel) was playing along with a video of a drummer on YouTube.  He then came up with the idea of sourcing guitar, bass and other parts on YouTube to accompany the drummer.  Fast forward two months, and "ThruYOU" was the result.  While the idea of "mashups" of videos is hardly new, Kutiman's work is above and beyond any other I have seen.  The production - both video and audio - is top-notch, considering the mediocre quality of the source material.  The layers upon layers of synchronicity are truly astounding to behold, especially considering Kutiman's claim that he mostly refrained from pitch shifting.

Suggested sample track: "The Mother of All Funk Chords"

Recommendation: attach your best speakers or headphones to a computer in a quiet room, then open http://www.thru-you.com.

Metallica - "Death Magnetic"

Released: September 12, 2008
Format: audio tracks ripped from the soundtrack to the game "Guitar Hero 3"; also available as a regular album (CD or download) for the hard of hearing.

Songwriting: 6
Performance: 7
Recording: 6 (game soundtrack) or 2 (album release)
First Impression: 7
Staying Power: 6

Guitar Hero 3 goooooood!  Album release baaaaaad!

Yes; the opinions you might have read on the tubes are true.  "Death Magnetic" sounds orders of magnitude better as ripped from the game "Guitar Hero 3", compared to the actual album release.  The latter is another victim of the Loudness War (the phenomenon of most modern recordings having the volume maximized with little regard to sound quality).  Thankfully it is technically impossible to so brutally butcher the soundtrack for "Guitar Hero" type games, so the sound quality was mostly spared for the former.  It is more or less in line with Metallica's releases from the 1980's - not fantastic but not horrible.  The ripped version even contains a bonus: two versions of one song, with guitar solos from James and Kirk respectively.

As for the music itself, there is some good to great content.  Nothing really stands out as a masterpiece, but it's certainly amenable to those who fondly remember Metallica's earlier albums.  The songs are long and varied in tempo and mood, often changing mid-song.  While it pales in comparison to the untouchable awesomeness of "Master of Puppets", it holds its own very well and will not disappoint the fans.

Suggested sample track: "The Day That Never Comes"

Recommendation: buy the CD or pay for the downloads to support the artists and the music industry juggernaut.  Then download the version ripped from "Guitar Hero 3" and load that onto your best sound system.  Turn the volume control up to 11.  Raise your index and pinky fingers.  Rock out.

Elbow - "The Seldom Seen Kid"

Released: March 17, 2008
Format: standard album (CD or download)

Songwriting: 7
Musicianship: 7
Recording: 8
First Impression: 7
Staying Power: 7

Best description: "Peter Gabriel meets Coldplay."  I know it sounds like a marriage made in hell, but it works on many levels.  Deep, brooding ballads mix with upbeat and catchy pop numbers.  The assembly of tracks is a bit eclectic, but that just means that as a whole it suits one's mood more often, especially if one has bipolar disorder.  But seriously, everything from the crafting to the performance to the recording is top notch.

As a fussy audiosnobphile, I want to take a moment to proclaim that this is one of best-sounding recordings I have heard in many years.  Though a small number of tracks are loud and compressed in places (typical of almost all recordings in the recent Loudness War), none of them are overly distorted or harsh sounding.  In fact most of them dial it down a few notches, allowing the music itself to dictate the loudness as required.

Suggested sample track: "The Bones of You"

Recommendation: buy the CD or download the highest quality version you can find.  Play it on your best sound system, in a quiet room, with the lights dimmed.

All right, people. Listen up!

Music critics take pride in their ability to postulate, analyze, expound and philosophize on the latest releases by the latest musical artists.  Nowhere else on the tubes, save for parody, will one find a collection more flowery language.  This seems to be the preferred job of those who excelled in high school creative writing class, but weren't good enough to become real writers.  This is fine.

It is also entirely not the point of this blog.

In fact this blog exists to intentionally poke a finger in the eyes of such critics, so to speak, or ahem... type.  So let's cut to the chase.  This blog is simply a collection of my opinions on various musical recordings.  Since I like breaking things down into simple terms that everyone else can understand, I have also devised a simple rating system (which I reserve the right to change or outright disregard without notice).  Each category is scored from 0 to 10, with the former being abysmal and the latter being beyond the capabilities of mere mortals.  Most ratings will fall somewhere in between.  The categories are as follows:

Songwriting- The quality of the compositions.
Musicianship - The quality of the performance.
Recording - The quality of the audio itself (listening with good headphones or speakers in a quiet room)
First Impression - How much enjoyment I had during the first listening.
Staying Power - How much enjoyment I get from repeated listenings.

How can I quantify such an abstract art as music?  Simple.  I'm an Engineer, and an opinionated one at that!

Another right which I reserve is that of reviewing anything and everything that might be music or a reasonable facsimile thereof, without regard to when it was first published or the format used.  MP3, CD, YouTube, game soundtracks, vinyl and others are all fair game.

I welcome your opinions on my reviews, and openly take suggestions for music worth listening to.  Keep the music playing, and have fun, kids!