Radiohead - King of Limbs Review

I've been rather reluctant to review this album. I mean what do you say about a Radiohead release. I've been playing the album a few times every day for the last week and it's still just as amazing as the first time I heard it. And now to review it is an impossible task. But I'll try.

What's good about it: Everything. A great union of electronic and alternative sounds. Beautiful staccato vocals. A incredibly solid structure that keeps you entertained all the way through. I however do not believe that this album will better OK Computer (1997) or In Rainbows (2007) but I will keep an eye on Radiohead for the rest of the year. I have a feeling that there is still more to come for King of Limbs.

Now, what's wrong with it: Absolutely nothing. Except the fact that I have to wait till May for the Vinyls.

There will be a lot of negative and undeceive reviews about this album, much like with In Rainbows. People are scared to comment on Radiohead albums as they do not want to be proven wrong. There is nothing wrong with getting behind this album and interpreting it in any way you want to. It is an incredibly abstract record and, as always, Radiohead is a few years ahead of everything else in alternative music.

Stereo 8 Recommends: Undoubtedly

V

Radiohead - Lotus Flower (Official Video)

I have just received my digital copy of The King Of Limbs. After the first two listens I already love it. Review next week.
In the meantime here is the video for Lotus Flower.

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

A taste of the new PJ Harvey album

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake review.

Let England Shake is something totally different for PJ Harvey. It is an Experimental, Ambient album with a strong concept. It explores England's position and political involvement in the wars of the world. It has all the makings of a modern protest album.

Concept aside, the music is beautiful and is nothing that you would expect. It feels greatly influenced by European ambient music and is heavy with emotion. But ambient war poetry is not all the album has going for it. The single from the record The Words that Maketh Murder starts with a simple rock riff and beat and continues in a pleasant harmonic way. The album is full of little gems like this and it keeps moving. It is a record with meaning and definite replay value.

I am impressed by the direction PJ Harvey has moved into. Her last two albums both disappointed me. It felt that she could not live up to Is This Desire? (1998) and Stories From the City, Stories Form the Sea (2000) but Let England Shake was totally unexpected. It is extremely creative and completely reinvents PJ Harvey.

Stereo 8 Recommends: Yes

New Radiohead album The King of Limbs

Radiohead available to Pre-order


http://www.thekingoflimbs.com/DIUSD.htm

V

PJ Harvey - This is Love Music Video

 In anticipation of PJ Harvey's new album Let England Shake. Here is This is Love music Video.
Also number 2 on our Valentines day Best songs to make love to.

V

Top 10 songs to make love to

A Valentines day inspired top 10 list

10.Barry White – My First, My last, My Everything
9.  Ratatat – Wild Cat
8.  Radiohead – How to Disappear Completely
7.  Portishead – Sour Times
6.  Tool - Stinkfist
5.  Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter
4.  Massive Attack – Angel
3.  NIN – Closer
2.  PJ Harvey – This is Love
1.  Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love

V

The Strokes - Last Night Live on MTV

A look at The Strokes back on their first album - Is This It? (2001)

The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness

Free download of the first single from the upcoming Strokes album - Angles

www.thestrokes.com.

And you will know us by the trail of the dead - Summer of all dead souls

The single from Tao of the dead.

And you will know us by the trail of dead - Tao of the dead review

I'm a big believer in listening to entire albums. Albums with one or two radio friendly tracks and filled up with white noise really annoy me. Tao of the dead is an album meant to be listen to all at once. It is influenced heavily by albums like Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. The tracks blend into each other and form one overall concept.

But different to Dark Side this album doesn't really go anywhere. It starts of with Track 1 -  Introduction: Let us experiment and 40 minutes later at Track 11 - Somewhere over the rainbow the mood and emotion is still very similar, with very little moments in between. Concept albums should move and evolve to leave you satisfied at the end.

I've been listening to Tao of the dead for three days straight, as concept albums usually take a while to get into. But instead of it grabbing me, I find myself growing bored with it.  Worlds apart (2005) was a brilliant album and had a lot more to offer than Tao of the dead.

For Trail of the dead fans this album is exactly what you would expect. Their sound hasn't changed much and all the hype of this album being a genre influencing release is a bit over ambitious. It is worth a listen but I don't see it having a lasting impact. I respect the direction Trail of dead is moving into and future releases might see them write that epic concept album.

Stereo 8 recommends: Maybe, it is worth listening to just to know what is happening in the genre.

V

Releases for February

     A few interesting releases are scheduled for February. First up - ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead on the 8th. This is an album I will definitely write something on. Trail of Dead's last three releases really impressed me. It was - Worlds Apart(2005) that first sparked my interest in the band and is still, I feel, their most memorable album. They seem to be heading into a more progressive rock area than their first three albums. The new album - Tao of the Dead has two members less that the previous releases and promises to be a more guitar orientated progressive rock album. Look out for a review later this week.

And then on the 15th we'll see the new PJ Harvey. I loved - Is this Desire?(1998)  and - Stories from the Cities, Stories from the Sea(2000), but nothing since then has really impressed me much. A woman a man walked by(2009) with John Parish had it's moments but overall not a solid album. I'm hoping to be impressed by Let England Shake this month.

Also on the 15th another one of the Sonic Youth Recordings (SYR) series. SYR is not studio releases by Sonic Youth but more experimental, usually instrumental or in languahes other than english albums. I enjoyed Andre Sider Af Sonic Youth (2008) and am looking forward to Simon Werner a Disparu. It is a soundtrack done for the french film of the same name directed by Fabrice Gobert. The soundtrack is already available for digital download at:
http://www.midheaven.com/item/simon-werner-a-disparu-by-sonic-youth-cd

Overall it looks to be a good month.

V

Deerhoof - Super Duper Rescue Heads Video

Deerhoof - Deerhoof vs. Evil review

At one point I thought for sure Deerhoof won't improve on Friend Opportunity. Then Offend Maggie in 2008 proved me wrong.
Deerhoof just keeps on impressing me, and now with VS. Evil they've reached a new high. It's still the same falsetto noise rock that they are known for but it seems that they get more comfortable with their sound on every release.
Satomi Matsuzaki is very capable of creating beautiful melodies in a very simplistic way. On songs like Super Duper Rescue Heads! and Behold a Marvel in the Darkness she blends well with the familiar Deerhoof noise. Catchy riffs that change into unexpected time signatures. Then without fail it moves into a beautiful chorus. Key and beat changes seem dirty at first but at the end it all makes sense.
The album is tight and keeps on impressing. It's difficult to single out any tracks as the album is best in one complete listen.
Go to:
http://deerhoofvsevil.com/
to stream the songs.

Stereo 8 recommends: Yes definitely. For those not familiar with Deerhoof but who are fans of Noise and Indy Rock this is the perfect album to start with.

Stereo 8 Classics 1961: Frank Sinatra - Come Swing With Me

Stereo 8 classics review albums that were released 50 years ago. In 2011 we will be doing albums from 1961.

I was lucky enough to receive Sinatra's Come Swing With Me on vinyl over Christmas. It is his last swing album. I personally prefer his ballads to his big band swing stuff but it makes for a good Christmas listen. Swing music always reminds of the Christmas season or old spy films.

The orchestra was arranged and conducted by Billy May. Known for his quick brass arrangements, reminiscent of classic film scores. May and Sinatra compliment each other quite well especially on some of the more notable tracks like: Almost Like Being in Love and On the Sunny Side of the Street.

Although a good swing album with a distinct Sinatra flare it is only for swing fans or Sinatra followers. But I could pull out the vinyl at the odd dinner party and enjoy it with a few Martinis.

Stereo 8 recommends: Yes but only for fans or the occasional listen.