New music purchased thread

[And That]

Please contribute your new album purchases to this thread.

 

I've wanted to start a thread for quick reviews of albums you've just bought for quite some time, and as I have nothing better to do for the next few minutes, here goes:

 

Portishead - "Roseland NYC Live"

 

I'm kind of ashamed to admit I didn't own this album previously. Portishead's first release, Dummy, is one of my very favorite albums. However, their self-titled second release didn't hit the spot for me when it came out, and I put buying the live album on the back burner about 7 years ago. I finally got around to buying it today (partially due to the news about the forthcoming Portishead album), and boy, was I missing out. Six of the 11 songs are from their second album, and though that disc is still vastly inferior to me compared to Dummy, the symphony orchestra really enlivens the tracks. The opener "Humming" is vibrant and alive and uses the string section the best of all the songs. My favorites were still the Dummy tracks, but the whole thing is a mellow dream. .

 

I'd give it 4 out 5 stars.

 

Brian Eno - "Here Come the Warm Jets (Remaster)"

 

I generally have great bile for glam rock - Hedwig and the Angry Inch is one of my most-hated movies of all time - but Brian Eno transcends glam due to his exceptional production chops. And his work isn't even really proper glam rock - the work on his early pop albums sounds closer in terms of production value to that of a more focused and song-driven Can than to David Bowie of the same era. Eno really made his mark with the Ambient series, and as a producer for U2, but this Warm Jets turns out to be a very good rock album with a glammy twist. Songs like "Baby's On Fire" and "Driving Me Backwards" meld great production values with what you'd expect from an early 70's record. I'd still rather listen to Music For Airports, but Eno shows he's able to get across as a rock star, too.

 

I'd give it 4 out 5 stars as well.

 

(added tag --1992)

[pogokat]

last thing i bought was:

 

The common rider half of the common rider/against all authority split from 2005..

 

i would sayits great, but common rider is definitely an acquired taste...still if you love operation ivy, but aren't quite what to do with rancid/lars frederickson/transplants...check out common rider...because that's where the rest of the sound went...

 

i bought like 20 cds while i was in cali a month ago...too much to list...but a bunch of 80's punkt hat i needed to fill out my completist mind set...as well as the rakes and kooks

[xisxisxis]

Dashboard Confessional - Dusk and Summer

 

Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

 

Like the DC DS not so happy with the limey bas.....

[pitchleague]

I honestly do not remember the last time I bought an album by a mainstream music group. I think my wife bought a Five for Fighting album a few months ago, but I'm just not into buying albums anymore for 1 or 2 songs. Plus, most music on the radio I don't like all that much anyways.

[diomedeh2]

TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain

 

I gotta say, I love this album. I really liked their first EP that had Staring at the Sun on it...found them to be really quite unique. Their debut LP was a bit underwhelming, but still solid. This album feels like TVOTR coming into their own. "Province" is an amazing song that just seems to build and build. I can't get enough of it.

 

I'd go with 4.5 out of 5 stars.

 

Grandaddy - Just Like the Fambly Cat

 

I was disappointed with Sumday. I was at a Polyphonic Spree concert in Minneapolis when I first heard a track off of it, I believe it was 'I'm On Standby', and was impressed. But then I heard the album in it's entirety and thought, what has happened to my beloved Grandaddy? Under the Western Freeway and Sophtware Slump were incredible, so I had high, high (way too high of) expectations for it. I think this, in part, led to my appreciation for Fambly Cat. Lowered standards unfortunately. That said, I'm a fan. I don't know if I can get enough of "Rear View Mirror," and I'm certain that "This Is How it Always Starts" will be a personal fave for a while. Very solid (final) effort from a pretty darn good band. If only Mr. Bowie would somehow give them the Mott the Hoople treatment, the world might just be a slightly better place http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/happy.gif

 

4 out of 5 stars.

 

Mew - And The Glass Handed Kites

 

I'm way into this. Sometimes, Scandinavian rock just gets me. Sigur Ros, Bjork, et al. I love the mix of male and female vocals and the dude has a really cool voice. Unique sound. I love "Why Are You Looking Grave?" Cool transition between vocals from verse to chorus. His voice reminds me of a well produced Ian Brown (Stone Roses) at times, which I'm also a fan of (obviously). Anyway, very good album. I can't stop humming some of the songs at times. My girlfriend has the same affliction.

 

4 out of 5 stars.

 

Sorry for the long-windedness(?).

[Schlitz001]

Just bought.....

 

Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane over the Sea

 

The Dandy Warhols - Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia

[BrewCrewForever]

Crossfade- "Falling Away"

 

30 Seconds to Mars- "A Beautiful Lie"

 

Both great albums!

[brettac1]

Bob Dylan - "Modern Times"

 

Well, it's Dylan. It's really good. I'd say 4/5, or so.

 

I think that might be the only album I've bought in the past few months.

[halfnard]

Hey all.

 

A few bands you guys should check out:

The Hold Steady, The Thermals, The Long Winters, The Rapture, Numbers, The Raconteurs and Sparklehorse just to name a few.

 

Also check out The Hype Machine blog. It is an audio blog aggregator that posts new mp3's blogged on a dozen or so blogs. Really good way to check out new stuff and you can search out bands as well. Not only does it stream the songs but it also has links to the blog it came from and the post it is in.

[brettac1]

I'd like to point out that, along with Toby's Eno recommendation, I really love Eno's work with Roxy Music (the self-titled album, as well as "For Your Pleasure"). In fact, I really enjoy about six Roxy Music albums, though the post-Eno releases are way less artsy or "glam", for the most part.

 

Toby may or may not agree with me on that, because I get the feeling I like the "glam" more than he does.

[pogokat]

The Hold Steady, The Thermals, The Long Winters, The Rapture, Numbers, The Raconteurs and Sparklehorse just to name a few.

 

i love the thermals...and the raconteurs mention gives me a chanc eto pimp brendan benson solo stuff...the alternative to love is better than broken boy soldiers...and one mississippi is fantastic as well...

 

finally, arent the long winters the band that th guy from harvey danger is in ? if so, you should check out their albums...not just "flagpole sitta" the other stuff...its good...

 

also, check maximo park and the fuureheads, as well as the rakes...in the rapture mode...

[bullox]

Just wanted to chime in and say that the Black Keys are good.

 

And so is Noisia.

[pogokat]

Quote:

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Toby may or may not agree with me on that, because I get the feeling I like the "glam" more than he does.

---

 

i like the "glam" too...especially boiwe and t.rex...but i could never get into roxy music...something a little too creepy for me..

[brettac1]

You dig Lou Reed, pogo?

 

Also, right on in regards to "Alternative to Love".

[halfnard]

Sean was on the first two Long Winters records but left to do the new Harvey Danger which I am not that fond of although i do like it better than the "Flagpole" album. You can hear more of the Long Winters herealong with tons of other streamed shows.

 

I could keep blurting out records until I turn blue but the Eno is something to check out for sure. Also Daniel Lanois album "Shine" feels like an old friend. Very much Eno(ish). They work together so much it makes sense.

 

If you want to go down that path check out David Sylvians records from "Secrets of the Behive" forward. Pretty voice and etheral music.

[pogokat]

Quote:

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You dig Lou Reed, pogo?

---

 

I've got the Velvet Underground with Nico album, but thats about it on Reed...i could do more of him, but i sometimes need the pep of bowie...of course, i love me some new york dolls and iggy...

[And That]

Muse - Origin Of Symmetry

 

I had heard both a lot of good things and a lot of bad things about Muse before I had really listened to them for the first time. For the good, they are allegedly a great live band, and a band with a lot of spacial, bombastic music. On the negative, they are a derivative, Radiohead clone with little to offer on an album format. I have to agree with the latter. Frontman Matthew Bellamy is a Thom Yorke clone ad nauseum, and although the music is OK, the lyircs are over-wrought when you can understand them, and not passable when you can't. There are a few pretty decent tracks on the album, mostly in the first half, but the album is weary with overanticipation of a message, none of which is delivered. Conisdering how good this album should have been, a very dissapointing album.

 

I'll give it 2/5 stars for basically the first three tracks and the last one.

[brettac1]

I've got the Velvet Underground with Nico album, but thats about it on Reed...i could do more of him, but i sometimes need the pep of bowie...of course, i love me some new york dolls and iggy...

 

Get Reed's "Transformer". Bowie produced it.

 

My favorite VU album is the third, self-titled one. I like "Loaded" a lot, too - definitely the most accessible of their albums. You really can't go wrong with any of their stuff, "White Light White Heat" is great, too.

[EdgarDiazRocks]

In my search of all things Niko Case, I finally picked up The Corn Sisters album.

 

I had already heard the Fist City cover, which always reminded me that I didn't like Loretta Lynn as much as everybody else, but when I heard Niko wailing out Long Black Veil I was sold. It's not often you can go toe to toe with Johnny Cash (or Marty Robbins for that matter) and come out on top, but she really wins here.

 

The rest of the album is okay, I suggest just going to iTunes and getting Long Black Veil by itself.

[RyDogg66]

Quote:

---

Just wanted to chime in and say that the Black Keys are good.

---

 

Finally, someone else on BF.net that can share the Black Keys love. I've been a big fan of theirs since about 2002. Just picked up their new EP on iTunes and "Magic Potion" will be out soon. Can't wait.

 

The CDs I've acquired lately are The Raconteurs and Ray LaMontagne "Trouble" (2004) I plan on getting his new one as soon as I have some cash to spare

[diomedeh2]

My favorite VU album is the third, self-titled one.

 

I agree 100%. Incredible album. I'm a big big fan of them.

 

I dig me some glam rock as well. T Rex, Bowie, Eno (though I prefer his electronic stuff more), Roxy Music (agree on the creepy note, but I actually like it more for that reason), Mott, etc.

 

Good tunes.

[RyDogg66]

STUPID APPLE!! On a new music Tuesday they decide to shut down the iTunes music store to add movies. Looks like I'll be heading the Best Buy on the lunch hour to buy the New Black Keys album.

[brettac1]

I bought the TV on the Radio disc today. I had already downloaded it quite a while back when it came out in England. It's pretty good.

 

The one that likely catches me some flak is that I also bought John Mayer's "Continuum". I just think the guy is pretty good, he's a terrific guitar player, especially (he covers "Bold as Love", well). Also really good, but I expected it to be after reading quite a few positive reviews (aside from the smug and typically smarter than the room Pitchfork) and hearing the single.

 

The new Yo La Tengo, "I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass" is a nice album, too.

[pogokat]

I don't know if anyone here listens to robert schnieder (apples in stereo) but i picked up his release from last year (recoring as Marbles) and it's pretty good...it's way less aggresive than the last Apple's album and not as rocking as the Ullyssees album from 2004, but it has some of the pop sensibilities from the early apples stuff...all in all a good album, though not sure if i'll be dying to listen to it all the time...

 

i also picked up The rapture - echoes...and first impressions are that i don't like it...i like moments, but it falls into sounding like the faint, which i don't particularly enjoy...

 

as soon as i get around to it, the new Thermals album will be entering regular play for me...that is, when i buy it...

[lovehate]

Last week I picked up The Roots new one Game Theory, probably 4-5 tracks that are vintage Roots stuff, I'd say 3 out of 5.

 

Two weeks ago picked up Mo' Mega buy Mr. Lif, all production by El-P from Company Flow and Cannibal Ox fame, and tons of other remixes and stuff on Def Jux records. This record has about 6 tracks that are outstanding and maybe 4 that are so so. I'd call this 3 1/2, almost 4 out of 5