(A) The Crane’s Wife (The Decemberists, Oct. 3) Grade: AThe band’s first official release on major label Capitol is absolutely wonderful. The title track balances their winsome sound with touches of melancholy (“And I will hang my head, hang my head low”). And as the album’s lyrics center around a Japanese folk tale, the accompanying music ranges from quiet folkyness to louder percussions and hints of progs/synths. The Bookeaters ask that eternal question, “Words or music—Which is better?” But the Decemberists negate the necessity to choose between the two, emphasizing the importance of both and interlaying them in splendid fashion.
(A) Sam’s Town (The Killers, Oct. 3) Grade: DWhen Hot Fuss was first released, no one took the Killers too seriously. The debut’s obvious references and the band’s lackluster live performances didn’t offer anything too promising. Flash forward to today, and it seems the Killers are taken too seriously. BFlo (as singer Brandon Flowers is affectionally or cruelly called) and company have adopted a somewhat different sound for Sam’s Town, preferring Bruce Springsteen’s Americana (i.e. title track, “When You Were Young”) to the New Wave ’80s. Probably the most disturbing (for me) is BFlo’s new singing style: a warble with a tendency to hit the wrong note. Rather than recognize his vocal limitations, BFlo tries to hit those high notes and it’s painful to hear and watch.
2 comments:
I was just listening to the new Killers CD the other day and I was completely UNIMPRESSED. I enjoyed the first album but doubt I'll ever think much of the 2nd.
I also listened to the Scissor Sisters, well, I am in the process but song one was a rip off of The Bee Gee's and song 2 was a rip off of Elton John (I'm Still Standing). I was not impressed and the complete obvious rip-offs made me turn it off, but I am sure I will proceed with it a bit more.
Holy Crap... I just clicked on that clip. WTF! The singer wants to be Rivers from weezer (he used to want to be Morrissey), the guitarist wants to be Jimmy Page from Zepplin, the bassist sorta reminds me of the bassist from The Storkes (another band dead and gone in my opinion) and the drummer wants to be the guy from Super-Size Me. This looks like a complete joke!
So is this the new thing now... we're moving away from 70's Glam and moving into 70's Hippie/Rocker?? Where's Ted Nuggent?!?!
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