Singles Reviewed : Reverend & The Makers, Stalagmites, Fresh Snow, Macho Muchacho, Freeze the Atlantic, Doctrines, Allman Brown, Nordenfelt, MJ Hibbett
Greetings, readers who know how to do a stoppie in a tricycle without a “rajita de canela” appearing afterwards. Welcome to another edition of our “off again, off again, hey it’s on again!” single reviews column. Granted, some of them aren’t singles, but I liked them and made my stupid human collaborators review ‘em. A huevo que sí.
This week’s singles come courtesy of Nelly Furtado’s left eyebrow, she was great ’til she did that album with Timbaland. Same goes for Chris Cornell. What the fuck, Timbaland? Why you taking me fave artists? Who’s next, Elton John? Bastard.
Mind you, a Timbaland produced Elton John album would be great. I’m a contradiction.
Ah, singles, right:
Album round-up: Two Wings, Holy State, Mitoma, Bonnie Raitt
Hey, Carbon Units… Orestes here, albums that I’m listening to, including a band that just called it quits, an IDM band, a trippy folk band and A MASSIVE LEGEND: (more…)
Tenacious D – Rize of the Fenix
Why the hate towards Pick of Destiny? I’ve still have to meet ONE person that actually hates it completely. Sure, I know that Kyle Gass has commented on some of the faults in the film (which I don’t mind, but I see where he’s shooting from) but the album was good and, let’s face it, ‘Beezelboss’ is fucking awesome (truly the best song in the world).
No, really, why did the film tanked? Every single person I’ve shown the film, they enjoy it, even if they hate the genre (including our very own webcomic illustrator, who is now a fan of the band).
6 years and now we have the return of Tenacious D. After the very funny pre-emptive strike that was the short video for ‘To be the best‘, we now have Rize of the Fenix, a very funny album that also manages to rock out quite well. I don’t know if the adjective “mature” applies here, though, but several critics keep bandying it around this release.
I’d go for cohesive and with great flow. The songs are satisfyingly rocking, with that witty (and puerile) humour that the band so well crafts. ‘Rize of the Fenix’ is a self-assessment of the past 6 years for the band, the turmoil and their Meat Loaf-style comeback. Jokes about tattoos are always good too and the bombastic nature of the track makes it an awesome choice for an opener (and easily a gem).
Again, the humour of the band is present, fully engaged on puerile mode (‘Low hangin’ fruit’ sounds like the love life many of us have) and even the shenanigans of the industry (‘Roadie’ is both awesome and true). “Epic” is another adjective to use in the songs, as there is a penchant for embracing how rock can be extremely operatic and bombastic, like in the melodramatic ‘Señorita’, the sci fi trip ‘Deth Starr’ which is as amazing as Firefly (I said it – also, it sounds like Stone Temple Pilots’ ‘And so I know’) and the showstopper called ‘The ballad of Hollywood Jack and The Rage Kage’, which again chronicles the turmoil in Tenacious D.
For the ones who enjoy their skits (a big part of the soul of Tenacious D), there’s longer sequences here. ‘Classical teacher’ is pretty funny, playing out how the band could kick Arcade Fire‘s asses (fact!), ‘Flutes & Trombones’ is what happens when both JB and KG want to add some extra instrumentation to a track and ‘They fucked our asses’ is that sour lamentation (with the inevitable call to arms ‘To be the best’).
An uncle in Tampico always remarked that he thought rock was ridiculous not because of the sounds, but because of the posturing and excesses that later become tropes and running jokes in parodies. When a band manages to take those tired stereotypes and play with them while still making some really enjoyable rocking tunes (and funny videos), the gain is evident. Thanks, Tenacious D, may you keep rocking that devil horn and its hazy smoke.
Oh, and David Grohl drums here. That is awesome.
Words: Sam J. “I’ve got a pick of destiny replica in my wallet” Valdes Lopez
Singles Reviewed – Dead Sons, Ninetails, Finn Bonel, The Black Hats, In Golden Tears, Shibuya Crossings
Greetings, readers who know how to fold a burrito properly. Hook a brother up, please? Welcome to another edition of our “off again, off again, hey it’s on again!” single reviews column. Granted, some of them aren’t singles, but I liked them and made my stupid human collaborators review ‘em. A huevo que sí.
This week’s singles come courtesy of Pascualo Zindugüarapos, the guy who serves pork kebabs in Broomhill. They be awesome, yo! No, wait, they don’t sell pork kebabs in England. Dammit.
Ah, singles, right:
Album Roundup: Jess Morgan, Jake Morley, Antlered Man & Simian Ghost
Hey, dear readers, it’s Orestes and I bring you up to speed with 4 albums currently being spun in our stereos (well, actually the one at my real work, as I had to pawn my own. shit): (more…)
Ryan Adams @ Sheffield City Hall
Mr. Cat. Shamelessly stolen from Ryan Adams’ twitter.
An eventful Friday meant that the opening act was missed. Eventful in a not very happy way, but that’s life. The long week of rain wasn’t helping. Still, time to see a musician I’ve waited ages to see live (c’mon, drop by México!) (more…)
Cowboy Junkies – The Wilderness
Cowboy Junkies is a band that has never gotten any real attention outside of their native Canada. This is confusing in all senses, as the songs they create are engaging and the lyrics are quite universal. (more…)
Lost gems: The Pale Pacific – Rules are predictable
It’s an interesting moment when The Pale Pacific‘s EP, Rules are predictable, stops. The thought of “what did I just listen to?” floats around in your head. Not because of them being overtly experimental guys with masks playing 5/4 signatures with lyrics about Picasso fighting Lavoisier, but because of the genres the band tackles. (more…)
Retribution Gospel Choir @ The Harley, Sheffield
It was a strange, funny day when Retribution Gospel Choir came back to Sheffield. It snowed heavily in the morning (not a problem for the Duluth trio of rockers) and by the time their set ended, the snow was all but gone. There’s some possible witty remark/pun/fanboy musing about their music melting snow, but can’t think of any.
Drenge opened the night. Loudly and fast, the way they know how to do it. Some of their zines (Blood and Milk, just like their rocking track) were available for free, which included a good pisstake on The Kooks. The sounds of Drenge are loud and fast, jazzy and punk.
Retribution Gospel Choir were in pure rock mode. Their psychedelic sounds are amazing, even if it might have been a bit overbearing for some of the ones in the audience. “That was fucking ridiculous!” yelled an anonymous heckler, after ‘Poor Man’s Daughter’ placed the band on jam mode. It’s a song that I enjoy and I loved the rendition that was played that night, but if you’ve never heard it before (or seen the band before), you’ll be in the “befuddled heckler” section.
The Revolution EP (which we totally reviewed - cheap plug) was played in its entirety (loved ‘Maharisha’) and some classy tunes from their previous albums were played too. ‘Kids’ always makes me think of Red House Painters‘ ‘Make like paper’, ‘They knew you well’ is always an appreciated punch, ‘Take your time’ works well in both Low and RGC form and ‘Hide it away’ is the poppier, happier side of the band.
Had the luck to talk to both Alan Sparhawk and Steve Garrington about their recent albums. The same question was asked to both: “Do you feel the albums by Retribution Gospel Choir are becoming less stark than the first one?” Interestingly, both replied “no” with a sly smile. Both were quite friendly too.
As much as I love Low, it’s Retribution Gospel Choir the band that connects the most with me. Superb and intimate gig with two very rocking bands.
Words: Sam J. Valdés López (a gushing fan from hell, I guess).
PS: We featured ‘Poor man’s daughter’ in a radio drama a while ago.
Drenge Facebook. Bandcamp. Soundcloud. Blog.
Retribution Gospel Choir Website. Twitter. Facebook. Myspace. Last.fm
