sixers and sinners
It’s been a long while since Sinners Never Sleep came out in the UK - about a month and a half - and I’ve had my copy for about a month and yet I haven’t posted my thoughts yet. Let’s remedy that!
Sinners Never Sleep is a much different album on the whole from You Me At Six’s previous two. Sure, it has the familiar guitar distortion and catchy beats (Loverboy, Bite My Tongue, etc.) but this time around YMAS try for more slow songs and power ballads. And they pull it off better that I’d thought they could. In addition to another sweet melody with even sweeter lyrics (Crash), Josh Franceschi has also penned a song that is supposedly meant for their fans (Little Bit of Truth).
Although YMAS have always had a punkier edge to them, they take it one step further with guest singers (really, screamers) Oli Sykes (on Bite My Tongue) and Winston McCall (Time is Money) to add in some hard-core bits.
Overall, the album fits together incredibly and reads as their story of troubled times both within the band and their personal lives.
I award You Me At Six’s Sinners Never Sleep a 9/10.
back to blink
Takes off Your Pants and Jacket is just such a good album. Sure, Blink-182 *may* be considered mainstream, but everything about it is pretty quality, especially on this album. The guitar riffs/melodies, the bass lines, the drums. Everything. I only have one major complaint, which is that it doesn’t particularly sound like it has a story to tell overall. However, most of the lyrics are very quirky, even if they’re not the best all-round.
The album itself actually has 4 different versions, at least according to Wikipedia. There’s the general release, which is what I own, the “Red Take Off” version, “Yellow Pants” version and “Green Jacket” version. Each of the colored versions have different bonus tracks. I have to say, one of my favorite Blink songs actually comes from the “Green Jacket” version, Don’t Tell Me It’s Over.
Key tracks: Anthem Part 2, First Date, Happy Holidays You Bastard, Shut Up (Don’t Tell Me It’s Over)
Overall rating: 9/10
not-so ‘above the noise’
1 September 2011
McFly’s latest album from fall 2010 has gone back and forth in my mind from being likable to being nothing but average compared to the latest music trends. And by latest music trends, I mean heavily dependent on electronic sounds. The album as a whole is a good listen - I have sat down and listened to it entirely through, paying attention to nothing but the beats and the lyrics. And the album does, in fact, tell a story. This is my favorite part about listening to entire albums, and when a story falls into place I generally consider it a better-than-average album.
However, McFly have always been my go-to band to escape from the electronics of today’s music. I fell in love with them because originally it was clear that they concentrated on, and valued, musicianship more than being “popular”. This was completely negated on Above the Noise. Maybe they chose to hide their talent behind writers such as Dallas Austin and Taio Cruz so they could gain a larger following, maybe not. But the electronic sound that has become so mainstream along with lyrics that I know are not from their own genius, greatly disappoints me. Not to mention the name of the album itself, Above the Noise, suggests (at least to me) some level of superiority to the other sound on the radio that is merely noise.
My opinion? If you want normal, fantastic McFly, go to Radio:ACTIVE or Wonderland. Those are the best. Above the Noise rates no higher than a 4/10.
music mania!
It’s safe to say that I spend at least two-thirds of the year every year listening to music. I’ll use this to recommend/comment on anything I’m currently interested in (:
21 June 2010 ~ Been listening to a fair amount of Rise Against lately- their albums Appeal to Reason and The Sufferer and the Witness. I’m really digging them both, though I think I prefer AtR slightly more. I like the distortion and their lyrics a lot. It’s nice to turn it up really loud and forget everything else that’s going on. Rise Against is really good for that!!
22 June 2010 ~ There are a ton of albums set to come out in stores today! I’ll admit to downloading two off iTunes early: Automatic Loveletter’s Truth or Dare and Stars’ The Five Ghosts and the Seance. I’ve already made my way through both and they’re amazing! Automatic Loveletter has a very basic rock sound mixed with Juliett Simms’ incredible one-of-a-kind voice that gives the music the edge it needs. Stars, on the other hand, has always been very alternative and they continue that trend. Keyboard and other means of electronic sounds serve as the background for lyrics that tell stories- some happy, some sad. Overall, they’re both enjoyable! Just one more thing— The Pretty Reckless’ EP is also out now. Taylor Momsen may only be sixteen and may be recognized mainly for her role as nice-girl Jenny on Gossip Girl, but the girl can belt it. She’s got the voice of Courtney Love meets Kim Gordon and it goes quite nicely with her love of distorted guitars!
24 June 2010 — Jenny called just to tell me that she had been in a massive McFly mood this morning, so I thought what a perfect day to write about McFly! There are four studio albums (plus one greatest hits compilation): Room on the Third Floor, Wonderland, Motion in the Ocean, and Radio:ACTIVE. As all bands do, their sound matures over time.
Room on the Third Floor - Has a bit of a pop sound overall, though there are certainly some very clever lyrics mixed in the songs! An amazing debut album. Key Tracks: 5 Colours in Her Hair, Unsaid Things, That Girl, Down by the Lake
Wonderland - Generally darker substance, with songs about suicide (She Falls Asleep), drinking problems (The Ballad of Paul K), and inadequate fathers (Don’t Know Why). Although, there are definitely brighter songs mixed in, like I Wanna Hold You and I’ll Be Okay. In my opinion, Wonderland is better than RotTF. Key Tracks: I Wanna Hold You, I’ve Got You, Too Close For Comfort, I’ll Be Okay
Motion in the Ocean - McFly definitely rediscovers their ‘poppy’ and fun sound in these more summery and upbeat songs though not without upholding their mature songwriting (songs about aliens and Anne Boleyn? check. Lindsay Lohan? check….). A good summertime album! Key Tracks: Transylvania, Please Please, Star Girl, Walk in the Sun
Radio:ACTIVE - Since MitO, The sound has developed into something more mature than Wonderland while holding onto the level of darkness (this album includes the sequel to She Falls Asleep, Down Goes Another One). After breaking away from their record label and creating their own Super Records, McFly writes about ‘being a guilty-pleasure band’ (One for the Radio). In my opinion, it’s the best McFly album yet. Key Tracks: Down Goes Another One, Corrupted, POV, Falling in Love, One for the Radio, The Last Song, Lies
McFly to me are like The Beatles to my dad and his generation. They have so many different sounds and ‘emotion-songs’ that it’s easy to find something to listen to in any mood. McFly are my go-to band (:
27 June 2010 — Phoenix! I heard Lisztomania at work today and while that’s all well and good, I think I generally prefer their album It’s Never Been Like That (2006) as a whole. Still has their signature sound- synth’d up indie music- but every song sounds different. On Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009), I sometimes find it a little bit difficult to distinguish because most everything on that album sounds similar! INBLT key tracks: Sometimes in the Fall, Rally, Long Distance Call, Consolation Prizes. WAP key tracks: Lisztomania, 1901, Lasso, Fences.
16 October 2010— Amusement Parks on Fire! I just bought their album Road Eyes at Newbury Comics for $7.99 and I must say I’m pretty content with it! While the songs don’t sound completely different from one another, I definitely don’t think that’s a bad thing on this album. Everything meshes together really well, and they make that a good thing. For the most part, I would describe their sound as chill and somewhat inspirational - and yes, something can sound inspirational! My only complaint about the album is that the dude’s voice isn’t very clear, and that makes the lyrics hard to understand. But overall I’m very pleased!
5 January 2011 — Yesterday I spent a chunk of my iTunes store credit on the album Habits by Neon Trees. I’ve already listened to it a few times through and I definitely like it a lot more than other stuff these days. There’s some synth, but it’s clearly an Alt Rock album. Worth your money!!
6 June 2011 — Ellie Goulding is someone I read about a while ago in Nylon magazine and only recently have I gotten around to buying her album. And let me say, I really like it! She’s got a good sound, very pop but kind of relaxing at the same time. So far I’ve found it excellent to listen to while I write creatively, or while I just sit around and surf the internet. I think my favorite tracks are Lights, Guns and Horses, Starry Eyed, and The Writer.
