More Sketches

Here's some more random before meeting drawings:

Early Disappontments

Arcade Fire – Neon Bible

Some bands have a distinctive sound so, when you hear it, it’s unmistakable. With Neon Bible, the Arcade Fire proves that this isn’t always a good thing. The band’s latest sets its sights on all things religious, which is commendable for its audacious ambition. Unfortunately, the music’s tone and approach are so narrow that the lyrical content could be on just about anything and it would still sound like Funeral. The same insistent drumming, the same vocal inflections, the same mid-jangle tempo and the same kitchen sink instrumentation that starts small and builds into white noise strings. For any other band, maybe this works, but with Arcade Fire’s patent set of grandeur, monotony comes too quickly. Perhaps it’s too much to be asking, but this sophomore release doesn’t better what the band has previously done.

Bloc Party – A Weekend in the City

There’s no avoiding it. This album is a clunker. Bloc Party tries to go big or go home on A Weekend in the City and they fail miserably. Every song turns into an epic with devastating lyrical precision. The only problem is that the band forgot to make the music interesting. A Weekend in the City is plagued by mid-tempo yawners that are either hookless or simply too distant or too cluttered with self-seriousness to go anywhere interesting. If I wanted to listen to Coldplay, I would listen to Coldplay. By the way, I don’t want to listen to Coldplay, and after a few spins of this record, you won’t want to listen to Bloc Party either.

Quickie Reviews

Here's some of the stuff I've been listening to this/last week.

Boris with Michio Kurihara - Rainbow

So, this is what it sounds like dripping acid into your eyeball.

Albert Hammond Jr – Yours to Keep

The lead guitarist of the Strokes writes his own album, betters anything Strokes have done in last five years.

Angela Desveaux – Wandering Eyes

Sometimes I’m in the mood for roots music. With a song like “Bury Me Deeper” it’s hard not to be. Pretty, gritty, hard luck tales.

Bert Jansch – Black Swan

Without going too much into backstory, Jansch is an old-hand folkie making a return after a number of years. His sound certainly isn’t updated as it’s filled with that throwback feel of 60’s slash 70’s folk rock ala Donovan or Nick Drake. Not that it’s a bad thing. A little meandering guitar and fond recollection goes a long way.

The Bicycles – The Good, The Bad and the Bicycles

Where the Kooks are a little too smart for their own good, but play incredibly catchy pop tunes, the Bicycles are a little too sweet to be enjoyed on endless repeat. Sorry boys (and occasionally girls), but any good recipe needs a little sour to go with the sweet. There’s some great songs here, but it occasionally takes cute to stomach churning levels. Maybe next time folks.

The Blow – Paper Television

Catchy girl-sung indie-rock played over farty keyboards. Thomas Moog meets Kelly LeBrock circa Weird Science. Soulfully bent, bargain basement pop songs by your friend’s bratty younger sister. You know, the one you always crushed on.