One of the (few) upsides to all of the Mario Kart that Kevin and I have been playing is that I have been listening to a lot of music. The in game soundtrack is completely forgetable, and isn't necessary in order to play the game. So, I always configure my receiver to take the video from the GameCube, and the audio from my CD player. Hence, I have been listening to a lot of CDs. I bought some new ones recently, which I'm going to go over now:

• Paramore - "All We Know Is Falling": This band is freakin' great. I know that they are terribly emo. And terribly young. And that I shouldn't like anything by terribly young emo kids making pop records. But damn if I cannot get this record out of my head! I have been listening to this album nearly non-stop since it hit my CD player, as many as 3 times a day. In all of our time spent in front of Mario Kart, this CD has risen to the top of the heap. And even my "resident music critic" agrees. Musically, Paramore plays a much harder brand of rock (ala Fall Out Boy), but driven by strong, passionate, female vocals. Standout tracks include "All We Know", "Here We Go Again", and "My Heart". I very well could be burned out on this CD in a month, but for now, I am enjoying the ride. Highly recommended.

• The Hush Sound - "So Sudden": Another spin on the emo concept -- The Hush Sound has less of a rock edge than Paramore, but brings in more piano and alternating male/female vocals, to good, poppy effect. In fact, the music on "So Sudden" is pure, unadulterated pop. Check out "Weeping Willow", for example -- that song is buyoed by an almost jaunty piano hook, and propelled by your standard angst-ridden lyrics. However, poppiness and cookie-cutter lyrics aside, this band shows a lot of promise. They supposedly have a new album coming out this summer, so I will be quite interested to check it out. This is a solid record, and if you like Fall Out Boy, I definitely recommend checking this band out as well.

• Youth Group - "Skeleton Jar": I got this CD for Christmas from Sara. And while it didn't really take at first, Youth Group has been growing on me, slowly. I would classify this band as perveyors of soft, emo rock much in the style of Death Cab For Cutie. The first track on the album, "Shadowland", is one of the standouts. The lyrics read more like poetry, describing sensations, feelings, and scenes. Things that are conveyed more strongly, thanks to the music.

• Straylight Run - "Prepare To Be Wrong": I have blogged about this band before. Their new EP contains just 6 songs, of which the middle four are actually pretty good. Straylight Run is more music for the emo set - alternating male and female vocals, alternating between ballady piano songs and harder rock songs, their music is a little more adult than the other bands in this round-up. This EP, in particular, sees the band making more of a political statement. Against the war. Injustice. Government control. The standout tracks from the EP are "It Never Gets Easier" (about a disintegrating relationship) and "Hands In The Sky (Big Shot)" (a pessimistic outlook on government power). Taken as a whole, this is an interesting new direction for Straylight Run. I think they are working on a new album, which based upon the strength of this EP -- while imperfect -- is something that I'm going to have to check out.

• Neutral Milk Hotel - "In the Aeroplane over the Sea": This band is really hard to describe. Based upon my praise for The Decemberists, Chris recommended that I check out Neutral Milk Hotel. Well, I did, and I haven't regretted this purchase in the slightest. "In the Aeroplane over the Sea" is a tremendously good album. The music is kindof sparse, and the male vocals are never exactly in tune, and aside from some ramblings about Jesus, I have no idea what any of the songs are about. Yet somehow, it all works. I should warn you, that my "resident music critic" absolutely hates Neutral Milk Hotel. And he doesn't really like The Decemberists either (although I am softening him up on that band). So if you don't like The Decemberists, don't bother with Neutral Milk Hotel. Otherwise, if you're willing to spend sometime getting into something that defies description, I strongly recommend this album.
  

But I have also been going back into my "archive", and pulling out some older discs to listen to. I have spun Ministry (which Kevin and I mocked incessantly), Bad Religion, Massive Attack, Sleater-Kinney (for some reason, I have been listening to "The Hot Rock" a lot), and Rage Against the Machine, Coldplay ("X&Y" may suck, but "Parachutes" is a really good album).

But of course, in preparation for the new album, I have also been listening to lots and lots (and lots and lots and lots) of Tool. I can't wait until May.

-Andy.

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