Album reviews

Time for another installment of my quickie album reviews:

• Sleater-Kinney - "The Woods": The new album from my perennial favorites from the pacific northwest, Sleater-Kinney. This album is quite unlike all of their previous albums -- much dirtier, louder -- offering up more of a sonic assault than a dance beat. For the first week or so, I'll have to admit, I was a little bit depressed because I did not like this album. But then I saw Sleater-Kinney perform it live, and I started to warm up a bit. And I have continued listening, almost every day, and as I have done so, my admiration for this record has only grown. Standout tracks include the quirky "Modern Girl", and the totally stupendous, best-Sleater-Kinney-song-ever, "Night Light". This album is strongly recommended for any Sleater-Kinney fans, but probably won't win anyone over to the band if you haven't liked them previously.
• Ivy - "In the Clear": Amazing album. Ivy is one band that consistently delivers on the great music. I am really into this album, I think that it is every bit as good as "Apartment Life", if not even a notch or two better. Standout tracks include "Four In The Morning" and "I've Got You Memorized". If you looking for some mellow, poppy rock with strong female vocals, you cannot go wrong with this.
• Coldplay - "X&Y": Terrible! I am so shocked by this, because Coldplay supposedly delayed this album in order to bring it up to their standard of quality (which is pretty darn high). Sure, this album is polished, and the songs all "feel" right, but there something lacking. After listening to this album, I am left with nothing. Nothing sticks, it is all monotonous and repetitive. Coldplay is coming to the bay area in August, but I'm not so sure that I even want to go anymore, based upon this album.
• Muse - "Absolution": This is one strange band. This CD alternates between totally heavy, flat out rock, and passages that sound like classical music. It is really amazing how this band is able to shift musical styles so seamlessly, without it seeming forced or out of place. This disc has slowly been growing on me as well. The standout track is "Hysteria", which is one of the "heavier" tracks, but still quite well done. Just bear in mind that it isn't 100% representative of what you will find on this CD.
• Queens of the Stone Age - "Lullabies to Paralyze": Another solid effort from Queens of the Stone Age. I don't know that it is quite as good as their previous effort, "Songs for the Deaf". Gone is the screaming from Nick Oliveri (which is definitely a good thing -- after awhile, those tracks were the ones that I skiped on "Songs for the Deaf"). This disc contains a couple of stand-out songs that have some great guitar grooves and decent lyrics. As a whole however, it doesn't really stand out in my mind like the previous album.
• Minus The Bear - "Highly Refined Pirates": Minus The Bear is awesome! They won me over when I saw them live, and this CD is totally amazing. Great musicmanship, with innovative guitars combined with electronics. The lyrics are quirky, fun and unabashedly heterosexual -- mostly about partying and going after girls. Strongly recommended.
• Nine Inch Nails - "With Teeth": Not recommended. I bought it based on the strength of the song "The Hand That Feeds", which I saw on a long-form commercial on late night TV. That song is pretty decent, but the rest of the album doesn't faire as well. Most of it is slow, 80's-synth-pop-esque, without any driving beats or melodies that really stick in your brain. An utterly forgettable effort.
• Umbrellas - "Umbrellas": This is another solid, lo-key album. This band is from Southern California, but sound like they are from the UK. Beautiful guitars, light vocals, and an overall tight sound. The standout track is "Ghost", which is simply an amazing song. Strongly recommended.

-Andy.