AWmusic

Black Tie is a solo project of Roger Apodaca out of New Mexico. It described as either Americana, Experimental or Ambient. It’s definitely something different. It’s arguably tough to find admirers of lyric-less music especially when it’s not electronic. Vocals are generally ditched on his album (Goodbye, Farewell) for some pretty cool instrumental work.

Instrumental work generally isn’t my thing but when he does include some vocals, I found the songs to be awesome. I don’t really have much to say about his work but I definitely strongly recommend “Wide Open”. I don’t know who the female in this song is either… all I know is I like it a lot!

If anyone happens to know some more information it would be great to let me know.

Enjoy!

Wide Open by Black Tie

The review said they’re a gothic metal band, and I, not knowing what that sound like, decided to give them a listen. I downloaded the album Queen of Pain and what I heard was a more jazzy and punk version of Fiona Apple.

After some more research, I found out that I downloaded the wrong band. There were two bands named Devil Doll. The metal one was from the 80s and their songs sound like crap. The stuff I downloaded was by a burlesque-y pin-up girl from Los Angeles named Colleen Duffy. Her music is a mix of “40’s style jazz, rockabilly, latin and punk.”

I enjoy her music. She has got nice vocals and the tunes are catchy. She really put her emotions and feeling into her music. Here are some songs from her CD, Queen of Pain. Her newest CD, The Return of Eve, was released October 1st but I hadn’t had a chance to get my hands on it yet.

It Was Raining

If I Died In Your Arms

You Are The Best Thing And The Worst Thing

Having a relatively small blog, I didn’t expect anyone to answer really as I never seem to get any comments (it is getting better recently). Anyway, I had only one person who responded, by a person with the name of Carmen Segnitz, mother of lead singer of Rohner Segnitz who was telling me some details of the album and likely outcome that I would like this album if I had enjoyed the song “Colorguard”.

I decided to purchase the record after all because I wanted to be able to hear more of their work as they have created some really enjoyable covers.

Onto “Beartrap Island”. I find this album to display a variety of sounds and I feel like the album is a bit all over the place when it comes to describing a distinct sound. Sometimes you get the poppy sound or the post-punk type rock on tracks like “Tap-Tap, Click-Click”. The vocals are solid throughout the album if not great. I am finding it hard to find that one song that I would listen to hours on end and after a few days I don’t think I’ll ever find one. It’s tough to listen to at times as it doesn’t seem to have fluid transitions between songs and having that one distinct sound in which I could describe them.

Granted their original work isn’t as good as their covers (at this point) but I really feel that they displayed a potential for greatness . I’m giving this one a 3.3 out of 5. Visit their myspace.

Here are some of the tracks that stood out for me:

Tap-Tap, Click-Click by Division Day

Colorguard by Division Day

Jay-Z is a smart man for what it’s worth. From being a rapper to CEO and ultimately a very successful businessman, I have a lot of respect for the guy as you don’t get to where you are without not being smart.

Anyway, American Gangster is a concept album coupled with the movie “American Gangster” that I must watch. I didn’t get a chance to listen to “Kingdom Come” but the reviews weren’t great. With Jay-Z I think of having good beats or addictive hits (Dirt Off Your Shoulder and Big Pimpin’ come to mind). I find American Gangster to be more of very good rhyming and overall just excellent rapping without the beats dominating and over riding the lyrics. Jay-Z makes about a million references in this album it seems from Frank Sinatra to Depeche Mode to Tupac. In “Success” featuring long time rival, Nas, Jay-Z borrows a little from Eminem, in Ignorant Shit he samples the awesome beat by the Isley Brothers. There’s more stuff that I enjoyed

As a rap album, this is WHAT more rap should be. I’m usually sick and tired of most rap (e.g. 50 cent) and thankfully Jay-Z can bring mainstream rap to a more respectable name. If there are any flaws to this album, it’s that it’s too much on the lyrical content side of things. It’s hard to find these things catchy or addictive and I find it hard to have it on repeat for a long period of time.
Either way, I’ll give it a 4.5 out of 5. “Mad” rhymes on this one but just not quite the perfect balance of beats/rapping.

Check out these tracks:

Ignorant Shit (ft. Beanie Sigel) by Jay-Z

Success (ft. Nas) by Jay-Z

Korn – Right Now

(more…)

Finn described the Fleet Foxes are folky/Americana and they had one very good song “White Winter Hymnal” that was amazing. What makes this song great? Probably the range of vocals displayed and this song just feels like something I could peacefully die sleep to. Either way I feel like I’m dreaming when this songs enters my brain. I’m not great with words and I doubt I will ever be and I find words never do a song justice.

They have an album to be released in January 08 and I can barely find anything about their band except for a few blog postings from the Seattle area. Such as Three Imaginary Girls, a great blog.

Anyway check out the song I’ve been raving about.
White Winter Hymnal by the Fleet Foxes

It’s the music video that I took keen interest in. Being a fan of “The Office” (I watched all previous season in a matter of a few days) it’s a shame that re-runs will air due to the strike by th WGA. Check it out:

I’m don’t care about being late while doing reviews because there are always times where people as fans get into something later then others. It happens. Anyway, I am not on the Justice band wagon just yet but admittedly they’ve done pretty good remixes that I happened to stumble upon.

Anyway concentrating on “Cross”. This ends up being a pretty electronic album. Basically they offer a variety of sounds, tunes you can dance to like D.A.N.C.E and “Tthhee Ppaarrttyy”. The latter being a favorite. You have other songs like “Phantom” that are without vocals and shows their ability as a electronic group.

This is album is pretty good, some addictive sounds mixed in with things that make you want to bust a move, the latter I hold as a strong point for any electronic album as what’s it good for if it doesn’t get you on your feet?

To me it’s equal to Simian Mobile Disco’s Attack Decay Sustain Release. I just realized I didn’t put a score on that… but it gets a 4.75 from me.

Here are some of tracks that may give you a feel of what to expect.

Tthhee Ppaarrttyy by Justice
Phantom by Justice.

Despite their repetitiveness, the Raveonettes were able to catch my attention with their style of aggressive rock and have created some of my favorite singles out in recent years. If you have not heard about the Raveonettes I probably would describe them as a band with a mix of pretty good male/female with harder sound that you typically won’t hear with duets. Most refer to Jesus And Mary Chain Chain as a common band that this band sounds like.

The Raveonettes are not actually an indie band. They have been signed to Sony all the way throughout the beginning of their career until recently. For me this doesn’t matter at all but it’s interesting that I find them more to be the hit producing type rather then the type to release masterpieces. This is actually what I would expect out of a mainstream band but the Raveonettes seem to grab the attention of indie bloggers just as much. The Raveonettes are releasing “Lust Lust Lust” on Fierce Panda Records which is a Indie record company based in the UK.

“Lust, Lust, Lust” is like their past albums to me. Very indistinguishable between songs but with some good tunes here and there. This is probably nothing special and there is nothing else for me to say. I love the Raveonettes just not so much when I’m forced to listen to a set of songs and not the ones I like so much about them. This gets a 3 out of 5 from me. Exactly what you would expect out of the Ravonettes, repetitive but catchy here and there. I actually see this one getting shelled by critics.

Here are some tracks I dig:
Hallucinations by The Raveonettes (link removed by request)
Black Satin by The Raveonettes (link removed by request)

*Due being unable to share those tracks check out:
Dead Sound by The Raveonettes.

As a side note, apparently is dating Feist, one of my favorite female artists so maybe I should learn to play the guitar to improve my sex appeal?

Back to the album, “Spirit If…” is very easy to listen to, being used to Kevin Drew’s soft and soothing voice makes almost every song as excellent tracks on this album. It seems really similar to BSS’s work but slightly less complex and without the great backing vocals. This album is a joy to listen to and I can probably listen to a few times in a row.

Songs I didn’t like were few and far between. Nothing I particularly hated. Only possible weak point I would say is that nothing blows me totally out of the water. I’m giving it a 4.5 out of 5. Great album.

Here are some of my favorite tracks on Spirit If:
Fucked Up Kid by Kevin Drew (I don’t like censorship)

Big Love by Kevin Drew

Aging Faces/Losing Places by Kevin Drew