Review Round-Up

with Bryan Menegus

Hollywood Undead- American Tragedy
Grade: :(

Who left a drum machine in an abattoir for the developmentally challenged? Hollywood Undead take the masked tomfoolery Slipknot capitalized on a decade ago and slap it against hip-hop so ignorant, so devoid of anything resembling talent or humanity that Insane Clown Posse look like Harvard grads by comparison. Nothing on this record can possibly be relevant to anyone except the lowest denominator of society. Honestly, who let these idiots make music? This must be what EST feels like. I sincerely hope American Tragedy, or for that matter any of the music these buffoons make, will never sully my headphones after today.

RIYL: The benefits of being deaf

Review Round-Up

by Bryan Menegus

Argotec- Wherewithal
Grade: A-

For all intents and purposes, the music rap duo Argotec makes should not worker rapper raised on a steady diet of Aesop Rock let loose over beats that span IDM, glitch, dubstep and instrumental rock. The results are not only fantastically innovative, but have an earworm quality that belies their complexity, musically and lyrically. There’s a hometown hero aspect too, since Argotec are based out of Brooklyn, but locality wins them brownie points they don’t necessarily need: their sound is refreshing, and I guarantee that no one on the scene now is doing what they’ve dared to. They’re playing a show at the Brew Haus in Lindenhurst this Friday with Hofstra’s own Sarcasmo—be there.

RIYL: Talented locals, a change of pace

Review Round-Up

with Bryan Menegus

The Kills- Blood Pressures
Grade: D

Sorry, The Kills, you lost. Try again. Understandably, singer Alison Mosshart has been busy tagging along on Jack White’s idiot-circus The Dead Weather, but that’s just no excuse. Blood Pressures isn’t a Kills record. It’s not even of the same caliber as a Kills record. Compared to how the balance of weird and fun that Midnight Boom and No Wow achieved, Blood Pressures  deserves the same treatment fans gave to the two Matrix sequels. Mosshart’s voice has lost its venom; Jamie Hince’s stalking, sepulchral beats are replaced by incidental snare tickles that barely register. You lost, guys. Go home.

RIYL: Nothing beautiful and everything that hurts

Review Round-Up

with Bryan Menegus

Foo Fighters- Wasting Light
Grade: B+

Do you hear that sound- the sound of galloping guitars and Dave Grohl’s hell-bent screams? It can only mean one thing: the Foo Fighters are back. Gone are the days of lame radio ballads, now replaced with the leaner and heavier sound that made their first two records shining beacons amidst the dreck of mainsteam rock. Opener “Bridge Burning” almost forgives In Your Honor’s “Best of You”. Yes, the Foo Fighters are notoriously safe players, and yes, the second half of Wasting Light peters out pretty badly, but damn it at least they sound like they’re having fun again.    

RIYL: the 90’s, Dave Grohl’s Colgate smile

 Mick Jagger will be preforming at the February 13th award show to pay tribute to Solomon Burke.  He’s never performed at the Grammys. Really?

The rest of performers that have been announced include…. 

• Rihanna will be preform with Drake 
• Gwneyth Paltrow + The Muppets +Cee Lo Green= Weirdest Performer combo
• Lady Gaga
• Arcade Fire
• Eminem
• Miranda Lambert
• Katy Perry

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards air February 13th at 8 PM ET/PT on CBS.

-Jennifer Hillman

Singer: Sara Bareilles

Song: King of Everything

The song is great, but I really fell in love with the music video… the use of film negatives, polaroids dividing the screen. Just great!

-Jennifer Hillman

Lady Gaga made the new year more exciting…. she announced on twitter that she will release her new single February 13, 2011. Her record will come out May 23, 2011.

Lady Gaga posted some lyrics from her new song “Born This Way” on twitter New Year’s Eve:

1. Don’t hide yourself in regret, just love yourself and you’re set. I’m on the right track baby, I was Born This Way.8:45 PM Dec 31st via Twitter for BlackBerry®
2. I’m beautiful in my way, ‘cause God makes no mistakes, I’m on the right track baby, I was Born This Way.8:30 PM Dec 31st via Twitter for BlackBerry®

I’m sure her fans want to skip over January and get right on with February, specifically the 13th.

-Jennifer Hillman

Preface/Warning: While my taste of music leans toward the left of the dial, I tried to incorporate some more conventional (read: pop) songs on the list. Also, I limited selections to less than three songs from any given album. Otherwise, this list would be dominated by entire albums. Hope you enjoy, and feel free to offer up your two cents, or in this case, your two songs.

50. “Stylo” by Gorillaz

49. “A More Perfect Union” by Titus Andronicus”

48. “Floating Vibes” by Surfer Blood 

47. “Mine” by Taylor Swift    

46. “Let’s Go Surfing” by The Drums  

45. “What’s In It For?” by Avi buffalo

44. “Yamaha” by The-Dream 

43. “I Can’t Wait” by Twin Shadow 

42. “Animal” by Neon Trees

41. “Ready To Start” by Arcade Fire

40. “Younger Us” by Japandroids

39. “Rill Rill” by Sleigh Bells

38. “Promises” by The Morning Benders

37. “Year’s Not Long” by Male Bonding

36. “California Gurls” by Katy Perry

35. “Sun Hands” by Local Natives

34. “King of Spain” by The Tallest Man On Earth

33. “Airplanes” by Local Natives

32. “Stranded” by The Walkmen

31. “Tell ‘Em” by Sleigh Bells

30. “‘81” by Joanna Newsom

29. “Cold War” by Janelle Monáe

28. “Revival” by Deerhunter

27. “World Sick” by Broken Social Scene

26. “Celestica” by Crystal Castles 

25. “Post Acid” by Wavves

24. “Tightrope (Feat. Big Boi)” by Janelle Monáe

23. “Drunk Girls” by LCD Soundsystem 

22. “Love is All” by The Tallest Man On Earth

21. “Tighten Up” by The Black Keys

20. “Round And Round” by Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

19. “Crash Years” by The New Pornographers

18. “Write About Love (Feat. Carey Mulligan)” by Belle & Sebastian

17. “Shutterbugg (Ft. Cutty)” by Big Boi 

16. “Good Intentions Paving Company“  by Joanna Newsom 

15. “POWER” by Kanye West         

14. “Bloodbuzz Ohio” by The National 

13. “Digging For Something” by Superchunk

12. “Giving Up The Gun” by Vampire Weekend

11. “Alejandro” by Lady GaGa

10. “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)” by Arcade Fire

9. “Helicopter” by Deerhunter

8. “Zebra” by Beach House

7. “Boyfriend” by Best Coast

6. “I Can Change” by LCD Soundsystem

5. “Daisy” by Fang Island    

4. “Used To Be” by Beach House

3. “Afraid of Everyone” by The National

2. “Angela Surf City” by The Walkmen  

1. “Fuck You!” by Cee-Lo Green

Just in time for the holiday season, beatlemania reaches iTunes. This morning at 10 A.M. iTunes had a big announcement, something they have been working on since 2007… they can finally sell the fab four’s music.  I can guarantee that iTunes best sellers list is going to include The Beatles music.

-Jennifer Hillman

photocredit:beefjack.com