Roncag
09-19-2006, 09:32 PM
Working with Decoy has given me the wonderful opportunity to listen to albums well in advance of their street releases. To support the bands and create interest in the upcoming albums, I will be giving brief overviews of the new releases I have received.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/Annualscover.jpg Annuals-Be He Me(Ace Fu)
Website (http://www.annualsmusic.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/annuals)
Born and raised in North Carolina, and being as close as brothers(and sister), Annuals are the newest signing to Ace Fu, one of Decoy's favorite labels, who were/are home to Man Man, Devotchka, and An Albatross. Annuals represent a similar yet so different sound for the label, their luscious dream-pop is absolutely endearing, yet this is a band that is definitely off kilter. At nearly 50 minutes, their debut album, Be He Me, is a stunning work of colorful, artsy arrangements and harmonies whose surreal-like state is utterly infectious. If you enjoy the woolgathering delights of The Flaming Lips, Arcade Fire or Sufjan Stevens, you will surely get in bed with the Annuals.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/sensesfail.jpg Senses Fail-Still Searching(Vagrant)
Website (http://www.sensesfail.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/sensesfail)
Senses Fail are a household name by now, deservidly or not. They have gone through the ringer of heavy hitting labels along the way as well, finally landing on Vagrant. Having the security of a good label behind them for the entire tenure of the writing and recording process for their second LP, Still Searching, was no doubt a great aid to them. That said, the great support has done little to help seperate Senses Fail from a crowded and bloated battalion. Still Searching shows little to nothing in the form of positive progression in the band's songwriting or originality, and at times the album seems so random, you forget what you are listening to. If you are a fan of Story of the Year or the new Saosin album, you might enjoy this, but anyone with a palette for something innovative should feast elsewhere.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/pmfs.jpg Planes Mistaken For Stars-Mercy(Abacus)
Website (http://www.pmfs.net) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/pmfs)
Planes Mistaken For Stars return two-plus years after the release of their critically acclaimed album, Up In Them Guts, with their third and most anticipated album, Mercy. It's their first album for Abacus Records, and happily to say it doesn't disappoint. With uber producer/mixer/engineer Matt Bayles at the controls, the band has never sounded better, as they have seemingly pushed themselves farther then ever before. At eleven tracks and thirty-eight minutes, it isn't exactly epic in length, but they more than pack a punch or two in that span. Mercy finds the band mixing in more mathy moments, reminscent of These Arms are Snakes and Botch, while still hammering out those addictively brutal flashes akin to Mastodon and Converge. This album should be pleasing to the critics and crowds alike.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/apextheory.jpg The Apex Theory-Faces(Independent)
Website (http://www.theapextheory.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/theapextheory)
The Apex Theory have played the major label game. They've gone through the major change of losing a singer, and finding a more than suitable replacement within. They released an independent EP, inthatskyissomethingwatching, that sounded totally different than their past work, and inside the circle that it was (rarely) heard in, was considered a masterpiece and a brilliant change of direction for the band. Now they are prepared to take their art globally with a brand new full length album entitled, Faces, a mammoth mosaic that rivals the prowess that is Dredg's holy Leitmotif. The Apex Theory have sucessfully undergone one of the most beautiful and unlikely transformations from melodic nu-metal ozz-festers to sprawling, epic, progressive rock with a croon to die for. At twelve tracks and sixty minutes, this album is a feat of strength and passion and you are utterly exhausted upon it's completion. If you crave the sounds of Dredg, Onesidezero, and Woven, you will pine for this album. Bravo boys, I cannot wait for the encore.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/kisskiss.jpg Kiss Kiss-Reality vs The Optimist(Eyeball)
Website (http://www.myspace.com/kisskiss) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/kisskiss)
Kiss Kiss entered Decoy's radar last year when we received their debut EP for Eyeball Records. The EP was very good, drawing to mind a less graphic and intense Murder By Death, featuring a short and sweet brand of violin indie-rock. However, the sound they displayed on the EP in no way prepared me for the advancement and changes they could and would make over years time in between releases. Their debut LP, Reality vs. The Optimist, is a mind-bending journey through a musical circus that is almost unparalleled. Their is still a faint resemblence to the aforementioned Murder By Death, but now much more prominent are their kinship to the more daring and crusading Paper Chase. Moments of the album are almost like a full-fledged americana carnival, mixing the broodying insanity of System of a Down or Giant Squid with the more thoughtful and witty moments of Cursive or A Whisper in the Noise. This is really an amalgum of amazing influences, forming a virtual chicken dinner of great genres. Through all of this depth, they pack into a thrity-two minute album that manages to bore you for all of the ten seconds of silence that preludes the opening track. Kiss Kiss have given us something unique, memorable, and really really freaking good on top of it all.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/housefoolscover.jpg House Of Fools-House Of Fools EP(Drive Thru)
Website (http://www.myspace.com/houseoffools) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/houseoffools)
I watched House Of Fools play a set for the ages back in February, opening for Paulson and Far-Less. They came out with long hair, hemp-woven jackets, bandanas, bell bottom pants, keyboards, and acoustic guitars and basically had all the makings of a modern day Pink Floyd or Kansas. Having never heard of the band before, I was leveled, jaw-dropped and excited to get home to look up more info on the band. I learned they were signed to Drive-Thru Records and had virtually no recorded music avaliable to the public, and this saddened me. However, after finally receiving a copy of their debut EP, I can safely say, the mojo they displayed live that cold night in February is not fully developed on disc yet. On the EP they sound like a different band, which is not to say they are bad, which is far from the case. Instead they are much more of an organic piano-rock band, sounding similar to Ben Folds, The Format, and Pete Yorn. While it's very enjoyable, I am still yearning for some recorded music similar to that live show embedded in my brain. With an LP due in Feb. maybe there's still a chance we will see that live show shine through on tape.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/pompeii.jpg Pompeii-Assembly(Eyeball)
Website (http://www.pompeiiband.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/pompeii)
Pompeii hail from Austin, Texas and I was completely unaware of the band's existance prior to receiving their Eyeball Records debut album, Assembly. Suprises come in all shapes and sizes and this one is no exception, because this band has transformed forty-two minutes of time into a gorgeous indie rock experience. The five piece outfit have been together for a little over two years and were signed by Eyeball owner Alex Saavedra on the spot thanks to a ear-opening live show. Drawing to mind slow gazers like Death Cab for Cutie, Mew, and The Format, they also incorporate a cello that in turn lends itself to a whole other beautiful aspect of this band's perfectly graceful sound.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/ghostmachinecd.jpg Ghostmachine-Hypersensitive(Corporate Punishment)
Website (http://www.ghostmachine.net) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/ghostmachine1)
Ghostmachine is the baby of Ivan(Ghost), the singer of Motograter and John Stevens, guitarist for The Clay People. Their debut album, Hypersensitive, will see a release next month through Corporate Punishment Records. The album is very epic at fifteen tracks and almost sixty minutes in length, and the band features a very melodic industrial rock flavor similar to previous recordings from Flaw, Mudvayne, and Earshot. While bringing little new to the mix, it's extremely catchy and a very addictive listen.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/jet.jpg Jet-Shine On(Atlantic)
Website (http://www.jettheband.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/jet)
Jet flooded our musical scene in the summer of 2003 with with a slew of over played itunes commercial singles and a gimmick's worth of swagger. Get Born, their debut album, was propelled to platinum status on the shoulders of said over-played songs and the radio never let them die. Even as early as July the airwaves and cell phone ads were already being polluted with "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is", the debut single from their sophomore album, Shine On. The question is then raised, "Is Jet a talented band? Do they make brilliant albums? Are they amazing song-writers?" Well the answer is obviously GOD NO. However, they do have a somewhat uncanny knack for creating addictive and instantly unforgettable songs, that now seem to transcend the course of a whole album. Shine On is no exception and there will be no sophomore slump for these cocky wankers. The album is massive at fifteen tracks and fifty-two minutes, and they manage to keep your pulse racing for most of the ride, aside from a few lighter waving moments. They may not be Bob Dylan, or even AC/DC for that matter, but they are hard to ignore and nearly impossible to forget.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/Annualscover.jpg Annuals-Be He Me(Ace Fu)
Website (http://www.annualsmusic.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/annuals)
Born and raised in North Carolina, and being as close as brothers(and sister), Annuals are the newest signing to Ace Fu, one of Decoy's favorite labels, who were/are home to Man Man, Devotchka, and An Albatross. Annuals represent a similar yet so different sound for the label, their luscious dream-pop is absolutely endearing, yet this is a band that is definitely off kilter. At nearly 50 minutes, their debut album, Be He Me, is a stunning work of colorful, artsy arrangements and harmonies whose surreal-like state is utterly infectious. If you enjoy the woolgathering delights of The Flaming Lips, Arcade Fire or Sufjan Stevens, you will surely get in bed with the Annuals.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/sensesfail.jpg Senses Fail-Still Searching(Vagrant)
Website (http://www.sensesfail.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/sensesfail)
Senses Fail are a household name by now, deservidly or not. They have gone through the ringer of heavy hitting labels along the way as well, finally landing on Vagrant. Having the security of a good label behind them for the entire tenure of the writing and recording process for their second LP, Still Searching, was no doubt a great aid to them. That said, the great support has done little to help seperate Senses Fail from a crowded and bloated battalion. Still Searching shows little to nothing in the form of positive progression in the band's songwriting or originality, and at times the album seems so random, you forget what you are listening to. If you are a fan of Story of the Year or the new Saosin album, you might enjoy this, but anyone with a palette for something innovative should feast elsewhere.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/pmfs.jpg Planes Mistaken For Stars-Mercy(Abacus)
Website (http://www.pmfs.net) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/pmfs)
Planes Mistaken For Stars return two-plus years after the release of their critically acclaimed album, Up In Them Guts, with their third and most anticipated album, Mercy. It's their first album for Abacus Records, and happily to say it doesn't disappoint. With uber producer/mixer/engineer Matt Bayles at the controls, the band has never sounded better, as they have seemingly pushed themselves farther then ever before. At eleven tracks and thirty-eight minutes, it isn't exactly epic in length, but they more than pack a punch or two in that span. Mercy finds the band mixing in more mathy moments, reminscent of These Arms are Snakes and Botch, while still hammering out those addictively brutal flashes akin to Mastodon and Converge. This album should be pleasing to the critics and crowds alike.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/apextheory.jpg The Apex Theory-Faces(Independent)
Website (http://www.theapextheory.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/theapextheory)
The Apex Theory have played the major label game. They've gone through the major change of losing a singer, and finding a more than suitable replacement within. They released an independent EP, inthatskyissomethingwatching, that sounded totally different than their past work, and inside the circle that it was (rarely) heard in, was considered a masterpiece and a brilliant change of direction for the band. Now they are prepared to take their art globally with a brand new full length album entitled, Faces, a mammoth mosaic that rivals the prowess that is Dredg's holy Leitmotif. The Apex Theory have sucessfully undergone one of the most beautiful and unlikely transformations from melodic nu-metal ozz-festers to sprawling, epic, progressive rock with a croon to die for. At twelve tracks and sixty minutes, this album is a feat of strength and passion and you are utterly exhausted upon it's completion. If you crave the sounds of Dredg, Onesidezero, and Woven, you will pine for this album. Bravo boys, I cannot wait for the encore.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/kisskiss.jpg Kiss Kiss-Reality vs The Optimist(Eyeball)
Website (http://www.myspace.com/kisskiss) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/kisskiss)
Kiss Kiss entered Decoy's radar last year when we received their debut EP for Eyeball Records. The EP was very good, drawing to mind a less graphic and intense Murder By Death, featuring a short and sweet brand of violin indie-rock. However, the sound they displayed on the EP in no way prepared me for the advancement and changes they could and would make over years time in between releases. Their debut LP, Reality vs. The Optimist, is a mind-bending journey through a musical circus that is almost unparalleled. Their is still a faint resemblence to the aforementioned Murder By Death, but now much more prominent are their kinship to the more daring and crusading Paper Chase. Moments of the album are almost like a full-fledged americana carnival, mixing the broodying insanity of System of a Down or Giant Squid with the more thoughtful and witty moments of Cursive or A Whisper in the Noise. This is really an amalgum of amazing influences, forming a virtual chicken dinner of great genres. Through all of this depth, they pack into a thrity-two minute album that manages to bore you for all of the ten seconds of silence that preludes the opening track. Kiss Kiss have given us something unique, memorable, and really really freaking good on top of it all.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/housefoolscover.jpg House Of Fools-House Of Fools EP(Drive Thru)
Website (http://www.myspace.com/houseoffools) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/houseoffools)
I watched House Of Fools play a set for the ages back in February, opening for Paulson and Far-Less. They came out with long hair, hemp-woven jackets, bandanas, bell bottom pants, keyboards, and acoustic guitars and basically had all the makings of a modern day Pink Floyd or Kansas. Having never heard of the band before, I was leveled, jaw-dropped and excited to get home to look up more info on the band. I learned they were signed to Drive-Thru Records and had virtually no recorded music avaliable to the public, and this saddened me. However, after finally receiving a copy of their debut EP, I can safely say, the mojo they displayed live that cold night in February is not fully developed on disc yet. On the EP they sound like a different band, which is not to say they are bad, which is far from the case. Instead they are much more of an organic piano-rock band, sounding similar to Ben Folds, The Format, and Pete Yorn. While it's very enjoyable, I am still yearning for some recorded music similar to that live show embedded in my brain. With an LP due in Feb. maybe there's still a chance we will see that live show shine through on tape.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/pompeii.jpg Pompeii-Assembly(Eyeball)
Website (http://www.pompeiiband.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/pompeii)
Pompeii hail from Austin, Texas and I was completely unaware of the band's existance prior to receiving their Eyeball Records debut album, Assembly. Suprises come in all shapes and sizes and this one is no exception, because this band has transformed forty-two minutes of time into a gorgeous indie rock experience. The five piece outfit have been together for a little over two years and were signed by Eyeball owner Alex Saavedra on the spot thanks to a ear-opening live show. Drawing to mind slow gazers like Death Cab for Cutie, Mew, and The Format, they also incorporate a cello that in turn lends itself to a whole other beautiful aspect of this band's perfectly graceful sound.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/ghostmachinecd.jpg Ghostmachine-Hypersensitive(Corporate Punishment)
Website (http://www.ghostmachine.net) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/ghostmachine1)
Ghostmachine is the baby of Ivan(Ghost), the singer of Motograter and John Stevens, guitarist for The Clay People. Their debut album, Hypersensitive, will see a release next month through Corporate Punishment Records. The album is very epic at fifteen tracks and almost sixty minutes in length, and the band features a very melodic industrial rock flavor similar to previous recordings from Flaw, Mudvayne, and Earshot. While bringing little new to the mix, it's extremely catchy and a very addictive listen.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/jet.jpg Jet-Shine On(Atlantic)
Website (http://www.jettheband.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/jet)
Jet flooded our musical scene in the summer of 2003 with with a slew of over played itunes commercial singles and a gimmick's worth of swagger. Get Born, their debut album, was propelled to platinum status on the shoulders of said over-played songs and the radio never let them die. Even as early as July the airwaves and cell phone ads were already being polluted with "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is", the debut single from their sophomore album, Shine On. The question is then raised, "Is Jet a talented band? Do they make brilliant albums? Are they amazing song-writers?" Well the answer is obviously GOD NO. However, they do have a somewhat uncanny knack for creating addictive and instantly unforgettable songs, that now seem to transcend the course of a whole album. Shine On is no exception and there will be no sophomore slump for these cocky wankers. The album is massive at fifteen tracks and fifty-two minutes, and they manage to keep your pulse racing for most of the ride, aside from a few lighter waving moments. They may not be Bob Dylan, or even AC/DC for that matter, but they are hard to ignore and nearly impossible to forget.