Roncag
11-10-2006, 09:50 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/incubus.jpg Incubus-Light Grenades(Epic)
Website (http://www.enjoyincubus.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/incubus)
Incubus has been one of my very favorite bands since I purchased Science way back in 1997. They fell off the map a bit with 2001's Morning View, but managed to rekindle the fire on 2004's A Crow Left of the Murder, enough to make me crave a new album from them nearly 3 years later. The biggest complaint about Incubus over the years has been their obvious departure from the more funk and sonically spacey material, into more of a standard melodic rock band. While they still had a cognition to write great songs, their undeniable uniqueness had vanished. I won't say they've come full circle with Light Grenades, but it definitely feels like their most experimental and ambitious album since Science. Grenades still boast a few lighter waving moments, but somehow they feel less sappy and seem to flow perfectly with the overall pace and story of the album. At 47 minutes in length it's not quite the epic space ride I had prayed for, but still it's extremely imaginative. Incubus has always been a band that takes multiple listens and time to let it sink in, and this album may not be any different, but so far, I'm really impressed.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/dearlydeparted.jpg Dearly Departed-Bad News On The Doorstep(Independent)
Website (http://www.dearlydepartedmusic.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/dearlydepartedny)
Pulling negotiable influences from the likes of Shun and Sunny Day Real Estate, when Dearly Departed released Believing In Ghosts in 2004, many labeled them as an emo version of Dredg or Codeseven. Even with solid reviews, the album was grossly overlooked despite its enchanting display of beautiful, yet emotionally distressing indie rock. Negating marginal success, the band went on a brief hiatus to do whatever a band does when they need to get reorganized. Now reformed with some new members and a newly refined direction, Dearly Departed is set to release Bad News on the Doorstep. Gauging by the title alone, it’s no secret that the group’s resolve hasn’t changed as far as lyrical content is concerned. But as far as the music is concerned, this album is a new revelation that’s undoubtedly superior to its predecessor. Less reliant on artsy-fartsy sampling, keys and soft crooning to sensitive breakouts, Bad News on the Doorstep is more visceral in its overall approach, with the band relying more on their own hypothesis for a unique indie experience. What really closes escrow is the newfound urgency in leader Mike Mallamo’s vocals. Instead of trying to ploddingly meander one into emotional oblivion, Mallamo delivers a straight kick to the groin, assaulting anyone who cares to listen to his woes with a sound that is violent, gentle, intimate and estranged altogether. He need not worry about getting listeners this time around, for when the album finally gets a drop date, everyone’s going to be paying close attention.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/brandnew.jpg Brand New-The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me(Interscope)
Website (http://www.fightoffyourdemons.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/brandnew)
When Brand New posted "Sowing Season" on their Myspace page, I almost had a heart attack. I thought the song was damn near perfect - a music supervisor's wet dream (you can't tell me that the "Yeah!" screams are not goose bump inducing). The next day I contacted my buddy over at Interscope and within 3 hours, I had the full album sitting on my desk. I've spent the last week listening to it, practically non-stop. I've waited 3 years for this album, and I don't feel let down at all - though something tells me, some of you may. I think these songs are all great. Is every song as rocking as "Sowing Season"? No, but a few are, and the rest are still fantastic songs (and let me not forget to mention the 2 amazing instrumentals). I feel that musically, the band has progressed and grown up - and with that said, they still sound like Brand New to me. Lyrically, I felt that Deja Entendu was a far more mature album, each song containing extremely profound lyrics - Devil and God, not as much, but that doesn't hurt the album in any way. It'll still make my list at the end of the year, that's for sure.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/thephotoatlas.jpg The Photo Atlas-No, Not Me, Ever(Stolen Transmission)
Website (http://www.thephotoatlas.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/danceatlasdance)
Dance-punk and nu-new-wave or arena-rock are evidently the new hot tickets for making it. It’s getting a tad watered-down, but hey, trends change right? At least The Photo Atlas wisely avoids the overdone-synth, and instead they leave it to cutting guitars and vocals similar to At the Drive-In but with the laid-back Police-inspired technicality of Minus the Bear. Combine it with dance beats akin to Portugal. The Man, the Rapture, and Franz Ferdinand, and you’ve got No Not Me Ever, the band’s debut on Stolen Transmission. This album is not just another toss-in to the diluted dance-punk scene, and if you like any of the aforementioned bands, I guarantee No Not Me Ever will tickle your fancy.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/permanentme.jpg Permanent Me-After The Room Clears(Stolen Transmission)
Website (http://www.permanentme.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/permanentme)
With a name like Permanent Me, I was sort of expecting a Nickelback, Tantric, Theory of a Deadman sort of post-grunge pickle in the mouth sound. This is nothing of the sort. Think Big City Rock, Angels and Airwaves, +44, Jimmy Eat World. Very radio friendly pop rock songs. This is very marketable, I can't even pretend to deny it, I can totally imagine them getting several licenses from the album. In fact, I know I will end up pitching these guys. In fact, I'll probably end up pitching them on Monday. Worth a listen if you like the bands mentioned.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/theend.jpg The End-Elementary(Relapse)
Website (http://www.allchaos.net/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/theendmusic)
The End was a band that really took us all by suprise at Decoy back in 2004. They crafted highly technical and instantly addictive metal in the vein of the Dillinger Escape Plan, but somehow you didn't feel at all pretentious for liking The End. So now after nearly 3 long years of waiting for their follow up to Within Dividia, they manage to create an even more addictive and more accessible album, that's sure to please old fans and draw them even more new ones. Elementary is punishing in it's intensity, but also features more clean and melodic vocals than ever before. If you combine the tech metal prowess of DEP, the spacey melodicism of Cave In, and nu metal riffage and growl of American Head Charge, you sorta get the picture.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/younglove.jpg Young Love-Too Young To Fight It(Island)
Website (http://www.thisisyounglove.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/younglove)
One thing can safely be said about new Island artist Young Love: the girls in his friends list on Myspace are almost all smokin' hot, and I'm downright jealous of the coolness that emanates from this guy. Kidding aside, Young Love follows closely in the style of Head Automatica, Men Women & Children, Bloc Party, and Under The Influence Of Giants, but a little more dance, a little more for the OC crowd. Not sure how an album like this will be received here at Decoy, but it's at least worth taking a listen to the songs on his Myspace page. Seems like "Discotech" will be used all over the place and probably end up haunting your dreams. Here's to hoping I'm wrong.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/istofeel.jpg Is To Feel-Llorona(Unsigned)
Website (http://www.istofeel.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/istofeel)
The way this album started (at least the first 25 seconds), I thought to myself, "here's something interesting and nice" and then the real music kicks in - full on double bass drum assault, death growling, chunkrific guitars, pure chaos. I can easily imagine many of the folks at Decoy really digging on this band, but in all honesty, they don't do much for me. Musically, I'm down with what they're doing, I love when a band brings the thunder, but it's the vocal growling that gets under my skin. When the GlassJaw-esque singing (track 3 specifically) kicks in, I'm down with it, but they jump too quickly back into super intense growling. Probably worth just listening for yourself and coming up with your own conclusions.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/signaltonoise.jpg Signal to Noise-When The Rain Starts-EP(Eyeball)
Website (http://eyeballrecords.com/artists/signaltonoise/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/signaltonoise)
About 20-instrumental-seconds into the first song from this debut EP, I immediately thought, “Oh Jesus, more pop-punk? When will this bullshit die?” And then, something unexpected happened: badass vocals. Finally! A pop-punk band that doesn’t utilize obnoxiously high, nasally vocals and knows how to rock! Actually, Signal to Noise’s Stop When the Rain Starts is catchy, melodic, simple, and musically unoriginal, but what Colorado lacks in creativity, they make up in execution and songwriting. This sophomore EP from Eyeball Records is a prelude to a 2007 full-length, and is highly recommended to fans of the Hold Steady, Against Me!, Bear vs. Shark, and Alkaline Trio.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/aluminum.jpg Aluminium-Aliminium(XL)
Website (http://www.alumiiinium.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/alumiiinium)
You may have heard about Aluminium; an orchestral project of White Stripe songs co-orchestrated by Jack White himself. Well, let this be said - of all 10 tracks on the album, only three are White Stripe's songs, and the rest...well, the rest is completely new and original - and beyond beautiful. When I first heard this, I was having heart palpitations. I literally thought I found the holy grail of contemporary classically influenced music. Every song sounded like something I've never heard before. It sent me on a binge for neo-classical modern composers and artists, yet still none do for me what this album has. I wouldn't say I'm a big Stripes fan, in fact, I went for as long as I could without admitting that they're good...but this album makes me a changed man. And it also makes me wonder what else Mr. White has up his sleeves. They only printed 3,333 copies of this album, so if you have the chance to buy it or download it, do it without any hesitation, you will not regret it.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/incubus.jpg Incubus-Light Grenades(Epic)
Website (http://www.enjoyincubus.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/incubus)
Incubus has been one of my very favorite bands since I purchased Science way back in 1997. They fell off the map a bit with 2001's Morning View, but managed to rekindle the fire on 2004's A Crow Left of the Murder, enough to make me crave a new album from them nearly 3 years later. The biggest complaint about Incubus over the years has been their obvious departure from the more funk and sonically spacey material, into more of a standard melodic rock band. While they still had a cognition to write great songs, their undeniable uniqueness had vanished. I won't say they've come full circle with Light Grenades, but it definitely feels like their most experimental and ambitious album since Science. Grenades still boast a few lighter waving moments, but somehow they feel less sappy and seem to flow perfectly with the overall pace and story of the album. At 47 minutes in length it's not quite the epic space ride I had prayed for, but still it's extremely imaginative. Incubus has always been a band that takes multiple listens and time to let it sink in, and this album may not be any different, but so far, I'm really impressed.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/dearlydeparted.jpg Dearly Departed-Bad News On The Doorstep(Independent)
Website (http://www.dearlydepartedmusic.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/dearlydepartedny)
Pulling negotiable influences from the likes of Shun and Sunny Day Real Estate, when Dearly Departed released Believing In Ghosts in 2004, many labeled them as an emo version of Dredg or Codeseven. Even with solid reviews, the album was grossly overlooked despite its enchanting display of beautiful, yet emotionally distressing indie rock. Negating marginal success, the band went on a brief hiatus to do whatever a band does when they need to get reorganized. Now reformed with some new members and a newly refined direction, Dearly Departed is set to release Bad News on the Doorstep. Gauging by the title alone, it’s no secret that the group’s resolve hasn’t changed as far as lyrical content is concerned. But as far as the music is concerned, this album is a new revelation that’s undoubtedly superior to its predecessor. Less reliant on artsy-fartsy sampling, keys and soft crooning to sensitive breakouts, Bad News on the Doorstep is more visceral in its overall approach, with the band relying more on their own hypothesis for a unique indie experience. What really closes escrow is the newfound urgency in leader Mike Mallamo’s vocals. Instead of trying to ploddingly meander one into emotional oblivion, Mallamo delivers a straight kick to the groin, assaulting anyone who cares to listen to his woes with a sound that is violent, gentle, intimate and estranged altogether. He need not worry about getting listeners this time around, for when the album finally gets a drop date, everyone’s going to be paying close attention.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/brandnew.jpg Brand New-The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me(Interscope)
Website (http://www.fightoffyourdemons.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/brandnew)
When Brand New posted "Sowing Season" on their Myspace page, I almost had a heart attack. I thought the song was damn near perfect - a music supervisor's wet dream (you can't tell me that the "Yeah!" screams are not goose bump inducing). The next day I contacted my buddy over at Interscope and within 3 hours, I had the full album sitting on my desk. I've spent the last week listening to it, practically non-stop. I've waited 3 years for this album, and I don't feel let down at all - though something tells me, some of you may. I think these songs are all great. Is every song as rocking as "Sowing Season"? No, but a few are, and the rest are still fantastic songs (and let me not forget to mention the 2 amazing instrumentals). I feel that musically, the band has progressed and grown up - and with that said, they still sound like Brand New to me. Lyrically, I felt that Deja Entendu was a far more mature album, each song containing extremely profound lyrics - Devil and God, not as much, but that doesn't hurt the album in any way. It'll still make my list at the end of the year, that's for sure.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/thephotoatlas.jpg The Photo Atlas-No, Not Me, Ever(Stolen Transmission)
Website (http://www.thephotoatlas.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/danceatlasdance)
Dance-punk and nu-new-wave or arena-rock are evidently the new hot tickets for making it. It’s getting a tad watered-down, but hey, trends change right? At least The Photo Atlas wisely avoids the overdone-synth, and instead they leave it to cutting guitars and vocals similar to At the Drive-In but with the laid-back Police-inspired technicality of Minus the Bear. Combine it with dance beats akin to Portugal. The Man, the Rapture, and Franz Ferdinand, and you’ve got No Not Me Ever, the band’s debut on Stolen Transmission. This album is not just another toss-in to the diluted dance-punk scene, and if you like any of the aforementioned bands, I guarantee No Not Me Ever will tickle your fancy.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/permanentme.jpg Permanent Me-After The Room Clears(Stolen Transmission)
Website (http://www.permanentme.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/permanentme)
With a name like Permanent Me, I was sort of expecting a Nickelback, Tantric, Theory of a Deadman sort of post-grunge pickle in the mouth sound. This is nothing of the sort. Think Big City Rock, Angels and Airwaves, +44, Jimmy Eat World. Very radio friendly pop rock songs. This is very marketable, I can't even pretend to deny it, I can totally imagine them getting several licenses from the album. In fact, I know I will end up pitching these guys. In fact, I'll probably end up pitching them on Monday. Worth a listen if you like the bands mentioned.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/theend.jpg The End-Elementary(Relapse)
Website (http://www.allchaos.net/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/theendmusic)
The End was a band that really took us all by suprise at Decoy back in 2004. They crafted highly technical and instantly addictive metal in the vein of the Dillinger Escape Plan, but somehow you didn't feel at all pretentious for liking The End. So now after nearly 3 long years of waiting for their follow up to Within Dividia, they manage to create an even more addictive and more accessible album, that's sure to please old fans and draw them even more new ones. Elementary is punishing in it's intensity, but also features more clean and melodic vocals than ever before. If you combine the tech metal prowess of DEP, the spacey melodicism of Cave In, and nu metal riffage and growl of American Head Charge, you sorta get the picture.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/younglove.jpg Young Love-Too Young To Fight It(Island)
Website (http://www.thisisyounglove.com/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/younglove)
One thing can safely be said about new Island artist Young Love: the girls in his friends list on Myspace are almost all smokin' hot, and I'm downright jealous of the coolness that emanates from this guy. Kidding aside, Young Love follows closely in the style of Head Automatica, Men Women & Children, Bloc Party, and Under The Influence Of Giants, but a little more dance, a little more for the OC crowd. Not sure how an album like this will be received here at Decoy, but it's at least worth taking a listen to the songs on his Myspace page. Seems like "Discotech" will be used all over the place and probably end up haunting your dreams. Here's to hoping I'm wrong.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/istofeel.jpg Is To Feel-Llorona(Unsigned)
Website (http://www.istofeel.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/istofeel)
The way this album started (at least the first 25 seconds), I thought to myself, "here's something interesting and nice" and then the real music kicks in - full on double bass drum assault, death growling, chunkrific guitars, pure chaos. I can easily imagine many of the folks at Decoy really digging on this band, but in all honesty, they don't do much for me. Musically, I'm down with what they're doing, I love when a band brings the thunder, but it's the vocal growling that gets under my skin. When the GlassJaw-esque singing (track 3 specifically) kicks in, I'm down with it, but they jump too quickly back into super intense growling. Probably worth just listening for yourself and coming up with your own conclusions.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/signaltonoise.jpg Signal to Noise-When The Rain Starts-EP(Eyeball)
Website (http://eyeballrecords.com/artists/signaltonoise/) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/signaltonoise)
About 20-instrumental-seconds into the first song from this debut EP, I immediately thought, “Oh Jesus, more pop-punk? When will this bullshit die?” And then, something unexpected happened: badass vocals. Finally! A pop-punk band that doesn’t utilize obnoxiously high, nasally vocals and knows how to rock! Actually, Signal to Noise’s Stop When the Rain Starts is catchy, melodic, simple, and musically unoriginal, but what Colorado lacks in creativity, they make up in execution and songwriting. This sophomore EP from Eyeball Records is a prelude to a 2007 full-length, and is highly recommended to fans of the Hold Steady, Against Me!, Bear vs. Shark, and Alkaline Trio.
http://www.decoymusic.com/images/albumoftheweek/aluminum.jpg Aluminium-Aliminium(XL)
Website (http://www.alumiiinium.com) :: Listen (http://www.myspace.com/alumiiinium)
You may have heard about Aluminium; an orchestral project of White Stripe songs co-orchestrated by Jack White himself. Well, let this be said - of all 10 tracks on the album, only three are White Stripe's songs, and the rest...well, the rest is completely new and original - and beyond beautiful. When I first heard this, I was having heart palpitations. I literally thought I found the holy grail of contemporary classically influenced music. Every song sounded like something I've never heard before. It sent me on a binge for neo-classical modern composers and artists, yet still none do for me what this album has. I wouldn't say I'm a big Stripes fan, in fact, I went for as long as I could without admitting that they're good...but this album makes me a changed man. And it also makes me wonder what else Mr. White has up his sleeves. They only printed 3,333 copies of this album, so if you have the chance to buy it or download it, do it without any hesitation, you will not regret it.