Artist name: Lily Allen Album name: It’s Not Me, It’s You Label: EMI Genre: Pop Release date: February 9, 2009 ZMErating: 8/10 Website: lilyallenmusic.com Lily Allen’s debut album, Alright, Still was something of a guilty pleasure for me, even though it shouldn’t have been all that guilty at all. It was an unabashedly great pop album (and one that spawned too many imitators, of which only Kate Nash was tolerable) but that fact always managed…
Artist name: Amazing Baby Album name: Infinite Fucking Cross Label: Psilocybe Genre: Indie Rock/Glam Rock Release date: 2008 ZMErating: 7/10 Website: theamazingbaby.com All this modern, new-fangled indie music tends to breeze right by me, if I’m honest. And I’m not sure it’s not deliberate on my part. If there ever seems to be a bleeding edge to the music scene, I always tend to wrap myself in metaphorical bandages and run straight in the other…
Artist name: John Frusciante Album name: The Empyrean Label: Domino Records Gender: Experimental Rock/Psychedelic Rock Release date: January 20, 2009 ZMErating: 9.5/10 Website: JohnFrusciante.com If you’ve listened to any of his solo work, you know that it’s got little to do with what he’s doing with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Still, this is by far the most different style he’s ever gone for, and it suits him like a charm. It’s a mix between…
Artist name: Animal Collective Album name: Merryweather Post Pavilion Label: Domino Records Gender: Experimental Rock/Psychedelic Pop Release date: January 6, 2008 ZMErating: 9.5/10 Website: www.myanimalhome.net There’s something just special about Animal Collective, that always resonates in their wacky, space-out music. I always like to think of them as modern day Peter Pans, a trio of grown up men forever trapped in childhood’s magical grasp. I just love it how they transmit this feeling in their…
Artist name: Mark Lanegan and Isobel Campbell Album name: Keep Me In Mind Sweetheart Label: V2 Records Gender: Alternative Rock Release date: December 8, 2008 ZMErating: 8/10 Website: www.myspace.com/marklanegan Comprising of leftover material from this year’s excellent Sunday at Devil Dirt, Keep Me In Mind Sweetheart continues where its predecessors left off – acting as a contemporary film noir soundtrack with Lanegan crooning like never before while the musically adept Campbell purrs around him. Opening…
Artist name: Coldplay Album name: Prospekt’s March Label: Parlophone Genre: Alternative Rock Release date: November 21, 2008 ZMErating: 3/10 Website: www.coldplay.com Like it or not, you have to admit that Coldplay made one of the best records this year with their Viva La Vida or Death and all his Friends. That’s understandable why they want to ride on its success and squeeze all the juices till the fruit is fresh. Prospekt’s March is the EP…
Artist name: Tv on the Radio Album name: Dead Science Label: 4AD/Interscope Gender: Art Rock/Experimental Rock Release date: September 23, 2008 ZMErating: 8/10 Website: www.tvontheradio.com You can easily hate this record from the first listen and I will not be the one to judge you. In comparison to ‘Return to Cookie Mountain’, the band’s previous effort, ‘Dear Science’ is more mainstream, more accessible and even more pop. But don’t hurry up labeling it. Just give…
Artist name: Kings of Leon Album name: Only by the Night Label: RCA Gender: Southern Rock/Garage Rock Release date: September 23, 2008 ZMErating: 9/10 Website: www.kingsofleon.com Back in 2003, Kings of Leon emerged as garage rock saviors with their widely appreciated debut, Youth and Young Manhood; a record packed with linear, simple, but catchy as hell songs like “Molly’s Chambers,” “Red Morning Light” or one of my favorites from the band, “California Waiting.” The same…
Artist name: Primal Scream Album name: Beautiful Future Label: B-Unique Records/Atlantic Records Genre: Alternative Rock/Indie Rock Release date: July 21, 2008 ZMErating: 6/10 Website: www.primalscream.net Shock. The initial feeling that engulfed my body after I had sat and listened to the new Primal Scream album, “Beautiful Future”. Shock because I felt as though the old Primal Scream that I knew and loved, had been replaced with new, melodic and calm impostors. Again I stress this…
Artist name: Beck Album name: Modern Guilt Label: Interscope/XL Recordings Genre: Alternative Rock Release date: July 8, 2008 ZMErating: 9/10 Website: www.beck.com Oh, my! It’s just incredible how Beck Hansen has changed, evolving (or regressing when he’s going old school loco) in sound, as each record gets out. And here he is, at his 10th studio album, Modern Guilt, an album detailing an experience, an album that tackles a lot of Beck’s inner, unresolved issues…
Al Byrne
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Tibi Puiu
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