Review: Billy Geary
When Sound Awake was released in 2009, Karnivool began to receive acclaim on an international scale, with the record’s more expansive sound resonating with fans of progressive music worldwide. It was a huge step forward for the band when compared to their debut, signalling their establishment as one of Australia’s most innovative bands. Appropriately titled, Asymmetry sees the band change tack again – moving towards a sound of dissonance and adventure, while still retaining the melody of their past releases.
Continue reading Album Review: Karnivool – Asymmetry
Category Archives: Album Review
Album Review: Jericco – “Beautiful in Danger”
Review by JOSE EDUARDO CRUZ
Debut albums are always difficult to execute for they lay out the musical platform for all aspiring bands and send out a clear statement of what the band is about. Whilst an average debut may not necessarily mean the end of a band, it can set their progress backwards. As a debut album Beautiful in Danger does not set Jericco back at all. In fact it does the complete opposite. Jericco fits quite nicely into the Australian progressive rock genre that has been pioneered by a handful of other bands. This debut cements their place amongst those bands and begins the slow process of becoming a top Australian band. The album sounds simple enough, but the devil is in the detail. Critical examination of every track reveals that simplicity is a difficult process to accomplish. Heavy drum sections coupled with bass lines that hook listeners achieve the desired outcome of getting everyone dancing.
Continue reading Album Review: Jericco – “Beautiful in Danger”
Album Review: Deep Purple – “Now What?!”
Review by Carl Dziunka
When you list the great names of rock music from across the decades, Deep Purple has got to be hovering close to the top. Blasting out rock numbers for more than 40 years they have certainly found the formula for success. Releasing the long awaited new album; this comes 8 years after the Rapture of the Deep album released in 2005; the magic is still as strong. With a title like Now What?! it makes you wonder whether the band is thinking that they have done it all. Well actually, they probably have. The current line up works well together and this can be heard from the new 11 tracks that they have laid down.
Continue reading Album Review: Deep Purple – “Now What?!”
Album Review: Björk – Bastards (Biophilia Remixes)
By Natalie Salvo
Love her or hate her, there’s no denying that Björk is an artist that never fails to be eccentric and interesting. Last year’s Biophilia album was a sprawling, mixed media affair where the music was released as an album alongside shows, educational projects and a special app for every single song. In 2012, Bastards draws together remixes of virtually all of these tracks.
Björk has acknowledged that these particular remixes took the listener somewhere else. The cuts were all chosen by the fine lady herself, because she says they contain much sturdier legs to dance on thanks to their rather heavy reliance on synths and beats. These particular songs have all been offered on the Internet as downloads at different times and this release collects them together in a handy but rather unnecessary package.
Continue reading Album Review: Björk – Bastards (Biophilia Remixes)
Album Review: thenewno2 – thefearofmissingout
By Natalie Salvo
thenewno2’s debut album sounded more like Beck than the output of Beatle progeny. The comparison to the Fab Four was inevitable as the project is the brainchild of Dhani Harrison (son of George Harrison). And while Dhani looks and sounds like his famous father, the music actually falls on the opposite end of the musical spectrum. Again, Harrison has teamed up with his friend and famed engineer, Paul Hicks (son of The Hollies’ Tony Hicks) and it’s clear the two share their tastes in modern music.
Their sophomore effort, thefearofmissingout is generation Y to a tee. The concept is a contemporary problem used to describe an individual’s restlessness at wanting to do it all (no doubt a product of seeing their friends on Instagram and Facebook at exotic locations and doing all sorts of exciting things). It means you don’t want to miss a thing, whether it’s going to the next party or meeting the next guy or gal and this often manifests itself as an awful lot of indecision.
Continue reading Album Review: thenewno2 – thefearofmissingout
Album Review: Chance Waters – Infinity
review by Helen Brown
The art of blending hip hop with a multitude of genres is on the rise and has recently been done by Bliss & Eso and East Londoner Plan B. The latest to be inducted into the fold is Chance Waters, a Sydney hip hop artist with a social conscience.
From crumbling societies and the end of the world, to the joys of young love, Chance Waters has collaborated with the likes of Kate Martin, Lilian Blue and Bertie Blackman among many others to produce Infinity, an album peppered with indie folk, bluesy guitars, piano organs and catchy heartfelt lyrics that fluctuate between bleak and hopeful.
‘Conjure Up A Fire’ is a stand out track reminding us that we have the power to make a difference, that we should never follow the masses and never be afraid to find our voice.
Continue reading Album Review: Chance Waters – Infinity
Album Review: Heroes For Hire – “No Apologies”
Review by Sibel Kutlucan
Heroes For Hire have delivered again with a third full length album, No Apologies, which holds its ground as a great pop punk album.
No Apologies is enthralling and contagious, and is bound to appeal to many. Though a little bias, having liked most of Heroes For Hire’s music previously, it’s great to have a fantastic pop punk band representing Australia, and No Apologies has delivered such a fantastic pop punk album to make us proud.
Continue reading Album Review: Heroes For Hire – “No Apologies”
Album Review: Punk Goes Pop 5
Review by Sibel Kutlucan
Whilst many have argued about labels and band choices for the covers, Fearless Records has delivered another popular album in their Punk Goes Pop series. Released this month, Punk Goes Pop has delivered more interesting covers of hit songs such as Carly Rae Jepson’s “Call Me Maybe” and Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend”.
Punk Goes Pop is a fun, light-hearted listen that promises some infectious beats, that whilst isn’t for everyone, still delivers some unique covers. This is one of those albums that will have varying views and opinions, some wondering whether the bands and artists are typically ‘punk’ or ‘pop’, however personally I thought some songs were better than others.
Continue reading Album Review: Punk Goes Pop 5
Album Review: NOFX – Self Entitled
Review By Lana Hall
NOFX are like that top quality hoodie you bought many, many years ago. Twenty nine years ago actually. Familiar and dependable, the years and washes haven’t changed it much at all and it’s easy to put on again and again. Self Entitled is the twelfth studio album from NOFX and it brings more of the classic NOFX sound – another album of short, fast, funny, sometimes political and sometimes personal songs. These themes have served the band well and continue to do so.
Musically, the songs on Self Entitled feel more pressured than other albums, particularly the tempos of ‘I believe in Goddess’ , ‘Ronnie and Mags’ and ‘Cell Out’ where riffs are super fast and words shout over each other to be heard. Remaining true to punk rock, there are no guitar solos or technical displays of prowess, just good solid chord progressions at a pace that crams eleven songs inside thirty minutes.
Continue reading Album Review: NOFX – Self Entitled
CD Review: Twelve Foot Ninja – “Silent Machine”
Review by Billy Geary
Just about every time you think music is becoming stale, over-saturated or downright boring, there’s always a band ready and waiting to put your faith back in music. Twelve Foot Ninja are one of those bands. Forming in 2007, Twelve Foot Ninja quickly rose to prominence, releasing two EPs packed with genre bending moments of reggae, metal, funk, dub and hardcore, sometimes within the same song. Their debut album, Silent Machine shows the same tendency, with added heaviness and polish.
After the first few verses of opener ‘Coming For You,’ for those new to the band one thing is immediately obvious, Twelve Foot Ninja aren’t afraid to mix contrasting genres mid-song. In fact, they thrive on it. ‘Coming For You’ is vintage Twelve Foot Ninja, blending reggae and metal, with a smattering of electronics evoking thoughts of Mr Bungle and Tomahawk. Throughout the record, the comparisons with various Mike Patton projects will inevitably continue, however to pigeonhole Silent Machine in such a way would be unfair to the band.
Continue reading CD Review: Twelve Foot Ninja – “Silent Machine”
Single Review: Art Of Sleeping – ‘Above The Water’
By Meghan Player
After the successful release of their single, ‘Empty Hands’, Brisbane 5-piece Art of Sleeping are about to release their latest single, ‘Above The Water’.
Not wasting any time, the track grabs your attention from the get go, with a wonderful, whimsical melody – beautifully complimented by frontman Caleb Hodges soulful, haunting vocals.
Drumming up comparisons to Grizzly Bear, the track progresses naturally, building into an achingly gorgeous chorus that grabs hold of your heart and mind. This is a band that not only grabs your attention, but deserve it.
Continue reading Single Review: Art Of Sleeping – ‘Above The Water’
Album Review: Elliot The Bull – Elliot The Bull
By Meghan Player
With the local, and indeed international, alt rock/indie/folk sciences currently thriving thanks to the likes of Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear, Mumford & Sons and City & Colour – it was only a matter of time before the young Australian acts started enjoying some well-deserved attention.
Enter Central Coast quartet, Elliot The Bull.
Continue reading Album Review: Elliot The Bull – Elliot The Bull
Album Review | Breaking Orbit – The Time Traveller
Review by Billy Geary
Sydney four piece Breaking Orbit’s debut album The Time Traveller has been a long time coming, with a name change and some member shuffles preceding its release. The wait was certainly worth it, though. The Time Traveller has blown anything done by any other Australian progressively minded band out of the water, save for maybe Karnivool’s Sound Awake and Cog’s The New Normal. However, Breaking Orbit do things slightly differently, placing a heavy emphasis on the tribal and percussive elements in their sound. The result is a debut album of monolithic proportions.
The familiar amalgamation of heavy alternative and progressive genres is certainly apparent, however hints at tribal music and some dabbling in electronic samples ensure The Time Traveller stands out as a record in a vastly oversaturated scene. Opening track ‘Echoes’ is a slow burner with thudding bass guitar, soaring vocals and a distinct touch of post rock influence, immediately showing the band’s diversity. This trend continues throughout the record, with each track offering a different side of Breaking Orbit to the listener. Instrumental track ‘Machiguenga’ is the perfect example of this, featuring an array of tribal percussive instruments and flute passages.
Continue reading Album Review | Breaking Orbit – The Time Traveller
Album Review: Marilyn Manson – Born Villain
Review by Sibel Kutlucan
Born Villain is the eighth full length album from Marilyn Manson and has been deemed as the “comeback” and its fourteen tracks definitely reflect the reinvention. It is unique, catchy and offensive, all elements that definitely emulate the colourful frontman.
Born Villain is a great album, and I dare say one of the best from Marilyn Manson. The album tells a story and the fourteen tracks have a clear beginning, middle and end. It has the usual shock tactics so iconics of the band with confronting lyrics, such as Pistol whipped with “You look so pretty when you cry. Don’t wanna hit you but the only thing, between our love is a bloody nose/a busted lip and a blackened eye”. However some of the songs portrayed a more personal side and definitely had depth. ‘The Gardener’ which opens with Marilyn Manson whispering “I’m not man enough to be human but I’m trying to fit in and I’m learning to fake it” seems to be autobiographical and has a fantastic dance party on acid vibe.
Continue reading Album Review: Marilyn Manson – Born Villain
Album Review: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Here
Review by Sibel Kutlucan
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros have returned with their brand new second full-length album ‘Here’. The album is melodious, magical and yet sleep inducing. Having big shoes to fill after the popularity of their first album “Up from Below” (2009) and their hit single, “Home” they have made some distinct changes, some for the better and alas, some for the worst.
‘Here’ channels a relaxed 60’s vibe, with sing-a-longs, acoustic guitars and simple rhythms. It certainly hasn’t been as catchy for me as “Up from Below” and I was silently disappointed with how ‘tame’ it was mostly. With the opening track “Man on fire” frontman Alex Ebert singing “I want the whole damn world to come dance with me” and with the upbeat rhythm, I was anticipating an album that I could actually dance too or have something to really get into. Maybe it’s just me, but I did find it too smooth throughout after “Man on fire”; this wasn’t a particularly bad thing it just made more for background music and not something I would particularly go out of my way to listen to.
That being said they did have some high points for me, and ‘Mayla’ was definitely one. It was hypnotic and soothing, I just wanted to close my eyes and drift away. Its sweet ‘Kumbayah’ campfire sing-a-long quality was definitely something I could have on repeat if I just wanted to kick back and relax.
Jade Castrinos definitely has more of a primary singing position on ‘Here’, where she takes the lead on one of my preferred tracks, “Fiya Wata”. The track has more of a classic-rock sounding vibe in comparison to the rest of the 60s folk-rock sound on the album.
Ebert and co. have hinted at a third album coming out this year, and that the second release of 2012 with be the more ‘celebratory of the two’. Hopefully, we can expect another album with a bit more oomph. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are quirky and lovable, they may not appeal to the masses but ‘Here’ was pleasant sounding and didn’t have any ugly bits. I’d say I wasn’t completely won over but I’ll definitely have a listen to their upcoming material.
6/10.
Review by Sibel Kutlucan
http://www.facebook.com/themagneticzeros