Tag Archives: June 2012

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

Photo Gallery: Future Now feat. The Robert Glasper Experiment, Jose James & Taylor McFerrin – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney – 10 June 2012

Photographer: Katja Liebing – Blue Moon Photography for Life Music Media

Photographer: Katja Liebing – Blue Moon Photography
Continue reading Photo Gallery: Future Now feat. The Robert Glasper Experiment, Jose James & Taylor McFerrin – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney – 10 June 2012

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

Album Review: Cradle of Filth – Midnight in the Labyrinth

By Meghan Player
Cradle Of Filth have always been known for their signature take on the dark wave, gothic metal sound and grandiose theatrics. Latest offering, ‘Midnight in the Labyrinth’ – an orchestral selection of the bands first four albums – is no exception.

Opening with a glorious string section of sweeping, melodic sound ‘A Gothic Romance [Red Roses For The Devil’s Whore]’ pulls the listener into an album that not only celebrates the band, but reinvents the tracks that once pounded through your headphones.

‘The Twisted Nails of Faith’ sounds almost as if it has come straight from a melodramatic, theatrical musical – with striking strings, stirring vocals and choirs intertwining with frontman Dani Filth’s narrative growl.
Continue reading Album Review: Cradle of Filth – Midnight in the Labyrinth

Album Review: The Delta Riggs – Talupo Mountain Music Vol.II

By Meghan Player
After the success of their break through track, ‘Counter Revolution’, The Delta Riggs bring their contagious and energetic take on rock & roll to their new EP, ‘Talupo Mountain Music Vol. II’.

Self-produced and cut in a single live session, the band blast through your speakers – from opener, [the aforementioned, ‘Counter Revolution’], to the downright funky, swinging sounds of ‘Used To Be My Baby’.

‘Money’ draws from the mid 60s, early 70s rock and roll that wouldn’t have looked out of place on a Led Zeppelin album. The infectious chorus and relatively simple tempo of the track would make any listener feel the need to get up and dance.

Following track ‘Mary’ blends a smoother, mellow and sexier sound than the previous offerings – demonstrating not only the bands unique style and personality, but their ability to transition and move between amazing sounds and melodies.
Continue reading Album Review: The Delta Riggs – Talupo Mountain Music Vol.II

Live Review: Simple Plan @ Hordern Pavilion, Sydney with We The Kings, The Never Ever – 1 June 2012

Review by Sibel Kutlucan
Simple Plan are well loved on Australian shores and for the last decade they have been dominant in the punk-pop scene. Fans young and old were in for a night like no other on Friday June 1st, when thousands of Aussies packed Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion in support of the French-Canadian quintet. I entered the venue as a 20-something year old music lover who once shared quite a strong love for their earlier music, and found myself leaving as my 13 year old self, excited and jittery. The night was a hot-bed of excitement, slightly naughty one-liners and infectious beats.

A quick glance at the line-up and you knew you were in for a night worthy of your funds and time with Simple Plan, We The Kings and local sensation The Never Ever! Teenage girls were practically frothing at the mouth right there! The Never Ever were a pleasant surprise; catchy, dancey and all that jazz. They even looked the part with vibrant clothing and slightly bizarre moves. The audience thriving around energetically enjoying their ‘Paramore’/’Cute is what we aim for sound’.
Continue reading Live Review: Simple Plan @ Hordern Pavilion, Sydney with We The Kings, The Never Ever – 1 June 2012

Interview: Blu Avenue

Interview by Stuart Blythe
LMM: You’ve recently released your debut album “Sounds From The Escape”
Can you tell us about the song-writing and recording process?

Blu Avenue: We wanted Sounds from the Escape to try and be cohesive and yet have each song tell their own story. The songs themselves were all created at different times and we allowed each one time to evolve into what they became on the album. We gave them a taste of being played live as well as practicing them to get the songs to what they became. Honestly, some of them are still evolving even after recording them!

For us, as far as actually recording the songs, we wanted the sound of the album to emulate how we sound live as much as we could. We wanted the listener to hear our music and to see us live and be able to enjoy the music because it sounds like the album. So with that we set out to keep the sound as organic as possible. We really feel the album is a true representation of our live sound which is what we set out to do!
 
 
LMM: Your first single “Skydown” is getting rotation. For the uninitiated, how do you describe your sound

Blu Avenue: It is really hard for us to put a label on our sound. When you think of a certain genre tag you have an assumption of it will sound like. We love dynamics in our music and having the songs tell stories. For the new fans we normally say we are a progressive band but even then it’s hard for us to call it that! Our songs take different paths dependent on where each song takes us.
Continue reading Interview: Blu Avenue

Interview: Penny Hewson – Penny Hewson

Interview by Stuart Blythe
LMM: You’ve recently returned to Australia after 10 years in the USA.
How was the USA experience and what prompted your return to Australia?

Penny Hewson: I’d spent quite a bit of time traveling around the USA with my past bands prior to moving there, and although Los Angeles wasn’t necessarily at the top of my list of places I wanted to live I was able to create my own niche in amongst it all. I initially went over because I was offered a great job at the beginning of the dot-com boom to help musicians figure out how to navigate their way through the internet to connect with their fans and to empower bands to be a bit more DIY, etc. So it was a great opportunity for me to do something I was passionate about, one thing led to another, I made great friends, got into the buzz of life in a big city and all of a sudden a decade zoomed by. I was always going to be coming home to Australia, I just caught up in daily life over there and guess I was waiting for things to slow down. But LA never slows down! Ultimately I was really wanting to make this solo album but I just wasn’t in the right place to do it. I had to come home to Melbourne to find a certain “quietude” in order for it to happen.
 
 
LMM: You’re about to release your second solo album “It’s An Endless Desire”
How was the recording process and working with producer Phil Butson (Sea Stories)?
Continue reading Interview: Penny Hewson – Penny Hewson

Interview: Chris Hetherington – The Slow Push

The Slow Push are launching their 2nd album “Misshapen Giants” at Beetle Bar, Brisbane on 8 June 2012 (Click here).

Lead man Chris Hetherington of The Slow Push takes time out with Life Music Media…

:: What track changed your life ::
Through Being Cool by Devo.

:: What is your favourite Album ::
It changes with the seasons. I’m currently into Wild Flag by Wild Flag.

:: Name a band or artist we should checkout ::
Tiger Beams.

:: Favourite Quote ::
“When angry, count to four; when very angry, swear.”– Mark Twain.
Continue reading Interview: Chris Hetherington – The Slow Push