Do you still feel younger than you thought you would by now?

Being the Artic Monkeys, it isn’t easy to release a new album. Expectations are skyhigh as the previous albums have been labeled as masterpieces. Nonetheless should a band be able to evolve and their music with them. That’s what being an artist is all about.

A little while ago, Alex Turner claimed that suck it and see would be more accessible dan Humbug (their previous musical child) which was darker and heavier than the firtst two albums. He didn’t lie. A lot of the songs on the record are very light, easy to listen to and a bit mellow.
They joined forces again with Josh Homme who helped them with the recording and did some backing vocals.

1. She's Thunderstorms

2. Black Treacle
3. Brick By Brick
4. The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala
5. Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair
6. Library Pictures
7. All My Own Stunts
8. Reckless Serenade
9. Piledriver Waltz
10. Love Is A Laserquest
11. Suck It And See
12. That's Where You're Wrong

The first track is called “She’s thunderstorms”. It’s a bit slow and dreamy, I like the concept of comparing someone’s personality with the weather. The solo on the end is a bit strange but very listenable. A good song if you ask me.
“Black Treacle” which actually means syrup is the next song. It’s a calm, happy but melancholich song about a girl and a cloudy, dark sky. 

If you can’t hear hommes influence on “Brick by Brick” you might as well cut your ears off. I really like the structure, the solo’s and the general atmosphere. One of the best songs on the record.

 “The hellcat Spangled Shalala” is again, a joyful song but you can’t argue with happy tunes. It’s easy to listen to and the guitar is very enjoyable although it hasn’t the wow effect the monkeys usually have on me.

I appreciate the way Turner sings on “Don’t sit down ‘cause I’ve moved your chair”. It’s a heavy song with a strong riff and a great flow too. Again you can hear the input from homme very well. Turner came up with the idea when he said “don’t sit down because I have moved you chair” to someone which isn’t rather special. I think this song will work very well when played live.

At last, some fast irregular beats ! “ Library Pictures” consists of what I like most about the monkeys: explosivity, good lyrics, speed and great guitar work.  Although the song fits in the frame of what the concept of the album should be, it reminds me a bit of their previous glory. Well done.

“All My Own Stunts” could have been a Queens Of The Stone Age song. Especially the riff. It’s a good song and a bit hypnotising sometimes, It took a few listens before I could appreciate it.

“Reckless Serenade” is a cool title and the guitar part is allright. It’s rather short but that’s for the best. I personally believe that it’s a bit calm and lacks a bit of kick. But I will forgive them.

I was familiar with “Piledriver Waltz” because it is also a track on “Submarine”. A brilliant 6 song Ep Alex Turner wrote for a movie. You should all check it out. . The number itself is very good. It has great lyrics and an emotional, sad atmosphere. What else do you need ?

 As we are nearing the end of the album, we reach a less interesting part “love is a Laserquest” and “Suck it and see” are a bit unnecessary. The songs don’t stand out and they lack a bit of identity. But it is cool to have a song which carries the name of the album. That’s for sure.

Thank god they finish whith a decent song. “That’s where you’re wrong” is very catchy, well sung and played. It automatically  reminds you of the people you love. A key ingredient all successful lovesongs must have.

If the Arctic Monkeys aimed at creating a more accesible album. They defenitly succeeded. It’s a decent record with some ups and downs but we should be gratefull for the fact that there are bands like the Arctic Monkeys who keep the spirit of great rock and roll alive and kicking. 

'It's not the door you're using, it's the way you're walking through. '

The Kills consists of Jamie Hince, nicknamed “Hotel” and Alison Mosshart, pseudonym  “VV”. If you don’t know the kills, you might have heard from Mosshart, as she currently sings for The Dead Weather. She also did some background vocals for The Artic Monkeys on Humbug. I will be reviewing their fourth studio album: Blood Pressures. The previous three have been greeted with applause.

01 Future Starts Slow

02 Satellite
03 Heart Is A Beating Drum
04 Nail In My Coffin
05 Wild Charms
06 DNA
07 Baby Says
08 Last Goodbye
09 Damned If She Do
10 You Don’t Own The Road
11 Pots and Pans

When I listen to The Kills, the First thing I notice is the simplicity of their music. But in their simplicity lies their brilliance. They manage to create an atmospheric, industrial, well balanced sound and Mosshart’s voice really colors the whole. 

The Kills aren’t what you would expect from a rock band. Their music isn’t very rough, powerful or paved with clichés. They keep it alternative all the way. Some catchy tunes, great lyrics, great vibe and they tend to touch that emotional string right there where you can feel it.

Let’s continue with the album. “Future starts slow” is a great first track as it sets the mood and drags you along. The guitar and the percussion really go hand in hand.
The second number: “Satellite” is reggae based and very experimental. The humming of Mosshart put’s the cherry on the pie.

“Heart is a beating drum” is a song without major peaks although there’s a lot of variation during the number. But at least they try to mimic the beating of the heart and it makes their music conceptual, which is pretty cool.

“Nail my coffin” is an up tempo, more industrial song. I really like the way they manage to make great music with just the very basic. No extreme ornaments. Great flow too. Props for the vocal part.
“Wild Charms” was a big surprise. Very dreamy with a hint of Beatles. Can’t go wrong with that. Too bad it lasts for a minute and a half or so.

I didn’t care too much for “DNA”. It’s all right in terms of catchiness and it’s listenable. But I had the feeling something was missing. It lacks a bit of character and because of that it becomes a bit superficial.

With “baby says” The Kills are back on track. A sharp riff and a sweet vocal undertone make this number one of the best of the record.
As “Last goodbye” begins you instantly hear how versatile a band can be. It’s a calm, rustic piano based song. It’s unique in its kind on the record which makes it more striking. Very beautiful.

Nearing the end of the record, the songs turn more bluesy and straight forward. “Damned if she do” and “You don’t own the road” are the evidence. Very listenable songs with a strong chorus. Not the best songs they ever made though.

The closing song: “pots and pans” is their way to say goodbye in a dragging and calm but jolly manner. The guitar decorates well and with a fade out, the record comes to an end.

As I said earlier this is the fourth studio album. I enjoyed the previous three and are worth checking too. They will be playing at Pukkelpop 2011. You Should watch them if you’re going.

Standing On The Edge Of The Noise

My first review will be about Different Gear, Still Speeding from Beady Eye. Their first studio album. After the Gallagher brothers stopped playing together as Oasis, Liam Gallagher started up Beady Eye with Andy Bell, Gem Archer, Jay Darlington and Chris Sharrock (all ex-oasis members) and Jeff Wootton. The album was produced by Steve Lillywhite and this is what they came up with.

1.  Four Letter Word
2.  Millionaire
3.  The Roller
4.  Beatles And Stones
5.  Wind Up Dream
6.  Bring The Light
7.  For Anyone
8.  Kill For A Dream
9.  Standing On The Edge Of The Noise
10. Wigwam
11. Three Ring Circus
12. The Beat Goes On
13. The Morning Son

14. Sons of the Stage

15. World outside my room

 “Four letter word” is a descent song with a catchy, powerful riff and Liam’s voice matches the music in a pleasant and typical way. The next song on the album “Millionaire” has a jazzy bluesy smooth undertone which creates a cozy atmosphere.

After "the roller", which is kind of poppy but that’s all I’ going to say about it, "Beatles and Stones" prevails. The title is well chosen because you can notice some beatles-like sounds during the song. Especially in the beginning. It has a Great vibe too.

“Wind up dream” is a song that can be used in TV-shows and stuff. It’s a good song with a cool atmosphere, great driving music too. “Bring The Light” is the first single and was released a little while ago. The piano and guitar stuff is really great while the lyrics are a bit repetitive. Especially near the end.  Number 7, “For Anyone” is a sweet campfire setting song with the romance, the luvin and the cuddling included. So too is “Kill For A Dream”. 

One of the best tunes is “Standing On The Edge Of The Noise”. A raw, strong and catchy record with a descent vibe. It keeps going, until it stops. Which brings us to the least enjoyable part of the CD. ”Wigwam” is a song that lasts way too long. “Three Ring Circus” is not especially great either. They both lack a bit of power and rhythm. Although the chorus and the solo in “Three Ring Circus” are acceptable. “The Beat Goes On” is rather nostalgic, but at least it has an atmosphere.

 “The Morning Son” is a standard record with nothing really special going on. A calm hypnotic song. The album has 2 B-tracks. “Sons of the Stage” is perhaps the best song on the CD. The violins and the guitars mix well and Liam’s voice really suites the music. The vibe is all right and the rock and the roll are both present. “World outside my room” is a typical goodbye song. They leave on a quiet acoustic note. Fine by me.

“The beat breaks down so we pick it up
The floor shakes down but it's not enough
The beam is up and the kids are high
I've seen them move and it blows my eyes” 

To summarize: Throughout the record the piano and the guitars mingle very well. You can hear that Beady Eye really is Oasis without Noel. It kind of sounds the same as before but without Noel’s influence, which results in the lack of power some of the songs have. But overall it's a good record with heights and depts. If you are into Britpop you should check it out. They will also play at Werchter 2011. 

Whatever you do is insignificant, but it is important that you do it.

At some point during a lifetime, a guy has to realise that there is more to life than watching series, listening to music, feeling proud about beard growth, smoking the Mary Jane and hanging out. One has to do something extra to direct himself in some sort of direction that he prefers.

That’s why I am attempting to write a blog. A place where I can put my thoughts about music, reviews (Albums, bands and concerts), stuff in the music industry that excites me or pisses me off,…

I will be writing my blog in English because it’s the most understood language and it’s cooler than Dutch. Not that anyone will read it, but a man has to try.

Rock out with your cocks out.