Thank You Happy Birthday:
Artist: Cage the Elephant
Album: Thank You, Happy Birthday
Release: January 11th
I may have had too high of hopes for the second album from Cage the Elephant, who only broke out into the music scene in 2008 (not receiving significant airplay until 2009). After their incredible self-titled album with such memorable tracks as Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked, Back Against the Wall, and In One Ear, I thought an equally groundbreaking album was to be expected from this band from Kentucky.
Don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed Thank You, Happy Birthday quite a bit and think it stands heads above other albums from other artists, especially in the realm of second albums, which can make or break a band especially if they had such a huge success with their first album. But, when comparing their two studio albums, it’s hard to deny that their original album was definitely more resounding.
The album opens up with Always Something, with a sound assuring the listener that this is, in fact Cage the Elephant. It’s astounding how a band so young has already developed a distinctive and sonically pleasing sound for themselves. They have this incredibly powerful punk rock sound to their songs; with all the grittiness and edgy wonderfulness that one would expect to hear in a basement show to be seen in tracks suck as Japanese Buffalo. Sometimes it gets to be a little much and seems forced with the random electric guitar shrieks and screams like those heard in Indy Kidz.
The first released single Shake Me Down, besides being a remarkable song and an incredible pleasure to play on air any time I get the chance, slows down the pace on the album, as the tracks Rubber Ball and Flow do, giving the listener some fresh air and really allowing them to take in the expansiveness Cage the Elephant has over the control of their song-crafting abilities.
All in all, Thank You, Happy Birthday is a great album and was a pleasure to listen to. As I said before, I didn’t click as much with this one as I did for their self-titled album. Regardless, Cage the Elephant makes sure not to disappoint with their newest release, making it well worth the purchase. I expect to hear great things from this band for many years to come.
Recommended tracks: Always Something, Japanese Buffalo, Shake Me Down, Rubber Ball, Flow
Rating: 8.0/10.0
Written by: Jeremy S.
The Wonders of the Younger:
Artist: Plain White T’s
Album: The Wonders of the Younger
Release: December 7th
Perhaps I’ve just been out of the loop for six years, but I don’t understand how I never knew that the Plain White T’s were from Lombard, Illinois. I just found this fact as I was doing my research on that band’s sixth album, The Wonders of the Younger. The T’s have been around since 1997 but didn’t hit the big-time until their hit Hey There, Delilah made its way up the charts. Here we are, more than three years after, and the band has put out multiple albums, with The Wonders of the Younger being their latest installment.
The first thing anyone is sure to notice as they listen to the album in its entirety is the new direction the T’s decided to take with this one. In an interview, front man Tom Higgenson remarked that he was inspired by Cirque du Soleil and created the album in its likeness. The new sound and style does work for the band, but I’m afraid it may be a few years late. This album sounds like a Panic at the Disco album, employing emo-esque music and lyrics, visible in tracks Killer, Airplane, Cirque Dan La Rue, and numerous others
As well as containing circus-waltz themed tracks, the Wonders of the Younger has more songs that are noteworthy, including Irrational Anthem, Boomerang, and Rhythm of Love, the first single off the album, featuring guitarist Tim Lopez taking over the lead vocal capabilities. All in all, a great album to start 2011 off with, but it may be a bigger hit with the kids in Hot Topic than the kids at Milner.
Recommended tracks: Killer, Airplane, Cirque Dan La Rue, Irrational Anthem, Boomerang, and Rhythm of Love
Rating: 8.0/10.0
Written By: Jeremy S.
Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys:
Artist: My Chemical Romance
Album: Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
Release: November 19th
My Chemical Romance has layed dormant for more than four years since their incredible previous release; their rock-opera The Black Parade. Now, striking once again with another powerful conceptual album, My Chemical Romance steers away from the emotional sound they’ve been associated with for so long and delivers Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. The album is loaded with copious amounts of hard driving, energetic, fast paced, and all-around powerful music, backed with excellent guitar work, intriguing song structure, and the ever-familiar vocal work of Gerard Way. The album follows the science fiction futuristic exploits of the Fabulous Killjoys. The band of outlaws personifies the members’ alter egos and is narrated by a fictional radio DJ Dr. Death Defying. Danger Days opens up with the amazing Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) and Sing, both being the lead singles released from the album. Tracks like Bulletproof Heart, Save Yourself, I’ll Hold Them Back, and Vampire Money (which appears to begin with a nod at Sweet’s Ballroom Blitz) are all tracks worth checking out, but the entire album is very worthwhile. This album was an instant purchase for me and I surprised myself by doing so, as I have never been a huge fan of My Chemical Romance. However, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys may have changed my preconceived notions of the band and certainly is a strong contender for the title of album of the year.
Recommended tracks: Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na), Sing, Bulletproof Heart, Save Yourself, I’ll Hold Them Back, Vampire Money
Rating: 9.0/10
Written by: Jeremy S.
The Lady Killer:
Artist: Cee-Lo Green
Album: The Lady Killer
Release: November 9th
The Lady Killer, the third solo album from Cee-Lo Green, was a lot of fun and quite enjoyable to listen to. The album opens up with a very personal, lounge-like address from the lady-killer himself; before leading into Bright Lights Bigger City and F*** You! (also known as Forget You, for those listening to the radio). Green’s vocal work really start showing through towards the end of the first single. Picking out the most noteworthy songs was no easy task, as the album remains consistent throughout, bringing all-around great tracks to listen to over and over. Bodies, Please, and Satisfied are just some of the amazing and highly recommended songs on the album. There is only so much I can say about this album before sounding repetitive, so I’ll put it like this; there’s a reason this album is my highest rated one so far this year.
Recommended tracks: Bright Lights Bigger City, F*** You!, Bodies, Please, Satisfied
Rating: 8.0/10
Written by: Jeremy S.
Speak Now:
Artist: Taylor Swift
Album: Speak Now
Release: October 25th
I know I’m not the intended audience Taylor Swift was looking to reach with her newest album, Speak Now. I also know that unless I’m a teenage girl who’s had a boy break my heart, there is no way I will be able to connect with most of the songs Swift writes about through her journal-entry-styled lyrics. However, I thought I’d give Swift’s third studio album my attention and see if I would still be able to enjoy it, regardless of my gender and age in life. Although I can relate with Swift on heartbreak at this age in my life, I found it very hard to connect with her lyrics. The majority of the songs on Speak Now are specifically about boys and the ending of relationships. Some of the tracks on the album Mine are about lost love and heartbreaks and are easier for me to grasp as a male, such as the songs Mean, The Story of Us, and Better Than Revenge. Essentially, they have a very Paramoresque feel to it. But, because of this consistent subject matter, it became difficult to enjoy the album and I felt every song was just a continuation of the one preceding it. More deviation from the subject would be appreciated, and I’m sure I speak for any male with a girlfriend when I say that, because this is the only music he’s going to hear coming from his significant other’s stereo for a while. Girls, you’ll most likely love this album. Guys, you might be better off listening to some of the other albums I’ve reviewed recently.
Recommended tracks: Mine, Mean, The Story of Us, Better Than Revenge
Rating: 5.5/10
Written by: Jeremy S.
The Dissent of Man:
Album: The Dissent of Man
Release Date: September 28th
Since 1979, Bad Religion has been around the music world, creating music, touring the globe, and being an essential staple in any punk rock playlist ever created. How a band can stay around for more than 30 years is one thing, but to retain the ability to stay around for that long period of time and be able to retain an amazing sound is nearly impossible. Bad Religion, however, successfully puts out another outstanding album, titled The Dissent of Man. It is their 15th studio album and, had I not known any better, I would have guessed that this was an album of theirs from the early 90s, still sounding exactly as they did in their younger years. The album opens up with an awe-inspiring amount of musical power with the tracks The Day That the Earth Stalled and Only Rain, which lead the way nicely for The Devil in Stitches, the first single from the album. More great tracks follow, such as Cyanide, and the closing track I Won’t Say Anything. The Dissent of Man is a testament for Bad Religion that there is a very good reason why they’re still a prominent force in the punk rock world, going on more than 30 years strong.
Recommended Tracks: The Day the Earth Stalled, Only Rain, The Devil in Stitches, Cyanide, I won’t Say Anything
Rating: 7.5/10
Written by: Jeremy S.
Come Around Sundown:
Artist: Kings of Leon
Album: Come Around Sundown
Release Date: October 19th
Kings of Leon, the ever-popular band who took the music world by force with their hits “Use Somebody” and “Sex on Fire” off of their last album Only by the Night, are back with their fifth studio album entitled Come Around Sundown. The band continues on with their signature sound, with Caleb Followill, bringing back his distinct vocals to the table. Come Around Sundown isn’t half bad, but the album fails to bring anything all that interesting. The first single Radioactive is receiving plenty of airplay, and, along with tracks Mary, The Immortals, and Pickup Truck, are trying to make an honest attempt towards being noteworthy. However, all the tracks somewhat blend together and become indistinguishable in mediocrity. Come Around Sundown isn’t terrible but doesn’t deliver anything worth writing home about, or writing a review about.
Recommended Tracks: Radioactive, Mary, The Immortals, Pickup Truck
Rating: 5.3/10
Written by: Jeremy S.
Invented:
Artist: Jimmy Eat World
Album: Invented
Release Date: September 28th
Invented, the seventh studio album by Jimmy Eat World, delivers a mix of upbeat tunes along with some softer, slower tracks. Seventeen years in the music industry is an extremely long time, but the band is still creating great music, such as the opening track Heart is Hard to Find, with it’s driving acoustic guitar. Immediately following is the first single from the album, My Best Theory, which also has a pulsing, addicting beat to it, as well as Action Needs an Audience and Coffee and Cigarettes, which are hands down the best tracks. The album does slow down at some points and somewhat kills the mood for me, as they were not much to write home about. However, Invented isn’t half bad and is worth checking out. Jimmy Eat World stays true with their style and continues to sound very pleasing to the ears.
Recommended Tracks: Heart is Hard to Find, My Best Theory, Action Needs an Audience, Coffee and Cigarettes
Rating: 6.0/10.0
Written by: Jeremy S.
Flamingo:
Artist: Brandon Flowers (The Killers)
Album: Flamingo
Release Date: September 14th
As the old quote from Shakespeare goes, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” This also applies to the Killers’ front man Brandon Flowers and his solo album Flamingo, sounding just as sweet despite the name change. While not being associated with his band of world renown, as they are taking a short hiatus after touring for many years straight, Flowers crafts an album sounding very similar to any other Killers album. However, the latest album is a slower, smoother sound that can be found in tracks such as Only the Young and Hard Enough. The album still employs the electronic sound crafted by the Killers long ago, but it’s not as prominent or forced. Tracks like Crossfire have the distinct Killers’ sound to it and if I hadn’t known better, I would have thought this was a new album from them. Overall, this isn’t a bad solo album for Flowers. It is far better than his band’s last album, Day & Age, which I couldn’t stand to listen to for long. Hopefully the Killers’ next album will follow suit with Flowers’ solo album.
Recommended Tracks: Only the Young, Hard Enough, Crossfire, Swallow It
Rating: 7.0/10
Written by: Jeremy S.
Hands All Over:
Artist: Maroon 5
Album: Hands All Over
Release Date: September 21st
There’s not much to say about Maroon 5’s third studio album, Hands All Over. The first single off the album, Misery, was released in June and still has significant airplay on the radio. Besides this track, a few others stand out, such as Stutter and Never Gonna Leave This Bed. However, when these tracks are finished, the rest of the album doesn’t really go anywhere. Hands All Over stays stationary, treading water in a sea of mediocrity. Unlike their past hit albums, Songs About Jane and It Won’t Be Soon Before Long, Maroon 5 doesn’t quite hit the mark this time. The album doesn’t fall short of expectations, nor does it exceed those expectations; rather it stays in the realms of just an ‘average’ album, which will fade into obscurity over time.
Recommended Tracks: Misery, Stutter, Never Gonna Leave This Bed
Rating: 5.5/10
Written by: Jeremy S.
Weezer Hurley Review:
From the very first track, Memories, seems to allude that there’s a lot in store for Weezer’s eighth studio album, Hurley. The next three tracks, Ruling Me, Trainwreck, and Unspoken are all pretty decent as well, doing a good job of combining musical styles both new and old fans of Weezer could enjoy. However, all indications of this album being true to the original Weezer sound and appealing to old fans are quickly shut down. The album takes a nosedive directly into the territory of poorly written lyrics and music, with front man Rivers Cuomo once again writing lyrics for a generation he’s trying, but failing, to belong to. Songs such as Where’s My Sex, are clever for about a minute, leaving two minutes and twenty-eight seconds of dull, mindless lyrics with rhymes so simplistic they would make Paul McCartney cringe. The next decent track doesn’t even make an appearance unless you had purchased the deluxe edition, which follows suit with the actual album itself, containing very little worth listening to and a completely unnecessary cover of Coldplay’s Viva la Vida. One of the only tracks worthwhile on the deluxe edition was written for the children’s TV show Yo Gabba Gabba! and wasn’t even written by Cuomo. The other track I Want To Be Something, isn’t bad, but should have been put on the main disc, as it is much better than the majority of the tracks taking it’s rightful place. As a Weezer fan, I had very high hopes that the band was steering away from their recent works from the 2000s and was extremely disappointed to find that they tried to, but ultimately pushed out another rushed album. Perhaps releasing an album a year isn’t your thing.
Final Rating: 4.5/10
Recommended tracks: Memories, Ruling Me, Trainwreck, Unspoken, I Want To Be Something
Written by: Jeremy S
Heart Red Velvet Car Review:
More than thirty years after their first album Dreamboat Annie, the Wilson sisters from Heart continue to create new rock songs with their signature classic rock vibe. Teaming up with a bluesy, sometimes country-like feeling, the tracks on Red Velvet Car are very melodic and easy to listen to, such as Hey You and the title track Red Velvet Car. Yet, songs like WTF and Wheels sound like they came straight out of a past album, containing a hard, driving sound very familiar to Heart. The entire album is pleasing to the senses and feels just like the Heart albums from the 70s. With time, Ann and Nancy Wilson have aged, as have their voices. However, their sound has stayed consistent with their oldest works, remaining true to the classic rock sound.
Recommended tracks: Hey You, WTF, Wheels
Written by: Jeremy S
