The Official CD Review Thread
 

OK - some of us talk a lot about music, so here's your chance to drop reviews of CDs you've purchased recently . . . and not just "Busted Stuff"

I'll drop a few as we go . . .

Weezer - "Maladroit"
 

Rivers Cuomo has become, unwittingly, one of the sharpest trendsetters in modern alternative music. His black-rimmed glasses have become the staple of the so-called "emo" look, and the first two albums Weezer created have become quasi-legendary in their scope and legacy.

The self-titled debut album, now known as the "Blue Album", set the Alt-Rock movement ablaze, with "Buddy Holly" and "Undone" helping to define a burgeoning movement. Their sophomore effort, "Pinkerton," has become an emo touchstone after being initially labelled a bust. All this has fueled expectations for Cuomo and company to produce an instant classic every time out.

The newest offering, "Maladroit", brings the Weezer sound to a different level; whether or not this level is a movement for the positive is up in the air, but the shifting sounds must be given adequate props. Weezer has tossed aside their previous 'geek-rock' sound, and created in "Maladroit" what can only be described on any level as a pure rock album.

While sound in theory, the album doesn't come off with the same catchiness as the Blue Album, and doesn't nearly reach the depth and personal nature of Pinkerton. That's not to say that the album sucks - on the contrary, Maladroit has entered my heavy rotation for driving-time, windows-down rocking.

The first single, "Dope Nose", is a chanting, formulaic rocker that doesn't break much new ground from the similarly-titled/themed "Hash Pipe". From there, the CD enters into its best cut, the catchy and hook-laden "Keep Fishin'", which is both the most similar to the 'old' Weezer sound and most likely to be remembered by the MTV set.

Past this, the CD carries on into a series of same-but-different tunes, each delivering a maximum of guitar-heavy rock with a minimum of heavy lyrical content. In short, aside from the absolutely brutal "Slob", the CD delivers just what the title promises from the outset - something different, slightly awkward, but not something intense.

Rating: 7/10
Suggestion: purchase if you're a fan of the genre

Re: The Official CD Review Thread
 

Very Funny! LOL! I enjoyed that!!

Re: Weezer - "Maladroit"
 

Is this the album with the song that has the video with the Muppets in it?

Re: Weezer - "Maladroit"
 

I am so happy that I decided to venture into this thread. Will you please, please, please explain "the so-called "emo" look"? I have heard many people refer to something as "emo" and I have no earthly idea what it is. Care to shed some light?

Some quick hits while I'm waiting for my cells to trypsinize - and some detailed ones later:

Hi-Tek, HiTeknology: 8
--- Good beats laid down by Tek, but sometimes let down by supporting cast. Good tracks w/ Common, Kweli, Jonell, and AMAZING tracks w/ Mos Def, Donte & MainFlow, and Slum Village.

Maroon5, Songs About Jane: 6
--- I expected more - however, if your tastes in music are a bit more mature than the average consumer this may be to your liking. A lot of early R&B influence (think Stevie Wonder etc) in this pop - download "Harder to Breathe" for a sample.

Reel Big Fish, Cheer Up!: 4.5
--- Eh . . . what to say. Tough album, even considering the drop-off in psuedo-ska's popularity since 1997. Very flat, but with a couple good tracks to save it from the junk pile.

"emo"
 

OK - well, it's not so much a 'look' as a label to throw on things. The term "emo" originally came from a sort of mesh between hardcore, punk, pop, and etc - it tended to have much stronger, more personal, highly emotional lyrics. Call it "punk-ish, with a heart" or something like that.

Bands such as Weezer, Saves the Day, even New Found Glory and etc all have been labelled "emo" - some by choice, some by consequence. I've heard the term applied to bands ranging from Dashboard Confessional to the Dismemberment Plan.

The "emo look," as normally referred to, is the basic "geek-rock" look - often old-school shirts, shoes, pants (think goodwill), and the thick, black-rimmed glasses have become 'standard' according to media.

Basically, it's just like anything else - applying a label to make something more accessible to the public, regardless of if it fits.

New Found Glory - Sticks and Stones

I really like it. Its more upbeat than there previous material.

If you get the chance you should pick up Our Lady Peace - Gravity.

KSig RC I'm looking to you on this one!
 

I've been wanting to get one of the Weezer albums. I've never heard anything by them that I did not like. Problem is I can't decide which to get. So, if you could only own one Weezer album, which would it be???

sean paul-dutty rock HOT ISH!!!

royce 5'9 (forget the album title, came out last year) HOT ISH!!!

talib - quality HOT ISH!!!

that's all i've bought in a minute...

T.a.T.u - 200km/h in the wrong lane
My brother got this album. I think the whole allure of the russian duo possibly being lesbians might have caught his interest. I burned a copy from him. It's not bad. A good wake up call for a morning drive to work... if you are into that kinda poppy techno stuff. If you don't know who I am talking about, they have a hit on the radio in my area and on MTV called "All the Things She Said" and the video has the two running around in the dark in school uniforms.

The Donnas - Stay the Night
Love this album. The songs do kinda all sound the same tho. ANd I kinda stick to the same five and there are only 10 songs on the whole album. There is also an overuse of the cowbell :p

Paul Oakenfold - Bunkha
I also overplayed this album. For a trance album... the songs are really really short. But it is a good high energy for parties and stuff.

end transmission by snapcase (victory records/mca)
a textbook example of a concept album. post-hardcore thrashing meets indie rock a la fugazi, with the requisite guitar and sampled effects. i like this band.
tracks: "coagulate", "ten a.m.", "new kata", "id/hindsight".

wiretap scars by sparta (dreamworks records)
take 3/5th of the membership of the most deservedly-hyped band of 2000, and continue to use the same formula for success in songwriting and performing. an album you can chill too, trash to, and imagine yourself lost in the desert of far western texas - chasing constellations and contrails in the vacant skies of space rock.

demure by engine down (lovitt records)
the third full-length release by virginia-native engine down delivers more thoughtful and credible lyrics and changing rhythms. listen to this if you like art and/or boys.

the satellite years by hopesfall (trustkill records)
another concept album in the melodic hardcore genre. yes, we know the "sound" is everywhere nowadays...sing and scream, sing and scream, sing and scream...but i think this disc escaped the death claws of geoff from thursday ("crank up the emo!") and comes off a little more sincere than redundant.

ceci ne pas recover by recover (fiddler records)
an austin, texas-based band with a lot of talent, and a lot of rock and roll. already being courted by several major record labels, this raw indie rock band isn't afraid to get out there and create some art. the songs on this new cd-ep show the maturity musically and especially lyrically from their previous full-length "rodeo and picasso" (fueled by ramen records). think of this new record as something you'd play to her right outside her window at 2am with your amps cranked all the way to "10" and you right there screaming along.

the illusion of safety by thrice (island records)
one of the first neo-melodic hardcore bands to sellout (errrr, i mean sign) to a major label, southern california's thrice mixes a wide variety of sound into their "sound", and adds in their lyrical talent to boot, much like reading some Poe on a dark, rainy night.

okay thats enough out of me.
xo

Dashboard Confessional is most definitely emo!

Albums I have bought lately:

The Roots - Phrenology - AWESOME CD

Vivian Green - A Love Story - Also great

i haven't heard but bits and pieces of this guy, Thicke's album. . .and it's going to be the knocker. . .

it goes back to my roots. . .a mix of gospel jazz with a little bit of blues

I'm not sure if they're going to last or not- but I have nothing but good things to say about the new Evanesence album "Fallen." If I had to label it, I'd say it was "Melodic Rock" but even that is pushing it. The singer has a beautiful voice...especially showcased on track #9. It's a good album to drive to :) We spent a good portion of yesterday afternoon cruising around town w/ the windows open blasting it...hehehe.

Foo Fighters: One by One

A good CD, just not up to par with their previous work. Usually they seem to have some really killer songs that really stand out, making the other songs (which are usually still strong) seem kind of like filler. To me this CD lacks any of those great songs, and while the songs are strong on this one, they just don't have that memorable quality that other albums had. I also think that lyrically Dave Grohl half-assed it...a lot of the songs consist of the same chorus over and over again (ie Times like these). For me it's been a great album to study to since the words are so often repeated it's not fun to sing along to and so I concentrate on doing my stuff. If youre a big fan of the Foos, then the CD is worth just to have, but if you only have casual interest, I wouldn't bother, pick up their debut CD or 'There is Nothing left to lose' instead of this one.

Red Hot Chili Peppers: By the Way


A very sonically beautiful album. You can tell the Peppers are accepting that they are growing older, and this music while energetic is so polished and tight.
It furthers RHCP's position (in IMHO) as the most talented mainstream band of my lifetime. Flea is without a doubt one of the best bassists ever (only Les Claypool comes to mind as anyone better). John Frusciante continues to amaze and he really stands out as one of the few guitarists of the 90's and 00's to have a distinctive style that can be picked out from other songs (like the RHCP's sample on Crazytown's "Butterfly"). Chad Smith doesn't have the type of "Wow" factor as Blink 182's drummer or the amazing power and metronomic consistency of Dave Grohl, but his drumming is perfect for keeping the music tight. His drum beats are always perfectly placed. Anthony Keidis is everythign you could ever want in a front man, and lyrically he's very interesting, as well as being very talented at singing and rapping.

The album itself is just a great easy listen, the melodies and harmonies are wonderful without feeling forced. It doesn't have the type of power singles that 'Californication' had but song for song this is the stronger album. I would definately reccomend this CD if you liked Californication.

Mainstream jazz
 

I just purchased Ray Brown's Jazz Cello, a reissue of a Verve LP from 1960 (yes, I'm old) :p . Great stuff -- wonderful sound, Brown's cello sounds like a deep-toned guitar, "cool jazz" backing with a French horn and lots of ensemble unison.

LINKIN PARK- Metorea

I am a huge fan of LP and their new album came out yesterday. I got the limited version, which contains a DVD of the creation of the album. I haven't watched it yet, but it's supposed to be pretty good. Anyway, the album is a little heavier than the last first one, but it's still wonderful. I highly reccomend checking it out.


Jadey