A Stranger's music :: #46 Lemetre, Antlers and more Radiohead [video reviews]

[Stranger of Sorts]

Spoiler: A message to all first time readers

To all people who are reading this thread for the first time, you have just stumbled across enough music reviews to last you several lifetimes, there's a list of them below if there's anything you want to read specifically. Many of you will find that my writing style has changed somewhat from the first review, it's now a lot more laid back while retaining most of the critique. I will usually have a paragraph or so of ramblings at the beginning of each review about related things, releases, rants and so on. If you want to see where I'm coming from I strongly reckomend you read the 13th review which is a Top 10 of my favourite songs. Anyway enjoy!

• 1. Reservoir by Fanfarlo
  2. Fine Fascination by Red Light Company
  3. Antidotes by Foals
  4. Go by Jonsi
  5. Give Up by The Postal Service
  6. A Weird Internet Electronic Music Special
  7. Technicolour Health by Harlem Shakes
  8. Kind of Blue by Miles Davis
  9. Oracular Spectacular by MGMT
  10. Parachutes by Coldplay
  11. Colors by Between the Buried and Me
  Page 2
  12. The Airborne Toxic Event (Self Titled)
  13. A 500 post 'Top 10' interlude
  14. Them Crooked Vultures (Self Titled)
  15. Mean Everything to Nothing by Manchester Orchestra
  16. I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child by Manchester Orchestra
  17. Hours by Funeral for a Friend
  Page 3
  18. The Planets by Gustav Holst
  19. Love Ire and Song by Frank Turner
  20. A Weekend in the City by Bloc Party
  21. Total Life Forever by Foals
  22. Take to the Skies by Enter Skikari
  Page 4
  23. Wall of Arms by The Maccabees
  24. Incredibad by The Lonely Island
  25. A Weird Internet Electronic Music Special #2
  26. Of the Blue Colour of the Sky by Ok Go
  Page 5
  27. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
  28. Neveroddoreven by I Monster
  29. The Odyssey by Symphony X
  30. We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes by Death Cab for Cutie
  31. Acolyte by Delphic
  Page 6
  32. Plastic Beach by Gorillaz
  33. Random Stuff! (Fake Blood, Paper Tiger and Mt Eden DnB)
  34. Flaws by Bombay Bicycle Club
  35. Fasciinatiion by The Faint
  Page 7
  36. The Wall by Pink Floyd
  37. XX by The XX
  38. A Run up to Fear Factory
  Page 8
  39. Demanufacture by Fear Factory
  40. Amnesiac by Radiohead
  41. Deadmau5
  42. Postcards From a Young Man - Manic Street Preachers (short)
  Page 9
  43. Hidden by These New Puritans [video review]
  44. The Friendly Sounds EP by Lemetre [video review]
  45. Hospice by The Antlers [video review]
  46. Hail to the Thief by Radiohead [video review]

Any comments or suggestions are more than welcome.​

[HEADING=3] A Stranger Presents...[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]A Stranger's Music[/HEADING] [h4]and every now and again, other peoples' too.[/h4]​

Well hello there! I've been preaching writing about various albums and bands for a while now and it has come to my attention that there are a few people who are interested (the large majority aren't) so I thought I'd make it easier for those few people and write all my little musings in one, easy to find thread. I'll be adding a new review every -whenever I feel like it- so be sure to check back in a week or so if you enjoy what you see, be sure to leave any comments, queries or suggestions. Happy? Good let's move on to the first one.

[HEADING=2]1[/HEADING]​

[HEADING=1]Reservoir by Fanfarlo[/HEADING]

[h4]Genre = Alternative Rock/ Folk

Number of songs = 12

Highlights = I'm a Pilot + Finish Line[/h4]

This particular album got off to a rocky start for me, I had been told by the internet that it was one of the best albums of 2009 but all I could hear in the first moments of the opening song I'm a Pilot was the steady stamping of dozens of feet. Then the rather pub sounding piano kicks in along with the singers rather gruff but pleasant to listen to voice. As some of you will have noticed I've written that I'm a Pilot is one of the highlights of this album and that is because of one simple reason; as soon as the chorus kicked in with " Okay, I'm a Pilot, it's all I believe in" so does the orchestra which really helps to elevate the song into one that you could happily listen to for hours.

The whole album retains a kind of folk feel as well as incorporating things like the aforementioned orchestra, some trumpet solos and quite a bit of very pleasant sounding guitar. The singer's voice fits perfectly with this style of music and is almost faultless with the exception of a few songs where he seems to take ages in reaching the right note and it just sounds slurred and lazy. You know what the most annoying thing about this is? It's that this is most prevalent in Finish Line and prevents the song from becoming a classic, the same eagle-eyed people as before will have realised that this is my second highlight of the album, it incorporates some genius song-writing and easily contains one of the best outros that I've ever heard, seriously youtube it it's incredible.

What I like most about this album is just that the sound is so different to anything I've ever heard before. Fanfarlo are certainly a band that are not afraid to experiment and try something new, and it works; everything from the ghost like I'm a Pilot to the instrumental finale to the album Good Morning Midnight has a certain charm to it that can't help but demand your undivided attention. Each song has a very strong beat behind it, whether it be stamping feet, clapping or even your humble old bass drum, this really gives the songs a lot of their energy and also gives them a rather progressive feel, like they're building up to something. Which they do, but I've already talked about that.

The album does have its bad points though, there are many songs on Reservoir that simply do not work for me, some like Ghost just try to be too clever and it ends up sounding like a bit of a mess and Fire Escape, while quite upbeat, I just find to be a bit boring compared to the rest of the album.

Here's a taste​

This is a brilliant album and deserves so much more attention than it currently has, some of the tracks are some of the best I have ever been privileged to hear but the rest of the songs just feel overshadowed, if you have the money I'd reckomend only buying I'm a Pilot and Finish Line and if you want more try out the rest of the album, just in case I've missed something.

Thanks for your time as I've said, there's more coming.

 

[Njaard]

'Twas a good review. The album seems like something I could enjoy as well, I'll check it out one of the days.

 

[Stranger of Sorts]

snip

Thanks, I actually planned on putting one in but for some reason I completely forgot, thanks for the reminder, and the feedback of course.

 

[Stranger of Sorts]

Another one done less than 4 hours after the first, they don't take me too long, I enjoy doing them and I have a lot of free time so there is a strong possibility you will be bombarded by these. A good reason to do them all in one thread then. Oh and in regards to the album cover, I hope it's okay putting it up but who am I kidding you're too busy looking at it to read this aren't you?

[HEADING=2]2.[/HEADING]​

[HEADING=1]Fine Fascination[/HEADING]
[HEADING=2]_by Red Light District[/HEADING]

[h4]Genre = Indie/ Electronic

Number of songs = 10

Highlights = Meccano, With Lights Out + The Alamo[/h4]

This album blasted its way into my life on the back of Red Light Company's three previous singles and a wave of MGMT induced hysteria. Back in early 2009 people in the music industry expected Red Light Company to be 'the next big thing', well you can probably tell how that worked out can't you. To my knowledge they only received one radio play and that was of Arts and Crafts, arguably one of the weaker songs on the album but somehow it had been chosen as 'the single' that they would sell the album on the back of.

Now I hope that by now the majority of you have heard of MGMT and to those I can say that there are some extremely strong similarities between both these bands. To those that don't, both bands use a large variety of instruments and synthesisers compined with dream-like lyrics to produce generally upbeat and carefree feeling songs. However, the bands differ in the fact that Red Light Company like to go a lot louder with their songs, a prime example of this would be With Lights Out which (excuse the term) goes fucking crazy in the chorus. It seems as though they got to the point where they choose effects and whoever was in charge said "I want that one, and that one, oh and that one, maybe a bit of that and just a hint of this" and the overall effect is pretty good if not a little overwhelming.

All of the songs in this album are extremely energetic, there isn't even one downbeat song that I can see. Another thing to note about Red Light Company they do like to use bells (the bell effect on a keyboard anyway), I have no idea quite why and the overuse of bells does make some of their songs sound as if they're going for Christmas #1. The more tasteful use of these is in possibly the best song on the album, Meccano. Why is this the best song? Well, all I can say is that it is incredibly catchy, uses memorable lyrics ("Crying out loud, the weekend is over!") and builds up almost to the point of With Lights Out. Have a listen....


The gripe I have with this band, and it is a major gripe, is that I cannot stand the singer's voice and I'm not the only one as it's the main thing that prevented this band from becoming huge. His voice just sounds as if he's whining constantly and gets really irritating after a while plus (this is on a more pathetic note) he looks completely retarded.

I can't make up my mind as whether to reckomend this album or not, I know that some people will reject it instantly thanks to the singer's voice but if you work past that there are some really good songs on this album and unlike Reservoir it doesn't seem as if any song is drastically better than the rest, they're all pretty good. What I do not understand though, is why they named the album after one of the B-sides (which was really good and deserved to be on the album).

Spoiler: An idea to improve HMV's profits

HMV aren't doing too well at the moment (for those that don't know they sell mostly CD's and have been hit hard by things like thepiratebay.org), but what they could do is rent out their CD's, this would completely undermine services like iTunes as HMV could rent them for say, 2 pounds a week and whoever was renting the album would have it forever as it was saved on their hard drive. Genius I know...

 

[Stranger of Sorts]

I don't know what it is about the 3 hour mark after doing a review that just makes me want to do another one, oh well it keeps me entertained. Enjoy!​

[HEADING=2]3.[/HEADING]​

[HEADING=1]Antidotes[/HEADING]
[HEADING=2]_by Foals[/HEADING]

[h4]Genre = Electronic/ Indie/ Dance

Number of songs = 12

Highlights = Cassius, Red Socks Pugie, Big Big Love(Fig.2) + Tron [/h4]

Where do we start with this album, well lets start with that Foals are a band centred in the nearest city to me (Oxford) and I am led to believe that 2 of the band members went to my school, unlucky them. Listening to the Foals it is not something that can easily be described (which is why there will be a video posted later in the review, as is custom) as the music they play varies drastically but somehow manages to retain the same feel. This is probably due to the use of various elements in every one of their songs such as trumpets, repeating lyrics and what appears to be the same setting for the guitar.

If you've ever listened to Foals before it would have probably been the song Cassius, a frantic, upbeat song that makes you want to start jumping around whatever room you may be situated in. As I've said before this is not the only style of music that they play, in fact I would argue that the slower stuff on the album is by far the best written and the best to listen to. Songs like Big Big Love(Fig.2) are in complete contrast with the more upbeat parts of the album, it's incredibly mellow and relaxing and makes you want to stop jumping around your room like an idiot and just chill and enjoy the music.

Now Big Big Love (Fig.2) is going to have it's own special paragraph in this review for a few reasons. Firstly, it is by far my favourite song on the album and I'm currently listening to it for the 144th time because it still has a great effect on me. This is an effect that can most easily be transferred by giving you a listen.


Secondly, I have friends (surprising right?) who are very into their metal and even they are not ashamed to admit that they like this song, it's that good. If you aren't listening to it now I can only say that you probably don't have a soul, sorry if it came as a shock to you.

Foals are a band that draws you in with it's upbeat and catchy singles but keeps you listening to their intriguing use of effects backed up with trumpets and guitars. The percussion is very prevalent and most of the songs have a build up quality to them that I really enjoy. As a listener you're played around with, they build up a song slowly, introduce a really loud chorus, drop back down and come back again even louder. All that you can do is just lie back and go wow

I've been trying to think of a bad thing to say about this album and apart from the fact they do one song in French I can't think of anything else. All that is left to say is that this is a phenomenal album and well worth however much you have to pay for it, they have a new album coming out too so hurry up before I have to give you a sermon on that as well.

 

[Stranger of Sorts]

[HEADING=2]4.[/HEADING]​

[HEADING=1]Go[/HEADING]
[HEADING=2]_by Jonsi[/HEADING]

[h4]Genre = Indie/ Classical

Number of songs = 9

Highlights = Go On + Tornado[/h4]

I had planned what I was going to review as my 4th album in this thread and that was Technicolour Health by Harlem Shakes but I'm going to have to leave that until next time. Since then a friend introduced me to this album and it would probably be a crime if I didn't share it with you as well.

Jonsi is best known for his work as the guitarist and singer for the Icelandic band Sigur Ros who made possibly the most overused song on British TV that I can think of, Hoppipolla (translates as Jumping In Puddles), also known as 'that inspirational song with the piano and that.' He has carried a lot of Sigur Ros' style into his solo work such as packing each song with multiple instruments and playing his guitar with a cello bow.

Now, when I first picked up this album and lay down on my designated listening spot (my bed) I was rather blown away by the first song Go On with its very chirpy sounding intro and Jonsi's flute-like, Falsetto voice. It could have been easy for me to dismiss the song as a bit too weird for my liking but I have to admit it does grow on you after a while. Go On is very reminiscent of Sigur Ros and also, oddly enough the soundtrack to Little Big Planet [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.184065-Its-About-Time-Little-Big-Planet] [/shameless plug], it has a very strong beat over layered with all manner of flute sounding instruments and Jonsi's piercing voice.

This album continued to surprise me as listened to it further, directly after Go On comes Animal Arithmetic, a slightly faster and, dare I say it, more bearable song for the first time listener. But this song does not matter as much as the next, Tornado might just be the single most beautiful song I have ever come across. If you ever want a master class in how to build-up a song then just listen to this, the intensity is constantly swelling up and down until it reaches a crescendo at the end. Tornado was the main reason I decided to put 'classical' as one of the genres because to me it feels like the next step for classical music. It contains, what sounds like, a whole symphony orchestra and would be pure classical music if it weren't for Jonsi's voice and the few computer effects here and there; it really is phenominal.

And the whole album carries on in this manner, while I can't say that they're all spectacular I can't leave you without mentioning Kolnidur for being incredibly dark and incredibly awesome. The variety on this album is fairly limited in the fact that the style is very prominent and Jonsi only seems to be able to sing in one way, although he does it well. There is however, some variation and that is enough for me.


So what can I say to sum up? If you are willing to try something new then I cannot reckomend Jonsi highly enough, make sure to pre-order the album as it comes out on the 5th of April. How did I get it you ask? Um... well... *runs*

-Thanks for your time, oh and don't worry I am planning on buying it when it's out so it's all (sort of) legal.

 

[Stranger of Sorts]

[HEADING=2] 5. [/HEADING]​

[HEADING=1]Give Up[/HEADING]
[HEADING=2]_by The Postal Service[/HEADING]

[h4]Genre = I have no idea/Electronica

Number of songs = 10

Highlights = Brand New Colony, Natural Anthem
__________+ We Will Become Silhouettes[/h4]

I'm now in the process of steering this review series towards more 'heard of' stuff under the presumption that for some reason people like to read reviews of things that they already own, can't think why but judging by the fact I get about 20 extra views per review I think it's wise to consider any alternatives. Last time I did promise Harlem Shakes but there is probably no hope in hell that anyone hear has even heard of them, so I've gone with The Postal Service since they seem to be pretty big with 'the youth' nowadays.

Now Give Up was released in 2003 but did not receive recognition till around 4 years later when one of the singles Such Great Heights made the rounds on the internet and with good reason too. The Postal Service are yet another one of these bands that take a while to get into thanks to their rather unusual style, but when you do get into them they are a delight to hear. They are not so much a band as a project set up by Benjamin Gibbard, the lead-singer of Death Cab for Cutie, and Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel. It's very surprising that this kind of electronic music is mixed by Gibbard who is mostly known for his acoustic stuff.

Yes, this album is very heavy on the ol' electronic sounds, in fact I don't think they use a single conventional instrument, it's made up entirely of sound effects made on a computer so expect heavy percussion and a variety of bleeps and bloops if you give this a listen. The pre-mentioned Such Great Heights is possibly the most upbeat song on the album and contains an intro that I'm pretty sure was stolen for Fireflies, a very catchy chorus and feel-good lyrics. However, this is only the 'outer shell' of the album, when your ears finally adjust to the other songs then you begin to appreciate just how complex and well done this album is.

A prime example of this would be Natural Anthem an (almost) instrumental song that gradually builds up (over about 4 minutes) until the actual 2 minute 'singing bit' kicks in. It is very well done but takes some 'discovering' as you are initially distracted by the catchy tunes of the rest of the album but it really never grows old and boring. We Will Become Silhouettes may not be as musically advanced or unique as Natural Anthem but it is nevertheless a great, feel-good song and well worth a listen. I've provided a nice little Youtube link for that express purpose, enjoy.


Should you get this album? Yes, yes you should. It is (/was) revolutionary and you'll keep listening to it in your old age thanks to the fact that none of the songs ever wear on you. Also, and more importantly, it will make you look cool with the other kids at school; now run along and buy it children!

 

[Stranger of Sorts]

My goodness, you have a knack for picking music I don't quite like.

Have any suggestions? I'd quite like to review something a bit different, maybe metal or something.

 

[Stranger of Sorts]

[HEADING=2]6. [/HEADING]​

[HEADING=1]A weird electronic internet music special[/HEADING]
[HEADING=2]_ worst. title. ever[/HEADING]

Hey there I'm going to go ahead and mix things up a bit by introducing a completely different type of music that I've been reviewing before, it helps to keep this shit fresh - so to speak. Okay first I'm going to introduce you to a bit of Dubstep, more specifically Mt Eden and then I'll show you some other tracks that don't really fall into any genre at all, now if you'd please follow me.

[HEADING=1]Mt Eden[/HEADING]

You want to know what the greatest thing about the majority of Dubstep musicians is? It's that all their music is completely free, and legally too which makes a nice change. And Mt Eden is no exception, in fact it could be argued that this is the man who bought Dubstep to the masses, he did this via his ever expanding Youtube page.

Those of you reading this who are completely ignorant of this new wave of music will be wondering what, exactly, Dubstep is. Now what Dubstep is, is amazingly similar to Drum & Bass, but (in my opinion) a lot better. Dubstep is essentially remixes of songs using heavy percussion and very heavy bass that usually has a 'wobbling' quality to it. However Dubstep, especially the Mt Eden variety, is not afraid to stop assaulting your ears. You're not meant to get the urge to jump up and down like a lunatic when you listen to it, you're meant to enjoy it. In fact the techniques used are very reminiscent of Classical music in the way that it uses mostly instruments to inflict emotions upon you; the tracks are constantly souring and then pausing which really plays around with your feelings.

This is what Mt Eden does especially well, in all of his songs there's a contrast between the heavy, bass ridden parts and the soft, piano parts and the overall effect is pretty damn good. I have to say though, that not all Dubstep musicians are the same, many are frankly terrible and treat it exactly the same as Drum & Bass while others are still good but never quite manage to find the balance.

Funnily enough, Mt Eden's most well received song is a remix of Sierra Leone and I have to say that, while the song is by no means perfect due to its overuse of the snare drum and rather too much repetition for my liking, it's very close to getting there. In fact, I'm going to show you a youtube video of it
so you can listen and be one of the four million others who've also heard it.


Mt Eden is also by no means a one trick pony, all of his remixes are different and they are all of pretty high quality, if you are interested in listening to more of this stuff I would advise checking out his remix of Silence and I'll be there for you. If you subscribe to his Youtube channel then you will get a new mix every month, for free! So there's no reason not to do it.

[HEADING=1]Other Stuff[/HEADING]

Keeping on the Dubstep front for the time being, there is another guy worth mentioning, he goes my the name of Autopilot and makes a softer but more disjointed version of Dubstep. And his music is free as well, along with all the mixes of his music and the mixes of the mixes, ah it's a good world that we live in, to be sure. There's also a nice novelty piece of Dubstep that I'll tell you about, it's a mix of the song from the Lloyd's TSB advert and while it is completely terrible it is pretty funny.

What else? Well there's this little gem that doesn't seem to fall into any genre I can think of, it's called Noon and by some people/ a person named Dakent. This is yet another youtube-link worthy song so I'll link the video below. You should note though that this takes a long time to build up but it's well worth sitting through it.


There's not really too much left for me to say apart from thanks for you time and please leave suggestions for what I should do next as I am fast running out of ideas. Tarah.

 

[Huxleykrcc]

[HEADING=2] 5. GIANT SNIP​

No, there aren't any conventional instruments...Gibbard recorded the vocals and sent them via mail to Tamborello, who independently crafted the rest of the tracks. It's all electronic.

I really like electronica, and when you combine it with the oft-vaunted "widescreen" sound of Death Cab and Gibbard's sharp-as-a-razor songwriting...man. Great stuff.

Incidentally, the genre is probably electronica.​

 

[Stranger of Sorts]

No, there aren't any conventional instruments...Gibbard recorded the vocals and sent them via mail to Tamborello, who independently crafted the rest of the tracks. It's all electronic.

I really like electronica, and when you combine it with the oft-vaunted "widescreen" sound of Death Cab and Gibbard's sharp-as-a-razor songwriting...man. Great stuff.

Incidentally, the genre is probably electronica.

I put the genre in there; even though the album is good I don't think anything Gibbard does will top Transatlantism. Now that is a good album.

 

[Lord Krunk]

snip

Ooh, boobies! Something that my undeveloped 17-year old mind can't handle!

In all serousness, the Mods probably won't take kindly to the album cover. Just a warning.

On-topic: Eh, doesn't sound like my kind of thing. Sorry.

 

[Stranger of Sorts]

[HEADING=2]7.[/HEADING]​

_​

[HEADING=1]Technicolour Health[/HEADING]
[HEADING=2]_by Harlem Shakes[/HEADING]

[h4]Genre = Rock/Pop

Number of Songs = 10

Highlights = N/A[/h4]

Okay I digress, this review is going to be the last obscure one for a while in the hope that reviewing albums that you have all heard of will bring me more recognition and therefore a much needed boost to my ego. I will be very surprised and also impressed if any of you have heard of Harlem Shakes as they passed below my radar pretty easily and it was only thanks to a lucky set of events that I stumbled across them. If memory serves I was putting together a review of Conditions by The Temper Trap and while I was searching for the album cover I clicked on the thumbprint in Google images and it came up with a list of someone's favourite albums of 2009. I spent a while browsing this list while scorning at the suggestion the Reservoir was only 16th yet an album I had never heard of was 1st. So I picked said album up and proceeded to listen to it.

It has to be said that the opening of the album took me by suprise, it opens with a little electronic jingle that wouldn't sound out of place in a Pokemon game soundtrack, followed by a pulsating riff that would be more suited to Grand Theft Auto and then the verse kicks in. Suffice to say that Nothing But Change Part II is a very odd tune to start of with, least for the fact that the name itself leaves me wondering where the first part is. It is however, a very feel good song full of up-beat trumpet interludes and very pop-like vocals. This song sets the tone for the rest of Technicolour Health with the feel good vibe and oddly insightful lyrics which sometimes border on humorous, encompassed in the closing line to the song, "One down, nine to go".

So what of the next song Strictly Game? Well, it continues the precedent of opening with a seemingly unrelated jingle (this time it's a trumpet jingle) but is noticably down-beat compared to the first song; yet some how managing to sound hopeful thanks to the repeated line "This will be a better year" and the way the song gets more light hearted as it progresses. It also gets louder, which is always a good thing. I can honestly say that as an avid music veteran and amateur reviewer that I've never seen this type of build up before, never has a song slowly changed its mood it has always simply got more epic.

And the next song? Good. The next? Good. Next? Good. You can see where this is going, those more acute eyed of you will have noticed that I did not list any highlights in this review, I did that as I couldn't be bothered to write out every song on the album. It's one of those albums where you change your favourite songs on it by the hour. I think the closest to a highlight that I can see on this album is Winter Water which starts off like the others. Only this jingle is rather more eerie and, like the first, reminds you of the old game boy game soundtracks. The song itself is remarkable, it is one of the most bat-shit crazy songs I have ever heard. On the second verse Harlem Shakes decide to abandon structure as far as instruments go and just pile in effects which give a carnival crazy feel to it, this effect is added to by the chilling vocals of "I can name 300 medicines, I just can't choose". However, this is broken up with a very nice chorus complete with loud instruments and backing singers.


So is this the best album of 2009? No it isn't, while it's innovative it could use some polish and while every song is good there is no song which is that amazing. What I will say to you is that if you're interested then definitely buy it, if you're not then it is possible to live without this album.

 

[Stranger of Sorts]

My goodness, you have a knack for picking music I don't quite like.

Have any suggestions? I'd quite like to review something a bit different, maybe metal or something.

I would like some contemporary jazz.

Ah contemporary jazz, now there's a field of music where I am completely clueless, any artists in particular? Otherwise it will probably be Miles Davis since iTunes listed him.

Even if you are joking, you're on.

 

[Stranger of Sorts]

My goodness, you have a knack for picking music I don't quite like.

Have any suggestions? I'd quite like to review something a bit different, maybe metal or something.

I would like some contemporary jazz.

[HEADING=2]8.[/HEADING]​

_​

[HEADING=1]Kind of Blue[/HEADING]
[HEADING=2]_by Miles Davis[/HEADING]

[h4] Genre = Jazz

Number of Songs = 15 (CD 1)

Highlights = N/A [/h4]

I asked for something different and that is exactly what I got, Contemporary Jazz was what was requested but I'm afraid I picked up this guy in the vague hope that he might be. When it comes to Jazz I have no idea what I am talking about, I don't know what makes good Jazz or what makes bad Jazz but I do know what I like so lets go with that, shall we?

There's something about this type of music that I have realised is not for me, there are no vocals. And as many people will tell you vocals give a focus to the song, ultimately they are what grabs your attention and it's what the instruments centre around. Music without vocals can work though, the most memorable music moment of my life was sitting in a field and having Jupiter by Gustaf Holst blasted at me by 20ft speakers, it was the only time I have ever seen my dad cry and that, as many of you may know, leaves a powerful effect on you. The difference between that music and Jazz is that classical music demands your attention when it is played, it is complex and multi-layered in ways that you can't help but appreciate. Jazz, to me, will always be backing music, it is not complex and only involves a handful of instruments that are all played the same way, there is nothing that shocks you.

This albums is no exception, all the songs are pleasant enough but I cannot remember a single one to save the life of me. Even now, as I write this, I am listening to the album to try and remind myself of which songs I like. The main problem is that they all follow the same template: lightly tapped snare drum, repeating rhythm and then a freestyle over the top. There is not a single song on this album which stands out, which is why most of this review is full of me reviewing the genre itself.

If I had to pick a song to mention it would be Freddie Freeloader due to the fact that it seems to be a slightly more pleasant song in a sea of pleasantness. There's a nice bit of trumpet soloing which is quite upbeat and makes the track more noticeable.

Overall, this is an absolutely great album if you are thinking of opening a resteraunt and need something playing in the background to keep everyone in a pleasant mood. As an album that you actually listen to it is extremely lacking.

Wow that may just be the shortest review I have ever written. To make up for it I'll link a more 'full' review that I just did It's About Time :: Dragon Age: Origins [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.185708-Its-About-Time-Dragon-Age-Origins]