Mr. Music Review - Recently Updated Pages

Artist

joe_pinsker — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:50:07 CST

Artist names are in alphabetical order. Note: Bands starting with 'The' are not listed under 'T'.

0-9

A

The Arctic Monkeys
Favourite Worst Nightmare

Art & Ransom
We Couldn't Even Believe What We Saw

Audioslave
Revelations

B

Bloc Party
A Weekend in the City

The Bravery
The Bravery

C

Cold War Kids
Robbers & Cowards

D

Dirty Pretty Things
Waterloo to Anywhere

E

Editors
The Back Room
An End Has a Start

The Elms
The Chess Hotel

F

The Flaming Lips
At War With the Mystics

Franz Ferdinand
You Could Have It So Much Better

G

Gomez
How We Operate

H

Hail Social
Hail Social

I

J

Jet
Shine On

K

The Killers
Sam's Town

L

M

The Magic Bullets
a CHILD but in life yet a DOCTOR in love

The Magic Numbers
Those the Brokes

Mates of State
Team Boo

Modest Mouse
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

Muse
Black Holes & Revelations

My Morning Jacket
Z

N

Nine Inch Nails
Year Zero

O

O.K. Go
Oh No

Of Montreal
Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

P

The Pink Spiders
Teenage Graffiti

Q

R

S

The Shins
Wincing the Night Away

The Spinto Band
Nice and Nicely Done

Stereophonics
Language.Sex.Violence.Other?

The Strokes
First Impressions of Earth

Summoning
Oath Bound

T

Tokyo Police Club
A Lesson in Crime

TV on the Radio
Return to Cookie Mountain

U

Unified Theory
Unified Theory

V

The Village Green
Feeling the Fall

The Vines
Vision Valley

W

We Are Scientists
With Love & Squalor

The White Stripes
The White Stripes

Wilco
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Wolf Parade
Apologies to the Queen Mary

X

Y

Z

The Zutons
Tired of Hanging Around

The White Stripes (The White Stripes)

joe_pinsker — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:48:51 CST

6.0 out of 10

Released in 1999

Standout Tracks: "Wasting My Time," "Broken Bricks," "Cannon"

The White Stripes have been a major feature of the alternative rock scene ever since they awakened listeners with the sub-two-minute "Fell in Love With a Girl." Skip a few years into the future, and the duo is now a universal icon. They've announced a sixth studio album entitled Icky Thump, leaving diehards and casual listeners alike wondering about how it'll sound. They've tempted us with the title track as a single, and it looks just as promising as any previous White Stripes release. In order to look further into what Icky Thump could be, let's listen to the band's first major-ish label release, The White Stripes. ~Joe Pinsker

Joe - 6
Even years ago, Jack White was just as much a genius as he is now. The amazing thing about this album is that White (er, The Whites) manages to captivate with songs that barely scrape the two-minutes mark. The White Stripes included a whopping 17 tracks without playing to a crowd with short attention spans. Here, the band demonstrates a musical style different than any of their other albums. The White Stripes is even more garage-tinged than anything else they've released. This album's bluesy feel with a distinctly White touch is a winner. I can't wait to see how similar this album sounds to Icky Thump.

Review Central

joe_pinsker — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:48:32 CST

Here is where you can find links to our most recent reviews. Here, we'll guide you through new releases, expose overlooked gems, and also make sure that you don't spend your money on something that just isn't worth it. They'll be updated regularly, so check back soon for more. Once a new review is added to one of these three categories, (and since there are only a handful of "current" reviews in a category), the oldest review of the group will no longer be on this page. But don't fear, you can find them either by searching this site, or by going to the archive.

FEATURED - Editors

FRESHLY REVIEWED:
Cold War Kids' Robbers & Cowards
Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wolf Parade's Apologies to the Queen Mary
The White Stripes' The White Stripes
The Arctic Monkeys' Favourite Worst Nightmare

Magic Bullets (a CHILD but in life yet a DOCTOR in love)

joe_pinsker — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:43:15 CST

Released: May 29th, 2007 – 10 Tracks – 33:16 – Words on Music

6.3 out of 10

Standout Tracks: “Yesterday’s Seen Better Days,” “Circumstances,” “Will Scarlet”

There’s a moment in “Kissing the Lipless” by the Shins when the guitars actually go electric. It’s a great, shocking moment, and poses the “What if?” question. Before you have too much time to think about the implications of a non-acoustic Shins, “Mine’s Not the High Horse” fades in, leaving behind the amps. But what if the Shins weren’t an acoustic band, and instead had a little more huevos? The Magic Bullets respond: “a CHILD but in life yet a DOCTOR in love.” ~Joe Pinsker

Joe: 6
a CHILD but in life yet a DOCTOR in love, Magic Bullets’ debut, is impressive, especially given that the band hasn’t received any media recognition whatsoever. They manage to crank out song after song as well as any seasoned veterans of indie pop, and yet, they aren’t very experienced. With each instrument contributing equally – bouncy, infectious guitars, subtle bass, inventive drums, and finally, accentual keyboards – this album is a joy to listen to.
The true magic of this record lies in the band’s ability to feign experience. Vocalist Phil Benson croons so confidently you’d believe he was fronting an accomplished pop outfit, while he’s in reality fairly new to the scene. It’s because he, and the rest of the band, are having the times of their lives. I mean, “Yesterday’s Seen Better Days” sounds like a full-fledged party, as every instrument’s audible and almost everyone joins in to chant the chorus. And even when Benson takes a break for a short instrumental break, the song doesn’t lose any momentum, as guitars, bass, and drums form a foot-tappingly good combination. For such a new band, this disc is incredible. Look for Magic Bullets to make their presence known to more people in the near future – the follow-up should be a masterpiece

And as a note: Oddly enough, before they were the Shins, the Shins were Flake Music, a lo-fi four-piece. And, they did kind of sound like the Magic Bullets.

Justin: 7.5
Don’t let the non-sensical title scare you off, the Magic Bullets have a lot to offer once you give their debut a fighting chance in the midst of bands like The Shins and The Strokes. The San Francisco natives produce a remarkably consistent album infused with catchy hooks, drums that actually add rather than just accompany, and a voice that is easy to fall in love with. Their sound is not exactly unique, but remains fresh, reminding me of Hot Hot Heat and touches of the Cold War Kids. Songs like the opener “Yesterday’s Seen Better Days” and “Circumstances” have all the right components to become hits if the band on the album cover had a following in the mainstream audience. Yet even though the Magic Bullets have not made a name for themselves and probably won’t for awhile, this album displays the greatness this band is capable of and should not be passed by. My only complaint is how quick this album has to end, only nearly exceeding the half hour mark.

Arctic Monkeys (Favourite Worst Nightmare)

joe_pinsker — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:39:58 CST

Released: April 24, 2007
12 Tracks – 37:30
Domino Recording Company

6.9 out of 10

Standout Tracks: "Brainstorm", "Old Yellow Bricks", "Fluorescent Adolescent"

It is said that a band’s second album defines their career. In the case of the Arctic Monkeys, to live up to their debut, Whatever People Say I Am, I Am Not, was no small feat. But Favourite Worst Nightmare took on this difficult task anyways, and to determine whether it succeeded in justly following the hype of the first album is up for debate, but there is no argument when it comes to declaring this is FAR from a “sophomore slump”.

~ Justin Hawkins

Justin: 6.5
At first listen, it’s easy to compare FWN with previous Arctic Monkeys works, constantly seeking an “I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor” equivalent and the same garage-band quality of energy and jaded imperfection that made the debut so memorable. Yet with FWN, you’ll notice these qualities are all absent. But that’s not to say FWN isn’t worthwhile-- it finds its ways to be memorable in a different regard. Right from the get go with “Brainstorm”, the Arctic Monkeys find a new sound that consists of up-tempo, hectic, and compulsive jam sessions combined with slower, elegant sections to create a feeling of unsteadiness. Retaining Alex Turner’s signature British accent, songs like “D is for Dangerous”, “Fluorescent Adolescent”, and “Balaclava” are catchy displays of the Arctic Monkeys’ ability to twist lovable vocals with head-nodding guitars while maintaining elegance to create tracks you can’t get out of your head. Favourite Worst Nightmare remains consistent throughout with hooky songs sprinkled through the album, though the best is saved for last with “Old Yellow Bricks” and “505”. While “Old Yellow Bricks” seems to be the epitome of the Arctic Monkeys’ new sound melded perfectly, “505” is this album’s sing-along ballad replacing the debut’s “Riot Van”. All in all, it is impossible to compare Favourite Worst Nightmare to the original WPSIAIAN due to the differences in sound, though it is quite clear that the Arctic Monkeys are back and here to stay.

Joe: 7.3
Favourite Worst Nightmare does exactly what it needs to do. While The Arctic Monkeys may have lost the jitters that made them lovable a year or two ago, they've instantaneously fallen into maturity and it somehow fits them well. Toning back some of the pace that defined their debut effort, The Arctic Monkeys have found something that seems to please both themselves and fans. FWN is essentially the band laying back. Of course, frontman Alex Turner's wordplay is still intact, and the rest of the band hasn't seemed to have lost their knacks for interesting hooks. As much as everyone loved the rawness of their first record, such an approach wasn't exactly viable in the long run. Instead, production dialed back Turner's boyish vocals and fuzzed-out the sharp guitars that used to be so prominent.
This album is undeniably different, but not necessarily worse. If it's upbeat, poppy Arctic Monkeys circa 2005 tracks you're looking for, you can find them elsewhere, save for a few moments on this album. But if you're looking for music that's shockingly mature and still interesting, then you know where to find it. Again, the Arctic Monkeys have made music that's unexpected.

Meet the Reviewers

justin_hawkins — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:25:18 CDT

(back to home)
Joe Pinsker (joe.pinsker@students.menloschool.org) Contact Me
Co-Founder, Reviewer, Editor
“Music is delivering blow after blow and I can't fight back.”
Favorite Genres: Alternative, Rock, Classic Rock
Favorite Artists: Franz Ferdinand, Nine Black Alps, They Might Be Giants, The Shins
Now Playing: "Well Thought Out Twinkles" (Silversun Pickups), "Get in the Car" (Hail Social), "Citizens of Tomorrow" (Tokyo Police Club)

Justin Hawkins (justin.hawkins@students.menloschool.org) contact me
Co-Founder, Reviewer, Editor
"Music is to me as water is to life"
Favorite Genres: Grunge, Alternative, Experimental
Favorite Artists: Gomez, The Doors, Wilco
Now Playing: "Low" (Cracker), "505" (Arctic Monkeys), "East Mountain Joint" (MV & EE with the Bummer Road), "Guaranteed" (Eddie Vedder), "Shut Up I Am Dreaming of Places Where Lovers Have Wings" (Sunset Rubdown)

Aaron Rosales (aaronros@sbcglobal.net) post me
Site Manager, Reviewer
"Music is bigger than me and bigger than you"
Favorite Genres: Alternative, Rock, Ska, "New Rock", Reggae
Favorite Artists: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys, Gomez, Muse...too hard to choose
Now Playing: "Thrash Unreal" (Against Me!) "My Body is a Cage" (Arcade Fire) "She's Craty" Beastie Boys, "Girl America" Mat Kearney

Alexis Schwartz (alexis.schwartz@students.menloschool.org)Myspace

Reviewer
“Music is the key to salvation...”
Favorite Genres: Jazz, IndieRock, Reggae, Psychedelic, TechnoHybrid

note: absolutely no country
Favorite Artists: Radiohead, Liquid Tension Experiment, Decemberists, Thieverey Corporation, Michael Franti, Wolfmother
Now Playing:"Tell it Like You Mean It" (Quantic), "Cherokee" (Modern Jazz Quartet), "Young Bride" (Midlake)

Ben Ross (priestson@gmail.com)
Reviewer
“Music is the only thing seperating us from the Man”
Favorite Genres: Rock & Roll, "Alternative," Good Music
Favorite Artists: The White Stripes, Death Cab For Cutie, Franz Ferdinand, Radiohead, Modest Mouse
Now Playing: We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank- Modest Mouse

Ben Southgate (ben.southgate@students.menloschool.org)
General Music Filter/Reviewer
“Music is the never ending supply of powerful fuel that keeps the burning flame of audible art passion from ever being stomped out by the incessant will of of the modern pop mentality.”
Favorite Genres: Indie Pop, Alternative-Folk, Indie Rock, Neo-Disco, Afro Cuban, Funk
Favorite Artists: Iron & Wine, Elliott Smith, Wolf Parade, Mates of State, Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, Sufjan Stevens, Death From Above 1979, Built to Spill
Now Playing: "Melon" by Home Video

Trevor Nibbi (trevor.nibbi@students.menloschool.org)
Reviewer
“Music is not something you just dump stuff into. Music is not a truck. It's a series of tubes.”
Favorite Genres: Alternative Rock, Punk, Rock, Jazz
Favorite Artists: Muse, Nine Black Alps, Franz Ferdinand, Nirvana
Now Playing: "Ruby" Kaiser Chiefs

David Andresen (david.andresen@students.menloschool.org)

Reviewer

“Music is ”

Favorite Genres: Alternative, Rock, Anything but Country
Favorite Artists: Jimi Hendrix, The White Stripes, Wolfmother, Santana
Now Playing: "Axis Bold As Love" Jimi Hendrix

David Miracchi (david.miracchi@students.menloschool.org)
Reviewer
“Music is. But the real question is 'why?'”
Favorite Genres: Hip Hop, Trance, Bluegrass
Favorite Artists: Van Gogh, 50 Cent, Justin Hawkins' Doodlings of the Mind
Now Playing: Sound of Music Soundtrack

Matt Carvell (matt.carvell@students.menloschool.org)
Reviewer
“Music is …”
Favorite Genres: Rock, Alternative
Favorite Artists: The White Stripes, Rock 'n' Roll Soldiers, Nada Surf
Now Playing: Rubber Factory (The Black Keys)

Nicky Ferguson (nicole.ferguson@students.menloschool.org)
Reviewer
“Music is my jomo mojo”
Favorite Genres: alternative, classic rock
Favorite Artists: aerosmith, the killers, the strokes, plain white t's, pink floyd
Now Playing: "wiseman [acoustic]" (slightly stoopid), "kissing the lipless" (the shins)

Graeme Radlo (graeme.radlo@students.menloschool.org)
Reviewer/co-founder/ jesus
“Music is cisum backwards”
Favorite Genres:Rock, classic rock, hard rock, metal, any band with a good drummer (except country and emo)
Favorite Artists:New Muse Stuff, some Red Hot Chili Peppers and Led Zeppelin and raconteurs, Nirvana, Metallica, and in Flames
Now Playing: thats for you to decide
Jackie Mora (jaclyn.mora@sbcglobal.net) MySpace
Reviewer/The Coolest Person At This Joint/ An Actual Power Ranger
"Music is who I am. I am not defined by it, I define my music."
Favorite Genres: Rock, Alternative, Classic Rock, some Hard Rock
Favorite Artists: Pink Floyd, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, The Offspring, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots
Now Playing: "Parallel Universe" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Get Well Soon" by Reggie and the Full Effect, "Omaha Stylee" by 311

Matt Calvi (mgcalvi@pacbell.net)
AIM: TheSheik404
(Cynic/"Player Hater")
"Music is something countless morons and saps will try to define without ever, ever, ever being correct."
Favorite Genres: Heavy Metal, Classic Rock, Industrial, Metalcore, Alternative, Grunge, Rap, Raggae, Techno, Trance
Favorite Artists: Rammstein, Stone Temple Pilots, Killswitch Engage, Oomph!, Cradles of Filth, NWA, Danzig, Nirvana, H.I.M., Filo and Peri, Scarf!, Johnny Cash, etc.
Now Playing: "Nymphetamine Fix" by Cradles of Filth

Featured Artist: Winston

justin_hawkins — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:22:48 CDT

Hailing from Vancouver, Canada, Winston was quick to gain following on the Canadian indie scene. With their unique sound and gentle pop melodies, Winston’s music was easy to find playing on radio stations across Canada. In 2003, this cultivated into being honored as the winner of CFOX Radio’s Vancouver Seeds band contest. Previous winners of this contest went on to become mainstream successes such as Nickelback, Shocore, and Default. Winston’s single “Love It Up and Fell” soon went on to hit #1 at Vancouver rock radio station “The Q”. The song remained in the top 10 for 15 whole weeks at CKKQ, resulting in substantial airplay on other radio stations around the area. With this growing support and following, the band later won a major FACTOR loan to record their debut full-length album with Alaskan producer John Webster (Bif Naked, Tom Cochrane). Winston released their debut album, titled Passengers, in July of 2003.

At the time of the album recording, Winston was made up of singer/songwriter Ryan Hauschild, guitarist Lanny Hussey (both from EMI's Ginger), drummer Robbie Watkins (Handsome Boy/BMG's Slowburn), and bass guitarist Tony Kerr. However, for personal reasons, the band’s members went their separate ways and Ryan Hauschild, the band’s original driving force, kept the Winston name in his solo efforts. Since then, Winston has not released any albums, though Hauschild’s first solo record, Limited, was released in June 5th, 2007. The 6 track EP has already received numerous raving reviews, as the Vancouver songwriter Winston continues to make a name for himself with his music.

~ Justin Hawkins

Albums

Interview

What brought you into playing music?

Hauschild: "My Parents were both musicians. Folk musicians. Kind of like Canada's version of Sonny and Cher. We toured the country together and there was always a strong musical presence in our family. I've basically been making music my whole life."

Were there any musical artists that really influenced your musical taste when you first got started?

"Again, I'd really have to say my folks. They taught me how to play guitar, showed me my first songs and always encouraged me when I chose music as a career."

Did you ever imagine playing music as an occupation when you were younger?

"There was a time (you could look at it as a rebellion phase) when I went to University (I got 2 years into my degree) and considered a career as a history teacher. In the end, I couldn't imagine a life without music and returned to writing songs as my sole focus."

The name ‘Winston’ comes from the protagonist character in George Owell’s 1984. Do you feel a special connection to this novel? What inspired the name choice?

"The name Winston was chosen as a band name for the group of guys I was working with a few years ago. For whatever reason, we liked it and it stuck. The more interesting story is how I ended up with it: As the singer in the group, I was often referred to as "Winston" around town. "Hey Winston! How's it going!". When I decided to make a solo record (and the other guys moved on with other projects) it was hard to shake my new moniker."

How did your first song come about?

"I've been writing songs for so long, I can't really remember the first one."

Do you have an emotional attachment to any of your songs in particular?

"I'm attached to all of them. As with most artists, I'm probably more interested in the new songs I'm writing."

As a recognized music artist, you should probably have some connections to other bands/artists. Are there any relatively unknown artists that you really respect or enjoy listening to right now?

"Here's a few Vancouver acts I've really been enjoying lately:

Adrienne Pierce
Che Dorval
Elias"

What are your favorite artists right now?

"Right now, I'm really enjoying Wilco, Death Cab For Cutie, The Magic Numbers, Grandaddy, Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, Neko Case, The Stills... and so many more."

You won the same CFOX Radio’s Vancouver Seeds Band Contest as Nickelback did when they were first emerging. Do you have any intentions or aspirations to hit the mainstream in the United States as they did, or do you view your musical work as something more than profits?

"The CFOX radio contest was a good way to get exposure and open some doors for my music. In the end, I don't know if my sound really fits in with mainstream US radio. We all know this is a business, but for me... making music is like making art. I'm just trying to focus on making really good art."

What does music mean to you?

"Music means everything to me."

Featured Artist: Young Rival

justin_hawkins — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:21:51 CDT

“A time that rock and roll was young and fearless.” Young Rival claim that we’ve forgotten how good music can really sound and that they’re the ones to remind us. With two full length albums under their old moniker of The Ride Theory, Young Rival is a rock quartet based in Hamilton, Canada. The band consists of Aron D'Alesio at lead guitar and vocals, Noah Fralick at drums, Kyle Kuchmey at rhythm guitar and John Smith at bass. Their sound as The Ride Theory was stylish and compared to the Beatles with a signature style to bring the garage band-esque feel from the 60’s bands they emulate to the new generation. With high ambitions and this sound with the “subtlety of The Zombies and the brashness of Arctic Monkeys” as their website puts it, Young Rival have made a name for themselves on the concert scene touring with such acts as Tokyo Police Club and the Born Ruffians. Their EP’s for their newest works have also been receiving substantial radio airplay particularly in the UK. With their debut album under their new band name in the works for release within 2008 and two noteworthy releases under The Ride Theory available on iTunes already, Young Rival are prepped and ready to take America by storm. Just like the band suggests on their site, stay tuned – Young Rival are coming to your town in stereo.

~ Justin Hawkins

Discography

Interview

What inspired your group to start playing music together?

Noah Fralick: "Things came about quite naturally. Aron and I grew up together, and used to play drums and guitar together. Kyle is Aron's cousin, and John went to school with Kyle. That's sounds convoluted, but ultimately we just grew up in the same part of Hamilton and came together over a mutual appreciation of rock and roll."

Back in the days when you still toted your name as The Ride Theory, your music had a 60’s garage band feel. Is there one band in particular that really influenced your work?

"Growing up we were fans of guitar-rock bands like Zeppelin, the Yardbirds, Ugly Ducklings, and a lot of that kind of stuff. There wasn't one band in particular that really influenced us, but we were certainly drawn to the authenticity of bands from that era. things were more stripped down and ballsy. Bands weren't afraid to make abrasive sounds in the studio, and they were true musicians. Not to say that there aren't true musicians now, but musicianship, as a craft, has certainly changed into something much different, and arguably, for the worse."

What made you decide to change your band name to Young Rival? Why the switch?

"It was something we had wanted to do for a while. When we first name the band, we had no idea how serious it would become, so we didn't really give it much thought. Last spring we were in a position to freshen things up a bit, so we changed it. It's horrible to be confident about your music, but not about your name. Now we're confident about all aspects of the band, so it was a smart move."

With your previous two albums under The Ride Theory, your sound had a classic, almost Beatles-esque sensation. In your debut as Young Rival, are you trying to focus on another style of music?

"Ultimately we're just writing the music we want to write. We would never approach an album and say to ourselves, "let's try and make a record that sounds like this band, or that band". We've been doing this long enough that we don't need anything like that. Our approach for this record was to make a cohesive artistic statement, something where all the songs sounded well together, and complimented each other. There's some nice variety between straight-ahead rock and roll songs, and more melodic, deeper songs. We're really excited about it."

Recording for Young Rival’s debut started in January. When do you expect to have a finished product you’re happy with?

"We actually did the record in December at 2 studios - one in NYC, the other in New Jersey. Aron was back there mixing tracks in January. We're hoping to have it all done in the next few weeks. We'll hopefully release it in the summer or fall of this year, depending on what happens with labels and such."

You’ve been touring with some big names on the indie scene like Tokyo Police Club. Do you hope to reach mainstream America with your new release?

"We've always wanted to find representation in the US, and I think we've got a good chance of it with this record. Being commercially isn't a huge goal of ours, since it comes with a lot of compromise artistically. Certainly we'd love to better known in the US though - I don't know of a single band who wouldn't. So much of the industry is there, and it'd be great to add to the many cool bands that are currently calling the US 'home'."

On your website, you mention a similarity to the Arctic Monkeys. What modern day bands do you look to for inspiration?

"There aren't too many current bands that inspire our sound. Aron writes most of our songs, and he isn't a big follower of current trends in music. As I said earlier, he just writes what comes to him, and we go from there."

As a successful artist, you probably have connections to other groups and artists. Any suggestions on what we should be listening to?

"I've been really into the new Raveonettes album - I really respect that band because they aren't afraid to overdrive their sound. So many albums are really tame right now....it's like people are afraid of putting high-end sounds on their records, because it means they won't get played on the radio. The raves don't follow that though, which is cool. Also, the new Born Ruffians record is just about to come out, and i think it's going to be received very well. You should check them out."

Your live performances are receiving raving reviews all over the web. How are you trying to transfer the energy you exude live to the record?

"We're trying to make a record that's energetic in its delivery - we don't want it to sound tame, we want it to have some bite, and really strike listeners in a raw and bright way. It's tough to do, but I think we've done it on the new record."

What does music mean to you?

"That's a deep question. Music is everything to us. Without it, the world would be bleak, bland, and colourless."

Review Central Prototype

justin_hawkins — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:58:54 CDT

Mr. Music Review

justin_hawkins — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:58:28 CDT

Welcome to Mr. Music Review, your guide to great musical listenings. Our mission is to help you find worthwhile music and also to raise awareness about bands that have received little to no attention. Please feel free to approach us with any suggestions or merely post your opinions if you feel that we are not fulfilling our mission, or even if you think that we are. Just don't be shy; we're here with our ears open and will definitely respond to your comments. If you are looking to become a part of our community, please check out our requirements for becoming a writer.

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Music Is...

justin_hawkins — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:55:30 CDT

What does music mean to you?
At Mr. Music Review, it is our mission to discover what makes music so special. We'll ask every featured artist this question to see what professional musicians have to say, but their answers are no more important than that given by any highschool student with an iPod. So we ask you the question, what does music mean to you?

Name: Justin Hawkins

Age: 17
Hometown: Atherton, CA
Favorite Genres: Alternative, Experimental, Grunge
Favorite Artists:
- The Doors
- Explosions in the Sky
- Radiohead
- Liars
- Wilco

What is music? Look it up in a dictionary or online and the general synopsis will be that music is simply “organized sound”. But how can something as unadorned as tones synchronized together in different ways produce such emotions as sadness, fear, angst and love? Music is something more – a universal language that everyone instinctually understands, regardless of background, ethnicity, place or time. Music is a reason to take a girl by the hand and dance, a reason for a couple high school kids in a garage to dream, a reason to close your eyes and hope for a better tomorrow, a reason to redefine a generation, and for me: a reason to live. You look at the pain behind Louis Armstrong’s eyes as he played his trumpet, the weeping in John Lennon’s voice as he sang “Imagine”, the teenage angst of the 1990’s embodied in Kurt Cobain, the anarchist rebellion in the swagger of the Sex Pistol’s frontman Johnny Rotten, and the social discontent in Ice-T’s disgruntled shouts in “Cop Killer”, and you realize that music is more than just some entertainment industry making a buck off suburban America. You realize that rock n’ roll isn’t “just a fad”, but rather the statement of a generation – our generation. And you realize that by putting on those headphones and letting music overtake you is not a mindless activity, but rather is taking part in that statement.

An unknown author once said, “Music is what feelings sound like,” and I could not have put it better myself. Music has a way of resonating with moods and feelings perfectly, whether they be euphoric or melancholic. There’s nothing like the whining wail of Axl Rose to sing along to when you’re in the mood, or some Velvet Underground for those days you feel like lazing on a lawn chair. Nothing can compare to “Enter Sandman” when you need to get pumped up, or the sound of Soul Coughing when you just need to relax and contemplate. Even when you’re down and depressed, a sad song like Travis’ “Why Does It Always Rain on Me?” has a way of calming your nerves and making you hopeful again. I can always turn to music to empathize with my feelings and moods in order to make me feel stronger. The Verve describes it best in “Bittersweet Symphony” when Richard Ashcroft laments, “I need to hear a sound that recognizes the pain in me/ I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now.” It can be lyrics that strike a chord, or a melody that resonates with the feelings inside you – whether it be hate or love you feel, the right music has its own unique way of understanding.

The reason music can so perfectly match our experiences is the fact that the artists themselves were once in our shoes. Any respectable rap artist once grew up in the ghetto dreaming the same American Dream they embody. Any ballad ever sung by some British export was originated by a love story turned to heartbreak. Any punk rock song that challenges authority or calls for change is spawned by some injustice in the world. The reason why music can empathize with the human experience is because musicians are simply portraying their respective realities. Leopold Stokowski said that, “A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence.” Just like any other art medium, music is not art until it is fully appreciated. It’s the tones, the pitches, the instruments and words that make up a song, but only when amalgamated can they make art. And once you truly appreciate the art form behind music like Bob Dylan, The Doors, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Sonic Youth, or any other of the insurmountable number of musicians, music can truly set you free – just like The Verve suggested.

So what does music mean to me? Music means everything to me, because it allows me to cope with reality and finally be free. What does music mean to you?

Featured Artist

justin_hawkins — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:18:51 CDT

Winston
Vancouver, Canada

Young Rival
Hamilton, Canada

The Playlist

justin_hawkins — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:02:34 CDT

Each month, several of our reviewers will collaborate to bring you a playlist of 10 songs that have caught our attention. These tracks may not get recognition on the radio or be on top-selling albums, but we still believe they deserve attention and we would like to share with you some of our favorite finds. Hopefully when you look at this list, these songs will be unfamiliar. This is a section to help share with you either unknown/unsigned artists or tracks that simply deserve more attention. To get a sneak peek at any of the songs, just stay here and check out the videos, which vary from live performances to music videos.

"Dead Sound" Raveonettes (Lust Lust Lust)

"Pull Me Out Alive" Kaki King (Dreaming of Revenge)

Playlist Archive

justin_hawkins — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:00:53 CDT

2006
December

2007
January
February
March
April
May
June
December

2008
January

The Playlist (January 2008)

justin_hawkins — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:59:57 CDT

Each month, several of our reviewers will collaborate to bring you a playlist of 10 songs that have caught our attention. These tracks may not get recognition on the radio or be on top-selling albums, but we still believe they deserve attention and we would like to share with you some of our favorite finds. Hopefully when you look at this list, these songs will be unfamiliar. This is a section to help share with you either unknown/unsigned artists or tracks that simply deserve more attention. To get a sneak peek at any of the songs, just stay here and check out the videos, which vary from live performances to music videos.

"Tuned to a Different Station" Dogs (Turn Against This Land)

Cake (Fashion Nugget)

aaronros — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 14:26:06 CST

Released: September 17th, 1996
14 songs –48min 10sec
Zomba Recording Corporation

7 out of 10

Standout Tracks: "The Distance", "Nugget", "I Will Survive"

Intro goes here

~ Aaron

Aaron: (7)
Review

Joe: (score)
Review

What Did They Say?
NME: (not available)
Rolling Stone: (not available)
Metacritic: (not available)
Pitchfork: (not available)

The Playlist (December 07)

justin_hawkins — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 13:42:37 CST

Sorry for the long absence. The Playlist is back and should run monthly from now on.

Each month, several of our reviewers will collaborate to bring you a playlist of 10 songs that have caught our attention. These tracks may not get recognition on the radio or be on top-selling albums, but we still believe they deserve attention and we would like to share with you some of our favorite finds. Hopefully when you look at this list, these songs will be unfamiliar. This is a section to help share with you either unknown/unsigned artists or tracks that simply deserve more attention. To get a sneak peek at any of the songs, just stay here and check out the videos, which vary from live performances to music videos.

“Fireworks” Animal Collective (Strawberry Jam)

"Friends Like These" Mobius Band

Nine Inch Nails (Year Zero)

justin_hawkins — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:29:55 CST

Released: April 17th, 2007
16 songs – 1:03:42
Interscope Records

5.0 out of 10

Standout Tracks: "Survivalism", "My Violent Heart", "God Given"

Intro goes here

Reviewer 1: Score
Review

Joe: 5
Trent Reznor is officially a veteran. With relative ease, he cranks out beat after beat and riff after riff of consistently evil goodness. However, no matter how good Year Zero’s instrumental qualities are, Year Zero as a concept album is a retread of craptastic1950s sci-fi flicks. Exhibit A: “The Warning,” which depicts a scene in which an alien comes to earth. Even the album artwork comes off as cheesy. But the reason Year Zero isn’t a worthless chronicle of martians is that it has such amazing beats and intense clicks. In fact, “The Warning” saves itself with such great instrumental qualities, which are good enough to make me forget about its lyrical weakness. Otherwise, Reznor works his experienced magic with beep-boops on “Survivalism” and paints potent soundscapes on “The Good Soldier” and “Me, I’m Not.” And who could forget the rally cry of a chorus on “God Given”? This albums primary weak spot is “Zero-Sum,” a 6-minute Homeric ballad that proves Year Zero is most easily digested in small bites. But don’t get me wrong: those small bites are delicious.

What Did They Say?
NME: [Not available]
Rolling Stone: 4/5
Metacritic: 76/100
Pitchfork: 6.7/10

Winston (Passengers)

joe_pinsker — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:44:09 CST

Released: July 18th, 2003
12 songs –52:06
CD Baby Records

6.8 out of 10

Standout Tracks: "Love It Up and Fell", "Lonely", "Bottom of the World"

Perhaps the reason you haven’t heard of Winston is because he is just a small self-produced singer/songwriter from Canada. Or perhaps it’s because his work is nowhere to be found on the US store of iTunes. In any case, the real question that should be asked is "WHY hasn’t anybody heard of this guy?" With poppy radio knockouts along with sentimental ballads worthy of a tear, it’s no wonder Vue Weekly said, "Winston's material is sophisticated enough to impress even the most jaded radio listener..." And with one listen to this truly impressive artist, you’ll be asking yourself why you hadn’t heard of him sooner.

~ Justin Hawkins

Justin: 7.5
From first touch to 50th listen, this album never ceases to amaze me. Even without a high budget record deal, Winston is able to create a full-feeling sound with their precision and perfectionist attitude in the studio. Immediately with the opening track, “Long Way From the Right Way”, Winston grabs you with hooky pop guitar and never lets go through Passengers. Tracks like “Love It Up and Fell” and “Rock (If You Need It)” are fit for the radio with catchy hooks and sing-along choruses backed by Hauschild’s signature voice. And who can forget “Bottom of the World”, with the most addictive opening guitar effect I have ever heard. With songs like these, it’s hard to imagine that such complete, great sounding songs came from such an unknown band. Yet through this all, what makes Winston special is the personable touch Hauschild creates. With a voice easily attached to and fallen in love with combined with very relatable and personal lyrics, Winston retains a sentimental, affable touch to his songs, whether they are backed by poppy instrumentation or acoustic guitar. This softness and sweetness Winston has is exemplified in “Lonely”, the one true ballad of Passengers. The Canadian Music Network puts it perfectly when they say, "Lonely has a gorgeously melodic chorus that's ready-made for high school proms and weddings”. It’s this personal feel Winston has that truly makes their music special, making this album a must if you can get your hands on it. Just as the title track suggests, please “come board this train” and you won’t be disappointed as a passenger on Passengers.

Joe: 6
With Passengers, Winston isn’t exactly treading new waters. The brand of pop he thrives on is something I’ve heard before, and will almost assuredly hear again. Power ballads are nothing new to me. But, in a sense, Passengers is indeed something unprecedented: Winston injects such personality and emotion into his music. As a result, his soaring choruses, which may seem commonplace in a genre centered on a single pattern (intro-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solo-chorus-outro), jump out as if entirely fresh. And freshness is just what cliché packaged-pop needs – Winston breathes life into a genre I’d already given up on a while ago. A perfect example of the emotion Winston invests in his music is the chorus of “Lonely.” Somehow, Winston steers clear of the cliché-saturated pop we’re used to and instead makes a song worth listening to. Passengers is simply an impressively personal piece of work. Nonetheless, it’s hard to forget that I’ve heard something like this before.