Whatever Sensible

Untitled Musical Project disband, make leftovers available for free

2009-07-16T11:16:00.000-07:00

"There's no point being my idol if you're just gonna die"

Sad news, Untitled Musical Project have disbanded. They we're a great little band that never seemed to get enough attention and kinda disappeared off the radar. I first heard the band back in my first year of uni as I was properly getting into alternative/indie music, and always had a bit of a band crush on them. I was lucky enough to see them supporting Art Brut, where they we're very loud and very brilliant, kinda like mclusky junior.

The good news is, they've released all of their music for free!
Download from the band's myspace blog
Quite a bit of music here, quality control is a bit suspect, but if you like your music shouty and frenetic, there's some real gems here.

Future Of The Left - Travels With Myself And Another

2009-06-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

This year has seen many of my favorite artists release extremely average new albums. However, it's good to see that some things stay great. Super group Future of the Left', assembled from members of the new defunct mclusky and Jarcrew, had a tough act to follow with their 2007 debut 'Curses', a brilliant which was comfortably among my favorite albums of the year. However, they've pulled a sequel off, and how.

Andy Falkous is a great man. And when I say great, I mean there should be 30ft statues erected in his honor in culturally significant locations around the globe. Lyrically, he manages to highlight the ridiculousness and evil in life in the most fantastically dark and aggressive fashion, delivering lines with a ferocious bark which has been known to decimate hecklers across the land.

His scuzzy guitar lines are backed by almost unfairly catchy basslines, which all together produces the most incredibly powerful music for a group of only three members.

'Travels with myself and another' is packed with great songs, which only improve on repeated listens. Opener 'Arming Eritrea' is a statement of intent, 3 minutes of thumping aggression which demands your attention, and may be the best thing the band have written.

Chin music continues in a similar vein, assaulting your ear drums, with screamed lines like "I ONLY HIT HIM 'CAUSE HE MADE ME CRAZY, I ONLY HIT HIM 'CAUSE HE MADE ME MAD!" reminding you that no one quite does angry like FotL. Current single 'The hope that house built' offers a breather after the opening barrage, but is still no less than awesome. As the album goes on, we hear more of Falco's divisive use of the Korg. It feels more natural on this album, perhaps because it's more expected, but standout tracks 'You need Satan more than he needs You' and 'Throwing Bricks at Trains' wouldn't work without it.

So, are there any negatives? On first listen, the album does appear to tail off halfway through, but with repeated listens you'll fall in love with everything. The only real problem here is that the album is a bit short at barely half an hour... seriously, that's it. What we have here is a band hitting it's stride, producing an album which is actually better than their debut, and providing proof that FotL have inherited mclusky's title of 'Most under appreciated band in the World'.

In one line: Buy this album, and love it, or I hate you.

/10

Listen To:

Arming Eritrea
The Hope That House Built
You Need Satan More Than He Needs You

Maxïmo Park - Quicken the Heart

2009-06-18T11:37:00.000-07:00

Maxïmo Park first burst into my consciousness in 2005 with debut album 'A Certain Trigger', a brilliant collection of indie poptastic songs, high energy and catchy as hell, 4 years later comes' Quicken the heart', an alum which essentially sticks to the same formula as their previous efforts, but ironically, album totally fails to quicken my heart.

The band have literally tried nothing new here, simply trotting out more of the same from the first 2 albums. Problems is, which the second album's sameness was forgivable because the songs were so catchy and danceable, the songs here are just average and forgettable.

There are some enjoyable moments, 'Calm' is probably the best song here, but none of the songs would have stood out on the previous albums. Look's like we have to chalk up another casualty from the great indie pop crop of 2005

/10

Listen To:

Calm
Wraithlike
The Kids are Sick Again

Art Brut - Art Brut vs. Satan

2009-06-06T04:55:00.000-07:00

Well, the band many dismissed as a novelty are still going 3 albums in. However, by this point, the band seem to have realised that Art Brut really are purely about lead singer Eddie Argos. Eddie's voice is by far the loudest thing in the mix, and musically, most of what is here is predictable indie pop by numbers

Thankfully, the novelty still capable of producing. Argos is just as frank and entertaining as ever, and Art Brut remain one of the few bands who can make me laugh. Art Brut vs. Satan is a collection of songs from a man who knows what he loves in life, refuses to grow up, and is never shy about he's insecurities. As with all Art Brut albums, I could fill this review with quotes of memorable lyrics, but to do so would ruin much of the surprise of a band for which the first listen is usually the best.

Unfortunately, the hit rate of songs here isn't as high as their past efforts. Admittedly, this is a lofty goal (Bang Bang Rock and Roll is still in my top 5 albums of all time), but the latter half of the album really tails of in terms of catchy tunes, and the last few songs are totally unengaging.

Perhaps it was inevitable that the band could never continue to have the same impact as they were when the first appeared, but there is a sense of familiarity that mars the album. Overall, it's still enjoyable, but not quite the essential purchase that their past work was

/10

Listen To:

Alcoholics Unanimous
The Passenger
Demons Out!

The Horrors - Primary Colours

2009-05-13T10:53:00.001-07:00

On the first listen to this album, I wasn't initially totally convinced, but I knew immediately that I wanted to hear it again. So I did listen again and again, and the album gradually tightened it's grip, till I fell utterly in love.

Primary Colours is simply awash with style and attitude. The band certainly aren't afraid to wear their influences on their sleeve, and while the album doesn't have a really new sound, it still manages to sound incredibly vital. Lead singer Faris Badwan's voice is a good example, while it echos many great vocalists of the genre (especially Ian Curtis), his powerful yet almost spoken voice is the cornerstone of this barrage of awesome.

Album opened 'Mirror Image' sets to tone brilliantly, with its arpeggiated keys and huge reverb soaked guitars, topped with Faris' impassioned vocals. The album quality almost never lets up, with delay infused chords, fuzzy bass lines, and old skool synth tones.

The album possess an air of confidence and attitude which makes the whole thing come alive, the only real weak track is title track 'Primary Colours' which just comes across as a bit naff. However, all is forgiven as it is followed by album closer 'Sea within a Sea', which is as good a song as you're likely to hear this year, a mighty epic that plays to all the band's strengths.

Simply put, this is comfortably the best album I've heard this year, and I seriously recommend if you've not heard it you check out the links below

/10

Listen To:

Sea within a Sea
Mirror Image
Who Can Say (youtube)

Listen to the whole album on Spotify

Dananananaykroyd - Hey Everyone!

2009-05-05T11:29:00.001-07:00

Dammit, I still can't spell this bands name right without looking it up (perhaps this says more about me than the name, but whatever...). Dananananaykroyd are what I would describe as ADD rock: indie with speedy intricate guitar lines. This album is also produced by the same guy responsible for the similarly inclined Johnny Foreigner album. 'Hey Everyone!' is definately sonically comparable, with it's peppy guitar tones and bright mids.

Duelling guitars are constantly battling with the also duelling vocals and the 2 drummers, the album is relentless in it's enthusiasm. Vocal yelps and chants ride over speedy riffs (and an addiction to guitar rakes) and big drum beats, with rarely a moments pause.

Its all pretty enjoyable, but unfortunately, it can get a little tiresome, there aren't that many truly memorable riffs or hooks and aside from the singles, the album failed to ever genuinely thrill me

It's a shame that the album doesn't change pace more, as 'Black Wax', one of the slower songs (it's a relative term ;-) is one of the best tracks here, and serves to break up the first half of the album well.

This is a fun album, but I didn't find it quite as life changing as some of the excitement around this band would have suggested. Apparently their live performances are incredible, so perhaps I should reserve judgment until after seeing them. I reckon there is potential for a great second album from this band and I look forward to hearing what they do next.

/10

Listen To:

1993
Black Wax
Watch This!

Album Review: The Rakes - Klang

2009-04-30T12:46:00.000-07:00

Oh dear. I wanted to like this album, I really did, I loved ‘Capture/Release’, I even liked difficult second album ‘Ten New Messages’ but on the basis of Klang, The Rakes might be a bit over

The band fled what they described as the ‘dull’ London music scene to record in Berlin, ironically creating an album with almost no new ideas. We’ve heard this all before, tales of nights out with frank lyrics, hedonism verses capitalism themes recited over simple jangly guitar lines. Alan Donohoe’s once endearing London accent is now frankly annoying as he wails out notes in borderline self parody, with barely a hook in sight. The guitar parts now sound incredibly dated and uninspired, there’s nothing to remember here

There are glimpses of what I once loved about the band here, but they just seem a shadow of their former selves, and this album only serves to tarnish my view of a band that brilliantly soundtracked my first year of uni.

/10

Listen To:

Capture/Release, and pretend this never happened

Album Review: Grammatics - Grammatics

2009-04-30T12:44:00.000-07:00

One thing you can’t accuse the Grammatics of is not trying. A music project created as a response to the trend of sparse simple indie pop, the band aim to brink back grandeur and intelligence to the genre. This is an album of sophisticated pop songs, brimming with ideas and strong musicianship.

The band never shy from their mission statement, with many large epic song structures. Album highlight “Relentless Fours” is a journey from a simple four note melody, through building overlayed vocals into a power riffed crescendo, all executed with a real confidence and flair.

Single D.I.L.E.M.M.A. is their most immediate track, with angular guitar lines and lush vocal weavings. At first lead vocalist Owen Brinley’s voice left me a little unsure, possessing a sense of confidence and an almost showboating quality which is uncommon for the genre. It definitely isn’t to everyone’s taste but I eventually warmed to it, and he does have a flair for interesting vocal melodies.

The albums only real downfall for me is that in pursuit of their lofty goals the band sometimes seem to being trying just a little bit to hard to be clever for the sake of it. However, it is that same determination which has allowed them to produce what will no doubt be looked back on at the end of the year as a highlight of 2009

/10

Listen To:

Relentless Fours
D.I.L.E.M.M.A.
The Vague Archive

Album Review: Dan Deacon - Bromst

2009-04-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Dan Deacon is as mental as ever with his new release. No-one else is making music quite like this (to my knowledge, prove me wrong indie nerds), and as insane as it sounds at times, Dan is clearly a man with a plan. Look past the keyboard lines that initially seem the squeaks of a sugar rushing toddler, and you’ll find an exceptionally talented musician producing complex songs from a bizarre array of sounds and tones

The album has the moments of hyperactivity he’s known, but the album highlight for me comes from Snookered, with it’s delicate buzzing synths and xylophones wrapping around an almost spoken vocal line, building to a joyful climax of vocal ‘uh’s and ‘ah’s with a million things going on around them. ‘Woof Woof’ features an almost Justice-esque bass line surrounded with the best use dog barks since The Beta Band’s ‘Outside’ and album opener ‘Build Voice’ literally comes from nowhere and creates a massive sound scape of cascading pianos and huge beats.

While it’s never less than original, it sometimes it all gets a bit too experimental. Occasionally Dan seems to disappear of into his own world, leaving the rest of us behind (see ‘Wet Wing’), and I found songs are sometimes over long, but overall this is a great album, and it’s pretty hard to resist it’s energetic charms

/10

Listen to:

Snookered
Surprise Stephani
Build Voice

Album Review: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It’s Blitz!

2009-04-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

New York’s premier alt. punksters are have gone all electronic on our asses! Gone are the simple minimally instrumented songs of the past, replaced with all kinds of dance synth noises. At times it seems a little forced, musically not bringing much we haven’t heard else where from the nu rave renaissance, but the Yeah Yeah Yeahs still know how to craft a good tune and it’s good to hear them adding new sounds to their arsenal, if not music in general.

There is still something unmistakably YYYs about the songs, and while there are some definite songs here that you can expect to see all the indie kid’s shaking their hips to in a club near you soon, the album still has it’s fair share of slower more, more emotional songs, such as personal favorite ‘Hysteric’, which serve to balance out the album well. I don’t think it’ll change your life quite how some of the music press seem to, but this is a good solid album, and worth a listen.

/10

Listen to:

Zero
Hysteric
Heads Will Roll

Album Review: Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Etiquette

2009-04-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

Got hold of this album without realizing they have a new record out this month, so no new album review for you I’m afraid.

Etiquette though, is a joy. Owen Ashworth’s beautiful stories of life love loss and rejection told over minimalist beats and synths have a really touching human charm, capable of catching my mood no matter how I’m feeling. Most people will find something to relate to here and the album has a power to make you forget everything and just bask in its elegance. ‘Cold White Christmas’ is the best song I’ve heard about the post University blues since ‘SRXT’, and really struck a chord with me, and ‘I Love Creedence’ is simply heartbreaking

Owen’s voice is certainly not to everyone’s taste, but it’s certainly worth the effort to find out if it is to yours, because this is an album to fall in love with, and one I know I’ll return to when I need reminding that life is still beautiful (and no, I don’t care how emo that sounded).

/10

Listen To:

Cold White Christmas
I Love Creedence
Bobby Malone Moves Home

Album Review: Clor - Clor

2009-04-30T12:22:00.000-07:00

Indie dance pop fun! The now long defunct ‘Clor’s only album is a sugary treat and it’s a mystery to me how ‘Love + Pain’ never became an indie club floor filling regular.

Unfortunately for the album, after 3 fantastic opening tracks, the quality does drop off a bit. There are a few good ideas here, ‘Making you all mine’ is a later album favorite. There is just a little bit to much filler to make this a truly memorable album, but it’s still great fun to wack on and dance around like a loon too.

/10

Listen To:

Love + Pain
Outlines
Good Stuff

Album Review: Merriweather Post Pavillion - Animal Collective

2009-04-30T11:56:00.000-07:00

So where to start reviewing one of the most talked about indie albums in recent memory? Well, firstly this is my first Animal Collective album, having only previously heard a couple of singles some years ago, giving them little attention. However, given the buzz around this album and the strength of single ‘My Girls‘, I decided to give this one a listen.

The band are without their guitarist for this album, leaving synthesisers and samples to fill out melodies, backed up by surprisingly heavy, thumping bass lines. The band create some really large soundscapes, usually based around a simple arpeggio, then expanded on and surrounded by lots of dreamy delay effects and noises. These beautifully compliment the lyrics of the album, which are refreshingly grown up, a celebration of the simple pleasures of life and love. It’s often touching stuff, as anyone who has heard ‘My Girls‘ will probably agree, and the albums highest points come from some of the genuinely magical descriptions of seemingly mundane things. ‘Daily Routine‘ succeeds in making something as simple as walking kids to school sound like the most joyous event, and ‘Taste‘, with it’s refrain of “Am I really all the things that are outside of me?” is wonderful. Something about the earnestness and charming simplicity of the songs can’t help but raise a smile in me, and there is a real optimism and happiness throughout the album.

However, I found that the album sometimes relied on the same formula of arpeggios and layers of delay a little too much, and by mid point ‘Bluish‘ my attention has usually waned a little bit as a result of this, picking back up again with ‘Taste‘. Generally though, the quality of most of the songs on here cannot be doubted, and although it’s occasional formulaic songs sometimes turned me off, it’s certainly well worth a listen and I think most music fans will find much to enjoy here

/10

Listen To

My Girls
Brother Sports
Daily Routine

A new home..

2009-04-30T11:27:00.000-07:00

So I decided to relocate my music reviews and thoughts to a new home, separate from my geek blog, I'll be reposting my existing reviews here, and everything else from now on will go on here..