Music reviews

Best Album of 2008

This blog often announces record of the year mid-year. When Mika (5/5) came out the competition ended by June. This year a string of disappointments all rated 3/5 from Coldplay, Goldfrapp, Killers, Fratellis and even the never fail Snow Patrol disappointed. Chemical brothers 4/4 had flashes of brilliance but no go. There were lot’s of very nice albums but no great ones  Nothing as good as Madonna Hard Candy. I I had given up until wait…at the last second come two great albums.  The 1st can hardly be believed. Axel Rose has been working on Guns & Roses Chinese Democracy for 15 years like a long joke. Now the joke’s on us. The record is great (4/4). It is missing a classic mind smasher like Sweet Child o’ Mine but every song is quality and his voice is perfect. The guitar is desperately trying to outSlash Slash and just about succeeds. This record crushes Metallica. Go figure.
 
And now for the album of the year – Kanye West (5/5). What is it? It should be rap… but it seems more like jazz, blues, space rock and Hip Hop all mixed up. Like G&R, it lacks a mind buster but it’s like the greatest Buddha Bar mix ever recorded. Go buy it now. Put it on Sunday morning.

2008 Music

Nothing amazing to report...Cold Play's weakest album (3/5), Chemical Brothers (4/5) is excellent but too many songs sound alike My brother said I had to listen to the new Duran Duran album! Any other advice?

The best music of 2007:

A great year for music ? Here is my top 5:

Mika
The Feeling
Shins
Amy Winehouse

Click on the comments from Eloy attached to this post and you will see we mostly agreed for the year!

America the Beautiful

America 4/5 live at the Roundhouse are the latest in a long line of rebound bands who frankly sound better than all of their contemporaties. They played acoustically perfect, well sung gems from the past. The only complaint was a lack of improvisation. They played each song just like the album.

Prince at the O2

The small guy plays a big guitar and Purple Rain was worth the price of admission. All kinds of styles on display with a New Orleans brass band to boot. The endless string of encores with long breaks in-between was a bummer however.

Fratelli's vs Kings of Leon

Well...my loyal blog readers (11 / day) said that I should check out new discs from fratellis(3/5) and Kings of Leon (4/5) to see if they were better than Mika (5/5). I didnt want to because the band names are so aweful...whats a Leon? What's a Fratelli?...anyway...Fratellis sound like a great bar band which I'll listen to a few times and file with the Gin Blossoms. The kings however are King...with moments of Pin k Floyd!

Mika, however, remains #1 on this 2nd rate blog.

2007 Album of the Year - Mika

Last year Borat 5/5 came out in October and immediately ran away with the movie of the year. Now Mika 5/5 has ruined the Album of the year competition in March. He wins...frankly...noone should bother issuing any more albums this year.

Maria with Jamelia in Barcelona

2007 off to a good start!

Well…my cry for help on decent music seems to have worked as I now have the following recommendations: Shins, Midstates, Elected, Joanna Newsom, Espers, Yo La Tengo, Cold Fairyland, The Slip, The Kooks, Spinto Band, TV on the radio, Editors, Clap your hands and say Yeah, Cinematics, Cold War Kids, Cloud Room, Of Motral, Sufjan (Cat) Stevens, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and Yngvie Johann Malmsteen. The later has an interesting DVD out with the Japan Philarmonic. Horse the Band, Mars Volta, Fantomas (Mike Patten). Nickel Creek is one of the most innovative acts going. "They're not the best at what they do; they're the only ones that do what they do." -Bill Graham . They continue to take their bluegrass roots into areas heretofore unexplored.

Thanks to Craig, Eloy, Gabby and Cristoph for loading up my CD player for the next 2 months! Ratings to follow!

Year finishes with a whimper

I vote Damian Rice's 2nd album 9 (5/5) album of the year just before throwing in the towel and voting for Beatles "Love" remix (4/5) by default because few great albums were recorded this year. Gnarls Barkley 4/5 was great and the 2nd Snow Patrol 4/5 was quite good. I still have to listen to a couple of Christmas gifts like Raconteurs but otherwise this was a musical year to forget. If anyone has a recommendation...please let me know and I will re-rate the record rankings!