Alice in Chains - "Lesson Learned"

It's been nearly 8 years since former lead singer of Alice in Chains Layne Staley's untimely death, but his spirit is far from gone. Alice in Chains has a new look, with Staley sound-a-like William DuVall leading the way along side guitarist Jerry Cantrell.

It's tough to replace such a prolific and legendary singer in a band. Because of Staley, Alice in Chains has such a unique and unforgettable sound; he and Cantrell worked so well together on vocals. Staley's vocal delivery was at times both chilling and tragic, painful and real, and at the time, it was hard to imagine Alice in Chains without him.

On their newest release, 2009's "Black Gives Way to Blue", Cantrell and co. staged a comeback the right way. DuVall sounds incredibly like Staley, but it doesn't matter because Cantrell's vocals are even more reminiscent of AIC days of old. It's a valiant comeback for one of the most creative bands to come out of the 90s. Songs like "Check My Brain", "Your Decision", and the newest single "Lesson Learned" are vintage Alice in Chains. The dark video for "Lesson Learned" is posted down below, and I know when I first heard the song it gave me goosebumps, for surely Layne Staley's spirit is still alive in the music.

WATCH: Alice in Chains - "Lesson Learned"
http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/--218709263

Review: Clinic - "Bubblegum"

Clinic has always been that band that lots of people liked but few ever heard of. Formed in 1997 out of the rubble of the “Brit-pop” era in England, Clinic followed more in the footsteps of the Verve rather than Oasis. Their eclectic and unique sound was based on heavy percussions and fuzzy organs, much like if Thom Yorke was the lead singer of the Doors.

In 2002, they recorded one of their most memorable albums “Walking With Thee,” which was full of post-punk angst and psychedelic swagger, and it got the attention of the likes of the Flaming Lips and Arcade Fire. It marked a turning point in their career, and Clinic has never looked back.

Clinic’s upcoming release, Bubblegum, marks the beginning of yet another chapter in their career, and is something of a new venture from the Liverpool quartet’s usual sixties vibe. The album introduces dream-like song structures and delicate melodies around each corner rather than the usual frantic riffs, but it still packs the same punch as the Clinic albums of old.

“Milk & Honey” acts as a good segway from the old Clinic to the Bubblegum Clinic. The song’s use of dulcimers, violins, tremolo guitars, and lazy bongos build an eerily hazy atmosphere that is present on much of the album. “I’m Aware” works very similarly, trading staggering instrumentation for soft harmonies and damp guitar lines.

In the past, Clinic has rarely strayed away from that dirty rock and roll sound of the Stooges or the Velvet Underground, rarely giving themselves time to experiment with new sounds. On Bubblegum, Clinic has allowed themselves to branch out more instead of living in the sixties, playing with “wah-wah” and “phasing” effects. This experimentation on the album provided the backbone to songs like “Bubblegum”, “Evelyn”, and the bluesy “Forever (Denims’ Blues)”. Some songs, like the ballad “Linda”, evoke the spaced-out acid-trips of David Bowie with its soaring echoing guitar chirps, while other moments touch upon the weirdness of glam-rock in the seventies. Then there’s “Lion Tamer” which sounds like a late-night jam session of Physical Graffiti-era Led Zeppelin.

Produced by John Conleton (Bill Callahan, St. Vincent), Bubblegum marks another turning point in a long career for Clinic. Where similar bands like the Verve have failed to deliver after early success, Clinic prove here that they are more than capable of evolving and bringing something uniquely exciting to the table.

Review: Maximum Balloon

Normally when a producer decides to make a collaborative album, they tend to over-thing and over-indulge; quantity devours quality, and it just turns out to be too much to handle.  The magic that is released from producing other band’s albums is nowhere to be found, but if such a collaborative album is done just right, the results can be glorious.

            David Sitek, most known for being the guitarist and producer of experimental rock band TV on the Radio, has worked to become one of the most successful producers in the business. His signature 80’s-style Nintendo-electro sound has been the backbone of some of the best and most memorable albums of the past decade. Now, with some free time on his hands, Sitek invited some of his good friends to help him on his newest endeavor dubbed Maximum Balloon.

            Maximum Balloon’s self-titled debut is Sitek up to his usual tricks but in a different environment. Normally, Sitek would stay holed up in New York City while at work, but this time he decided to run this project in sunny Los Angeles. It’s a Sitek record for sure, because the layered bits and bites are all there, but overall, the record leans more towards the pop side.

The mood is light and funky; it has that certain electro-disco feel to it without being too cheesy.  It’s all 808’s and no heartbreaks for Sitek on Maximum Balloon. Although his band, TV on the Radio, is on hiatus at the moment after their critically acclaimed Dear Science album dropped nearly two years ago, bandmates Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone provide vocals to two tracks on the album. Adebimpe wails over a buzzing synth and crashing cymbals on one of the album’s darker tracks, “Absence of Light.” Then Malone channels Prince while crooning a fragile falsetto in the slow-burning “Shakedown.”

Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is another artist who is very much indebted to Sitek for his production on their latest and most satisfying release to date: “It’s Blitz.”  So, she returns the favor in the sleazy “Communion.” On the track, Karen O does what Karen O does best; her voice is soft but immediate at first, leading up to a frantic shrill as she sings “Give me that beat / Show your love.”

It’s probably safe to say that Sweden’s Little Dragon is this year’s most unlikely hero. She first broke out with Damon Albarn on two beautiful Plastic Beach tracks by Gorillaz. Her delicate and childlike voice does not get lost in the mix but in fact controls each song she is in. She appears for the song “If You Return,” a particularly captivating song like no other on this album.

Speaking of captivating, David Byrne also makes the guest list on Maximum Balloon, though really he needs no introduction. His cameo on “Apartment Wrestling” is flawless and is very much reminiscent of the Talking Heads in their glory days. The two Davids work well together, and this song is living proof.

David Sitek’s Maximum Balloon project is sure to get a lot of cheers, and deservedly so. It is a perfect example of what this producer is capable of, and perhaps this is only the beginning. TV on the Radio fans are sure to enjoy Sitek’s work here, as they wait for him to deliver on a Dear Science follow-up. 

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday everyone! It's time for a well-deserved rest after a loooooong week. For some weekend reading, check out an article I wrote for The Villanovan about Kanye West! Exciting things are happening, changes coming soon. Be well and have fun this weekend!

The Villanovan - How Kanye got his groove back

New: The Black Angels - "Bad Vibrations"

It's easy to forget that the 60's weren't all flowers and sunshine. For those who experienced it, the 60s were a truly frightening time while our culture was changing and war was burning, and if you think about it, not much has changed since then. Life as we know it is changing, for better and for worse, and our music is a reflection of this changing culture. Austin's Black Angels have always thrived on bringing to life the darker sound of the sixties and making it relevant to the present. Their new album, Phosphene Dream, (available September 14) is the total opposite of the overdone fluff in pop. The album title itself counteracts the lighter side of music that indulges in the "teenage dreams"of Katy Perry or Beach House.


Phosphene Dream shows the Black Angels coming into their own musically, and the result is chillingly moving. The opening song, "Bad Vibrations", evokes images of war and madness. This song reminds us that perhaps we are really alone in our own insane thoughts. "You were my best friend / you used my name" is one of the many nightmarish lines singer Alex Maas croons over a series of eerie tremolo organ noises and guitarist Christian Bland's dripping, swirling guitar riffs a la Iron Butterfly. The result: a perfectly creepy soundtrack to a coming apocalypse.

You can stream the new album on their website: www.theblackangels.com

Review: The Termals - Personal Life

It’s been a strange ride for Portland, Oregon’s The Thermals. The lineup has gone through numerous changes throughout the years, with drummers and other members coming and going like clockwork, but keeping that songwriting duo Kathy Foster and Hutch Harris at the core. Their sound has been described by various rock journalists as “post-pop-punk”, “neo-grunge”, or “post-power-pop”. Needless to say, as the twenty-first century has unfolded, it’s become harder and harder to put a label on these guys.

            The Thermal’s last record, 2009’s “Now We Can See”, proved that Foster and Harris were more than capable in producing a melodic, energetic, and exciting indie record. It was an impressive effort by a band that could easily have been lost by the wayside. Now, they will release their fifth effort, “Personal Life”, an album that compliments their previous one, and sticks with that down-to-earth, not over-produced garage punk sound.

            While “Now We Can See” was predominantly wrought with themes of death, The Thermals show their softer side here, staying away from over-reaching philosophical subjects, and sticking to a perfect dose of love and romance. In the past, The Thermals relied on aggressive strumming and angry tirades, but now they focus more on the structure of the songs themselves in order to get their message across.

“You Changed My Life” is a perfect example of this newfound ode to love, and while many bands would crumble with such a mushy subject, the Thermals wear it quite well. With all it’s charm and soft progression, the opener, “I’m Gonna Change Your Life” shows Hutch Harris persuading for love, guaranteeing that he will “change your life” and “steal your soul”. What else does a guy have to say? The song acts a good set up for the fun first single off the album, “I Don’t Believe You”, which comes complete with all the power-chord-chugging guitar riffs and “ooh ooh ooh’s” you could want in an indie/punk song. Then there is the one-two knockout punch of “Power Lies” and “Only For You”, two songs built around cute little riffs and running bass-lines. These songs, as well as many others on the album, are sure to win your heart over for good.

The Thermals certainly don’t try to hide their influences in their music. Their sound is such that you can almost believe that this album was released in the mid-nineties. It’s hard to ignore the fact that Harris’ vocal delivery sounds very reminiscent of Black Francis of the Pixies or that of Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. It’s pop punk with a different approach: it isn’t immediately accessible, and yet The Thermals build upon the best qualities of their influences to make an extremely catchy album. One has to appreciate the seemingly effortless knack the Thermals have for creating one solid song after another. 

Top Ten Tuesdays: Top Ten Songs with Animal Names

How can you not be an animal lover? They're cute, funny, and all-in-all just plain awesome. What's even better is when people write songs about them, or put animal words in the song titles. Whether it's a metaphor, innuendo, or actually about an animal, for some reason it just works, and there are plenty of fantastic songs out there with animals in the title. So, here are the top ten songs with animal names in them:

10. Them Crooked Vultures - "Elephants"

9. The Doors - "Peace Frog"

8. Black Sabbath - "War Pigs"

7. Radiohead - "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi"

6. Genesis - "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway"

5. Peter Gabriel - "Shock the Monkey"

4. Led Zeppelin - "Black Dog"

3. Alice in Chains - "Rooster"

2. The Beatles - "Blackbird"

1. The Rolling Stones - "Wild Horses"

Honorable Mentions:

Gorillaz - Superfast Jellyfish

The Beatles - Piggies

Genesis - Dodo/Lurker