Beat The Devil’s Tattoo by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Released on March 2010, Beat the Devil’s Tattoo is BRMC sixth album since the band formed in 1998. Though BRMC is influenced by classic rock, Beat the Devil’s Tattoo offered more than just another typical rock album. It is rather inspiring, charging while stomping hard occasionally with a hint of  tribal influences causing one to have a desire to do a tribal dance beside a giant bonfire. At some point, it seems like we are being transported back into the eighties where classic rock is at it’s peak. Sitting at the neon lighted bar gulping down ice-cold beer, savouring the linger taste of tobacco. Just chilling after a long-day ravaging the highway with a superbike. Biking aimlessly. This is Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

With the opening track, Beat The Devil’s Tattoo definitely would captivate anyone. It’s just so hard to not continues to listen to it. Conscience Killer and Bad Blood were some sort like a reminisce of the past few albums. The former have a full energy bust from the beginning. However, from Bad Blood onwards the album kind of take a turn towards greatness. War Machines is pretty impressive. The white noise and the scornful music and lyric is a very dynamic match.  Sweet Feeling, The Toll and Long Way Down are leaning toward a more folksy-bluesy-lazy jams. 'Evol', the album's mid-point which actually is “love'” spelled backward. Well, no surprise here as the song sang about love.

Beat The Devil’s Tattoo might be a bit different with the previous album by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club but nonetheless BRMC still proved that they are still in the game. 

Beat The Devil’s Tattoo by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

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They'll Only Miss You When You Leave: Songs 1996-2003 by Carissa's Wierd

I came to know this band a little to late you see because this band had been disbanded since 2003. What a shame! They were good! They’ll Only Miss You When You Leave (notice the humour here?) is a compilation album of songs from Carissa’s Wierd previous released. After the band disbanded, its members formed Band of Horses (next post maybe?), Grand Archives and Sera Cahoone . I have no idea about Grand Archives and Sera Cahoone but comparing Band of Horses with Carissa’s Wierd; Band of Horses is more rock while Carissa is something soft and melodious. 

At first impression this band definitely have a sense of humour. The album title and the songs titles is something that you would smirk on upon seeing it. Carissa’s Wierd is a band that played softly with it songs resolves around loss, pain, sorrow….etc. Happiness practically does not exist in CW world. Yet, don’t worry they are not depressive or emo enough to drive you to suicidal. Theirs songs are haunting and melancholy, the best album after a long day at work. Or just simply put it on in a rainy day sipping your tea/coffee while reading some chick flick mellow novels.

Honestly, I do feel that this band did not deserve the fame that they should have. This is a really great band with songs that almost anyone can relate to. The smoky voices, the whispering, the soft guitar, the cello, the violin…is sad yet beautiful at the same time and not to mention dreamy. Carissa’s Wierd is the kind of band that you need time to savour its music over time and eventually its music will starts to grow on you. Give this a chance you might not like it at first listening but give it a few try you might actually fall in love with it; granted you like indie music or alternative folks. You might comes back for more.  (hotfile, zshared, uploading and 2shared are down but the rest are working fine, limited time only)

They'll Only Miss You When You Leave: Songs 1996 - 2003

1. Low Budget Slow Motion Soundtrack Song For the Leaving Scene
2. Die
3. The Color That Your Eyes Changed With the Color of Your Hair
4. One Night Stand
5. You Should Be Hated Here
6. Drunk with the Only Saints I Know
7. Phantom Fireworks
8. So You Wanna Be A Superhero
9. Brooke Daniels' Tiny Broken Fingers
10. Ignorant Piece of Shit
11. Blessed Arms That Hold You Tight, Freezing Cold and Alone
12. Blue Champagne Glass
13. September Come Take This Heart Away
14. All Apologies and Smiles, Yours Truly, Ugly Valentine
15. Sympathy Bush
16. They'll Only Miss You When You Leave

 

They'll Only Miss You When You Leave: Songs 1996-2003 by Carissa's Wierd

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Kings & Quees by Jamie T

Jamie Treays is a 24-year-old singer/songwriter hailing from Wimbledon, South London, England. His musical style is hard to place, but incorporates elements of rap, reggae, and acoustic genres. On March 1, 2007, Treays was voted as Best Solo Artist at the NME Awards, at Hammersmith Palais in London, England. He held off more established names like Thom Yorke & Jarvis Cocker, to receive the award. On 7 September, Jamie released his second album named 'Kings & Queens' which reached number 2 in the UK Albums chart. After its release Zane Lowe, on his BBC Radio 1 show, declared ‘Kings & Queens’ his best album of 2009, describing the album as “a brilliant, poignant, incredible observational record” and “flawless.” On the 24 February 2010, Jamie won an NME Award for Best Solo Act. (info from wikipedia & last.fm, been swarmed with studies. this will have to make do) Excellent album!

"368" 4:43

"Hocus Pocus" 3:31

"Sticks 'n' Stones" 4:01

"The Man's Machine" 4:50

"Emily's Heart" 4:08

"Chaka Demus" 3:35

"Spider's Web" 4:44

"Castro Dies" 2:59

"Earth, Wind & Fire" 3:45

"British Intelligence" 3:19

"Jilly Armeen" 3:14

Kings & Quees by Jamie T

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Take a Bow by Greg Laswell

It used to be a guilty pleasure while listening to Greg Laswell’s music. With his divorce he had channeled all the emotion into his music making it worth awhile to listen. With his numerous tracks that being features in Grey’s Anatomy it does shows that his music is good especially the heart-stopping moment of the season 5 finale.

With his latest album “Take a Bow” that was released last month, one can’t help to notice that this album is not longer about the lost of love. It still about love but more on finding new love, a more positive side. No more crying over the spill milk. Perhaps, it is a sign that shows Laswell is moving on, no more entrapped in the confinement  of his divorce. His way of telling the world “I am ok”.

Take a Bow definitely is different with his previous albums. It is more mainstream influenced, a more ‘pop-ky’ approach. The opening track, Take Everything is a very good example. It is upbeat and a bit catchy. Come Clean is good too. It brings out a different vibe for the whole album, shake things up a little. Take a Bow is more melodious with a hint of melancholic blended together with Laswell’s mellow voice.

In Front of Me, Let it Ride and Off I Go is worth mentioning too. By the way, Off I Go is the song that was feature in season 5 finale of Grey’s Anatomy. The album finish off with Goodbye a very good track. Very gentle and close to heart.

Overall, this album can be disappointing if you are expecting the old version of Greg Laswell. This album is nothing close to his previous works. As much as I love his works, I have to admit I am a bit disappointed by this album. Something is lacking from this album and it got a bit boring after a few listening. Only a few songs is worth listening. But if you can look beyond his past works then I think one would enjoy this album.

Take a Bow by Greg Laswell

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Dead Waves by Kyte

Kyte left me at a cross road after listening to their first full-length album Dead Waves  that released last month. At times, it sounded like Sigur Ros, the soundtrack kind of music.  Sometimes, it sounded like Animal Collective. At some point, I relate them to Snow Patrol. Puzzle me may the album be, but I can’t deny that I like this album. It convinced me that for Kyte best is yet to come. 

Kyte create atmospheric lush, dreamy kind of music with a tinge touch of morbidness. Though this album is very electronica but with the wistful voice and subtle layers of music the atmospheric approach that Kyte used to have is still very much intact. 

The opening track, The Smoke Saves Lives sets the tone for the rest of the album with its erratic piano and droning guitars. A very engaging beautiful track and teeny bit addictive. ihnfsa the second track which is also the single, start off with a robotic female voice, a very synth pop feel and I just can’t shake the lyric away.

sorry for the first love, sorry as my last one,
the screaming aside,
thank you for the best time,

For the first few tracks of the album like The Smoke Saves Lives, ihnfsa, You’re Alone Tonight and Designed for Damage give me the vibes of the 80s. I guess it’s more probably the synth pop thingy. 

My personal favourite ought to be the fifth track, Like She Said. I really like how the song sounded the way it did, it reminds me of the song “Cease to Know” by Eluvium. The music is ghostly haunting and spacey like you are in some vast universe listening to the sound of a distant star. Very relaxing, heavily influence of shoegaze. As for the lyric it is very cinematic.

Mistakes are made, in time’s right,
last days are xxxxx (can’t hear) , like she said,
six feet deep down, the eyes closed,
the end called earth, the hand xxxxx (can’t hear)

Fear From Death is still very much 80s feel. Each Life Critical (an epic 7mins long song) is a song that grows, branching out into a soaring robotic rhythms with hushed vocals. No One is Angry, Just Afraid and Strangest Words and Pictures are both very ambient song that is quite unlike the rest of the songs in this album. Not so much of electronica thingy. 

Guns and Knives, Fake Handshakes, Earnest Smiles and Dead Waves are the rest of the song that I am way too lazy to elaborate anymore. These three songs still notably good with Fake Handshakes, Earnest Smiles is a poignant, meditative, trance like song. Dead Waves has a consistent flow of music. I guess just like death, since it is always an on-going thing that never stop. Limited Time Only.

Buy Dead Waves by Kyte

Dead Waves by Kyte

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All the Stars and Boulevard by Augustana

All the Stars and Boulevards is the debut album of Augustana, a Californian piano rock band. This album was released on September 6, 2005. Yeah I know that was ages ago but hey great music do not take time as a measurement for quality.
 

  
Anyway, this is a really good album. If not good then is above average. I guess if I have to label I would label it 3.5/4 out of 5 stars. This is a very very American band. If you like The Fray, Lifehouse or Jack’s Mannequin you probably will like this band too. The songs were really good. If you want some light listening then this is good enough for you to spend a couple bucks to own this cd.

Boston is a great track which is also my personal favourite. I do think most people will agree with me too that this is one of the best song in this album. I know my friends did. It never get old listening to this track. It is about starting over in a place that no one knew you. I can relate to this song very much indeed. I really wish that someday I can leave all things behind and just pack a bag and move to some where no one knew me at all. I guess I’m a escapist by heart.
  

Anyway, Boston start off with a few notes of piano which is very light and beautiful. And as the song goes by the track start to pick up, climaxing. I got to say this song has one hell of a lyric.

The essential yet appealed
Carry all your thoughts cross an open field
When flowers gaze at you
They’re not the only ones
Who cry when they see you

She said, you don’t know me
You don’t wear my chains

To leave this all behind
I think I need a sunrise
I’m tired of the sunset
Here it’s nice in the summer
Some snow would be nice

click play then mute the clip, continue reading after finish can listen to it w/o any lagging

Stars and Boulevards is a great song too. It started off with piano too which sounded really great. And this song is about a guy and a girl that broke up because of how others people told the girl that that guy is not good enough for her. Eventually she left him and went on her own…

The sunrise will come too soon
And you’ll disappear
To the haze of the city and yourself

Look out
They’re coming after us with big guns
They’re only gonna tell you all the bad things I’ve done
Even if the words they say aren’t true,
They’ve won
Now I’m left here dying in the sun

I like Wasteland too. It was sad yet comforting. It sings about life. How the persona life was empty and wasted. Partying and hook up…

And we're nothing more than fools and whores and sad highs
Through the summer sand, we're living in
We're living in a wasteland

Lonely People and Coffee and Cigarettes both were great songs too. Lonely People was raw with emotion. He sings about how he was getting involve with a relationship but actually he was still not over with his previous one. That’s the reason why he seems so distant and sad though he is with her current girlfriend, Holly.

Well Holly, she makes me sad
Forgive me if I look so lonely

Coffee and Cigarettes was a bit mellow and bittersweet. I think it was about the love of the persona was dying with sickness. And all he wanted to do was just spend time together with her.

And I'm sure you've lost that weight again
And I'm sure the pills keeps pouring in
Like smoke that falls, it's caving into you
So put me on a plane and fly me to anywhere
Put me on a plane and fly me to anywhere
Put me on a plane and fly me to anywhere with you
With you

The verdict, I believe this band actually can do much better though this is their debut album but it was pretty impressive. All the Stars and Boulevard is quite a good album and the album seems to pick up in the latter few songs. The lyrics was well written but music wise I was actually looking forward for more piano based tracks since they claim they are a piano rock band but there were like just 3 or 4 songs were piano based. Anyhow this is a great band though I  was a bit disappointed by their sophomore album, Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt. Well, that is another time another day then.

I’m not going to upload this album for download cause the home line is way too slow. Just google ‘all the stars and boulevard by augustana mediafire’ walah! there you go. Just don’t click on the 1st link that shows up cause is password protected.

All the Stars and Boulevard by Augustana

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New Moon OST

Ok forget about the cheesy movie. I know is quite a few months since the movie showed in the cinema. But, one have to admit the soundtracks of the New Moon are good. Same goes with The Twilight OST. Well, it shouldn’t be a surprise at all as both movies music supervisor was Alexandra Patsavas. She is the one who in charge of Grey’s Anatomy, Gossip Girls, The O.C, Private Practice, Boston Public, Mad Men, Roswell and many more American series' music supervisor. You actually can sense her influences in all those movies as she likes to pick indie band music and alternative rock band music to fuse into the drama/movie.

Personally, I do think New Moon OST is one of the best OST of our time. Of course, you can’t compare it to the mammoth Titanic OST. That is way out of league. Anyway, this OST included quite a number of indie-rock heavyweight Death Cab for Cutie, Bon Iver and Grizzly Bear. As for alternative rock band it included Radiohead, Muse, The Killers and Band of Skulls. Need I say more? The former 3 bands were all incredible successful worldwide.

sure many female fans gaga over this

There was one song in this OST that even after I watched the movie the song still linger in my mind. That’s Possibility by Lykke Li which can be heard at the scene where Bella sits and thinks while months go by. Perhaps, it was the scene that looked so melancholic and when this song started to play the whole scene and the song just standout. Another 2 songs that worth to mention is A White Demon Love Song by The Killers (played at the Credit) and Satellite Heart by Anya Marina (played when Edward send Bella home after the birthday party). It can be said that New Moon OST is much more atmospheric and hushed if compare to The Twilight OST which is much more rock based etc. Paramore , Linkin Park…

Possibility by Lyyke Li (fans video short version)

So tell me when you hear my heart stop,
you're the only one that knows.
Tell me when you hear my silence,
there's a possibility I wouldn't know.

So tell me when my sorrow's over,
you're the reason why I'm closed.
Tell me when you hear me falling,
there's a possibility it wouldn't show.
mmmmm....

Satellite Heart by Anna Marina (fans video short version)

I'm a satellite heart
lost in the dark
I'm spun out so far
you stop, I start
But I'll be true to you

I'm a satellite heart
lost in the dark
I'm spun out so far
you stop I start

But I'll be true to you no matter what you do
Yeah, I'll be true to you

New Moon OST

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Slow Show by The National

Slow Show is from the album Boxer by The National which was released in  2007. Off topic a bit, I have been always a fans of Coldplay. It was my favourite band. But somehow the X&Y album seems to lost it touch. Luckily, the Viva La Vida brings Coldplay back for good because I’m so going to fall for The National if Coldplay fails to produce another decent album after the mediocre X&Y.

The National is an American indie band and is a good amazing band. Boxer is another worth-every-penny album. Every song in the album are perfectly done. Slow Show is one of my favourite from this album. Beautiful and subtle yet with amazing vague intense lyric. The music oh my the music in the song is a masterpiece. I was hooked when I heard the first note. The piano part is an attention grabber.

 

This is a version from AOL (live no piano) and my interpretation of the lyric are as below.

Studio version with piano at 3.00 mins my favourite part of this song.

Standing at the punch table swallowing punch
can’t pay attention to the sound of anyone
a little more stupid, a little more scared
every minute more unprepared

(The persona was getting drunk and no longer pay any attention to the surrounding anymore. Feeling more and more hopeless)

I made a mistake in my life today
everything I love gets lost in drawers
I want to start over, I want to be winning
way out of sync from the beginning

(Something went wrong today, he had made a mistake perhaps a fight with his lover. Everything he love (friendship/relationship…) is a mess now. He is seeking for a fresh start. He want to start over. He want to be good. He is not by himself lately [way out of sync] maybe that’s why he had a fight with his love ones.)

I wanna hurry home to you
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I’m very, very frightening
I’ll overdo it

(He is missing his love ones badly, wishing to be right beside his love ones. Regretting what he did earlier on. He is willing to do anything just to wish that the one he love is happy. Yet somehow, he scares it will backfire, afraid that he would annoyed his love ones)

Looking for somewhere to stand and stay
I leaned on the wall and the wall leaned away
Can I get a minute of not being nervous
and not thinking of my dick
My leg is sparkles, my leg is pins
I better get my shit together, better gather my shit in
You could drive a car through my head in five minutes
from one side of it to the other

(He is finding himself. Trying to define who he is [looking somewhere to stand; perhaps explaining the part ‘way out of sync’ in verse two.] Trying very hard to get himself back on track but failed/or finding someone to rely on. [wall as metaphor] He need to be focus. Get a hold of himself only then he can reconcile with his love ones)

I wanna hurry home to you
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I’m very, very frightening
I’ll overdo it

 
You know I dreamed about you
for twenty-nine years before I saw you
You know I dreamed about you
I missed you for
for twenty-nine years

You know I dreamed about you
for twenty-nine years before I saw you
You know I dreamed about you
I missed you for
for twenty-nine years

(She is the one for him)

Slow Show by The National

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