Rival Schools – Shot After Shot

Rival Schools (from NYC) – Shot After Shot

Hurts :: Happiness (2010)

artist: Hurts, from Manchester, UK

album: Happiness

label: Sony UK

release date: 14.09.2010

genre: ballad, pop, 80s synth, alternative

rating: pretty good.

preview / purchase

The record plays great, feels great, and sounds even better. Are we talking about a band that transcends barriers and may have universal appeal? At some point yes, but not quite yet. Someone pointed out to me that maybe we are just too cynical to recognize the innocence in the simple lyrics to a ballad, or that maybe the state of pop music has taken us away from the real essence of it. So is it the record's naivete that fails to surpass the mark or our jaded ears that do not allow us to look beyond its facade?

Happiness is not a five-star album by any means, but it has achieved more than it set to be. By flashing back to an era relished by everyone as magical, carefree, it has regressed to the simplicity of the complex; it catapults the saxophone solo, the epic synthesizer arrangement, the power chorus to a new phase that the languid structure of the indie pop song cannot possibly convey.

–amazon reviewer, 08.09.2010.

Band of Skulls :: Baby Darling Doll Face Honey

artist: Band of Skulls

from: London, UK

album: baby darling doll face honey

label: artist first

release date: 07.april.2009

genre: rock, alternative rock

rating: quite good, 6/10 on popmatters review
buy: amazon

« link to preview taken down due to DMCA

1. Light Of The Morning
2. Death By Diamonds And Pearls
3. I Know What I Am
4. Fires
5. Honest
6. Patterns
7. Hollywood Bowl
8. Bomb
9. Impossible
10. Blood
11. Dull Gold Heart
12. Cold Fame

You've probably heard the singles "I Know What I Am" and "Death By Diamonds and Pearls". But this album isn't all downright fun, sing-along, rock. Slower rock ballads/sort of indie-ish-maybe songs are juxtaposed between the real rock ones. Another band member (female) takes on the lead vocals on a few of them, which confused me at first until I recalled that part in the popmatters review. Overall an enjoyable album.

Arctic Monkeys ::: Whatever People Say...

Artist: Arctic Monkeys (from the UK)

Album: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

Label: Domino

Release Date: 21.Feb.2006

Genre: Alternative/Indie Rock

Rating: Pretty good.

Pitchfork Review, 7.4

73mb VBR .rar

BUY.

1. "The View from the Afternoon" - 3:38
2. "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" - 2:53
3. "Fake Tales of San Francisco" - 2:57
4. "Dancing Shoes" - 2:21
5. "You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights but You Were Staring Straight at Me" - 2:10
6. "Still Take You Home" - 2:53
7. "Riot Van" - 2:14
8. "Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured" - 2:23
9. "Mardy Bum" - 2:55
10. "Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But..." - 4:28
11. "When the Sun Goes Down" - 3:20
12. "From the Ritz to the Rubble" - 3:13
13. "A Certain Romance" - 5:31

Ahh I hate when I'm late to music. I DID hear a couple Arctic Monkeys songs on live105's soundcheck new music radio show when there was all this hype about them/when the songs first premiered in 2006 or maybe even 2005(?), and yes, I liked those songs, but never bothered to look them up. A few months ago I listened to their sophomore album, "Favourite Worst Nightmare", and was unimpressed, so yeah. Only now, the day before I go to their show at the beautifully renovated Fox Theatre in Oakland, that I listen to their debut album. Yeah, I totally win at this. Well apparently, this album is about the life of 19- and 20-year-olds, which is how old the band members were when they produced this. Actually I also listened to their latest album "Humbug" which features "Crying Lightning", and was about equally unimpressed with it as with "Worst Nightmare", so I think I'm just not a big fan of the Arctic Monkeys. I like this album, though. And hopefully I'll like them more after their show. =7

The Bravery:: The Sun and The Moon (Complete!)

The Bravery myspace
The Sun and the Moon—Complete

Release date: 18.03.2008
Label: Island
Genre: Alternative
Rating: VERY VERY GOOD!!!/my new favourite!

CD1:The Sun//CD2:The Moon

1. Intro
2. Believe
3. This Is Not the End
4. Every Word Is a Knife in My Ear
5. Bad Sun
6. Time Won't Let Me Go
7. Tragedy Bound
8. Fistful of Sand
9. Angelina
10. Split Me Wide Open ★★★★★ my new favourite track
11. Above and Below
12. The Ocean

The first disc has the version of 'Believe' and 'Time Won't Let Me Go' that you've heard on the radio. The second disc, The Moon, as I've skimmed over in the amazon reviews is the lead singer and songwriter's versions. Same lyrics and tracks on The Moon, but they're sort of electronic-y, with the addition of bass-synths. Really, you need to listen to both albums. So good (I've listened to it on repeat like 3 times already). Highly recommended, GET THIS ALBUM!

mediafire link credit: iMalias