David Newman: Serenity (Motion Picture Score)

I'm a man who likes his soundtracks and motion picture scores. One of the greatest things in film, for me, is what choices were made for soundtrack music, for the score that is to accentuate the music on screen.

To not purchase the score to, what I consider, the movie event of the year, would just be silly. I picked this up on the 27th, coincidentally, the same day I got into an advance screening of the film of the same title.

The only downside I found to this score, even before listening to it, is that the track titles spoil points of the plot. That aggrivated me, but I'd already been spoiled about what was listed on there, so it was ok.

Listening to this album, before seeing the movie, created some amazing visuals. I was more excited that, for a few moments, my visual roughly matched what Joss had crafted on the screen.

The title track is a short piece, just 0:51, but its clear that this is the big opening sequence, where you see the film title and we start the credits. Its intense, its beautiful, and, as a stand alone piece of music, is rather fun (and sets up the major musical theme).

Much of the music has a very dark feel to it, so I was put into a frame of mind listening to this, without having seen the film, that made me weary. I didn't know if the film was going to go to dark, but it also excited me.

The music did an excellent job of capturing some of the feel of Greg Edmondson;s work from the TV show while also having Newman's own touch.

The blend of western (truly western, not country), oriental, and middle eastern themes, sounds, and instruments gives one a truly world feeling while telling you exactly what world this "'Verse" lives in.

The music for the big battle scenes conveys intense chaos, with moments of the film's major theme being played slightly off key, giving the listener a feeling that things are just insane.

Like any good movie, the closing theme recaptures the beauty and love of the opening theme, while giving a slightly different feel at the same time.

The one thing missing from the score was the final piece of music that rolled over the second half of the credits, a very simple, very stripped down version of the TV show's theme song -- instrumental style.

In the end: This is obviously a limited purchase. Not everyone likes scores, and the number of people who would like this album is limited further by the subject matter. Nonetheless, its a good piece of work by David Newman, and is a must for those who think they would like this.

Shout Out Louds: Howl Howl Gaff Gaff (US Version)

I can't gush enough about this group, or anything they do.

Howl Howl Gaff Gaff by these Swedes may be the best album of the year. Or, at very least, it may be the best album of the year ignored by the music industry. I don't know which yet.

You've read what I think about the EP , so the hopes were very high for this one. And I was not disappointed.

The album flows well, for the US release, but not as good as the Euro one. But I'm only looking at the US one for this review.

Outside of what I drooled over for the EP, there are so many great tracks on this album including Oh Sweetheart!, Go Sadness, Please Please Please, and 100 Degrees.

Noticably missing from the US release is I Wish I Were Dead, Pt. 1, which will make US listeners extremely curious what the deal with I Wish I Were Dead, Pt. 2 on the EP. The album does end on a slightly sour note with Sea Gull, arguably the weakest track on the album.

I won't fault this group for trying to get tracks US audiences could get behind on the album, but the Euro release is solid and, more so, something US audiences could have equally enjoyed.

In the end: I think missing this album is akin to missing out on The Beatles' White Album AND Abbey Road. Ok, maybe not that much, but you get the idea. Its a very, very solid album. Don't let the weak finishing song fool you, this is a must have of 2005.

David Bowie: Young Americans

I'm busting out a real oldie here, but I only listened to the album for the first time, as a whole, last week.

Two of Bowie's "Certified" hits, Young Americans and Fame book end 6 interesting tunes, 5 of his and a Beatles cover, Across the Universe.

Bowie's own tunes hold up excellently, if a bit 70s sounding, after all this time, but the Beatles' cover, I find to be a bit weaker than one has come to expect from ol' Dave.

Outside of the obvious hits, Win and Right are more than just listenable, very enjoyable even.

When your greatest hits, truly GREATEST hits, can fill up two albums easily (People like Bowie, the Stones, the Beatles), you sometimes forget about all the other work they have done.

In the end: Bust away from the usual belief that its easier to just listened to these Classic Rocker greatest hits compilation, and check out this disc. Its no Exile on Main St. (By the Stones), but its a good one. Especially if you like the older feel.

Butterfly Boucher: Flutterby

I first heard Butterly opening for someone, I want to say Barenaked Ladies, at the FleetCenter in Boston a few years back. She was fun on stage, but I wasn't hugely impressed live. Maybe I just wasnt in the mood for her at the time. She kinda reminds me of a more-talented Bree Sharp, the more I think about.

The album starts out on a solid note, a tune Life is Short, which does a little ass-motivating, as the title may suggest. The rest of the album keeps a decent pace, moving around the emotional scale, but being mostly rockin'. The last track, "Drift On," seems to close the album quietly, but nicely.

A few other better-than-good tracks include "Another White Dash" and "A Beautiful Book."

In the end: I think this is a solid album many people could and can enjoy. It doesn't require you to enjoy a certain genre, it just is good music. Maybe you will, maybe you won't, its up to you.

George Carlin: You Are All Diseased

Its a CD. So its comedy? So what?

This may be some of the most angry comedy I've heard from Carlin, but, to be fair, it may also be some of his best.

As is most GOOD comedy these days, Carlin does some legitimate social commentating, not just dumb jokes on race or "dick and fart jokes."

Carlin's You Are All Diseased takes a look at airport security (This is pre-9/11), germs, American Bullshit, and even God.

Sometimes I feel a bit awkward because my strict judeo-christian american upbringing claims that what he is saying is wrong, but the intelligent part of me can't help but agree, even in the Airport Secuirty bit. His discussion on germs is genius and I 200% agree with him. And, of course, he takes shots at silly older white guys who truck their motorcycles to bike events. Yes, he did lighten up for this one.

In the end: Anyone who knows Carlin should know what you're getting into. If this is your first foray into the mind of George Carlin, I might suggest something a little more calm, like Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics.

Aaron Brady: Aaron Brady

Aaron Brady is a guy I met one night at the mall. He was doing an in-store performance at Sam Goody in Peabody, and as support for a friend who orgainzed it, I showed up. That may have been one of the best musical finds of the last year.

Its a good, solid pop album. It doesn't really waver in quality, but it definitely hits the high and low emotional points. And don't let the album fool you: This guy ain't no pop-tart. He's a talented guitarist/pianist making some good music.

Its hard to decide on a few quality tracks, but I'd say the lead off track Make You Shine, Tired Love, and Think Again are key tracks to listen for.

To get more skinny on the guy, check out his little niche on the interwebs:
http://www.aaronbrady.com/

My current understanding is that he's gots a new album coming out later this year, which I'm quite excited over. I'll give a brief overview once i get my hands on it.

In the end: This may not be the "Greatest Album of All Time," but its solid, its listenable, and more than one track makes you want to tap your foot. Give it a try, what's the worst that can happen? You don't like it?

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Kanye West: Late Registration

Whie vacationing in my tent on the cape, a friend put on the "Gold Digger" track from this album, featuring Jaime Foxx channeling Ray Charles. Its a fun track, and I enjoyed it. So I made the effort to come home and download the album.

As an aside:I used to download as my sole source of music income, but I felt bad. So I download to test drive. And I'll tell you, downloading has made me purchase albums I normally wouldn't have bought, and, at the same time, i've not purchased albums I probably would have wasted my money on otherwise. I think "Try before you buy" is important.

The album strongly disappointed me. Not because its Kanye West. I think he's decent. The album starts out strong with 3 tracks. Back to back to back. Heard 'Em Say (w/Adam Levine of Maroon5), Touch the Sky, and Gold Digger (w/Jaime Foxx). Really great stuff. Then, as the trend on rap/hip hop albums seems to be, there's this dumb ass skit about being piss poor. And the album just falls over after that.

In the end: You'll buy this album for one of two reasons:
1) You're more than happy to buy a disc for one or two tracks. And the first three are really good.

2) You dig Kanye West.

Otherwise, buy the singles as they're released. You'll probably get some interesting remixes.

Shout Out Louds: Very Loud (EP)

This is just a three track EP, so it won't take long. But I feel its important to get this out there because these guys are phenomenal.

Very Loud came to me by way of my friend Sean. He described them as "a little Cure, a little U2, and a little of" someone else. I don't remember who that someone else was. But the description made me very hesitant. Then he put the EP on, and I was sold.

The three tracks on this disc do a very good job of displaying the wide talents the band has, and does what I think an EP should do: Make you want to buy the full album.

The title track both moves and yet has a little bit of melancholy somewhere in the singer's voice that is interesting and beautiful.

The second track, But Then Again No is the worst of the three tracks, but even being the worst of the three is still better than a lot of what's out there.

The final track, Wish I Was Dead, Pt.2, intrgues me. It made me curious what "Pt. 1" sounded like. And, after getting the bootlegged version of their debut album, Howl Howl Gaff Gaff, I found that it was different. And, to be honest, I liked Pt. 2 better.

In the end: This is a great, cheap investment, and will make you want to pick up the aforementioned album by these Swedes. See, something better than Abba did come out of Sweden.

Various Artists: Six Feet Under - Everything Ends

Six Feet Under - Everything Ends was purchased under emotional turmoil, I'd just like to say.

I had watched the finale, and the music in that episode alone was amazing and moving, and the ifnal song they played as they wrapped things up was like a punch to your heart. You couldn't help but cry.

Being a soundtrack, there is a level of emotional cohesion, but not like a normal studio album. That said, this album flows well (except for Coldplay, but thats a personal issue).

The album also contains a number of Six Feet Under exclusive tracks from the likes of Jem, Interpol, and the Arcade Fire.

The break out track, in my opinion, is Sia's "Breathe Me." This is that song that ran over the end of the episode. It seeps inside and just grabs you. Holds you.

Ever since the "Thomas Crown Affair" (1999) soundtrack, I've enjoyed Nina Simone, and her lead off track "Feelin' Good" works just right.

As I said, I have an personal issue with Coldplay because I feel they've become sickeningly repetitive. They're song, "A Rush of Blood to the Head," worked well in the episode it was featured in, but I wish it hadn't made it to the disc. There's plenty of other amazing music that has been in the series but did not get any showcasing on this, or the First Volume.

In the end: There's a lot of amazing talent on this disc, and it's worth the 12 bucks to get it all collected into one place. Its a bit of a downer, though, so don't buy this looking to boost your spirits.

Deltron 3030: Deltron 3030

Deltron 3030 is one of those whatchamacallits... theme album? Story album? I don't know. It seems to be classified in the hip-hop genre, but it seems to be so much more.

The long and short of the albums "theme" or "story" is that its 3030, and describes some life there in.

The vocals and beats may sound a little bit familiar because DJ Kid Koala and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien both contributed to the Gorillaz albums (with the lead singer of Blur).

The album's got a great beat, mixed some funny/interesting vocal parts mixed in, such as the opening track which is just a voice announcing when you are ("Its the year 3030").

The fourth track off the album, "Things You Can Do," has been in and out of my head for weeks. It never quite wants to leave. Yeah, its that catchy. Track 7, "Virus," is a mix of beats and raps about this super hacker who wants to create an uber-virus. Its got a sinister rhythm and its fun (with a dig at ol' Microsuck buried in there).

In the end: If you found any of the Gorillaz stuff remotely interesting or enjoyable, then you should have no problem happily digesting this album. "Upgrad your grey matter, caus some day it may matter."