The Police: Synchronicity

Bringing out a classic rock album, because I heart it so much.

I remember being 5 years old listening to this album on Reel-To-Reel. Yes. That's how long I've adored this album.

Synchronicity may very well be a masterpiece, true musical genius. Maybe I'm biased, fine, but just listen to it.

The biggest problem with the CD, that I can see, is that you don't get the same feeling "sides" as you would with the vinyl.

On the vinyl, Side 1 opens and closes with Synchronicity (1 and 2, respectively) to give it a certain sense of connection. Side 2 does something a bit more creepy, opening with "Every Breath You Take," the classic stalker tune and closes with "Murder By Numbers," a song that convinces you that you too could be a killer.

Musically and lyrically, both sides perform well with one painful exception: "Mother. " It's a painful tune that is disturbing in its lyrics and misplaced in its tone and tune. This may be due to the fact that it's the only song on the album not penned by Mr. Gordon (Sting) Sumner.

If you were to ask me what tracks to listen to, I'd say "All but Mother." But, to help just a bit, "Walking in Your Footsteps," "King of Pain," and "Tea in the Sahara" are true shining gems of the album.

In the End: If you've ever remotely been a fan of Sting or the Police and have never listened to this, you're missing out. Samme can be said if you've NEVER heard of them. Please, give music a chance, listen to Synchronicity, and enjoy life.

Beck: Guero

Do you remember where you were when you first learned about Beck? I do.

Pickering Jr. High School, Lynn, Ma. 8th grade. My friend could not stop singing the "Get crazy with the cheez whiz" line from "Loser," and that was it. I was introduced to the artist known as Beck.

It's an interesting way to learn about someone, sure. But he didn't disappoint. His many works have shown us the good (and bad) he's capable of. Which is why I bought this album. I figured the odds were in his favour for something good again.

I wish that had been so.

Don't get me wrong, though, the album starts out very strong.

The lead off track, E-Pro, had a music video to go with it's nice rocking sound that was wholly Beck. After the opening track, I felt the album stayed strong halfway through; First 7 tracks are good stuff, a cross between some standard pop-rock sounds (Girl, Black Tambourine) and tunes spanning other genres (Hell Yes has hip-hop flavouring, while something in Earthquake Weather makes me think 70s pop).

Beck loses his cohesion, however, after that, and it just doesn't work. Tunes like Farewell Ride and Emergency Exit aren't necessarily bad cuts, just don't feel like they belong.

In the end: Beck fans will most assuredly love this album. Casual listeners will definitely enjoy much of the first half of the album, but will probably lose interest later on. If you can justify buying an album for only 6 or 7 of its 13 tracks, then pick this up.

Stereophonics: Performance and Cocktails

As previously stated, I love these guys. Marc introduced them to me back in 2001 when Just Enough Education To Perform came out, but I didn't check out their other works 'til recently.

This one comes from 1999, and has some more great tunes. The aforementioned Marc may have said it best when he said, "Kelly Jones could sing off shopping lists and it would be cool."

Moving past that very true statement "Performance and Cocktails" offers 13 solid tracks, ranging from hard rocking tunes (Roll Up and Shine, Bartender and the Thief) to softer (not to be confused with soft rock) rocking (Just Looking, She Takes Her Clothes Off).

The album is great, start to finish, and having listened to it thoroughly, I can see why people were so excited over "Just Enough Education to Perform": It was a great follow-up album to another great album.

In the end: Get off your ass and listen to these guys. I need to check out some of their older stuff, and so should you. Buy this and "Just enough education..." and listen to them both. Now.

KT Tunstall: Eye to the Telescope

It's not often that I'm AHEAD of the music curve. Normally I'm either straggling behind the curve, or just riding the crest. But not this time, my friends.

Last year (05-Jan), I got an issue of Uncut, where the reviewer was gushing over Ms. Tunstall's talent and how she'd be huge in the coming year.

She seems to have done well for herself in the UK, and her day in the US light would appear to be upon us.

The album is not yet available in the US (Feb 7), but I did the illegal thing last year, and have since ordered the album and 5 EPs/Singles off of Amazon.co.uk. They're due in next week.

However, the album... the album, I adore. It took me a few listens to be 200% satisfied with it, but when the glow hit, damn, it's been worth it.

The whole album is full of good songs that I could gush about for hours and hours, but I'll try not to.

What you should jump on, if you're going to judge this album by just a handful of tracks are "Another Place to Fall," (A somewhat angry tune about one friend, it seems, telling another one to get her shit together as the narrator will no longer be "Another Place to Fall"), the first US single "Black Horse & a Cherry Tree," (Which has the Pop/Rock sensibilities to go far on Top40/Adult/Teanie Bopper radio), and "Suddenly I See," (An upbeat sounding/feeling tune that is sure to get your foot tapping and your head bopping).

In the end: I think this is going to be a break out pop/rock hit of the year. And, I hope, a big one. If not, She's cute, she's scottish, and she's got a good set of pipes. Take 45 minutes from your day and check this out.

Off Topic: Dualdiscs

As anyone who has purchased music in the last 6 months may have noticed, The Music Industry(tm) has introduced the concept of "Dualdiscs," cramming CD audio on one side of a disc, and DVD audio / DVD features on the other side.

The concept was met with lukewarm reactino, at best. And, as I sit here, listening to the DVD audio side of the Dave Matthews Band's album "Stand Up," I think I figured out what the problem is:

The Music Industry(tm) is full of fucking idiots.

There, I said it. Sorry if I have offended.

Personally, I think the Dualdisc is a keen thing. I think it offers the opportunity to really give fans something more, and *almost* justify CDs still being in the $14 - $18 range. Almost.

But Music company execs are dumbasses and don't know what to do with this great opportunity they've given themselves.

On the DMB disc, for instance, do you know what the "bonus content" is?

A crappy, self-promotional piece about how it is for the band getting back in the studio with a new producer. It was boring. And I like Dave. But that's IT. Uhm ... Excuse me?

Popping the disc into my computer's DVD drive and taking a look, the total disc size is 1.77 gigs. The disc is just barely 40% full. There's PLENTY of room for more stuff. Live performances? Maybe a music video (because, let's face it, the first music video for an album is ready before the final version of the disc presses)?

Oh, and there's a photogallery. Because THAT'S what I want to look at, on a machine meant to show MOVING PICURES.

Another Dualdisc I bought was Bruce Springsteen's "Devils & Dust." This one is not as bland: The DVD side includes bonus, Bruce-solo-acoustic performances of 5 tracks. Good use, in my book. And he intros the tunes before he performs them. It is quite enjoyable. Here, thankfully, the company had half a clue. Also, during each of the album versions of the songs on the DVD side, the lyrics are on screen for you. A keen bonus feature so you don't have to pop open the booklet.

But, gods damn it! There is SO MUCH MORE potential. I know I'm just some mook who loves music, but, COME ON!

I've not purchased any dualdiscs in the last few months, so I'm not certain what is available on the field. Let me look on Amazon, please hold...

-- time passes in real world, but not on blog post --

So, there are 101 Dualdiscs listed on Amazon. And looking through the list, I think I know what my problem is:

Dualdisc is just another way to whore $artist out.

Then again, what isn't these days?

Kate Bush: Aerial

Kate Bush is one of those artists who likes to do different things. To give you an example, one of her songs on the two-disc album, "Aerial," is called Pi, and it truly does live up to its name: For the chorus of the song, she sings digits of that mythical number, Pi.

I've enojoyed all of Kate Bush's work since I heard the "Hounds of Love" record (yes, record). This album doesn't let down.

Aerial, which, as I said, is a two-disc set, is broken up into "A Sea of Honey" (Disc 1) and "A Sky of Honey" (Disc 2).

The first disc feels like a regular album of different musical tastes and sounds. Its mostly a hit, with "How to Be Invisible" being the only song that doesn't seem to fit her style (*which, yes I'm aware she does not have a hard and fast style*).

The second disc feels like a cohesive album, albeit, a bit ambient. I almost didn't notice this album sweeping through my ears as it played out, but it was a wonderful musical journey.

I'm so glad, that after 12 years, Kate's come up with some new material. I don't think there's really much on here for solid, Top40 radio play, but alternative stations and smaller, independent radio (such as WXRV 92.5 near where I am) will probably play more than one tune off of this.

In the end: If you already like more of Kate Bush's work than the one or two songs you've heard on the radio, then this is for you. If you're opposed to sonic experimentation, you should stay away. There's a lot of fun stuff here, but not everyone will be able to appreciate/enjoy it.

The Beta Band: The Three E.P.'s

If you've seen "High Fidelity," then you at least know of this album. Or, if you're like me, immediately after seeing the movie you went and bought it. And I really am glad I did.

Thi isn't a standard rock album; there's a lot of experimentation with sounds and instruments. For the most part, this is actually a very good thing. Loops, reverbs, eletronic noises, and acoustic guitars all play an integral part to the sounds this group has created.

Some of the tracks come across as pretty simple rock songs which should have had vast amounts of airplay, but never quite made it.

Top tracks on the album are: "Dry the Rain," "Dog Got a Bone," "The House Song," and "She's the One."

In the end: I think most people would be able to digest a majority of this album without damaging their standard pop/rock sensibilities. Experimental tracks, such as Monolith, heavily harken back to the Beatles' Revolution #9, with no strong cohesion, just sonic bombardment. But don't let that frighten you. This is a good catch.

DangerDoom: The Mouse & The Mask

This album intrigued me: DJ Danger Mouse and MF Doom ream up for a hip-hop album... and write songs that involve, in some way, Adult Swim characters. Genius. What's more, the album really delivers.

The duo lay some awesome beats, the raps are fun, the guest appearances are hysterical (Meatwad, Brak, Harvey Birdman, etc), and, honestly, the album doesn't end up feeling super gimmicky.

On the album, some of the best tracks are "Sofa King," "Benzi Box," "A.T.H.F. (Aqua Teen Hunger Force)," and "No Names (Black Debbie)."

And, for those paying attention, DJ Dangermouse is the genius behind "The Grey Album" (the musical mashing of Jay-Z's "Black Album" and the Beatles "White Album").

In the end: Hip-hop is always one of those genres I think people are afraid of. Or, at least, don't entirely understand it. I count myself among that group. But the stories of these songs mixed with the charachert guest spots and the great beats make this a very enjoyable album. And, really, Meatwad rapping makes it totally worthwhile.

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