Leona Naess: I Tried To Rock You But You Only Roll

I'm a little late, I know, but this may be one of the best albums of 2002. Yes. 2002.

I came to this album through a friend's myspace page, and I've been addicted since.

Leona has a voice that is both feminine and powerful; she's got a great range and the production on the album is not overdone. Her voice is like the perfect cheesecake: sweet, addictive, and absolutely beautiful. Or so I think.

From the first song, "Mexico," to the last song, "Promise to Try," she really keeps the quality very high, which is surprising for any album that really would be considered pop in this day and age.

My personal favourite is "Mayor of Your Town," which has a certain lovey kind of feel to it, but moves with a solid beat.

In the end: A good mix of pop/rock sensibilities, solid lyrics, and an amazing voice mean one thing: Check this album out. It's worth the 50 minute run time.

The Corrs: Home

I love this family band. Three sisters and a brother form and Irish pop/rock band. How can that go wrong I say?

Well, their album In Blue showed how it could go wrong: It was too overly electronic. When you have four amazingly talented musicians/singers, you don't do what U2 did (and some fans feel they should have done), which is to go so overly produced, A la Pop.

This album feels more them. Very Irish. As well it should, though, since their goal of this album was to take some modern and some classic Celtic tunes and put their beautiful spin on them. While this can make it feel folky, it doesn't make it any less great.

And, let's take a moment to appreciate this band, because, really, we all should. We've got four siblings, all musically gifted, and all very attractive, even the brother. You have to admit, those Irish genes are really working overtime in this family.

Home moves at a much slower pace than a lot of what I've been listening to lately, which made it hard for me to get through it at first, but between the strong Celtic feeling and the orchestral feeling created by the band, I was drawn in.

In the end: We're not going to see a lot of mainstream radio play on this album, which is always sad, but America doesn't like too much folk-ish music on it's radios, especially ethnic folk. But if you can appreciate celtic music, or even just the sound of a violin and a drum working together, you can enjoy this album.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Fever to Tell

It's loud. Really loud at points. I think that's a solid way to start.

We're not breaking any musical barriers with this album, but there's still something endearing about this collection of 11 tracks. Lyrically simple, musically simple, yet it still feels sonicly rich.

For the most part of the album, you're dealing with intense guitar-driven rock with a lead singer who can scream and sing equally well. The two tunes that bring it down a level ("Maps") or three ("Modern Romance")feel quite beautiful after you've pushed through such loud tunes as "Rich," "Man," and "Black Tongue."

Aside: At one point towards the end of "Maps," you can hear a riff being played out on guitar, and I swear this is the same riff played in Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone." If it is, someone's a thief, a fan of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, or both.

In the End: Alternative guitar-driven rock. That's my 4 word synopsis. It's the alternative part that's going to push some people away, and it's probably for the best, as some squares would call this "noise." I think the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have found a good balance of sonic and musical talent that can keep them going for a while.

Trisha O'Keefe: All the Honest Liars

Sitting on myspace, as I do, one tends to get slammed with friend requests from every damn person in the 'Verse. Including musicians. Now, I'm a sucker for a beautiful face, but that's not reason enough for me to put them on any friends list. I consider that endorsing someone or something and I have enough integrity that I at least ask that you be a good musician.

Trisha, here, was both (myspace.com/trishaokeefe). This gal has a great set of pipes, with some serious power and yet a sound that could easily send her to the top of any pop/rock chart, without being candy coated. Or, she could be an equally guilty pleasure, not unlike our Kelly Clarkson.

Anyway, the disc, "All the Honest Liars," is a small collection, only 9 tracks and weighing it at just under 38 minutes. And I feel that those two things are the worst part of the album: there's just not enough.

The album has a solid rock feel, with lots of electric and distorted and plenty of rock chick vocalization. The musical content ranges from up tempo rock love-ish tunes (a la "Easy to Fall"), break up tunes (a la "Dear John"), and even broken heart tunes (a la the very simplistically produced "Wait a Minute).

Not having seen her live yet, I don't know if her look matches with the rock sound she strives for, but listening to it, I feel like she should be accompanied by just an acoustic guitar more often than she is.

The album is well produced, well organized, and this (21 year old) gal has a solid range.

In the end: I think most people would be able to listen to AND enjoy this album. I think she's got a great set of pipes and a great look and could be chart gold, if she were handled right. All we are saying, is give Trish a chance.

Technorati Tagged: Trisha O'Keefe | Small Artists | 2003 | Rock

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Based on a random IM from Marc, I went out an purchased this album. Not the best way to start off a love affair, I know, but it's gotta begin somehow.

The first track, "Clap Your Hands!," put me off. I was a little afraid this was gonna be something very... goofy. But it went up hill from there, I swear.

This is one of those diamonds in the rough: The band has obvious talent and a definite chance at a future, but they need to pick some sort of direction. The albums a bit disconnected.

On the album some tracks of note are:
- Let the Cool Goddess Rust Away
- Over and Over Again
- In This Home on Ice (which, i'm sorry, the chorus sounds more than vaguely like a Who song which involves the words "Kids" and "Alright."
- Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood
This last one is very eery, if interesting. It seems to be an anti-war song, with the lead singer chanting "Young Blood" over and over again. Later on he chants "Child Stars" over again. Well, singing-chant. It's a really wild tune. And it ends VERY abruptly.

In the end: This will totally be out too far for some people, which is a shame, as it's a really great look and a band at it's beginning with lots of promise. Those who like to experience new stuff, snap this up quick.

Spoon: Gimme Fiction

I wish I had listened to this last year so I could have put it on my Top5 of '05. Sadly, I missed out on a great album.

After hearing a number of soundtracks with Spoon on them, I decided to give this album that Marc had been talking about a chance.

The tunes vary in speed, styles, and sound, but they all feel connected, which is always nice on an album.

"The Beast and Dragon, Adored," opens things up solidly, if very simple. Basic drum beat, piano, and guitar, and it just moves nicely. "The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine" has all the sounds of a great alt-rock radio hit.

The more I listen to this album, the more I feel it's not about being complicated, musically, but being quite simple in the instrumentation to create a lush sound.

The Beast and Dragon, Adored, I Turn My Camera On, Sister Jack, and The Infinite Pet all get higyh replays on the ol' iPod.

As for the Bonus Disc that comes with it, there are just four tracks:
- Carry Out Kids
- You Was It
- I Summon You (Demo)
- Sister Jack (Piano Demo)

And they offer a nice, if short, accompaniment to the 11 tracks of the regular release.

In the End: This may be a little out there, but not so far out there as to be inaccessible by the masses. Give some of the songs I picked out a shot, I think you, the loyal masses, will enjoy it.

Technorati Tagged: Spoon | Indie

Spoon: Sister Jack (CD Single)

This is a brief one as it's a 3-track disc.

The title song is one of my favourites off of the "Gimme Fiction" album (which will be reviewed in these parts later this week). It's got a simple rock progression, and anyone who loves good rock and roll, will like the tune, 'Nuff Said.

Also on here are a remix of another true favourite off of the album, "I Turn My Camera On." While I feel the remix isn't the best of remixes, it's listenable and still maintains enough of the original for me to bop my head happily.

Finally, the last track is "Sunday Morning, Wednesday Night" which is nothing more than an acoustic guiatr up front, with an electric guitar in the background (with some echo, of course), and then the vocals in the middle. It's simple, but different.

In the End: Let's face it, if you bought the single, you like the band, the album, or the song. I don't need to convince you. If you were going to buy a single as a way to get into the disc, though, I would suggest either "The Beast and Dragon, Adored" or "I Turn My Camera On."

Sia: Colour the Small Ones

Except for that whole "taxation without representation" of yester-century, I really feel the British can do no wrong. And when it comes to music, I feel this doubly so.

Sia, the breathy sometimes-vocalist for Zero 7, dropped her first US release with this album, and despite my initial misgivings, I find that it is actually a really great collection.

Sia, for many TV fans, became famous with the inclusion of her song "Breathe Me" in the series finale of Six Feet Under, which left many, including myself, with very moist eyes. It is both beautiful and haunting, and truly conveys a deep emotion.

But one hit does not an album make.

Also on the album, "Sunday," is a very enjoyable tune, with her vocals drawing the listener in and something in it that just evokes a feelings of later Beatles tunes. I just can't quite place it ....

Another great tune, "The Bully," find Sia switching from breathy to sweet sounding which allows us to get a feeling of her range.

The album contains some limited audio experimentation, including two rather dull remixes on the hit the label is hanging the album on, "Breathe Me."

In the End: If you're buying or trying this because you loved "Breathe Me" on Six Feet Under and just want the remixes, save your money. If you're going after this to see what this gal's range is, then it is money well spent. For anyone else, check out "Breathe Me." If you like it, you'll like the album. I say it's worth a listen.

Technorati Tagged: Sia | Zero 7 | 2006

Abra Moore: Strangest Places

As a younger man, I had high hopes for Abra Moore. I liked her voice, her music, and her. But my hopes and the music industry's whims are two different things.

You may remember her 1997 hit "Four Leaf Clover" from massive radio play that summer. The song is a catchy little diddy that leads off the album, and it interested me enough to by the single, which included "Guitar Song," another track off the album. I thought it was awesome, but I was always broke.

Finally broke down and bought the disc last year, and I was glad I did.

This disc, while not 100% cohesive, is still a great collection of 12 songs by this wonderful artist.

The title track, "Strangest Places," has a nice bop to it, and is reminiscent of something, but I'll be damned if I can place it; a better music person would know.

"Guitar Song" is a wonderful acoustic tune that I fell in love with on the first chord and I believe that anyone else who loves guitar-based music will feel similarly.

The accordian is an underused instrument, but Moore mixes it with some acoustic guitar on "Your Faithful Friend" to give the tune a wonderful, airy feel.

In the End: I think this is a pretty accesible album, with a way to grab most music lovers. There's nothing here to offend or distance people, but it may lack enough experimentation for some. I say give it a go; I adore the album.

On the Web: For those into the Myspace land, check her out at www.myspace.com/abramoore.