Antidotes by The Foals

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The Foals have been around since…. well, according to their website, they’ve had albums coming out since 2007. SO, one would be led to assume sometime around then they’ve been in existence…. They should put a bio up… Not even myspace, the god of all thing bands, has anything on them…

They released an album called Antidotes on Mar 28, 2007 (yes they were exact about that).

Its an indy album, with crazy stretched out beaty rhythms. dodaloopdadoopdoop type of stuff.

For me, sometimes this Indy stuff gets a bit much when the singer starts to be a whiny type fellow, but I found that these guys kept a good song together very nicely, and it all sort of fit together. In short, I enjoyed this album.

Its not heavy, its not solo acoustic, its not country or rap, its not soul and its not classic rock. Its a different space that I really lack ability to describe accurately. But, what I can say is that I enjoyed this album. It held together a releasing escape of tension and architecture with an emotional insurgence.

Check it out if you’ve got the chance. Oh, and also check out the band, they are on tour right now.

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Martin Solveig and Dragonette – Hello (Smash Episode 1)

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So, I was asked to say what I think about the Martin Solveig & Dragonette song/video here:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfxC3TCDgCE]

and the result is: I think its awesome!

I need to crank my speakers up to feel this one. The starting is kinda funny, and the tennis match is also hilarious, of course based around a girl, but then ending leaves us knowing there will be more parts to this.

The song itself has got beats, nice mixing, solid groove and rhythm that will get an entire stadium shaking their booties in unison.

I think its the fact that Dragonette is in this, whom, if you’ve read any of my previous posts, know that I am very fond of her/their work to date, and this just adds to the list.

Well done, and I look forward to more.

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Love Gonna Let Me Down by Toots and the Maytals

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOhwKsaSHyI&feature=related]

I play this song on my guitar. I play it very regularly. I play it with all my dreams in mind. I play it to play my heart on my strings. I don’t usually get personal on here, but its such a good song, you all must use it to inspire you into fearing nothing. Not even the worst of demons in the world.

There is a CD Toots put out, where he has guests singing with him for the whole cd, and this is one of the songs he does with Ben Harper. The Album is called True Love.

Love Gonna Let me Down – Toots feat. Ben Harper

Every time that I see your face
Something moves within my heart
Honey, tears me to my soul
And tells me that
Love’s not gonna let me down
Oh no oh no
Love’s not gonna let me down

As I see the morning sun
I know everything, everything is alright
I could see her rushing to my door
And tell me that

Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down

I could see the morning sun
And hoping that everything, everything is alright
I can see her rushing to my door
And tell me that

Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down

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Mignonette by The Avett Brothers

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The album Mignonette by the Avett Brothers is undoubtedly a great album. These guys have amazed me since I first heard A Carolina Jubilee many years ago.

I once heard a quote from these guys: “If we don’t leave the stage covered in sweat, then we haven’t put ourselves into our show.” I’m not sure if they still feel the same since they’ve become bigger, signed by Sony, worked with Rick Ruben, and toured the world a few times by now, but they still give me the same sweet sensation whenever I hear their music.

To me the Avett Brothers signify good music. Layered with banjo, double bass (standup), easy percussions, soulful guitar, and sometimes the piano, this music just…. Yes, is the best thing in the world.

This album, Mignonette, starts off with the cd title track in a sentimental version, which somewhat sets the mood for the whole album. Although it immediately kicks into a somewhat more upbeat song right away with Nothing Short of Thankful, the whole album cuts into very… sentimental corners throughout the entirety.

Songs like Signs ring forever in my ears with Scott and Seth Avett’s harmonies.  It’s just something extraordinary that cannot be faked.

My favorite is how they always have songs starting with ‘Pretty Girl from…” or “Pretty Girl at… ”

Please Pardon Yourself is just a meander through a valley with a girl on your arm. Pleasant and pleasing, there is nothing more enjoyable to me than to hear the Avett Brothers pluck those strings and sing this kind of a song. They caress the emotionalism with every bite, and do it good at that. I cannot stress how much they rule.

The Day Marvin Gaye Died is another great song. Really, they are all finger licking good songs if you haven’t got the point yet.

The Avett Brothers play on a never ending loop in my head. They play acoustic songs, that are more empowering than most electrified acts can even dream about. They can stop in an instant and give you the feeling of looking up in the middle of a mosh pit covered in sweat for a few glimpsing moments of bliss, and then just as quickly kick the double bass of Bob Crawford kicks in and gets you hopping around once more like the heat of a bluegrass jubilee.

Check out the record and let me know how you enjoy it!

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Baby Darling Dollface Honey by Band of Skulls

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I had the pleasure of experiencing this dynamic trio, Band of Skulls at the Venue in late April, and what a show it was. This album is all that in a pre-packaged little gem of wonder for me to carry with me everywhere.

Baby Darling Dollface Honey is what new rock has turned into for me. The album epitomizes what its all about. Killer crunching guitar riffs that explode at times, but seek the most soothing lines at others filling up the spaces with rhythm that one wishes they could dream up, or is it that we dream up as it plays, its hard to tell.

The first few songs push you into a three piece galaxy that you’d think was experimental orchestrations with distortion pedals so fat the couldn’t make it through the studio doors so they had to be blasted from outdoors. Russel Marsden is really an amazing guitarist, and seeing him live really proved to me that he loves to play guitar, and has talent more than enough to make it sing.

Then as Fires and Honest come to the speakers, it slows down into melodic numbers that make me want to swirl around my room dancing like I was lost in heaven. I love Emma Richardson singing on Honest, its one of my favorite songs out there.

Soon though, it clicks back into tracks like Hollywood bowl that make you understand that this band is for real, a rock band, with all the love that goes on in it.

Get this album, its a doozie.

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Fixin to Thrill by Dragonette

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So recently I’ve got my hands on Dragonette‘s most recent album, Fixin To Thrill. It has, and will continue to amaze me with its dynamic sound, filled with reverberations of all sorts of genres.


Fixin to Thrill comes packed with punches of grunge, oozing with coolness like a casual saunter through a beautiful but sketchy park.

Throughout the entire album, I found myself constantly saying, wow this is good. Its a side step from a lot of music coming through these doors as of late, that are folk blues artists.

The lead singer, Martina Sorbara completely packs the sexyness and prowess that a flashy rocking band like Dragonette requires, her voice is simply groovy.

Dragonette is a Canadian act, rocking since 2005, according to Wikipedia, and this is their third album out. Second one on their record label Mercury Records, the first being Galore (2007). Their first a self titled EP released in 2005.
Galore is also a great album, but, Fixin to Thrill just steps it up to a whole new level.

There are electronic grooves that keep the songs all pumping, but then fat bass lines sink into the listener, both taking the ears on a grooving roller coaster.

To me this proves that the Synth is very far from dead.

If you have not heard it, check it out.

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Brothers by The Black Keys

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I got the word that the Black Keys new album was out, Brothers.

To start off with, I totally love it. I’ve been a fan since the day I heard them in a basement apartment the morning after rinking so much I was able to pass out fully clothed. Pretty much simply a love affair.

The album starts off with killer killer groove so fat you could shake a stick at it, with Everlasting Light.

Dan Auerbach belts out them lyrics like he fits right in. Something about this band just blows me away. Patrick Carney knows where its at, when he’s talking serious with the drums. They match up like ketchup and mustard; beets and grooves that make sense.

The album feels like they’ve spent a lot of time getting to know the instruments, and toys to play around with. I like that. Its rock but its rocked, if you will. Theres this kazoo maybe in Howlin’ For You, which reminds me of what I’ve heard so many times of Jimi Hendrix, how he just pulled out a kazoo and made it killer. When do they really fit in one may digress.

On She’s Long Gone the distortion on the guitar is like Jack White is holding a conference with John Lee Hooker. Or maybe even RL Burnside is over for some tea, just lacing in some harmony.

I get feelings that the Black Crowes would have been of something like this if brothers were a two man band. The Black Keys are filled with soul, they’ve got groove, they’ve got style, and they’ve got sound.

The Only One gave me moments of recognizing what I’m used to hearing from the band. Not that its always sounding like one thing, but it just gave me that feeling.

The later songs on the album put you into a pleasant place as well. Somewhat stepping you onto Groove Street, filling your bowels with organs that will walk you ahead like an old lady with a walker needs.

Really, if I had to sum up the album, its as it should be. The Black Keys will stun you off the bat, drawing you to them with their sound, make you feel good and in a comfortable place. Its one of those albums that you’ll kinda sit back and enjoy to listen to. Its as much of a mixed tape as it could be, clearly drawing from inspiration all over the place. Proving that this group of veterans still listens to music, and still finds soul within them.

This album will be one of my favorites.

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