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reviews
Secret, Profane & Sugarcane – Elvis Costello
To enjoy certain things in life, you need what is best called an acquired taste. The brand of music which Elvis Costello has made in a career spanning three decades could be slotted in much the same way. Largely instrumental in the rise to prominence of New Wave punk music, the past decade has seen [...]
Appetite for Destruction – Guns N’ Roses
Not many bands would have the notoriety to have sparked off a riot while performing to a live audience. Nor would any have had a bigger debut album released till date. An album which has notched sales in excess of 18 millions units since the time of its release, a feat unsurpassed till now, and [...]
Blackout 2 – Method Man and Redman
Collaborations aren’t easy to come about between superstars. Considering either would have solo efforts of their own to keep them more than busy, it is nothing short of a miracle if it happens. But then this is what makes them superstars, right? A decade back, Method Man after having parted from the Wu Tang Clan [...]
The High End of Low – Marilyn Manson
It would be better at times if people chose to shock with their work, rather than how they look. An image of shock and glam may be what Marilyn Manson has chosen for him, it now seems to be more a pre-pubescent case of still ascribing to a prurient outlook to fuel popular appeal. Because [...]
The E.N.D. – Black Eyed Peas
There is no doubting the contribution science and technology have made in providing those mega strides that have taken music to where it is now. So while musicians may get feel a certain sense of gratitude, it gets a bit quaint when this starts looking like an obsession. The last thing being a reference to [...]
Dark Night of the Soul – Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse, David Lynch
There comes a time when the most basic tenets are put to test. Medieval saints may have termed this as the Dark Night of the Soul with reference to religious faith; modern day musicians would find a different connotation. With the entire record label machinery being redefined, the current period may well be identified this [...]
Black Clouds and Silver Linings – Dreamtheater
The precision with which progressive metal stalwarts Dreamtheater play their compositions isn’t something unknown. Had these guys not been making music, they would have been involved in some hallowed scientific or engineering pursuit, where exactitude is the key parameter for execution – quite possibly. Crafting meticulously timed melodies has been Dreamtheater’s forte. Their previous album [...]
Uplifter – 311
There are few bands which are able to put together all their varied musical influences together like 311. This band has something for everyone – punk, metal, rap, ska, reggae. Their ninth studio album “Uplifter” is no different either. The difference this time is that they have collaborated with the heavyweight production values of the [...]
Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King – Dave Matthews Band
Death has a way of living itself through Life. At least that’s what you feel when you listen to “Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King”, the latest album by Dave Matthews Band. Released after the untimely exit of their cofounding member LeRoi Moore who acted as a solid pillar of musical strength with his adroitness [...]
Sewn Together – Meat Puppets
It has been a long time coming. 12 years after they went their own ways, Meat Puppets came back together to give us the 2007 ‘Rise to Your Knees’. Somehow, the original punch of the punks was missing, which they used to stir up to perfection in their original years. A couple of years down [...]
CrazySexyCool – TLC
Since the advent of the R&B genre, female groups comprising of black females have laid its foundation and built colossal architectures with impervious walls made up of powerful vocals, and the relief made up of images overflowing with oomph and chutzpah. Speaking of trios, just like the 60s saw the success of Motown with The [...]
Shallow Life – Lacuna Coil
Just as life, there are quite a few things else, which are equally shallow, if not more – Andrea Ferro’s vocals for one. Even after all these years with Italian goth metal outfit Lacuna Coil, Andrea hasn’t been able to find sound grounding for himself. Thankfully, Lacuna Coil managed to stumble upon some vocal talent [...]
Fantasy Ride – Ciara
Much awaited and much delayed, Ciara finally releases her album ‘Fantasy Ride’. Alter egos, it seem, are the flavor of this season as far as pop divas are concerned. Quite like Beyonce and Sasha Fierce, Ciara proclaims to exhibit her inner self in the form of Super C on this album. Super C, though just [...]
For the Lions – Hatebreed
Hatebreed, though may not be as huge a name in the metal genre on the whole, yet it does enjoy leading a closely knit tribe, which would swear by their name, and mosh at the drop of a quarter note. As with all bands, they also had their favorites which helped them shape the body [...]
Quicken the Heart – Maximo Park
The Indies have been continuing to step out from the shadows, and continuing making those strides towards taking over the ‘majors’. And the UK being what it is for nurturing indie talent in recent years continues to hold on strong to its status. And bands like Maximo Park continue to add on to that status [...]
Divided by the Night – The Crystal Method
Big beat electronic music is witnessing a lot of action these days. Fatboy Slim got together his coterie of artists to bring out an album under his side project BPA; The Prodigy have been screaming how its an ‘Omen’ on the hard hitting ‘Invaders Must Die’; so it is but fitting that West Coast electronicians [...]
21st Century Breakdown – Green Day
First impressions can be deceptive. The past few weeks have witnessed substantial promos being aired over music channels announcing the launch of a work of music. The name of which contained within itself the power to deconstruct an entire century. A century which even though hasn’t even gotten on its week properly, but has witnessed [...]
Radio Afro Mexica – B Side Players
Amongst the impossibly diverse genres and influences which make up what we know as World Music, Latin music has always been a cornerstone of delight. Arguably, one of the most widely heard musical genres to have emerged out of the third world; the certain element of earthiness which occupies it makes it an experience in [...]
Together Through Life – Bob Dylan
He maybe hitting the septuagenarian decade in a couple of years from now, it still doesn’t feel as if Bob Dylan is old. Part of the reason for this could be the fact that he has always been worldly wise with that grim roughed out voice of his which have sung verses filled with truths [...]
Sounds of the Universe – Depeche Mode
Rich. Dark. No, this isn’t part of a matrimonial advert. Those are two adjectives which should sum up most of what Depeche Mode’s sound has stood for all these years. Pioneers in the synth electro sound, influences of which may be seen everywhere now, they have had a strong bias towards material which was moodily [...]
Yes – Pet Shop Boys
The 80s was a period which saw one of the most creative periods in the dance music genre laying the foundation for the years to follow. One such act, which enjoyed a period of regalia heightened by the display of a bias for the avant-garde, not just in music, but equally in the eccentricity of [...]
April Uprising – John Butler Trio
Fremantle is a quaint little port town situated on the coastline of Western Australia. The place has a very distinct old school colonial charm attached to itself. Much of it is reflected in the architecture of the place, and some it spills over in the languid pace with which its inhabitants conduct their daily business. [...]
Two Suns – Bat for Lashes
Weaving a web of alternate solar systems on her second album ‘Two Suns’ under her assumed stage name of Bat for Lashes, she reminds you in many ways of what a Bjork or a Kate Bush have been and not at the same time. This underlying philosophy of duality is what drives the entire album [...]
Onepointnothing – Jalebee Cartel
Underground electronic music act Jalebee Cartel has been part of the alliance which has been leading the pack of Indian acts from the front for quite a few years now. Performing at some of the hottest venues across the world and India of course, they have amassed a fan following for themselves which makes their [...]