July 12, 2009

The Sunday Shitbox

Every Sunday on the Dailyreview we will give a short list of absolute shit that we heard throughout the week. Feel free to disagree, but let there be no doubts about how we feel. These albums are shit.

#1 Death By Stereo - Death Is My Only Friend

Some bands need to hang up the boots and Death By Stereo is one of them. If only they took their album name literally.

#2 Job For A Cowboy - Ruination

Hey Old Mc Donald, your pig is loose. Oh and he is singing in a metal band called Job For A Cowbow. Talentless Arizona stool-metal.

#3 CAGE - Depart From Me

Enough touting this kid as the “next big thing.” Middle-school metaphors, mediocre at best music and no hooks make this album a steamy pile. Somewhere Sage Francis is loading his gun to take this kid out.

This week will include reviews of the new Jack White project The Dead Weather, Sub-Pop newcomers Tiny Vipers and much more.

—TDR

10:00am  |   URL: http://dailyreview.tumblr.com/post/140628827/shitbox
Tags: shitbox death by stereo job for a cowboy cage 
July 11, 2009
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Alexisonfire - Old Crows/Young Cardinals

In a stunning follow up to Crisis, Alexisonfire (pronounced Alexis-On-Fire) once again tied together the City & Colour genius (yes, City & Colour is a side project) Dallas Green’s delicate vocals with the throaty screams of George Pettit (also of the Black Lungs) in a genuine album of some of their best songs to date. This isn’t your typical “screamo record” with cliche metal riffs, adolescent melodies and *breakdows*. Old Crows/Young Cardinals is a mature venture that is its own beast. Alexisonfire has never been a typical band in their scene and perhaps that’s why they are still around. Check out “Young Cardinals” above and do yourself a favor, pick up this release and the Black Lungs and City & Colour. But don’t take my word for it (cue Reading Rainbow theme).

9:28am  |   URL: http://dailyreview.tumblr.com/post/139697619/alexisonfire
Tags: alexisonfire dallas green rock hardcore city and colour 
July 10, 2009
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Those Darlins - Those Darlins

A blend of ’50s country, jangly guitars and fem-punk equals a win for Murfreesboro, Tennessee outfit Those Darlins. Their sass is unmatched in songs with lyrics such as - “I got drunk and I ate a chicken, I ate a chicken I found in my kitchen, Not just a leg and not just a wing, I’d like to let you know that I ate the whole damn thing.” The trio is like a punked out June Carter on pixie sticks. Hardly hitting any lows, Those Darlins is packed with memorable songs that will have you singing along by the end. This album is a must for fans of Jenny Lewis, Neko Case and Tilly and the Wall. Check out “Who’s That Knockin At My Window” and see them in a town near you.

7:57am  |   URL: http://dailyreview.tumblr.com/post/139072130/thosedarlins
Tags: those darlins alt country punk folk female vocals sxsw festival americana 
July 9, 2009
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Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist

Since winning the skatepark fight against Sarah Palin in their native Alaska, Portugal. The Man have done what most bands fail to do, get better. With each new record, Portugal raises their own bar. When Church Mouth came out, it seemed like it would be impossible to top. They topped it with Censored Colors, which certainly couldn’t be topped…right? Wrong. The Satanic Satanist is the quartet’s biggest sounding record to date and this release should keep them in the festival game for a while. Satanist starts with some newer electronic elements that they have avoided up until now and crescendos into spacey yet catchy jams with John Gourley’s delicate voice tying it together. This bands delivers on the stage too. Take a listen to “Mornings” and make sure to see them this year.

7:58am  |   URL: http://dailyreview.tumblr.com/post/138424950/portugaltheman
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Tags: portugal the man satanic satanist sarah palin festival 
July 8, 2009
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The Mars Volta - Octahedron

Sparing you of At the Drive In references, this new Mars Volta record is the culmination of a long career for Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala. Octahedron has doses of spunk from the band’s debut De-Loused in the Comatorium, short ambiant noise transitions similar to Frances The Mute and all around great vocals ala…well…every album they have released. Although it’s been rumored that At the Drive In is working on a reunion, one could only hope that the Volta continue on the path they’re on. There is no doubt that De-Loused is their best release to date; however, Octahedron shows moments of revelation and great promise for the festival-happy hipsters from Texas. Octahedron is a must-have for all Volta fans looking to spice up record collections with latin bridges, crafty guitar-work and balls-to-the-wall vocals in the key of Plant. Check out “Cotopaxi” from Octahedron above.

12:01am  |   URL: http://dailyreview.tumblr.com/post/137589919/marsvolta
Tags: mars volta psychadelic stoner rock at the drive in space rock 
July 7, 2009
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Son Volt - American Central Dust

Son Volt has been Jay Ferrar’s baby since the disbanding of Uncle Tupelo in 1994 and one could argue that American Central Dust is their most melodic release to date. Returning to an Americana sound from their experimental (the nicest word I could use here) detour on The Search. Dust opens with Ferrar’s reminder that “everyone must pay the price” a lesson that he is most suited to teach. The album reaches a climax at “When the Wheels Don’t Move” but doesn’t fail to deliver through the end. Accordion, lap steel, soft electric guitars and one of the most recognizable voices in the business push Dust into the B/B+ category. At times Ferrar seems disinterested, detracting from the melodic instrumentation. But hey, what’s a Jay Ferrar record without a little drabness? If you dig the album, check them out on their upcoming tour with Cowboy Junkies.

2:57pm  |   URL: http://dailyreview.tumblr.com/post/137318306/sunvolt
Tags: Son Volt Jay Ferrar Americana Folk Rock