DJ Mike Biggz: What's Goin On? You need good music....DONT YA!

Music Reviews

Tracey Thorn: Out of the Woods
When i heard Tracey Thorn was putting out a solo record, i got very excited. Then i heard the first single and was pleased to say the least. Tracey is one of my favorite vocalists, even though i wasn't an EBTG fan until they got all electronica. I'm a big fan to this day. I'm glad that on "Out of the Woods" Tracey didn't copy cat the EBTG/Ben Watt uber deep soulful house and downtempo sound. I got a little scared when i heard the opening track...very EBTG pre-electronica and not the best way to open up. Then the down beat heavy bassline track A-Z comes on and my trunk is rattling. Great song, tight beat. On "It's all True" Tracey Thorn gets production that sounds very Metro Area(great Group and CD, BTW). Her vocals compliment the synths so well it gave me chills. The album is a bit of a rollercoaster, not sticking to a particular tempo but remains consistent being feel good music...ironic since Thorns Lyrics are so freaking sad! The song writing is very good as usual but some of the song titles are a little odd. I think Tracey has been hangin' in the Hip-Hop clubs, with titles like "Hands up to the ceiling" and the Album closer "Raise the Roof". Ok the record s have no hip-hop flavor but still, we've stopped raising the roof years ago Tracey. But musically Out of the Woods is brilliant and vocally Tracey is as amazing as ever. Key cuts other than "A-Z" & "It's all True" are Grand Canyon which is another electro soulful house cut and the downtempo joint "Get Around to It". Out of the Woods is not classic but still a very good release. (****)
LCD Soundsystem: Sound Of Silver
I love LCD Soundsystem, loved the first albums and all the singles that came before it. With the new album "Sound Of Silver", i wont be tuning out any time soon. S.O.S.(I wonder if James Murphy hates the acronym) is much more consistent with the four to the floor beats than their previous effort. I was kinda wanting another "Too Much" but, it's all good. This album satisfies. The beat keeps going and going and doesn't slow down till the album closer "New York, I love you but you're bringing me down". And for LCD this is their best non dance track yet. But for you disco punks and DFA fans Sound of Silver delivers the good. S.O.S's opener "Get Innocuous!" is brilliant, with it's super long intro, giving all those lovely electronic sounds to fade in Individually. Vocally S.O.S. goes in many different directions which i like and especially since his voice is not hella great and at times Mr. Murphy can be a little odd on the ears. For some reason it just works here. For the fans of "Daft Punk is playing..." we now have "North American Scum" which is the lead single. I think most US citizens who are conscious enough to know whats wrong with us can get a kick out of this record and dance to it as well. I love the line at the end that we can't blame Canada. It's funny because it's true. The standout song for me is "Someone Great" which is perfect from start to finish. Sound of Silver is one for the collectors of this dance rock movement that was starting to fade out until James Murphy decided to keep it alive and interesting. (****)
San Ilya: They Died for Beauty
I actually bought this one on I-Tunes, couldn't wait to hit the stores next morning. So I heard "Bellissimo" for the first time in full 2 weeks ago and that's when it hit me, that's the song from that revlon commercial. I've seen this record on the shelves and passed it up, probably because there was no listening station and I'd never heard of them. Straight outta Bristol, the place that gave birth to such acts as Portishead and Massive Attack(and much more), San Ilya are very melodic and moody in some sections, but over all have an amazing sound. Singer Joanna Swan, has this thick bassy voice that's deep and sexy. Probably the best female voice in electronica since Tracy Thorn. As for the songs itself, they are nothing short of brilliant. "Quatta Neon" is a stunning track with it's funky bass, drums and percussion that are just so alive. Slow songs like "Bliss" and "Pretty Baby" are beautiful and haunting at times. "Heavenly" is one of my favorites, if not my favorite. The horns, the drums, her voice, the progression of the song is amazing. "Happy and Weak" is sweet and epic. The final cut which is the title track "They Died for Beauty" let's Joanna's voice really be heard as she belts out this tune ever so perfect. Portishead was my favorit group to come out of Bristol and I still olve them to death, but San Ilya is the group to replace Portishead, assuming they won't release a new album. Just take out the pain of beth and replace it with a more loving sound. Buy it!!! (*****)

Such an appropo title for today's blog post. Today, April 2nd marks the 68th Birthday of the legendary Marvin Gaye. Been thinking about alot of things lately. Alot has happend since 2007 started. I'm in a healthy very loving relationship. Looks to be the best yet and for several reasons.

I got some fresh new shelves put up in the Garage and my record collection look fan-fucking-tastic!

Music has been really good so far. I am loving alot of the new rock that has come out in late '06 that has crossed over to '07 as well as the new rock coming out in '07.
I'm loving Peter Bjorn & John. Not just because their name reminds me of Peanut Butter and Jelly but because this album is amazing. Writer's Block features such songs as Young Folks(as heard on Grey's Anatomy) which is brilliant for it's lyrics, whistle track, drums and bassline. Very cool tune. Amsterdam is great and freatures a hot opening drum break which has already caught hip-hop's attention.

Then we have the new Modest Mouse, whom i was not a fan of before. I really liked the record, especially #6 "Missed the Boat". Great song.

Then we have the new LCD Soundsystem "Sound of Silver"...brilliant, alot more consistent than the first one.

The Long Blondes, a group of non-blondes who make good dance rock.

The Pipettes, a trio of brits who sound like if Tony Basil produced The Go-Go's and added in a little Bananarama.

Arcade Fire's new record is rather good, a little better than the last one and Keep the Car Running always seems to find play on my Alterna-Tuesdays show on I-Tunes.

The Good, The Bad & The Queen is a cool supergroup put together by Blur and Gorillaz's Damon Alburn and produced by Danger Mouse. It's just fuckin' sweet! Peep Herculean and Northern Whale.

Kaiser Chiefs' new record, Yours Turely, Angry Mob is a brilliant sophmore record, better than the first.

The Fratellis, who you'd swear got their name from watching the classic 80's movie, The Goonies brings fun back into rock with the song Flathead. The record over all is really good.

The Horrors, a band from the UK drops their US debut with their new album "Strange House" and i'm a fan. I miss dark evil rock like this.

For Soul and Electronica, if you're not on the Amy Winehouse boat, get on it. Been up on her since 2004 and been loving her ever since.

The New Tracey Thorn(of Everything but the Girl) is hella tight. I love the upbeat, downtempo and chill out tracks, start to finish.

Just got my hands on the New Anthony Hamilton...wow! so much better than the last one. Do not sleep on Southern Comfort.

Natalie Williams is not to be slept on. Got it back in Novemember along with the new Amy. She's hella dope, hot beats, good song writing and best of all, no one knows of her out here in the states...so look her up, buy her shit and become a fan now.

Spengler is a group i discovered on a cd i got in the mail from the lovely folks at Tru-Thoughts. Their song "Good Times" is the best cut on the new Shapes comp. So fuckin' funky and soulful. Made friends with them on the myspace and they sent me more of their music...so so good.

As for Hip-Hop, you gotta go cop the new Sean Price! Dude's album is hella dope. You would remember him as 1 half of the duo Heltah Skeltah. Also the Consequence record is tight. The reissue of J-Dilla's Rough Draft is a record not to be slept on. My favorite is the new album from Mobb Deep's Prodigy, produced by The Alchemist...so so hot! And finally please don't sleep on Devin The Dude's new joint Waiting to Inhale. It's a hot album. ...u can tell i'm tired of typing since i group'd all my hip-hop shit together...

Peace out!

DJ Mike Biggz

Archives

My Site

Other Websites

Music Reviews

What's Goin On? You need good music....DONT YA!

Comments