Hiatus

Hey, readers! I'm currently enrolled in a bunch of summer classes and I have a bunch of other stuff to do so I'm going to be putting this blog into hiatus-land. I will still be on my "add an album a day" plan, so if all of my album submitters want to keep giving me stuff I'd love that. Maybe I'll do weekly summaries or something, and I do plan to start this back up when I get more time, but thanks everyone for your contributions and I hope you'll come back when I'm ready to get this going again.

June 26, 2010: Gatsbys American Dream

Artist: Gatsbys American Dream
Album: Volcano
Year: 2005

Gatsbys American Dream is a band that is remarkably tough to define. Alternative, progressive rock, indie rock, post-hardcore, experimental, indie pop - pick what you want. This album, however, is just fantastic. "Theatre" is an incredible opener, and the album never relents after. Highlights include the romp "A Mind Of Metal And Wheels", the Lord of the Flies homage "Fable", the stellar "Shhhhhh! I'm Listening To Reason" and the catchy "The Giant's Drink". Highly, highly recommended, as this is a remarkably creative album that is incredibly catchy.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6TBSe9s4QE

June 25, 2010: BLK JKS

Artist: BLK JKS
Album: Zol! [EP]
Year: 2010

More great groundbreaking stuff from BLK JKS. This is actually the first EP we've done so far, so that's pretty groundbreaking as well. Opener "Iietys" is pretty straightforward for a prog-rock act, but driven by strong percussion and always lively, and, hell, pretty danceable. "Bogobe" is distant and drenched in reverb, while title track "Zol!" is triumphant and celebratory in tone and is a real highlight. It's very... soccer, not surprising consider the band's roots and home in conjunction with the World Cup in Africa. "Paradise" is the most natural song on the album for the act, displaying the heroics they are known for. A good teaser, and hopefully they'll get another full-length out for us soon enough.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8PPBYO6qVc

June 24, 2010: Sam Phillips

Artist: Sam Phillips
Album: Cruel Inventions
Year: 1991

Man, this album is all over the place. Opener "Lying" sounds like a straightforward alt-rock tune until a flurry of strings kick in half-way through into an off-beat guitar solo, then a chamberlain takes over while the rest of the instruments slowly return behind Phillips' syrupy alto. Then, just as unexpectedly, "Go Down" emerges, a dark folk-pop tune with yes, off-beat acoustic guitars, other stringed instruments, and yes, more chamberlain. The only thing constant throughout Cruel Inventions is Phillips' sweet croon, but it's constant enough to keep the album from losing focus. Some more highlights are the bare "Tripping Over Gravity" and "Private Storm", and the excellent closer "Where The Colors Don't Go".

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Koh-wPyQvA

June 23, 2010: Alien Ant Farm

Artist: Alien Ant Farm
Album: TruANT
Year: 2003

While not as good as major label debut ANThology, Alien Ant Farm's sophomore release is no slump. Opener "A 1000 Days" pulls the trigger with the immediacy that made their debut so entrancing, and you can bet that it's catchy. However, TruANT is more hit-or-miss than it's predecessor. "Glow" is another highlight, a bit less heavy and a dash more ethnic, and "These Days" could have been a highlight on their debut and certainly is here. More highlights include the jittery "Sarah Wynn", "Tia Lupe", which sounds like an extension of "Glow" featuring, of course, Mariachi trumpets in the chorus. "Rubber Mallet" seems like another song that could fit on the debut, while closer "Hope" is sincere and poignant and caps off a great album. Highly recommended.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNcRS58X8_Q

June 22, 2010: Aerosmith

Artist: Aerosmith
Album: Get A Grip
Year: 1993

Dude, this is a classic. I mean, come on. "Crazy", "Cryin'", "Amazing", "Livin' On The Edge". Do I have to say more? It's a classic.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfNmyxV2Ncw

June 21, 2010: Maps And Atlases

Artist: Maps And Atlases
Album: Perch Patchwork
Year: 2010

I was completely unprepared for this album. I have always liked the Chicago math-rock band, following them from their first two EPs on Sargent House, but with this release the band has veered straight into indie-pop territory. As intro "Will" dies down into the clanging "The Charm", vocalist Dave Davison strikes the first lyrics of the album, delivered honestly and with a smile: "I don't think there is a sound that I hate more / then the sound of your voice". The incredible percussion section that drives the band clangs on until suddenly you're being assaulted completely by rhythm as Davison repeats and cries for your attention. "Solid Ground" is an immediate highlight, and while this album loses some of the math that made me love the band, the wonderful percussion, musicianship, and almost mathily-laid harmonies sold me on this release. "Isreali Caves" is downright pretty, "Banished Be Cavalier" is complex and intricate but somehow simple in gorgeousness; "Carry The Wet Wood" is probably the most like their earlier work and is wonderful. In fact, the back end of the album is deliciously intricate in this style, though the musicianship is more for the sake of harmony then for it's own sake now. Which, in my book, is an improvement. Just check out the deliriously fun "Pigeon", a fun sing-along pop track that somehow works in the 100mph finger-tapped guitars that this band is loved for. The album closes with the gorgeous title track, eventually ending in thick intricate vocal waves. Don't pass this one up.

Hear it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFMMstpu8dw