Album Review: Angles, The Strokes

2.5/5

By: Captain Pownzor

Staff Blogger

I was eagerly awaiting a new strokes album since the amazing “First Impressions of Earth” that came out of 2006. With the strokes talking up a new more 70's rock feel I was hoping it was not going to be a repeat of Casablanca's solo album which did not have anywhere close to the same sound.

I knew it was going to be an evolution and I knew that there had been various tensions surrounding the band members as well as the mixing and production of the album. Hence why it was 5 years in the making.

When I heard the first single “Under Cover of Darkness” I was given pretty high hopes. This sounded similar to the old strokes sound. With a really catchy guitar hook and a completely infectious chorus this was indie rock you could throw on at a rock club and get the whole dance floor moving. As I waited in anticipation for the album I fell more and more in love with the single.

When the album finally dropped I couldn't wait to put it on but the remaining songs I expected to be the caliber of the single were just not there. From the opening riff on “Machu Picchu” we can tell we are dealing with a very different kind of strokes. The idea of this 70's rock velvet underground feel that the strokes were going for seems to get muddled up in 80's throwback material.

“Two Kinds of Happiness” is a bit of a fusion of this 80s sound with that of the old strokes, It is tolerable but the intro falls very flat. If anything the song could almost do without it. What is impressive in this track is the complex drum beat which is more or less unheard of in previous work by the strokes.

“Your So Right” Channels a strange kind of post punk entity sounding very different again, in the bridge it almost has sort of an early goth industrial vibe. Overall it is a standout WTF on the album. Song is alright but it is a monkey wrench breaking up the theme and sound of the album.

“Gratisfaction” the only song on the album that kind of hits the decade they were shooting for right. This track sounds like a late 70's arena rock outfit. The chorus in fact sounds like it was ripped from a softened out version of a kiss song.

As for the rest of the album it all just kind of blends together. Its a mixture of classic arena rock/80s confusion and a rare bit of the strokes old sound mixed with other elements of post punk sound. A big strange punchbowl of sounds that takes you all over the place. Good albums tend to have a theme and tell a story. The Strokes seem to have the story and theme of their album “Angles” told by someone with Alzheimer's

Album Review:That Really Hurts EP: Big Charlie

2.5/5

By: Captain Pownzor

Staff Blogger

With vocals similar to bowie and an inventive music style similar to that of beck, Matteo De Ruggieri & Stefano Milella make up the great Italian Electro rock duo that is Big Charlie. "That Really Hurts" The 4 track EP which was released sept 2010 contains something for just about any fan of their influencing artists.

With the radio friendly “Roses” first single there's an instant crooning over tickling ivories. This is a sexy song with a catchy chorus that sounds sort of similar to Fastballs “The Way”. That would be a sure chart mover on the radio. “Roses” has sexy vocal hooks and a toe tapper of a tune. The video gets a bit on the creepy side but is worth a bit of a look if your into a whole scary kidnapper vibe.

Some of the other songs of mention on the EP is “Ants” with sort of an old Ricky Martin vibe, using an almost Latin style instruments with a Blue man group sound as well. It gets really interesting and leads to a very cool experimental sound.

The intro “Jitterbug” is a nice little introduction featuring a nice jitterbuggy tune and a rarely used soloing instrument, The kazoo.

Backseat is probably one of the weaker songs on the album, not for the feel of it which is great. There is a whole electronic daft punk sort of sampling about it, Its just the simplicity of the lyrics and the meaning of the song is a little bit lost on me. It has a good vibe but I think the majority of an English audience would hear the lyrics: “oh my god, I'm sitting in the back seat, but no one drives for me, I'm hitting all the cars around, but no one helps me.” Not a club jam thats for sure. But still some really cool stuff to do with the use of that daft punk sound on this track.

Overall the EP is a decent effort, the main single has definite potential as a hit maker the only thing really holding this band back from an English market could lie in lyrical styling and updating some of those lyrics to make for a more profound song. The instrumental work however, is very experimental and different and for that reason this album is worth a quick listen.

If you want to check out more Big Charlie look no further than their website.

New Artist Profile: Ocean Black

A recent number of tracks that have been brought to my attention come from the band Ocean Black. The band members consist of Rad Atefi (Ocean Man) and Quentin Walker (Illville Crew), and these guys are doing something pretty cool. Its a hip hop sound with elements of surf rock blues and world music I took a listen to some of their new tracks and here are some of my impressions in a few quick breakdown reviews:

The world keeps spinning round:

3.5/5

Comes across as sort of an underground sound but with a real upbeat sort of style. You can tell the mixing is sort of a home studio but they have done fairly well with the tools on hand. The beat is really happy and flows so well with the song. This would be a nice feel good song to have on with a bunch of friends and maybe a bit of a club thumper. Its got elements of rock with some wicked guitar solos towards the end as well as a bit of a techno element to it. Its catchy and has some fairly decent lyrics. Not so much controversial in nature but just a good party tune. Its a hip hop song you could play in a public school and not get into trouble which some might be really turned off by. Still the lyrics put a big smile on my face, I especially enjoyed hearing “We're the bees knees” instead of the regular cliché hiphop shout out.

Charley Sheen:

3/5

Holy topical! Another great party tune from Ocean black. They sampled some classic surfer rock in another great party tune. I especially enjoyed the sampled added in from sheens quotes. Its hard to believe the whole thing was composed over a 24 hour period. The flow is great with the sampled beat although the lyrics for this one is fairly simple and little less g rated than the world keeps spinning round, its a great slow jam. This is not a clubbing song by any means but it makes for a catchy lyrics. With synth weaving in and out of the beat in parts this adds a really funky element to the song. Yet another nice guitar solo put in towards the end keeping with the bluesy rock hip hop theme. I hope Ocean Black gets some serious mention for this song, I have a feeling Mr sheen would be proud of the mention.

Namaste:

3/5

With a real world music feel to this one the mixing seems to be way cleaner in this track. Vocals are excellent and clear. With sort of an island surf feel mixed with world music feel this is another slower jam more for personal listening. A real spacey guitar track closes the song and branches out from the background guitars a lot. It turns the surf feel up a notch for certain. The backing vocals are amazing sort of exemplifying a Lauren hill feel they tie in well with the world music surf fusion they have created for this track. From the description you can probably tell this is not a common hip hop track in the least. It makes for easy listening and is a good chill out track. On an album with party tunes however I could see this turning into the hangover track and being labeled as album filler.

If you wanted to check out more of Ocean Black or follow them on facebook they can be found here.

Song Review: Machine (Club Master): Travis Royce Feat Ryan Elizabeth

3.5/5

By Captain Pownzor

Staff Blogger

We don't so much have a lot of club music up on LOL music but I recently found this artist of interest through reverbnation and had to give a post. His new club anthem machine is sure to have booty quaking and fist bumping everywhere.

With a voice and style resembling a deeper, cleaned up version of the girls can hear us. Royce's latest effort is like a dirty club thumper with substance. Philosophical and intelligent lyrics about breaking free from the norm and being less of a machine, the song is not only catchy but offers an intelligent message.
Polished smart verses done in a dirty gruff rap voice add a sexy element to this track that will surely have the ladies wanting more of Travis Royce.

The chorus has a decent euro-beat sort of hook and would blend seamlessly at any hot dance bar and be very easy to dance to. Ryan Elizabeth brings some sharp accompanying vocals to the track as well and brings a lady diva pop-star element to the table. Her voice takes the song to a whole new level and compliments the quickfire rap verses from Royce perfectly. Fans of Gaga, Rihanna and Britney would definitely love her vocal sty-lings and this track.

The mixing is done fairly well but if it were up to me the bass seemed a bit thin in places where it could really make the song pop out of the speakers. Still if it were played through a big club system it would sound great, just lacking in the home system department.
Overall this is a solid club track with catchy hooks and fairly decent and intelligent lyrics. It allows for both an awesome dance track and well thought out lyrical sty-lings.

If you are interested to hear more of Travis Royce or wanted to download this track check out his reverbnation page HERE

Foo Fighters -Teaser

By Captain Pownzor

Staff Blogger

I have to say the last few foo singles have not been the greatest of the great. I really miss the old, loud 90's version of the Foo. But this 30 seconds gives me some hope. It seems as though Grohl has found new inspiration in the heavy them crooked vultures stuff and decided to make a very heavy album again. I am excited to hear this new material and hopeful that old Foo may be back.

Album Review: Crystal Castles, Crystal Castles

By Staff Blogger

Joe Noob

?/5

My review of Crystal Castles:

Shit sounds like ur playing sonic and doing really fucking well

Album Review: Thank You-Happy Birthday, Cage The Elephant

4/5

By:Captain Pownzor

Staff Blogger

So I sat down and took a listen to the sophomore release from Cage The Elephant Thank You Happy Birthday. If I'm honest I wasn’t expecting too much. Maybe 3 decent radio friendly singles a typical slump of a second album. But this is not what I got. The band has evolved I would say for the better.

With various electronic sampling on songs like Sell Yourself and Always Something even some slow jams like Rubber Ball show a different side from the punky, acid, funky rock jams of the bands debut album.

Indi Kidz is a loaded gun aimed squarely at some of the lack of individuality in rehashed styles of the present. Moaning with an angsty tone about the need to “Get the right haircut” and be “Just like you”, Cage The Elephant will have a great number of fans singing along with them in unison to this mocking spacey track.

Aberdeen is a radio ready single that reads like a dear john letter and wont get out of my head after the first listen. It is by far one of the strongest tracks on the album.

If you have ever seen Cage The Elephant live, you will come to expect a pure wall of sound coming from a group of people clearly running on nothing but a handful of pills. Therefore nothing short of memorable. Sabertooth Tiger channels this down to its roots.

The two closers Japanese Buffalo and Flow don’t amp you up but bring you down like a bad comedown. Japanese Buffalo comes across as a rehashed 50’s era song punked up and drugged out. And Flow is a half campfire singalong song that plays the album out in style.

Overall the album is a solid one, I was really very surprised with it. There are some misses with the sound being kind of all over the place. But it offers a nice variety I didn’t think the band was really capable of expressing. Definitely have seen some evolution since the debut and I know that this will be playing in heavy rotation for me for quite some time.

Merry Christmas From LoL music

Recommendation for the finest holiday album to turn up to 11 this Christmas morn!

Another year of LoL music!

Another year of the captain and the noob!

Hooray, hoorah, hallueigh Haleigh more reviews are on the way!

Album Review: Walking Far From Home EP, Iron And Wine

3/5




By: Captain Pownzor

When I started to listen to the new Iron and wine EP Walking Far From Home from the very first track I was sort of taken aback. This is certainly not the lo-fi folk I have associated with the name at all. It really is walking far out of the Iron and Wine comfort zone.

Shepherds’ Dog had its share of layering and complexity to its songs as compared to the bands earlier hits like “Naked As We Came and Such Great Heights.” This EP however has branched out even further incorporating a more full sound from the traditional Iron and Wine’s whispy vocals and folkie guitars.

The title track starts with some crazy organ effects ringing like a gospel choir in church and turns into a song in an almost Broken Social Scene sort of style. Full voices twinkling chimes and a very different entity and the makings of what could be a interesting turn for Iron and Wine.

Summer in Savanah is not the strongest track on the EP, Its sort of a funky. With a persistent bassline throughout almost like a police song reborn. Somehow this song is catchy in its own right with a hook and attitude to the vocal styling and less of a folkie feel.

Biting Your Tail starts off with some weird sound effects samples and turns into a feel good clap along. This could be radio song! Not many iron and wine songs would go on popular music radio and this is certainly one of the first.

Overall this EP is a fairly big change to the Iron and Wine Style. Shepherd’s Dog Eluded that maybe a change like this was coming, but now that I have heard some of these new tracks I am interested to hear what is going to happen on the next feature length. Hopefully the Iron and Wine we know and love from The Creek Drank the Cradle isn’t dead yet though.

Album Review: Atlas Air EP, Massive Attack

2/5

By Captain Pownzor

Massive attack recently released a short Ep for War Child featuring remixes of the final track from Heligoland as well as a remix of a new track called Redlight. I decided to give it a listen. With Heligoland being featured on major shows like Hbo’s Trueblood and the success the band has had with songs like Teardrop and Angel, I wanted to see what these new remixes would be like as well as get an inkling of the future material.
The remixes aren’t bad overall. Tastefully done and not over sampling or taking away from the song. Ive got to say this the whole of the mix is bass heavy but not a bottom out your speakers heavy. It’s a really clear sounding thump, good for a nice night cruise to set the mood. Your subs will get a good workout. Jneiro Jarel’s Lavender Remix of Atlas Air is smooth as glass whereas the Goldworthy Remix is more of a slow build to a club thumper.

As for the new track Redlight, well I am certainly interested to hear this one when the new feature length album comes out. The Clark Remix of Redlight offers up a few short samples of the song’s dreamy vocals with an ongoing and very catchy melody. If it is any indication Massive Attack is holding onto some fantastic stuff for their next full length album.

As a whole for this EP, there really isn’t a massive change going on. The remixes just kind of fit up to Heligoland and blend with it. A great remix can overshadow the original. Although these are interesting takes on Atlas Air, they are so slight in their differences to the original its just not enough to make me want to recommend it.

Album Review: All Day, Girl Talk

5/5

By Captian Pownzor


So I heard amazing things about the new girl talk album and decided to take a quick listen for myself. Ive never been much for mash-ups, but then again I have known Gregg Gillis is one of the best men to see when it comes to the subject. I always kind of tacked up the mash-up as a mindless copy and pasting of audio samples. But this is an entirely different entity. Girl Talk does it up right.

From the opening riff of Oh no sound washed over me with some amazing sense of nostalgia. So many great songs in one. Opening with Black Sabbath's War Pigs, samplings from The Ramones, Blitzkrieg Bop. Jesus Christ this song is just my jam. Its rock/punk music with great popular tracks from the past year included in it. A masterpiece even in the first track and the best part that this and 12 other tracks are completely free to download here.

If you want to remember the 90’s and classic 80’s mixed with just about every popular contribution in hip hop from the past 3 decades your in for a treat. This is just mashupalicious including so many samples in each song even if you start to hate it your soon to enjoy it in another 20 seconds.

To review individual tracks wouldn’t simply do justice. Each one has about a million different little grooves to it. In fact if they were to play it at a club and try to get people to dance to it all you would see is a seizure in the crowd. Its danceable but at times it seems only for moments. Its like “yeah this my jam!” but its over as soon as it starts. I could also see some awkward moments like how it may queer the deal when I'm dancing up on that special someone to a sample of Radiohead’s Creep on the track Jump on Stage. The same song featuring Iggy Pop vs. Lady Gaga and just about everyone else.

In the end this isn’t an album to over think or review in depth. It is a great piece of nostalgia and its beautifully put together. Stuff I would imagine clashing hugely is pieced together with ease. I can say this All day is primarily a circus of an album, hilarious at times at the sheer absurdity of the mash-ups and it caused me to have a smile plastered across my face through the whole listen.

So there you have it, yet another music blogger raving about the new Girl talk album, but at this point I really don’t care. Gillis has created a truly fun and creative ride through many genres of music and many different generations. It deserves mention and free sharing amongst friends. Good thing anyone can download it for free anyway.

Album Review: The Moment, Atomic Tom

2.5/5

By: Captain Pownzor


Some time ago I saw a neat youtube video from the New York based band Atomic Tom. They performed their lead single Take me out using nothing but 4 iphones and some apps, live on a New York subway train. The strange thing is they made it sound really good.

Needless to say when browsing new releases and I saw the name I jumped at the chance to give the album a listen. It has been out online since July but their debut album The Moment is to be released in stores Nov 22nd.

The opening few songs are OK. Loosely sounding of an Adam Lamberty sort of thing. Turn off your brain, simple toe tapping not full on making me want to shake my ass like George Michael.

The title track is a slower ballad. As well, the song Red Light Warning Sign is like a Fall Out Boy impersonation minus the clever lyrics. These are great qualities for Atomic Tom’s sex appeal but not so much for a listener like me.

Which brings me to We Were Never Meant to be. A monkey wrench in the whole album. With techno elements, strings, a wicked breakdown and an amazing showcase of Luke White’s vocals this song breaks free of the blah that seems to be there in many of the other songs.

The final song on the album This is How we Like to End. Is somewhat of an anomaly as well. Closing the album almost bitter-sweetly. Starting off slow building into another big blast of guitars, voice and strings, and then ending on a soft note. After hearing this track it made me go right back to the beginning again.

The Album overall isn’t too bad. Some of the songs on the album have hit material and radio playability (You Always Get What You Want, Take me out, ) The problem is the songs that are not stand out hits are just not going to raise eyebrows so much. This album is great for its singles and a few other notable songs such as We Were Never Meant to be as well as the final track This is How we Like to End.

Album Review: Dogs Blood EP, Alexisonfire

4/5

By: Captain Pownzor

Having heard no new stuff from Alexisonfire for about a year since the release of old crows/young cardinals, I was pretty excited when I heard they were going to be releasing an EP in Nov of 2010. So I gave er a listen and these were my impressions.

Dogs Blood: Starting off pure hardcore original Alexisonfire sound. This song is loud fast and thrashy. Makes me miss the sweet, sweet cry of Dallas greens voice to get me out of the chaos. Luckily he soars over the ending guitar riffs and into the outro of the song. A mixture of the old harder Alexisonfire and the new age stuff we heard on old crows. Great starter track and the only one Dallas green appears in.

Grey: Starts off with a hell of a bass riff. Sort of bluesy rhythm. Its crazy to hear the fusion of the hardcore elements with such an old style rock riff. The bridge riffs are nothing but astounding Alexisonfire style as usual.

Black as Jet: Intro riff sounds like something out of Tokyo police club but then I’m blown away with sound. Solid drums in this fast paced loud as hell track.

Vex: The instrumental wonderment. Cool stuff even without any vocals, think of this as one of their slow jams. It sounds a bit like explosions in the sky with a headache and some serious balls murdering children across a Chuckie Cheese.

So there you have it, dogs blood ep, new Alexisonfire whereby Dallas Green is only on one song. It seems refreshing to hear some of these new songs. I especially liked the gritty nature of the new Alexisonfire stuff. Its getting away from that constant George/ Dallas dynamic for vocals they have done for so long. This is certainly a different entity from the last full length and I am interested to see what the new, full length album will be like.

Album Review: 5.0, Nelly

3/5

by JOE NOOB

When the Captain put 5.0 down on my desk and said, “review it.” I was blown away.

Nelly has a new album?

I was expecting to be transported back to high school. Back to the days of Country Grammar, Ride Wit Me and E.I., Hell, I’d settle for Pimp Juice.

I prepared myself for some senseless, sexy, mostly silly songs. I was pleasantly surprised when Just a Dream came on.

The intro riff made me double check to make sure I was listening to Nelly. When his vocals kicked in, it was unmistakably Nelly, but not Air Force Ones Nelly, this was Over and Over Nelly. Remember that tune? Nelly and Timmy?

“She was so easy to love, but wait, I guess that love wasn’t enough,” yup, this is defiantly not the same Nelly that rapped about his shoe collection.

Sure, Making Movies is about sex and nothing. But it is still a nice slow jam that sounds like a love song. Despite saying, “I tried to get my Usher on but I couldn’t let it burn,” in the for mentioned Just a Dream, that seems to be exactly what Nelly is doing with 5.0, and I like it.

The point of these albums is to get radio play, and dance floor play and Nelly has nailed both markets on the head perfectly. Liv Tonight is going to have people shaking it and looking like idiots in bars everywhere very soon. It isn’t my favourite song on the album, but after a few drinks, I can see myself moving to this tune. Or at least, pump a fist to it.

5.0 is far from what I expect from a Nelly album, which is a good thing. The combination of slow jams about lost love and sex dance tracks and a few raunchy pure rap tunes keeps 5.0 interesting throughout all 12 tracks, 46 min.

The two most disappointing things about this outing is the annoying as hell chorus on Broke, and that he has a track called I’m Number One. This disappointed me so much because Number One was one of my favourite Nelly songs. I saw it and thought it might be a rehash, remix or just re-release of this classic track, instead it is one of the more forgettable tracks on the album.

5.0 isn’t going to light anyone’s world on fire, but if it were released in the summer, some tracks would be huge. Sadly, it’s cold and getting colder. Not only is 5.0 going on my iPod, but I am digging out my old Nelly albums too.

You will know him from his very definable voice. You will hear him in the club. And I do think you will enjoy him. Bravo, Nelly. Bravo.

P.S. For the record, Nelly did fall short of Usher. But come on, Usher sets a high bar for slow jams and club tracks.

Check Out: Just A Dream, Liv Tonight, and Nothing With Out Her.

Album Review: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West

3/5

by JOE NOOB

Apparently Kanye West treats money like the government treats AIDS, he isn’t going to be satisfied until all the niggers have it. Yup, sounds like West is still a little miffed at Bush’s “racist” response to Katrina, and also is heavy into government conspiracies.

I wouldn’t be surprised if I heard a line about crack-cocaine being created by the government to bring down the black community, I didn’t, but I wouldn’t have been surprised.

What did catch me off guard with West’s newest album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, was how much I enjoyed it.

Normally I would start a review of a hip-hop album by saying I don’t really listen to the genre, but recently I have been listening to a lot of it, and some high quality hip-hop at that. So, I feel I am in the right mood to pass judgment.

Fantasy is full of tracks you are bound to hear on the dance floor. This could be taken as a good thing (they will be played a lot and you all will sing along) or it can be looked at as being pre-packaged, easily marketable radio-friendly unit shifters. I’m not going to land on either side of the track. I will just say, for the most part, West’s efforts are enjoyable.

The track Dark Fantasy literally made me laugh out loud with lines such as, “So much head, I woke up to Sleepy Hollow” (the first of two Sleepy Hallow references on the album) and, one of my favourite lines on the album, “too many Urkels on your team, that’s why your wins low.” That’s right, a Family Matters reference. That is automatically win.

Of course, for each clever line, for each witty quip, West supplies a bull-headed, self indulgent, simply put, stupid line. But again, this is to be expected with not only a hip-hop album (it can’t be 100% genius) but most importantly, to be expected by West himself (if you live under a rock and don’t know West is an idiot, I implore you to follow him on Twitter.)

I have made it six paragraphs deep in a blog about West without mentioning Taylor Swift’s speech, but I have to mention the beautiful young pop star, even though I said I wouldn’t, because the interlude for the song All of the Lights (listen for it on a dance floor near you) sounds like it belongs on a Swift album rather than a hip-hop album.

Fantasy is full of samples and guest appearances, again, the norm for hip-hop albums and West. But one of the best examples of this, and my favourite track on the album, is Lost in the World, which features Woods by Bon Iver. Yes, THAT Bon Iver.

The track seems to be West reaching out and saying, “Hey, slightly overweight white guy sipping on a beer at the club, yeah you! DANCE!”

Lol Music's New Rating System

Hello Internet,

This is Captain Pownzor of Lol music. It has come to my attention that in our reviews LoL music has been missing a quintessential part of what it truly means to review music in the truest form of music bloggery.

A universal rating system for our reviews.

"oh shoot" I responded when I realized this terrible error in our format.

So for months we toyed around and tested with some rating systems to perfect our own. We tried stars, they were pointy. We tried gold records which were way too flashy. We tried boners but that was just way too sexist. We just couldn't agree on a rating system that could express our feelings towards music properly. So with limited options we decided to come up with our own revolutionary rating system.

The fraction

Specifically one with a denominator of 5.

That's right henceforth when we write a review for a song or an album or whatever, your probably going to see a fraction attached to it.

Don't be afraid of this mathematical jargon, its fairly easy to determine.

Our feelings towards a song will be represented fractionally as follows:

A 0/5 rating for Lol music would, upon listening to the track make us feel like we were listening to a pair of alley-cats being beaten by our grandmother while she has loud intercourse with a vuvuzela. (If we give a band this rating they should consider never playing music again, the song we are listening to is just gross).

As a second example, the 2.5/5 rating is in the best sense of any word a "Meh"

Alternately, a 5/5 rating is nothing short of what is known in the review business as an EARGASM (If we give a band this rating we want to bear their children).

Anything in between is really just a sliding scale so interpret it as you will.

Fractions, Fractions, Fractions. A beautiful, original and absolutely not a cop-out rating system in any way shape or form, brought to you first by the creative minds at LoL music.

Stay tuned for reviews featuring our new and revolutionary "Fraction Ratings" in reviews.

Concert Review: The Morning Benders: Big Echo Tour

By: Captain Pownzor
Staff Blogger


Well hello, been a good long time since I posted yet again. I saw a concert over the past weekend that made me decide to write a lil’ something about what I ended up seeing and hearing this past Friday at The Mod Club in Toronto ON.
First of all let me start by saying I knew of The Morning Benders when I was asked to go, I was just not a rabid fan or anything. But from what I have heard there isn’t exactly a rabid fan following as it is, we did in fact run into the band at coffee before the show, only one of us recognizing them. I had seen them on La Blogeteque and heard some of the songs off Big Echo, so I said why not and went along to see what they were like live.
So on the way we were joking a bit about the openers. The first of which was called Oberhofer. We were thinking from the name they could be a German folk band, we couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Oberhofer is a 4 piece noisy indie rock outfit from Brooklyn. Think of a dreamier version of The Hives, complete with some elaborate whistling solos and even some almost devilish howling and screaming you would expect around some kind of native drum circle. They are simple stripped down, loud and fun. To see a band walk on stage at 6:30 erupt into the first song and just make such a joyous racket was certainly something to see. Could use a little work on maintaining the sound quality live, its a little ragged compared to their studio stuff. But they went on and had fun, as a result so did the sparse early going members of the audience and I. Probably the most memorable song of the set was "away frm u". The long pause before the opening riff that made everyone turn around from the bar and drop a jaw. Without much fuss Oberhofer was over not long after they started. Showing the true nature of a small tour Oberhofer tore down their equipment and carted it out before setting in at the bar to watch the other supporting act, Twin Sister.
Before the show I had eluded to how badass it would be if Twin Sister was a Twisted sister cover band. I’m gonna be harsh, It would have been probably more entertaining to see than what Twin Sister turned out to be.
Twin Sister is a 5 piece experimental pop band from Long island New York. Really not my cup of tea overall. Twin sister came across as lounge music. Their setup was massive, even larger so than the morning benders and it was to produce something close to a drab whimper of a tune. The band was emotionless, barely moving like they themselves were waiting in the elevator listening to the music they were playing. I gave a second chance listen on youtube and I must say the studio stuff is not so bad, I do however expect to be entertained a little when I am seeing the material live. Lead singer kept trying to overplay the lo-fi material and turn it into some otherworldly bjork style thing. Naw friends..only bjork can be as freaky as bjork just leave that one alone.
Leading me to the Morning benders, setting their own shit up as a band, no crazy introduction no insane Elvis music buildup no. Just 4 dudes from San Francisco getting up on stage setting their own equipment up and checking their own mics. Then just letting it rip. I have to say every single song that was done was so tight it was like album quality. The morning benders must either be robots or practice until they could play every song with both hands and blindfolded. For a small venue lighting was much more elaborate than I had expected, the band used blinding strobe lights, a giant wall behind them and even a bubble machine throughout the show. The phrase “More bubbles” could be heard quite often with the band in control of when it was let loose. Vocals for every song were spot on and the band showed great energy throughout the whole set. Finishing off with "excuses" the entire crowd sang along and could be heard echoing the chorus even out into the streets after the show was done. Although it was not a crazy mosh pit infused jump around type show. It was incredibly tight and exciting to watch. The pure showmanship and the ability to recreate the songs in a better than album quality is something that is a rare find in a performer since the dawn of digital recording and the dreaded auto-tune. It was hard to not feel like one of those crazy beatniks just grooving out to how good they sounded live. The Morning Benders Big Echo Tour is a reasonable ticket to go and see a great live show. I would recommend it to anyone and if they ever come back to my area again I will be in line for a ticket as well.

photo courtesy of Janelle Scriver Photograpy

Jimmy Eat World- My Best Theory

1/5 people not disappointed by the direction JEW has taken

By Captain Pownzor
Staff Blogger

So I was tickled pink the other day when I heard that Jimmy eat world was to be releasing a new album within the coming weeks. Oh how i rejoiced, after hearing their live album of clarity I was craving some new Jimmy Eat World.
But then I realized, the past few albums have been getting progressively worse. After hearing My Best theory I have come to the assumption that the new album invented will be the greatest pop laden shit-disk of them all.
I mean come on now the whole of My best theory sounds like they ripped all chord progression off of a Linkin Park song. I am waiting for someone to come in screaming and for me to just change the song saying shit this is too metal. No it doesn't pickup, yes its rehashed material from a few years ago. Jimmy eat world should probably just quit whilst ahead. Do a clarity tour and stop fiddlefucking around trying to find a popular music sound that will identify with today's youth. Your old, stick to the shit you wrote when it meant something to you.

Album Review: Eels: End Times

2.5/5 Barrels of ice-cream needed to listen to End Times.

By Captain Pownzor
Staff Blogger
I have been a long time listener of the eels and sort of fell off the wagon on Hombre Lobo. I decided to give End times a chance though and I am glad I did.
Its hit and miss, But the songs that hit are wonderful. For anyone who has listened to an eels album before its sort of an eclectic racket, with a brash honesty and a bit of zany lyric styling.
When you first put it on do not be fooled by the opener, this is not a bright eyes want to be folks. Eels seem to vary between a crushing sadness and a happy go lucky “fuck you world” , on End times but the album is generally a saddie overall.
The story of end times seems like someone who is just going through a breakup, eventually reaching back to a stage of contentment. The transition is like a story book if you listen to it in sequence, you see the story of the split, and the hopelessness, followed by some acceptance.
Songs like Gone man and unhinged bring me back to the happier rock days of the eels with tracks like Saturday morning and Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues.
A line in the dirt tells a story like only E can. It’s a touching piano ballad about the story of the couple’s squabble, but its told with such a lonely and honest quality.
End times seems like just a spewing of observational thought, I laughed a bit hearing it for the first time, as it just seemed like he was spewing random thoughts, but upon listening a bit more you discover the song is just about pure rock bottom.
Towards the end of the album, we have three tracks that are very much like the track Daisy through concrete from the album, Daisies of the galaxy.
End times is a decent album and I think it would be some good jams for your next break up, but I just cant see recommending it as a whole to non Eels fans. If you like the style go for it, if you don’t find yourself liking any of the earlier stuff by the Eels don’t even bother.
You can hear some of the tracks from End times on Myspace.

Cold War Kids: Behave Yourself EP

By Captain Pownzor
Staff Blogger

Since the first time I heard hang me up to dry, I’ve been intrigued by the sounds of Cold War Kids. The behave yourself Ep does not disappoint either.
Starting off with the clap happy jams of audience, the band proclaims to “drop the needle were playing for an audience of one.” That’s right cold war kids dropped the needle for me dammit. Or you…if you happen to be listening too.
Coffee spoon is an eclectic almost traditional Spanish style guitar, mixed with a sort of dueling harmony between Willet and Russell. This is definitely something new and a slower side to the band.
The third song Santa Ana Winds is basically just another song off of Loyalty to Loyalty. Its got a great buildup but after it just begins to take off its over. If you like the sound of the last album you will love this bittersweet track.
Finally the 4th and last track that floored me.
Back in 2006 Cold war kids put out an EP whilst on tour, called With our wallets full. It had some really great tracks on it like, Rubidoux and Red Wine Success. The end of the EP had a song called Sermons vs. The Gospel in a really rough cut demo version.
Well, here I am listening to behave yourself, and I hear something familiar, Yes they have retooled the song and shortened the title to Sermons.
I have to say the professionally done version of this song is just brilliant. With a soul like quality and some really thought provoking lyrics you’ll feel like your sitting in a southern Baptist church yelling TESTIFY!

If you want to check out Behave Yourself Its out on Itunes Jan 19. Here's the Teaser on youtube.