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Foo Fighters
One By One
BMG
The Foo Fighters have released their sonically charged fourth CD, One By One, which hit stores Oct. 22. The Foo continue to ride the technology wave on this CD, including a bonus DVD with pictures, videos and song remixes.
When it comes down to it though, this CD has the classic Foo edge and pop accessibility. “All My Life” opens the CD, beginning the twists and dips of this emotional ride through Dave Grohl’s mind, the lead singer-rhythm guitarist. The energy stays high with “Low” and “Have It All,” kicking some old Foo fans back to their self-titled freshman release.
“Times Like These” is probably the one song that doesn’t sit right the first listen through – but it grows on an open-minded listener. At times, this CD seems to revisit the same melodies and chord progressions, most notably on “Halo” and “Overdrive.”
Tracks like “Tired” and “Lonely As You” save this album from falling through the cracks into musical obscurity. They’re catchy, and you can tell the Foo Fighters are just out to rock and have fun.
As seems to be the case in all of the Foo Fighter albums, they end things on a euphoric and aura-filled note. “Come Back” ends the Foo Fighter’s struggle for musical autonomy and leaves the listener wondering when they’ll be touring in their area. I highly recommend this album for pure blood rock fans.
-Marshall “The Fury” Dury
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Music To Duel By
Dreamworks
While I was listening to Yu-Gi-Oh! Music to Duel By, I expected a middle school bully to run out of nowhere and give me a wedgie while slamming my head against a locker.
That’s because Yu-Gi-Oh! is one of the more recent stupid Pokemon ripoffs, complete with a cartoon show, video and card games – and now a soundtrack. Music to Duel By is the CD that is supposed to be played during these card battles, or “geek-fests.”
The songs on the album come from various artists that I’ve never heard of. Most of the songs are techno-rock combinations, kind of like music from the “Blade” movies, only with wheezing, pre-pubescent boys doing battle instead of vampires.
Some of the songs, like “Your Move,” are rap-rock hybrids that feature the cheesiest rhyming this side of M.C. Hammer. The songs sound like Linkin Park would have in the fourth grade.
All of the song’s lyrical content has to do with Yu-Gi-Oh! dueling. The songs are titled various silly things like “Time 2 Duel,” “Duel Madness” and “Heart of the Cards.”
While I can’t admit to liking this CD due to the fact I’d like to actually speak to a female again, I can say that it wasn’t terrible. Fans of the card game or cartoon will find the album a treat – it comes with a pack of stickers they can put on their retainer cases.
-Nathan “Duelmaster” Webster
The Gabe Dixon Band
On a Rolling Ball
Reprise Records
I’m hooked on this CD. The Gabe Dixon Band’s On a Rolling Ball is a blend of the big band sound of old time jazz with trendy modern lyric-fed stylings. I’m a sucker for any modern band that has a big band backup feel, which this band achieves with only four members.
The album starts out powerful with “More Than It Would Seem,” reminiscent of the Rustic Overtones with a funkier, more urban, artsy coffeehouse feel.
“Sitting at the Station” is probably my favorite song on the album, with its funky change-ups, slowing down and speeding up just like the wheels of a locomotive. This song really shows off the band’s talent, with a great sax solo by band member Chandler Webber. The lyrics are downplayed, which is common of most of the songs in this instrument-driven album.
I would’ve liked to see them enter that laid-back musical space a bit more often with some more jam solos. And I’d be happy to hear less of their radio-friendly moments, when it seemed they were trying to sound poppy.
Overall, this talented quartet has some good sounds to offer. If you like that funky, modern jazz, coffeehouse feel, this is definitely a CD to check out with a good cup of joe.
-Catie Joyce
Simon and Garfunkel
Live From New York City 1967
Columbia
Live albums are often a mixed bag. Fortunately Simon and Garfunkel’s recently released Live form New York City 1967 features both great sound and song selection. The duo is infamous for their harmonies and in-depth storytelling, but often their albums suffered from the effects of overproduction. The new record features the two with only Simon’s acoustic guitar for accompaniment. This show was recorded at the Lincoln Center, just after the release of “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.”
Some of the standout tracks include the hits “The 59th Street Bridge Song,” “I Am a Rock,” “The Sound of Silence,” “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.,” “Homeward Bound” and “A Hazy Shade of Winter.” But it’s the rarer and less-known tracks that make this album a gem. “Richard Cory,” “Benedictus” and the instrumental “Anji.”
Simon’s guitar has just enough presence to move the songs along, and both singers are in fine form. A live show does not guarantee perfect vocal harmonies, but in this case it shows their raw talent and emotion. This concert highlights the duo just before their peak of fame. The delicate words and music of Simon and Garfunkel are wonderfully represented here, and one cannot help but feel a little sad knowing that their personal and professional relationship would dissolve.
So sit back and enjoy one of the best live albums from one of the best groups of the ’60s. It’s good to reminisce, even if it reminds us that music is just not the way it used to be.
-Alex Lehning
Kottonmouth Kings
Rollin Stoned
Capitol Records
These stoners wreaking havoc are at it again with their fourth album. With their unique blend of rap, punk and reggae, Kottonmouth Kings have maintained a loyal underground following. However, comparatively speaking, this album is a bit under par. It strays from their predominantly rap sound and delves deeper into the punk and reggae aspects. They open with the three best tracks on the CD, the impressively bass-filled “Sleepers,” the punk-rap mix “Full Throttle” and “4-2-0.” D-Loc, Johnny Richter, and Daddy X combine these genres with a style all their own. They have maintained artistic integrity and serve their underground listeners with an anti-trendy, anti-establishment attitude.
However, the day has come when they begin to crave some mainstream recognition, a.k.a. money. This brings us to the random insertion of the destined to be mainstream “Positive Vibes.” This track is reminiscent of Eminem’s patented trick of inserting one track everyone will like in order to capture the trendy audience. This is very disheartening.
As a KMK fan from the beginning, a great deal of the appeal of the Kings is their underground sound and originality. Those attributes enhanced the sound of their albums and made their live shows unbelievably entertaining. As a result of their inevitable airplay, I guarantee about six months from now, much to my dismay, someone will come to me and say, “I heard this new band, I think they were called the Kottonmouth Kings.”
-Jason Baril
Deadsy
Commencement
Dreamworks
It’s hard to believe that Deadsy’s debut album, Commencement, was recorded in 2002. It sounds like it would be more at home in 1985.
The synth-heavy rock band’s sound is a cross between the early industrial band New Order and modern day electronic rockers Orgy. Even though they tour with bands like Korn, Deadsy is more likely to induce booty-shaking than headbanging.
Some of the better songs on the album, such as “Winners” and “Mansion World,” show off the band’s knack for combining cheesy ’80s-programmed drums with synthesizers and surprisingly distorted guitar riffs.
As for the band’s vocalist, P. Exeter Blue, he provides spookily distorted, but catchy vocals with utterly ridiculous lyrics like, “Your envy mirror, the kelly fear, adorns the walls in slime.” What?
While the extensive use of electronic instruments on the album will be welcome to fans of ’80s music, a few of the songs are too slow-paced and need more of that ’80s punchy groove.
One of the more upbeat songs on the album is “She Likes Big Words,” which features additional vocals from – surprise! – Orgy’s Jay Gordon. The song features a catchy chorus and even catchier keyboards.
Commencement marks a good start for Deadsy and offers a refreshing alternative to today’s rock, where synthesizers are nonexistent. If you like your ’80s cheese sliced thick, this CD is worth a go.
-Nathan “The Norris” Webster
