Reggatta de Blanc - The Police

kurtkurtkurt:

This album is also know as one of the only two cassettes in my car for a long time (the other was Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols). The hits on it are Message in a Bottle and Walking on the Moon, however I think the real highlight of the album is actually On Any Other Day. The song tells the tale of a middle aged husband/father who has all this shit happen to him on a one day.

As a whole I enjoy the album (I've heard it enough). I think that they have a few songs that drag on too long (Message in a Bottle and Walking on the Moon I'm talking to you) but the album still stays strong despite that.

Stuckski:

So only three months behind the times on this one, but better late than never right? Right?! RIGHT?! Ahh, it's ok, calm down guys, I forgive ya.

The Police are good. That's about all I'm willing to say. They have some nice sounding songs, plenty of  'em on this album. But I just never find myself thinking "Man, I really want to listen to some Police right now!"  I just don't think they are too memorable or ( a few obvious songs aside) iconic, All of that goes for this album as well

RATINGS

kurtkurtkurt: 7/10
stuckski: 5/10

The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band - Big Damn Nation

kurtkurtkurt:

So the first time I ever heard these guys was when they opened for Flogging Molly. They're a fantastic live act, just so full of energy. They play a bluegrass of sorts and the wife plays the washboard. Anyways you can't understand the lead singer at all when he sings. I don't what else to say really. They're not the best bluegrass I've heard but they're something unique.

Here's them playing My Old Man Boogie

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 5/10

Check Your Head by the Beastie Boys

Stuckski:

Despite being a nineties kid, I never really paid too much attention to the Beastie Boys. I vaguely remember hearing Fight for Your Right (not on this record) as a kid and thinking it sounded kind of silly. Then I hit college age and I found out that a lot of my friends really liked them. I decided to give them another try, and discovered some tracks of theirs that I really liked. I still don't love them, but I do understand their appeal, and there are a few tracks that I do love.
Check Your Head seems to be a mixture of styles, and a lot chiller than Licence to Ill. There are a lot more instrumental segments, and the vocals are a lot less 'Beastie-Boyish'. So Watcha Want is the closest it gets to classic BB rapping. Another highlight is Time for Livin' which is takes me straight back to their hardcore punk roots.

kurtkurtkurt:

I've fallen behind on my Responsibilities.

Time for Livin' and Funky Boss are my two favorite tracks of the album. I don't know why but Funky Boss always made my head bob and put a smile on my face. Also Beastie Boys are actually not to bad at being a punk band (Here's their EP Polly Wog Stew).

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 6/10
Stuckski: 4/10 (Some decent tracks, but not a fan overall)

Modern Guilt by Beck

Stuckski:

For the life of me I can't stay awake long enough to actually pay close attention to the music here. This album is like fuckin' NyQuil on my brain.  All the beats are slow and plodding, dragging me down farther and farther into drowz.zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

RATINGS:

Stuckski:  5/10 (10/10 if you want music to play before you go to bed)

Tongue N' Cheek by Dizzee Rascal

Stuckski:

Wow..sorry Kurt.

As a rule I prefer UK Grime to most anything the U.S. hiphop scene produces (I say 'as a rule' because there are definitely exceptions). Dizzee Rascal has a great lyrical style, and I love his faster songs. There are not enough of them in this album for me to really enjoy it. The highlight is the Armand van Helden produced Bonkers, which is one of my favorite tracks ever. Aside from that it's a struggle to find something positive to say about this  album. I guess Dance Wiv Me has some nice little riffs..meh.

RATINGS:

Stuckski: 4/10 (Almost completely earned by Bonkers)

The Essential Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan

Stuckski:

A good mix of Dylan hits. I always enjoy him as an easy listening option. I assume you know who he is/what kind of music he makes. My favorites are Maggie's Farm, Mr. Tambourine Man and All Along the Watch Tower.

I've heard people argue that Dylan is a better poet than a musician, but I've gotta say I love the harmonica and guitar accompaniments.

RATINGS:
Stuckski: 7/10

Get Warmer by Bomb the Music Industry.

Stucksksi:

I've been sitting here trying to think about something to say about Bomb the Music Industry. Something aside from the fact that they're awesome. Or that all their music is free. I also don't want to go on about how they're one of the paragons of the DYI movement.  So you know what, fuck it. Go to this link, download their albums, and experience the revolution yourself: http://quoteunquoterecords.com/btmi.php

(P.S. if you need some convincing, check out these tracks)

kurtkurtkurt:

BTMI is one of my favorite bands right now. They're everything right with music. Get warmer was a great album. Download it and everything they've made.

RATINGS:

Stuckski: 9/10
kurtkurtkurt: 9/10

F-Minus - F-Minus

kurtkurtkurt:

Just letting Stuckski carry the blog for a bit I suppose...

F-Minus is straight up Hardcore Punk. Coming in at a total of 16 minutes 27 seconds this 19 track album doesn't have a song lasting longer than 2 minutes. In fact most of them don't make it past the 1 minute mark. This is something I've always enjoyed about (some) punk bands, lack of verse/chorus structure. Songs wind up being "Verse, Verse, Verse" or "Chorus x4" or "Bridge."

Anyways good for if you're in an angry mood.

edit:
Here are the first 3 songs put into one video.

Stuckski:

Sometimes a wall of sound is a good thing. I like.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 8/10
Stuckski: 6/10

Cage the Elephant by Cage the Elephant

Stuckski:
I was interested in this band for one reason . That's the intro for possibly my favorite First Person Shooter ever, Borderlands. What a great intro, amirite? Seriously, if you haven't played this game you should go out and shoot yourself...and if you survive go and buy it. This from a guy who doesn't even really like shooters that much!
OK, OK...before this turns into a review/masturbatory session over Borderlands let's get on with the review.

Cage the Elephant is very much reminiscent of the White Stripes at times. The singer definitely has some Jack White influences in his vocals. Holy shit I just realized there is a Jack Black and a Jack White...if they ever meet will the universe implode?

But yeah, this album starts fairly strong, but I lost interest as the album wore on. It seems like they put all their effort into the first five tracks and then just sort of phoned in everything else. The highlights are definitely Ain't no Rest for the Wicked and the opening track In One Ear. Both feature the kind of talking/singing vibe.

kurtkurtkurt:
If I were to review this album off the two songs Stuckski linked to (which I am) I'd say. "Hey, this band isn't that bad."

Hey, this band isn't that bad.

These songs are both upbeat, danceable, and catchy. Also I, like Stuckski, adore Borderlands (which may bias my score).
RATINGS:
Stuckski: 6/10
kurtkurtkurt: 7/10

Paid To Cum 1978-1981 LP

Stuckski:

Hey avid readers! We're back after a summer break. And that's all we're going to say about that.

Sometimes there is an LP that is hard to dissect because it is pretty much one whole. Often this is the case for concept albums and -to a lesser degree- rock operas. Paid to Cum is also hard to pick apart for a different reason: it's essentially just a best of album. It leaves the impression that if you were at a live show it would be awesome, but as an LP it lacks that something special to set it apart. I'm not saying it isn't a good album if you like classic punk (which I do), just that there is nothing there that will set it apart from any of the many other punk bands from that era. There is not a bit of the reggae tones that feature in their other albums here (except for the excellent I against I , and then only the faintest hints of it). I guess what I'm saying is this: If you like punk you'll like this; if you don't than this album won't change your mind.


RATINGS
Stuckski: 7/10