Aesop Rock - Float

kurtkurtkurt:
This is pretty mediocre. Definitely very okay. I'm not really big into rap or hip-hop so I'm probably not the best judge of it. There were beats I guess?

Stuckski:
Aesop Rock just doesn't work as a straight-up rapper, he needs to have a singer alongside him to complement his jumbled and somewhat incomprehensible vocals. His rapping style is simply not powerful enough to stand on it's own.
This is a pity because his music features great beats, and utilizes samples masterfully ( the jazzy overtones in Commencement at the Obedience Academy are delightful).
I get the feeling that the rapper really doesn't have anything particular to say, and that may be why the vocals fall so flat. Directionless verbosity works fine when it isn't the sole focal point of the music ...but it doesn't work here.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 3/10
Stuckski: 4/10

Hank Williams - The Complete Hank Williams (Disc 2)

kurtkurtkurt:
Pretty much you can probably look at the last review and get the just of what I think of the album. It's fantastic (go us for differing in opinions recently!) My Bucket's Got A Hole In It is probably one of Hank's most recognizable songs (it's well deserved.) Quite frankly I still love this.

Stuckski:

Gee Willikers, thanks Kurt, another Hank Williams album!
        We reviewed one of the other discs in this collection earlier, and I managed to somehow avoid being negative about an album in a genre that I have little patience for. Those halcyon days of tolerance are now irrevocably over however,  as I'm rapidly losing patience with ol' Hank's country twang. There are still some 'islandy' guitar riffs that remind me of the beach and warmer climes, but it no longer makes up for all the other little irritants.
         Every time Hanks voice cracks while singing I want to reach down his throat and punch his vocal chords. Every time the fiddle starts into it's infuriatingly predictable bits, I  just want to.....HOLY SHIT IS THAT CHRISTIAN BALE ON THE COVER, WHAT THE FUCK!?


RATINGS:


kurtkurtkurt: 9/10 (it's all good)
Stuckski: 3/10 (guitar's still good)

Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message

kurtkurtkurt:
I want to like this album more than I do. I know they're important and all, but I'm pretty bored listening to it. Songs could have been cut waaaaay down. Props to  The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on The Wheels of Steel though, I liked hearing all the samples.

Stuckski:
I like it when the bass goes a little crazy in She's fresh . Other than that though the beats in these songs are a little simplistic for my tastes.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 3/10
Stuckski: 4/10

Squirrel Nut Zippers - The Inevitable

kurtkurtkurt:

I love me some Squirrel Nut Zippers! The inevitable was one of their first albums I believe, I know it was before 'Hot' at least. Anyways these guys play kinda an old timey jazz that warms your heart. They're not nearly as chaotic on this album as other releases but they still got songs like Good Enough for Grandad that bring on the crazy or La Grippe that has a tango? flair to it. Overall this is enjoyable for sure.

Stuckski:

I don't actually own this album, so I just went through all the Squirrel Nut Zipper songs I have. It's pretty...different. This is one of those cases where I don't really have anything bad to say about the music, it's just not for me. I've had bad experiences with swing music, and some of this stuff hits too close to home, y'know?

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 7/10
Stuckski: 3/10

Five Iron Frenzy - Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo

kurtkurtkurt:
It's unfortunate that the first Five Iron Frenzy album I have to review is my least favorite. This is after they decided they didn't really want to play Ska anymore and they turned into kinda a harder rock with Horns sort of group. While Reese still has an amazing voice (and lyrics) the music lost the sound I loved from the previous albums. I guess it all seemed pretty generic to me.

Stuckski:
I never got the appeal of Five Iron. Still don't.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 5/10
Stuckski: 3/10

Change by The Dismemberment Plan

kurtkurtkurt:

This album is very 'Yawn'. I was kinda just waiting for most of the songs (whole album) to end so I could say my few words and review the next album.

Stuckski:

The problem I have with a lot of indie music is that they all start to sound very similar. If you made me listen to this album tomorrow there is no guarantee that I would recognize it, even though I had to listen to it several times to even be able to think of something -anything- to say about it. It's bland, boring and they don't sound like they'd be fun to watch live. Another cardinal sin in my books.


RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 2/10
Stuckski: 3/10

Monkeys for Nothin' and Chimps for Free by Reel Big Fish

kurtkurtkurt:

This album is very, very mediocre. I mean, I know Reel Big Fish have been pumping out records and surely you hit dry spells in creativity... But I think that's when you don't release anything.  Pretty much from start to end this is bland. UGH! Reel Big Fish why do you disappoint me!

Stuckski:

If this album were by any other band than Reel Big Fish, I would probably give it a seven or eight. But, c'mon RBF! You guys are responsible for Turn the Radio Off and Cheer Up! Is this really the best you could do? You disappoint me. You could at least have released this huge pile of average under a fake name, so I could go on blissfully pretending that everything you guys make is awesome.


RATINGS:
kurtkurtkurt: 3/10
Stuckski: 4/10

5th Demo by I Hate You When You're Pregnant

kurtkurtkurt:

Okay so I got myself I Hate You When You're Pregnant's discography after hearing The Dollar Tree from either my sister or John Spriggs (I don't remember who showed me first). I thought to myself "Well isn't that a neat little tune. I'll see what everything else is like." WEEEELLLL... ends up it's basically this guy using his stock keyboard beats and singing on top. Apparently he was a better live act.

Stuckski:

Remember that 'Doggy Bounce' song from Flight of the Concords? Well, Imagine that kind of music, but replace those two guys with a bunch of frat boys. Somebody just turned on a beat machine and threw in a few random tracks over the top of it, and then 'sang' whatever they felt like over the top of it.

RATINGS:

Stuckski: 2/10 (At least it sounds like the band had fun making it.)

kurtkurtkurt: 3/10 The Dollar Tree kept it from being lower.

Past Due By Hor!zen

kurtkurtkurt:

This is actually the first time I've heard these guys (this was a Matt playlist item).They made sure to mention Sublime 20 times or so in the lyrics of this album, just in case you weren't sure that they were influenced by them.
Unfortunately, the album was boring and slow. I had a hard time concentrating through it. I'm sure if I was high I would change my opinion. Also I wonder if part of it was maybe this is a b-side.

Stuckski:

There are many (oh God, so many!) bands like this out there. I assume they were all conceived under the influence of a generous helping of spliffs and Sublime records. The resulting sound is almost indistinguishable from said band (although usually worse). This isn't necessarily a completely bad thing, as some of these band go on to put their own spin on the genre, or even embrace their fate and become a Sublime cover band (no shame in that!). Sadly enough Hor!zon is neither of these, choosing rather to bumble along in the shadow of Sublime, while still pretending that their sound is original.
Final verdict: The music is entertaining enough, but if I want this kind of thing, I might as well go and listen to 40oz to Freedom again.

RATINGS:

Stuckski: 4/10
Kurtkurtkurt: 3/10