Regina Spektor – Far

Russian-born singer-songwriter and master pianist Regina Spektor, as her latest album “Far” testifies to, has to be one of the most talented and creative musicians working today. Take for example “Folding Chair”, in which Regina squeaks part of its chorus like a dolphin, or “Machine”, which effectively incorporates sounds from David Byrne’s “Playing The Building” project into a song that, as Regina describes it, sounds like “robots walking in the snow.” Or you could point to the detail-oriented “Wallet”, where Regina sings about discovering a man’s wallet that she then describes the contents of in a heartfelt and heartbreaking ballad.

Clearly, as introduced in her first album “Begin To Hope” and strengthened in “Far”, quirkiness comes easily to Spektor. What’s amazing about Spektor, however, is her ability to transform her oddity into songs that are uplifting and deep. Never before has a pianist made simplicity so intriguing.

Working with four producers on “Far”, including Jeff Lynne, the mastermind behind the Electric Light Orchestra, Spektor has produced an album that feels fresh, yet worn-in like an old baseball mitt. It will take you about one listen to start humming the songs on “Far”, but more than a few to understand their complexity.

Here’s her latest video for the song “Eet”.

Regina Spektor is “Far”

Singer-songwriter and virtuoso pianist Regina Spektor, whose first album “Begin To Hope” sold over 600, 000 copies and made its way into the Top 20, has just returned from busily touring Europe to promote her latest album “Far”, due on Tuesday. As she tells The New York Times, the inspiration for her latest album came from the realization that humans are so incredibly small compared to the vastness of the universe. As it turns out, her realization began to haunt her into writing songs for “Far.” Whatever the inspiration, the Russian-born singer’s music pushes conventions and invites contemplation. Check out her latest single “Laughing With” below. Her videos are well done too!

Tom Morello’s New Project

In case you haven’t heard, former Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello has teamed up with rapper Boot Riley and drummer Stanton Moore to produce what Morello calls “the heaviest, hardest-rockin’ music I’ve been involved with in a long time.” The trio is known as the “Street Sweeper Social Club” which combines Morello’s innovative guitar sounds with Riley’s politically centered rhymes. The album actually dropped this past Tuesday, so check it out if you dig Rage Against The Machine or Zack De La Rocha’s side project “One Day As A Lion.”

Here’s a track from the album called 100 Little Curses…

Eminem working on “Beautiful” video.

Along with performing a face plant into Sacha Baron Cohen’s smooth butt cheeks during the MTV Movie Awards, Eminem has been busy working on the video for his lastest single “Beautiful”, off his new album Relapse. MTV, who apparently has been following Em’s every Tweet, says that Eminem has released two photos from the set of the new video, although there is no word yet on a premiere date. Em is also busy working on the second installment of Relapse, aptly titled Relapse 2, which will hopefully drop before the end of the year. Check the set pics out below, as well as a pic of Eminem as the Joker, which is featured in the liner notes of Relapse. The second pic is hard to see, but it’s of Eminem standing in an old train station.

Incubus makes “Monuments and Melodies.”

Usually, I hate when bands release greatest hits albums. But Incubus’ version, the double album ”Monuments and Melodies”, is somewhat forgivable because it offers two new songs in addition to 11 unreleased tracks that reveal the power of their music. If there’s one label you can’t peg on these guys it’s “sellout”. Each one of their albums is different, but enjoyably so. Ergo, if you live and breathe Incubus flavor or are in the mood for good ol’ Incubus rock (i.e. “S.C.I.E.N.C.E.”) then check this one out. Normally, I wouldn’t compel my readers to even scoff at the idea of buying a greatest hits album, but in this case, I give you permission. Not too keen on the album title though…

New Track From Incubus!

Check out the new track from Incubus, “Black Heart Inertia.” It’s extremely catchy and experimental. No word on when their new album will be released.

Silverstein’s Latest Single: “Vices”

Silverstein’s latest single “Vices” hit the net this week from their upcoming album “A Shipwreck in the Sand.”

The song features the standard Silverstein mix of hardcore and melodic vocals screamed over fierce interlaced guitar measures and hooks…

Silverstein is certainly no Underoath or Atreyu, but they have definitely carved out a comfortable niche for themselves in the post-hardcore scene.

“A Shipwreck in the Sand” drops March 31. We’ll have the review right here.

Static-X – Cult of Static

Every year and a half or so we are  forced to bow down to the musical savagery of Static-X, who never fail to produce a solid album that has just enough variation to keep us invested. Happily, their latest album “Cult of Static” warrants more attention than usual. The band’s sixth studio album, it is a crushing and brutal demonstration of industro-thrashing side-show circus rock that pays tribute to their loyal cult following.

The album’s first track, “Lunatic”, features a musical cameo from rock-idol Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, who rips his way through a menacing guitar solo that goes perfectly with the song’s initial assault.

Other notable tracks include “Skinned”, a surprisingly epic and surreal foray into apocalyptic soundscapes, and “Hypure”, which is a rhythmic and daring turn for the band.

Even darker and moodier than their last effort “Cannibal”, “Cult of Static” is Static-X at their most sinister. Its songs are longer, full of synths and techno arrangements, and more complex than any album they’ve released.

Thank the heavens we won’t have to wait long for their next album to drop.

 

New Found Glory – Not Without a Fight

I’ve certainly never considered myself a diehard New Found Glory fan, but I can’t knock a band that has had so much success in their ten year career, dropping six albums, three of them gold, and procuring a solid fan base that will always remain faithful.

That said, NFG has fallen into somewhat of a rut lately. The band’s last two albums, Coming Home and Catalyst, were nothing special and lacked the signature NFG hook, showcasing a more hard rock feel that didn’t really gel with the band’s image. On top of all that, bands like Fall Out Boy and Jimmy Eat World were simply doing the whole pop-punk thing better to the point where NFG’s sound had become almost obsolete. By the time Coming Home was released, it felt like NFG had fallen off the radar.

Thankfully, NFG has returned to form with their latest, Not Without a Fight, the band’s seventh effort. It combines the best elements of Catalyst and Coming Home without the pretentious rock bravado NFG has become accustomed to lately. The album revels in NFG antiquity, featuring sounds similar to those heard on their earlier works, Hit or Miss and Sticks and Stones. Each song features the traditional NFG hook, especially on tracks like “Don’t Let Her Pull You Down” and the opening track, “Right Where We Left Off.” “Reasons” features a catchy acoustic ballad and “I’ll Never Love Again” finds the five member band screaming said title in effective unison. Tracks like “Such a Mess” and “Truckstop Blues” are filled with infectious guitars and choruses that reveal how much fun NFG seems to be having with their latest creation.

Amazingly, there aren’t many disappointments on this record. The guitars sound extra crunchy and even lead singer Jordan Pundik sounds slightly less whiny, one of my big complaints with NFG’s last two albums.

Even if Not Without a Fight proves commercially unsuccessful, it proves that NFG is back and ready to contend with pop-punk heavyweights in hopes that they may one day reclaim the genre’s crown.

Check the band’s myspace to stream the entire album!

The Underoath Empire

Underoath’s latest album, Lost in the Sound of Seperation, was released back in September, but is still blaring a hole through my speakers. I can’t help it. The album is probably one of the most ferocious albums I’ve ever laid ears to, even surpassing the brutality of their previous album Define the Great Line.

In order to initiate some of the uninitiated out there, I have posted the music video to Underoath’s song “Writing on the Walls”, which will hopefully round-up some fresh Underoath converts.

 

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