Red Meat Reviews » Pop

New Music Review Bites – Autolux, Bear in Heaven, M.I.A., Best Coast

Shogun00 — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:25:30 +0000

Autolux – Transit Transit

6 YEARS!!!!!!! Thats how long it took Autolux’s sophomore album to come out. Who do these cats think they are the, Wu Tang Clan? Despite the incredible gap between albums Autolux has continued playing kickass live shows and are essentially a live band. Both Autolux albums translates an idea of what they sound like rather than an actual blueprint of their music. Transit Transit reflects this feel of freedom. I will be honest, the first time I listened to Transit Transit I did not like it at all. They are only a couple of overpowering in your face jams and the rest just seemed like noise trash filler, but then I gave the album another listen, then another, and now I cant stop listening to it at all. Subtle sonic tunes like Highchair, Spots and The Bouncing Wall are complimented by aggressive Autolux tracks like Supertoys, Audience #2, Kissproof and Census. You quickly realize after a couple of listens cover to cover there is a LOT of stuff going on you just don’t pick up on it on the first run, like using xylophones, I LOVE xylophone’s. The real fun is seeing these 3 live and it will be interesting to see how they work this new material with their old all the time incorporating their signature live sound. This new album gets 4 meats, and Autolux please don’t make us wait another 6 years for a 3^rd album ridiculous

Bear In Heaven – Beast Rest Forth Mouth

Where did this band come from? How did they acquire such a rad name? None of this really matters cause this album is pretty dope. This is their second album but my first experience with this Brooklyn based band, and it’s a good one. The music is fun and will put a smile on your face if you are into experimental rock with harmonious jams and catchy baselines. Don’t let the hipsters turn you away for this band or this album, both are cooler than any hipster’s opinion, you know who you are.

4 ½ Meats

MIA – / \ / \ / \ Y / \

Do I need to do this review? I waited until the hype faded and to be honest with you I thought there would be more. Diplo who contributed to this album is talk shit and long time pitchfork supporters gave this album a 4.4. I guarantee in like 10 years they are gonna re score this gem of an album. I have a huge bias to great music and this is great music. Total revamp of sound and style from her previous work / \ / \ / \ Y / \ is a blast of everyday sounds and crunchy noise all married with M.I.A. distinct style and creativity. Get on your grind and pick up this 4 meaty approved album.

Best Coast – Crazy For You

If you are from Southern California or California you should pick up this album. Crazy For You sounds, well like California. It has a great lo-fi garage rock sound and hints of surf rock from the 50’s and 60’s but not corny at all. The longest song is 3 minutes, which is great for kids with short attention spans and weed smokers. Front woman Bethany Cosentino uses cliché subject matters like relationships, summer, love, hate and partying to create catchy tunes great for your next summer BBQ. Bethany’s cat is also talked about in her music as well on the cover and actual CD, lucky feline. 4 meats for this Katy Perry hater.(I support the hate)

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New Music Review Bites- Ariels Pink Haunted Graffiti, Fools Gold, British India

Shogun00 — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:43:00 +0000

Ariels Pink Haunted Graffiti- Before Today

If you are into Lo Fi abstract genre questioning music than this is your dude. I don’t even know if I like what I hear, but I cant stop listening to it. WARNING this is not for everyone. The subtleties and details may be missed by the casual butt rocker, but the indie kids will love it. Go out and buy this album, file it under weird shit that’s cool.

Fools Gold

This self titled album is pretty good. It has super long songs and a world sound to it. Vocal harmonies paired with fun upbeat music all around makes this a great record for long drives and sight seeing. This could be the album for your summer montage of 2010!

British India- Avalanche

WTF! This album started out fantastic. Killer riffs, aggressive attitude and pretty good lyrics. But midway though I think someone just said fuck it I am done cause the album just loses all of its flair. If this was an EP I would rate this real high, but its not, so British India you must suffer the raw consequences.

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New Music Review Bites – Ratatat, Hot Hot Heat, Jamie Lidell, Tokyo Police Club

Shogun00 — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:14:42 +0000

Ratatat-LP4

The 2 baddest white dudes from NYC are back on their aptly titled 4^th album Lp4. Fans of smooth guitar work, frantic bhangra and conga’s, dope ass audio sound bites, and all things funky will dig this latest piece of work that Ratatat has laid out. Is it much different than the last album? Not really, it more of the same, the same awesomness that is. I use the word awesomeness a lot. Pick this album up and be the coolest kid on your block this summer. Fort reals college kids love this shit.

Hot Hot Heat- Future Breeds

I was real skeptical about this album. I don’t even listen to these dudes anymore, I skip their songs anytime they come up while I am shuffling. I was going into this album waiting to hear the same type of music. It was a nice surprise that they switched up their style. Much more aggressive, yet still super fun. If there is one track to listen to it has to be JFK on LSD, and the track after that, Jedidiah, has this ending that is totally bugged out, it just a bunch of nonsense audio cuts put one after the other, AWESOME!!!

Jamie Lidell – Compass

I let this album collect dust for a bit. To be totally honest I didnt hear it until set my iPOD to shuffle, and then though the magic of randomness I heard this soulful, gospel choir Chris Cornell like voice taking me to church, and like it or not that is where I was heading.

All joking aside this is a sleeper hit. The music is all over the place, using a conglomerate of instruments and God knows what else to create a sound that complements Jamie Lidell’s awesome voice. Normally I am not a fan of this type of music, but this is a solid piece of musical expression.

Tokyo Police Club- Champ

I had HIGH hopes for this one. I love me some TPC, but this album not so much. By the 5th or 6th track the album takes a nose dive. Maybe I need to listen to it more, this album sounds like more of the same. I would recommend it if you are into this band, if your not then listen at your own risk.

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New Music Review Bites- Karen Elson, LCD Soundsystem, Sleigh Bells, Lazerproof

Shogun00 — Mon, 31 May 2010 19:29:54 +0000

New Music Review Bites- Karen Elson, LCD Soundsystem, Sleigh Bells, Lazerproof

Karen Elson- The Ghost Who Walks

There is something to be said with timing. This album came to me when I needed it the most. The Ghost Who Walks expressed what was going on inside myself internally and helped me work out what I needed to, and for the Karen I am indebted to you. With that said, this album is real good. Tracks like, “The Ghost Who Walks”, “Mouths to Feed” and “Lunasa” will tug on your heart. Even though this is new music, there is an old soul that resides in between the groves of this record that you must meet. This is a must have in my book.

***special tid bit, third man did a limited vinyl pressing of this album, not only was it peach colored, it was peach scented! I am part of the vault (Jack White’s record label’s fan club) and tried many many times to get this, but I didn’t. Sad Face.

LCD Soundsystem- This is Happening

Hell yes it is. LCD is back and better than ever. This is Happening is great, I think there is 1 or 2 tracks that are under the 4 minute mark the rest are 8 minutes +. This is Happening is all about fun, never taking itself that seriously but dropping some serious noise. I saw these dudes perform at Coachella this year, and a little band called Them Crooked Vultures performed before they took the stage and they gave LCD a shout out, yeah that happened and you should pick up This is Happening.

Sleigh Bells- Treats

This is one of the first bands that are signed with N.E.E.T., M.I.A.’s label. Mrs Arulpragasam has great taste in Brooklyn based noise acts cause this one is a keeper. Treats is a bunch of fun fill fuzzed up audio and the hardest bass drops this side of the globe. After listening to this band you might be consider a hipster, you will start logging onto pitchfork.com and wearing a whole lot of American Apparel, but this side effect can be counteracted when you look in the mirror and you realize that you are 30 and you hate all that shit, except for the music cause that rules. I am going out on a limb and saying Treats is going to be in my top 10 albums of the year.

Lazerproof- Major Lazer & La Roux Mixtape

There is way to much awesome going on with Miztape. Both artists are stand alone great but when they combine they create the super group “Lazerproof” an over the top mixtape for the masses, and the best part, ITS MOTHERFUCKING FREE!!!!!! Do you see the cover? How cool and illegal is that? Don’t be a lazy internet surfer, download this shit.

All Albums get the 4 Standard Slabs of Excellence.

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New Music Review Bites- Black Keys, The Claps, Ganjasufi, Gospel Gossip

Shogun00 — Thu, 27 May 2010 00:07:48 +0000

The Black Keys- Brothers

There is a reason that this album is called brothers, cause each and every track sounds like a Motown revival mixed with that black keys style. Instead of sounding like recycled soul these dude pulled deep into their own American history and pulled out a phenomenal piece of work. The only thing I don’t like is that I didn’t get this slice of audio greatness on vinyl. Tracks like “Sinister Kid”, She’s Long Gone” and “10 cent Pistol” will make you wonder why this isn’t a double album. If you like that classic American music sound but need some current styles to not throw you way back then this is the album for you.

The Claps – New Science EP

Ok I only got the EP, but what an EP. True I have never heard of these cats, but if their full length is anything like this EP than its gonna be a winner. It was only 3 tracks, with another 3 remixes. So far so good

Ganjasufi

Ganja- slang term for marijuana
Sufi- a Islamic sect that follows the ways of Jesus more so than the Prophet Mohammed. Hafiz was a Sufi Muslim.

Ganjasufi, an explosion of world sound and a conglomerate of genres crunched into an entity of awesomeness. There is a LOT going on, and your ears will pick up something new on each play. I don’t know if I like it because its weird as all fuck or because it assaults my brain much like an epileptic bird that flew into a Daft Punk show. Check with your doctor first, then cop this. Did i mention this album was produced by Flying Lotus Gaslamp killer and Mainframe? Fuck Yeah…

Gospel Gossip- Drift EP

I have a special place in my heart for these guy. They always come with out with subtle difference from their previous works. Unlike other bands they improve and tweak their sound ever so slightly and this new EP reflects that. With that said do I dig it? Of course I do. Is it their best work, eh the jury is still out. But you i love that trash garage rock sound, stupid!

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Contra the Non 8bit Album Review

Shogun00 — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:55:41 +0000

Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A SELECT START is the code for 30 lives for 2 players in Konami’s Contra for the NES that came out in the 1980’s. Contra by Vampire Weekend is an album that came out today that features a Polaroid of a chick from 1983 as the cover art.

Vampire Weekend is playing a sold our show tonight at the Henry Fonda in Los Angeles to support their newest album, Contra. I am bummed I am not going to the show because the new album rocks. I was a closet fan of their first album, it took a while for their sound to grow on me, but they def hit a home run on their follow up.

The reason I like this band is because the music is fun, period. They have no problem creating happy, carefree melodies with upbeat lyrics which gives us the listener a “pick me up” from all the other garbage that is out there. Cousins and Horchata have all ready received radio commercial success but that can be said for almost every song on the new album its that good. Its rare that there is a band that you can listen to with your mom in the car that you both will genuinely like. Some of my favorite tracks off Contra are California English, Give Up the Gun and Holiday. They use a wide variety of sounds and instruments to create their signature sound, they even have fun with autotune. On the track Diplomat’s Son you can hear a sample taken from M.I.A., STRONG!

This album makes me feel like its x-mass, and I am a Muslim. Go out and buy the album, and if you have time try to beat Contra while listening to Contra.

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Have Yourself a Meaty Little Christmas Album Review

Shogun00 — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:34:08 +0000

Question. What is better than Meatwad, Frylock and Master Shake singing renditions of your favorite Christmas jingles? Absolutely nothing. This album should be the definitive studio of X-Mass 2009.

Coming from a strait up heathen family ever since I can remember Christmas was a time where everyone else got to have fun spinning their dreidels or kissing your best friends wife under the mistletoe. This album encompasses that feeling of awesome exclusivity that you fucks have on Christmas.

And no worries Carl is on the album as well as Boxie Brown and Neko Case. Unfortunately the Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past from the Future is not on the album which makes me sad.

There are so many classic songs on this album its gonna make your head explode. Master Shake shines above the rest. Twas the Night Before Jesus is my favorite track, and it will surley get you all teary in the eye region and fill you pancreas with holiday joy.

4 meat-wady-wad meats for this Christmas Miracle.

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Burr – Arctic Monkeys @ Hollywood Palladium 9/15/09

Shogun00 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:33:41 +0000

In a stroke of luck I somehow got 2 tickets one of the UK’s hottest imports, the ultra super cool Arctic Monkeys. How was the show? I am glad you asked.

They took the stage about 15 minutes late, and played from 945 to 11pm. I missed the opening act, oh well. Their set was SOLID. Doing a great mix of old and new, throwing it back with “Still Take You Home” and the radio friendly “I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor” and playing fan favorites like “D is for Dangerous” and “Brain Storm”. Their new material was rocking as well, the live renditions of songs like “Crying Lightning” “Potion Approaching” and “Corner Stone” were incredible.

And the sound! They didn’t miss a beat, plus the quality of the sound was straight out off their vinyl’s, I couldn’t tell the difference, which is a GREAT. Plus they added a 5^th member to play the keys and other instruments, at one point the band was rocking out with 3 guitars, 1 bas and a kick ass drummer. I can’t say enough about the arrangements of the songs and the quality of the live show.

They did seem too cool for school though. Even though they were playing hit after hit, it didn’t connect with the audience. One of Alex Turner’s opening comments were, “We are the Arctic Monkeys, you’re not”. Despite this separation the crowd was really into the show. Highlights included seeing a mom all sweated out with her daughter after the show, and an older dude(pushing 55) wearing not 1 but 2 bluetooth headsets, yes 2!!!

They closed the show with red right hand and 505(a personal favorite).

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Ima Be Enjoying Some Black Eyed Peas With My Red Meat

Whiteface — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:28:54 +0000

For those who do not know me, it is a well known fact that I am in the top 5 best white male dancers on the planet. That being said, I cannot stop listening to The Black Eyed Peas newest album The E.N.D. America’s trendiest hip-hop/dance pop group fucking killed this one. Front to back it is a straight dance party on disc. BEP is not known for their deep lyrics or savvy political views or even complaining about how fucked up our country is. They are known for getting people on the dance floor and producing super catchy songs that get stuck in your head all day. They might be the happiest bunch of artists out and they transcend that happiness onto all their listeners. The thing I love most about these guys is the fact that they change their overall sound EVERY album, keeping up with the times while not losing sight of who they are, a party group. The E.N.D.’s sound is VERY techno and its done awesomely. It even has a double disc version that has some of their previous hits remixed with that same electro-pop sound.

What should really be mentioned is the fact that they have, with this album, become one of only 7 other artists ever to have singles hold number 1 and 2 spots on the charts at the same time. That’s ridiculous. It’s been non stop on my iPod since I got it. I’m probably the only one our little team here that enjoys the pop so I’m assuming I’m not going to get much love on this article, but if you like to dance and you like happy tunes that send a positive message you can’t deny this album is the shit. Furthermore, proving how with the times this group is, they’ve announced that this will be their last physical CD and they’ll only be available for digital downloads in the future. Certainly they’re not the first to do this, but they’ve even taken it to the next level by saying that they would be dropping new material almost as they make it, revisiting older songs and putting out different versions constantly. It makes total sense, why settle for 15 tracks at a time when you could have a remixes and new songs come out each month. Most people are only downloading a few at a time anyway. Genius.

I love it, you’ll love it, just go out and get it. Or you can buy it right HERE!! Also, here’s their video for the radio’s favorite song right now..I gotta feeling. Mozeltov! Enjoy.

Whiteout.

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