Mastodon - Blood Mountain

MINE

No.

God, no.

But it made me wonder if guys like this lead singer will be due to lose their vocal cords in years to come.  Better lay in some serious medical insurance - don't you think?

VERDICT: THROW IT OUT

YOURZ

I'm not a big metal fan.  Generally, I like my music to be more fun and less serious than a lot of metal takes itself to be.  But in a few instances, a band jumps out, grabs me by my skinny neck and shakes me like a motherfucker.  Mastodon is one such band. 

It is a combination of the blisteringly fast riffs, the rapid time changes and the seemingly higher intellect of their lyrics that does it for me.  The double pronged attack of twin guitars, riffing over the top of a machine-gun-fire snare and fat-as bass are like aural sculptures.  Sure, not everyone appreciates such sculpture, but thankfully, I get this.

The other thing I like about it is they don't mess about with over-long lead guitar breaks, eschewing these for smart, whip-crack riffs that leave the listener breathless.  I fucking love it!  And it seems I'm not the only one, with the band gaining some big names fans in people like QOTSA front man Josh Homme, Cedric from At The Drive In and Neil Fallon from Clutch.  They've toured with Metallica, Slayer and Slipknot and have garnered accolades from the metal and wider music-loving community right around the world.  As they should.  Blood Mountain is a metal fan's wet dream come true.

Mine, however, is probably bleeding from the ears right now...

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information: http://www.mastodonrocks.com/

Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures

YOURZ

One part Led Zeppelin, one part Foo Fighters and one part Queens Of The Stoneage...  Fuck me, what is there not to like about this band?

This band is the epitome of a super-group: massive riffs, a huge rhythm section and the sort of kick-arse, take-no-prisoners attitude that would cause any pretty-boy bands calling themselves rock to crap their pants so hard, they'd shit their tongues.  (If you're eating while reading this, I apologise for causing you any discomfort).

I'm a big fan of Josh Homme and Dave Grohl and their various music projects.  But I have to say, my favourite member of TCV is, without a doubt, the amazing Mr John Paul Jones.  Not only does he rock harder and better than most guys at least half his age, he makes it seem so effortless.  Not only this, but he is amazingly well-preserved for a man in his 60s.  We can all only hope to be the same when we're his age.

I'm not going to go on about the tracks or the sound or any of the usual reviewer-y type stuff.  I was bitterly disappointed to miss out seeing them here earlier this year and won't let that happen again.  By all accounts, their live show was a flawless example of what a rock show should be.  And the rumours of their followup album are so rife in the blogosphere, it has to be true. 

So, it looks as thought I'm going to end this year as I did last year, eagarly awaiting the release of a Them Crooked Vultures album.  I can hardly wait!

VERDICT: TURN IT UP and check out Dave Grohl's Fresh Pots on YouTube - you'll laugh until you cry!

MINE

Sometimes I wonder if there's ever going to be an end to bands that wanna be Led Zeppelin.  And to give them their due, Them Crooked Vultures do it better than most.  Recruiting an original member helps with the Zep cred.

So here I am, wondering why I can really like it when Wolfmother does it, and I'm just a bit - meh - when it's TCV.  It's partially because this band produces what I call the "clever" part of that kind of rock. You know, with the swinging key/tempo changes, the heavy-on-the-syncopation riffs - it's all designed to show off just how interesting they can make the songs.

And really, while I'm a fan of layering and lush arrangements, when it comes to beats I like mine simple.

VERDICT: TURN IT DOWN

For more information: http://www.themcrookedvultures.com/

Unkle - War Stories

MINE

When I got to the end of this CD, the first thing I wanted to do was to listen to it again.  Which has got to be a recommendation, doesn't it?  At times I could understand why YourZ bought it, because there's an amount of clever-clever musicianship to it.  But generally it's both well-played and eclectic in its genre-shifting.  There's some lovely guitar-based dance which had me bopping in my seat, and moments of plain pop-rock that reminded me of U2.

A British band with help on this album from members of one of my favourite bands - Massive Attack - they've managed to fold some damn fine lyrics into this mix - which makes me wonder why I've never really listened to this CD before.  That'd be my husband, hiding music from me again.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

YOURZ

War Stories is, without a doubt, contender number two for Forgotten Gem of the Year.

If I were, oh let's say 20 years younger, UNKLE is exactly the kind of band I would do my fuckin' damndest to put together.  I would utilise my love of rock AND electronica and make massive, beat-laden music for people to dance, fight or get fucked-up to, depending on their bent.

I would then gather some of my favourite singers and musicians to sing and play on my albums.  I'd make brilliant, provocative videos that not only made people think but introduced the world to great directors and actors.  I'd use emerging artists and photographers to create original, interesting pieces of art and help establish their careers.  And I'd do all this while avoiding the bullshit trapping of 'fame' and 'celebrity'.  I'd do it for the love of music, of art and of creativity. 

Yeah, if only...

(NB: the only thing I wouldn't do is package my work in ridiculously large packaging that doesn't fit any normal storage space so that the buyer puts it somewhere else and promptly forgets about it - are you listening James?)

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information: http://unkle.com/

Spinnerette - Spinnerette

YOURZ

Okay, Ms Brody Dalle has rock credentials oozing out her skin like her many and varied tattoos, starting with Sourpuss in Australia when she was 14.  By the time she was 18, she had married Tim Armstrong from Rancid, moved to LA and formed The Distillers.  Four albums later, both band and Armstrong were no longer.  Enter Josh Homme, more marriage, a sprog and domestic bliss, of a sort.

While not owing anything to the QOTSA sound, access to the growing collective of musicians associated with the Queens meant all she had to do was write the songs and let them be recorded.  Unfortunately, what we end up with here, for a major part of this album, is fairly derivative sounding, with a number of tracks that would most certainly not have made the cut for her husband's various projects.

But this self-titled effort is not without its moments.  Openers Ghetto Love, All Babes Are Wolves and Cupid set the bench mark high before the cracks start showing.  It isn't until 6 tracks later she partly redeems herself with the quite splendid Driving Song followed closely by Impaler and the closer A Prescription For Mankind.


This should have been an EP is all I'm saying.

VERDICT: TURN IT DOWN


MINE

OK, the gremlins got in and deleted my comment.  How did that happen?  Grrrrrr, I can't even remember clearly what I said!  Apart from, it's not really my thing.  Well-done and all that but generally just - ordinary.  Notwithstanding the babeliciousness of Ms Dalle....

VERDICT: TURN IT DOWN

For more information:  http://www.spinnerettemusic.com/

Kyuss - And The Circus Leaves Town

YOURZ

Oh, wait until Mine gets a load of this.  I think her head is gonna explode all over the windscreen hahahahahahaha... (not that her head exploding is a funny thing, mind you).  Anyway...

If it weren't for Kyuss, we might not have Queens Of The Stoneage, Mondo Generator, Eagles Of Death Metal, Fu Manchu and Them Crooked Vultures, to name of the biggies.  Hailing from Palm Desert in southern California, Kyuss made a name for themselves playing heavy, distorted and groove-laden songs, and featured future QOTSA members Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri.

Throughout their short-lived career, the band seemed to be in a constant state of change, before finally calling it quits shortly after releasing And The Circus Leaves Town.  Of all their albums, this is most certainly my personal favourite and the only one currently residing in our collection (mainly because Blues For The Red Sun and Welcome To Sky Valley both walked out of my house at some stage).  The rest, as they (whoever they are) say, is future history.

If you're a fan, you'll know all about this album.  If you're not but want to be, then this is as good a place to start as any (in fact, it probably is the best place to start, as far as I'm concerned).

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

MINE

What, another Led Zeppelin tribute album?  (YourZ sez: I beg to differ - this is stoner rock at its finest!  Led Zep were never as sludgy as this)  How do these bands get record deals, anyway?  Oh, that's right, the recording industry is full of never-grew-up testosterone. *sigh*

VERDICT:THROW IT OUT

For more information: http://www.myspace.com/kyussmyspace

Queens Of The Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralyse

MINE

The boy music just never lets up... but actually I've been reasonably impressed by QOTSA.  Perhaps because I just loved track one on their debut album, Rated R.  So if you've never heard Feel Good Hit of the Summer take a clicky walk and have a listen.

See what I mean? Two minutes 46 seconds of a rawk mantra that just rolls you along.  Ironically used by the LAPD in its anti-drunk driving campaign... but that's another Josh Homme story.  Which I'm sure YourZ has more than enough of for this post.

YourZ is a rabid Josh fan, and I can see why.  We both love the Eagles of Death Metal - and when the pointy stick finally lands on Them Crooked Vultures, stand back, the gushing from my beloved will knock you over.  QOTSA's not really my cup of tea, although it's still well put together with more real singing and a decent mix.  Does this mean I have to admit - his boy music is actually Man Music?  Oh, the ignominy...(YourZ sez: fuck yeah, I win!)

VERDICT: TURN IT DOWN

YOURZ

While the music press has been lauding Jack White's prodigious output over the last decade, I've been plumping for Josh Homme.  I mean, look at his track record - first Kyuss, (okay maybe not strictly in the last decade but...), the Desert Sessions, QOTSA, Eagles Of Death Metal, production for Arctic Monkeys and various others and, of course, Them Crooked Vultures.  What's Jack White done, huh?  (Okay, I know what he's done - I've admitted it on these very pages but give me some latitude, 'kay?)

Not only this, but he plays Matons (most of the time), which is also my axe of choice.  And he is married to Brody Dalle, one of the sexiest rock chicks to come out of Oz.  The man has is all going on.  But enough of this insipid gushing...

Lullabies... is the fourth full length release from QOTSA and the first released after bassist Nick Oliveri was fired for fucking up once too often.  When I first heard this album, I was kinda missing the crazy shit Nick usually brought to the table but after a few listens, I realised there was enough crazy on this album to satisfy even the most discerning of rock loonies (of which I am proud to say I'm one).

I must listen to this album (and all QOTSA's output) at least once every couple of weeks and there isn't a single track on it I don't want to hear again.  There is just so many flavours, though, it is hard to pick out which tracks are favourites 'cause it depends on my mood on the day.  But notable mentions have to be Tangled Up In Plaid, Little Sister (the cow bell fuckin' rocks) and the dirty blues that is You Got A Killer Scene There, Man... (which also features Shirley Manson from Garbage on backing vox).

All indications are there is gonna be another QOTSA album released this year.  Coupled with the rumours of a full-blown tour later as well, 2010 is shaping up to be a very rocking good year indeed.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP, put it on repeat and rock out

For more information: www.qotsa.com

In our collection we also have Queens Of The Stoneage (debut), Rated R, Songs For The Deaf and Era Vulgaris

Eagles Of Death Metal - Death By Sexy

YOURZ

This band is so much frickin' fun.  From their publicity shots to their songs titles, lyrics, music and album covers, they exude unadorned cool, an LA hipness the rest of the world wishes it could have while despising it at the same time.  It just makes them even cooler.

Featuring Jesse 'Boots Electric' Hughes and Josh 'Baby Duck' Homme as well as a stunning guest lineup, the Eagles... are the kind of band parents warn their children about, to no avail, of course.

Josh takes a seat in this band and proves he is as equally at home behind the kit as he is in front of it (the talented, good for nothing bastard).  But with a frontman like Jesse, I think even Iggy Pop would wanna take a back seat.  Okay, maybe Iggy is stretch but I think you get my point.

I'm disappointed I have seen them live yet as their live shows are said to be non-stop sexy (and not is a Bruno kind of way either).  Next tour, come hell or high water, Mine, okay?

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

MINE

Oh, WAY cool!  These guys don't take themselves seriously at all and they totally rock. This whole album is going on the gymPod to help me push through yet another pain barrier - with a smile on my face.

And they're so rude.  I love I Gotta Feeling (Just 19) but it all rocks in the good way. You see, guys, this is the way to get girls to love your music.  DON'T BE SO SERIOUS.  As a matter of fact, the band that most came to mind when I was listening to them was The Sweet - a glam-pop-rock band in the 70s that I was very into in high school. Same sort of high-powered, cheeky music that just makes you want to bounce up and down.

VERDICT: TURN IT UP

For more information:

In our collection, we also have: Heart On and Peace Love Death Metal