Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[PassiveTheory]

Right. First and foremost, let me say that my definition of "new music" is very... subjective. It's really "music I've just discovered" more than anything, but I'll try to focus on more of the 2008 releases...

The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead (2008)

Admittedly I had never heard of these guys before I stumbled onto a blog detailing new releases, but I'm glad I did. I read up that the lead singer had to relearn how to sing after some kind of accident, and honestly I'm kinda avoiding back-tracking their discography because his voice is pretty damn striking on this record. The opening track, "Lately", has a distinctly U2-esque guitar riff, but the song's subject matter (essentially the lead singer obviously having problems moving on from a relationship though ironically claiming otherwise) and vocal delivery are stellar and worth checking out the rest of the record JUST for the opening track (hence my reluctance to check out the rest of their discography). Other note-worthy tracks I like include: the very bouncy and echo-y "Can't Say No", the Modest Mouse-y [minus the yelping] "The Captive Mind", The Shins-esque "You Can Come to Me", and the acoustic ballad "Broken Afternoon".

Pacific UV - Longplay, vol. 2 (2008)

When I first saw this record, while processing CDs at the college radio station here, it said on the cover: "for fans of Explosions in the Sky, Spiritualized, Mew, Sigur Ros". Now, I think these guys sound a bit more Mogwai than either Mew or Sigur Ros, but the description, otherwise, was pretty fucking apt. The first two songs are pretty damn amazing. "Alarmist", the lead off song, is, quintessentially, their lead off 8-minute plus EITS-ish song, building up for over 4 minutes before launching into a beautiful string-driven piece. "Need" is, appropriately, in the vein of such Spiritualized greats as "I Think I'm In Love" but with a decidedly meaner sounding riff and dreamy lyrics (which I haven't quite figured out yet...). Other note-worthy tracks I like include: the dreamy, organ-filled longing song "Tremelo", the lull of "Waiting", and (for you instrumental post-rock fans) the 10 minute storm of "Orson".

Hot Chip - Made In The Dark (2008)

This record contains the best song of 2008 thus far, as far as I am concerned, in "Shake A Fist". When you get to the 2 minute mark, shit just goes absolutely fucking insane. Buy/steal/pillage/download this album JUST for that song, if need be. A record that any dance fan, regardless of like/dislike for Hot Chip's work, ought to possess by the end of the year. The Hot Chip craziness spills over into the following track, the aptly named "Ready for the Floor". If "Shake A Fist" wont get you off your ass, "Ready for the Floor" will. Granted there are some downers on this record ("We're Looking For A Lot Of Love", "Whistle For Will", "In The Privacy of Our Love" ought to be avoided), but the rest of the record is just absolutely amazing. "Touch Too Much", "One Pure Thought", "Hold On" and "Wrestlers" (possibly the greatest wrestling-themed love song ever written) will also find their way into your dance collection and remain there like an incurable illness. Don't fret, ladies and gentlemen, that's just Hot Chip for you.

MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (2008)

How do you top Hot Chip? Well, Made In The Dark may possess my favorite song of the 2-month old year, but this is clearly my favorite record of the 1/6th of a year that we've experienced. Granted, this is one of those records that is principally composed of songs that were written/aired/heard of last year (especially "Time To Pretend" and "Kids"), but damnit, this record is so fucking amazing that it feels like a breath of fresh air whenever I put it on. The opening track, "Time to Pretend", is a catchy favorite seeing as it's a listless song that mocks the excess that modern celebrity status entails, while the 2nd best track on the album, the previously mentioned "Kids", is a dancy, groovy tale of a time where our cares weren't so heavy: the time when we were all kids. Granted, that's just my interpretation, just listen to the record and get your own opinions about the songs in question. Other note-worthy tunes: "The Handshake", "Weekend Wars", the utterly groovy "Electric Feel", "The Youth", "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters", etc. Just about every track on the record is absolutely stellar.

Next time: Grand Archives - s/t, Vampire Weekend - s/t.

I think this new thread title makes it a bit more of a communal affair. I just ask that you all follow PassiveTheory's example and make this a bit more than a list thread, you know? -JC

[_yoda]

(this post is now redundant, seeing the thread has been turned into a discussion and all)

[Ishotdanieljohnston]

i think this is fine, the forums are all about opinions and sparking discussion, and I think this deffinitely has the potential to do it. I haven't read your stuff yet but I certainly will when I have some time a bit later on.

[casull]

If at least some of the music in question is not already really well-known and the descriptions offered are useful and interesting, I like this kind of thread, personally. I would be happy if this board were a bit more of a communal blog.

[sean]

Eh, he could of probably fit this in the "New music in 2008" thread or whatever its called. But whateva. Also, DERP DERP-A DERP-A DERP DERP

I think I'll check out Pacific UV.

[PassiveTheory]

I may get flamed for saying this, which is fine by me seeing that everybody is entitled to their own opinion...

but...

isn't this what blogs are for?

I kinda hate blogs.

If the moderators want to close this topic, then that's just what happens. I, on one hand, hope the lot of you check out the records I talked about. That's good enough for me.

[Inlander]

Eh, he could of probably fit this in the "New music in 2008" thread or whatever its called. But whateva.

That thread's sort of more about looking forward to albums that haven't been released yet, than talking about the ones that have.

However, I'm going to suggest that other people might like to put their own reviews of new music up here too. This forum is a community, and a pretty big one at that, and I don't really like threads that are just one person's personal hobby-horse.

[PassiveTheory]

If you'd like to edit the topic title to "Talk about new music you like", I'm game.

[Thrillho]

Hot Chip are good, but their vocalist has no range, and it bugs me.

Eh, he could of probably fit this in the "New music in 2008" thread or whatever its called. But whateva.

That thread's sort of more about looking forward to albums that haven't been released yet, than talking about the ones that have.

However, I'm going to suggest that other people might like to put their own reviews of new music up here too. This forum is a community, and a pretty big one at that, and I don't really like threads that are just one person's personal hobby-horse.

Does it have to be new music? I have a degree of exclusivity with the site I write for but it doesn't apply retroactively. I'd love to review what I think is an underrated or overrated album and spark discussion.

[imagist42]

Here's part of a review for the Sigur Rós movie I just wrote for the family website:

In some sense of the word, "Heima" is a documentary; that is, it documents the experience of the band and their audiences during the course of this tour. And perhaps that is the primary focus of the film. It is a very visceral look into the relationship between Sigur Rós and their homeland. It can't be coincidence that this movie, whose title translates to "Homeland," is wrapped around the tour for an album whose title translates to "Thanks..." After watching the movie, I have no doubt that Sigur Rós loves home and the Icelandic people very much, and a good portion of the emotional impact of the film stems from this inherent love, which is really the reason the movie exists in the first place.

But there is so much more to "Heima" than one might take for granted in this or any other documentary. This film, for that is the most precise word I can think of, is ultimately a wonderful work of art. Aside from the poignantly emotive footage of this band playing their hearts out on stage (or in an abandoned factory, or on the a plain about to be flooded by corporate treachery), the movie consists largely of absolutely beautiful imagery taken directly from the Mother Nature of Iceland. From marshlands to mountains, waterfalls to dew falling off leaves--even the condemned site of an airplane crash--the scenes are strung together with the care and devotion of some master craftsman in the realm of cinematography, or at least a few very talented musicians who love the aesthetic subject of their film very, very much.

In the end, I think that is my favorite aspect of "Heima," as the combination of people, places and music just touches something deep inside me that wishes we could all be a little closer to the sights and sounds around us, including our neighbors. Sure, I know that Sigur Rós's music is not for everyone; no music is universal. But there is another reason why "Heima" stands out as such a deeply effective movie: it does not matter who you are or what you like. In the movie, people from every corner of society--most notably, the very young and the very old--turn out to simply sit and enjoy the generous performance of this band of noble youth. And that is really the way it is with all those who watch the film. I have found many who would never touch "Takk..." of their own volition, and yet "Heima" stirs them in a way they cannot predict or describe. There is just something about it.

More to follow. I'm typing up a review of Immaculate Machine's Fables (possibly my favorite album in a long time) right now.

[Scandanavian War Machine]

i'm gonna have to agree that the new Hot Chip is really good. i've listening to it pretty constantly for about a week or so now.

it's awesome. espescially the song "Wrestlers"

[michaelicious]

And "Bendable Poseable". That song is so fun!

[PassiveTheory]

i'm gonna have to agree that the new Hot Chip is really good. i've listening to it pretty constantly for about a week or so now.

it's awesome. espescially the song "Wrestlers"

It's me versus you in loveIt's me versus you in loveIt's me versus you in loveIt's me versus you in love

Heh.

Next post will be about the previously mentioned artists... and maybe Jens Lekman.

[Scandanavian War Machine]

half nelson, full nelson, willie nelson.

willie nelson.

[PassiveTheory]

Vampire Weekend - s/t (2008)

Okay, so essentially these guys are a product of the internet; a blog band. Whatever means of distribution and hype they resorted to use are made up for by this record. References ranging from Congolese music to Peter Gabriel and Luis Vuitton, and influences as far and ranging as the Police (if you hate Sting's voice on Outlandos d'Amour... you probably will be turned off by the band) and the Talking Heads, these guys are pretty much the real deal. Aside from A-Punk, the majority of the songs are pretty low-key, but here's the catch: They are INCREDIBLY fucking catchy! "Mansard Roof" provides this uncanny juxtaposition of French architecture with moog smoothness and twangy guitar to give it an almost distinct island feel. The drums are a real treat throughout the song, and pretty much throughout the entire fucking album. I mean, for fuck sake, they take a song about grammer ("Oxford Comma") and twist it into a cool accusatory inditing of a former love (or... that's what I figure at least). Other catchy as shit songs on the album: "A-Punk", "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa", "One (Blake's Got A Brand New Face)", "Walcott". Seriously, obtain this record, and if you are not instantly hooked... Well... You probably never were a Police fan... Or a fan of tribal drumming... Or good moog keyboard work... ^__^;;;

Grand Archives - s/t (2008)

So, I guess it's fitting since these guys were The Helio Sequence's tour mates for a few months in 2007 that I talk about their record. I'm going to side-step all the Band of Horses references (seeing as the singer/guitarist used to be in BoH), because, plain and simple, this band is miles ahead of Band of Horses, and I listened to Band of Horses new record... Yeah. So, basically, these guys ar pretty damn good, but a few stand-out lyrics short of amazing. "Torn Blue Foam Couch" is a good album opener, "Miniature Birds" has a sweet whistling intro, but the magic really doesn't kick in until you listen to the ballad in "George Kaminski", which, despite the fact I still haven't figured out what the fuck the song is about or how it ties into the fat kid from the anime Case Closed (doubtful at that), but it is just really fucking hypnotic. Best track on the record by far. "Louis Riel" sounds like the band decided to take the ingredients that make the New Pornographers and the Decemberists work and put them to work. The guitar work is loopy goodness too. Other tracks to check out: "The Crime Window" (cause of the horns), "Breezy no Breezy" (just the layering), "A Setting Sun".

Next time: The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride

[KharBevNor]

These bands are not on the same record label or distro. Congratulations on probably not being a street teamer.

I am a cynical man and this is always my first suspicion.

[pinkpiche]

Grand Archives - s/t (2008)

So, I guess it's fitting since these guys were The Helio Sequence's tour mates for a few months in 2007 that I talk about their record. I'm going to side-step all the Band of Horses references (seeing as the singer/guitarist used to be in BoH), because, plain and simple, this band is miles ahead of Band of Horses, and I listened to Band of Horses new record... Yeah.

Hmm, I can see where you're coming from, comparing the two bands but fact is that they have two different sounds. Grand Archives remind me more of Red House Painters than anything else, especially the vocals, which differs a great deal from Band of Horses'. Other than that I agree that these guys are pretty good. Excellent music to fall asleep too.

Btw. just IMO smileys in reviews are a no-no.

Khar-> Exactly what I was thinking..

[SevenPinkerton]

Thanks for the descriptions! I greatly need some new music, so this is very helpful. I'm definitely going to look into Grand Archives.

Does anyone else find it extremely annoying that so many threads start out with people deciding whether or not a thread is worth being there? I mean seriously people, if the thread doesn't work it will fade off into obscurity or a mod will do something about it. It ruins threads for no reason except those posters possessing a superiority complex. Get over yourselves, it's rather annoying.

[PassiveTheory]

Thanks for the replies so far, folks. Also glad the conclusion has been reached that I'm not a street teamer, which either means my reviews have been pretty sweet so far... Or fake as hell! WHOOOOOO!!!

Note to self: no more smileys.

Again, folks, next up will be the new Mountain Goats, and if I get it, the new Morcheeba.

[pinkpiche]

Thanks for the descriptions! I greatly need some new music, so this is very helpful. I'm definitely going to look into Grand Archives.

Does anyone else find it extremely annoying that so many threads start out with people deciding whether or not a thread is worth being there? I mean seriously people, if the thread doesn't work it will fade off into obscurity or a mod will do something about it. It ruins threads for no reason except those posters possessing a superiority complex. Get over yourselves, it's rather annoying.

It doesn't exactly ruin a thread to question its relevance. If it does, it shouldn't be there in the first place.

[SevenPinkerton]

Yes, it does.
Rather than having a real discussion you have multiple posts of people trying to look cool by saying the thread isn't good enough, and so people that may otherwise post will be driven away because: 1. There is no discussion and looks like there will be none, and 2. They lack the confidence to go against the general consensus.

Either way, you have to admit it's pointless and annoying. And so why do it? Just stop.



Also, I love the new Mountain Goats. They make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

[pinkpiche]

1. There is no discussion and looks like there will be none, and 2. They lack the confidence to go against the general consensus.

Either way, you have to admit it's pointless and annoying. And so why do it? Just stop.

1. Looks like this thread miraculously survived then huh? 2. What?! Who are they exactly? Obviously "the general consensus" have set up some rules that need to be followed, so of course they're on the look-out for threads that doesn't follow the rules, BUT thank god this forum is so healthy that you can actually debate whether you think the thread is needed or not and then the thread can continue (or be deleted). Bad or silly threads with no topic relevance doesn't die out on its own like you say, it thrives. Of course it does. That's why we have a whole sub-forum for things like that and the objective is obviously to keep all of the sub-fora seperated.

Either way, I think you're getting your gillies on for no apparent reason.

[PassiveTheory]

It's kinda surviving... because you guys are bickering...

I'll be getting to Mountain Goats new CD soon, any other 08 suggestions?

[SevenPinkerton]

pinkpiche, what do you think mods were created for? They decide if a thread is following the rules, not people that have a superiority complex. Like I said before, just stop. It's pointless. It's annoying. So why do it? If you believe the thread is an issue, message a mod, don't post such useless things and waste everyone's time.

I apologize for bickering about this on this particular thread, but I felt it was silly to start an entirely new thread dedicated to people that do this stuff. They have big heads enough as it is...

[SleeperCylon]

If you're open minded about southern rock you might want to check out the new Drive By Truckers.  They lost one of their core members, added a female vocalist, and wrote a lot of damn fine songs.  They even stopped making an annoying amount of Skynyrd references!

Black Mountain is good, Shelby Lynne (If you don't mind country), Protest the Hero (If you like metal).  Definitely get the new Mountain Goats, it's almost as good as Sunset Tree, and for some reason I think Darnielle's spittingly angry nasal voice is totally awesome.  Birtish Sea Power's pretty good, a lot of people like Xiu Xiu though I can't stand their new album.

You covered a lot of my favorites from this year already.

[PassiveTheory]

If you're open minded about southern rock you might want to check out the new Drive By Truckers.  They lost one of their core members, added a female vocalist, and wrote a lot of damn fine songs.  They even stopped making an annoying amount of Skynyrd references!

Black Mountain is good, Shelby Lynne (If you don't mind country), Protest the Hero (If you like metal).  Definitely get the new Mountain Goats, it's almost as good as Sunset Tree, and for some reason I think Darnielle's spittingly angry nasal voice is totally awesome.  Birtish Sea Power's pretty good, a lot of people like Xiu Xiu though I can't stand their new album.

You covered a lot of my favorites from this year already.

Thank you SO much, I almost forgot about the new Xiu Xiu record!... Granted, that may be the one record you, yourself, would want me to review the least... lol...

[Johnny C]

Tomorrow, I think I'm going to probably merge this topic with the New Music '08 thread or whatever, trim out the chaff posts and then maybe we can just focus on that one thread?

Just fair warning.

Harry, I see you've switched to yellow. Do you want orange back? - JC

Nah, it's cool. You keep it, J-Dogg.- Inlander

[Hat]

Oh shit Johnny has gone entirely reasonable with power.

[sean]

Hey guys guess who called this one?
 
Here's a hint-

Eh, he could of probably fit this in the "New music in 2008" thread or whatever its called. But whateva. Also, DERP DERP-A DERP-A DERP DERP

Always remember that I have this power. -JC

[Inlander]

Mood: authority undermined.

[sean]

Damn you I love you, Johnny C.

Damn you. I love you.

Oh shit, watch your back! - Inlander.
Harry, I see you've switched to yellow. Do you want orange back? - JC

[PassiveTheory]

Can you stop being a douche, please?... Go out and breathe in some fresh air. I'm just talking about new music, man, nothing to get riled up about.

[imagist42]

Also, if this merges with the '08 music thread, it better change the name... because it's not just about '08 music, per se.

[Lexington, 125]

Vampire Weekend - s/t (2008)

References ranging from Congolese music to Peter Gabriel and Luis Vuitton, and influences as far and ranging as the Police (if you hate Sting's voice on Outlandos d'Amour... you probably will be turned off by the band) and the Talking Heads, these guys are pretty much the real deal.

Sting?  This album reeks of Paul Simon, & Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa is bordering on  plagiarism.  I forsee a 'diamonds on the soles of her shoes'  live cover....

[sean]

Can you stop being a douche, please?... Go out and breathe in some fresh air. I'm just talking about new music, man, nothing to get riled up about.

Man, is this directed at me? I really hope not.

For the record, I like this thread. I also like shenanigans.

[KharBevNor]

Band got no business calling themselves 'Vampire Weekend' and then sounding like something my girlfriends mother listens to.

[Johnny C]

The vampires are taking a break from murder to indulge in some Afro-pop!

[Alphalpha]

Ah, I see you mentioned MGMT. I saw them on Later with Jools Holland, they were pretty cool.
This might sound like an odd comparison, but due to the songs they played they reminded me of if Arcade Fire had gone to make an album between Funeral and Neon Bible, but got got stoned and thought they were Guns N' Roses.
Quite a long winded comparison, but in my ears that's what they sounded like, and I am A-OK with that because it was a good sound.

[Beast]

I also like shenanigans.

Who doesn't like shenanigans? And hijinks. And hooliganisms.

[Johnny C]

After some thinking, all I did was modify the thread title. There's a lot more length behind PassiveTheory's reviews than there are in the Top Albums Of '08 thread; besides, as he put it, this is more about stuff you've just discovered. It doesn't have to be music from this year. Just give people somethin' to read!

I doubt I'll be doing a lot of posting in here on anything other people haven't previously mentioned, since anything I'd write at length would belong more on the RL Blog.

[PassiveTheory]

The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride

Okay... So I'm really loving this album. The guy's voice reminds me a whole lot of a less strained Colin Meloy, and it's a good thing because it's pretty stand-out-ish and adorable. I overheard someone saying that this is the first MG album that the lead singer wrote that isn't wholly about himself... If there's any water to that statement, I hope he keeps on telling stories that aren't about his life! lol. I really like the instrumentation, it's very crisp. No wholly interesting instrumentation, though the string sections are always a plus. Autoclave, in of itself, may repute what I overheard about the content of the album, regardless of which it is one of my favorite tracks on the record. So Desperate, though probably one of the softest tracks on the record, is nevertheless good. Also good: the title track, "Lovecraft in Brooklyn" and "San Bernadino".

[Inlander]

Actually, John Darnielle (who's basically the Mountain Goats) is renowned for filling album after album with made-up stories about made-up characters and doing it with consummate skill. The last three albums have, apparently, been much more heavily auto-biographical, especially the Sunset Tree, so Heretic Pride is really a return to past habits. If you like Darnielle's "made up" songs, you should check out any of his albums pre-We Shall All Be Healed. Tallahassee and All Hail West Texas are particular highlights.

[PassiveTheory]

I think I will, thanks.

The Grid - Doppelganger (2008)

Well, if your a fans of retro beats or a throwback to the 90s in regards to electronic music, the Grid ought to be your thing. Jungle style beats, jagged vocals, weird harmonies, and overall pretty groovy stuff. "Vibration" is the first stand out track, but I just feel that if it had a heavier bass it'd make me want to get up and shake my ass. Overall it's a decent tune. "Pleasure Control" is pretty sick too, and will get your head bobbing, especially the rhythm section. "Put Your Hands Together" gets a bit crazy towards the end, but, overall, is nothing too special. Other fave. tracks: "Slinker", "Saturday" (which is more chill than anything), and "Closer" which is probably the best track on the entire album. I'd recommend it... if I could figure out whether or not these guys were trying to be a dance act or a downtempo act... You should like them if you like Kraftwerk or Booka Shade.

Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid (2008)

Seeing as I'm just beginning to familiarize myself with the band's back catalog, I may not have the most expert opinion on their record. The lead off track, "Starlings" is a stylized romantic ballad, and overall pretty (especially the backing vocal harmony). It then builds and builds into a wonderful series of false crescendos that end the song. Really pretty. "The Bones Of You" make me recall Spiritualized and Radiohead a little bit... But maybe that's just the well-executed backing. The silky guitar strums and crisp drumming stand out in this song. The song seems to be about being unable to escape the past, which is pretty cool. The electric breakdown and subsequent solo at the 2 and a half minute mark is pretty sweet too. I'm not going to spoil the rest of the record for you, but it's pretty damn impressive; other tracks I love: The stomp-worthy "Grounds for Divorce", the dreamy "An Audience With The Pope", "The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver", and the creeping "The Fix". Definitely recommend this record for ANY indie fan.

[PassiveTheory]

Sorry for the double post, but I've got another review to toss up here:

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights

The most soulful-yet-indie-accessible artist yet. Backed by the same band Mark Ronson used to record Amy Winehouse's Back to Black, Sharon brings it while singing the tried-and-true raw emotion of loss, desire, love, and depression. The title track hooks you right away with it's pointed message on the time it takes to truly love a man (the slowed down part is ridiculously good), and "Nobody's Baby" follows suit with a riff straight out of 70s soul music, and a vocal delivery that's just fucking stunning. I guess I'll say the obvious in that Sharon Jones is for fans of Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen... And, you know, the actually black soul singers who never got the kind of press those British girls did. Other stellar tracks include: "Tell Me", "Be Easy", "Something's Changed" and "Humble Me".

[taphos]

If you like Darnielle's "made up" songs, you should check out any of his albums pre-We Shall All Be Healed. Tallahassee and All Hail West Texas are particular highlights.

Warning: these albums are devastating. Darnielle does an excellent job of creating a couple living in misery. Both of these made my top 10 for 2002.

Deadstring Brothers are a band I've recently gotten into. They sound so much like Exile Stones (like that could ever be a bad thing), but their latest album leans more towards country rock. I can't call them original, but they sound damn good.

[Cire27]

Anyone else here heard of The Felice Brothers?  I uploaded there album a while back on the mediafire thread.  They play something along the lines of folk-rock/Americana.

[PassiveTheory]

Grand Ole Party - Humanimals (2008)

Having met at the college I'm going to, and hailing from my hometown, Grand Ole Party is like a refreshing breath, indicative that the soul of bluesy rock and roll is still alive and well. I tend not to recommend bands from San Diego because, by and large, the local scene here sucks (As I Lay Dying, Cattle Decapitation, P.O.D., Nickel Creek, etc.). Seriously, before these guys showed up, I wondered if only the Album Leaf and Pinback would ever be the only listenable SD bands. Anyway, onto the review and description: GOP is a three-piece band; a guitarist, a bassist, and a singing drummer... Who's hot. From what I've been told from people who I've lent the record out to, their sound translates well to fans of the White Stripes (guitar sound) and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (vocals), which is funny seeing as I detest both of those bands. As for good songs on the CD? "Look Out Young Son" will have you belting out "I MUST BE THE DEVIL'S DAUGHTER" randomly for hours after listening to it, SOOOO catchy. "Bad, Bad Man" is another fierce blues tune, "Roll On Down" and "Savior" are where the band delves into a bit of psychedelia (especially the former), "Gypsy March" has the best riff on the entire album, and is basically a scorcher, and, last but not least, "Nasty Habits" and "Insane" round out my favorite tunes on the record. The band is also fucking great live, the singer has great charisma and she pulls off all the vocals on the record PERFECTLY live. Get this record folks, cause this band is going to be huge.

[Noff]

Good God Grand ole Party is amazing.  This is one of those times that I regret going to college in the middle of no where, because they closest they come to me is 5 hours away.

[PassiveTheory]

To be honest, Santa Cruz is no concert hot spot... I mean, we get 1-2 good shows a month. October we got Dredg, November we got STS9, January we got Ryan Adams (missed him though...), February was Grand Ole Party, but next month there's nothing... April's good, but the two good shows we're getting (Akron/Family, Colin Meloy) I'm gonna miss because of Coachella. =/

[muffy]

Band got no business calling themselves 'Vampire Weekend' and then sounding like something my girlfriends mother listens to.

Second'd! I was so disappointed when I realised they weren't, in fact, some film-noir inspired noise terrorists, but actually sounded quite pleasant and twee. Damn.

MGMT on the other hand, are many kinds of brilliance - I kinda like Alphalpha's description, though I'd probably throw in my own uninspired comparisons with The Flaming Lips at their bouncier moments, too...