The September Re-hash
Okay, so October is almost over, so sue me! As has previously been mentioned I’ve been computer-less for awhile, and you try typing all this out on a Blackberry. So it’s been a solid month for releases. Here is a run down of what was worthwhile.
Depeche Mode - Touring The Angel: Live In Milan (CD/DVD) (Sire/Reprise)
I caught this tour, obviously not in Milan, but these guys still have it without a doubt. Playing The Angel was a return to form, and so was the live show. While I can normally go either way as far as live CD/DVD’s go, and Depeche Mode sure does have a few out, this ranks up there with the rest of them.
Fergie - The Duchess (Interscope)
Yeah, so it certainly rings of certain Gwen Stefani’s trademarks from her solo album, but it’s still a decent album. Full of catchy tracks that go across the board as far as genre is concerned, including some clever samples of “Supersonic”, the album is certainly a guilty pop pleasure that has no real depth musically or lyrically, but when was that ever a requirement.
Heavens - Patent Pending (Epitaph)
That guy from Alkaline Trio meets that other guy that no one has ever heard of to create this new project. The influences of Joy Division and the like are obviously felt throughout, but imitation is the greatest form of flattery. It has a few slow points, but the strong points hold the album up throughout it’s duration.
Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds (Jive)
If this album doesn’t put you in “the mood”, then I don’t know what will. If this doesn’t sonically pleasure you then I’m all out of ideas. In my opinion some of Timbaland’s finest production work and the same kudos to Justin Timberlake as well. The album is pure sexy beats, at times a throw back to Prince and early Michael Jackson. It is smoooooth.
The Rapture - Pieces Of The People We Love (Universal)
Caught these guys at Curiousa a few years back and liked it. Admittedly forgot about them for awhile until this album arrived and damn. There is a lot of good stuff on this. Even more then the first one. Their combination of disco meets indie meets punk and whatever clever and witty title you can come up with is infectious. Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo even pop up. A few tracks drop the ball but over all it gets my thumbs up.
R.E.M. - And I Feel Fine… The Best Of The I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 (Capitol/EMI)
Another R.E.M. “best of” so soon you ask? Well this one is slightly different from the other and contains some of the groups finest material recorded in their hey day before the major label snagged them up. A collection of tracks from the I.R.S. years, this package is worth the price of admission, as it’s 2 CD’s jam packed with as much music as possible. One with the studio tracks and another with b-sides, live tracks, demo’s, etc. A little something for the casual listener and a little something for the hard core fan.
Scissor Sisters - Ta-Dah (Universal)
Those queers! Well four queers, one girl with a queer dad, and a drummer that isn’t one but gets lumped into it anyway. Oh well. America won’t touch these guys (and girl) since you know… sexual orientation decides what is good music and what isn’t. But whatever, the UK and Europe is embracing them with open arms like no other. This album is dance and disco and a throwback to Elton John at his peak. Hell, Elton John even wrote a track or two for this album. Good stuff.
TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain (Interscope)
This album was a slow grower on me. The critics loved it, but I guess I just didn’t “get it” right away. Glad the hard drive crashed and I didn’t write this up a few weeks earlier. I’m sure Interscope is glad for that as well, as they know my opinion has the ability to make an album sink or swim. All sarcasm aside, I finally “got it” once I caught them live. These guys certainly are deserving of the praise thrown on them in one of the more innovative albums in quite a while.
Also out this month…
Emily Haines - Knives Don’t Have Your Back (Last Gang)
My Morning Jacket - Okonokos