Beirut The Flying Club Cup
Beirut does something for me that very few bands ever do; they don’t remind me of anyone. Now, while I can compare them to bands with similar line-ups or instrumental structuring, their sound remains completely their own. What’s even more refreshing about this realization, is the fact that it’s very, very rare to find such originality in a group whose circular creative force pivots around an artist who is barely old enough to drink. Zach Condon is merely 21 years of age.
But none of that really matters of The Flying Cup Club. Condon was once quoted in an interview as saying that he wanted a sound with “big, glorious, over-the-top arrangements,” all of which are present and accounted for on the Beirut cut. Owen Pallett’s string arrangements add remarkable depth to the album, much the same way he has on the Arcade Fire albums and his own project, Final Fantasy.
The Flying Cup Club plays as more of one large track, rather than an album of smaller tracks. This bodes well for the bands ability to keep listeners focused on their product. This near flawless album will remain in my player for a while. I can promise you that.
Key Track: “In The Mausoleum”
boomp3.com
Ghostface Killah The Big Doe Rehab
Two months ago Ghostface Killah announced that he’d be dropping his 7th album via MySpace and rushed the job, releasing The Big Doe Rehab in less than two months. Ghostface Killah works his rap magic with clever wordplay and distinct and catchy hooks. Though the last to have broken out with his own solo work of all the Clan members, Ghostface Killah has matured extremely well as a rapper and continues to turn out amazing music. December 2007 is a great time to be a Wu Tang fan as the Clan’s remaining members (R.I.P. O.D.B.) re-joined forces for 8 Diagrams, their first album together in 6 years, which drops next week.
Key Track: “Yolanda’s House” – 3 rappers frantically rap their perspective of a story over a relaxed string sample that works as a beautiful contrast to what is happening in the story being told.
boomp3.com
Aloha Light Works
I had never seen a band combine experimental and pop music in order to form their signature sound, as those two genres are generally nothing short of polar opposites of each other. Yet, seemingly without effort, Aloha makes that sound seem natural. But getting to this point was anything but natural. Significant changes have been made during the period between Light Works and their critically acclaimed debut, That’s Your Fire. The drumming has become less complex, the vocals have become less cryptic, and overall these changes have straightened this bands resume. The time the band put into improvements has certainly paid off. They should reap the benefits.
Key Track: “Body Buzz”
boomp3.com
Saves The Day Under The Boards
I simply don’t know how I feel about pop-punk music. The combination of singers stretching for the highest notes possible with lyrics that car crash the pain of self-loathing with the angst of punk is just confusing to me. It just comes off vague and commercialized. Very few bands ever do this well. Saves the Day however is one of those few. I believe this is because on Under the Boards, Saves the Day attacks the subject of self discovery instead of self-loathing. Since soul searching seem to be a much more acceptable subject, this album lacks the constant whining that often pushes concepts away from being a creative opus, and towards being annoying.
The band communicates amazingly on this album. And it’s because of this that I think it’s worth your time to listen to what their saying.
Key Track: “Get Fucked Up”
-technical issues, stream to be posted-
Also Out Today:
Jay-Z American Gangster [Acappella]
P.S. I Love You soundtrack
The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A Veggie Tales Movie soundtrack (…??)
Pants Yell Alison Statton
Radiohead Box Set
Rufus Wainwright Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall
The Breakup Society Nobody Likes a Winner
The Dirty Projectors Rise Above
