(Let's try something a little different. Single reviews!)
"Laura"
By- Bat For Lashes
From- The Haunted Man (release date: October 12th, 2012 in UK, October 23rd, 2012 in US)
Length- 4:27
Song available at your favorite legal digital music provider
All throughout 2012, I've been discovering new people and getting into various types of music. By the end of the year, I should have a nice list for y'all to peruse. Though with the thrill of discovery, it is always nice to hear from a familiar voice. It's like finding your friend amidst the crowds of the mall during Black Friday. Imagine my delight during my musical journey to find that Ms. Natasha Khan a.k.a. Bat For Lashes was not only out with a new single, but a new album too!
The first single (and video) from the upcoming album is a heart-aching ballad called "Laura". From the video, one could assume the song is about a former singer/dancer. But if you listen to the song by itself, it seems to be more about the narrator, who is close to the titular Laura, trying to cheer her up after life has kicked her down. It is a tender piece, capturing the genuine sadness and heartfelt optimism of Khan's delivery. I always love a song that emotes perfectly, not leaving the listeners to guess whether it was tongue-in-cheek or not. The music being soft and in the background gives the song almost an a-capella feel, the listeners get a better view of the vocals. A good decision.
It is much different than the mega-hit "Daniel" from Two Suns, but a good artist must evolve and try different angles. You go, Ms. Khan. Welcome back to the fray.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Sorry for the delay...
I'm hard at work on some reviews for this lovely website (man, good thing I'm not being paid to do this, huh?). I got behind due to life stuff, but am now back on track.
Stay tuned for more!
Stay tuned for more!
Friday, July 20, 2012
How Not to Talk About Tusk
Fleetwood Mac's Tusk
By Rob Trucks
Barnes & Noble link
(For those interested in learning more about this amazing book series, check out their website at http://www.33third.blogspot.com/)
There is nothing greater than reading an entire dissertation on a classic album. That's where the 33 1/3 series comes into play. This is their bread and butter, letting writers to properly geek out and write about an album, approaching it from any angle they desire. Almost reaching that sweet spot of 100 entries, nestled into the 77th spot, is Rob Trucks' slender entry on the iconic and controversial Fleetwood Mac album Tusk. Would it be a straightforward historical document? A journey deep into the psyches of the band members? Or would it be a missed opportunity to talk about its nuances, but in its place "quirky" autobiographical details that really add nothing to the big picture? It's all of the latter.
The book can be separated into three parts: one part Trucks' autobiography during the pre- and post-Tusk release, most of the time having nothing to do with the album (who cares, really?); one part interview with Lindsey Buckingham (most of it just stuff you can learn by reading other interviews), and one part interviews with various musicians about how they feel about Tusk (lemme get a "who the f*** cares?!" over here!) It is a convoluted mess, plain and simple.
None of it makes sense, especially the life and times of our author, who honestly shouldn't insert himself like this in the history of such a game-changer of an album. So what if you were having neighbor issues while you were researching the album? What does this have to do with everything? Yes, "Tusk is a symbol", but not the way you think it is. Big deal, I was about six months old when Tango in the Night was released and you don't see me make a huge to do about it.
There are times when the author can insert themselves into the time period that the album was released, capturing the mood and time with precise, sharp detail. That is where Jonathan Lethem succeeded with his take on Fear of Music. Rob Trucks failed because he couldn't resist making it all about him and how Tusk happened to be a blip in his world. Once again, how special snowflake of you, sir.
Please skip this entry with no doubt in your mind. You are missing nothing. I just hope that if 33 1/3 allows do-overs, someone can give Tusk the proper treatment it deserves. Without pretension, without unnecessary interviews, without a self-centered author.
By Rob Trucks
Barnes & Noble link
(For those interested in learning more about this amazing book series, check out their website at http://www.33third.blogspot.com/)
There is nothing greater than reading an entire dissertation on a classic album. That's where the 33 1/3 series comes into play. This is their bread and butter, letting writers to properly geek out and write about an album, approaching it from any angle they desire. Almost reaching that sweet spot of 100 entries, nestled into the 77th spot, is Rob Trucks' slender entry on the iconic and controversial Fleetwood Mac album Tusk. Would it be a straightforward historical document? A journey deep into the psyches of the band members? Or would it be a missed opportunity to talk about its nuances, but in its place "quirky" autobiographical details that really add nothing to the big picture? It's all of the latter.
The book can be separated into three parts: one part Trucks' autobiography during the pre- and post-Tusk release, most of the time having nothing to do with the album (who cares, really?); one part interview with Lindsey Buckingham (most of it just stuff you can learn by reading other interviews), and one part interviews with various musicians about how they feel about Tusk (lemme get a "who the f*** cares?!" over here!) It is a convoluted mess, plain and simple.
None of it makes sense, especially the life and times of our author, who honestly shouldn't insert himself like this in the history of such a game-changer of an album. So what if you were having neighbor issues while you were researching the album? What does this have to do with everything? Yes, "Tusk is a symbol", but not the way you think it is. Big deal, I was about six months old when Tango in the Night was released and you don't see me make a huge to do about it.
There are times when the author can insert themselves into the time period that the album was released, capturing the mood and time with precise, sharp detail. That is where Jonathan Lethem succeeded with his take on Fear of Music. Rob Trucks failed because he couldn't resist making it all about him and how Tusk happened to be a blip in his world. Once again, how special snowflake of you, sir.
Please skip this entry with no doubt in your mind. You are missing nothing. I just hope that if 33 1/3 allows do-overs, someone can give Tusk the proper treatment it deserves. Without pretension, without unnecessary interviews, without a self-centered author.
Monday, July 9, 2012
To A Forgotten Man and A Forgotten Era
Mystery to Me
By Fleetwood Mac
Barnes & Noble link
(This one's for you, Bob Welch. You're the reason I never stopped loving Fleetwood Mac. R.I.P., good sir.)
By Fleetwood Mac
Barnes & Noble link
(This one's for you, Bob Welch. You're the reason I never stopped loving Fleetwood Mac. R.I.P., good sir.)
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Greetings!
Hello everyone and the world, this is Jupiter_Nova reporting for duty! I am a longtime writer of various practices, trying her hand out at keeping two blogs at once. Let's see how that turns out...
I will be reviewing books and music here, along with the occasional movie and video game. But, just to assuage any disappointment, this is mostly a music and literature review blog.
I used to keep my reviews on my personal blog, but have decided to move them to here. You will see a ton of reviews dating from years ago. Pardon their roughness, I am getting better. You'll find those under the label "from the archives".
Thanks for reading and stay tuned!
I will be reviewing books and music here, along with the occasional movie and video game. But, just to assuage any disappointment, this is mostly a music and literature review blog.
I used to keep my reviews on my personal blog, but have decided to move them to here. You will see a ton of reviews dating from years ago. Pardon their roughness, I am getting better. You'll find those under the label "from the archives".
Thanks for reading and stay tuned!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Video Game Review: Silent Hill: Downpour
Silent Hill: DownpourKonami Digital Entertainment
Rated M (Mature)
Released March 13, 2012 in North America
Overall Rating: 7.7 out of 10
Xbox 360/PS3 (I'm reviewing the former version)
(CAUTION: there may be some spoilers, intentional or not)
Silent Hill was doomed, on the fast track to Washed Out City, joining Resident Evil and Fatal Frame (still pissed that future titles will never be released in North America) along the shores, fishing away the twilight years. Homecoming, which was released in 2008, overwhelmingly disappointed most of its buyers, especially the hardcore fans. I know I all but declared the series gone by Shattered Memories (released in 2009), while others waited until longtime Team Silent veteran Akira Yamaoka (who wrote the music for all the games up to Downpour) to start planning the series's memorial service. Some turned to the graphic novels (which were seeing an upswing in quality) while others waited for the next title and the new film (due sometime this year).
After retreading a ton of history, here is the punchline: just like the Spanish Inquisition, Downpour was not expected. To be good, that is.
Rated M (Mature)
Released March 13, 2012 in North America
Overall Rating: 7.7 out of 10
Xbox 360/PS3 (I'm reviewing the former version)
(CAUTION: there may be some spoilers, intentional or not)
Silent Hill was doomed, on the fast track to Washed Out City, joining Resident Evil and Fatal Frame (still pissed that future titles will never be released in North America) along the shores, fishing away the twilight years. Homecoming, which was released in 2008, overwhelmingly disappointed most of its buyers, especially the hardcore fans. I know I all but declared the series gone by Shattered Memories (released in 2009), while others waited until longtime Team Silent veteran Akira Yamaoka (who wrote the music for all the games up to Downpour) to start planning the series's memorial service. Some turned to the graphic novels (which were seeing an upswing in quality) while others waited for the next title and the new film (due sometime this year).
After retreading a ton of history, here is the punchline: just like the Spanish Inquisition, Downpour was not expected. To be good, that is.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Best of 2011: Album Edition
That's right, longtime readers and new ones... we're almost done! We just got the music to cover and then we can brush our hands clean of the year. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for the apocal- I mean, 2012.
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