Devin Townsend - Ki

Genre: Progressive Metal

Year: 2009

Townsend with yet another complete makeover. This time a more slow moody metal-head. Better? No…

Devin Townsend loves to surprise his fans and listeners with endless stylistic metamorphosis, “Ki” is no exception. There is an almost meditational vibe going on here, transcendental might be the attribute that Townsend strived for. Self-indulging, contrived and quasi-philosophical are other attributes that this album possess, for better or worse I suppose…

I honestly wanted to like this record as I did enjoy the moody opener “A Monday”, with Townsend being surprisingly successful at creating a beautiful soundscape with lyrical guitar lines to boot. The second track “Coast” is just as pleasant a surprise. A track that has just enough dynamics and rhythm, without sacrificing melody or atmosphere (And even more lead guitar from heaven, if only he had as much creativity when it comes to his monotonous rhythm work).

Sadly with the exception of these two opening tracks, nothing really hits that mark of brilliant balance or subtle genius. The rest is simply 11 tracks of pretentious blandness (that does seem contradicting though?). Not only does the record run dry of interesting melodies, it just keeps repeating itself. Sure I praised “Coast”, but it does seem less impressive to hear 4-5 different variations of that tune. There are tracks with Townsend’s signature bombast though, and I still can’t comprehend the appeal of these tracks, so while they do serve to the purpose of diversity, they just seem to drag the overall experience down even more.

The last track on the record that I can show any affection for is “Heaven Send”, where Townsend tries to combine his new age approach with his metal-bombast creating an interesting petite prog-epic, it is amusing if only for the sense of drama. Also if you want to know if this album is something for you, listen to that track, as it basically summarizes the whole record.

But let me end on a positive note, Townsend and the Dutch woman makes some serious praiseworthy vocals on this record. If only the songwriting could retain half the quality of their musical talents…

And don’t get me started on the ridiculous alienating lyrics!!! Are we supposed to feel sad, scared or just laugh? I don’t know!

2/5

Leslie Fish - Avalon is Risen

Genre: Filk

Year: 2012

A collection of Bardic and Pagan songs by a filk legend. How can you possibly go wrong with this?

I barely feel qualified to review this album, since I am neither part of the filk-scene and don’t dig into Paganism, who am I to really rate this album? Well I am going to anyway, and I am going to rate it as any other piece of music, no shit given about the cult-status that Fish has as a Filk-hero.

This is a collection of medieval folk-music, with a lot of lyrics centered on praising nature (good old paganism), and filled with classic mediaeval traits like gods, fantasy-creatures and fight for heritage. The title track sets the stage perfectly for what type of experience this is going to be. But let me just be honest there is very little if any diversity on this record, and listening to 20 shades of medieval folk isn’t exactly my definition of exciting, and let’s be honest the traditional folk music is too simplistic and repetitive in itself.

I suppose that if you love old folk-lore and paganism, you will probably find a lot of value of this record. It accomplishes what it sets out to do, imitating the old musical and lyrical traditions of the middle-age. Anyone who is not into that particular style though, should probably stay away.

2/5

The Beatles - Rubber Soul

Genre: Pop/Rock, Folk-pop

Year: 1965

What does it mean anyway; Rubber Soul? Doesn’t matter as long as my ears are pleased. And they are!

The Beatles showed much promising growth with each consecutive album. An early highpoint was achieved with pop-masterpiece “A Hard Day’s Night”, an album of such quality that would seem near impossible to surpass. However as it is, the Beatles proved yet again that they were no one trick ponies, and along came Rubber Soul yet another masterpiece of the Beatles legacy. What is it that makes this record so special?

Well first of all it’s a Beatles album, so it’s specked full of one amazing melodic tune after another, and every song has the potential of getting stuck in your head for the rest of your lifetime.  But the true gift of this album is how it effortlessly combines well-composed song craft with artistic and emotional depth. It’s essentially the same Lennon/McCartney tunes we know and love, but this time around we get creative arrangements, and the lyrics show even more depth and maturity than ever before.

The rock and electric guitar palette have been exchanged for a softer acoustic sound, which really helps giving the songs their almost immortal status as classics. “Norwegian Wood” is a nice folk-pop song with a resourceful use of the Sitar (courtesy of George Harrison), while “I’m looking through you” picks up the pace and delivers. “Michelle” is the result of McCartney trying to emulate Chet Atkins guitar playing, a song with beautiful harmonies and a perfect melodic bass-solo to boot.” In My Life” Is equally outstanding!  Such a melancholic, yet pleasing, melody, and a well fit classical-inspired piano solo, truly a classic in every sense.

One blooper though… (Ringo Starr, you’re the best glue a man can get. But please don’t sing!)

A pop masterpiece! A musical masterpiece! Too many songs too little time! If only one album should heard, let it be this one!

 5/5

Earthbound Papas - Dancing Dad

Genre: Video Game Music, Progressive metal

Year: 2013

Dancing Dad? Hopefully the album is better than the punny title!

Nobou uematsu is back with his newest rock-ensemble, giving FF-fans yet another hard rocking musical experience, or what? The truth is that this is a very mixed bag of tunes that has been recorded for this album, and it is really hard to know what to make out of it.

On one hand we got orchestral music (“Homecoming Again”), on the other hand we have clichéd rock covers (“Toneless”),  original video game-esque music (“La petite…”), and yeah everything that Uematsu could think of throwing at the listener. But few of the songs really succeed at what they were trying to accomplish. So it seems like such a half-hearted affair to sit through these 10 tracks.

Some of the ideas may work on paper, but the execution leaves a lot to be wished. Most of the tracks follow the idea of synthesizing VGM with a more band-oriented approach, but none of the tracks really rocks hard enough, and in return the sophistication of the arrangements have been stripped down. Add to that corny vocals, bad production value, and tired versions of classic FF-tracks (did we really need another metal rendition of “Fight with Seymour” and “Danicing Mad”?).

Disappointed... BUT I did found the opening track and “La petite malice du kijimunaa” to be rather enjoyable.

Something is just achingly missing on this album… Uematsu needs to seriously re-evaluate this project!

2/5

Harry and the Potters - Harry and the Potters

Genre: Wizard Rock

Year: 2003

“Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.”

Back in 2002 a duo of two regularly looking muggles, got a letter from the school of Hogwarts that they were in fact wizards. Not any type of wizards though, wizards that ROCK!

The Degeorge brothers threw a barbecue back at their home in Noorwood Massachusetts, advertising a concert with several indie bands to show up. However as the audience showed up, no bands where to be found, so the Degeorge brothers felt obliged to come up with a bunch of Potter-themed songs in only 2 hours. They managed to write and perform 7 songs at this magical moment of an American BBQ.

This album, their debut, works as an alternative soundtrack to the first four entries of the Harry Potter franchise (John Williams can suck a magic wand!) It is all presented in that perfect DIY-punk-indie style, that is so ever-representative of the post-modern society. But really the music just sucks. The vocals of the Degeorge brothers are more off-pitch than anything, and the melodies and instrumentation are simplistic to a fault.

But Harry and the Potters doesn’t not try to win you over with musicianship or compositions-skills. The true magic of the record is the lyrics, the humor, and the charmingly amateurish performance. “Fluffy” is 17 seconds of fun, and “Firebolt” is catchy I suppose.

If you’re a huge fan of spells, brooms, and owls, please proceed. Otherwise, do not enter the chamber of secrets!

2/5

Harry And The Potters - Live at the New York Public Library

Genre: Wizard Rock

Year: 2011

"Harry potter and the punk-aesthetics” huh? What perfect synergy!

Who would have known? Harry and the Potters are a trillion times better as a live act, than as recording artists. It turns out that the cure for off-pitch harmonies and horrible generic pop-melodies is simply a little bit of that good old rock & roll attitude.

The Potters are giving their audience all they got in this performance, whether it’s wild rants (“Saving Ginny Weasley”) or sonic attacks (“ Keeping Secrets From Me”)They even got a brass band in for their last perfomances, which lends actual musicianship to the otherwise amateurish Degeorge Brothers, ending the concert with an fitting full-band finale.

Enjoyable really, the atmosphere is so thrilling that we are able to forget the horrible songwriting and the lack of musical talent. Hardcore punk opener “Harry Potter” is defiantly pushing the gears, and we even get some nice sing-alongs of the more goofy nature (“Accio Hagrid”).

But to be honest there are too many missteps, and when the song doesn’t work, it really doesn’t work. These moments are so tedious, that even if some tracks get you pumped up, you are sure to fall of your broom and fall to the dark powers of Lord Voldemort. Still:

This is a triumph in Wrock, despite all the detours! And I really wanna see them live, as soon as possible!

3/5