Alright, The Pains remix EP finaly showed up. I also got the new colored vinyl release from Violens!
This is a 12” record released in Europe
for Record Store Day 2012. It is of limited release because of this. The record
was pressed in purple vinyl. I think that this was done to resemble the
Prilosec medication color. The tagline of which is, “The purple little pill.”
If you don’t know Prilosec is a medication to fight against acid reflux. I wish
that there was a way to put two gold stripes in the record because that is what
the medication has on it. It would have been funny to me anyway. There are four
tracks on the record. The first two were given out for free as MP3 files over
the summer of 2011. The first track is called Heart in Your Heartbreak (Twin
Shadow remix). The Pains toured with Twin Shadow on the first part of their US tour. This
was when I saw the Pains (See review of concert here). I am not a fan of Twin
Shadow but the remix works well. The second track is called The Body (Violens
remix). This track is really good except for a sound effect that they used that
distracts me from the song every time I hear it. It is a kind of screeching
sound. It is neither an organic being sound nor an electronic sound and this is
why it is so distracting. The second side of the record has the other two
tracks, both of which were not released as regular singles like the two tracks
on side A were. The first track on the second side is called Too Tough (Saint
Etienne Remix). Saint Etienne has remixed a track (Higher Than The Stars) for
the group in the past. This remix is in the same vein as this track. It is very
smooth and easy to listen to. I can’t say that the remix of Too Tough is better
than the original track but it is different in a good way. The last track to be
given the remix treatment is called My Terrible Friend (Washed Out Remix). Washed
Out are a great band that writes similar music to what The Pains write. Washed
Out are a perfect match to remix a track for them. It is a good track but it is
the last track on the record. All in all this is a good set of remixed tracks.
Good luck trying to find a copy for less than 30 bucks here in the US though. I
found my copy for about 20 bucks but add on the shipping and you will find your
self at or over 30 bucks even from a private party.
This is the second album from Violens, not counting the nine
song download album in 2011. This album was released just this week from
Slumberland records (2012). The record was released in limited colored vinyl. I
was disappointed when I learned that the record was just translucent, a
slightly white color. I always hope for something more beautiful but, to me,
this is a little bland. I am still happy to have gotten a limited colored
record though. I previously reviewed the leading single to this album and the
French released Fragment #1 siting that the tracks used on them were from the
Nine Songs – 2011 download album. There are three tracks on this album that
come from that download album as well. Although I would rather have all new
tracks from the group I don’t really mind that there are three songs that I
already know very well including the lead single from the album. The album as a
whole does its best to defy genre classification. The problem is that fans and
critics alike are still calling it shoegaze but with a hint of that classic 60s
sound. There was also a promo track that was pre-released as a free download
through some music website or other. That track is called Der Microarc. This is
a great complementing track to the lead single from the album, Totally True. They
are two different tracks but have a very cool similar flow. This album may not
meet the needs of the average radio listener but for those of you out there
looking for the new and cutting edge in music you may want to check this
group/album out. It is a lot of fun for its atmospheric sounds.
On a side note, I brought this album over to my father-in-laws the other day and he loved it. He liked it so much that he wanted to know where to get it. This just proves that this is a great album that everyone can enjoy.
This is the second album from Lush. It was released in 1994.
They are a shoegaze band. I knew about the group but when it was released I was
getting into Radiohead and Blur. It was not until the late 00s/early 10s that I
started getting into this style of music. I found the group again through the
rhythm video game called Rock Band (the second version) that I found the group
again. The song from the group that got me back into the group was called
De-Luxe. This track was a B-side that ended up on a compilation for the group
called Gala. I found most of the albums that I wanted from the group at Cheapo
Records for cheap. This album, Split,
was one of those cheap finds. There were three singles released from this
album, the last of which was a promo only single released to radio stations.
The first single, Hypocrite, was really a straight forward rock song for the
group. It has a very driving beat that pushes the song along at a quick pace.
The next single is called Desire Lines. This song was much slower that the lead
single from the album. The track doesn’t really go anywhere; it is just slow
and atmospheric. It is a track that I would like to read to. The third single,
the promo track, is called When I Die. This song is kind of in the jangle pop
category. It is a simple guitar part with a chorus pedal on it. It sounds very
cool. The song is made even better with the two female vocals on top of it. The
song is very dreamy or light and airy to listen to although slightly depressing
at the same time. I think that if I were the manager of the band at this time I
would have chosen different songs from the album to have released as singles.
For example, I think that I would have chosen Lovelife as the second single
because of the beautiful guitar part with the female vocals. This track is
slightly slower than the lead single but quick enough to keep fans and
newcomers interested in the group. The album as a whole is very good and gives
an idea as to where the band was going on the next album. I think that the
album was called split because it showed where the band was and where the band
intended to go in the future.
This is the second album from the cartoon pop group
Gorillaz. It was released in 2005. This is one of the albums that helped me get
through a heavily depressed period in my life. The album was very dark but
still had uplifting melodies. It is these melodies that helped me through to
become a better person. The first single from the album is called Feel Good
Inc. The song has a great bass line that makes me feel good every time I hear
it. Sprinkled over the top of that is a light acoustic electric guitar and in
the back ground is an 80s sounding synth, over the top of all that is the
unmistakable vocals of Damon Albarn. The rap part in this song is from De La
Soul, another unmistakable group to help out with the song. Then there is the
big beat drums that are pushing the song along. All together a great hit song
do they make. The next single from the album is called Dare. This song features
Shaun Ryder & Rosie Wilson. This track has simple synth bass that blasts
you from every direction. It is so huge, I love it. The vocals are mainly from
the two guest vocalists with chorus support from Damon. It is a slow moving
track but seems to work so well in its slowness. The third single from the
album is called Dirty Harry. This was kind of a expected name of a track from
the group considering that the hit single from the first album was called Clint
Eastwood, although the song doesn’t resemble Clint Eastwood at all. The song is
more organic than would have been expected from the band considering that there
is a string quartet used in the track. It also uses a youth chorus to add to
that organic feel. The last two singles released from the album were released
as a double A side tracks. They are called Kids With Guns/El Manana. Kids With
Guns is a slower song from the album with a simple drum and bass line. The song
also has female backing vocals and a sprinkling of distorted electric guitar
over it all. Damon has all the vocals on this track. The other A side track, El
Manana, is an even slower track that doesn’t really appeal to me. It is a good
track I am not really a fan of the Mexican influenced tracks. Although this
influence is slight it makes me uncomfortable to listen to it. This album is
very long with 15 tracks running at just over 50 minutes. I really need to want
to listen to the album to sit through the whole thing. It is a good album but,
for me, it is a long one.
That is all I have for now...
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