The new She & Him album will be out next Tuesday. I got
my copy today because I ordered it directly from Merge Records.
Still waiting for the third single from Man or Astro-Man? to
get to my place. It has shipped but I haven’t seen it yet. I have also not seen
an option for download at either iTunes or Amazon yet either.
You can, however, preorder the full length LP from Man or Astro-Man?
from Chunklet now. You can get it in black or clear vinyl or there is a T-shirt
bundle as well with the clear vinyl. You can also get the download from Amazon
or iTunes.
The Rilo Kiley B sides album has been released. You can get
it on download, CD or double vinyl. I have seen that there is also a version of
the vinyl that comes with the CD and a limited cassette with tracks that can
only be found on the cassette and nowhere else. It is interesting but I am not
that interested in the group.
Here we go...
Phisical versions have yet to be released but you can get
the download of the album now at iTunes or Amazon or any other etailer for that
matter. This is the groups ninth long awaited album. The album obviously
features tracks from each of the three singles that were put out before the
album was released (I still have yet to receive the third single but it is in
the mail). It is an evolution and a step forward from what they have created in
the past but still has the original building blocks that the group started
with. The album is $17.99 whether you get black or clear. There is also a
bundle that comes with the clear version and a T-shirt. You save a dollar on
the bundle.
This is what Chunklet has for the write up on the preorder
page, “Man or Astro-Man? have returned to earth for the
human masses and after years of hibernation they are now unveiling their finest
recorded work to date. It has been nearly 12 years since the band last released
their intergalactic sonic wave forms, and the new album, Defcon
5...4...3...2...1 is here now with a striking validity that the band is
unquestionably as both tuneful and energetic as they ever have been. The record
combines ever-familiar Astro audio tones and the well-established playing
ferocity that MOAM? are known for, but yet now, there is an undeniably
evolution to the band that is both intuitive, logical and well crafted. Defcon
is here and is here with imminent purpose.”
The album features five songs from the three singles.
From Vol. 3 Episode 48, “…The first track is called
Communication Breakdown Part II, as of this point there is no part one to this
song. The group likes to make titles of songs like this. For example, on their
last full length album, A Spectrum of Infinite Scale, they have the title of a
song called: Obligatory Part 2 Song In Which There Is No Presently Existing
Part 1, Nor The Plans To Make One. I can only assume that there will be no part
one to Communication Breakdown Part II. The song starts with an electronic wind
down. The song kicks in at a low point in the wind down. It seems like a slower
song and sort of drags along. Surprisingly this song has lyrics. There was also
a track with lyrics on the previous album. This means that the full length will
have two tracks with lyrics on it. This has been a rarity in the past. Maybe
there will be more than just the two tracks on the album that will have lyrics?
Anyway, the song is about losing contact with head quarters via their only contact,
the radio. It is a simple song, not their best, but a good song still. I think
that the music, when they include lyrics, suffers a little and becomes not so
interesting. Maybe if they had a extra person dedicated to lyrics and other
instruments it could work. On the other hand, I really like what Starcrunches
(Lead guitarist and vocalist) voice sounds like when he does sing.
The second song on the single is called All Systems To Go. I
really like the soft tones that are used to start this song out. They remind me
of the racing video games that I played in the 80s. It is a soft beep, beep,
beep, beep where the last beep is in a higher tone to signal start. Coco The
Electronic Monkey Wizard (the bass player) uses the electronic vocalizer that
they have used in the past to get the words for this song. The system says the
title of the song, All Systems To Go, along with other words that seem
unintelligible with the music playing over the top. I think that it may be
counting down from nine but I am not sure. The song is very interesting but
kind of mellow for the group. I would think that this song and the previous
song were written at about the same time because they have a similar flow. I
have done this in the past. What I mean is that I have written a song and still
have other ideas that I want to get out at the same time. This leads to two
songs that have a similar feel but are still different music.”
From Vol. 3 Episode 35, “The first song on this single is
called Defcon 5. The song starts out with an analog saw tooth wave and crashes
into the song. It isn’t a hard smack you in the face song. It is a steady surf
track that pushes the listener along on a smooth ride. The new member of the
group, Avona Nova, adds so much to this track with out even trying. There is a
special flourish that happens on the verse part that I love. Avonas’ playing is
the only way that this could have happened. There are no words on this track
but I think I like it even more than the other stuff they have put out. This
could be because it is just new music though.
The second song that is on this single is called Anti-Matter
Man. This is one of the few tracks with lyrics that the band has put out. This
track is faster than Defcon 5. There is something special about Starcrunchs’ vocals
in general. I am sure that he doesn’t like to sing and that is why there are so
few tracks with vocals that the group has put out. Maybe this is why they mean
so much to me. The songs with vocals also seem to be simpler in composition
when they have lyrics but I actually like it that way. I also know how
difficult it is to play and sing at the same time. All I can say is Go
Starcrunch Go!”
The fifth track that comes from the single series that is
also on this album is called Disintegrate. This song features
guest vocals by Liz Durrett who is a folk styled artist. She gives a different
flair on the track. This is another vocal track for MOAM? The track is very
hard hitting and enjoyable. I think that this track is as close as they have
ever gotten to a pop track that could be played on commercial radio. It is very
cool so see the changes that have been made over the twelve year hiatus. I hope
that this means that they will continue to make music in the future but with
out a twelve year gap on the next album.
This is the fifth album from the group. It was released in
1988. This has been one of the album that I have been after from my late 80s
list. I found it a while ago but haven’t made the time to talk about it yet. I
really only wanted it for the song Perfect World. I liked that song a lot when
I was in school. I had no idea that there were five singles, including Perfect
World, that were released from this album. After having time to listen to the
album I have found that I like most if not all of the album. I think it should
have gotten more credit than it has. It did break the top twenty (Number 11) in
the charts but I think it is a better album than that.
The first single from the album was Perfect world. The song
is about people believing that we live in a perfect world but still knowing
that this world is not perfect. It is a hard one to wrap your mind around if
you think about it too much. It is classic late 80s pop in my opinion and,
because of the movie Back To The Future, I had been subjected to the group repetitively
through the radio. To hear new music from the group was a good thing and made
me like them even more.
The second single from the album was Small World (Part One).
This is the first song on the album. I think it is the synth/keys that really
date this style of music. Those sounds made the mid to late 80s. It is not a
bad thing; it just means I need to be in the right mood to listen to the music.
It is so cheesy, even the guitar parts and horn parts are dated. I still like
the music. It is still very creative just dated.
The third single from the album is called Give Me The Keys(And I’ll Drive You Crazy). I like the chorus with the tongue in cheek title
written into it. It is funny the first few times you hear it. I had never heard
this song until I bought the full album. It kind of reminds me of something
from the Beverly Hills Cop movie. I am not sure if that was what they were
going for but that is what I feel about the song. The lyrics remind me of
something that The Cars would have written. It is a lot of fun and I am happy
to have the track.
The fourth single is called World To Me. It is the slow jam
from the album. This is really cliche for 80s bands to do; put out a few good
rockers, then but out a heart felt slow song so that the kids at the school
dances can get together. There were no regulations for school dances in my
district. I would dance cheek to cheek with who ever I was dating at the time.
It was really the only way to get that close to a girl when I was that young. I
still hated the slow jams though when I listened to music at home.
The last single from this album is called Walking With TheKid. This was a moderate rocker with guitar and bass driving the track. It is a
cute song about father and son having a great time getting into odd situations but
keeping it clean at the same time. It is a fun song but did not chart well
because it wasn’t really common in what people wanted to hear in a song.
It is a great album if you haven’t heard it you should give
it a try.
That is all I have for now...
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