Dylan Consilium Caldwell
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Wooden Nickel -----------------------------------------Spins --------------------------------------- CD of the Week Downstait $9.99 With You in Mind BACKTRACKS Point blank, if you’re a fan of bands Paul McCartney like P.O.D., Korn, Papa Roach and McCartney (1970) Three Days Grace and you’re looking for a local band to get into, Downstait In press kits for this, Paul Mc- will be just what the doctor ordered. Cartney’s first solo album, it was an- Each song on their sophomore LP, With nounced that The Beatles were break- You In Mind, is loaded with an enviable ing up. In fact, this album was released sonic bag o’ tricks; check out the flanged guitars that kick off “High almost a month before Let It Be, much Heels” and the thrashy fury that starts off “World Divided” before to the dismay of the other three Beatles, the band switches it up in a breakdown that segues into an anthemic especially John Lennon. chorus. In addition, the songwriting and structure on each of the al- McCartney opens with “The Lovely Linda,” a love song to bum’s 13 songs are so sturdy and flow along so effortlessly it’s easy his then wife Linda Eastman which was recorded in his home for the listener to get sucked in and stay with the band through the studio in 1969. “That Would Be Something” follows and sounds $11.99 entire song cycle. like a “lost track” from “White Album.” “Valentine Day” has a Much of the music on Mind is aggro with lean guitars and touch- great guitar arrangement, as does “Every Night,” which also has a goo goo DoLLS es of electronica. The most well-known band that Downstait could Beatles vibe with its solid acoustic guitar blend. Magnetic be compared to is probably P.O.D. They mix a generally aggro stance Side two opens with “Oo You,” a funky garage-rock number and streamlined but heavy guitars with hip-hop and electronic inflec- that proves Paul could play more than just bass guitar. The vocals The 10th album by Goo Goo Dolls is tions to create an urban heavy rock sound. While Downstait may not are great on this song; you can tell he wanted to be more than just receiving heavy demand in the adult con- be a batch of Christians the same way that P.O.D. are, they mix their a guy in the Beatles. “Teddy Boy” is reminiscent of “Rocky Rac- temporary sphere with the anthemic first anger with a dose of positivity. coon” while “Singalong Junk” is “Blackbird” without lyrics. It single, “Rebel Beat,” and is expected to The band cleverly hooks in the listener from the start and doesn’t seems lazy now, but it’s nice and mellow. “Maybe I’m Amazed” add to the band’s record number of hits let go until the record is done. The opening lyrics of the first song, is on this release and is still one of my favorite songs. He really on the charts. Magnetic, a sunny album “Open Your Eyes,” find lead singer Daren Zack Call repeating the nailed the keyboards and the guitars on this song. His wife sang filled with gorgeous layers of melody and refrain “It’s the end of the world, and I feel fine.” Most listeners will backing vocals on this (and a couple of other tracks as well). rhythm, is available at all Wooden Nickel immediately recognize that it’s an allusion to R.E.M.’s 1987 single McCartney, a true genius, has appeared on records with total “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine).” By sales of over 100 million units. That’s amazing in itself, even if locations for only $11.99. putting a new spin on a familiar lyrical refrain, Downstait give the you’re not a fan. He played all of the instruments on this album audience something to identify with before the band switches things and was the sole producer. (Dennis Donahue) TOP SELLERS @ up and takes them in different (and often unexpected) directions. And truthfully, Downstait are able to pull off a surprising variety ing refrain that closes “Breath On a Window”: “I would let you go/ Wooden Nickel of material convincingly. Not many bands would be able to deliver but you’re always in the way” – or the near cacophony that breaks (Week ending 6/16/13) both the blustery furor of “Kill Me” along with the sincere ode to a out halfway through “Phantom Limb.” It’s moments like those that romantic relationship “Wherever You Go” back to back, let alone TW LW ARTIST/Album make you think the band is doing more than just coasting along in make both fist-pumping anthems. Put simply, it’s difficult to deny an 1 – KANYE WEST neutral and they still have the ability to make original statements and album of 13 songs that are so uniformly well-written, arranged and connect with their listeners. (Ryan Smith) Yeezus executed. (Ryan Smith) 2 1 BLACK SABBATH Queens of the Stone Age 13 Alice in Chains ... Like Clockwork The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here 3 3 ALICE IN CHAINS Other than producing acclaimed The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here When Alice in Chains released stoner rock for the past 15 years, the Black Gives Way to Blue (2009), their reason why Queens of the Stone Age 4 5 BETH HART/JOE BONAMASSA comeback album with vocalist William have enjoyed a cult status with a loy- Seesaw DuVall in place of departed vocalist al fan base has mostly to do with the 5 – J. COLE Layne Staley, many hailed it as some- band’s facetious sense of humor. Seri- Born Sinner thing of a second coming for the band. ously, what other band writes a sardonic After all, it was their first album in a mantra to excessive drug use and calls it “Feel Good Hit of the Sum- 6 2 QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE full 14 years, and many had considered AIC to be done for good mer?” One could also note the prevalence of special guest roles as ... Like Clockwork after Staley died of a heroin overdose in 2002. While it may be true a distinguishing feature, but without that unique humor, what else that Black was a strong album that maintained the main elements of would QOTSA be other than just another hard rock band? 7 6 JASON ISBELL AIC’s sound, there were also some subtle shifts in the band’s sound In the months prior to the release of …Like Clockwork, primary Southeastern that tended to get lost in the welcome-back accolades. Namely, on songwriter and lyricist Joshua Homme (rhymes with “mommy”) sent Black, AIC had shifted into more of a moody, brooding sound with perplexing letters to publications like NME and Kerrang! that teased 8 – SIGUR ROS increasingly prosaic lyrics that tended to lack the bite of much of fans as to what the album could be called, possible song titles and Kveihur their earlier work. an ambiguous release date. In true QOTSA fashion, these cryptic 9 4 MEGADETH That trend continues on their second album with DuVall, The letters utilized the band’s trademark quirks to describe the album’s Super Collider Devil Put Dinosaurs Here. In many ways, the album works as a sound as a “codeine cabaret” which isn’t too far from the truth. One seamless whole, blending all of the band’s elements into a murky element that separates this album from the others is its solemn and 10 – MAC MILLER goo that oozes out of the speakers. It could be that AIC have simply introspective mood that haunts tracks like “The Vampyre of Time Watching Movies ... gotten too good at being AIC – heck, they even quote themselves, and Memory” and the title track. with the title track directly quoting guitar licks from “Love Hate Along with referencing the consistent cycle of ups and downs Saturday, June 29 • 1pm • All Ages • Free Love” from the band’s debut Facelift (1990). But all things consid- the band experienced during the recording of this album, …Like LIvE AT OUR NORTh ANThONY Store: ered, the album comes across as a bit on the murky side. The gui- Clockwork is an appropriate title given that this new album isn’t a tars and vocals especially seem to sonically drift together at times. progression from the band’s previous works, but rather a refinement That may be something musicians of a more atmospheric or avant of the ideas explored on the last two albums. The resulting product DYLAN CONSILIUM garde inclination might do intentionally, but here it seems like their reflects predictable qualities as dictated by the title, but rarely veers attempts at streamlining their sound may be diminishing some of into less than interesting territory. For a 46-minute album the pacing their impact. In other words, while they have their more aggressive is continuous, but it wouldn’t be if it weren’t for the strength of the CALDWELL moments (“Stone,” “Breath on a Window”), they simply don’t match songs. 3627 N. Clinton • 484-2451 the sonic whiplash of, say, “Sea of Sorow” from Facelift. Craftsman- Not that QOTSA didn’t need help crafting this album along 3422 N. Anthony • 484-3635 wise, it’s a solid album, and it’s still remarkable that the band is issu- the way. Special guest contributors this time around include Trent 6427 W. Jefferson • 432-7651 ing any new music at all, but at times it feels like the band is saying Reznor, Elton John and Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters), along with re- We Buy, Sell & Trade Used CDs, LPs & DVDs little more than, “We know the drill – here it is.” turning guests like Dave Grohl, Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees) and www.woodennickelmusicfortwayne.com Then again, the band still has its striking moments, even if they are a little more subtle than in years past.