:: Dont Eat the Yellow Snow: Music ::

:: Sunday, August 15, 2004 ::

Something For Kate:
Dempsey's dull-ish voice non-withstanding, Something for Kate take good music, overlay arthouse and well written lyrics, and then package it in a neat little wrapping of art house Dempsey photos.

Echolalia
2001. Anyone who has this will tell you why it is a must. Typical Something For Kate, and very very relaxing to listen to. First stop for Dempsey style classics such as "Monsters", "Three Dimensions" and the like. I have put this on to fall asleep to many a night. Its relaxing.

Best bit: Tracks 2-8 of this 13 track CD are definitely the glory tracks. Three dimensions, Jerry stand up, Monsters, Old Pictures, You only hide, Feeding the birds and hoping for something in return and 20 years, the high point of an already kick ass CD. Ooh! And the traditional “Art house” Dempsey photography in the booklet.

Worst bit: Some people find Something for Kate depressing to listen to, I don’t, but whatever tickles ya. Also, I don’t think the CD finishes as strongly as it starts. Some of the tracks take a while to grow on you.

The Official Fiction:
2003. Another golden release, (almost) the whole CD is thouroughly listenable. Multiple upbeat and high spirited songs break the sometimes monotony that others attach to Something For Kate. Quality assured. Give it a look-see.

Best Bit: Its good down to the arthouse cover as usual
Worst Bit: My only issue is with the song "Letter to the Editor" I just plain dont like it. Don't ask me why cause I don't know.

Dave Matthews Band:
In my humble opinion, Dave Matthews Band combines all the best elements of rock and jazz with a dozen different styles of music and redirects it at you in a solid and enjoyable form. Live band to the max. My one wish in life is to see them live before I die. Their studio CD's, although still good, lack the live sparkle that each member brings to a live performance. Violin, Sax, Keyboard, Piano, Drum, Bass and Guitar solos are to be expected. With their average live song fizzling out around the 10 minute mark, and the longest I have heard (Two Step) from the live in Central Park concert running for almost 20 minutes, there is a lot of value for money listening pleasure.

Reccomended Listening:
Central Park Concert

2003. Recorded Live from the Bands concert in Central Park in 2003. Ok, not so much a CD as a 3 CD set. Kick ass all the same. So, most of the songs are 10+ minutes in length, BUT how often can you hear a band actually incorporate the sound of thunder into a song? There are solos aplenty, whether they be electric violin, guitar, electric guitar, drum, keyboard, bass, or Sax. A musician’s delight, no matter what you play.

Best Bit: The early extended play rollover from "So much to say" to "Too much" and the MASSIVE length Hendrix cover, "All along the Watchtower" complete with Star spangled banner bass intro. Dave Skanking it up at the start of "Too Much" and the end of "Stay". The 20 minute long performance of "Two Step"

Worst Bit: Some of the crowd sounds could have been cut, Like the 2 minutes of cheering before “Don’t drink the water”

John Mayer:

Not everyone likes Mayer very much, but he is a talented guitarist and even more talented songwriter. Once you get over the cheap teeny boppery image given to him by commercial radio, he has a lot of really good stuff in there.

Reccomended Listening:

Room for Squares:
2001. So the CD itself has nifty Orange Periodic table art, but it was the first CD that I bought that I could actually sit down and listen to first time and genuinely say that I liked every single song. From there he is only better live in concert. A must for any fledgling guitarist looking for direction.

Best Bit: Its all good! and hence justifies the next...
Worst Bit: Doesn’t really capture Mayer's full potential, Primarily responsible for the distaste that has spread at his "Soft singer songwriter angel boy" image. Also, Love song for no one is not great album wise.

Any Given Thursday:

2003. Recorded Live in Birmingham. So, I might have a bit of a Mayer Bias, but, this and its predecessor "Room For Squares" really capture what Mayer is all about. This CD is full of improv, full of long intros and blazing guitar solos. Like him or not, you have to respect his guitar playing. Definitely a live artist.

Best Bit: 3x5 live, 8 minutes of electric solo in Covered In Rain and the Jazzy 12 minutes of Neon jam. 83's outro of 80's classics is also a high point.
Worst Bit: The cuts at the end of "Message in a bottle" due to copyright infringement.

Matchbox Twenty :
5 crazy americans that always make me feel better. They kick ass to sing along to. Anyone will attest to that. Other than the reccomended listening, I suggest you pick up "SHOW: A night in the life of Matchbox Twenty" the DVD which is a kick ass concert to see.

Reccomended Listening:
Yourself or someone like you.

1996. Matchbox 20's debut release. Who could forget the CD that spawned classics like "Real world", "3am" and "Long day". A great CD where every track is one that should be listened to over and over, to bring back memories of those younger days. Frigging awesome, and well worth a listen.

Best Bit: The fat man in a dress and hat with flaps on the cover. Kody, is also a highlight.
Worst Bit: I don't know, the CD is pretty hard to fault


Jeff Buckley:
American born guitarist and songwriter. He died on the 29th of May 1997 after a drowning accident. He was 31 years old and about to launch his second big album. Buckley has a lot of deep emotional music, combined with moving lyrics, he cemented himseld as one of my favourite artists.

Reccomended Listening:

Grace:
Buckley's debut album. There is a lot of quality guitar, poignant lyrics and raw emotion to this CD that makes it perfect for certain moods. You can listen to some tracks when depressed to console you, and others when in a cheery mood. Regardless, there is a strong undercurrent of raw and brutal emotional reality to the music on Grace that alters your perspective on music.

Best Bit: I am a sucker for "Lover, you should've come over" on this album. Also, the more popular (and well known) "Last goodbye" is definately a highlight. The guitar cover of "Hallelujah" is also a very moving song to deal with.

Worst Bit: You would probably have to be a Buckley fan to really enjoy it.

Sketches for my sweetheart the drunk:

1998. Produced after his death, Jeff Buckley's unfinished album is one of the most moving things I have ever heard. Theres something about knowing that he died, never having a chance to finish that gives you a greater appreciation of it. Its a quality quality recording.

Best bit: I enjoy "The sky is a landfill" and "Yard of Blonde Girls" But the feeling in songs like "New years prayer" and "I know we could be so happy baby (If we wanted to be) is mind-blowing.

Worst bit: Again, you would probably have to be a Buckley fan to enjoy its full potential.

Coldplay:
Everybody loves a bit of Coldplay from time to time. I like Rush of Blood to the head, but I think Parachutes is better

Reccomended Listening:
Rush of Blood to the head.

2002, I have always had a soft spot for Coldplay, and this CD doesn’t disappoint. Good to listen to at almost any time, from falling asleep to a piss up with mates. Sing alongs guaranteed.

Best Bit: Has to be the Scientist. My personal favourite. I love that song!
Worst Bit: I don’t know. Probably the free trade propaganda in the booklet.

Powderfinger:
The boys from Brisbane who are at the very core of modern pub rock culture. Awesome to listen to, even more awsome live. All round just, Awesome.

Reccomended Listening:
Vulture Street.

2003. Love the Powderfinger. I know that it’s a big call, but I think that this CD is better than Internationalist (There, I said it). The great Aussie Barbeque CD. Again, Every song is great, and YOU should own this CD. If you don’t, You will be punished!

Best Bit: Too close to call. The songs are good. And the cover art is pretty fucking groovy.
Worst Bit: If I had to pick a song I didn’t like, it would probably be Don’t Panic, but I still like that song.

Howie Day:
Nifty little acoustic guitarist/singer/songwriter I stumbled across through a live cover he did with Mayer. Uses loops and other technical guitar wizzadry to great affect when he is on stage. Howie also has a great many live acoustic covers of random songs that I appreciate a lot.

Reccomended Listening:

Stop all the world now:
It's impossible for me to actually own this CD, due to the fact that Howie Day is yet to cross Down Under, however, I do have a fully legal burnt copy *cough cough* of the CD (Get off my back already, I'll buy it as soon as I can order it online)

Best bit: It's all good. What the boy loses in blazing guitar solos and complexities he makes up for through the use of loops and simple guitaring for maximum effect. Well worth a listen if you like this sort of music.

Worst bit: Dawson's Creek style backup vocalists in "Collide", I mean, dude, what were you thinking? They seriously detract from what is otherwise a really really good song.

:: Nick 12:06 PM [+] ::
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