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Amber's Horned Hands - Eels, Weezer Tribute, Honest Don's Dirty Dishes, As Friends Rust Review By Amber |
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I went to Mendocino County the other day. I went tidepooling. I saw baby eels. This has nothing to do with this review. The Eels make me happy. The Eels make me move in my seat. This is all I look for in the initial five minutes of a disk. The satisfy this and I go hurtling into the album. The Eels are E on Vovals, Butch on percussion, John Parish wailing on the guitar, and Koool G Murder slappin’ the funky bass. What becomes of this is a mix of music that sounds like garage, Beck, Moses Leroy, and a little emo ethic thrown in for good measure. Grinding and moving these boys put together an album that kicks. A little rough a little soft the boys cover a good range of emotions in this album. They do it without being trite. The music is wholly believable. It’s refreshing to find an album like this. The track that starts off the album, “Dog faced boy” is a good groove to say the least. The song catches you to make you interested in what the band has to say. The guitars grab you and toss you from member to member. E’s vocals get you dirty. “Fresh Feeling” is just that. With a symphony loop thrown in the song you are fresh after the first two songs of guitar assault and scratchy feeling vocals. This song just floats over you and makes you bounce. I found myself dancing in my boyfriends boxers this morning to this song. It was the first time I heard it and I knew that it was a goody. Another one that made me just want to clutch my heart in emo-riffic splendor was “Woman Driving, Man Sleeping”. I heard this song on KUSF a few days ago before I heard the album and I was drawn to the simplicity of the song, however the songs simplicity is where its beauty lies. “Souljacker parts I & II” harken to the pounding garage beat that is beginning to creep about the record bins these days. The boys do it well. Real well. Without coming across as rehashed the boys craft two songs that are completely different but complete each other. The Eels blend the rough and the soft, the kind of complexity that you find throughout the album. Wonderful. I can go on and on. Blending samples, walls of guitars, simple but effective drums beats the Eels are able to craft an album that shines. Without going over board each song is so well crafted that they can each stand on their own as a testament to the visions that the Eels have for us. You little punks think you own this town . . . .
Four 1/2 out of Five Horned Hands!
The Eels - The Blues EP (Dreamworks) A special addition to the Souljacker CD there is a four song EP. The music is much in the same vein as the album. The tracks hark back to the wall of sound garage ethic but do it with a mature nature. “Hidden Track” is just awesome. Sounding a little techno like Bjork the first minute or so of the song pull you in a Pee-Wee’s playhouse sort of way. Addictive. A wonderful bonus and well work an additional mention if for some reason YOU didn’t get the free EP in your purchase – you should buy it. You can be my Mr. French . . .
Four out of Five horned hands!
Various Artists Rock Music – a Tribute to Weezer Don’t get me started on Weezer. Weezer is great, Weezer is amazing, Weezer was just as good for me 8 years ago as it is today. They are a band who kick. They have only three albums. So I was surprised to find a “tribute” album to them already. Is this premature? Or a nod to one of the better bands to come around in some time? I wondered when I put it on my player. The charm of Weezer, aside from the well crafter and insightful alterna-pop they play, is that they are Weezer. At least that is where I see it, and I am writing this review so that is all that matters. So there. So I know right off the bat that I am going to love all the songs right? Cause I love Weezer . . . right? Eh . . . that? Not so much. With everyone from The Ataris, Dashboard Confessionals, and Affinity covering the songs you are bound to have a market for the album. That is one of the driving reasons it was done I am sure. Affinity opens up the album with their treatment of “My name is Jonas”. Passable. They do a competent enough of a job. A little to rough for this girl’s ears though. And the weird Anthrax-like screeching freaked my ass out. Have any of you read my review for The Dashboard Confessionals first album? Well read it here. I was scared, really scared, to hear his treatment because I well . . . HATED his album. You know what? His treatment of “Jaime” is the stuff that good reviews are written for. I was so pleased with how he played with harmonies with this. I really hope that he is able to take this new direction into any new project that he undertakes. I think this because it in this track he really shines as a musician. His skills to pay the music bills as well being able to sing a song without the over kill of his plaintive emo-screetch. Don’t get me wrong – he does do the emo-screetch and it is a little annoying – but my hat is off to him. This song is one of the brightest jems on this album. The Stereo do a kick ass version of “El Scorcho”. I was really impressed how the played the melodies of the song into different sections of music and rhythm. They give a great Weezer song and give it a new treatment that kicks. I was impressed enough to do a little browsing of the band on Limewire to see what else could temp my aurally. Midtown does its treatment on “Susanne” and well – it ain’t shabby. One of my favorite songs they sped it up and threw it for a loop. I wasn’t impressed as much by them as some of the other takes on this album. Did not inspire me at all. Usually I save the best for last – and the song is one of my favorites – at least by Weezer. “Surf Wax America” done by Grade sucks ass. That’s all I have to say about that. They need to go away. All in all how does this album rate? Well, the album falls 50/50. Half the songs are unspectacular or crappy and there are half that are really great treatments with some real jems. Are you a diehard Weezer fan? Then buy it. I think you will find it worth the 7 bucks. If you are a fan of one or two of the bands on the album . . . well, I am not advocating ANYONE here to download MP3s instead of buying into the corporate rock schpeal . . . but I happen to know that this record is on Limewire . . . you make the call. London, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, everybody is talkin’ bout POP MUSIC!
Two and 1/2 of Five Horned Hands!
Honest Don’t is the company that brings you Chixdiggit and a bevy of the pop-punk phenomenon bands. I usually have a pretty good kick out of their comps. Especially when I don’t have to buy it! Nerf Herder is nifty. Not just because they did the theme to Buffy the Vampire Slayer either – though that helped. Anyway – their song “Vivian” kicks off the album and it makes me happy. What I could do it review every single band and the song they do
and base my opnion on the band solely on the song they have. Wouldn’t
be a first. Let’s do it this way – in track order: Nerf Herder:
Buy their album. Any album. You can’t do wrong. Nothing real new here so I would not really ever buy it. That’s why I review. So I can get this shit and trade it in! D’oh! Seriously I already own the albums that most of the good shit was pulled from. Great gift for someone just getting into this genre because it is really representative of what it has to offer.
FOR GIFT PURPOSES: Three out of Five horned hands!
FOR PERSONAL USE: Two out of Five horned hands!
As Friends Rust - Won (Doghouse Records) Getting new music is always a thrill. Even when I hate it. Cause that means I can go buy new music with that crappy disk! As Friends Rust is perfect for the new legion of emo-punkers out there. Angry enough for the tough guys but sensitive enough so that the girlfriends of those said tough boys can still go to the show with. Am I impressed? Not really. The kicker is that the music is pretty good. The drumming is tight and the music is compelling enough to draw me in. The call and response used in the album makes me think that these guys would be AWESOME live – but the flat plastic sound leaves me wanting a little bit more. They are pretty formula and I would question if anything new is accomplished here. At least anything to capture a place on the shelf. If you are interested in a rougher chucka-chucka sound – then maybe this could be your bag. However I would recommend a slew of other bands to introduce you to than these guys. I’m your only friend, I’m not your only friend, but I’m a little glowing friend, but really I’m not actually your friend but I am . . .
One out of Five Horned Hands! |
Eels
- Souljacker - (Dreamworks)
Various
Artists - Dirty Dishes (Honest Don’s) 
