Who said Rock is dead? While Enimem is singing, er, rapping, probably one of the worst songs I've ever heard (Ass Like That), I've been delirously downloading album after album of new releases from iTunes. Going back last month, I've downloaded the following: Weezer's Make Believe, Audioslave's Out of Exile, Better Than Ezra's Before the Robots, Foo Fighters' In Your Honor, The White Stripe's Get Behind Me Satan, Oasis' Don't Believe the Truth, and Dream Theater's Octavia. I can barely keep up with the new releases, Dream Theater's having come out on June 7th, while I just found out about it today (although I knew they had a new one coming out soon, I didn't know when).
I haven't had much of a chance to listen to all of these as much as I would have any given new release over the last several years, but one thing I can say is that they're all excellent albums with not a single one of them earning less than a three/three 1/2 star review at allmusic.com.
Better Than Ezra - This is a great record. Casual fans will probably be quite surprised as there are a number of good songs on this CD that are worthy of radio play. Unfortunately their last release, Closer, was the victim of the label reshuffling that took place 4-5 years ago, and didn't get the the exposure it deserved. The first single from Before the Robots, A Lifetime, was originally on Closer, and releasing it on the new album seemed to be a good marketing strategy as it's been tearing up the top 10 local countdown here in Vegas for quite some time.
Weezer - This isn't their best release by any means, but it does harken back to Pinkerton, their cult classic, with more personal lyrics. The first single, Beverly Hills, is a bit overplayed, and not really like anything else on the album. Perfect Situation sounds like classic Weezer, while Haunt You Everyday sounds like some late 60's/early 70's meloncholy soundtrack snipet.
Oasis - A great (almost) return to form. The last few albums by these guys have been really hit and miss, with a lot of filler coming from a band who arguably put out the best collection of b-sides ever (The Masterplan). This should be their best received album since the over-produced Be Here Now, or arguably even What's the Story Morning Glory.
Audioslave - Who knew Chris Cornell could be so sunny? Songs like Doesn't Remind me and Dandelion are sunny/poppy fare compaired to, say, Cocheese of the debut. Part of me doesn't like this release as much as their debut which struck me right off the bat, but I'm finding the more I listen to it, the more I appreciate/like it, which is really the sign of a good album.
The White Stripes - What more can be said about the Stripes? Fans will love it. Others, well, probably not so much. But there's no denying Jack can write some swaggering little folk ditties.
Foo Fighters - Dave Grohl is the man. If anybody 14 years ago would have said the drummer from Nirvana has THAT much talent, I would have said something referencing monkeys flying out of my butt. Several albums later, the Foo man puts together double album, one half rocker, the other half acoustic, 100% ambitious project. The rockers rock here, and repeated listenings are rewarding since initially not much of the first disc came across as immediately catchy. The surprise here is the second cd, featuring a duet with Norah Jones. This half is laid back, reflective, and mellow. It really shouldn't come as that big of a surprise considering Times Like These off One By One was given the acoustic treatment, ultimately turning it into a real gem.
Dream Theater - Just listening to this for the first time right now. It's funny how System of the Down seems to be getting a lot of positive publicity for prog-rockers lately, when Dream Theater has churned out great albums one after the other for the last 15 years. Reviews I've read so far really point to the last half of this album as being "epic". Can't wait to hear it...
Oh, and lest we not forget, if none of the above are your cup of tea, there's always the new release from Backstreet Boys. 'Cause I want it that way...
I haven't had much of a chance to listen to all of these as much as I would have any given new release over the last several years, but one thing I can say is that they're all excellent albums with not a single one of them earning less than a three/three 1/2 star review at allmusic.com.
Better Than Ezra - This is a great record. Casual fans will probably be quite surprised as there are a number of good songs on this CD that are worthy of radio play. Unfortunately their last release, Closer, was the victim of the label reshuffling that took place 4-5 years ago, and didn't get the the exposure it deserved. The first single from Before the Robots, A Lifetime, was originally on Closer, and releasing it on the new album seemed to be a good marketing strategy as it's been tearing up the top 10 local countdown here in Vegas for quite some time.
Weezer - This isn't their best release by any means, but it does harken back to Pinkerton, their cult classic, with more personal lyrics. The first single, Beverly Hills, is a bit overplayed, and not really like anything else on the album. Perfect Situation sounds like classic Weezer, while Haunt You Everyday sounds like some late 60's/early 70's meloncholy soundtrack snipet.
Oasis - A great (almost) return to form. The last few albums by these guys have been really hit and miss, with a lot of filler coming from a band who arguably put out the best collection of b-sides ever (The Masterplan). This should be their best received album since the over-produced Be Here Now, or arguably even What's the Story Morning Glory.
Audioslave - Who knew Chris Cornell could be so sunny? Songs like Doesn't Remind me and Dandelion are sunny/poppy fare compaired to, say, Cocheese of the debut. Part of me doesn't like this release as much as their debut which struck me right off the bat, but I'm finding the more I listen to it, the more I appreciate/like it, which is really the sign of a good album.
The White Stripes - What more can be said about the Stripes? Fans will love it. Others, well, probably not so much. But there's no denying Jack can write some swaggering little folk ditties.
Foo Fighters - Dave Grohl is the man. If anybody 14 years ago would have said the drummer from Nirvana has THAT much talent, I would have said something referencing monkeys flying out of my butt. Several albums later, the Foo man puts together double album, one half rocker, the other half acoustic, 100% ambitious project. The rockers rock here, and repeated listenings are rewarding since initially not much of the first disc came across as immediately catchy. The surprise here is the second cd, featuring a duet with Norah Jones. This half is laid back, reflective, and mellow. It really shouldn't come as that big of a surprise considering Times Like These off One By One was given the acoustic treatment, ultimately turning it into a real gem.
Dream Theater - Just listening to this for the first time right now. It's funny how System of the Down seems to be getting a lot of positive publicity for prog-rockers lately, when Dream Theater has churned out great albums one after the other for the last 15 years. Reviews I've read so far really point to the last half of this album as being "epic". Can't wait to hear it...
Oh, and lest we not forget, if none of the above are your cup of tea, there's always the new release from Backstreet Boys. 'Cause I want it that way...
