Capital Lights - This is an Outrage

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01 Outrage
02 Worth as Much as A Counterfeit Dollar
03 Out of Control
04 Remember the Day
05 Miracle Man06 Mile Away
07 Work it Out
08 Let the Little Lady Talk
09 Return
10 Kick it Off
11 The Night of Your Life is When Youll Die
12 Frank Morris

Capital Lights - This is an Outrage

The Verve - Forth (2008)

So The Verve released Forth on August 26, and I've listened to it a few times now. I was pretty psyched about this album, and I think it delivered. It's not mind-blowing, and it meanders a bit sometimes, but when it's good it's glorious.

Things start off swimmingly with 'Sit And Wonder.' I adore this song. It's the sort of song you get lost in - there's tons of reverb on the guitars and Richard Ashcroft's vocals, making for an epic, atmospheric sound. Love love love the chorus. If you only download one song from Forth, make it 'Sit And Wonder.'

What can I say about 'Love Is Noise'? It's one of my favorite songs of the summer (along with Rihanna's 'Disturbia') and it's just plain great. Strangely enough, its ultra-catchy pop-ness sounds kind of out of place on Forth's collection of spaced-out jams and rockers. 'Rather Be' comes next and the chord progression or whatever calls to mind Richard Ashcroft's solo singles 'Break The Night With Colour' and 'Check The Meaning'. I love the sentiment of the song - 'I'd rather be here than anywhere, is there anywhere better than here?' Ashcroft sings, probably of a relationship. Cool beans.

'Judas' is next and has a tripped-out feel. The guitars are nice and Richard Ashcroft's voice is expressive and somewhat relaxing, actually, but this song marks the beginning of some serious meandering. And by 'meandering' I mean that the song lasts for what feels like forever and doesn't seem to go anywhere. The next song is the best example of this. I'll come right out and say that I don't like 'Numbness' at all. Not one bit. It's just not good. And it goes on for six and a half minutes. If you're into shoegaze style music, then you might like 'Numbness.' Otherwise, you'll probably fall asleep halfway into it.

I'm reminded of 'I Get My Beat' (a solo Richard Ashcroft number) when I listen to 'I See Houses', and though I do like 'I See Houses,' I like 'I Get My Beat' a lot more. 'I See Houses' brings us out of the doldrums of 'Numbness' but it's 'Noise Epic' that blasts away any lingering memories of that mess. It's a little over 8 minutes long but it never feels that way. Awesome guitar work, cool vocals, and bangin' drums make for a song that really lives up to its name.

'Valium Skies' is a really pretty little song (the shortest on the album) that isn't quite memorable, but every time I listen to it I really love it. 'Columbo,' I have to be honest, didn't really make any impression on me. It's another shoegaze style bit of meandering. All is forgiven, though, with 'Appalachian Springs.' The album started off strong and ends strong with an equally epic tune. It's another atmospheric song that sounds excellent in headphones, where you can pick out all the little lovely guitar flourishes. If only more albums ended like this!

Go check out Forth on iTunes! :)

Cheery bye, Scarlett

The Verve - Forth (2008)

90s Singles

Ah, the 1990s. A great decade with great tunes. Here are two singles from the 90s that I picked up recently at one of my fave CD stores. :)

No diggity, indeed! Part rap, part hip-hop, and all excellent, 'No Diggity' by Blackstreet is one of those songs that as soon as you hear it, you'll never forget it. With a strummed guitar backing and a pounding piano hook, and that 'hey yo hey yo hey yo' interlude bit, this is a 90s classic. They don't seem to make 'em like this anymore.

The remixes are good bits of 90s hip-hop, but none of them replicate the rather dark, grimy goodness of the original. The All-Star remix is lighter and sounds a bit too polished, the tinkling piano and subtle synths sounding too conventional. In contrast, the Will Mix has a very bass-heavy beat and background effects that, combined with a piano loop, make for a nice (if slightly monotonous) alternative version of 'No Diggity.' The 'Billie Jean' remix is sort of a mash-up of 'No Diggity' and Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' (but performed by Blackstreet). The arrangement is cool, for example, the way the backing vocals of 'No Diggity' are used as backing for 'Billie Jean,' and the song works well. The last track on the single is the instrumental of 'No Diggity' and it's neat to listen to, but of course just isn't the same without the vocals!

No Diggity (1996 US CDM) (320kb/s CD rip)
1 No Diggity (LP Version)
2 No Diggity (All-Star Remix)
3 No Diggity (Will Remix)
4 Billie Jean (Remix)
5 No Diggity (LP Instrumental)

En Vogue were responsible for some fab R&B/Soul jams in the 90s, and 'Don't Let Go (Love)' is a perfect example. The version of the song I love is the Soundtrack Version, a beautifully harmonized and produced ballad. Driven by piano and bass but with flickers of guitar in the background, 'Don't Let Go (Love)' (Soundtrack Version) is a decadent 90s treat.

The single I got has a few remixes, plus the EP version of 'Whatta Man' (a great collaboration with Salt-n-Pepa) and the Club Remix of 'What Is Love.' The 2000 Watts Remix of 'Don't Let Go (Love)' isn't that good - the vocals sound sped-up and it just sounds kinda cheesy compared to the lush Soundtrack Version. The Club Remix of 'What Is Love' has fun 90s house production, and 'Whatta Man' sounds just as good today as it did when it was first released. Lastly, the Fulton Yard Mix of 'Don't Let Go (Love)' is fortunately not sped-up and has some great bass and beats. The horn hits are a bit distracting but all in all, it's cool.

Don't Let Go (Love) (1996 US CDM) (320kb/s CD rip)
1. Don't Let Go (Love) - 2000 Watts Remix
2. Don't Let Go (Love) - Soundtrack Version
3. Don't Let Go (Love) - 2000 Watts Instrumental TV Track
4. What Is Love - Club Remix
5. Whatta Man (Salt-n-Pepa featuring En Vogue) - EP Version
6. Don't Let Go (Love) - Fulton Yard Mix

Cheery bye, Scarlett

90s Singles

Mylene Farmer - Point De Suture (2008)

(No download link - sorry, guys!)

Mylene Farmer's new album, Point De Suture, was released in France August 25 on CD and August 20 digitally. From start to finish, it's a really good album. When 'Degeneration' was first released I wasn't too in love with it, but it has grown on me and now I think it's wonderfully, darkly hypnotic. 'Appelle mon num?ro' is a richly produced upbeat ballad - it's a little long at about 5 and a half minutes, but it's so pretty you don't really want it to end. The next track, 'Je m'ennuie,' has a chorus that kind of reminds me of 'Comme J'ai Mal,' but this driving dance/trance tune is a great track in its own right.

'Paradis inanim?' has a pop/rock feel to it, not quite as electronic as the rest of the songs, but it still fits. It brings to mind other rockin' Mylene moments like 'XXL' and 'L'Instant X.' Mylene duets with electronica musician Moby on 'Looking For My Name,' a simple, but really beautifully atmospheric, downtempo track. Their voices sound lovely together here.

The only tracks on the album that didn't quite 'get' me were the title track and 'R?veiller le monde'. 'Point De Suture' is a nice ballad, but bland, and feels like it drags on too long. 'R?veiller le monde' is a shorter dance/trance that just doesn't have anything very special about it. But, the final four songs make up for that. 'Sextonik' is another dance/trance tune and has a fantastic energy and fab chorus. 'C'est dans l'air' is destined to become a Mylene classic - it has the cool, attitude-drenched vibe of 'Je t'aime melancholie' but updated for the 21st century, along with an ultra-catchy chorus. 'Si j'avais au moins...' is another ballad but for some reason it really works. It has a melancholy feel, underscored by sad strings. I particularly like the guitar at the end!

The album has a hidden track, 'Ave Maria.' Mylene's voice shines here, supported only by a warm synth pad and then some light synthesizers toward the end. It's a gorgeous end to the album. It probably won't be my favorite album of 2008 but it's certainly a lovely one!

Cheery bye, Scarlett

Mylene Farmer - Point De Suture (2008)

Mandi Perkins Interview/Article

On August 18, I had the honor of having a phone chat with Mandi Perkins, who has just released her major-label debut album, Alice In No Man's Land. In addition to having lots of interesting and thoughtful things to say, Mandi is easy to talk to and so kind. It was truly a pleasure to be able to ask her questions about her music.

I didn't have any way of recording the chat, sadly, so this post will not be a word-for-word transcription of our discussion; rather, it's sort of an interview/article. :)

The first question
I asked Mandi about how it feels to have released her first major-label album. She told me that 'the whole thing' and 'to be able to just live' off of making music is 'all you can ask for.'

A singing lawyer?!
We got on to the subject of her education (she first graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in English and then graduated from law school and passed the California State Bar) and Mandi talked about how she 'loved school, wanted an education, but didn't want to practice law.' Instead, she wanted to pursue her passion: music. But all her hard work at school didn't go to waste! She told me that she feels that the 'subjective' nature of her English studies at UC Berkeley and her 'objective' studies at law school helped '[structure her] way of thinking,' and in effect, how she works with her music.

On writing
Mandi noted that although 'I write specific things,' she tries to do it 'in a way to make people understand' the sentiment behind her words. She hopes she 'made an album people can relate to.' (I think she did just that!) To say it in a few words, Mandi writes 'real stuff in a real way.'

Mandi's musical style
I asked Mandi how she defines her style of music, and after thinking for a second, she said 'melodic rock - passionate, emotional, smooth.' Mandi makes an effort to make the lyrics and ideas that are 'sometimes hard to hear really palatable.' She wants to 'present [those concepts] in a way that's easy to listen to,' with a sound that is 'not too shiny, but not too dirty.' In the end, though, Mandi notes, you just have to 'give it to people and hope that people like it.' Or, to use her favorite Latin phrase, res ipsa loquitur - 'the thing speaks for itself.'

The age of the Internet
Mandi noted how 'blogging - communication - is integral to an artist' today. I asked her if she thinks having an online presence allows her to better connect with her fans, and she answered 'absolutely.' She gets 'tons of email' and even said that such communication from fans was one of the '[reasons] why I wanted to get the album out.' Mandi thinks that having a MySpace (which started getting really big in 2004/2005, around the time she 'started pursuing [her] music career') enables her 'to communicate with so many people.' Mandi said 'I don't know what artists did 10 or 20 years ago' without the Internet. (I don't know what fans did either - without the 'net, I'd probably never have heard of Mandi!!)

Stay in school!
I mentioned a little later in our talk that I'm in college at the moment and Mandi reminisced about how she wishes she were 'back in school' because of the experiences you encounter. She told me how one day, I'll look back at my days in school and just think 'Oh my goodness!' because I learned so much during that time. Mandi also emphasized how it's important to 'get an education' - wise words!

Inspirations
Mandi told me, when I asked about what music artists have inspired her, that she is 'drawn to artists who are real' and 'gravitates to artists who are honest.' Her brother introduced her to her first musical loves, like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and The Who, and she heard the 'golden oldies' courtesy of her mom. Once she began finding her own favorite artists, she found musicians like Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks - 'artists who spoke their truth.'

Alice In No Man's Land
Mandi gave some really interesting insight into the production of Alice In No Man's Land. She feels it is an 'organic album,' probably due to how she 'wrote words after a situation [would happen]' and went into the studio 'with 1/4 done demos.' Then, she would 'arrange the music around the demos' with the 'great musicians' she worked with.

Mandi noted that her first, independently released album didn't turn out 'exactly the way [she] wanted it,' that it was 'a little more raw' than she would have liked. Thankfully, Mandi said that with Sony, 'they wanted me to be myself' - which is a fantastic thing, because Mandi told me that '[she needs] to rock'!

What's your favorite album?
Mandi confided that she loves Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, The Who's Tommy, Joni Mitchell's Blue, and Counting Crows' August And Everything After. And her own album, of course!

'Who I Am'
Of her debut single from Alice In No Man's Land, Mandi explained how it's an 'empowering song' about how she felt like she was that person that someone would feel like they could call when no one else they wanted was around, and deciding that she's 'not gonna be that person.' 'Who I Am' is about 'respecting yourself' and when Mandi performs it live, she said, 'I feel empowered, shinier.' (At this point we both agreed that 'shiny' is a great word!)

Singing live
Mandi really seemed to enjoy talking about performing live. She talked about how 'Everybody Knows' is one she loves to sing live, that it's 'so real - could not be more real.' Mandi said that she heard about someone she respected doing something she didn't think was right and was 'so disgusted' that the 'words [to the song] just came out of my mouth' in the studio.

Mandi also likes to perform 'Why Pretend,' a song that she notes was 'something I needed to say.' Mandi enjoys singing 'Alice In No Man's Land' too, 'a beautiful song about transitioning to a major label' but one that can also be taken to be 'about starting something new.'

To the fans!
My last question to Mandi was if there was anything she'd like her fans to know as they listen to the album. Mandi explained that Alice In No Man's Land is 'not a real place' but 'about you being who you are.' 'The world is weird,' she said, and the album's about 'how you use your voice' to deal with it. Mandi likes fairy tales, and the title of the album does indeed refer to Alice of Alice In Wonderland. Mandi talked about how 'Alice was bummed out, so she closed her eyes and was in a different world.' Mandi felt the same way when making the album but didn't want to just close her eyes - she 'wanted to write!'

I had such a great time talking to Mandi. I really appreciated her taking the time to talk, and being such a wonderful person to interview! Thanks also to Louise at Nettwerk for setting this up! :)

Remember, Mandi Perkins' new album Alice In No Man's Land is out now. Check it out at iTunes or Amazon!

Cheery bye, Scarlett

Mandi Perkins Interview/Article

Sons of Angels - Sons of Angels [1990]

Country: Norway

Year: 1990

Line-up: Solli (vocals), Staffan William-Olsson (guitar), Torstein (bass), Lars K (keyboards), Geir Digernes (drums)

TRACK LISTING

1. Cowgirl

2. Spend the Night

3. Look out for Love

4. Lonely Rose

5. Rock & Roll Star

6. Trance Dance

7. Would You Die for Me?

8. Fight

9. Could it be Love

10. Fly

Requested by: Khairul

Fletchanator's comment: The first of two albums put out by these Norwegian rockers (not to be confused with a mostly-Japanese AOR band with the same name). It's straight-forward, formulaic hard rock with some definite hints of funk. Vocalist Solli went on to front the band 21 Guns, so if you know them you'll know what to expect.

Download

Sons of Angels - Sons of Angels [1990]

Rookie Of The Year - Sweet Attention

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01 - Feel Like New
02 - Asleep With You
03 - Falling From The Sky!
04 - Summer
05 - What Is Love
06 - Sooner Or Later
07 - Any Longer
08 - Vampire Vegas
09 - My Ocean
10 - Danger Zone
11 - Sweet Attention
12 - Savannah

Rookie Of The Year - Sweet Attention

Mercy Mercedes - 1.21 Gigawatts

Greensboro, USA.
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01 - Dr. Huxtable
02 - Shiver Me Timbers
03 - Get It Darlin
04 - The Perfect Scene
05 - Here We Are
06 - Revolution

Mercy Mercedes - 1.21 Gigawatts

The Academy Is - Fast Times at Barrington High

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01 The Academy Is... - About a Girl
02 The Academy Is... - Summer Hair = Forever Young
03 The Academy Is... - His Girl Friday
04 The Academy Is... - The Test
05 The Academy Is... - Rumored Nights
06 The Academy Is... - Automatic Eyes
07 The Academy Is... - Crowded Room
08 The Academy Is... - Coppertone
09 The Academy Is... - After the Last Midtown Show
10 The Academy Is... - Beware! Cougar!
11 The Academy Is... - Paper Chase
12 The Academy Is... - One More Weekend

The Academy Is - Fast Times at Barrington High

Bastardz - Jungle Outlawz (2008)

1. (Intro) Jungle Outlawz
2. Dressed 2 Kill
3. Gasoline
4. Wasted Generation 2008
5. I Hate U
6. Don't Follow Me
7. 9mm
8. Get Outta Here
9. Dope Party
10. No Easy Way Out
11. I'm Your Secret
12. Pills 2008

http://rapidshare.com/files/138137133/Bastardz_-_Jungle_Outlawz.rar

Bastardz - Jungle Outlawz (2008)

Every Avenue - Shh, Just Go With It

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01-every_avenue-days_of_the_cold
02-every_avenue-this_ones_a_cheap_shot
03-every_avenue-where_were_you
04-every_avenue-think_of_you_later_(empty_room)
05-every_avenue-a_story_to_tell_your_friends
06-every_avenue-boys_will_be_boys
07-every_avenue-take_a_step_back
08-every_avenue-trading_heartbeats
09-every_avenue-freak_you
10-every_avenue-between_you_and_i
11-every_avenue-chasing_the_night

Every Avenue - Shh, Just Go With It

Pretty Boy Floyd - Tonight Belongs To The Young (Live 1992)