Well, They Still Got Their Youth

Youth Group

The Night Is Ours

Fair Records

Action Rating: 4.5/10

Youth Group is an Australian based quartet that originally formed in the late nineties. The Night is Ours is their fourth full length album. Their second album Skeleton Jar was their last highly acclaimed work; it got them signed to the American label, Epitaph. This album’s overall sound is very close to that of Deathcab for Cutie, but that could be because it was produced by Deathcab’s own, Chris Walla.

Unfortunately, the album hits its peak in the first four songs. But those first four songs are as infectious as ever.

The opening track “Good Time” sounds like an anthem for a Monday morning after a fun weekend. Martin sings “I had myself a good time/ and now I don’t feel like myself.” It’s a great track to open the album with. The way the music is used only as a background for singer Toby Martin’s lyrical monologue has emotinal impact and it makes you want to keep listening to what they do next.

“One For Another” starts great. The chorus however sounds almost amateur lyrically. “One for another/ Each for each other/ I'm so glad that you found one another.“ Then comes the bridge followed by a really cheesy horn solo and, just like that, the song ends. Abrupt endings seem to be a trend that carries across the album. It makes the tracks sound rushed.

Any song that uses the lyrics “To dance to die to die to die” had better be a song you can dance to. Luckily for Youth Group, they met the standard. “Two Sides” is carried by a steady bass line accented by a synthesizer. The melody in the music as catchy as heck, however, if you stop dancing and actually listen to what he is singing, it’s less than impressive. “There’s always two sides/You can’t serve two masters/ You can’t take two sides”

On the contrary, “Dying at Your Own Party” actually tells a really interesting story. It is a relatively solid song all around.

“All This Will Pass” really starts the heavy Deathcab influence on the album, blended with vocals reminiscent of the 80’s underground scene. Right in the opening guitar riff, you would expect to then hear Ben Gibbard but then think you’re hearing Morrisey. But then “Friedrichstrasse" takes that in reverse. When it begins, you would swear you somehow picked to listen to a Paul McCartney song, but in the last minute or so, it transitions right back to Deathcab.

Tracks seven through twelve seem to blend into one single track. None of these songs stand out especially in comparison to the rest of the album. They are each pretty forgettable.

Youth Group has everything they need to be great. Toby Martin’s voice is crisp yet smooth. Drummer Danny Lee Allen holds the beat and is able to keep the song interesting without over-doing it. Guitarist Cameron Emerson-Elliot and bassist Patrick Matthews (formally of The Vines) bring real simple riffs that pull you in and tap your foot. Yet somehow, this album falls below par. It’s one that you would be better off just downloading the first four or five songs.

Standout tracks: Good Time, One For Another, Two Sides, Dying At Your Own Party

Silversun Pickups Make You "Swoon"

Silversun Pickups

Swoon

Dangerbird

Action Rating: 6.5/10

Alternative Rock is alive and well in the form of Silversun Pickups. After breaking the surface into mainstream music with their 2006 album, Carnavas, the band is back with their second full length, Swoon.

Based in Los Angeles, California, the band consists of Brian Aubert (lead vocals, guitar), Nikki Monninger (bass, vocals), Christopher Guanlao (drums), and Joe Lester (Keys).

This band is often compared to the Smashing Pumpkins. The first song on Swoon, “There’s No Secrets This Year,” confirms this comparison. The music is very reminiscent of early Smashing Pumpkins. Aside from that song, the band has continued their own sound further on this album.

Brian Aubert’s voice is often described as androgynous, which is part of Silversun Pickups’ signature sound. Along with this are the fuzz-drenched guitars that sound so similar to the keyboard that they are almost impossible to tell apart. Their mysterious sound and lyrics open to interpretation are part of their appeal.

The one element that makes Silversun Pickups is their ear for a great hook and melody.

The highlight of Swoon is “Panic Switch,” the album’s first single and a perfect example of their sound. The song starts with a distortion-soaked riff that fits the aggressive nature of the song. Taking note of other great nineties alternative bands, such as My Bloody Valentine or even Nirvana, “Panic Switch” has a great use of dynamics with the soft, subtle verse and a loud, heavy chorus. “Panic Switch” is almost six minutes long but it is never boring.

“Growing Old is Getting Old” gets old really fast. It is boring and uneventful for more than half of the song. Nearly three minutes go by without anything interesting happening, then the guitar appears and the song explodes into full fashion.

On “It’s Nice to Know You Work Alone,” Nikki and Brian trade off lines in the verses, but it is hard to tell who exactly is singing with Brian’s token androgynous voice.

The band used strings on their EP Pikul, and “The Royal We” reintroduces the use of strings, where they are featured front and center along with the guitar. This song has a sense of urgency and is almost over dramatic, but the strings provide a warm feeling. The strings also add a nice touch to “Catch and Release” as they accent Brian’s emotion-filled vocal.

“Draining,” which uses a sixteen-piece orchestra, goes by unnoticed. It is a slower song that merely acts as a break between two of the most memorable songs, “Panic Switch” and “Sort Of.”

“Is it perfect in our little hell?” Brian sings on "Surrounded" the albums final track giving it an "epic" feel.

The best element about the songs is how dynamic they are. None of them end where they started and they travel all over the place, keeping those pop hooks intact. On their first album, Carnavas, the songs sometimes blended together where as on Swoon they are more diverse. Brian is quoted saying, "Everything that was confusing on Carnavas, especially guitar and keyboard blends and the vocal androgynous thing, we went way further with that. So if that was something you liked, you're really going to like this one, if you hated it, there's other albums out there." At times it feels like they are trying to be too “artsy” and too dramatic. Either way, after a couple listens these melodies will creep into your mind.

Standout Tracks: There's No Secrets This Year, It's Nice To Know You Work Alone, Panic Switch, Sort Of, Substitution

Here Comes The Son

Thenewno2

You Are Here

Vagrant

Action Rating: 6.5/10

Imagine the Beatles (in their later years) and Radiohead (during Kid A) had a child.

In actuality, the band Thenewno2 is co-fronted by Dhani Harrison, the son of late Beatle, George Harrison. Dhani isn’t afraid of the Beatles comparison but rather embraces it. That comparison is pretty inevitable, as Dhani’s voice is so similar to his fathers. Their music is self-described as electro-blues rock. Dhani (guitar, synths, vocals) and Oliver Hecks (drums and synths) take the influence of George Harrison, The Beatles, Cream, and Massive Attack but their overall sound is more experimental and hard to classify.

You Are Here is the first full-length album from Thenewno2. The opening track, “So Vain” is a perfect example of what the album offers. A simple guitar line glides over an ambient beat as the bass and drums pulsate. Beats and synthesizer really provide as the backdrop to just about every song.

“Another John Doe” is the first single and is probably the album’s most unforgettable song. It has a very hypnotic melody that creeps up on you. With each listen the song gets better and exposes something new within its layers of sound. The band really utilizes the layers creating a psychedelic, sort of Pink Floyd vibe.

“Back to You” uses the same formula. The song opens with a sound clip to what seems to be news footage while the lyrics address social problems. "No progression from the situation just oceans of misinformation", Dhani sings over an addicting groove.

“Give You Love” is the album’s catchiest song with a repetitive chorus that is sure to get stuck in your head.

“Yomp” changes it up a bit as it is more of a rock song. This time the guitar is more dominant and Dhani gets to show his guitar skills with a solo near the song’s end.

“Hiding Out” is very electronic and could possibly be mistaken as a Radiohead song. Dhani sings the song in a near falsetto tone that works very well.

A ukulele (George would be proud) starts “Crazy Tuesday”, which really stands out amongst the electronic beats that make for most of the intros. Dhani sings, “I tell you that girl’s gonna make you cry”, in a song about a long distance relationship that is failing.

Dhani’s showcases his vocal range in “Idle Lover”, singing in a lower register. This is one of the album’s most interesting songs. About half-way through, it becomes almost chaotic as a trippy breakdown offers a great dynamic while it melts into the solo.

“Shelter” is more of a rock song. If anything, this feels most like a Beatles song. Dhani channels John Lennon as he sings, “While I’m stuck at home by my own/Silvertone I play alone”.

"Wind Up Dead” starts with an electronic beat but about a minute into the song, it takes on a very jazzy feel. Bryony Atkinson provides backing vocals that work in a call-and-response fashion. Her voice and Dhani’s voice play off each other very nicely.

You Are Here is a really good album, consistent and solid, but its downfall is in its lack of variety. Some of the songs seem to blend together, as letting the electronic rock sound dominate just about every track. Though with each listen the album does get better and better offering new surprises in all the layers. You Are Here is definitely worth checking out. The talent and the potential of this band is great and look forward to more from Thenewno2.

Standout tracks: Another John Doe, Back To You, Give You Love, Yomp, Crazy Tuesday, Idle Lover

"Zero" To 1980 In Ten Tracks

Yeah Yeah Yeah's

It's Blitz

Interscope

Action Rating: 7/10

So let’s just get the cat out of the bag right away: the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have made a dance album.

It’s completely normal to be struck with awe and perhaps confusion at this moment. Following the releases of 2006’s Show Your Bones and the Is Is EP in 2007, the New Yorkers were looking for their next challenge.

The first two tracks double as the first two singles. “Zero” is the perfect way to debut the Yeah Yeah Yeahs new direction. It is totally different from anything they have ever done. Immediately, 1980’s synth-pop groups like Ah-Ha jump to mind. Yet, the more you listen to it, the more infectious it gets! It’s a track that’s hard to sit still to. And if that wasn’t enough change for you, you get “Heads Will Roll,” which immediately throws you face-first into the nightclub. Cue the strobe lights and lower that disco ball.

“Dull Life” is definitely the track you should check out. It is undeniably a continuation of where the band was heading after Show Your Bones. Nick blows the dust off his guitar that collected while you were listening to the tracks that preceded and hits back with full force.”We sing the nightmare of the lies that you speak/The beast that I lie beneath is coming in.” A close second is “Shame and Fortune.” Karen O’s voice bends and weaves in and out of Zinner’s riffs like a serpent.

“Hysteric” is a track that rounds out the album as the rainbow that appears after the storm. Karen’s voice is soft and sincere in each verse to the chorus. “Flow sweetly, hang heavy/You suddenly complete me/You suddenly complete me,” floats like a dandelion caught in a breeze.

“Soft Shock”,”Runaway” and “Little Shadow” could get tossed. They never really make it past mediocre. “Dragon Queen” , however, is for sure a throw away. It sounds as if they’ve made an extra effort to reintroduce straight-up disco to the 21st Century. Although you can pick up TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone’s voices in the chorus, their falsettos only add to the time warp. It’s not so much a throw-back to the seventies’ disco era is a terrible thing. The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s have earned themselves a particular fanbase that fell in love with the sounds YYY’s have been producing over the past 7 years. The changes definitely require some getting used to.

It's Blitz was originally set to be released April 14th of this year; however, the album got leaked over the internet February 23rd. So they have pushed the official release up to March 31st and made It’s Blitz available for download on iTunes and Amazon.com on March 9th. Online you can also download acoustic versions of “Soft Shock”,”Skeletons”,”Hysteric”, and “Little Shadow.”

Standout Tracks: Zero, Heads Will Roll, Skeletons, Dull Life, Hysteric, Shame and Fortune

album review by: Pam Wichert (contributor)

Putting the "CORN-E" in Cornell

Chris Cornell

Scream

Interscope

Action Rating: 0/10

Chris Cornell and Timbaland? Odd match, I know. You might not know what to expect.

Chris Cornell is most famous as the singer of Soundgarden and Audioslave. In 1999 Chris Cornell released his first solo album: the very good Euphoria Morning. Then in 2007 Cornell released Carry On, which was mediocre at best. Now on his third solo release Scream Cornell has teamed up with Timbaland, known for producing Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado. Cornell’s goal was to create a more modern sound and gain a new audience. The result is what sounds like a bad mash-up.

The cover art is Chris Cornell about to smash a guitar and if you don’t understand the relevance, you will after you listen to the album. Scream is a dance pop album that is generic and full of cliché’s and really does not pertain to rock and roll whatsoever.

“Part of Me” opens with the cheesiest introduction. Horns blare and a creepy voice introduces “Chris Cornell,” the same way a song might introduce some rapper. Then a generic dance beat starts and the last thing you expect to hear is Chris Cornell’s voice. Even more comical is the chorus of the song. Cornell sings, “No that B**** ain’t a part of me”.

“Everybody out for my blood/Everybody want my percent/I don't want to start going off/ I don't want to start talking s***/They just want to take what is mine/How much more can you get?” Chris Cornell sings on “Sweet Revenge”, moments like these beg the question: WTF.

Anyone who was a fan of Chris Cornell, Soundgarden or Audioslave prior to this album will probably gag before the lyrics even hit in the track “Never Far Away.” The music sounds much more fitting to maybe a Beyoncé song. Justin Timberlake is featured on “Take Me Alive”, which is probably the albums most bearable song. Two songs on the album, “Other Side of Town” and “Climbing Up the Walls”, feature real drums. These songs have a more familiar sound to them but lack in any kind of depth, just as the rest do.

I did not anticipate what a struggle it was going to be to get from track to track. The songs keep me somewhere between frustrated and amused.

The question of the album: Is he serious or is this some sort of Joaquin Phoenix ploy? Chris Cornell began his music career in 1984 with Soundgarden. There are several other musicians from that time that are still big players in the industry today and still are able to make good music that’s true to their style. Cornell collaborates with Timbaland to sound fresh and revitalize his career but instead he sounds like an idiot. As far as I’m concerned, he has dug himself a pretty huge hole in his career that he is going to have to work to climb out of. Chris Cornell wrote one of Soundgarden’s most beautiful songs, “Just like Suicide”. That song title would be very fitting as the title to his new album, which should be titled “Just like Career Suicide”.

Standout tracks: lol

U2 Will Believe It's Just Not That Great

U2

No Line On The Horizon

Mercury

Action Rating: 5/10

The album starts strong with the title track. The melody of the song really hooks you in, as all the instruments are layered and feel as if they are hovering over the horizon.

When “Magnificent” starts, it is hard to guess that this is U2. Then nearly a minute into the song you hear the Edge’s familiar guitar style and U2 have arrived. This feels like a typical U2 song. It even has synthesizers that give the song an eighties vibe. “At the moment of surrender/ A vision over visibility/ I did not notice the passers by/ And they did not notice me” Bono sings in “Moment of Surrender.” Bono belts the song over piano and an electronic drum beat as Adam Clayton’s bass line follows close. Clocking in at over seven minutes long, “Moment of Surrender” is the heart of the album. On “Unknown Caller,” Edge treats himself to an extended guitar solo and that’s the only time he does it. “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight” is generic U2. It is very poppy but fun.

“Get on Your Boots” is the first single from the album. The song starts with a guitar riff soaked in fuzz that is actually, pretty heavy riff for U2. It’s a good choice for a single as it is a very addicting song. It drifts between pop and psychedelic. “Get on Your Boots” is just out of place and doesn’t fit the album’s sound. As the first single, it teased a new direction but the band doesn’t go in this direction; it is merely a pit-stop. “Stand Up Comedy” is a rock song as Bono sings, “Stand up to rock stars/ Napoleon is in high heels/ Josephine, be careful of small men with big ideas”, possibly taking a shot at himself.

From here the album starts to go downhill. “Fez-Being Born” is an experimental song but fails to really go anywhere. “White As Snow” just goes by unnoticed. These are by no means bad songs they are just not as strong as some of the others. “Breathe” is an excellent song that would have sufficed as the closing song. Instead the very introspective, “Cedars of Lebanon” ends the album. Bono talks the lyrics, “Choose your enemies carefully ‘cos they will define you/ Make them interesting ‘cos in some ways they will mind you/ They’re not there in the beginning but when your story ends/ Gonna last with you longer than your friend.” With that, the album comes to an sudden end.

Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, and Steve Lillywhite all taking part in the production of the album could be one of the reasons why No Line on the Horizon feels very inconsistent. More than half the songs are very good but the others fall into mediocre. Some songs feel new, some feel predictable. Still this album is better than anything U2 has put out in recent years.

Standout tracks: Magnificent, Moment of Surrender, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight,
Get On Your Boots, Stand Up Comedy

The Main Event

Concert Review

The Airborne Toxic Event are a must see act!

In 2008, The Airborne Toxic Event put out their self-titled debut album. Definitely a solid album, the songs are exceptionally catchy. As the band got more hype so did their live show.The band had two shows at Schuba’s on February 28th. Earlier in the day they played a free acoustic show at the Hard Rock Café.

The Airborne Toxic Event is an indie rock band from Los Angeles consisting of Mikel Jollett (vocals and guitar,) Steven Chen (guitar and keys,) Noah Harmon (bass,) Daren Taylor (drums,) and Anna Bulbrook (violin and keyboard.)

Opening with the poppy bass line of “Gasoline,” the band launched into its set. Next was “Papillion,” and the crowd began to sing along. Jollett noted by saying, “You guys know the words!”

From there the band started “Happiness is Overrated,” which was stopped abruptly after Jollett sang only a few notes of the intro. He talked about how he had been sick and his voice is still recovering “but we’re gonna do it until we get it right.” In the second attempt Jollett hit the right notes and his voice seemed to hold up. Although throughout the night he did seem to be nursing his voice, not quite going all out.

They played “The Girls in Summer Dresses,” which is a song based on the short story of the same title by Irwin Shaw. “Echo Park” was a new song that they played and it was less than impressive. When the band played “This is Nowhere” the show was about half way over but at this point the band seemed to get more into the songs. Then they went into full stride with their hit “Sometime Around Midnight.”

As the band started “Wishing Well,” the crowd roared even louder, which was quite the surprise, and this song and next were the shows highlights. Nearing the end, the band played “Innocence,” the closing track to their album, it was high energy and perfect. They quickly exited off stage and went outside into the freezing weather. The crowd continued to cheer and it was not long before they came back for the encore.

Jollett thanked the crowd saying how nice it is to play to a full room. The riff for “Does This Mean You’re Moving On?” started and he said “Jump around like monkeys with us.” He went into the crowd to sing the song as everyone danced around. The microphone went out for about ten seconds and Jollett looked very panicked, but recovered.

For the last song of the night, “Missy”, Jollett invited a young girl named Thomasina on stage to join the band. The girl hesitated to go on stage and seemed very nervous, as she just stood there and stared. Halfway through the song Jollett invited the rest of the crowd on stage. A handful of people ran up there as the band extended the song. Jollett ended the show saying, “that’s all the songs we have, we don’t have anymore to play.”

Overall it was a very good show. Jollett had been sick and they had to cancel a few shows going into these, so I was impressed and thankful for the performance. As the band is only a little over a year old, there were some minor rookie mistakes but regardless it was entertaining throughout, it was rock and roll. Check The Airborne Toxic Event out, it is worth it. The Henry Clay People opened.