Best Kept Secret

The Secret Machines

Secret Machines

Self-Released

Action Rating: 6.5/10

The Dallas three-piece is back with their third release, self titled, Secret Machines. The band has made a few big changes for this album: the independence from their label, Warner Bros. (they chose to self-release the album in collaboration with World’s Fair Label Group), and the departure of vocalist/guitarist/co-founder Benjamin Curtis. He left the band early last year to focus on his new project, School of Seven Bells. He was replaced with Phil Karnats, his former band mate from Tripping Daisy.

The record blasts off immediately into the infectiously electronic “Atomic Heels” sounding like a child of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. This song is the most notable example of the change in the band’s sound as it is upbeat and catchy and for them, as well as a rather short song. It’s definitely one of the albums highlights and one of the band's best songs yet.

"Last Believer Drop Dead" is a heavy song with spacey guitar riffs all over the atmosphere. "Underneath the Concrete" never seems to go anywhere but is not a bad song. “Now You’re Gone” and “I Never Thought to Ask” are somewhat familiar as they could each easily fit well on either of their last albums. While "Now You're Gone" is another standout with great use of studio overdubbing near the end.

Fans of the bands are no strangers to the drawn-out long winded jams the band throws in. “The Walls are starting to Crack”, which oozes with a Pink Floyd influence (think of “Shine on You Crazy Diamond). The song starts as a slow burner then breaks down into just acoustic guitar and suddenly in the middle there are random odd noises. Then rips in a guitar solo and the song is back in full swing. Curtis really paints a picture of the lyrics, “The walls are starting to crack/ How could they hold back/ The waves have always broken through.” The music continues in relatively epic fashion and it concludes. Pink Floyd would be proud.

“The Fire is Waiting” is really heavy and filled with huge riffs but clocks in over eleven minutes. It almost feels like they couldn’t decide when to end it and it drags. Aside from the last track, this is a near perfect album for the band.

This is a great album; it immediately starts rocking at the first track. Although they didn’t completely transform their sound, this album is not predictable and was the next logical step for the band. The change in the line-up seems nearly seamless as Secret Machines continue the journey began by the last two albums: Now Here is Nowhere and Ten Silver Drops.

Standout Tracks: Atomic Heels, Last Believer Drop Dead, Now You're Gone, The Walls Are Starting To Crack.

It's Only Rock and Roll

Oasis

Dig Out Your Soul

Reprise

Action Rating: 7/10

Liam Gallagher sings,“Love is a Time Machine.” Indeed, a time machine back to nineteen ninety five. Dig Out Your Soul is the seventh studio album from Oasis. Just like 2005’s Don’t Believe the Truth it is a team effort, with each member contributing to the songwriting. They don’t look to create a new sound but stick to what they know.

The album opens with "Bag It Up", setting the tone. Though it isn’t an attention grabber, it’s a driving Rock and Roll song. “Ain’t Got Nothin” is along the same lines but it is very generic and it feels as it were written in about two minutes, very forced.

“The Turning” is an upbeat song that takes off with an explosive chorus and ends with homage to the Beatles’ “Dear Prudence”. They wear their influences on their sleeves proudly. They are often said to sound like the Beatles and this album is no exception.

“I'm Outta Time” is a very Beatlesesque ballad that even samples a John Lennon interview that you can faintly hear towards the end. But it’s such a beautiful song and definitely one of the album’s best. The slide guitar even sounds like it was provided by George Harrison himself.

Another possible Beatles reference, "love is a litany/a magical mystery," surfaces in “The Shock of the Lightning,” the album’s first single, is another one of the album’s best. This song could very well be Oasis’ best song in years and the drum solo provided by none other than Zak Starkey (Ringo’s Son). This song, along with I’m Outta Time, and the other ballad, “Falling Down”, fit well with the band’s older material.

“To Be Where There’s Life” is Oasis taking a psychedelic journey. Complete with sitar and lyrics that search for deeper meaning. (It does bring to mind a certain band from the sixties.)

“(Get Off Your) High Horse Lady” is an interesting song that includes hand claps and a slow burning groove. It stands out on the album and it is a good song but fails to ever climax and drags on for too long.

“Waiting for the Rapture” starts with the same riff as the Doors song “Five to One” but the song eventually comes into its own. “Nature of Reality” is one of the album’s weaker songs but the album ends in great fashion with the vocal echo of “Soldier On”.

Just incase you weren’t aware Oasis is very influenced by the Beatles. Dig Out You Soul as a whole, flows nicely and none of the songs are necessarily bad. At the same time the album is by no means “classic” and not many of the songs are great enough in their own right. It remains in the shadows of Definitely Maybe and (What's the Story) Morning Glory. If you like Oasis at all I highly recommend this album. If you are just hungry for some rock and roll Dig Out Your Soul will satisfy your needs.

Standout Tracks: The Turning, The Shock of the Lighting, I'm Outta Time, To Be Where There's Life

Cold War Kids Remain Loyal

Cold War Kids

Loyalty To Loyalty

Downtown

Action Rating: 7.5/10

“We paint paintings/ We write scenes for the stage”, Cold War Kids front man Nathan Willett sings in the slow rolling opener “Against Privacy”. Describing exactly what the Cold War Kids do. They paint vivid pictures with their lyrics and create a backdrop of sounds for the stage upon which they play.

Their sophomore album Loyalty to Loyalty starts just where their last album, Robbers and Cowards, left off. Using the same lo-fi production, they continue to develop their sound of soulful, bluesy, indie rock.

The album’s first single “Something Is Not Right with Me” is an extremely catchy stomper with lyrics like, “I tried to call you collect/ you said you would not accept/ your friends are laughing ‘cause nobody uses pay phones.” The “good old days” is the reoccurring theme of the album. Hence “Dreams Old Men Dream”, which brings up a feeling of nostalgia for simpler times. Nathan sings, "Coca Cola costs a quarter on my block", on the very raw and guitar driven "Mexican Dogs". This song is a rocker (with a hint of The White Stripes).

The album has a variety of musical influences. “Golden Gate Jumpers” is a tale about someone attempting suicide and Nathan is the voice of reason. This song is very unique to modern day as it could be a ragtime song. A tribal drum beat starts “Welcome to the Occupation,” a perfect representation of how important and amazing the rhythm section of the band is. “Relief” doesn't seem to fit the rest of the album as it is very electronic yet it's catchy chorus makes it one of the key tracks.

“I’ve Seen Enough” slowly builds up from some soft, haunting, minor piano chords with Nathan singing “How’s it gonna feel when summer ends/ Out of money out of friends.” Then the drums kick in along with a guitar (complete with reverb) and distorted bass. "I've Seen Enough" is the highlight of the album as it is just a perfect song. The album does end in epic fashion with the stripped down “Cryptomnesia” The title, “Cryptomnesia” is defined as a memory bias whereby a person falsely recalls generating a thought, an idea, a song, or a joke, when the thought was actually generated by someone else. What a very interesting concept!

Cold War Kids have created another great album. The album is just as good as their as their last, keeping with the same gritty formula. Only a couple songs are mediocre and that's being harsh.

These guys are truly artists. That’s really what Cold War Kids provide as they release their music in this digital age. The cover artwork and the photography in the booklet were taken by the band add a very unique touch. Just as the title song says, Cold War Kids make art, their lyrics are poetic, and their music is unique. I can't wait for the next album. Thank God for this damn good band!

Standout Tracks: Mexican Dogs, Something Is Not Right With Me, Welcome To the Occupation, I've Seen Enough, Every Man I Fall For, Relief