The Chorus Music Club Society • Page 205

Oh, never. That's not what I meant.

Just that he pointed out some things, particularly the themes explored on the album/lyrics that I had mostly overlooked. Having heard someone else's criticism just made me realize certain things I hadn't maybe noticed on first listen.

He's not really gonna change my mind about how I feel about the album.

 

Yeah, pretty much this.

Nate asked that I recommend something from 2018 and I wanted to give him something non-metal. I first recommended cupcakKe and Tiny Moving Parts, both records I liked MUCH more than the SiR record. BUT we wound up with SiR, a record I'd only listened through once, but enjoyed sonically on first listen.

 

The second album given to me by @Nate_Johnson was:

Moaning - Moaning (2018) Sub Pop

Moaning is the self-titled debut album by the LA based post-punk trio. I've been dragging my feet on reviewing this record because I honestly haven't much to say. The record glided by without a single song poking through the batch. The majority of the effort is packed with fuzzy guitars and a shoegaze aesthetic. Moaning has their style down pat but it feels like they forgot to write songs relying entirely the wall of noise they consistently utilitze. Any melodies/hooks singer Sean Solomon bothered to write are bogged down by the over saturation of guitars, bass and drums. The one redeeming quality of the record is that the band can play and although it's a debut record it feels as though the members have been together for a long time.

Overall, I don't see myself revisiting this record again. I would be interested in future records if the songwriting improved and the band brought more dynamics into their sound.

Favorite Tracks:
As stated above I could barely tell one song from another

3/10

 

I couldn’t help but laugh as I was reading this. Good job on the review!

 

Really nice review! Chorus legend @KidLightning recommended this one to me a couple weeks back and I've really been enjoying it.

 

Thanks! I tried on this one but it just didn't do much for me. Rolo was a really cool listen though.

 

@iCarly Rae Jepsen and I traded and they gave me:

Superchunk: What a Time to Be Alive (2018) Merge Records

Superchunk are an indie rock band out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina that formed in 1989 and this is their 11th studio album. The band has a been a huge influence on the punk and indie scene but never truly got the recognition they deserve until the release of their 10th studio album, I Hate Music. They also formed the fairly successful record label, Merge, which their latest release is on. I had never really heard Superchunk but knew of them and their influence on the scene.

Their sound can best be described as political punk drenched in shimmery guitars and pop punk vocals. They are a mix of The Ramones (Lost My Brain), The Lawrence Arms (Black Thread) and Anti-Flag (Reagan Youth) mixed with an indie rock twist. It works so well and this is album is fantastic from the second you hit play. The production is amazing and every song keeps you guessing what direction they will go next. Lead singer, Mac McCaughan, even has the sort of nasally vocals that fit perfectly with their blend of genres but doesn't feel annoying or out of place. For guys and gals in their mid 40's these moms and dads can rock and have their finger firmly on the pulse of what is relevant in the scene today.

As I mentioned before, this is political punk at it's heart and the overall theme of the record sort of sums up the change in our country after the recent presidential election. No names are brought up other than Chelsea Manning in the song I Got Cut and speaks of the freedom of being who you want to be and not restricting yourself to social stereotypes.

The record is very clearly pointed at Trump, but even the band in interviews will say it's a casual political statement about the state of our country. The best example of this is title and opening track, What a Time to Be Alive, and is an eye rolling at how "great" our country is right now.

"You brushed your teeth and found your calling,
At the bottom of the swamp,
There was no air, but to be clear,
Darkness was all you wanted"

"And now just float to the surface,
Hoping to find some kind of light,
Revised your look,
And you will never smell right"

The rest of the album continues this trend in one form or another and I personally love when they go they go in a more folk direction on tracks like Bad Choices and closer, Black Thread, which is my favorite song on the album. But no matter how they serve us punk rock they do it well and make it very accessible.

10/10

RIYL: Indie Rock, The Ramones, Green Day, Punk Rock, The Lawrence Arms

Favorite Songs:
What a Time to Be Alive
Break the Glass
By a Thread

 

@skogsraet and I finally got our ducks in a row and we are trading!

She will listen to:
Dessa: Chime

I will listen to:
Masego: Loose Thoughts

 

Hi @Aregala! Would you like to participate?

 

@cshadows2887 and I traded and they gave me:

Brandi Carlile: By the Way, I Forgive You (2018) Elektra Records

To those unfamiliar, Brandi Carlile is a Grammy nominated singer/songwriter and released her first album in 2004. By the Way, I Forgive You will be her sixth album and sits perfectly in the recent batch of singer/songwriters that have a more Americana style. This is the perfect record for a night nestled around a campfire with just you, your friends and Brandi on the record player. The production on this album is incredible and the vocal effect she uses to make her voice so grand is perfect for her style of singing.

The record opens with Every Time I Hear That Song, which immediately made me think of That Song by one of my favorite bands, Big Wreck. It is just her, light drums and plucking guitar speaking of a song that reminds her of a lover lost. The backup vocals with their harmony are incredible and bring to mind acts likes The Eagles and Chicago. It is one of the most impressive openers of an album I have ever heard.

The second song, The Joke, is just a beautiful ballad with pianos and strings. It has a such a strong message of not letting people bring you down:

"Let 'em laugh while they can,
Let 'em spin, let 'em scatter in the wind,
I have been to the movies, I've seen how it ends,
And the jokes on them..."

Her vocal range on this song...wow!

Hold Out Your Hand is more of a straight up country song but is the campfire song where all your friends are singing and toasting each other. It even has that Ba-da-da, ba-da-da, ba-da-da and makes me think of Sweet Caroline.

After this, the album really starts to slow and down and is just her and her guitar for a few tracks. It is not bad but needs to be played in the right setting. Although, Fulton County Jane Doe and Harder to Forgive bring to mind songs by Johnny Cash which is pretty cool and shows how diverse she is while Most of All brings back those beautiful harmonies.

Closer, Party of One strips everything down again and it is just her and a piano with the focus on this lover lost and she reveals that he was abusive and an alcoholic. She stills loves him despite these flaws but can't be with him.

"Waiter send this to the table, the party of one
The only other lonely soul in this place
And so you're finishing up your coffee
But then where you're gonna run?
Where'd you get that look on your face?

You should always let the sun go down on your anger
Let it burn you to sleep
Bring it closer to danger
To surrender and retreat
Sing your sad soul to sleep

I loved you the first time I saw you
And you know I love you still
But I am tired
And I am yours

Don't even think about your freedom
Or taking that flight
Or going back upon your promise after fighting for the right
Because your eggshells and your right statements and your weaponized words
Are paper tigers now

Oh your constant overthinking and your secretive drinking
Are making you more and more alone
And girl, you can slam the door behind you
It ain't ever gonna close
Because when you're home, you're already home

I am tired
I am tired
I don't wanna go home anymore
I don't wanna throw stones anymore
I don't wanna take part in the war

I loved you the first time I saw you
And you know I love you still
I loved you the first time I saw you
And you know I love you still

I don't wanna be right anymore
Lord, I don't wanna fight anymore
I'm not taking your side anymore
I am tired
I am not my own
And I am leaving
Oh, I am tired
And I'm coming home

'Cause I am yours, I am yours, I am yours, I am yours, I am yours
I am yours, I am yours, I am yours, I am yours, I am yours"

It is a pretty incredible record and I am glad to have heard it but it is one of those ones where the mood and setting has to be right.

7/10

RIYL: Singer/songwriter, Americana, country music

Favorite songs:
Every Time I Hear That Song
The Joke
Party of One

 

Great review @Nate_Johnson I love that Brandi album, it’s def my fav country album so far this year. If you’re looking for more like that then the new Kacey Musgraves drops at the end of the month and looks like it’s going to be great from the songs rel awed so far.

 

Thank you! I really enjoy Kacey as well so I will definitely check it out. Maybe you need to do a day one review?!

 

I’d say yes but I know I’m road tripping with a mate on the day that gets released. I might do one the following week along with whatever albums I get given.

 

@skogsraet and I traded and she gave me:

Masego: Loose Thoughts (2016) TrapHouseJazz

Masego, real name, Micah Davis, is a 23 year old musician born in Kingston, Jamaica but currently residing in Newport News, Virginia. I say musician because he isn't just a rapper, he is so much more. He also plays (all self taught) cello, trumpet, drums, guitar and piano but specializes in the saxophone (which is very evident on this record). So even though he is a hip-hop artist, he prefers to put himself into a genre of his own making: TrapHouseJazz. This can best be described as traditional jazz sounds mixed with trap music and house. He is what every producer hopes to become and at such a young age, he is destined for greatness. At it's core it is hip/hop but it is oh, so much more. This record at only 36 minutes in length takes you on the amazing journey of a creative genius. The last track, I Do Everything!, sees him rapping over all over the various instruments he can play in a mix of sorts. I forgot to mention that he has a great sense of humor and doesn't take himself too seriously. The final moments of the track see him joking about not being able to get a tattoo because his mom won't approve and he promises to use the money for a bible cover.

The intro/opening track, You Gon' Learn Some Jazz Today, instantly grabbed me with acapella mixed with traditional beats and Masego rapping over it and saxophone playing happy birthday in the final seconds.

I'm In Hollywood starts out with strings that would fit perfectly on Panic at the Disco record and continues throughout while introducing him rapping over it. His style is singing mixed with very smooth but short verses and lets the music and production be the center of attention.

One thing that is constant throughout the record is this masterful placement of a sample saying "hidy hidy hidy ho".

I love the track, Too Much, in the fact that it has a TON of samples in it but works so well and would fit perfectly in both a jazz and dance club. His saxophone playing is out of this world.

My favorite track, Small Talk, is essentially an instrumental track except for some random scat vocal samples. It is jazz mixed with trap beats and makes you want to get up and breakdance. (Yeah, not happening.)

I won't outline every song on here but I can say that this is an incredible gateway artist into hip-hop/rap. I already appreciate trap music and jazz so this was instantly up my alley. I recommend this for everyone and it is the perfect length to keep your attention but won't overstay it's welcome. I will be looking for more of his music and checking out his previous work.

9/10

RIYL: Hip-Hop/Rap, R&B, Jazz, Trap

Favorite Songs:
Small Talk
I Do Everything
I'm In Hollywood...

 

CMCS CONCERT REVIEW

STARSET
Nashville, TN 03/15/18

@bachna84 already has done a review of this concert tour, but I felt like I just had to give my two cents on what I saw. I’ll keep it brief, since he covered a lot and I also just got home.

I arrived at the venue, The Cowan, a fairly new mid size concert venue around 6:00 with my fiancée and one of my best friends in tow. My fiancée has always loved concerts and Starset, my friend is new to rock concerts (he’s only been to a Taking Back Sunday show prior to this) and rock in general. The doors opened a little late and we got in as close as we could.

The show started not long after, since they opened the doors late. The first opening band was Year Of The Locust; a sort of breaking Benjamin meets A Day To Remember type band, and they put on a great show. Second opener was Grabbitz, a DJ/rap artist. I’ll be honest he didn’t do much for me and I found him rather dull. My friend enjoyed it, given his background in hip hop. Next up was Palecades, which was very good and in the vein of ADTR again. After that, the main act went on around 9 and it was time for Starset.

That was probably the most immersive, well put together show I’ve seen. I’ve been going to concerts for 12+ years and never seen a show put on like this . The effects they used, the lazer shows, and their sound was just something else, you got lost in their performance. They opened up strong, and never let up. Their performance drew you in; they sounded just as good live as they do on the albums. Effect wise they had everything from lazer shows, a holographic glass case around their drummer, cello, and violinist that displayed riveting videos to match the songs. Smoke and fire, Star shower effects, lasers that would pan out and create these cool sky cloud effects within the beams. Strobe lights. It was intense, to say the least, and it demanded your attention. All three of us agreed upon leaving that it was a show unlike anything we’d ever seen. They got really into it, too. The astronaut guitarists; as well the accompanying violinist and cellist would act like shut down robots when not performing, then burst to life on cue, for example. It was a sight to behold and I recommend it to anyone.

This is the setlist from the night before, but it was the same for me.

Starset Setlist at Center Stage, Atlanta

Here’s some shots and short clips I took

 

So glad you had such a great time! It looks like it was awesome!

 

I’m glad you all had a great time :)

Looks like Nashville had an extra band that Cleveland didn’t have (Palecades) but the rest, particularly the description of Starset’s set, sounds a lot like my experience!

Nice photos (and I’m sure videos) too! I’ll take a look at the videos later.

 

Very cool! Nice that you were able to snag some videos!

 

I feel like this is a great place to post this because of all they love they get in here. Between this and the new Parkway Drive I’m excited.

 

What did your friend listen to before he started listening to rock?

 

Hip hop and R&B. We were coworkers at my last job and became friends, and I burnt him a copy of Blink’s California. He loved it, so I showed him their entire discography, and it grew to Taking Back Sunday, Starset, and much more lol

 

This is very on brand for you

 

Audrye Sessions
Audrye Sessions
2009



For this session I was paired with @Patterns in Traffic who assigned me the self-titled Audrye Sessions album from 2009. I was completely unfamiliar with this band prior to this session (pun partially intended) and the first time I saw the name I figured it was a singer-songwriter. Well it's not - Audrye Sessions was an alternative/indie rock band based out of Oakland, California who released one full-length album (2009's self-titled album that I'm reviewing) and a pair of EPs (one in 2008 and 2010), before breaking up in 2010.

During my brief research on the band (on Wikipedia) I found that the band describes themselves as having a "very Brit-rock feel like The Beatles meet Muse." The band has been compared to Muse, Coldplay, Oasis, Radiohead, and The Verve. Out of all these comparisons, the one that I can really hear loud and clear is Muse, mostly from a vocal standpoint.

The album opens up with the song Turn Me Off which is very catchy and I could tell immediately that I was going to be a big fan of the vocals. I enjoyed the lyrics in this track also, particularly the phrase "cause the time I've killed has slowly killed me." The second track Perfect, Sometimes has more soaring vocals and this is one of the tracks where I really hear the Muse influences coming through. A couple tracks later, the song Relentless is another one of the album's highlights for me. This was another one of my favorite tracks from a lyrical standpoint. Here's a passage from Relentless:

Now you're better than you think you are
Show these people what you were born to do
'Cause I believe in you
I'd bet my life on you
Forget the awful words they said
Lost your dream, they lost their heads
It's funny what fear does to you

The following two songs The Paper Face and Awake remind me of The Academy Is and Muse, respectively. The former track is one of the faster songs on the album. New Year's Day is a bit of a change from the songs prior to it in that it's a longer, slower track that features relies primarily on acoustic guitar.

The albums final two tracks are also highlights for me. The penultimate track, The Crows Came In, is another one of the slower/quieter tracks on the album, but it's heartfelt lyrics and chill-inducing backing vocals make this an instant favorite. Here's a passage from The Crows Came In:

And I said, "Baby, you know
You shoulda walked out long ago
But if you wash your hands of me
Well things will never be the way they're supposed to be"

The album's final track, Dust and Bones, is the longest track on the album and it encapsulates everything that I loved about the album up to that point - huge, sweeping vocals (with meaningful lyrics) overtop epic sounding music.

All in all, I really enjoyed this album and it's definitely one that I'll be returning to.

To sum up my favorite tracks: Turn Me Off, Relentless, The Paper Face, The Crows Came In, and Dust and Bones.

I would like to add two additional things. First, the 2008 EP that I mentioned above only has 4 tracks and all 4 of those tracks are featured on this self-titled album. Second, after Audrye Sessions called it quits, the lead singer moved to Iceland and is now in the band Low Roar. I hadn't ever heard of them before, but if they're anything like Audrye Sessions they are definitely something that I'll need to check out.

If you're a fan of "Brit-rock" (Muse in particular) or indie rock/alternative music with huge vocals and meaningful lyrics, please give this album (or at least a few songs that I mentioned above) a listen!

Thank you @Patterns in Traffic for this recommendation!

 

Great review and maybe @Wall Of Arms could offer more insight into this band. This seems right in his wheelhouse.

Maybe @ugman_2000 as well.

 

I’ll give that Audrye album a blast when I get a chance although the muse vocal comparisons are turning me off a little as I can’t stand Matt Bellamy lol.