The Reign Of Kindo - Rhythm, Chord & Melody

Track listing:
1. The Moments In Between (4:56)
2. Breathe Again (4:37)
3. Great Blue Sea (5:03)
4. Let It Go (5:13)
5. Nice To Meet You (3:34)
6. Till We Make Our Ascent (5:31)
7. Something In The Way That You Are (4:08)
8. Rhythm, Chord & Melody (6:04)
9. I Hear That Music Play (5:49)
10. The Mystery Of Our Day (5:30)
11. Morning Cloud (3:25)
12. Hold Out (4:38)

I have no idea how this review is just now ending up on here. I wrote it up a long time ago. Haha!
~~~

The Reign Of Kindo creates music that falls somewhere between pop, jazz, and indie... Something intriguing and unique. TROK sounds just that way, and what great musicians they are!

"Rhythm, Chord & Melody" is a trip!

At first, after hearing the contrast of the songs from their 2007 debut EP, this album sounded less varied, but after listening to the songs a few times they become distinct.

Complex structures abound within TROK's memorable and jazzy songs. Yet still the songs are accessible and melodic. The one thing I feel this album might be missing is the really upbeat songs like "Just Wait" and "Hard To Believe" from their 2007 debut EP. Not to say there aren't upbeat songs! It's just that somehow, to me at least, none of the songs on here feel the same as the ones on the EP, which is okay--in fact it's way more than ok! These songs amazing, but in a different way.

Rhythm, Chord & Melody is a really great album that has really grown on me. If you've been thinking about listening to this band, do it. NOW. Lol. There's so much here to chew on... Every time I listen I hear something I didn't notice before. Great music.

...Also if you have a chance to see them live and you like their music, go see them. They are just as amazing live as they are on the recorded albums. Not enough bands stand up to the live show these days... TROK does. :)

Final Verdict: Hugely recommended!
Rating: 4.5/5

Standout tracks:
The Moments In Between,
Great Blue Sea,
Nice To Meet You,
Till We Make Our Ascent,
I Hear That Music Play,
Hold Out

Mono - Hymn to the Immortal Wind

"We are not bound by the passing of time. Underneath every layer of the vessel that we call the body, there lies only the soul, where memory lives on."

Album Title: Hymn to the Immortal Wind
Album Artist: Mono

Track listing:
1. Ashes In The Snow (11:46)
2. Burial At Sea (10:39)
3. Silent Flight, Sleeping Dawn (6:00)
4. Pure As Snow (Trails Of The Winter Storm) (11:26)
5. Follow The Map (11:26)
6. The Battle To Heaven (12:51)
7. Everlasting Light (10:23)

Mono is a Japanese post rock band with something to say---without singing. These four musicians literally try to "kill their audience with noise." But don't let this fact make you think that this is just a noisy industrial album---far from it! They actually enlisted the help of a large string section for the recording of this album. The result is a beautiful classically influenced "rock" album that alternately lulls you to sleep with gentle string melodies and then jolts you awake with guitarbass&drum-walls-of-sound.

This is a "concept album," but I'd rather call it a "story album." There are 7 pages of full-color, beautifully illustrated artwork by Esteban Rey. On the flipside of each is a piece of narrative. The 7 pieces of artwork/narrative (one for each song) make up a story called "Hymn to the Immortal Wind." The whole project just fits together so beautifully, this is NOT an album to purchase on iTunes. You must have the package to get the whole experience.

I'm not going to try to explain all the songs... I'd rather let them speak for themselves... But I will say this. If you don't know where to start, listen to "Follow The Map." It's the shortest track on the album, but a very beautiful one. Mono used it as their "single" to promote this album (it worked on me!). If you like what you hear, dive deeper... Maybe give the wonderful "Pure As Snow" a listen, or the epic closing track "Everlasting Light." But I'd recommend just taking the plunge---listen to it all.

With lush passages and jarring moments flowing in and out of each other, adding to each other, and balancing each other out, this charming and beautiful project by Japanese post rockers Mono is an album you MUST hear.

My Take: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended.

Album Highlights:
Pure As Snow (Trails of the Winter Storm)
Follow the Map
Everlasting Light

Links:
Mono on MySpace

Thieves & Liars - When Dreams Become Reality

Album: When Dreams Become Reality
Artist: Thieves & Liars

Track Listing:
1. The Dream

2. Betrayed By Blood
3. Road To Nowhere

4. Slavin' Away
5. Run

6. Alone
7. Forgotten
8. When Dreams Become Reality
9. Good Times
10. Seven Long Years
11. Reconciled
12. The Author Of Dreams

"An epic concept album featuring over 71 minutes of music & a 24-page book. For fans of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd & AC/DC" reads the sticker on the CD packaging. For the most part this is a really good way to put this classic rock style band.

Thieves & Liars have created a near masterpiece with this album, a concept album that follows the story of Joseph found in Genesis. Infusing the straight-up rowdy rock style of Zeppelin with the trippy, experimental passages of Floyd and some wonderfully penned lyrics, Thieves & Liars have really created a stunning debut.

There are some sweet surprises here, such as the amazing, more down-tempo tracks "Alone" and "Forgotten." Both are lengthy, emotional tracks that dynamically build. A number of songs on the album feature string arrangements, that add to the richness of the soundscapes.

All in all this is a great album, complete with a broad spectrum of songs - everything from rowdy rockers to beautifully arranged ballads. Sure to appeal to modern AND classic rock fans, any fan of head bangin' rock should check out this concept album.

Future Of Forestry - Travel

"And if you travel here/you will feel it all/the brightest and the darkest/
and if you travel here/listen to your heart/and take with you what lasts forever."

Album Title: Travel

Album Artist: Future Of Forestry

Track Listing:
1. Traveler's Song (3:49)
2. This Hour (3:41)
3. Colors In Array (5:40)
4. Close Your Eyes (4:02)
5. Closer To Me (4:11)
6. Halleluiah (5:55)

Future Of Forestry is an alternative rock band from San Diego, California. It is headed by Eric Owyoung, whose name may or may not be familiar to you. If you do recognize his name, it's probably because Eric Owyoung was also the lead vocalist for the band Something Like Silas, a band who became somewhat popular thanks to their song "Divine Invitation." But if you're only familiar with SLS, expect something completely new, wonderful, and different from Future Of Forestry.

This album, Travel, is the first in a series of three albums, each with a different "travel" theme. As you can see from the cover, this album is somewhat sonically and thematically themed around flight. Logically, then, these songs soar - the melody lines are big and open, the music practically breathes.

One thing I love about this release is that it can be listened to passively or actively and still be enjoyed. The songs are intricate, but never busy; complex, yet fit together so well that they don't sound that way upon first listen. Another thing I love (about FOF in general) is their use of different and unique instruments. A hand-pump piano was used on this album, as well the

theremin...
...and the musical saw...
...and always a favorite of mine, the tubular bells... (if they aren't on this album it sure sounds like it, and I know they've used them on past albums.)

Anyway, there isn't a bad song on this album (of course it is short, only about 27 minutes). From the wonderful chorus of "Traveler's Song" to the interesting vocal melody of "Colors In Array," to the peaceful guitar of "Close Your Eyes," you just can't go wrong with Travel.

Give the ever-innovative and always creative Future Of Forestry a good, honest listen, and I know they're bound to become one of your favorite new bands.

My Take:
4.5 out of 5 stars.
Must hear!

Album Highlights:
Traveler's Song
Colors In Array
Close Your Eyes

Links:
Future Of Forestry on MySpace
Future Of Forestry's Webstore
Future Of Forestry on Twitter

I couldn't find any songs on the playlist website, so just go to their MySpace (see above links), where you can hear songs from Travel as well as from their newest release, Travel II.

Jóhann Jóhannsson - Fordlândia

Album Title: Fordlândia
Album Artist: Jóhann Jóhannsson


Track listing:
1. Fordlandia (13:43)
2. Melodia (i) (1:56)
3. The Rocket Builder (lo Pan!) (6:25)
4. Melodia (ii) (1:49)
5. Fordlandia - Aerial View (4:33)
6. Melodia (iii) (3:12)
7. Chimaerica (3:23)
8. Melodia (iv) (2:45)
9. The Great God Pan Is Dead (4:56)
10. Melodia (Guidelines For A Space Propulsion Device Based On Heim's Quantum Theory) (9:04)
11. How We Left Fordlandia (15:25)

Jóhann Jóhannsson is a 40-year-old Icelandic-born musician, composer, and producer. A very accomplished man, he's created music for over 10 films and more than 10 stage productions, on top of his studio albums. His compositions on "Fordlândia" are moving and emotional. This music is not for the impatient, and don't expect this to be the kind of music to put a pep in your step---no upbeat songs here---but what you can expect is an album full of slow, gorgeous swells of orchestration.

Just like our other favorite Icelandic musicians (Sigur Ros being the most popular and well known), Jóhann Jóhannsson creates ambiences of another kind, using all sorts of instruments - expect to hear piano, pipe organ, violins, cellos, and bits of distorted guitar.

Fordlândia is a sort of "classical concept album" that tells a story (musically, of course).
The following is taken from Jóhann Jóhannsson's website:
"'One of the two main threads running through ["Fordlandia"] is this idea of failed utopia, as represented by the "Fordlândia" title - the story of the rubber plantation Henry Ford established in the Amazon in the 1920’s, and his dreams of creating an idealized American town in the middle of the jungle complete with white picket fences, hamburgers and alcohol prohibition. The project – started because of the high price Ford had to pay for the rubber necessary for his cars’ tyres – failed, of course, as the indigenous workers soon rioted against the alien conditions... The remains of the town are still there today. The image of the Amazon forest slowly and surely reclaiming the ruins of Fordlândia is the one that gave spark to this album... During the making of the album, I also had in mind the Andre Breton quote about convulsive beauty, which he saw in the image of "an abandoned locomotive overgrown by luxurious vegetation.'" (The track-by-track descriptions/inspirations can also be found at Jóhann Jóhannsson's website)

So before you totally read your brains to death, if you have the time, put on some music from "Fordlândia," kick back in a comfy chair, relax, and just give this a listen---there'll be some tracks in the player if I can find them online.

There is some music that words just can't describe quite right... This is that kind of music. I hope you enjoy this melancholy goodness as much as I have.

My Take: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended.

Album Highlights:
Fordlandia
The Rocket Builder (lo Pan!)
Melodia...
How We Left Fordlandia

Links:
Jóhann Jóhannsson's website
Jóhann Jóhannsson on MySpace

Savio - Cycle A (EP)

Album Title: Cycle A EP
Album Artist: Savio

Track Listing:
1. Nothing I Can Do (4:19)
2. Oceans Moving (4:16)
3. Full Of You (4:45)
4. Without You (5:18)

Savio is a four-piece group, made up of:
Jeremy Griffith: vocals/guitars/producer/mixer (Wow!)
Jimmy Reeves
Jared Bowser: drums/samples (Also drums for the band SUNBEARS! They're great too.)
Mace Powell

Review:

Savio is all about dynamics, atmosphere, soaring vocals, and top-notch song writing. All of this shines on their four-song EP, Cycle A, which features songs from their full length album Denying The Constants. It will be released (hopefully soon) exclusively on iTunes. No date has been set yet.

The EP eases into the first track, "Nothing I Can Do," which finds a man lamenting a somewhat broken relationship. The hopelessly catchy and emotional chorus drives on with the words, "Nothing I can do will make it right... Nothing I can do will make one night last forever." Not the happiest words, but man, is that music savory. Savory Savio (Pun pun pun). Great song.

The next track, "Oceans Moving," has a darker sound to it than the other songs, but crashes into a stadium-rock ready, group vocal chorus toward the end. This song's chrous contains some interesting imagery: "I can feel the sunlight burning my eyes/I can hear the leaves as they fall to the ground/I can see the oceans moving/And I don't move at all" Jeremy really exhibits his poweful vocals (as always!) on this track.

"Full Of You" is full of dynamics, and has some interesting elements--a sample of a radio transmission, some ambient feedback/distortion in the prechorus, and yet another soaring vocal line, crescendoing into an amazing ending... Needless to say, even though it's not the most memorable song ever, it's definitely a great song, and Savio delivers.

"Without You," the final track of Cycle A, is probably my favorite song on the EP. It starts out with a very minimal sound--Jeremy's vocals, a piano, and some light ambient sound, all sounding as if they're through a lo-fi filter. The drums then come in, and the song pounds beautifully along. Then, everything drops out but some group vocals and a piano. Two or three measures--then the song explodes. Jeremy's vocals soar into the forefront as he powerfully exclaims, "Without you, it's not home!" The song then quiets and fades. Amazing, amazing song.

I can't recommend these guys enough. Heartfelt, emotional rock with atmospheric and ambient leanings. Listen to 'em now, so you can know 'em before everyone else learns about them. And then share the music. Music this good can't be kept to oneself.

You can purchase Cycle A from iTunes, eMusic, or Napster,
OR you can order a physical copy of Savio's Cycle A EP by sending four dollars to:

16 Manhattan Ave, Apt 3G, Brooklyn, NY 11206

Links:
Savio on MySpace.
(There are two additional songs from Denying The Constants on there, too.)

Deas Vail - All The Houses Look The Same

Hey guys.

Sorry it's been so long... Just a quick recommendation this time around.

Two words: DEAS VAIL.

I don't remember what language their name is in, but it roughly translates to "Humble Servant."

Amazing music. Wes Blaylock (their lead vocalist) has an enormous range.

Check 'em out.
www.myspace.com/deasvail

Just listenin' to their full-length (All The Houses Look The Same) in its entirety for the first time myself. Not a bad song on here from what my ears can tell. Amazing.

"Shoreline" is now in the music player.

Thrice - The Alchemy Index

A Brief History of Thrice:

Thrice has come a long, long way since the days of "Identity Crisis," their first album. For their first few albums, Thrice was very much a post-hardcore/punk outfit, playing fast and heavy punk-influenced music. The nature of their music made them known as more of a niche band.

However, the thing that has always set Thrice apart from other bands are the outstanding lyrics penned by frontman Dustin Kensrue (whose solo music I also heartily recommend!).

Thrice first began to break their post-hardcore/punk pattern with the release of 2005's Vheissu, which received criticism from many of Thrice's old fans due to the sudden change of style. The album was less punk, more "accesible" in a sense, but still had fantastic lyrics that strengthened the album's equally fantastic songs.

2009 finds Thrice having released four more studio albums (probably better referred to as a single project, really)... And I already say: I recommend them heartily!

Now, Down to Business!: The Alchemy Index, Volumes I-IV

Thrice announced on their MySpace in late 2006 that they were working on a project concerning the four natural elements: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. They stated that the music would be "themed sonically and thematically to correspond with the four natural elements," and that the final project would have between 20 and 25 songs.


So here we are in 2009, with 24 songs having been written, recorded, and released as four separate albums, six tracks on each album. And I must say that I feel like the finished product is close to a masterpiece.

This project is unlike anything the band had previously done. In a sense it's very experimental, but in the end it's very cohesive and listenable.

Like Thrice implied, Volume I: Fire is as heavy as all heck (but still melodic, mind you); Volume II: Water is what you might think of an underwater world sounding like- slightly hypnotic, synthy, digital, but fluid; Volume III: Air is very echo-y and open, with one song even being about the legend of Icarus; Volume IV: Earth is very "earthy," (what other word is there?) and the songs were recorded to sound very raw and rich.

What I find awesome about this project is that even though each album is its own beast, the four albums are unified excellently. The sixth track on each is a 14 line sonnet, written as if from the perspective of the element itself. This lends a feeling of completeness to the project.

So in conclusion I could go on and on about The Alchemy Index, but really you've read a lot already... I guess all that's left is for you to experience The Alchemy Index for yourself.
As far as buying goes, you have some options... You can purchase all four volumes on CD (I & II are bundled, as are III & IV), or if you're like me and love vinyl, you can purchase all four volumes on 10" colored vinyl in an incredibly awesome box set.

I put a couple songs in the player... See what you think. I think they're excellent.

Final Verdict:
5 out of 5.
Must hear!

Links:
Thrice on MySpace
Thrice lead vocalist Dustin Kensrue's solo project: MySpace

"An Album A Week" Music Player Added!

EDIT: The song order is now LATEST reviewed album songs FIRST. So if you want to listen to things I reviewed in the past, scroll down in the music player.

I'm excited to say that I've added a music player to the blog!
It's right smack at the top of the page, right above this blog (as of now...)!
It will feature songs from albums recommended/reviewed on the site.
The way they're ordered is the same order as the blog's album reviews.
For example, the first tracks in the player right now are by Saxon Shore from "Four Months of Darkness," which happens to be the first album I reviewed on the blog.
I'll add more music as I add more reviews/recommendations, but until then, I hope you enjoy what you hear!

~b

Frank Sinatra - Come Fly With Me

So, I know it's been a while... Spring break vacations make it hard to keep blogs updated... So anyway. Here's a great recommendation...

Album Title: Come Fly With Me
Album Artist: Frank Sinatra

Track Listing:
1. Come Fly With Me (3:17)
2. Around The World (3:19)
3. Isle Of Capri (2:28)
4. Moonlight In Vermont (3:31)
5. Autumn In New York (4:36)
6. On The Road To Mandalay (3:30)
7. Let's Get Away From It All (2:09)
8. April In Paris (2:49)
9. London By Night (3:27)
10. Brazil (2:58)
11. Blue Hawaii (2:42)
12. It's Nice To Go Trav'ling (3:50)

A Quick Review:

It's Frankie! What else really needs to be said? Ol' Blue Eyes at his "funnest" and quite nearly at his best!

The songs on "Come Fly With Me" all follow a travel theme, and this fact ties the record together and makes it fun!

My only complaint about the album (and it's not a big one) is that the balance of upbeat to slow songs is exactly half-and-half, six to six. I prefer the upbeat songs, but the slow songs on here are top-notch, with great orchestration from Billy May.

So if you consider yourself a Frank Sinatra fan, you'd be doing yourself a disservice to not listen to this album as a whole. So do yourself a favor and take Frankie's advice: sit back and "light the home fires, get your slippers, make a pizza," and take a listen. Just remember: you may have the sudden urge to get up and swing in those slippers too!

Great fun!

Final Verdict:
3.5 out of 5
Definitely recommended.

Album Highlights:
Come Fly With Me
Isle Of Capri
Let's Get Away From It All
Brazil