Perth Music

Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace

Dave Grohl is a talented musician, and a smart individual.  Each Foo Fighters album has grown from the previous release and Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace is no exception.  The double album, In Your Honour, that the band released a few years ago seemed as though they wanted to release only an acoustic album but were afraid of the reaction from fans.  It now appears the band is over that and confident enough to incorporate their softer side with their rock side.  In saying that, many songs on ESPG start off soft or acoustic (guitar and piano) and turn heavier half way through.

The album was produced by Gil Norton, who also produced the Foo Fighters greatest selling album, The Colour And The Shape which was released a decade ago.  There is definitely a familiarity to this album but in a good way.  First single, ‘The Pretender’, is a standard Foo Fighters radio friendly ‘rock out’ song and a great way to open the album.  ‘Erase Replace’ is also a hard rocking song but all the other songs off the album have much more depth and multi-instrumental tendencies to them.

This album also has a few firsts for a Foo Fighters CD.  There is a instrumental song and one that should be of interest to Australian listeners.  This song is called ‘The Ballad Of The Beaconsfield Miners’ and is a tribute to miners Brant Webb and Todd Russell.  Although Dave Grohl has played down this song to the media, it does show that a simple request for Foo Fighters songs by a couple of Aussies has touched him.  Other highlights from the album are ‘Long Road To Ruin’, ‘Cheer Up Boys, Your Makeup Is Running’ and ‘Statues’.  7.5 out of 10.

Will.I.Am – Songs About Girls

Will.I.Am has many, many accomplishments to his well known abbreviated name.  He is a founding member of hip-hop super group The Black Eyed Peas, who have sold over 18 million albums worldwide, and one of music’s top producers, having collaborated with artists such as Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson, The Pussycat Dolls, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana, Nas and Kelis.  He has also released two successful solo albums before Songs About Girls but Will labels those albums as compilations and this as his actual debut solo album.  And true to his word there is only one song on the album that has a guest artist (Snoop Dogg on The Donque Song) which is surprising as Will had an A-list of talent lining up to help him out.

Listening to Songs About Girls, there is a clear narrative to the album and sounds very autobiographical.  A hip-hop producer falls in love with a girl, he then becomes quite famous and is led astray by the temptations of celebrity and loses the girl.  The album could serve as a soundtrack to a movie with its story and indeed is one of the better concept albums of recent times.  It has been reported that Will has actually recorded an accompanying movie to go with the album but there is no reported plan to release that yet.

It could be that the album served as therapy for Will.I.Am but it also provides a musical kaleidoscope of different styles.  There is Euro-trash funk (Get Your Money), electro-club (The Donque Song, Heartbreaker), Caribbean soul (One More Chance),  as well as a few Black Eyed Peas inspired hip-hop pop (I Got It From My Mama, Make It Funky).  With these feelings off his chest, it shouldn’t be too long before Will.I.Am rejoins Apl.De.Ap, Taboo and Fergie to make the next successful Black Eyed Peas album.  6.5 out of 10.

Muscles – Guns Babes Lemonade

Muscles is a relatively new DJ on the Australian and world music stage but has quickly adapted to the musical landscape and built a great fan base.   Triple J have been very kind to Muscles and backed him with constant rotation of singles ‘One Inch Badge Pin’, ‘Ice Cream’ and ‘Sweaty’.   His debut album, Guns Babes Lemonade, has put together these radio friendly singles with a bunch of other bubble-gum pop/dance numbers.  The album is definitely targeted towards the younger dance music listener and it seems that it has all the elements needed to succeed.

Recently touring with the Parklife festival and soon with Daft Punk, Muscles should be going from strength to strength.  The album may have a limited audience but for a newcomer to the industry there are many promising signs that the best is yet to come.  Catchy tunes, memorable lyrics and beats and songs that stick in your head can’t always be taught and many of the songs off Guns Babes Lemonade are ones that you’ll be singing in the shower and then spend days trying to remember who it is that sings it.  The vocals could improve and a few more songs of depth would have helped the album but the 2nd or maybe 3rd album by Muscles could just be the award winner.  6 out of 10.

Plain White T’s – Every Second Counts

With a recent US billboard #1 song, the Plain White T’s release their 4th full length album in Australia titled Every Second Counts. The aforementioned #1 song, Hey There Deliliah, is actually from the bands third album but a re-release found a huge audience and included on the new album as one of two bonus tracks. The pop-punk boys from Illinois have a sound along the lines of Jimmy Eat World, All American Rejects or even The Ataris. As with most bands that are the in-thing in the US, it is only a matter of time before that extends to pop audiences in Australia.

All of the songs on Every Second Counts are really quite catchy and the production is above average for a pop-punk album. It seems an advantage to Australian audiences that this is the first Plain White T’s album released by a major record company in Australia as the band sound like they have just developed into a mature band and previous albums may have been almost teeny-bop material. But it is a bit strange that this album was released in the US almost an entire year ago and just getting released here now.

Hey There Deliliah is the best song on the album along with Our Time Now and Hate (I Really Don’t Like You). Friends Don’t Let Friends Dial Drunk is quite a fun song with lyrics I’m sure a lot of people can relate to. A few songs could be labeled as fillers and might be there to make up the numbers but as a whole the album has more catchy pop songs then duds. 6.5 out of 10.

The Bumblebeez – Prince Umberto & The Sister Of Ill

The Bumblebeez have been through a very turbulent time the last 3 years. The brother and sister team were signed to a major US label and touted as the next big thing to come from Down Under. They were added to the famous Lollapalooza tour, which was then cancelled and then they were dropped from the US label that had only just signed them. As all of this was happening the duo soldiered on collecting various raps, beats, samples and jams that eventually came together to make the album Prince Umberto & The Sister Of Ill.

The songs were put together by The Bumblebeez in their hometown of Braidwood, NSW, produced by UK producer James Ford, who has produced albums for The Klaxons and The Arctic Monkeys, and then mixed by Zdar in Paris. This definitely gives the album an international feel which is indicative of the here, there and everywhere musical style of the 16 songs. At just under 40 minutes, the album goes from electro-pop to acid jazz to punk rock and everything in between.

First single Dr Love takes a few listens to get into the groove but is probably the best song on the album to sing-along to in a big group. Clubb Clubb, Freak Your Loneliness and Pump Up The Bass are all stand out tracks and all represent a different genre of music. The album as a whole can be a bit too much all-over-the-place sometimes but the diversity is also something that isn’t seen on enough albums these days. 6 out of 10.

Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals – Lifeline

It is obvious that Ben Harper is proud to be the soulful, roots based and no nonsense artist that he is and the liner notes on Lifeline prove this.  It reads “The record, Lifeline, was recorded and mixed in 7 days on a 16-track analog tape machine.  No computers or pro-tools were used anywhere in the process”.  It goes to show in an age of computers and electro-pop music, that simple musical talent can go a long way.  Another thing that this helps, especially with the amount of touring that Harper does, is that seeing him live is not a disappointment compared to listening to the album.

The album is not a party album or an album to dance to but is perfectly suited to a Sunday afternoon just lounging around or background music for eating dinner or spending time with that special someone.  With this in mind, there aren’t any stand out tracks or obvious singles but best to listen to as an album as a whole.  This could be the reason why Harper has had much more success in Europe than in his home country, the US.  Without stereotyping them too much, all Americans like throwaway pop music and nothing else.

Ben Harper has the respect of his peers and the public and the guitar work and vocals on Lifeline only strengthen these accolades.  The Innocent Criminals must also get credit where credit is due.  They do not get the recognition or faces on posters but most of the songs on Lifeline show the close relationship all musicians in a band must have.  So if you haven’t heard of them before, Oliver Charles, Leon Mobley, Juan Nelson, Michael Ward and Jason Yates should be congratulated as much as Ben Harper on a superb acoustic album.  8 out of 10.

Bob Sinclair – Soundz Of Freedom

I must admit that the only thing I really knew about Bob Sinclair before listening to this album was that he sang that Love Generation song from a couple of years ago that was on the radio every 30 minutes and pronounced as the song the summer.  After listening to Soundz Of Freedom I came to the conclusion that Sinclair may have peaked with Love Generation.  In saying that Bob Sinclair is definitely the best French, house, dance DJ that I know.

This is a remix album much in the same vein as Ministry Of Sound albums where each song blends into the next and is perfect for those Saturday nights where you just need a beat going on and on and don’t want it to stop for 80 minutes.  One can just imagine a bunch of teenage girls listening to this album in the back of a limousine going to their school ball paying a friend to buy alcohol for them. Considering that Sinclair is 40 years old, it is quite an achievement to still be able to relate to the younger generation.

There is only so much an artist can do when sampling songs, or what Bob Sinclair calls it; ‘extrapolations’.  And when the only photo in the CD sleeve is Sinclair wearing a dinner jacket with no shirt there is only one assumption you can make….he’s French. 4 out of 10.

Richard Hawley – Lady’s Bridge

Richard Hawley is an English singer/songwriter who has had a tough life and has the tortured lyrics to prove it.  He toured with Brit-band Pulp in the late 90’s which actually helped him clean up his act after getting addicted to the drink and drugs.  He then started a successful solo career leading to Lady’s Bridge, which is his 5th studio album to date.  Hawley is highly respected by fellow musicians and has contributed to a variety of albums and tours including Nancy Sinatra, R.E.M, All Saints and Gwen Stefani.

First single, Tonight The Streets are Ours, reached number 40 on the UK charts and is definitely the stand out track of the album.  That being said, almost any song would have fit perfectly on the Trainspotting soundtrack and every song is unmistakably English.  For an Australian audience this isn’t always a good thing but if you are in the mood to just let the music flow and rather feel it then hear it, this album is perfect.  6 out of 10.

Something For Kate – The Murmur Years

Something For Kate are one of the most popular and enduring Australian rock bands of the 1990’s and 2000’s, so a 2 disc best of album should be the perfect way to show off the talents of Paul Dempsey, Stephanie Ashworth and Clint Hyndman.  And that it is.  Covering songs from their 5 albums, 2 EP’s, covers of Blondie, Midnight Oil, Bruce Springsteen, The Clash and a brand new song, this best of has it all.

Every song on this album could stand up for itself but to have them all together on two discs just proves the musical power of this band. The fact that they are uniquely Australian should be treasured by the Australian music lover as the band have never tried to sound like another band or be “in” fashion.  Paul Dempsey’s lyrics have always sounded tortured and sometimes his scratchy voice takes some getting used to but if you are in the right mood, then it can be the perfect sound.

Although a best of album can sometimes mean that the band is on their last legs, the band has assured the public this is not the case.  The quality and quantity of the songs on the album justify the need for a best of album and the band were involved throughout the process so it was not just a record company executive making the calls.  This is also a way a band can re-invigorate themselves and possibly start the process of going in a new direction.  If this is the case than it will be interesting to see what happens in the future for Something For Kate. 8.5 out of 10.

Editors – An End Has A Start

For those that haven’t heard of Editors, they are a four piece indie rock band from Birmingham, England in the same musical vein as Snow Patrol, Joy Division and even early U2. Their sophomore album, An End Has A Start comes with a lot of praise from the UK where it reached number 1 on the UK charts.  After the worldwide success of Snow Patrol and especially after the Grey’s Anatomy sponsored song Chasing Cars, it would be easy to judge Editors as just another band trying to cash in on what is hot at the moment.  The difference is that Editors frontman Tom Smith has the vocal and lyric writing talent to prove that they are their own band.

The album was produced by Grammy award winning producer Jacknife Lee, who has worked in the past with such artists as U2, Green Day, Beck and Bloc Party and will soon be working on Bob Dylan and REM’s new albums.  The result is and rich sounding album that sounds like English indie-rock without being overtly English.  The only worrying aspect of this music is that if the industry is flooded with Snow Patrol copycats, Editors may get lost in the bunch and forgotten about.

The album as a whole does struggle sometimes to keep its quality high but songs such as first single Smokers Outside The Hospital Door, An End Has A Start, Bones and Escape The Nest are definitely highlights.  If you are into the softer indie rock than give this record a try otherwise maybe wait until the next album from Editors which hopefully will see a mature band shine.  6.5 out of 10.

Damien Leith – Where We Land

If you don’t count the quickly put together and money-grabbing album The Winner’s Journey, this is really the debut album from the 2006 Australian Idol winner Damien Leith. 9 of the 11 songs on the album were written or co-written by Leith with help from such artists as Alex Lloyd and James Roche (from Bachelor Girl).  The bonus song on the album is the traditional Irish song Danny Boy which suits just about any Irish sounding singer (or any drunk group).

No matter how the music sounds, the two things that any Australian Idol winner has against them is the fact that they will always be labeled as the Australian Idol winner and that past winners have not had much luck commercially or artistically after 1 album.  Leith has some quality songs on this album and shows off his now famous falsetto in songs such as All I Want Is You, Blew It All Away and Danny Boy but can the public see past his Idol achievements.

Most of the album does sound like an average Alex Lloyd album but first single 22 Steps is quite original and worthy of a nod to Leith’s voice and the album’s production team.  Where We Land will still probably sell a million copies but critical acclaim will probably escape it, something that has happened to past Australian Idols and most probably future Australian Idols.  Sorry but the album doesn’t get a “Touchdown” from me.  5.5 out of 10.

Grinspoon – Alibis and Other Lies

For Alibis and Other Lies, Grinspoon have departed the pop road they were traveling on in recent albums and have returned to producer Ramesh Sathiah, who produced their early EP’s Licker Bottle Cosy and The Green Album.  It was widely reported that the recording of this album was interrupted when singer Phil Jamieson entered rehab due to an addiction to Ice.  Jamieson has discussed how his addiction caused him to have an affair and steal from his bandmates but musically the band sounds as strong as ever.

There are still acoustic based songs on the album (Minute By Minute, Leave It, Find Your Own Way) but many of the songs are very reminiscent of the sound created on their first album Guide To Better Living.  Black Tattoo, Outside Looking In, Living In the City and Gun For Hire all show the trademark Pat Davern heavy guitar that dominated the Grinspoon sound of the 90’s.

It is promising that the album debuted on the ARIA charts at number 2 but if Grinspoon believe they can keep their early fans that love the rockier sound as well as their newer fans that love the pop sounds, ala Chemical Heart, then they are destined for failure.  Alibis and Other Lies is a great transition album for the band to get back to the rock sound but the next album will need to all or nothing.  6.5 out of 10.

Smashing Pumpkins – Zeitgeist

The Smashing Pumpkins 6th commercially released album is a return to the more guitar driven sounds of early Pumpkins material and as a result is a much better album to listen to than the electronic driven Adore and Machina.  Although this album is stated as a Smashing Pumpkins album, the only original band members are Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlain.  This really only effects the live concerts as it is common knowledge that Billy Corgan recorded almost all of the guitar and bass parts for past Smashing Pumpkins records anyway.

The drumming on the album is superb and Jimmy Chamberlain really shows the listener why he is still in the Pumpkins while James Iha and Darcy Wretsky are not.  The drumming on the ten minute epic United States was done in one take, while most other songs prove that Chamberlain is still one of the most powerful drummers in rock music.

Of course there are the usual dark lyrics from Corgan on most of the songs, but with songs such as For God and Country and United States and with the Statue of Liberty sinking in, what could be, blood on the album cover there is also a political feel to the album.  First single Tarantula and (Come On) Let’s Go are probably the most radio friendly songs on the album, but none of the songs have the overly gothic sound that were a big part of the Pumpkins last two albums.

Overall it is quite a good album from a band that has only just survived many meltdowns in the past decade.  7 out of 10.