More than a decade removed and Relationship In Command by At The Drive-In still rules all

I was wanting something to play that really kicked the walls in while I cleaned up around the house today.   The search ended quickly as soon as I found Relationship in Command by At The Drive-In in my CD collection.  It's been a good year since I've given this entire CD a spin from head to toe and man oh man, I was in love all over again.  It's like seeing a girl from high school at the reunion and she still looks as amazing to you as the day the last day you saw her.   This album is that ex-girlfriend and there's not many others that match up.

It really bummed me out when At The Drive-In broke up soon after the release of Relationship in Command.  I rarely get that bummed out over a band breakup because normally it's after they've already peaked.  ATDI on the other hand didn't even scratch the surface of their potential.   When you listen to this album, you hear a band that's got more power and spit than anything since Nevermind by Nirvana and Ten by Pearl Jam.  Yes, they were that good and I can't see anyone changing my mind on that.

Anyhow, years removed from that mess, I have to say I see why they quit. Why would anyone want to follow up Relationship In Command? It's the album of the decade and it has very few challengers.  There's no fat on this album.  None.  You can comb through this as much as you like and every song is a work of energetic art in the highest form.  As if Walter White had made his first batch of the blue stuff from Breaking Bad and decided to call it quits.

I don't have a favorite track on this album.  How could I?  When I put this CD in, I have to listen to every single track in order like a favorite film.  There's no one segment to love because it's all that good. But for the sake of those few people unfamiliar with this album, I'm going to post a few of tracks.  Let's start with "Enfilade."  That "freight train is coming" is all I have to mention about this song.  Turn this song up and let it kick you square in the teeth.

To be completely honest, I've yet to really figure out what this album is talking about.  I get the sense it's about a big brother 1984 situation.  Maybe that's it's most surprising charm.  Not sure how they did it, as I sing back almost every lyric word for word yet having little clue what it all means.  Awesome.  "Quarantined" is one hell of a jam.  I love the line, "a single fire can cause a spectral fire."

"One Armed Scissor" was the only official single release from the album that I can recall.  I can't figure out why this song was the top choice for singles.  Not to say it isn't good as the rest of the album. I guess it's hard to define this album by one sound alone and this song has possibly the easiest sound for the masses.   I think I watched this video first on Fuse TV.   We didn't have YouTube then.  The days of watching videos on TV.  Them were the days.   Beyond all the noise and weird lyrics, this band can seriously play their instruments.

Glad I got that rant about one of my top 10 favorite albums of all time out of the way.  If someone out there hasn't listened to this album before, buy this ASAP and be ready to have the walls cave in as you play it.  And to leave you with a final image and sound, here' s a live song from the band. That is what we call a performance.  Chaos, melody and madness.

Junkie XL adds to the list of bands creating music for films in 2013 with the Paranoia soundtrack

I can't recall another year with so many bands involved in creating new music for film soundtracks.  I don't mean just a song but creating the entire film soundtrack.   2013 has become the year for bands to throw their hat in the ring of film scores.  M83 and Explosions In The Sky are probably the most memorable names in that list and I want to add Junkie XL.

Junkie XL don't recreate the wheel with the Paranoia soundtrack but put their skills in electronica to good use.  They're no stranger to film with music that has been used in countless video games and films like Blade.  They have a sound that really lends itself to work in creating mood with a theme.  That's basically the core of any good film soundtrack, create a memorable theme built with emotion.

I haven't seen the film so I can't really speak about how well the music works in creating the proper mood for the film.  I picked up this soundtrack for the simple fact that it was Junkie XL doing it.  Anyhow, they do a good job of creating a nice spacious sounds and at times very haunting like the track "Candid Camera."

The best two pieces of music from Junkie XL on this soundtrack in my opinion are "Adam's Theme" and "Lights Across The River."  Both are closer to the bands actual sound and really incorporate the dance electronica feel but with a film touch.  "Adam's Theme" could be a hit electronica song on it's own merit.  The track has a nice build and good thumping bass I could see playing in the clubs. There's a part of the song that reminds me a bit of the Transformers theme song from the films.   Just a little bit and not enough to remind of that horrible film franchise.

I would say M83 was more atmospheric with their work on Oblivion and Junkie XL give a bit more range on the Paranoia soundtrack.  Oblivion called for a more one note theme and mood because it was creating this desolate world and M83 nailed it.  Junkie XL were working more on a film based on present realities and have a more grounded sound.  If you're a fan of film scores, this is one worth adding to your collection.  Also, check out the other scores by the other bands I mentioned.

Moon Taxi create a big rock sound on their new LP Mountain Beaches Cities

Moon Taxi are a band hailing from Nashville, Tennessee and are really poised to break out.  Their sound is extremely polished and big.  When you first play Mountain Beaches Cities, you really get taken for a ride.  I wasn't expecting the sound from this little unknown band to be so defined and large.  They really fill the space with their sound. This indie band has big arena ambitions on this album.

Their first single "The New Black" is ready made for indie rock radio.  I'm actually surprised they have so few hits at the moment on YouTube. I say give it a few months and it'll be up there.  This is what we call an arena-rocker.  That thumping drum and the chorus you can chant along with.  It reminds of the first time I heard Kasabian's "Club Foot."   If this song doesn't get this band noticed, well then someone at their label needs to get fired.

The rest of Mountain Beaches Cities doesn't disappoint.  The only complaint I might make is that they sound too polished at times.  Some may call it over produced but I think it fits their sound.  But the album does have a considerable amount of range.  I can tell this band is still trying to find their sound on this album. They get down to their southern roots with "River Water" with an extra twang. "Beaches" is very similar to the sound of The Neighborhoud. And on "Struck Me Down," there's a definite attempt to go more synth and experimental.  Just don't expect every song to be like "The New Black" because you will be greatly disappointed.  

My favorite songs from a few listens would be "Change" and "Young Journey."  "Change" like the song title itself has a lot of changes in it's perfect 3 minute running time.  The build and breaks in that song are really well done.  And "Young Journey" is a bittersweet soulful track that really brings the album down to Earth.  

Holy Ghost! bringing back a heavey dose of 80's synth on Dynamics

I was listening to Ou Est Le Swimming Pool prior to giving this album a go.  It's a real bummer that OELSP only had one album prior to Charlie Haddon's death.  There was a lot of promise there and it's a shame we didn't get to see them grow as a band.  If you haven't heard of the band, then hit YouTube and get ready to tap some toes to their album The Golden Years.  It was one of my favorites of 2009.  Feels like so long ago.  Things were looking good and we had just elected our first black President. The good old days. 

So, let's get down to business with the new album from Holy Ghost!. And yes,  I mentioned Ou Est Le Swimming Pool because these bands definitely share a similar vibe.  Although, OELSP had more uptempo tracks, there's definitely a similar use of 80's synth by both bands.

I think Holy Ghost! have grown considerably on their new album Dynamics.  There's more variety for dance fans on this album.  At times, even slowing down things enough to really dive into the music and lyrics in full.

The first track I heard from this album was "Okay" when they posted it on YouTube.  This gave me a Passion Pit vibe but a little more moody with a tad less sunshine.  I really like this song but for some reason I think if it was 40 seconds shorter it would sound much tighter.

"Dance A Little Closer" for me is one of the tracks on this album that separates their sound from the likes of Passion Pit and Capital Cities. On second thought, it really gives me The Rapture vibe.  They have that similar kick drums and bass line going on here that really gets me to think that.  The cutting of the song with the jagged guitar chords is a nice touch.  This song gave me enough reason to pick up the entire album.

Dynamics in full is on the band's YouTube channel.  I recommend giving it a good listen.  I think it's awesome when bands give fans and random music lovers an opportunity to listen to the entire album prior to picking it up.   I'd recommend this album to anyone that likes The Rapture and Passion Pit.  This band should be better known.  

Banks new EP London is dark and soulful

Banks sounds like she belongs more in the English music scene than Los Angeles.  I was pretty amazed that she's not English.  Her sound really is a lot like London Grammar and Halls.  The music is moody, dark and sexy in a low tempo soulful backdrop.   She's got the talent and looks to make a serious impact on the musical landscape and I expect that before long she will have millions of views.

London is her newest EP with four solid songs.   The standout tracks for me would be "Waiting Game" and "Change."  "Waiting Game" is actually her first single from London.  This song really reminds me of Halls and The Weeknd with it's somber intro and the sparse piano in the intro.  She's actually opening for The Weeknd at the moment on his new tour.  I guess calling her the female version of The Weeknd isn't far off.

I couldn't talk about Banks without posting her cover of Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes."  I really dig her version of this song and I think she makes it original and her own.  I didn't think you could slow down the BPM's to that level and pull off this song but she does it.   She makes this song so somber and dark. Banks is a talent to watch.

Kissaway Trail deliver a moody fuzz rock jem with Breach

The market really got crowded over the past few weeks with the releases of Nine Inch Nails' Hesitation Marks and Neko Case's The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You.  Those two awesome albums both came out on the same day a week ago.  I rarely write about known bands like them. So, before you read about Kissaway Trail review,  make sure to check those two albums out and pick them up.  Both completely different genres but great in their own right.

Now, let's talk about Kissaway Trail from Denmark.  Their new album Breach has finally arrived and it's mostly on YouTube for you to sample before hunting it down.  And yes, it's definitely worth checking this band out.  They have a sound that's hard to compare honestly. Not to say they're extremely original but a bit of a mix bag of muddy-electro-emo-rock. Yeah, I just made that genre up but they fit it.  They've been around long enough to really polish their sound and put out a clever little album.

"Sarah" was the first song off of Breach that I caught on YouTube and I really dug it's muddy vibes.   I always have a soft spot for a bit of fuzz in my rock.  Like the music could use a bit of EQ work but that's the point.  "Sarah" is simple but has it's own complexity and it ends in this downer mood that resonates with the listener long after.

"Norrebro" is the last song they released from the Breach album. I really dig the driving bass drums and all that fuzz.   Not really sure what the word means since I'm not from Denmark. Maybe, someone can clue me in.  Yes, I'm too lazy to do that research.  Anyhow, beyond the fuzz there's really a nice melody pulling the soul of the song along.  It reminds me a bit of mid 80's U2 mixed with a bit of Husker Du.  This album has a lot going on and well worth picking up if you like your moody fuzz rock as much as I do.  I need to buy an "I Heart Fuzzy Rock" T-shirt.  

Other stand out tracks from this album, which honestly lacks any lemons, are "Sarah Jevo" and "Beauty Still Rebels."  Both songs are on the band's YouTube channel.  Yes, they've practically put every song from the album on their YouTube channel for fans to listen to prior to picking the album up.