Harps and Angels-Randy Newman

As we all know, the 62 year old man who wrote the song from Toy Story called You've Got a Friend in Me and the song from Major League called Burn On (which is a slow bluesy tune about the city of Cleveland, Ohio) recently released his latest studio record called Harps and Angels, which was a new blend of political bluesy music, mixed with the aged reminiscence of a 62 year old artist.

The new record deals with such themes as getting old, universal healthcare, and of course... politics. It would not be a Randy Newman record without involving some form of politics, such as the song Piece of the Pie which touches on certain issues like universal healthcare, education, and the administration in general. The record is typical though, it shows how consistent he is with his sound, but for him releasing so many records, one would think he'd change the way he sings or plays. It is a cool bluesy record, especially in the title track Harps and Angels because it's a laid back tune with simple piano and a lot of lyrics that mean a lot, and relate to his life, but also apply to the daily life of most Americans. Harps and Angels  is a good mellow record that actually does spark thoughts in the listeners mind through the lyrical importance of the words that he sings, especially towards the end of the record in songs like Korean Parents and Potholes. 

In closing, Newman again makes a solid record that strikes at the core of our personal being and what the listeners believe and how the listener should keep an open mind about what others believe. So, although there is a lack of change in the song style, it is still a monumental record for Randy Newman because it gets everything out on the table for him, and he doesn't hold back in his lyrical stand point and lets the listener knows what he's feeling.

The Age of the Understatement-The Last Shadow Puppets

In May, Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane of the Rascals teamed up as the Last Shadow Puppets and released their first LP The Age of the Understatement, which spurred on to a large spread outbreak of Arctic Monkeys fans and Rascals fans, but still has not gained much recognition for the dynamic duo from "across the pond."

The record starts out with the title track of Age of the Understatement, which dragged me into the record from the start because of its attractive up-beat tempo with its techno-esque intro, and then takes it just a bit slower in the second track Standing Next to Me which combines a little bit of up-beat acoustic but still has that dark side to it that is so familiar in Favourite Worst Nightmare (Arctic Monkeys', 2007 release) and Rascalize (Rascals', 2008 release). Which is why they're one of the most perfect combinations because of the mutual darkness in their style of music. It keeps up that same pace all throughout the record, but the song that truly stands out is the fourth track Separate and Ever Deadly which is hard to explain, but it's seemingly a perfect rock ballad.

The record has its downsides. It sounds like all Arctic Monkeys songs, despite having one of the Rascals, and although consistency is not a bad thing, it gets a little old because the band is basically using the same material and putting a new name on it. Not that it isn't good, it's just nothing new. Although, there were a few changes to the music itself, they still had the basic Arctic Monkeys sound. Even though the record has its advantages and it is a great record, it's not perfect, and could use work in a lot of areas. The duo has not quite mastered the sound, but they're close to accomplishing it, and they'll get it if they release a sophomore record."

In Rainbows-Radiohead

This record is long overdue for review. Radiohead has, in recent history, released their seventh record, and even more impressive, they did this one without a record label, after their contract with EMI Records ran out...and I may say, that they have out-done themselves this time...even for Radiohead. The record encompasses everything that it is to be human. The flaws in this record, in a way make it stronger.

This record is the soundtrack for human existence, if one was to be compiled. The reasoning behind that judgment isn't so much in the music itself, but rather the tempo that it poses. It starts out with a catchy, up-beat anthem called 15 Step, signifying birth and early childhood, how everything is fast, and really catchy, and up-tempo, and restless. Then, as the record progresses, it starts to get a little slower, and then picks up again here and there. Just like mid-life. All of the sudden, you're at the end, and it just stops. Now, I'm not trying to give the entire record away, rather telling my readers what to expect when the turn on 15 Steps, and start the hour long ride of your life...literally.

As for the actual review of the record, I hold true that it is one of the best records of 2007-2008, and it makes it even more special because this was made completely on their own, with no help from the label. They jumped one of the most difficult hurdles in their new record, and that is pulling a complete 180 on their sound, and turning it in to something that is monumental for them as a band. Which is why I agree with Rolling Stone Magazine when they say, "The Future Belongs to Radiohead." They've done something that, in a way, is impossible to do. They changed their genre. They went from being a typical rock band, with "something about them" to being known to me now as "God knows what that is, but it's damn good." That, my friends, is what I say Radiohead's new genre is.

The one, true downside I could find with this record, is that you can't understand a lot of the lyrics, and I think that actually adds to the signifigance of the music itself. Although, I would like to have been able to understand some of the lyrics that Thom Yorke had put into the record without having to look them up. It's an outstanding record, with vocals that compliment the background noise in flying colors. I really hope that Radiohead stays the same way for their next record (also hoping that it doesn't take them two years to release it.)

So, to In Rainbows, I give 5 stars. It took me almost an hour to find a flaw in it. Absolutely go out and buy it. By far the best self-released record that I've ever heard (even though self-released records come from up-and-coming artists who have little money or talent for that matter.) It's brilliant on almost every level.

The Black and White Album-The Hives

In October, the Hives released their new record called the Black and White Album which actually was a different brand of punk rock from the dynamic five Swedish guys who can be declared as the different breed of punk rockers who, instead of ripped Levi's, they choose black slack, and rather then a Misfits t-shirt, they choose a black dress shirt, and instead of a leather jacket, they choose the white dress jackets. "Why?" One might ask, and the only legitimate explaination to think of, is to be different.

That's exactly what this record was. Different. To say the least. Very new for them, and unknown. Which hints a label of "a different type of punk rock." That's what they are all-in-all, is a punk rock band. One of the only surviving ones, at that. They're so pure about it, and nothing is phony, and that's what makes the Hives punk. The fact that they don't care about what they look like, or what their music sounds like. I applaud that. Which makes them the kind of band that you listen to to get pumped up.

One of the most fun things about this band is how egotistical their lead singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist is. He takes a great sense of pride in what they create and he thinks that it is perfect. And in all honesty. It is. He once said in an interview, "We've been explaining to the world a lot of things about our new record, and how good it is, when it will eventually come out. Sometimes it feels like we're making Chinese Democracy." I mean, if the record sucked, he would sound like an asshole, but the record was a classic, so you don't even care, and in fact, you find it moderately funny.

This record, compared to the other records which areTyrannasaurous Hives, Veni Vidi Vicious, and Barely Legal (try to download that one on LimeWire) this one is way different. Frankly, some of it's downright weird, but it's still cool....a lot like Daft Punk. Especially songs like T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S. and A Stroll Through Hive Manor. It's punk, but, as I said earlier, it's a different breed of punk rock.

One thing that did pain me to see, was that they toured with Maroon 5. In response to that, I quote the movie Superbad,"That's like slapping God in the face for a great gift." Anywho. That doesn't really matter anymore. I'm excited to see what they do for their fifth record. It should be rather interesting...to say the least. Also, I apologize for the tardiness of this review, considering it was released almost a year ago. I give it four stars, and not five, because it was a little lengthy...which shouldn't be surprising to me anymore. Most records are now.