The Black Keys Attack & Release

Fuzzy Bits:

Release Date: April 1

Last Album: Magic Potion (2006)

Sounds Like: A gritty gem that, in some ways matches The Black Keys’ best work.

Overall Rating: 89

While it’s tempting to wonder "what if?" with this album, as Ike Turner passed before the Black Keys/Danger Mouse/Ike Turner project was able to come into fruition, Attack & Release is so refreshing that you almost forget the "what if?"

Danger Mouse certainly plays a role in bringing The Black Keys to new heights sonically, especially after the relatively flat Magic Potion. The atmospheric touches to songs such as "I Got Mine," "Remember When (Side A)" and "Lies" bring the lyrics to life– especially on the latter track, with Dan Auerbach’s vocals sounding quite at home as an old-school blues crooner. The positively trippy "Psychotic Girl" is surely to be a favorite for many months to come, with the signature "oohs" that have become synonymous with producer Danger Mouse. The hard rocking "Remember When (Side B)" is the perfect counterpunch to the softer "Side A" version, and is easily the hardest track on the album. The mysterious "So He Won’t Break" slinks along with great conviction with Patrick Carney’s drums operating with a supreme amount of precision. The closing "Thing Ain’t Like They Used To Be" is a grandiose send off that features Jessica Lea Mayfield on backup vocals.

Attack & Release was an intriguing experiment that somehow worked very well as a full length Black Keys album, the guys sound almost as edgy sometimes as they did on Thickfreakness, but Danger Mouse’s productions really brings out an other-worldly element to their sound. If Ike Turner had been around to make the album, it easily would’ve been heralded as a great comeback from a legend, but as it stands, Attack & Release is still a damn good album from an equally talented band.

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Neon Neon Stainless Style

Fuzzy Bits:

Release Date: March 18

Sounds Like: A strangely addicting and fun effort from the talented duo.

Overall Rating: 85

Neon Neon’s pseudo-love letter to John DeLorean is about as intriguing as the famed DMC-12 that DeLorean was most famous for. A collaborative effort between Super Furry Animals’ Gruff Rhys and famed producer Boom Bip, Stainless Style soaks itself in the 80’s shtick that all the kids love these days, but the songs aren’t nearly as superficial as it may appear. Rather, Stainless Style works pretty well as a concept album– especially for those that actually remember the DeLorean legacy. Even if you don’t, the album works because, to put it bluntly, the music, for the most part, is really freaking good. "Dream Cars," "I Told Her on Alderaan" and "I Lust U" are all very well done, walking that fine line between recreating music in 80’s style and succumbing to cliché. The hip-hop tracks are unfortunately not quite as solid, as the manic "Trick For Treat" doesn’t play to guest Spank Rock’s strengths as well as it should. Fatlip is better on "Luxury Pool," but at the same time, it feels like Boom Bip was trying too hard to make the production edgy. That being said, Gruff Rhys shines on this album and works incredibly well with the electronic-tinged 80’s pop production. Concept albums, by default, are tricky to pull off. Add to the fact that this album is about a life that is as well known and as entrenched in popular culture as John DeLorean, the difficulty level is increased exponentially. Somehow, between the precise productions and the delightfully nostalgic flair, the collaborative group known as Neon Neon have created an album that would have made Mr. DeLorean proud.

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5 Albums to Get Excited About (April Edition)

While it’s been a pretty good year for music already, things are going to be getting even better starting in April. While there are certainly more than five albums to look forward to, here are the five that should most certainly end up in your library once released.

1. 
   The Roots Rising Down
   The Roots appear to be in rare form on this album. While the vastly underrated Game Theory was certainly solid and one of the year’s best, it appeared to be only a prelude to the much edgier and possibly enigmatic Rising Down, which will be released April 29. (For more Roots-related material, see here, here, and here.)
   
2. 
   Portishead Third
   If it feels like it’s been forever since you’ve heard new Portishead material, it’s probably because they haven’t released an album in 11 years. Needless to say, Third is the most anticipated album to come out this year, and it should definitely be a pleaser for many. Even with the incredibly early album leak, expect Third to sell very well and keep many folks happy until their next album is released (which will hopefully take less than 11 years to create). Third will hit stores on April 29.
3. 
   Jamie Lidell Jim
   While Jamie Lidell made quite a bit of noise with his sophomore release Multiply (his debut, Muddlin Gear was released in 2000), Jim is a bit of a coming out party. For all the successes Lidell had on Multiply, the production and overall execution is just that much tighter this time around. The summer album of 2008 comes a bit early, as Jim will be released on April 29. (for more on Jamie Lidell, see this post.)
4. 
   The Black Keys Attack & Release
   Originally intended as a project between Danger Mouse and the late Ike Turner, Attack & Release took on a different form after Turner’s passing. Rather than scrapping the effort entirely, the songs, which were penned by the Akron, Ohio duo, were used for the latest release from The Black Keys, with Danger Mouse at the helm as producer. Don’t expect the slick and overtly lush arrangements that Danger Mouse typically brings to his projects, as The Black Keys sound gritty as ever on Attack & Release. Attack & Release will be released on April 1. (Have a listen to "Psychotic Girl" here.)
   
5. 
   Does it Offend You, Yeah? You Have No Idea What You’re Getting Into
   One of the most hyped bands this side of Vampire Weekend, Does it Offend You… is very deserving of the hype going into their debut album. You Have No Idea… is an incredibly vibrant and innovative album, matching the bands’ awesome reputation as a live act. If it weren’t for so many other strong releases coming out this month, You Have No Idea… would be much higher.

 

Other Picks: Atmosphere When Life Gives You Lemons…, R.E.M. Accelerate, Nine Inch Nails Ghosts I-IV, Foals Antidote, Moby Last Night, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Dig, Lazarus, Dig!, Elvis Costello Momofuku, Clinic Do It!

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Counting Crows Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings

Fuzzy Bits:

Release Date: March 25

Last Album: Hard Candy (2002)

Sounds Like: The Counting Crows might’ve been sitting on the sidelines a bit too long.

Overall Rating: 74

Whether people want to admit it or not, Counting Crows, for better or worse have proven to be a very influential band throughout the 90’s and even to a certain extant today, given the hype leading up to the album release. Unfortunately, lately the Counting Crows, more specifically, Adam Duritz has been known as the guy that sings "Accidentally in Love" more so than the frontman of the band that brought us "Mr. Jones," "Rain King," and so many other relatively great songs. There are no real smashing singles here, and that’s perhaps one of the more jarring elements about the album– it radiates a sense of self-importance as one can almost envision the band posturing their way through much of the Saturday Nights half of the disc. Only on "Los Angeles" and "Hanging Tree" is this trend broken, the former being the most refreshing song on the louder half of the album. "Sundays" is a more laid-back rocker that is certainly pleasing but doesn’t really stand out. On the acoustic-oriented Sunday Mornings side, Counting Crows somewhat stronger– as the intimate nature of the songs definitely help on many occasions. "Washington Square" is a beautiful and lush opener, while "When I Dream of Michaelangelo" despite its excessive imagery, has such a genuine quality to it that it’s enjoyable nonetheless. Meanwhile, songs like "You Can’t Count On Me" and "On a Tuesday In Amsterdam Long Ago" strain for a sense of sincerity that just isn’t there, making the album that much more difficult to get through. There are enough songs that feel flat out generic that it poses a problem, especially given that true stand out tracks are few and far between. Perhaps in the six years time in which the Counting Crows have been away from recording they became somewhat out of sorts, but simply put Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings for all its potential doesn’t add up to much. It may very well satisfy the die hard fans, but beyond that, there isn’t a lot to come back to.

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BSotW: Common “Come Close” Remix (Closer)

One of the best rappers around right now, here’s a pretty nice remix of Common’s hit single "Come Close," featuring Erykah Badu, Pharrell, and Q-Tip. The remix also integrates a snippet of A Tribe Called Quest’s "Bonita Applebum." A very laid back song, the emphasis is definitely more on the vibe than it is on their respective skills.

Common "Come Close" Remix (Closer) feat. Erykah Badu, Pharrell and Q-Tip Come Close

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Top 5 Albums So far…

Well there’s been a fury of albums released in the last few weeks alone, let alone the ones that have slipped under the radar. So with that in mind, here’s a quick list of five albums that you should already have in your rotation:

1. 
   The Raconteurs Consolers of the Lonely
   
2. 
   Erykah Badu New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War)
   
3. 
   Devotchka A Mad and Faithful Telling
4. 
   The Raveonettes Lust, Lust, Lust
   
5. 
   The Magnetic Fields Distortion

Honorable Mentions: She & Him Volume One, Gnarls Barkley The Odd Couple, Raheem DeVaughn Love Behind the Melody, Sheryl Crow Detours, The Black Crowes Warpaint, Neon Neon Stainless Style

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R.E.M. Accelerate

Fuzzy Bits:

Release Date: April 1

Last Album: Around the Sun (2004)

Sounds Like: R.E.M. is back, with a vengeance.

Overall Rating: 81

From the opening "Living Well’s The Best Revenge," the immediacy exuded in the song alone seems like a desperate attempt on the bands part to ensure fans that everything is indeed alright again in the land of R.E.M. The first three tracks of the album rock with absolute conviction, and lead up to a nicely done, but terribly uneven "Hollow Man." The mercifully short "Houston" feels like an unnecessary aberration, but does lend way to the equally dark, but vastly better, title track.  With the relentless guitars and drums backing up Michael Stipe’s very personal lyrics, "Accelerate" is easily one of the better songs on the album. Oddly enough, the band switches back to yet another middling slow song "Until the Day is Done" before returning to the radio ready "Mr. Richards," a definite stand out track that is just as impactful as the other songs despite not being a straight on rocker. The album loses some momentum with the clumsy "Horse to Water" and the overly busy "Sing for the Submarine" before closing with the admittedly goofy yet inanely fun "I’m Gonna DJ." Like the opening trio of songs, the conviction that the band performs with on this closer is what makes it work. They’re not overthinking, but merely having fun and doing what they do best– and that seems to be the formula for Accelerate as a whole. The album is short and to the point, running at a mere 35 minutes, so one can’t very well accuse them of embellishment. It’s easy to simply label this release as the ultimate R.E.M. apology album, and with the immediate nature of the music it’s hard to argue against such a point. At the same time, however, there’s a definitive sense of purpose and evolution to their songs. Whether the loss of the fan base was the cause of all this though, doesn’t really matter, the fact is, although far from perfect– as it does have its share of inconsistencies– R.E.M. is most certainly back in business on Accelerate. That alone, should be enough to win the fans back, not to mention bring a fair share of the casual fanbase back into the fold.

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New from Big Boi of OutKast, “Royal Flush”

In case you forgot, between his ventures in ballet and film, Big Boi is in the process of releasing his solo album, Sir Luscious Left Foot, which is due out later in the year. While details are sparse, we now have the first single available, entitled "Royal Flush." With Raekwon and the other half of OutKast, Andre 3000, on board as guests, the song doesn’t really give any clear indication of the sound of the album. That being said, the "chorus," if you will is a bit weird, but all the verses are very solid, especially Raekwon and Big Boi.

Note: The song posted below is unedited and contains explicit lyrics.

Big Boi "Royal Flush" feat. Andre 3000 and Raekwon Sir Luscious Left Foot

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New R.E.M. album Accelerate streaming on iLike

Well if you just can’t wait ’til April 1st but your conscience doesn’t allow you to download the leak (or you simply can’t find the leak), you’re in luck– R.E.M. has made the full album available on their iLike page. Check out the album to see what you think, and then see my album review, which is on the way.

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The Raconteurs Consolers of the Lonely

Fuzzy Bits:

Release Date: March 25

Last Album: Broken Boy Soldiers (2006)

Sounds Like: An immensely better album than the debut, The Raconteurs finally added some depth to their creative musings.

Overall Rating: 100
  

For the people that didn’t understand how I was so quick to bash the "effort" put into Broken Boy Soldiers by the supergroup The Raconteurs, look no further than their new album Consolers of the Lonely. The creative juices are decidedly flowing this time around, and they never run out of gas. Both Brendan Benson and Jack White show off their formidable talents as songwriters, and this time around, they’re also determined to rock, as evidenced on the extremely fun "Hold Up" and the somewhat deranged "Five on the Five." White’s guitars are razor sharp, slicing through the heavily layered sound of the band with a vigor that hasn’t been seen since The White Stripes released Elephant. Jack Lawrence’s opening bass lick on "Attention" lends way to yet another stellar rocker, that, at its core, wouldn’t sound too out of place on a Hives album. Their cover of Terry Reid’s "Rich Kid Blues" is certainly well done and breathes new life into the original. horn-infused "Many Shades of Black" is another stunning song, that’s not only atypical for the group but also it’s impressive how Benson’s vocals slide into the song with such ease. The Who Every member of the Raconteurs is at the absolute top of their game on Consolers of the Lonely, the songwriting has never been stronger, the vocals have never been better, and the guitars, drums and bass have never been as solid as they are here. Even the slower paced songs are so smartly written and executed that they don’t really detract from the overall listening experience. Perhaps my expectations were set too high the first time around, but man oh man, did Benson, White and company ever make up for their horrid debut. Nevermind about Consolers of the Lonely being one of, if not the best album of 2008 when its all said and done, but look to this album a few years from now as being one of the first true classics of the 21st century.

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