Ok so the album was released a fair few months ago now, but i decided to post my first ever album review so that as i post more up i can hopefully see my progression. Warning...Not for the faint hearted (those who like the killers)
Initial diagnosis of `The killers' fourth album `Day & age'? A serious case of musical bipolar!
The album granted has moments of highs, which are directly followed by a complete disaster and depression of music. These changes between songs are so abrupt that it’s hard to know what emotion Brandon is trying to evoke.
The album begins with three reasonably catchy songs; `Human’ being the most well known due to the familiar case of radio overplay and its bizarre lyrics. The second single `Spaceman‘made a good follow up to `Human’ with its contagious “oh oh oh’s” and anthemic feel... Perhaps the album would have been better finished here!
Just when you think obscurity appeared to have reached a maximum `This is your life’ belts out a demon like chant creating a cold morbid atmosphere...just what the album needed! Third single `A dustland Fairytail’ does however bring the album back to a past reality through its arena built chorus, and echoes of their old techno pop sound.
With a repetitive use of lyrics identifiable from the previous two albums, the question begs whether the Killers can ever really progress. One could liken the album to an abstract piece of art; a lot of money, time and effort went into it, but nobody can really understand it apart from maybe the band themselves.
So when would you listen to this album? Well, where as previous albums `Hot Fuss’ and `Sams Town’ have provided the fans with dance floor hits, `Day & Age’ seems something more appropriate to listen to after a night out to send you into a deep sleep. NME awarded it a generous 7 out of 10… I’m afraid Brandon receives a measly 4for this one from me!
Despite this, the album has had some success which is most likely due to the beginning of their career; back in the day when `The Killers’ made sense, giving fans hope for a third amazing album. Purchasing this album however was not a complete waste; amongst the three good songs, the album case also provides a colourful tea coaster to add to your collection of disappointing albums.
Perhaps Brandon is still soul searching, trying to find the right direction for the killers. A word of advice Brandon…maybe the older songs such as the annoyingly contagious `Mr Brightside’ are better suited to this `Day & Age’.
Note to self: This was a starting point which is why it is shit. Use less words and write more concisely! Also i am the worlds biggest hypocrit as i now like this album.
Monday, 20 July 2009
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Pleased to meet you.
Okay so it's a little late, but my new years resolution for this year was to start a blog and stick to it. I realise it is now July, therefore the phrase "better late than never" has never been more relevant. I've decided to use a Foo Fighters lyric as the title for this first blog. I may stick to this as an ongoing pattern. We'll see.
The purpose of my Blog's will mainly be that of a musical nature so that i can build up a portfolio of my reviews. My blog will also be a memory bank so that one day when im old, i can read back and remember how good life was at 19 and wonder why i ever complained, as i trundle through my taxes and wonder where the next meal is coming from (bloody recession)!
At the moment i am living the scrubs dream and working in a hospital...(except i have to wear smart clothes and work with papers instead of patients) but the banter is just as good. It fills my empty days from 9-5 and is also part of my new exercise regime as i end up walking a good 10 miles around that place in just one day (ok so its about 3 but whose counting!?)
After my first day at work on Friday, i went to Hyde park after work expecting an average night of sitting in a field with the slight possibility of hearing the faint echoes of "oh my baby" or seeing a Blurry vision (pardon the pun) of Alex James smoking another song of his life away.
HOWEVER, despite never having the gift of blagging, somewhere along my 19 years of life experience, i appear to have unknowingly aquired this skill and perhaps just saved it for this moment. After what could have been no more than 6 minutes of explaining my course at uni and how passionate i am about music, the security guard who apparently could relate to my story turned a blind eye as i entered Hyde park grounds without a ticket. It was one of those surreal, euphoric moments in life..Don't you just love those!
So thanks to Mr security man who had the face of Bill bailey, and the beard and kindness of "Jesus" I got to see Blur (Front at the side) for free and could also breathe whilst doing so (unlike others in the crowd that night.)
Before getting into Hyde park, some funny sights including fans without tickets climbing trees to see over the barriers, and later recieving pink slips from the police, and others with less initiative just making a run for it, and seconds later being escorted out of hyde park by the police. Along the way i also bumped into Pixie geldof and Edith Bowman, but that wasn't all that exciting.
I intend to write a review of the gig at a later date (considering it took me 7 months to start a blog i cannot be sure when this will be) However heres a quick summary.
Blur in the past have been described as ordinary, average, and boring. If your in that category of people then shame on y'allll!
Ordinary perhaps i can agree with, but thats what i love about Blur. They don't go out of their way to be obscure or different, instead they have provided us with good, solid anthems for which we can feel proud to be British!
So picture this... Its sunset at Hyde park... You've just got in for free... Blur casually emerge on stage with the power and staminer as if they never really went away... Emotions running high... (i even saw a grown man who i later found out was finnish cry as he sang along to Tender!!) and then sitting back with a strongbow to enjoy a 25 song set!
They played a mix of their biggest hits, and also some Bsides and less well known songs, each going down well with the audience. Half way through however Crowds had to be told to "enjoy themselves less" as it was feared people were going to be crushed! Highlights of the night for me: Phil Daniels joining Damon for Park life- was probably the bouncyiest (is that a word?) 3 minutes of my life as the audience jumped in unison. Tender ofcourse was anthemic and the sunset added to the incredible atmosphere throughout the 4 minutes. Other favourite songs of the night: There's no other way, shes so high, Oily water, country house, Beetlebum, coffee and TV, and The universal.
The night drew to a close with a real life human jam in Hyde Park with the police not letting us move for a good half an hour. The crowds however filled this time continuing singing the contagious choruses of Park life and Tender.
All in all... definitely a worthwhile experience, and something i probably wont stop speaking about for the next year to come!
Well, thats a rap for my first blog folks. Expect another one your way soon...if anyone is even reading this. Bye for now!
The purpose of my Blog's will mainly be that of a musical nature so that i can build up a portfolio of my reviews. My blog will also be a memory bank so that one day when im old, i can read back and remember how good life was at 19 and wonder why i ever complained, as i trundle through my taxes and wonder where the next meal is coming from (bloody recession)!
At the moment i am living the scrubs dream and working in a hospital...(except i have to wear smart clothes and work with papers instead of patients) but the banter is just as good. It fills my empty days from 9-5 and is also part of my new exercise regime as i end up walking a good 10 miles around that place in just one day (ok so its about 3 but whose counting!?)
After my first day at work on Friday, i went to Hyde park after work expecting an average night of sitting in a field with the slight possibility of hearing the faint echoes of "oh my baby" or seeing a Blurry vision (pardon the pun) of Alex James smoking another song of his life away. HOWEVER, despite never having the gift of blagging, somewhere along my 19 years of life experience, i appear to have unknowingly aquired this skill and perhaps just saved it for this moment. After what could have been no more than 6 minutes of explaining my course at uni and how passionate i am about music, the security guard who apparently could relate to my story turned a blind eye as i entered Hyde park grounds without a ticket. It was one of those surreal, euphoric moments in life..Don't you just love those!
So thanks to Mr security man who had the face of Bill bailey, and the beard and kindness of "Jesus" I got to see Blur (Front at the side) for free and could also breathe whilst doing so (unlike others in the crowd that night.)
Before getting into Hyde park, some funny sights including fans without tickets climbing trees to see over the barriers, and later recieving pink slips from the police, and others with less initiative just making a run for it, and seconds later being escorted out of hyde park by the police. Along the way i also bumped into Pixie geldof and Edith Bowman, but that wasn't all that exciting. I intend to write a review of the gig at a later date (considering it took me 7 months to start a blog i cannot be sure when this will be) However heres a quick summary.
Blur in the past have been described as ordinary, average, and boring. If your in that category of people then shame on y'allll!
Ordinary perhaps i can agree with, but thats what i love about Blur. They don't go out of their way to be obscure or different, instead they have provided us with good, solid anthems for which we can feel proud to be British!
So picture this... Its sunset at Hyde park... You've just got in for free... Blur casually emerge on stage with the power and staminer as if they never really went away... Emotions running high... (i even saw a grown man who i later found out was finnish cry as he sang along to Tender!!) and then sitting back with a strongbow to enjoy a 25 song set!They played a mix of their biggest hits, and also some Bsides and less well known songs, each going down well with the audience. Half way through however Crowds had to be told to "enjoy themselves less" as it was feared people were going to be crushed! Highlights of the night for me: Phil Daniels joining Damon for Park life- was probably the bouncyiest (is that a word?) 3 minutes of my life as the audience jumped in unison. Tender ofcourse was anthemic and the sunset added to the incredible atmosphere throughout the 4 minutes. Other favourite songs of the night: There's no other way, shes so high, Oily water, country house, Beetlebum, coffee and TV, and The universal.
The night drew to a close with a real life human jam in Hyde Park with the police not letting us move for a good half an hour. The crowds however filled this time continuing singing the contagious choruses of Park life and Tender.
All in all... definitely a worthwhile experience, and something i probably wont stop speaking about for the next year to come!
Well, thats a rap for my first blog folks. Expect another one your way soon...if anyone is even reading this. Bye for now!
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