Shakefire.com - Track Marks

Lasorda: Self-Titled

Aditya Shajikumar — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 06:09:24 +0000

Review:

Exclusive?:

Grade:

3.80

Tags:

Lasorda

Track Marks

“Go On, Give Me the Bad News” – This track has a simple, yet catchy rhythm. It doesn’t try to overtake the singing, yet the percussion and guitar riffs, in the calming melody they create together, will steal the focus, unless one is listening intently. For those who want an easy driving tune (or to use in a movie), the track lends itself rather well to the role. However, if one likes lyrics or likes only the overall effect of lyrics and instruments, they’ll be somewhat disappointed. The singing, while clear, concise and complementary of the music, isn’t served well by the actual lyrics. The words seem to be trying to tell a story or evoke a particular emotion, but without a beginning, an ending, or even context. Perhaps the connection could be better made with a music video, but the faint baseball announcer quotes in between the riffs also did not really make sense. All in all, the song is an easy listen, but the lyrics make it seem a bit empty and thus, forgettable. (2.81, B-)

“No Intent to Return” – The ballad-like percussion initially seems like it will steal all focus with its prominence…and then the singing starts. The story being told is short, simple, and interesting, made all the more so by the fact that its being sung at the same time with male and female voices. This allows the listeners imagination to have complete autonomy when imagining the story’s protagonist. The music does its job of giving exclamation points to the stanzas and filling in the beats between them, but the music really falls by the wayside, in a good way, to hear the story being told. The tune lends itself well for either driving (with its percussion), or for intent listening (with its lyrics). Overall, this is a very good track. (4.00, A)

“Sleep When You Are Dead” – In this track, the instrumentation takes center stage with a bombastic, if generic, beat. Unfortunately, the robust beats and rhythms come at the cost of the singer, who is drowned out whenever the chorus plays out. Worse, when the music recedes back into the background, the singer’s voice is on reverb, which continues to make the lyrics hard to make out unless played again. If the lyrics told a coherent story, it would be worth doing so, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here. Overall, this wasn’t a great effort, and the track should be skipped in favor of much better music in the rest of the album. (1.36, D-)

Album Overall – The album is an eclectic mix of instruments, styles, and singing. There seems to be a track for any occasion, be it dancing, driving, a movie, or just intent listening for the message. The first track, “The Age of Wonder”, has excellent, and very catchy, instrumentals that enhance the wonder (no pun intended) evident in the singing, and makes an excellent opener to the album. Lasorda seems to experiment with every track (while still ensuring they all maintain a connection to each other with a signature unique to the group), sometimes changing the vocals, the percussion, their synthesizer, etc. or some combination thereof. Sometimes this works very well, like with the aforementioned opening track or “No Intent to Return”, and sometimes it can produce a dud like “Sleep When You Are Dead”. At the very least, most of these tracks will be very catchy to listen to. One should be careful not to play all the tracks at once, since some of them can seemingly run into another without the listener noticing, but they work very well individually.

Album:

Self-Titled

Artist:

Lasorda

Lasorda: Self-Titled

Aditya Shajikumar — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 06:09:24 +0000

Self-Titled

(Lasorda)

Release Date:

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Label(s):

Clifton Motel

Tags:

Lasorda,

Track Marks

Genre:

Rock

Format:

Tracks:

Parental Advisory:

Official Website

Dropkick Murphys: Going Out in Style

Peter Oberth — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:12:43 +0000

Review:

Exclusive?:

Grade:

3.21

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Track Marks

Dropkick Murphys

1. Hang 'Em High - B- (2.94)
Starts off the album heavy and hard with their trademark bagpipes. The songs gets a bit cluttered as it goes on but has bits of catchiness to it, ultimately rounds itself out as a decent DKM 'B Side'.

2. Going Out in Style - A- (3.80)
One of DKM's sing-along duet bar songs, reminiscent of classic songs like 'Barroom Hero'. 'Goin Out in Style' is a great high energy song for a night of drinking.

3. The Hardest Mile - C+ (2.79)
Another song featuring both Al Barr and Ken Casey, 'The Hardest Mile' is relatively bland until the song slows to their classic drum beat sing-along about halfway through and the song gains momentum through the end.

4. Cruel - B (2.95)
Starting off with banjo and drums, 'Cruel' sounds like an outtake from 'Blackout'. That's not a bad thing, the song is another political leaning song with heartfelt lyrics and Dropkick's trademark storytelling.

5. Memorial Day - C+ (2.50)
This one doesn't really have a Dropkick Murphy's sounds aside from some of the background music. Oddly enough, it has more of an 'Against Me' sound with banjo thrown in for good measure. The song is ok but it's not Dropkick. It's also their first "single" off the album, an apparent attempt at gaining widespread radio play.

6. Climbing a Chair to Bed - C (2.00)
The album started strong but has taken a dip in the middle as this is another relatively boring song. It sounds like they were trying a little too hard to sounds like their older style but it just doesn't work.

7. Broken Hymns - A- (3.80)
Starts off strong with a snare and banjo solo that is actually a lot better than it sounds like it would be. Another story being told, something that has become a great staple in Dropkick's career. Both Al and Ken get in on this one as well and it's a phenomenal and moving song of hope and dreams.

8. Deeds Not Words - B (3.14)
The album is picking back up after a few rough tracks. 'Deeds Not Words' is a good fast moving pick-up song.

9. Take 'Em Down - B+ (3.50)
A worker's anthem, another staple of Dropkick Murphy's (yes, their staples are really piling up). This is another sing and stomp-along song that adds to their growing catalog of great bar room songs.

10. Sunday Hardcore Matinee - C+ (2.79)
It's a decent song but it's another that just kind of fades into the background. You won't skip it but you won't put it on repeat either.

11. 1953 - B+ (3.64)
A good ballad song, definetely on DKM's softer side but some of their best songs have been in that category as well, and this one might make it. It's a sweet song about love, just in time for Valentine's Day.

12. Peg O' My Heart A (4.00)
This is a great high energy song that is also great for Valentine's Day. Apparently, DKM has become more romantic than political.

13. The Irish Rover - A (4.00)
They haven't done it on every album but it's become a welcome regular to have a traditional Irish anthem covered in the DKM style. 'The Irish Rover' was brought to the commercial masses by 'The Pogues' in the 80s and this version certainly.

After a 4 year wait (the longest drought in Dropkick's career), the band is out to prove that they are still relevant. Their previous album 'The Meanest of Times', marked their highest chart position to date, thanks in large part to the widespread attention they received from the inclusion of 'I'm Shipping Up to Boston' in the 2006 film 'The Departed', but it was arguably their weakest album to date. This album isn't without it's flaws but it's a great rebound and deals nicely with sadness, working class and, mostly, love. Welcome back Dropkick Murphy's, you are back in style, now please don't go.

Album:

Going Out in Style

Band:

Dropkick Murphys

Dropkick Murphys: Going Out in Style

Peter Oberth — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:12:43 +0000

Going Out in Style

(Dropkick Murphys)

Release Date:

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Label(s):

ILG

Tags:

Track Marks,

Dropkick Murphys

Genre:

Rock,

Punk

Tracks:

Parental Advisory:

Official Website

Linkin Park: A Thousand Suns

Pandora — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 09:19:00 +0000

Review:

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Grade:

1.74

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Track Marks

Linkin Park

1. The Requiem
First 30 seconds is the song softly & slowly fading in. Female voice distorted to sound like a creepy little girl speaking with faint music (piano) in the background. She sings “God Saves Us Everyone” same lyrics from “The Catalyst”. No Mike no Chester, not Linkin Park. 2:01
Grade: D

2. The Radiance
Military inspired music & noises with a speech from Robert Oppenheimer playing over it. No Mike No Chester, not Linkin Park. 0:58
Grade: D

3. Burning In The Skies
This song is slow like it is on the verge of something; but it never gets there. The lyrics & singing of “What I Don’t Deserve” is very similar to that of “What I’ve Done”. Seeing as “New Divide” was just a weaker copy of “What I’ve Done”, this one seems like a weaker clone of “New Divide”. “I like pizza Steve”. But at least this song has the band in it. 4:13
Grade: C-

4. Empty Spaces
War noises (think Pink Floyd “The Wall”). Once again filler track, more skit no music. 0:18
Grade: F

5. We They Come For Me
Heavy drums & beats, rap, finally starting to see a glimmer of the band I came to love. There is this worldly, Middle Eastern, tribal flair to the song and a political feel. Starting to sense the theme of this album more & more. 4:56
Grade: B-

6. Robot Boy
Starts off with piano, harmonizing vocals. The singing is soft & mellow. The song never really picks up so what you hear at the beginning is pretty much what you are going to get all the way through. It is a little redundant and could have been ended a bit earlier while still capturing the same message. 4:29
Grade: C

7. Jornada Del Muerto
Faint singing that slowly comes in for you to realize that it is Chester (I’m pretty sure at least it is a tiny bit distorted) singing in Spanish. Soon he stops singing and you are left with just instrumental. 1:35
Grade: D+

8. Waiting For The End
Linkin Park’s 2nd single off this album. It is heavier in comparison to the earlier tracks on the album and thus sounds much better. There is almost a reggae influence to it and since there is the whole rap-rock thing it is a little close to 311. Chester is back to singing softly & sweetly. It has a bit of catchiness to it which is missing from other tracks on the album. 3:52
Grade: B-

9. Blackout
Darker that previous things almost as if there was a mild industrial/NIN inspiration there for the music. Chester takes on a bit of rapping then turns FINALLY to angry yelling. The vocals & the music do not match up but it is still interesting maybe because of the anger alone. When it seems like things are finally starting to go right Mr. Han takes control and takes things a little too far with the repetition and the song feels like it ends. However Mike starts to sing with Chester joining along which had me looking to see if another track started. The song is somewhat disjointed; but I wish that they had followed this path more with the style of the album. 4:40
Grade: B-

10. Wretches And Kings
Starts with a speech from Mario Savio backed by heavy beats. Mike does rap some in this song with Chester popping in from time to time with an odd Spanish accent. Periodically you get the late 80’s early 90’s rap “Hey” chant. Could not get “Bring The Noise” by Public Enemy out of my head. 4:15
Grade: C

11. Wisdom, Justice, And Love
Piano begins with as a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speech begins to play. His voice is slowly distorted until it is at the point of robotic and certain words are repeated over & over again. Nothing to listen to on this track. I feel those out there that want to hear Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak do not want to do so when it is a robot voice being spun by a DJ. 1:39
Grade: F

12. Iridescent
Same piano from track 11. This is a soft, sad sounding song that is giving simple beats and harmonizing vocals. By the end of the song it drifts into a “We Are The World” epic type of sing along. It is just boring and an odd sound for Linkin Park. 4:57
Grade: C+

13. Fallout
The auto-tune robot vocals are back that slowly fade into what I’m guessing is Chester over some soft feedback noise and then the song is over. 1:23
Grade: D-

14. The Catalyst
First single from this album. It is heavier, angry, there is yelling & rap; this is close to the Linkin Park people have come to know. It is a great song compared to this album and the last and one that will have fans sticking it out too see if in the future they can recapture their old sound. Compared to their first two albums this would have been a B-side song but it would have fit in. It shows promise that somewhere deep inside there is still something there. 5:40
Grade: B+ to A-

15. The Messenger
Singer songwriter style guitar. This song actually disgusted me. Imagine college guy that kind of knows how to play a guitar, just got dumped by his girlfriend, got a little drunk, wrote her a song, and is now singing it outside her window. This is that song. Chester is singing his heart out, voice cracking, and almost on the verge of tears from the sounds of it. Not good, not good at all. 3:02
Grade: D-

OVERALL
There was definitely an theme to the album of pro-troops/anti-war; but it isn’t completely shoved in your face. It really sort of felt like a concept album. There are 15 tracks, 5 of them are under 1:40, 6 tracks can barely be consider songs. That leaves you with 9 tracks of less than stellar music. 90% of the album would be easy to fall asleep too and it almost sounds as if that is intentional. There are harmonies, soft music, & mellow vocals. It is almost as if Mike is sick of rapping, Chester is sick of screaming so they decided to compromise and both just singing casually.

I do understand bands wanting to branch out and change things up, tinker around, get creative. If you are going to do that though at least be good at it, don't release half assed music with filler tracks that have no purpose being there. As a fan I am more than a little disappointed with this sound and the fact that this is the 2nd album drifting even further away from what they started out as I can’t help but to think that this is what we will continue to get. Goodbye to the fantastically talented angry rap-rock and hello to the mediocre light rock with slight activist undertones.

Album:

A Thousand Suns

Band:

Linkin Park

Linkin Park: A Thousand Suns

Pandora — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 09:19:00 +0000

A Thousand Suns

(Linkin Park)

Release Date:

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Label(s):

Tags:

Genre:

Tracks:

Parental Advisory:

Official Website

Katy Perry: Teenage Dream

Peter Oberth — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:12:58 +0000

Review:

Exclusive?:

Grade:

2.80

Tags:

Katy Perry

Track Marks

1. Teenage Dream (B)
The title track starts off the set with Perry's normal catchy hooks and cutesy yet slightly raspy voice. It's a decent pop song though it is a little on the slower tempo than it sounds like it is capable of. Her second single isn't nearly as catchy as her first (see track 3).

2. Last Friday Night (TGIF) (B-)
This one plays more off of her young sounding innocent voice while singing about things that are a bit more innappropriate for teenagers (though still done, obviously). It's just about as catchy as 'Teenage Dream' and will likely play out as another single.

3. California Gurls (Feat. Snoop) (A)
Her first single. Catchy as hell and is probably pretty close to a perfect summer pop hook. For all those that listen to Sirius' Hits 1 channel, you will likely be surprised by the appearance of Snoop Dogg on this track as he is completely missing from their exclusive version. As much as I hate to say it, it's better without Snoop.

4. Firework (C)
This song starts off with Perry shedding her kiddy sounding voice for a more mature tone in a track that is begging for a club remix. Showing more vocal range, she may not hit all her marks but the attempt is noted. As the song goes on, she takes a cue from Rihanna and starts repeating the hell out of syllables which gets annoying but her voice shows a powerful range in this song that I would like to hear in a better context. Oh yeah, and there is a gnarly saxophone solo, fantastic.

5. Peacock (D+)
This song seems to be an excuse to say "cock" over and over but it ends up sounding more like a Ke$ha song which Katy Perry is light years beyond in talent. In short, this song is below her. Just be careful, you will get "Peacock-cock-cock" stuck in your head.

6. Circle the Drain (C+)
This song is a little more spiteful and has more edge to it similar to a P!nk track. She tears apart some unknown ex who apparently had a problem with drugs. The break-up angst song of the record but it doesn't quite hit enough as they add in some Styx sounding goofy sound effects.

7. The One That Got Away (B-)
From an angsty good riddance song straight into a sorrow filled broken up song. The song is sweet and Perry's voice again shows her ability to hit a wider range than most pop stars.

8. E.T. (B-)
The strong drums in this song are good and the chorus is a bit catchy but definetely not enough to be a single. A step above a filler track but not quite up to par.

9. Who Am I Living For (C-)
This one again evokes P!nk and Rihanna with a little more angst in her voice. I would love to hear a darker record from Perry, so hopefully her future holds that. The song has the sound of a late 90s Madonna or Cher track that is, again, aching for a club remix.

10. Pearl (C)
This thing quickly turned into a dance record in the past few tracks but the problem is that the beats aren't quite strong enough to be dance as it's closer to trance than dance club.

11. Hummingbird Heartbeat (C+)
I kind of faded away on this track. It's a little boring. It's not BAD, it's just kind of boring. It's not slow or anything either, it's really hard to pinpoint this one, it just doesn't really work.

12. Not Like the Movies (B-)
Perry closes out her CD, proper, with a slower ballad. Whether this was a good choice or not is really up to your own judgment but it felt a little lackluster as it should have been capped by another strong song like it started. Not to say this song is bad but it's a little more emo than I was wanting from Perry.

_______________
Now these last two tracks, I'm really not clear if they are on the release or not as they are not shown when scanning the disc through amazon or Best Buy but they were sent with it and tagged on to the end.

13. California Gurls (Feat. Snoop Dogg) (N/A)
This track came up blank from the label and didn't say if it was a remix or not so we will just leave this one out, mmkay?

14. Teenage Dream (Kaskade Club Remix) (C+)
Obviously, a remix. My personal opinion is that it would have been a nice addition to have an entire bonus disc of remixes to spice up the other slower tracks on the album. This particular remix doesn't really change up enough as the song was already pretty energetic so it's kind of a shame they didn't include more remixes.

Album:

Teenage Dream

Artist:

Katy Perry

Katy Perry: Teenage Dream

Peter Oberth — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:12:58 +0000

Teenage Dream

(Katy Perry)

Release Date:

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Label(s):

Tags:

Genre:

Tracks:

Parental Advisory:

Official Website

Hung (Soundtrack)

Dave Chobanoff — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:40:34 +0000

Review:

Exclusive?:

Grade:

0.94

Tags:

I recently got to have a listen to the Hung soundtrack, first of all what television show releases a soundtrack unless it is kickin’? I mean you have Glee, but they sing for the show so therefore it makes it sense, BUT Hung really? For those who are reading this asking WTF is Hung? According to IMDB.com the plot is “A former high school sports legend turned middle-aged high school basketball coach finds a way to benefit from his biggest asset” you can guess the “asset” part by the title.

There are 13 tracks on this album. All are not a good reason to put out a soundtrack for your show. I think I personally heard of one person and one song on this soundtrack. It has some obscure groups and songs on it. I am sure it fits fine in the show during different parts, but alone it does not hold water, or a jockstrap.

Track 1: I’ll be your man by Black Keys, ok this one is ok not bad, has some good classic sound.
Track 2: Have Mercy by Loretta Lynn, I heard of her not the song, like I said I am sure this fits the show.
Track 3: Walk Away by Joseph Arthur, makes me want to walk away from the CD is what it does.
Track 4: How long do I have to wait for you?, by Sharon Jones and the Dapkings, this kind of goes with the first one, same era, some ol classic style, not bad.

Track 5: Strangest Thing, by Grant-Lee Phillips, kind of sounds like a Springsteen wannabe but not too bad.
Track 6: Play the Game, by Craig Wedren, not too bad, kind of give me a migraine though the guy’s voice.
Track 7: My D*ck, by Mickey Avalon, sounds like someone trying to be Beck, or something, it is horrible, and they probably went “ok we need a song about male genitals, HEY Bob and Mickey can you make one up?”

Track 8: Everybody loves a loser, by Morcheeba, sounds like it needed to stay in the 80’s
Track 9: I Feel like a child, by Devendra Banhart, makes me wanna cry like a child.

I am sorry I cannot go on track to track examining this mess, you know if you like the show MAYBE you’d like the soundtrack and get it, like “hey this song was on when he was with that chick in bed..”

Album:

Hung