Arctic Monkeys- Favorite Worst Nightmare

The Sheffield quartet has invaded the US with their new record Favorite Worst Nightmare. And this time, they brought some of the most addictive beats since the Libertines. They drastically sped up the tempo of their tunes, and are ready to take over the Yanks. “Brianstorm”, the record’s first single is an earful. I was a bit put off by the rhythm of that song, but once you get into it, it’s gonna be stuck in your head for a while. “Old Yellow Bricks” is likely to make you hum the bass until your friends beat it out of you.
The witty humorous lyrics we liked so much in “Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I’m Not” are most prevalent in “D is for Dangerous” and “Balaclava.” Turner amuses us with petty details in the opening sequence of “Balaclava”, before the song really breaks in to the actual melody, he concludes the sequence with a spot-on detail of realism “I’m sure you’ll baffle him good/with the ending reek/ of salty cheeks and runny make-up alone.” And this climax build-up is really what this new record is all about.

The Shins-Wincing The Night Away

The Shins’ new album has been out for a while. I was waiting a while to review it, because it always takes me a while to really understand their music. But that’s really why they are one of the best indie rock bands out there today. The play on rhythm, which is even more highlighted in this album than in the previous one really draws you in the music. The complexity of the album and the voice James Mercer mixed with some nostalgic chords, really make me wish I were- but at the same time, am-somewhere else. “Phantom Limb” is a really good example of that correlation. It’s universal, it would have been a hit in the 70’s, it is one now, and I’m pretty sure it would still make it 30 years from now. “Turn Me On” is one of the songs that had to break me, but ended up really making me feel completely differently about the song and the whole album. And the most beautiful song on the album is “Black Wave” for many ineffable reasons that only concern my own personal path in music and life. I strongly recommend this album, and would probably sustain the New Musical Express’ review that this album is managed to top the previous one.

Kunek- Flight of the Flynns

Kunek, the Oklahoma-born band, describes its music as a blend between science and emotions. But, really, it's so much more than that. The six musicians, Jesse Tabish as lead vocalist, lead guitarist Eric Kiner (also on lap steel and keys), Guitarist and keyboard artist Jon Mooney, bassist Josh Onstott, cellist Jenny Hsy and drummer Colby Owens, work on a melodious ensemble that works together towards a light but meaningful finish.
Their Lyrics, seemingly simple, are surprisingly deep. "Coma" starts off some pretty respectable drum beats and a nice addition from the keyboards when Tabish sings " Wake up/From your coma/ It's in your head." The drums then make way for what sounds like the keyboard solo (celloist Jenny Hsy is ever so present with her enticing notes). The song's progression as it goes into " It's all just the pieces/ of a thousand pages/ lying on the floor/ And it's all just a part/ of a thousand people dying like before" and the melody that seems to be coming back to life after the verse, as if it will never end has the effect the band wants it to have: it moves you.
One cannot listen to Kunek and deny it its novelty. Their website design is a soothing as their songs: A little prairie with a pink-flower bearing tree (the links) and clouds passing by. For more info on the band go to:
http://www.kunek.net/