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Even though I decided to call my site “The Music Snob”, I don’t spend much of my time complaining about things or giving bad reviews.  My posts have been for the most part positive.  Truth is, I don’t have a lot of time for the site, and I prefer to spend it on the artists and albums that inspire me.  So, if you are looking for shitty band bashing, you probably won’t find it here.  I prefer to think the snobbery comes out in what I don’t talk about.  Additionally I don’t seek out things that I know I’m not going to enjoy… I do however occasionally come across a release that completely disappoints me.

The newest from The Flaming Lips is unfortunately one of those and I feel the need to relay how that much that pains me.  Although I don’t have much exposure to the pre-Zaireeka releases except maybe their mid 90′s pinnacle Transmissions from a Satellite Heart, both The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots are sonically adventurous, emotionally abstract pop records that I found exciting and extremely compelling.  This album however I found to be lacking of much real substance and finds the band leaning more towards jammy sonic putzery.  Granted the the Lips take their sound experiments to a new level on this release, creating some very interesting sonic textures to bounce around in your head.  I also really like the cover art.  What they are missing in my opinion is any pop or interesting lyrical elements.  It honestly sounds to me like they just ran out of anything interesting or creative to say and so they just decided to fuck around for over an hour.  As you can see from my track by track review above there are also no stand out tracks, they just didn’t give me anything to hold onto with this release.  In addition to my disappointment with this album is my surprise that I seem to be the only one that doesn’t like it.  You take a look around at the music press and you will find mostly positive reviews.

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A great surprise of a debut album by this 4 piece Indie Rock group from Denton Texas.  The album has a great mix of barn-burners, slower tunes, and lo-fi numbers.  Absolutely Brilliant.   The group is led by Guitarist/Singer Will Johnson and is only one weapon in his arsenal of sonic assault.  Additionally you can find quite a few releases under the Centro-Matic banner, a handful of albums from the slower South San Gabriel, and two solo full lengths from Johnson himself if you are interested in expanding your knowledge of his work.  I highly recommend it.

Check out the album below.  If you do not see the embedded playlist below, follow this link.

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A more concise, direct, and vocally clear effort than their first two albums. The Austin TX bands 3rd full length features shorter songs and less instrumental preludes.  This is Indie Rock at its most hypnotic, beautiful and droned out.  I personally prefer the later releases, but this is where you start feel band starting to find their place.

Check out the album below in its entirety, if embedded content does not appear follow this link.

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Most will probably already know of the existance of some of these songs through the “Digital Shorts” on Saturday Night Live.  The ones that are responsible for such ridiculous fun are SNL cast member Andy Samberg, and his friends from all the way back in Junior High:  Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer.  Not exactly the most highbrow sophisticated comedy out there but it doesn’t matter because it’s fucking hilarious.  Definitely a fun listen… in addition to the classics such as “Dick In A Box” and “Lazy Sunday” you will find funny tracks like “Santana DVX” featuring rapper E-40, “Sax Man” featuring Jack Black, and one of my favorites the “Normal Guy” interlude.

You will find the tracks above that were produced as Digital Shorts are linked to the video on Hulu.com.  Also check out the most recent Lonely Island jam – the uncensored version of “Motherlover” featuring Justin Timberlake here.

Check out the album below in its entirety, if embedded content does not appear follow this link.