Zirhcing - My Daily

(sep 04)

<<Live at Benaroya Hall, October 22nd 2003>> Pearl Jam, 2004, Ten Club
Unexpectedly, this one of the many live albums of Pearl Jam becomes my favorite choice of the week. Touching and genuine sound from the band who has gone through ups and downs with my music world. When I listen to songs like Dead Man, Black, or Man of the Hour, my heart really beats... (9/10)

<<The Lost Riots>> Hope of the States, 2004, Sony Music
To be frank, it is the death of the Jimmi Lawrence, the guitarist of the Hope of the States, that has brought my attention to the new band of England. Praises to the new album are not a big news, while comparison of this debut to bands like Mogwai or GYBE! is well heard of, and finally this belated album is brought into my mini-player, and it is right, c'est bon! The Black Amnesias, the first tune of their album, introduces an instrumental piece of post-rock atmosphere to tribute the loss of Jimmi. Not alike this, I find that the band is not simply a copycat of the soundscape of Kranky or Constellation; and when I listen to the rest of the album, it reminds me of the group like JJ72 or Dove or the Manic Street Preachers. Sentimental, emotional, beautiful. This is the new rival of the category. This is a good debut album for a band I would say, and it's good to see they this does nothing like the last of the group, and I am sure they shall be bringing more nice tunes to us soon... (8/10)

<<Medulla>> Bjork, 2004, One Little Indian Ltd.
Still be herself, a consistent individual performance of unique and stylish compilation of the sound of Bjork, a cross over of A Cappella and avant-electronique...just this is not an easy-to-digest one... (8/10)

(august 04)

<<It's Beyond Our Control>> Campag Velocet, 2004, Pointy Records
Campag Velocet appeared to have been vaporised in the music scene after their brilliant release of Bon Chic Bon Genre in 1998, long time ago, and it's hardly anybody like me who are still enthusiastic awaiting their, if any, second coming. Any recalling of the story of the Stone Roses will have a phobia of an undisclosed "a la fin" of the band. Luckily, they are bad and tell me that sometimes things are not really beyond our control. Familiar beats, a retro to the once upon a time well acclaimed skunk rock in the era when they first released their debut. Still in form, Pete Voss, the vocal, delivers their track 1 of Instinct-Tension. They are still loud, strong groove of guitar sounds with the racial lyric. Welcome home! Motown Clic further demonstrates their improvement on sound arrangement and harmony in the good mixing of beats and rhythm. Who are the Trumping Men? is the groove of the album, a visionalisation of the crowd shaking on the dancefloor. The use of alto saxophone perfectly moulds the spirit to the trumping men...Vindictive-Disco is an extension of the dancing party. When everything has got soporific, it's not just sleepy but more a freestyle jamming of psychedelic drean. More meditational and instrumental is Sunset Strip Eclipse. Gorgeous musical landscape brings you to another nation of calm and peace, but who know it can turn into a trance piece just like the Underworld meets the Avalanch. You want more? Obsessed With Gloom deepens your obsession. A climax is the prelude to an end. As the last tune of the album, Ain't No Funki Tangerine shows the best of breed of Campag Velocet. Riotic and revolutionary, strong and provoking. "...everybody got some love inside...everybody got some love inside...everybody got some love inside...Everybody got some love inside..." Bravo!! (9/10)

<<Louder Up Now>> !!!, 2004, Warp Records
!!! finally releases their new, or debut (?!), album which I long for. Originated from 8 musicians from different states in the country, it's the jamming and improvisation that makes the sound of the band so interesting and psychedelic. With their soundscape, your head can never resist to node and swing. Their songs are basically long and dynamic. It's the live demonstration of the magic of disco-punk. Compared with the Rapture or the Liars, !!! has more a momentum of touching moments and influencial power. They bring me the feeling when I first listened to the Beta Band!! Louder Up Now contains more than that in their mini album in 2000. A more mature mixture of funk, jazz, rock and electronica. This is less riotic than their 2000 album, but on the other hand, more funky and funky. (8.5/10)

<<clair-obscur>> Francoise Hardy, 2000, Virgin France s.a.
Always Francoise Hardy...the angel of romance and beauty of France. (8/10)

(july 04)

<<The Cure>> The Cure, 2004, Geffen Records
A beautiful return of the Cure. Still sound good, still losting myself... (8.5/10)

<<One Plus One is One>> Badly Drawn Boy, 2004, XL Recordings
Badly Drawn Boy releases his third album and this time he brings us sounds of the Beatles-sing-along songs with his amazing guitar. A real talented guy, who perhaps, just lacks a bit additional imagination... (7.5/10)

<<Pretty Little Lightning Paw>> Thee Silver Mountain Reveries, 2004, Constellation Records
Another branch and possibility of the GYBE family. This EP contains 4 ambient songs with the other form of the giant group. Again the sound of environment and human voice merging into the orchestra results in a harmonic atmosphere of the Constellation world. (7/10)

(june 04)

<<Sonic Nurse>> Sonic Youth, 2004, Geffen Records
This is the best album Sonic Youth has produced in the past 6 years, I would say. (9/10)

<<Morrissey, you are the Quarry>> Morrissey, 2004, Attack Records
It's excellent, if not perfect a brillant strike back after a dumping age in the post-Smith era. (8.5/10)

<<Up at the lake>> The Charlatans, 2004, Universal MCA Music (UK) Ltd.
A rather disappointed album from the Charlatan...sometimes having too much an expectation is not good. (6.5/10)

<<To the 5 Bordughs>> Beastie Boys, 2004, Capitol Records
After Hello Nasty, the Beastie Boys only release their new album after years. This time they bring us a back to raw hip hop album with the landscape of a deja-vu New York. (7/10)

<<Contraband>> Velvet Revolver, 2004, RCA Records ...
Scott of the Stone Temple Pilot is back, but this time with Slash and his Guns'n'Roses folks. It is a long-time-no-see missing band sound from the US. Cool... (7.5/10)

<<Neu York>> Anthony Reynolds, 2004, Secret Crush Records
Anthony from Jack. He is still my idol. Neu York is much a nostalgic album. From the photos on the cover or the back, from the attempt to retro the sound of the 80's. Lush Life and The Sad Streets are this time's WinterComeSummer or Lolita. This is a sharing of Anthony's inner self. (8/10)

(may 04)

<<Fly or Die>> N.E.R.D., 2004, Virgin Records
This can be the album of the year!! Marvelous tunes... (9/10)

<<Musicology>> Prince, 2004, NPG Records
Welcome back, Prince. What I can taste from this new album is still something soul and unique. It's only that time flies without waiting another sunrise from the horizon... (6/10)

<<A grand don't come for free>> The Streets, 2004, 679 Recordings
It's a Parklife in 2004. "It was supposed to be so easy...". (7.5/10)

(april 04)

<<Stargazing>> Alpha, 2004, dontTouch
It's a surprise to me. I didn't really think that Alpha could still make their next album. When the star falls into the sky, it will easily be forgotten. But luckily, they do not make me disappointed in my star gazing exercise... (8/10)

<<It's all around you>> Tortoise, 2004, Thrill Jockey ...
Quite a regular releasing timeframe for Tortoise on behalf of Tortoise. Of course, all the 4 members of the group have always devoted to their music architecture in their other forms of existence and creation, from the Sea and Cake, Brokesback, Chicago Underground Quartet Trio etc. Luckily, the group never fails to produce a new work of their own as a whole from every 2-3 years. In 2004, they bring us this landscaping work with rebuilt melodies and musical world. Crest is a beautiful and emotional tune of Tortoise. With the flowing instrumental sound, it's like floating in the music landscape of Tortoise, as of what's presented on the album cover. Stretch (you are all right) is a more jazzy sound of Tortoise. Alike their previous records, this is a mastering of Tortoise's most refined sound. Unknown is remarkable with the fusion of distorted guitar sound. Dot/Eyes is a more poweful tune. After listening to this new album, you will find it nice and comfortable, but it's just without much to memorise. It's not something wrong with the tunes, or maybe it's just too standard as of what Tortoise used to produce before... (7/10)

<<Heroes to Zeroes>> Beta Band, 2004, Regal Records ...
With Nigel Godrich as their producer, the new album from the Beta Band is much an expectation in Apr. After listening to the tune, I would say, it's still not good enough. (7/10)

<<The absent friends>> Divine Comedy, 2004, ...
Another long expectation with a return of the Divine Comedy. It was a pity to hear the disolution of the band after their last release of Regeneration, and it is such a joyful moment to have them back after years. How would Hannon be afterall?? (Let's view the new single MV - Come Home Billy Bird for all the business traveller here ... ) (8/10)

(march 04)

<<Franz Ferdinand>> Franz Ferdinand, 2004, Dimino Ltd. ...
Definitely the first spot of the new face 2004. Franz Ferdinand contains the character of young and vibrant. Easy to sing along melody. Their debut album can be an epic of its time. (9/10)

<<Perfect Colors>> Mellow, 2003, Atmospheriques ...
Mellow is quite a to-be-appraised music group. Because of AIR, they are being categorised as one of the AIR-framed groups. Consisting of 2 persons, also from France, their music is also as its name called, mellow though. Perfect Colors is their second album, and this time, it's just mellow songs but music element with fusions of psychedillic folk. Very much resembling the music of the 70's, they are still sexy and touchy. To me, this is even a better album than their debut record. Of course, this 2nd one is still a gap from classic. Recalling from this album, I also get to my CD player with their CQ soundtrack which I have left on the shelf for some while. Beautiful tunes from them. It's another listening experience when the music comes out from the player again!! Maybe this is the magic of music. (7.5/10)

<<When it falls>> Zero 7, 2004, Ultimate Dilemma ...
Zero 7, like AIR and Mellow, release their album in early 2004. Also from the school of beautiful melody, When it falls adds much the soulful root of Zero 7, and this composes a lovely effect in the 11-tunes 2nd attempt. I can imagine how great it could be having a cup of coffee under a Sunday sunshine. (8/10)

(february 04)

<<Margerine Eclipse>> Stereolab, 2004, Elektra Entertainment Group Inc. ...
Stereolab comes back again after over 2 years. Losing Mary Hansen, the vocal part of Stereolab adds with a lightening but more touching element. Vonal Declosion, coming firstly in the album, brings again an upbeat sound from the band. Together with Need to be, the 2 pieces with French lyric tells everybody that this is what Stereolab can still be and how their music is now strengthened in terms of the construction of music elements with their own Instant O studio. "...sudden stars" is one of the most impressed song in the album. The transition node after the chorus mixes with electronic guitars and drumming probes a surprisingly nice effect. The drum section in the song is also very impressive. Again, similar music arrangement is found in Cosmic Country Noir. (9/10)

<<Slon>> Chicago Underground Trio, 2004, Thrill Jockey Records ...
Chicago Underground Trio, from its formation since 95, pursues very much a unique sound of post-rock tunes in the field of jazz and experiemental sound. Their latest release, Slon, fully demonstrates their capacity to develop their music with other jazz masterpieces.

Slon, much influenced by the Iraqi war last year, is a protest to the US government. Both Protest and Shoe Lace are a performance of Rob Mazurek's cornet added with Chad's percussion and Noel's bassline. Closely cohersive, the 2 songs are powerful roaring to the deadly war. Kite, on the other hand, flows with sound of peacful moments that pretty much echoes the works of the Sonic Youth in their SFAs. Palermo fusions the sound of waterfall with the computer-constructed beats and notes. Pear, the last tune of the album, is much like a ballad dance after the bloody war. This is the most sentimental moment in the works, and while the ballad is fading out, it leaves behind a scene of live and dead afterall, quiet, silent, memorable, what remains is their dedication to "the people who have lost their lives in the hands of US imperialism" written on the inner side of the album. (8/10)

<<El Monte>> Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom, 12'' Vinyl, 2004, DFA Records ...
Electronica, with a smell of disco-futuristic sense. The single is filled with beats and extension of DG & GR's music landscape. It's like surfing on a mass that never ends. El Monte is much like the works of New Order mixed with Tangerine Dream. Sentimental still, the percussion of Rise reminds me of the Decade of Joy Division. Both El Monte and Rise reflects a sound of an organic electronic music that is good to listen to. (7/10)

(january 04)