Album
Noah’s Barks pages relating to music albums.
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Camera Obscura – “Let’s Get Out of This Country”
Thank you, Camera Obscura, for giving me “If Looks Could Kill.” I haven’t heard such a blissfully perfect pop song since… I don’t even remember. But it’s been my most played song since giving Let’s Get Out of This Country a shot. Sometimes, I like to pretend I’m a man above being charmed by twee… (read more)
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Ray Charles – “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music”
Ray Charles could sing “white” music as well as just about anyone, but to his and everyone else’s benefit, he could never hide the fact that he just sounded “black.” His wonderful singing voice was probably a new flavor to many listeners during his time. Charles’s introduction of blues into a predominately white pop vocabulary… (read more)
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The Clash – “Cut the Crap”
Okay, everyone makes fun of the obvious irony in Cut the Crap‘s title, but really, the self-awareness here is killin’ me. Let’s take a look at the lyrics for “North and South”: “We ain’t got lifeDon’t want a cardboard cut-outDon’t want a plastic knife Now I know time can marchWith its charging feetNow I know… (read more)
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Chuck Berry – “Berry Is on Top”
The timeless hip-shaking racket of ‘Berry Is on Top’ is enough to give you nostalgia for an age gone past—even one you may have never lived in. (read more)
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Miles Davis – “A Tribute to Jack Johnson”
After loving Sketches of Spain, I thought my relationship with Miles Davis was beginning to blossom in a positive direction, but I’m brought back down with how cold—or hell, aggravated—A Tribute to Jack Johnson made me feel. Combined with my perfectly lukewarm reception towards In a Silent Way, it would seem Davis’ jazz fusion isn’t… (read more)
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Two Door Cinema Club – “Tourist History” (2010)
Tourist History is a fun little album but entirely a one-trick pony. At least Two Door Cinema Club has the sense to cut it at 30 minutes, making the album work as a short blast of energy. The band could benefit greatly from a vocalist with more guts. A lot of these club rhythms could… (read more)
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The Mahavishnu Orchestra with John McLaughlin – “The Inner Mounting Flame” (1971)
Two fantastic songs here with “Meeting of the Spirits” and “A Lotus on Irish Streams.” The former has a slow, brooding, dark ambiance to it rarely heard from its era. I had just finished a gothic metal album before starting The Inner Mounting Flame, and I had to do a double take to see if… (read more)
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Katatonia – “Discouraged Ones” (1998)
Katatonia are a band often accused of “selling out,” which is kind of unfair when you consider the band’s departure from their first two death metal albums was because vocalist Jonas Renske lost his ability to growl due to vocal strain. Katatonia had no choice but to change their style, showing once again that “selling… (read more)
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Katatonia – “Tonight’s Decision” (1999)
I wrote for my Discouraged Ones review that it was my favorite Katatonia album, so I can’t help but be let down by a weaker offering when I wanted more of that same short-lived heavy gothic style. All Katatonia albums have some goth influence, but it’s felt the strongest on Tonight’s Decision and Discouraged Ones. Jonas Renske… (read more)
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Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Fever to Tell” (2003)
Rebellious girl rock is such a great concept with me, so why do I have the damndest time finding any I truly can’t resist? On Fever to Tell, Yeah Yeah Yeahs sound like X-Ray Spex with less balls. Fortunately, they use that extra space to get their groove on with some repetitive dance rhythms; but there’s never… (read more)