No, I didn't stop listening to music, I just forgot blogging about it. But, hey, I remembered today.
First of all, the only record I've reviewed for plattentests.de this year up to now, is
Kristin Hersh, "Learn to sing like a star", which is really nice -- Kristin this time doesn't come across as dry as on her older records. (6)
The nicest record for 2007 so far is "A weekend in the city" by
Bloc Party. It has even more electronics then their first album, and I miss what I would call the Chameleons-style wave guitars a bit, and it's generally colder, too. But the lyrics are first class and they do come up with a sound of their own. (8)
Then there is a new album out by
The Blue Van, "Dear Independence", which contains the same old-style rock as their last record. It's similar boring, too. I happen to like retro-rock, especially when it has a touch reminding me of Led Zepplin and friends. Unfortunately, The Blue Van don't, they sound more like The Doors on crack. (4)
Somewhat similar but at the same time much more interesting is the compilation "A present from the past" by
The Soundtrack of our Lives. They also have retro-rock attitude, but take music much more serious. (7)
I also bought
Shooting at unarmed men, "Yes! Tinnitus!" which targets the noise enjoying fraction. However, as I get older, I'm more and more happy that my hearing is still intact. (5)
A disappointment in comparison to their older records is "So divided" by
... And you will know them by the Trail of Dead. They were really my heroes of noisy alternative rock, but unfortunately their new album sounds as if it has been packed in wadding. And no, your retro-rock attempts don't cut it. (6)
I would like to recommend "In the absence of truth" by
Isis. To me, an unknowing ministrant in the church of heavy rock, they sound like Tool which some may see as a blasphemous comparison. After having heard the record often enough since I bought it, they don't reach the same level as Tool, but still the sound is quite similar. (8)
Finally, I attempted to fill another gap in my collection -- I didn't own any
Fugazi album. If you don't know them and happen to like punk rock, just run to your record store. I say punk rock although most would classify them as hardcore as they did have a major influence on the scene and at the time I would have agreed. Looking back, "End hits" (from 1999) is somewhere in between and it shares a lot of experimental stuff with "The Shape of Punk to come" by Refused. I still need to find "13" by Fugazi, though, of which I probably already know a lot of songs, although I have no idea which ones. (7)
