I always love to get a great new song and discover an awesome band at the same time. I received two pre-released singles from their upcoming album 'Not Animal!', and I really enjoyed them both. It was the first I'd ever heard of Margot and the Nuclear So and So's (what a mouthful!), but I know it won't be the last. 'Tall as Cliffs' was my favorite, though 'The Children's Crusade on Acid' is really growing on me, and it is in fact a more beautiful song than the title might imply. These songs are a must for any indie rock fan, and I can't wait to check out the whole album when it comes out.

Margot and the Nuclear So and So's- As Tall As Cliffs.mp3

I was checking new Franz Ferdinand song, and just downloaded this leaked Lucid Dreams from somewhere. It's kinda another Franz Ferdinand song to make us dance, dance, dance to the song. However, Bee Gees kinda vocal tricks are quite frustrating, but The hook is nice.

I like some attractive songs on my mp3 player, from bands like Of Montreal, The Shins, Franz Ferdinand, Sam Sparro etc. The single goes well when you walk around despite its same old same indie style.

Franz Ferdinand - Lucid Dreams

Don't know where to start, what to write about this amazing Ep. Something Anything is released today, and i don't want to miss the release date to write something about these great hooky songs. Yeah, i'm a Travis fan, they get better each day. This band simply haven't released any bad songs, of course these are my own opinions. Title song opens the Ep, Tail Of The Tiger and Used To Belong support the sad, rainly sound. Lola, as you know originally by the Kinks, makes the ambiance in extremely British way. Something Anything is short and sweet. Yes, it does rain on us again.
Travis - Something Anything

Hey everyone. Silver Pencilled here. I’m the newest Modern Music blog member and I’m going to be writing reviews from here on out. I’m pretty excited to get a chance like this to share my thoughts on all the great (and maybe not so great) new music out there. I’ve been listening to Jenny Lewis’ new album, ‘Acid Tongue’, and so my first ever music review shall be about it.


Honestly, I knew very little about Jenny Lewis before I started. Since then I’ve sought out more of her stuff, and have heard most of her previous release ‘Rabbit Fur Coat’. It’s pretty clear that ‘Acid Tongue’ has her same sugary sweet voice, but the new songs are often more rough than melodic and also more country than the last. It makes ‘Rabbit Fur Coat’ seem almost like pop. It’s also a pretty bitter album lyrics-wise, but isn’t bittersweet one of those complex flavors everyone loves in a good piece of dark chocolate? All of her hallmarks are here, the beautiful voice, the chilling songs about hard times, and the style that’s always flirting with gospel, country, indie rock, and more.

The songs ranged from rollicking foot stompers, like ‘See Fernando’, to soulful, as in Tryin’ My Best to Love You’, which was like light shining through a stained glass window; mournful, quiet, but lovely. Everyone has been making a big deal about Elvis Costello’s contribution to ‘Carpetbaggers’, but I found his voice to be a poor compliment to hers. It was too thick and heavy compared to the sparkly jewel that is Jenny Lewis. ‘The Next Messiah’, which I have heard called a ‘mini-rock opera’ was pretty entertaining. It makes you want to slide on your sunglasses and ride west in an open convertible. It felt like cool, old-fashioned rock bred with soul. But at over eight minutes long, I don’t know that I’ll be putting it on any of my mix playlists even if it’s a great song, as it’s a bit of a commitment to listen to.

‘Acid Tongue’, the widely released title track, is one of the stand-out tracks and is great single material, probably because it’s easily accessible to a general audience. Especially when compared to a track like ‘Jack Killed Mom’ which quickly turns into a dark ballad about an Oedipus complex and a murder, and finishes with some pretty crazed wailing. I didn’t like this song as much as others, but you gotta love the wild gospel shout-outs in the last minutes. My overall favorite was ‘Sing a Song for Them’. It was like a perfect orange, sour and sweet, with juicy, contemplative lyrics about “little girls with carousel eyes” and “boulevard freaks”. Maybe it was just the cold night air, but it gave me chills. A perfect album ending song.

I’m a sucker for pretty, I guess, but also the toughness of the album, and I do love the old fashioned country styles stirred in. I don’t care as much for the few songs that just felt slow and dull with a lot less passion in them (Black Sand, Pretty Bird). The whole album is certainly worth a thorough listen.

I give it a 8.5/10

Jenny Lewis- Acid Tongue

Track List
Black Sand
Pretty Bird
The Next Messiah
Bad Man’s WorldAcid Tongue
See Fernando
Godspeed
Carpetbaggers
Tryin’ My Best to Love You
Jack Killed Mom
Sing a Song for Them
(Pelican Bay- bonus track on iTunes)

8/10
Deerhoof are here to drive us mad once again. Tell me a band which is both stupid and cool, yes Deerhoof is one of a kind. Friend Opportunity is the most playful previous Deerhoof record, and their best match, with its colorful artwork. I was feeling myself like a little Japanese girl when i started to listen this record. However, Offend Maggie sounds straighter and darker than Friend Opportunity.

Most music blogs posted about Offend Maggie, they're all positive. Because, you don't have much choice if the name of the band is Deerhoof. Offend Maggie sounds like Robert Wyatt's (his Sea Song is my all time favorite) indie rock version for the most part, and lyrics are unusual here. Songs like Eaguru Guru seems to take its roots from progressive rock era. Thanks Deerhoof, it's been a nice album, it flows like those amazing Japanese horror movies.

Deerhoof - Offend Maggie

Highlights: Chandelier Searchlight, My Purple Past, Jagged Fruit

Good records from good artists keep coming like a meteor shower. Under the Skin was something that i expected to hear. Gift of Screws is another heavy ball, if you like Fleedwood Mac and following Lindsey Buckingham records. Soft rock roots give you a gentle beating, because there are contributors Mick Fleetwood and John McVie from Fleedwood Mac! On some songs such as Time Precious Time, Lindsey follows his queer way singing again. However Did You Miss Me is something very successful both commercial, hooky and melodic. Overally, i like Gift of Screws!
Lindsey Buckingham - Did You Miss Me

Sexy Boy is sure one of the best singles of 90's music, an electronic masterpiece, this song is also hard to forget once you give it a listen. You have a last chance to discover the song, it's not new, and Sexy Boy was the first single of critically winner Moon Safari (1998) by French electronic duo Air.

Air - Sexy Boy

Last year The Drones was my favorite, with their great rock record Gala Mill. The New record is titled Havilah which is entirely exotic, dark and melancholic. It sounds more powerful than Gala Mill. Havilah is something very dark indie and garage rock music. I'm sure my best of 2008 list includes this album.

mp3: The Drones - The Minotaur

1. Nail It Down
2. The Minotaur
3. The Drifting Housewife
4. I Am The Supercargo
5. Careful As You Go
6. Oh My
7. Cold And Sober
8. Luck In Odd Numbers
9. Penumbra
10. Your Acting's Like The End Of The World