November Music Reviews

Artist: Dirty Three
Title: Cinder
Genre: Rock/Instrumental
Stars: 4

With a 12th album now under their belts, the Dirty Three are showing no signs of losing their musical touch. Cinder is a soothing, eloquent album that draws on a number of international influences, including Celtic pipes and fiddle on Track 6, Doris, one of the most intense of the album. The tracks alternate periodically from slow, thoughtful pieces to driving, passionate numbers, leaving any listener with an overall feeling of satisfaction. No matter your usual tastes, this is an album that can appeal to anyone who simply likes good music.

Artist: Turbonegro
Title: Party Animals
Genre: Party Rock
Stars: 3

Despite Turbonegro’s 1998 heroin-induced break-up, their 2002 reunion and the two subsequent albums have been nothing short of awesome for fans of the Norwegian self-proclaimed “deathpunk” kings. While some songs may remind the listener of Andrew WK, it is certain the Turbonegro have their own unique style of party rock, rich with heavily distorted guitars and racing drum beats. Having recently toured with big-name acts like Queens of the Stone Age, Turbonegro is prepared to sweep both the European and American music scenes with their infectious rhythms that you just can’t seem to get out of your head.

Artist: Lighting Bolt
Title: Hypermagic Mountain
Genre: Rock
Stars: 4

A lot of people today think that rock music is on the decline, and just doesn’t seem to have the edge it used to. It’s obvious these people haven’t heard Lighting Bolt. Using just a drum set and a bass guitar, these guys cook up some of the nastiest rock and roll that I’ve heard in a long time. Most of the songs are more on the instrumental side, with light background vocals perfectly accenting the off-the-wall drum beats and bass solos. In all likelihood, Lighting Bolt sounds like nothing you’ve ever heard before, so check them out!

Artist: Afro Celt Sound System
Title: Anatomic
Genre: Electronic
Stars: 4

With their sixth album, these musical innovators continue to impress fans with their unique blend of earthly Celtic sounds and entrancing techno beats. Any band that can blend two such opposing genres is worth a listen, but ACSS will capture your ears with their spellbinding songs. Although this album is slightly more lacking on the Celtic aspect that characterized their earlier releases, the music is still impressive, keeping you interested even for the longer songs such as Mojave, which clocks in at over ten minutes. The album’s namesake song, Anatomic, is an incredible Celtic folk jig with just a hint of new age electronic influence.

Artist: Against Me!
Title: Searching for a Former Clarity
Genre: Punk
Stars: 3

For any other band, this CD would have easily been a 4. However, this is Against Me!, the supposed saviors of punk rock. It’s a great CD, full of crunchy guitar riffs and roaring bass and drum lines, but the whole album has an over-produced feel that seems to fit with the decline in lyrical quality as compared to previous releases. For those of you interested in the band, check out Crime and Reinventing Axl Rose for a real taste of awesome. This band is best seen live, so check them out on tour, they pass through at least every four months.