Review: To Be Kind- Swans

Swans are a band that defies any sort of trend. Michael Gira does what he wants, writes and plays what he wants, and that is definitely something to be respected. A few years into their new lineup, and coming of the success of The Seer, Swans have followed it up with an amazing record (or set, actually), that pushes boundaries all over the place.

The opening riff to 'Screen Shot' sounds like 'Help, I'm a Rock' on steroids, and its highly hypnotic groove pays off big time in this slow burner. Swans know how to build up tension over time, and how to make repetitive song structures build an atmosphere in a way that few can claim to do. I've heard this album may be a little lighter compared to their previous material. Compared to what? Young God? Maybe, but light? Definitely not. Those laughs on 'Just a Little Boy' may be one of the creepiest, most off putting things I've heard in a while. This album definitely paints a less than cheery picture, but the the atmosphere created is astounding. 

As with The Seer, this album is a massive, sprawling, monstrosity. Which is great. The length really lets Swans squeeze the tension out of every last song. And, as can be expected with Swans, they produce a record so haunting and ugly, and yet, somehow, beautiful. This is definitely something to listen to, and you will not be the same after experiencing it. This may well be my favorite album of the year thus far. I'm looking forward to more amazing material. It's not often that a band comes back arguably stronger than when they left, but it can definitely be said about Swans.

Out of a total of five stars, I give this:

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Review: Turn Blue: The Black Keys

After a little hiatus, I'm back and ready to take a look at the new release by the Black Keys, Turn Blue. With this album, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney said they wanted to do something a little different, but did they succeed?

I have kind of a complicated history with the Black Keys. At first, I loved their loose and raw sound. But as time progressed, and as producer Danger Mouse sanded down all the rough edges, I started to lose interest as their sound became a little too polished for my taste. They "Tightened Up" a little too much, if I might say so (excuse the pun). I had mixed feelings about El Camino, with the exception of the amazing album cut 'Little Black Submarines', but I felt the tight arrangements and the horribly overused background vocalists for the choruses reeked of overproduction (not to mention the painfully off key bass line in 'Run Right Back'). This is still present on Turn Blue, unfortunately (thanks Danger Mouse), but I feel like there's a bit more room to move around in the arrangements this time around.

From the first note, I thought I put the wrong album on. 'Weight of Love' is a moody atmospheric slow burner that is a great way to kick off an album that is meant to be different than El Camino. Unfortunately, the singles off this album (especially 'Fever') are more of the same stomp, synth infused pop. I feel like these songs kind of miss the point of what the Black Keys used to be doing, but I'm all for expanding a box of tricks. I just feel like their pop tracks lack the personality of the music I was initially drawn. The rest of the album is more on the midtempo side, and is for the most part forgettable. For me, it's a deviation of the formula of their Danger Mouse produced albums, but not a particularly interesting or significant digression. To me, this is outside, but pressing right up against the box. I feel like maybe a more interested producer could spark something in the Keys, because it feels like Danger Mouse has been on auto pilot for a while.

And in case, you were wondering, I couldn't care any less about Patrick Carney's feud with Justin Bieber. Concentrate on your music, and less on your little publicity stunts.

Out of a total of five stars, I give this:

Check back in a few days for my look at the new Swans album, To Be Kind. It might take me a while to listen to that beast multiple times.

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Corazón- Santana

Santana caught my interest again late last year when I heard that Carlos would be reuniting the original lineup, including the amazing drummer Michael Shrieve. Unfortunately, this is the last I've heard of it, and the original lineup does not perform on this album, though maybe the recordings with them will come out later. This album is being advertised as Santana's first Spanish language album in the bands five decade history. Is it really? With Spanish being spoken on a little over half of the songs, I wouldn't call it that. Abraxas had Spanish on it, but I wouldn't call it a Spanish language album.

Anyway, is it any good? To me, this is a yes and no. First off, Santana has recruited vocalists Supernatural style, and these are definitely hit or miss. That Pitbull desecration of 'Oye Como Va' was really hard to come back from, and it didn't help that most of the livelier tracks preceded it. If I ever hear Pitbull, his whooping intro that he does before every "verse" that is totally interchangeable with and his non punchlines (Really? Mandela? Why do people keep throwing his name out there? Don't try to add poignancy to your crappy verse by disturbing the dead, please) it'll be far too soon. That song alone almost killed the album for me. The Nas featured 'Back in Black' cover of Guitar Heaven was better than that.

A lot of this album came off as too polished and soft for me. The tracks after 'Iron Lion Zion', which was good minus that awkward Spanish rap at the end, all kind of blended into each other, and totally underutilized Carlos' soloing abilities. People are listening to Santana for some inventive guitar, or at least I am. Also, that Latin country song 'Feel it Coming Back' was so weird.

That is not to say this album doesn't have its high points. The first three tracks, especially 'Mal Bicho' are pretty awesome, and I wish this album had more uptempo moments where Carlos really let loose on the guitar. Throughout this album, I didn't really feel too much energy or enthusiasm in Carlos' playing. I'm not sure if this was a project he was particularly excited about, or maybe it was just something he thought people wanted out of him, so he just did it. It's kind of disappointing, and it hurts me to say this stuff about an artist I really respect. Santana's run of albums from their debut to Borboletta are some amazing albums showcasing innovative music and amazing guitar work, and I just wish some of that energy could have come across in this. I think this project could have been salvaged if the Pitbull feature were cut, and a few livelier tracks were put on. To me, the ballads and slow songs, while not bad, weren't of particular interest, and grossly underutilized one of the best guitarists to ever walk the earth. The first half of the album (minus 'Oye 2014') was actually very good, so it was surprising that it went downhill so quickly. People might disagree when I talk badly of this album, but I doubt anyone will disagree when I say that Carlos Santana has much better songs in him than these.

Out of a total of five stars, I give this one:

Still looking forward to that original lineup reunion album. Maybe playing with the old band can rekindle that spark.

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Study Albums

I don't know about anybody else, but I can't study or get work done without a little music in the background. With a little bit of music, I can concentrate and not focus on other noises in the room. And with finals coming around (at least for me; my last of grad school [winning]), I thought I might share some albums I like to put on to get in the academic mood.

Selected Ambient Works Volume 2 (1994)- Aphex Twin
Ok, probably an obvious choice, but ambient music is really great to study to. It's very mellow music that creates a soundscape and never rips you away from what you're doing. The long instrumental tracks really get me to focus up and can really put me in the right head space. Plus, it's just a great album.






Ghosts I-IV (2008)- Nine Inch Nails
The only Nine Inch Nails record anyone would ever be able to study to. Described by Trent Reznor as "a soundtrack to daydreams", it definitely sounds that way, and is another sort of ambient album that can really play well in the background, becoming incidental music to any sort of book work.






The Garden of Brokenness (2005)- William Basinski
Honestly, any William Basinski album does the trick for me. His mix of electronic, piano, strings and tape loops always creates a great, melancholic mood, and is always a good study tool for me. If you're looking for some great music, check out William Basinski for some poignant and moody material, especially the rewarding and challenging Disintegration Loops series.

The Tennessee Fire (1999)- My Morning Jacket

This album is a little more difficult to explain as a study album, since lyrics tend to take me out of the study groove, generally because I'm paying attention more to the words than my work. This album, along with Evil Urges, to a lesser extent, seem to be the exception to this rule, in that while they are great albums with great lyrics that can be listened to with no distractions, they seem to get me locked into that work attitude through sheer mellowness. Other groups like Fleet Foxes, the Wailers, or jam bands like the Dead and Phish can sometimes give that response from me too, but the sparse instrumentation, dreamy reverb, and overall chill atmosphere of this record has me spinning it regularly when I study.

F#A#∞ (1998)- Godspeed You! Black Emperor

This album's lengthy instrumental tracks focus on mood, with a good deal of string drone and emphasis on post-apocalyptic imagery. With all the carnage described in the spoken word intro and in other spots throughout, it's ironic that this album is a very calming experience to me. A lot of their other records work for me in this fashion too, along with the earlier material of the side project Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra. Definitely a worthy listen on its own as well if you're at all into post-rock or drone music.


Feel free to share any records that you play when you're getting your study on. As for me, I've got to find another way to procrastinate before finals. I'll start by trying to process Corazón.

"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."