Skip to main content

Old Reviews

 here is one from the Rasputin Manifesto (July 2006)


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Curtis Harding "Explore" from If Words Were Flowers

       I decided to get a look at what new music will be coming out this Friday and to get a head start on writing.  I do take my time listening and breaking down an album to review, but I also do not have access to promo copies or advance copies of the album to review before the release date.  I wanted to get an idea of what each album sounds like, and most of the releases were not piquing my interest until I listened to Curtis Harding .  His third album, If Words Were Flowers is set to come out tomorrow, so I decided to listen to the single "Explore" which has five songs that are already available on Spotify .      It is a raw neo-soul that experiments with many different sounds. "Explore" is a groovy song with a consistent funky beat and a very sexy vibe with tinges of psychedelia.    "Can't Hide It" has an intro drum tempo that reminds me of Curtis Mayfield's Superfly, and the chorus is an interpolation of "Can't Help Mysel...
Post a Comment
Read more

AFI Bodies (2021)

I have not been able to stop listening to Bodies , the eleventh studio album by AFI since this album belatedly showed up on my radar.  I have  personally connected to it.  It expressed feelings I had not been able to process into emotions,  provided me with inspiration, and made me want to dance thus, making it my favorite album of 2021.  Lyrically, singer/songwriter Davey Havok's ability to write from a deeply personal emotional space paints a mise en scene,  the use of smart turns of phrases, and an uncanny way of forming synesthesia through words is a unique skill not too many songwriters can accomplish.   Bodies  is brilliantly produced by guitarist Jade Puget, who strategically layers harmonies and melodies by arranging synth, drum machines, and background vox to fill in, and complement the different elements of AFI . He makes a lot of smart decisions as a producer and it is exciting to listen to anything Jade produces because he lets ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Twinsign EP

As I was just trying to go to bed after posting my Duran Duran review, Jade Puget (AFI/Blaqk Audio/XTRMST) posted his new project Twinsign with his friend named Shaina Broadstone doing vocals. If you are not familiar with Jade Puget's talent as a producer then I hope that this EP shows you the versatility of his style.  I have been an on/off fan of AFI, not all their albums piqued my interest, but when it comes to Blaqk Audio, I am a total STAN.  Jade is great producer and can arrange melodies and accentuate songs at the right moments.   This album is not like any of this other projects, the guitar is present but restrained in the back to feature and compliment the soft and airy vocals of Shaina Broadstone, who in the first song "Benjamin" invites you to join her to reminisce about a boy, her memories about their childhood and what became of this person in adulthood.  The rhythm consists of simple beats arranged on a drum machine, but melody master Jade uses his acou...
Post a Comment
Read more