I’ve been on a bit of a CD-buying binge lately.
Velvet Revolver, “Contraband”: Yeah, it’s a gimmick band, but I’m actually enjoying it a fair bit. Nothing groundbreaking, but it’s mostly solid earache rock. There’s a couple of slower ‘ballads’ that seem a bit out-of-place, but that’s pretty much obligatory for this type of music.
Sonic Youth, “Sonic Nurse”: This one was on a recommendation; I hadn’t actually heard any Sonic Youth since sometime in the early ’90s. Definitely not for everyone, with their oft-noise-ish feel, and I don’t care for a couple of the tracks, but there’s a lot to like too. In particular I’d recommend “Unmade Bed”, “Dripping Dream”, “Stones”, and “Paper Cup Exit”.
The Killers, “Hot Fuss”: I’d never heard of these guys before, but I heard a couple songs while doing other shopping in HMV and liked them but didn’t know who it was, so I googled the lyrics later on and picked up the album itself a few days later. Average overall, but a few tracks are new favourites (“Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine”, “Smile Like You Mean It”, “Somebody Told Me”) and I wouldn’t really call any of them bad.
And Depeche Mode, “Music For The Masses.” Hey, it was five bucks.
There was also a cheap movie binge, but it’ll take longer to work through those…
Anything from Soul Coughing is great, though they’re no longer together. Also, of course, the new Wilco album. And the new one from The Shins! You’d love the Shins, I bet.
I find myself going back in time, musically, these days. Listening to stuff like CCR, Boney M, and Uriah Heep.
For more modern stuff, I seem to be listening to (in no particular order) Jet, Powderfinger, Billy Talent, Basement Jaxx, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Puddle of Mudd, Trapt, Clutch, Evanescence, Mudvayne, George Leach, Three Days Grace, Chevelle, and a whole lot of Black Eyed Peas.
That would be the abridged list. Oh, and I’m with ya on Velvet Revolver, tho judging by the video for “Slither”, I don’t see a second album happening. The boy already looks like he’s been dead for weeks. Only a matter of time before his health matches his appearance. :-)