Since my job entails traveling long distances (with little compensation other than “alone time” and a killer CD deck), I decided to make a stab at reviewing some music for the masses. I’m a music junky, always looking for the next “fix” when it comes to my favourite artistic medium. That being said, here are the lastest albums to cross my path.
Black Eyed Peas - Monkey Business
don’t ask. I just wanted to listen. After going through the whole album (and hearing the phrases “lady lumps,” “whatcha going to do with all that ass?” a ton), i’ve come to the conclusion that they SING better than they rap. There are 3 or so songs on the albums where there’s actual singing going on…and it’s good. Fergie (the token female) can nail some very soulful jazz stuff and she can riff like nothing else. I believe that James Brown makes a token appearance on the album and it’s rather darn good…other than that, unless you like talking about asses and “bumping” you’re pretty much SOL on this album. However, for 8.49 it’s not too bad.
Lifehouse - Self Titled EP
Ok, correct me if i’m wrong but most bands do the self-titled thing to start their career off…i guess since Lifehouse doesn’t exist in the form it did 4 years ago (only the lead singer dude is left), they are starting over, but once you get into the album more, it’s, well, more of the same. Additionally, it really, really annoys me that they continue to use a rotary speaker/leslie effect on the guitars…it never sounded good with their previous album and what do you know? it doesn’t sound good on this one…seriously, the musician in me cringes…anyhow, content is good…there’s a lot more maturity and a more acoustic influence on the set…I got into it a bit, but once the record finished i went back to….
Razorlight - Up All Night.
What do you get when you cross AC/DC’s screamin’ Gibson SG/Hiwatt combination with a Ramones-esque punk feel (and then strip away any studio effects except plate and hall reverbs)? Well, you get Razorlight. in any case, it’s raw, it’s not terribly polished, but it nails the pop punk, rock-n-roll feel without being solid encamped in either genre (it’s not Jet and it’s not the Ramones or Rancid). It’s good clean fun and definitely needs to be played REALLY LOUD on a good hifi.
Oasis - Don’t Believe in the Truth
I’ll admit it. I’ve got a weak spot in my heart of English/Australian bands. Oasis has been a stalwart (along with Supergrass, Lowgold, Keane, ColdPlay, Delirious, Rowan, and Razorlight) in my deck for quite sometime….I loved “Champagne Supernova” and really dug their other stuff….Noel’s voice definitely requires some acclimation (hey, it’s REALLY nasal and whiny) but the music itself is raw and just freakin’ good. This latest album is not their best. quite frankly, but it’s oh-so-good for nailing the general vibe of things in Oasis land.
Velvet Revolver - Contraband
This is another “what do you get when you cross X band with Y band?” type CD. On one hand, it’s the definite STP album that was never produced. On the other, it’s what GNR SHOULD have been (and just to quote something from Office Space: “[Axl] is a no-talent ass clown.”) 
This album highlights Slash mostly as it has more solos than i think i’ve ever heard in my life…then again, i’m more of a U2/Delirious “flying below the radar” solo kinda guy. I swear Slash is trying to show us how fast he can play with some of these things….anyway, music-wise, it’s excellent. Good mix of classic STP tones (heavy guitars and flattened vocals) with enough vocal emotion to offset the GNR tendencies which are present…very humanizing album esp. if you’ve seen the “Fall to Pieces” video which is powerful in it’s own right.
That’s all for now, folks…rock on!