Marina & The Diamonds - Electra Heart

From the opening track “Bubblegum Bitch” onwards, Marina & The Diamonds second album promotes the more mean-spirited and synthetic aspects of childhood aspiration. The albums electronic aspirations deliver on nearly every track as the virtual concept album tells the story of a bitchy pop diva. Not concerned with the credibility found through her critically acclaimed indie-pop debut The Family Jewels, Marina & The Diamonds has opted for a more radio-friendly pop sound for her follow-up.

The album is sung through the perspective of the Electra Heart character and the four facets of her identity – the Primadonna, Su-Barbie-A, the Teen Idle and the Homewrecker. (Slightly pretentious.)
Marina has a knack for writing accessible but brilliant pop lyrics, and here she effortlessly works within her theme discussing topics like love and popularity through these different archetypes. While these persona's are extremes, there is still something very relatable in the lyrics and Marina manages to also remain herself and not merely a character.

"Starring Role" is heart-rending in its simplicity, Marina exposing herself (musically speaking) over a toy box piano riff and drum patters. Perhaps Electra Heart's oddest moment is "Teen Idle" wherein the album's two opposing sides merge to create something singular. “I wish I'd been a teen idol, wish I'd been a prom queen fighting for the title / Instead of being 16 and burning up a Bible, feeling super super super suicidal” she sings in a childlike falsetto as a million Marinas repeat the “super super super suicidal” refrain like some mawkish choir.

But it's when she's dealing directly with her emotions that Electra Heart shines brightest. "Lies" given extra gloom wobble sadness by Diplo – unpicks a relationship falling apart in devastating detail, with Marina's unique voice pushed to the front as the entire song seems to sigh and shrug to an end. “Homewrecker” is one of the album’s many standout tracks with its blow-your-speakers pop chorus and enticing spoken verses. “Power & Control” drives its way into your brain with its heavy synths. As stated before most of the album’s songs deal with love, heartbreak, and the American dream to some extent.


As such, where the character ends and she begins is not always clear, though it's only a problem for the record's sole weak link "Living Dead" in saying that this song is not bad. Elsewhere, the earworm hooks, colossal choruses and sheer barminess ensures that Electra Heart is a thoroughly enjoyable listen throughout - regardless of whether you buy into the concept or not.

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Josh Turner - Punching Bag

The 'Bone Shaking Baritone' returns with his new album Punching Bag that comes with a pretty cool intro track by Michael Buffer. The title track jumps with an eastcoast swing tempo that is not as good as one would hope after the opening. A more likable song "Time Is Love" follows but once again it is a more country crossover type track that is too generic to be anything more than a candidate for the elevator music soundtrack.

Turner finally hits the low notes on "Deeper Than My Love" and here is where he sounds right and the song actually has something going on with in its country confines. Reminds a little of a cool old school Randy Travis jam. The album seems to be on the up-swing as the run continues with "Good Problem To Have" and the fantastic and I mean fantastic "Cold Shoulder" that is pure country classic. The gold continues with a catchy little number called "Find Me A Baby" with Josh using is deep voice to absolute perfection. I had been worried early on listening to this record but as it unfolded that went away and a little excitement began to build for each track.

Turner continues to deliver on the album with more great country music that harkens back to a much better time in the genre. A time when songs were more important than who was singing them and what they were wearing or how hot they looked. Not that Turner is a hound in the looks department he's really a great singer and it is his singing and song writing that is on display not his looks unlike the Carrie Underwoods and countless Taylor Swift clones that are beginning to show up now. There is substance and talent to be had with Josh Turner and he wraps the whole package up and ties it with a nice bow. As I write that I'm not a huge fan of this entire record songs like "Pallbearer" are weak plane and simple and the gospel praise song "For The Love Of God" really isn't my cup of tea but I have to admit lyrics aside this song is pretty good and a great two-step. I wish they'd stop with these sort of lyrical songs and find something better to write about though.

After another ballad that doesn't capture my interest the album closes with "Left Hand Man" that tries really hard to grab the Brad Paisley sound and comes close but doesn't quite match up. Although it is still a good song in its own right and one of the better tracks on Punching Bag. Josh Turner's 2012 album is a mostly good album and in the country format that's about what you get now 'pretty good'.

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ZZ Top - Texicali

At this point in their long storied career as the musical entity know as ZZ Top the trio has completely lost all the respect and credibility they once had with me. I haven't thought of them as viable in about twenty years when it comes to writing and releasing decent material. The band has run out of ideas as they re-hash old song riffs on Texicali an E.P. that is thankfully only four songs deep.

The slowed down version of "Got Me Under Pressure" titled "Consumption" is so weak that it sounds like Billy Gibbons is about to drop dead as he tried to play the solo of the song. The song "Chartreuse" is "Tush" re-visioned and so painfully dull that if you can make it through the entire song I have to award you with a badge of honour. The E.P. closes with "Over You" a ballad that proves just because you use a simple blues structure for a slow tempo song doesn't mean it will just work. These sort of songs are plentiful and with that said 98% of them suck including this one.

ZZ Top are officially passe there is no reason to see them live because they can't play the songs at the right tempo live they drag. The band obviously can't write new material that doesn't feel recycled, boring or bland and the time has come for this trio of southern rockers to just let it go and retire. They are an embarrassment to the band that arrived in1971 and the re-launched juggernaut that soared from 1983 through 1986. Stick a fork in them they are done.

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Jettblack - Raining Rock

Rev up the engines it's time for another Jettblack record and I'm a little excited for this one. The band has grown a little more since their last album. This time out the band has taken a more accessible straight ahead hard rock sound on Raining Rock. The problem is that the production is not good enough to make this genre soar to the heights it needs to be great. With that said I don't dislike this record in the slightest with the power rock "System" the reminds me of early Great White.

The band sort of stay in the early part of the 80's for the majority of this album abandoning their modern aspect from the debut album.  Which is another reason that this comes off as a little forgettable. But "Sunshine" is a great song that would be much better served with a Nickelback styled production. The very Dokken-ish "Never Gonna Give It Up" has all the right parts from the harmonized intro to the excellent soaring guitar that drops into the galloping riff. But once again the thin production needs much more bottom end and compression to make it sound full and energetic. Listen to Dokken's "In My Dreams" and then you will understand what I mean.

The swagger of "The In-Between Loves" brings Winger to mind instantly and leaves a little imprint in the sand instead of a twenty-five foot hole in the ground. I kind of winced when I saw Udo Dirkschneider guesting on a track but turns out that it's one of the better tracks on the album. I crank this one up pretty loud and turn up the bass to get some kick and punch air along to the fun rockin' track. Too bad the production is lacking on this album because if Chad Kroeger had a go with these tracks this album would be a monster.

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The Hives - Lex Lives

"Come On, Come On, Come On, Come On, Come On, Come On, Come On, Come On, Everybody Come On" first track down and it's awesome! So Lex Lives, is it the album that anyone who listens to this band has been waiting for? It's sure looking like that is what might be unfolding here. Frontman Howlin Pelle humorously admitted that the album is very “Hive’s influenced” and the name of the album came from the Roman idea of “enforcing a set of rules and accepting them as standard. The first single "Go Right Ahead" has a certain T-Rex appeal to it and it rocks so really what more could you want. 

The Hives are an acquired taste for sure but once you're in on the secret you get all drunk with punchy garage rock fun.The energy of which this band performs it's material is got to be exhausting so they slow things down on "Wait A Minute" which has a chirpy background vocal repeating underneath the melody that will probably drive you crazy or the other around as you keep singing it over and over.

The knowledge of – and nods to – various eras of punk is still evident. "1000 Answers" is early Clash-as-surf-band looking for something, even if not quite sure what. "I Want More" is near-perfect Iggy strum-and-drang demand. It even gets a bit ‘60's Nuggets-style in "Patrolling Days" cop gone wrong or "Midnight Shifter's hot-rod anthem. 

The Hives will never mature into something elegant or polished and that's the one thing you can be sure of after listening to this album. They are 100% garage rock and never let you forget where their roots are planted firmly. When you listen to "Without The Money" it's almost as if Mick Jagger came in and showed them what rock n' roll swagger is circa 1966.

The Hives have definitely channeled their psychedelic punk rock influences and let it guide them to absolute perfection and we as music fans get another stellar rock album in 2012. Lex Lives is probably my favorite Hives album to date and one I hope will not burn out quickly in my listening rotation. Now go listen to "Midnight Shifter" and dance like drunk monkey all around the house and repeat as necessary until you just can't shake what your mother gave ya any longer. Thanks for bringing the party to my house Hives I really appreciate it.

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L.A. Guns - Hollywood Forever

As far as it goes with this band they are so inconsistent that you can never be sure what a new album could hold. First thing about Hollywood Forever is the absolute basement level production on the opening cut. Phil sounds just as he did twenty years ago and if there was more to the sound than him and the jackass on the drums maybe there is a decent song here. Oh and yes I don't care for Steve Riley he seems to be a total poser. There was a reason Blackie booted his ass out of W.A.S.P. and I'd not be surprised that he's the reason this band is only two members from the mark-II line-up left.

The production seemed to be improved on the second track but overall it is lame as hell in the sound department. Mick Cripps is sorely missed when it comes to song writing because he was the reason L.A. Guns were successful pop metal rockers.  This album meets some of the criteria needed to make good Guns songs like "Vine St. Shimmy" or "Dirty Black Night" which both have enough of the sleaze, piss & vinegar swagger that make this band enjoyable. There is not enough on the album to keep from being disappointed with the groups effort this time around.

I just find songs like "Crazy Tango", "Queenie", "Sweet Mystery" so pedestrian and boring that I wanted to turn of the album at that point as I'd pretty much lost interest in hearing where it was going to end up at the conclusion. I'm glad I stuck around to find the couple of tunes I mention and "Venus Bomb" which has some of that gutter punk that was ever present in the first album. The song "I Won't Play" has something that reminds me of Suzi Quatro or The Sweet and I'm a huge fan of Chin & Chapman so this song kinda tickles me. The terrible garbage that brings the album to a close is Arana Negra that is complete shite and Phil sounds like a fucking tool singing in Spanish with awful pronunciation. What a waste of studio time ladies! If you aren't a fan of this band then just pass on this album it's not worth the money nor the bandwidth.

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Gotthard - Firebirth

As were all fans of the band, I was incredibly sad at the sudden loss of Steve Lee. It was a terrible moment for rock n' roll considering one of the greatest vocalist of the genre was gone. The next part was the realization of the possible end to Gotthard.

This was all put to bed with the very astute choice to continue forward with a new lead singer who could manage to stand in the shoes of greatness and do an admirable job. Nic Maeder joins the band and with that said Firebirth has been unleashed. Upon first introduction to Maeder I didn't believe that it wasn't Steve Lee singing "Remember It's Me" but soon I saw with my own eyes the music video and was shocked at how much he picked up the nuances and subtitles not to mention the phrasing and cadence as well.

Impressive stuff the lead-off single was for sure and now comes the full length album. This album has so much to live up to considering how great the history of the band is and what us fans will be expecting. Firebirth right away kicks off with "Starlight" a solid rocker that leaves nothing behind. The band sound as to be expected top to bottom. As the album plays through I am very impressed with the little change to their sound and very pleased by that as well. Now don't get me wrong Nic is no Steve Lee and that's just how it is but he does a great job and allows us to still have Gotthard around in the now.

I like the track "Yippie Aye Yay" it is fun also has a little production style from the Human Zoo era which is where I was introduced to the band. Where the group misses Steve the most is on the ballads. His presence and emotion in the delivery was second to none and to only think how fantastic "Tell Me" would have sounded with Steve's vocal. It would have been brilliant for sure and it's a little hard to listen to for that reason.

As the album is a little on the mellow side of things that doesn't mean it isn't great because Gotthard are talented in this department. Songs like "Shine", "Take It All Back" and "Where Are You" just soar with greatness and all are wonderful additions to the power ballad genre. I particularly love "Where Are You" the song just caught me at the right moment I guess and I'm hooked. Of the more uptempo tracks "S.O.S." is a little weak but that's about the weakest song on the album. The excellent "Right On" is begging to be a concert classic for sure. The song has all the Bon Jovi meets Nickelback greatness that you might be able to handle.

The new beginning of Gotthard is solid with little bad and it breeds great excitement for what the band will do in the future. And thankfully the story's NOT over! Welcome back and thanks for not throwing in the towel.

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