The First Review

1st Shotgun Review: Pump It Once and It's Ready to Blow

2006-04-30T19:15:00.000-05:00

iForward, Russia! - Give Me a Wall : Well if by now you have not heard of such bands like Test Icicles, Beep Beep, Bear vs. Shark, and Blood Brothers (Newer Releases), then this is where you could easily start. Unconventional indie rock with elements that can please anyone. From off beat scream/yelps to dancey beats with major voice tonality, you will find this becoming a party favorite (if you have the slightest bit of good party music sense). Definitely a band to watch for in a genre defying evolution that is combining the best of indie rock, dance rock, and punk. 4/5 - The Shocker. Catches you off guard, but something tells me you'll be seeing a lot more of this in your future.

Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere : I'll be the first to admit I have been skeptical of Dangermouse's ability to produce since first hearing the "Grey Album." Since then I have been almost reassured of this with the release of "The Mouse and the Mask," which led many to a feeling of disappointment. This album has completely changed my feelings. Danger and Cee Lo managed to create something fresh and new. There are moments I wish there could be a bit more like they happened to forget something on a track, but overall this album leaves you wanting more of Gnarls. This deserves all of the attention it is and will get, but I have a sneaking feeling it will not last for I do believe this is the first and last album from Gnarls. 3.5/5 - Skeet Skeet via Hand Shit. You let it rip, but this will be the last time you get away with that...well with that particular one (Person or Artist Name if you wish to be more figurative).

Head Automatica - Popaganda : This will be the disappointment of the year to all of the fans waiting for Ex-Glassjaw frontman's new album. With the surprise hit album "Decadence" from 2 years ago you would have found many saying Glass-who? A completely revamped style from what people had expected after Glassjaw decided to call it quits, for now, "Decadence" was a synthesized dance album with many trademark tracks that you would soon not forget. Well take that and scratch it, with "Popaganda" Head Automatica I assume wanted to broaden their spectrum and just so happened to lose what they had going for them, fun. With one track, "Egyptian Musk," and maybe 1 or 2 more that could have seen a spot on "Decadence" this album lost what they had and became nothing more than this mediocre rock band with a trademark vocalist. 2/5 - The blue ball self-satisfier. Well I suppose it is better than nothing, but the hype hurts more when it's not fufilled.

Murder By Death - In Bocca Al Lupo : Honestly I was hoping from more from this. Years ago when I first heard Murder By Death they blew me away. Well this was mainly for the fact that I had thought before seeing them that they were an up and coming metalcore band. Boy was I wrong, but it was a pleasant surprise. Their performance captivated me. This is no performance though, and while still a very good album put together as flawlessly as their music would have allowed this album to be, it is boring. Initially it had the nostalgia factor working in its favor, but that soon wore off and I was yawning. I don't mind slow melodic music, not at all I very much enjoy it, but there's a difference between that and boring music. This is boring. 2.5/5 - The dry handjob. As you feel it's close to finishing, there's a small pinch and you're set back for what seems to be a marathon of torture.

Neil Young - Living With War : How could I resist this with a single called "Let's Impeach the President"? Young surprised everyone with his announcement of this secret album that is anti-war and anti-Bush. What's not to be pumped about, Neil Young is a legend he can do whatever he wants. Based off my sheer humor I find in him being able to get away with a full album that is incredibly blatent in its message I can't help but find enjoyment in this. The downfall of these albums is that they are short lived. Listen to this now at a peak of disapproval of Bush and the war and you will find the success of this album to soar. Listen to it 5 years from now (that is if the war is called off or whatever) and the success will be dramatically lower. I am hard pressed to give this a review for this reason. I enjoy this for now cause not only it hits home right now and I know the issues Neil speaks of, but this is catchy and very well written. Neil's very much still alive and well, and minus the context of the album this is very listenable years from now, it just won't have the same impact. This hurts the worth of the album as a whole in perspective. 3/5 - A fingerbang. Bush is feeling it, and then to top it off Neil puts it right in his face to get some laughs.

Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam : Pearl Jam trying to modernize? And they flop. This album needed to come out in 1998. Adult contemporary is going to eat this album up. Late 20's early 30's are going to breath what they may think is a blast from the past, but it's nothing more than some washed up musicians that are still making the same music they have always made. With how long of a break they have taken this album should have been mind blowing, but I suppose when you are a band who could literally blow a load on a blank cd and be able to sell a million records with your jizz on it then you don't really have to care. I can't really talk too much shit I suppose cause these up and coming bands with all the talent in the world can't out sell these ass clowns due to their incredible fan base, which is pathetic because Pearl Jam doesn't deserve it in the year 2006. Like I said 1998, maybe 1995 even. Today it is inexcusable for people to buy this. 1/5 - Circle jerk. You thought it was the talk of the town for a good reason, you were mistaken.

Rhymefest - Blue Collar : If you have not heard the single "Brand New ft. Kanye West," then you probably have not heard the hype surrounding this guy. Previously only know for his side note on the grammy nomination of Kanye's song "Jesus Walks," which he co-wrote. Since then with enough small editorials to make small army of zines, Rhymefest has only kept and maintained the strong reviews. "The Next Kanye"? No, I don't think so, but Rhymefest can hold his own. "Brand New" will be one of the songs of summer mark my words. With fresh beats, clever lyrics, and a building reputation, Rhymefest has quite the future ahead of him with support of such giants as Kanye. The downfall of this album is unlike Kanye not every track can be made a single, but there is no sacrifice of production or track quality, it's just that some of these songs just don't belong on the radio/tv. There is a lot to expect from Rhymefest and I feel he's only delivered a small fraction of what he has to offer and we will see a classic from him in the future. 4/5 - The shocker. The make or break moment, consider yourself made.

Snow Patrol - Eyes Open : I consider this to be their career launcher. "Final Straw" fell short due to its ability to only maintain credibilty through the singles. This album shows that the band has matured beyond the abilty to write 2-3 songs and bullshit 7-10 others to a band who can pull off 2-3 amazing tracks and 7-10 pretty solid tracks. There's not more to this than that, go listen to this album it is worth your time. Snow Patrol deserves the praise and attention they got 2 years ago now and I am not sure that they will get it, which is ultimately pretty saddening because it showed they hit success in their singles too early and after putting out a mediocre album they lost their buzz. The buzz is now get in it. 4/5 - The shocker. Didn't know how you were fairing after the night before, might as well evolve your style and take a stab in the dark and hit success.

Thursday - City by a Light Divided : I often credit Thursday as being one of the first bands that got me into the emo and hardcore scene due to it combination of the two in what seemed to be almost ideal at that moment in my life. "Full Collapse" is still a great album that I still play today. "War All the Time" I lost interest because it seemed so forced and with only a few songs holding the album together I branched off. Then I heard the demo's for this album nearly 7 months ago and was completely blown away. Still with the Thursday sound, but a new style almost. I don't know if people not keen on the progression of Thursday will notice a change, but what you may have thought to be a genre of copycats there is a stand out in this. With this Thursday has shown they are on the forefront of screamo or whatever you may want to call it. This is an album any fan of rock music can enjoy, with minor comparisons to previous albums. It feels good to know this is what I can expect from these guys now with more of emphasis on the melodic music with some intensity rather than the other way around. 3.5/5 - Skeet Skeet via Hand Shit. Stand back and admire it while you can, this will paint a picture forever in your memory.

Tilly and the Wall - Bottoms of Barrels : If you liked their first album, you will love what they have done here. Their sound has not only expanded and added some different elements, but retained its trademark tap dancing and strangely somewhat average but beautiful vocals. There really is not much more to this than that, they have aimed to please and have done just that while still expanding and showing their range. A pleasure to listen to with breaks when it's needed and then ear catching tap dancing when you feel like you could use some good tap dancing to get you feeling good. Only problem with Tilly is that despite they are good at what they do and have something no one else has, which is tap dancing if you haven't figured it out, they fall short of being incredible standouts in the indie world falling short of Yeah Yeah Yeah's status among many others. While still a good album it is not spectacular, even though I will be listening to it for a while still to come. 3/5 - A fingerbang. While satisfying, it still leaves a feeling like something is missing from the picture.

Tool - 10,000 Days : Maynard will make his decision to stay with A Perfect Circle after this release. While it may sell tons of records based on the sheer number of the fan base waiting for this. "Lateralus" was considered a masterpiece by most, personally I am not a fan of Tool and thought this to be over played and over rated. I enjoyed older material by them when nu-metal was emerging as a combination of grunge and metal and I had become very into it. This genre is on the outs, it continues to gasp for breaths, but it will not make it. Tool did nothing to evolve their sound. The marathon songs are still there, which I will be the first to tell you they are amazing at making songs that easily could be 3 minutes tops and extending them into 7-10 minutes and it seem like they have not been on nearly that long. You wanted an addition to your Tool collection then look no further, you wanted an addition and expansion of the sound Tool helped create then you came to the wrong place. Recycled and re-used sound and this album drags til completion. Enter A Perfect Circle as permanent replacement. 1.5/5 - You walk in on your parents doing hand shit. Now your perception of life is skewed from regularity and you hope that there is no more of that ever again.

New Update For Those Who Care Or Atleast Read This Hand-Shit

2006-04-29T22:21:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow I will be introducing a new review method for occasions like the one I have run across. This will be much like the new review types Henry made a few weeks ago with the addition of not only our singles review, but more importantly the Throwback Special review. This new entry tomorrow will be the Shotgun review. With how many albums that have leaked in the past 2-3 weeks the sheer number has baffled me into frustration over what I should review and what I should not. So rather than picking and choosing I will rather have an entry of 5 or more albums that I will give a very short review that captures the essense of the album then a review score. Ultimately you all may be more pleased with this because it will cover more in a short period and will be quicker and easier for all of us to update. Although we may run out of albums rather quickly, you will see more music that may not be before the release dates or of extreme recency or even throwback shotguns or whatever, you get the idea. Who knows, the sky's the limit with The First Review so check back often. Thanks.

Scott

Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now

2006-04-23T14:56:00.000-05:00

This was one of the more anticipated releases this year for myself. Curiosity just got the best of me due to the past this band has had. With the release of their debut "Tell All Your Friends" what started as a small buzz became one of the biggest bands in the punk/emo genre. Selling out shows and selling remarkable numbers of albums and then disappearing for 2 years with the announcement of the lead singer leaving the band due to complications. Well I really thought nothing of this at the time until the second LP dropped "Where You Want to Be," after hearing this I was appalled at what happened. With the loss of the lead they lost the trademark sound that I had wanted to hear. A year later I decided to give it another listen and I was shocked that I had thought it was such a horrible album. Yes it was different, but overall it was a pretty decent album. Well with my change of heart with this album and the announcement of the new album, I was excited to hear it. Really I am torn, I wasn't sure whether I should have reviewed the sampler that was released before the album or the album in whole. I decided to do the album because the sampler gives the wrong impression of 5 songs that are probably the best impression this album gives give or take 2 songs. I had settled with the fact that the third LP "Louder Now" would never have the original TBS sound long before it came out and also in what's to come in the future for them. With that being said the album starts off very strongly and also ends well, but in the middle there's about 4 songs that just could have been omitted. I call this good business because the albums good for the first few songs and you'll keep it on then you hear a song that could be lived without, then another, then an okay song, then another, but then it kicks back up again and after the album plays through you feel strongly about it. The sound of the album as a whole is similar to "Where You Want to Be," but you can clearly and distinguish the 2 by just the context of how theyre marketting themselves. The second LP tried to maintain some of the feeling that "Tell All Your Friends" had and it did maintain it for about 3 songs. This newest outing you can tell they are trying to shed that image that the first band created by making themselves out to have a different sound. While this album accomplishes what it is aiming to do and that is to maintain TBS as a top contender in the punk/emo realm and will in no time soon be dethroned, it does leave a feeling of dissatisfaction listening only to the few songs in the middle of the album. Overall the only way I can really feel this album's review score justified is by taking the number of good to decent to bad songs. 5:3:3. Based off 11 songs it's hard to get a round answer based on 1 point for good, .5 for decent and, 0 for bad. Out of 10 it comes to be a 6.5, which I find fitting but doesn't fit our scale and also I am factoring the overall feeling after it plays through.

Notable Tracks:
"What's it feel like to be a ghost"
"Liar (It takes one to know one)"
"Error: Operator"

3.5/5 - Skeet Skeet via Hand Shit. You thought it'd live up to your expectations, but afterwards you wonder why you settled for just that.

Scott

Previous Albums:
Taking Back Sunday - Where You Want to Be: 3.5/5 - Skeet Skeet via Hand Shit.
Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends: 5/5 - The Legendary Fist.

James Blunt - Back To Bedlam

2006-04-08T15:34:00.000-05:00

Heartfelt? Touching? Sad? No, no, and no. Truth be told James Blunts record that has been shocking the adult contemporary realm with comparisons to that of David Gray and Elton John is more creepy than either of these. Most of his songs are that of an experience he has had where he is in love with a girl who does not love him or he speaks about the future of a relationship, the distant future. Meet him on the street and him saying this would leave you shocked and appalled. Well even amazon.com got the picture correct and lists this as having explicit lyrics. Now I'll tell you why amazon.com feels this way. The single "You're Beautiful" is by far one of the most metaphorically disgusting songs I have probably ever heard. You missed it? Well let me help you by telling you a little bit about this song.

First I will tell you that this song is clearly about James Blunt approaching the end of his day, taking a load off, or rather blowing his load off as he masturbates before sleep. Truly the anthem to a Hand-Shit album. Now you may be sitting there like "where the fuck did that come from this songs about a love he will never have?" Well let me break it down by verses and lines deserving of attention. At the beginning of the song he tells himself that his life is brilliant, pauses then says this again. Well clearly he's trying to pump himself up before he gets going by making himself feel good about himself, because with how badly he had pussed out earlier in the day when he saw this beautiful girl he needs to feel good about himself. Well as he continues, he tells how he saw this beautiful girl on the subway with another man. Of course this is disappointing, but how does James react to this? "But I won't lose no sleep on that, 'Cause I've got a plan." Well fast forward, he does not ever describe this plan in the song. Why doesn't he? Because its implied his plan is for later that evening, even Blunt knew this and no pun intended, and felt he did not need to be blunt about it. Then the chorus comes into play where he tells him self over and over again how she's so beautiful. Self-Explanatory. If you miss the idea here, I am sorry, but I am not explaining it further, just think real hard for yourself. Then he approaches the end of the chorus where he becomes sad and realizes that he will never be with her cause he pussed out. So onto the next verse of his touching, literally touching, story he is playing out in his head. Well here's my favorite verse, with lyrics like "She could see from my face that I was, Flying high," how could this not be a favorite. If you missed the picture here, James means pants in place of face. This is how British people do these clever hidden meanings within words, see British slang, much like American slang where some ridiculous things mean things that they should never mean. Well here goes reason two this verse is so classy: "And I don't think that I'll see her again, But we shared a moment that will last till the end." Again Blunt does not describe what this end is within the song because it is implied by the context. Here James found the memory he is going to hold on til he finishes his business. His "end." Then the chorus comes again...and again. But the second run through you can tell he's finishing his business due to the climactic instrumentation and then resolution. "There must be an angel with a smile on her face, When she thought up that I should be with you. But it's time to face the truth, I will never be with you." Well in this line you can see how fickle James is in his masturbation. He hits his good feeling about being with her, but immediately afterwards he sees how pathetic he really is and realizes he's just some sketchy wierdo beating off to some girl he saw in the subway. Enter sleep sequence, wake up, repeat the previous day's events. (My theory of James Blunt's thought process)

It's truly disappointing that this song will get him laid enough times to sink a ship with the groupie whores who'll do anything to touch him. Well I suppose I will speak a little more about the album besides the single. With other songs about him telling goodbye to a lover of his, but begging her that shes the one and she needs to come back that he still holds her hand in his sleep. Another masturbation reference? I haven't listened to this song enough, nor will I to make the decision. Another song about a girl he isn't with who he wants to grow old with? Another song about his buddies that were in the army with him that he wishes were still with him? Yet another song about crying cause a girl has left him? What a critically acclaimed album this is. Blunt has put together an album that preaches the life of the pathetic people that regret their whole lives because they can't live for the time being. Maybe that's why people say this is a heartfelt album, they relate to him all too well. Clue in people, don't be a James Blunt, do something about yourself rather than masturbate your cares away and dream of things that won't happen cause you won't take some initiative. With lack of an original instrumentation (see: most adult contemporary), his vocals which sound like he is half retarded (see: "You're Beau-iful" and slurred speech), and lyrics that are as frightening and creepy as anything I have ever heard, this album is deserving of the worst that will come to it. Amazon.com got it right with explicit lyrics, these songs make me cringe that he can actually get away with it. Only because of the humor I got from actually sitting down and listening to this album made me feel like I gave it the pity it so rightly deserves.

Notable Tracks:
ha....hahaha...ha....no

0.5/5 - You didn't get any hand shit, but you lied about it. Mainly because you took care of yourself, that counts for something doesn't it? No, it doesn't. *Tear*

Scott

Throwback Special: New Radicals - You Get What You Give (single)

2006-04-01T17:48:00.000-05:00

Here at The First Review, we like to take a moment to reflect on some of the gems the music industry has brought to us over the years. Some albums or even landmark singles prove significant to what we do here, seeing as many of them stand up as major points of reference in terms of our musical taste. Whether these works are incredibly influential, awesomely bizarre, or just perfectly executed, I'm happy to bring you the first entry in what will be a recurring feature on The First Review: the Throwback Special.

Much like the first bit of hand shit you may have received or delivered in your time, this feature is designed to provide some sort of insight into our ethos as we continue to bring you the best (along with the worst) in new music...a basis by which to judge the future.

The year is 1999. There's all kinds of motherfuckers on the pop scene. We've got the Spice Girls, Britney Spears, 98 Degrees, Robbie Williams, and even that cocksucker Baz Luhrmann, who in the same year apparently decided that making pretentious asshat movies didn't release enough pain onto the world; he also had a major single that you may remember called "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)"...that horrible joke of a "song" that is pretty much him reading a graduation speech. Yeah, it's the same son of a bitch.

Needless to say, shit was a mess. But one small ray of light shone through: "You Get What You Give" a pop masterpiece from newcomers the New Radicals, rose to the top of the charts midway through the year and turned out to be the breath of fresh air the genre had been dying for.

The song starts with this sweet ass sound of a spaceship landing or something like that, the drum beat kicks in, "one, two, one two, three WHOOOO!!" and everything goes apeshit. From that point, we get some piano balladry, some distortion blasts, and various attacks on celebrities, corporate america, and the music industry. It all brings back to mind some of the great youth anthems from the 1980's, particularily Sonic Youth's "Teenage Riot" and The Replacements' "Sixteen Blue," except perfectly translated for the cynicism and desparation of the then-approaching new millenium.

While they may be gone, they are not forgotten. I do not exaggerate at all when I say this is one of the best pop singles in the last two decades; the New Radicals came in, made their point, and rode off into the sunset. Hearing this song 7 years after its release, it hasn't lost any of its power, and the nostalgia factor makes it a force to be reckoned with on any party playlist or car ride. If they call you gay just tell them to suck a cock, because Fall Out Boy and Panic! At the Disco can only have wet dreams about making a song this legit.

Throwback Rating: 5/5 - The Legendary Fist. Sometimes miracles happen when you go in guns blazing. If hands could attain sainthood, this would be the Mother Teresa of hand-shit.

Henry

The Stills - Without Feathers

2006-04-01T17:46:00.000-05:00

Well it's about time these guys made their sophmore effort. I think it was three or so years ago the debut "Logic Will Break Your Heart" stunned the indie realm. Since then the anticipation has been growing and growing. Well with that you also know you will lead yourself to disappointment with that. Well just for a little background, if you have heard the debut you would know that these guys had some sad experiences that fuelled the albums success. The overwhelming moodiness they created through depressing melody and rhythm was nothing the likes of anything else. If it wasn't for their talent as musicians you could have easily seen this band disappear into the emo world and never return. They managed to go well above that standard and create an indie album that could very well have been one of the best albums of that year. Then we come to today, three years later hugely successful album and tour, where's the need for sadness anymore. And that is just it, "Without Feathers" has a complete loss of the moodiness from "Logic..." and has turned into an almost folky happy feeling album. Still very talented musicians and good music, but you can find anything out there like this that is so much better. I feel like just for this "Without Feathers" is an album that will be forgotten in no time. The lost the fuel for the fire and now I see why they waited so long to put out the next album, they just had nothing to write about anymore. This is clearly a combination of things from the few years of no releases. You will find songs that have the sad context such as "She's Walking Out," but even with the lyrics being written The Stills waited years before they began to compose the music for it. This could have been one of my most anticipated albums of the year and I have been blown away by what I had hoped so greatly was going to be a genre defining album and it has been nothing short of a failure. If you don't know The Stills and wish to pursue listening to them I suggest going back to "Logic..." and skipping over this. They obviously have the talent and skill and this is a pretty good album, but they could have blown all the reputation they built with this.

Notable Tracks:
"She's Walking Out"
"Helicopters"
"It Takes Time"

2.5/5 - The Dry Hand-Job. Thinking you were getting some? Think again, you would have been better thinking about past experiences.

Scott

Previous Album:
The Stills - Logic Will Break Your Heart : 4.5/5 - The Near Fist 4-Fingerbang.

The Streets - Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living

2006-04-01T17:04:00.000-05:00

At some point or another you have probably been exposed to The Streets. Everyone I have ever met has had the same initial reaction that it is a complete joke. Well if you have ever gone beyond this first listen and actually listened to this white British guy spitting rhymes about geezers and other anonymous subjects of some ridiculous nature, you would see this guy has something special. Now with that being said this new album is a fork in the road for The Streets. I don't know if he was pressured to put this album together the way he did or if he is planning to move in a slightly different direction. Believe it or not this album has a chance to make a radio appearance and a slot on the MTV2 hip-hop show. Whereas in his previous efforts he has shown us that The Streets is a force to be reckoned with in the underground, but would never make it to the mainstream. In the second album "A Grand Don't Come for Free" you could have caught a glimpse at seeing the light in the mainstream world. Only momentarily though would you have felt this. "Hardest Way..." on the other hand you can feel it through out the record. Now you may give this a listen and be like "yeah right, this is the same old Streets I have heard," but you're wrong. What you may not understand is that sure his style is still there and he still is doing a similar thing, but also in the past 4 years music has evolved greatly and also Streets has a feeling of actually flowing without the choppiness and jumpiness of his typical sound. With the recent acceptance of underground acts Streets has more of a chance than ever to hit big with this album. The beats are well done and it shows with how it aids in the flow and lyrical feel of this album. Personally I feel very strongly about this album, it has the same personality as his other albums, but with that being said he has also incorporated the new feel of flowing with his words and has gotten a great production team behind him. Mark my words you will see a single hitting the shadows of the mainstream from this album.

Notable Tracks:
"Memento Mori"
"When You Wasn't Famous"
"Pranging Out"

4/5 The Shocker. The same feeling you'd get watching Bruce Willis saying "Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker." That is accomplishment.

Scott

Previous Albums:
The Streets - Original Pirate Material : 4.5/5 - The Near Fist 4-Fingerbang.
The Streets - A Grand Don't Come for Free : 3.5/5 - Skeet Skeet Via Handshit.

Band of Horses - Everything All the Time

2006-03-27T19:26:00.000-05:00

Well, all I can say is that it's about time. Finally 2006 has delivered a straightforward indie rock album worth listening to. While I'm sure 70% of the asshat indie kids in the community are still busting out the Astroglide in hopes that the new Built to Spill redefines the genre, Band of Horses of Sub-Pop really hit this one out of the park for their debut album, creating what is so far the best indie rock album of 2006.

First of all, the band manages to sound fresh despite little innovation in terms of sound. They could do a lot worse for influences; their frontman's vocals are similar to that of Jim James of My Morning Jacket. As far as the music itself, it rocks with the twang of the Shins but manages to incorporate some of the dreamy atmospherics of the Clientele. While I've never been a huge Shins fan, I have to admit that I like their sound when they decide to actually take a minute to rock out. But for me, it was always like there was something missing, as if there was something trivial about their songwriting. This is where Band of Horses gets it completely right. The lyrics on this album are personal and often very serious, but they are delivered in such an explosive and anthemic manner that you wouldn't feel like a jackass for wanting to sing along.

That's not to say that Everything All the Time is all guitar heavy. There's a few ballads to provide a nice change of pace, and even many of the more uptempo parts only get that way after a crescendo that originated from an acoustic melody. Either way, it's hard to pick out a bad track anywhere on this album. Interestingly enough, this quality also plays into it's shortcomings. While I could pick out three or four of the album's best tracks, the truth is that they're not that much better than the rest. The entire album is incredibly solid, but few tracks are spectacular from beginning to end. But saying that Everything All the Time is underwhelming would be to sell it very short; it's just that in most albums you expect some filler while waiting for things to get great. Listening to this album, you're waiting to be blown away while things are already well above average...it just doesn't always happen.

Regardless, there is so much to like here it would be impossible for me to not throw out a universal recommendation. If you like indie rock, snag this album and you won't be disappointed. Otherwise, you're probably a tool anyway and wouldn't have read this far.

But yeah, go right ahead and call me a Horse Enthusiast. Actually, that's probably taking it a little too far. So don't do that. Fuck horses.

Notable Tracks:
"The First Song"
"The Funeral"
"Monsters"

4/5 - The Shocker. Give it to someone for their birthday whether they ask for it or not.

Henry

T.I. - KING

2006-03-23T14:03:00.000-05:00

Guess there's no need to tell you who the King of the South is when it comes to rap music, and rightly so. T.I. once again shows why he owns the crown of southern hip/hop with his newest release KING. Full of typically southern beats, an atypically ATL sound (see Young Jeezy, Ludacris), and a uniquely T.I. attitude, KING comes through with solid tracks from start to finish. T.I. is known for quality lyrics, notable guest spots, a variety of production, and his unmistakeable twang. All are present, and are proof positive of evolution on this album. He opens up with 'King Back' to let you know the more things change, the more they stay the same...all while droppin more N-bombs than the Enola Gay, and more Gay disses than, well, a rapper. It's got an old school feel with a nice brass cut between versus behind him talking. Next up is 'Front Back' which epitomizes his style. Mannie Fresh's production gives it a ridiculous bump and T.I. jumps on the "Thank God Pimp C is Free/Bun-B ain't Shit Alone" bandwagon by adding U.G.K. to the track, genius. 'What You Know' is the first single, and is from the movie ATL. It's another banger, but has a unique connection-flow between every verse. Classic T.I.. Just Blaze jumps on for 'I'm talkin to you'. Then Jamie Foxx helps out on "Live in the Sky," a semi-soulful slow-jam that shows T.I.'s range, something that seperates him from most rappers. The one skit on the album, 'The Breakup' is another reason T.I. reigns. Funny. Short. Done. Kanye should take notes. Swizz Beats enters studio to produce 'Get It' which is a prime example of how T.I. can hold a song down without guest verses, a skill that many rappers lack. With lines like "I got that Guacamole, Holy Moly, You don't Know Me" you can't lose. 'I'm straight' features the recently ressurected B.G., and of course the obligatory Young Jeezy verse. 'Undertaker' has Young Buck and Young Dro puting their 2-cents in, which is about all this song deserves. Rarely does T.I. have the chance to drop anything on an infectious beat (see the Neptunes, Scott Storch, Little Jon) It's usually not in the nature of a legitimate rapper, but thankfully the track 'Stand Up Guy' offers the opportunity, the opportunity T.I. runs with (though, I wouldn't have minded hearing Gwen on this one...wait, fuck bananas). 'You know Who' is also from the movie ATL and its a classic 'Fuck You Bitch, I Will Kill You' T.I. song. I'd imagine its the kind of thing racist white baseball players with confederate flags listen to alone and beat off to before beating up mentally retarded kids. Which in my book makes it pretty hot. 'Goodlife' is a highlight among highlights with Pharrell and Common. These guest appearences show the respect T.I. has in the rap community. For example, T.I samples Jay-Z (Bring 'Em Out) and he's applauded, Cassidy samples Jay-Z (I'ma Hustla) he's hated and Jay-Z calls him a bitch. 'Hello' is another slow one, a more romantic one. P$C (Pimp $quad Click) makes their mandatory appearance on 'Bankhead'. You might not be familar with P$C, if not, you're lucky. The St. Lunatics of the ATL. Nobody gives a shit about them except for their leader who gives them money because he's known them forever. In fact, in one line a member actually says "Pick up a girl in Bangcock, drop her off at TIPs spot" so they basically just run him women. At least they know their place. And That's the album. It' solid, like all of his albums (Trap Muzik, Urban Legend, etc.) and dropping an album that good every 18 months is commendable. T.I. is at the top of the southern rap scene, and with most of the good new rap coming from ATL, H-Town, and other places where slavery used to be legit, that's a big deal. T.I. is still - KING.

Notable Tracks:
"What You Know"
"Goodlife"
"Front Back"

4/5 - The Shocker. Nothing stinky about this one, well, except of course for that finger you got in her butthole. Wash your hands.

John

Hail Social - Hail Social

2006-03-21T16:42:00.000-05:00

Think Bloc Party meets Moving Units. A winning combination from two artists whose debut albums rocked the indie world. Hail Social following their trend in the indie realm by first warming up the public with a small ep, then for a monsterous lp follow-up. These guys may be a small name for right now, but they have well established their footing in the world of up-and-comers. The things that led Bloc Party and Moving Units to success are the same things that Hail Social is doing. Bringing the incredibly catchy lyrics, dancey instrumentation, and an over all feel good vibe to the table, Hail Social will be a name barely muttered in the indie universe and people will jump all over it. From the first track "My Hands Are Tied," you will immediately find yourself mumbling the lyrics before the song is halfway over on first listen. And the thing is you would think this is because of heavy repititions in lyrical execution, only this is not the case at all. It's almost as if the lyrics fit perfectly into the music and you will know from first part of a string of lines how the rest will flow by just listening to the music play. Simple? Not quite. This is no TRL #1 hit musical flow and lyrically simplistic repititions aimed to sell records. These guys sat down and composed this in a way that you would feel it and almost instantaneously become involved with it. You can attribute a lot of the dancey vibe to the heavy use of bass guitar as a main instrument. Unlike most bands where you would not notice the bass until it is missing, this you will find the bass at an almost dominating, but perfect level. The only downfall of this album I would say would be the over length of it. Although it seems to be a trend as of recently that many albums considered full lengths are barely over 30 minutes long. As impressive as this debut is for Hail Social, I wanted to hear more. When you hear the album repeat you begin to wonder that's it? Don't get me wrong "that" is plenty enough for you to find yourself going "well I guess I will just listen again" without any side of gloom. For spending around 35 minutes of your time listening you really feel like it was only 10 minutes due to how quickly the songs play through without you feeling like anything is dragging on way too long. Go listen to this album you will not regret it.

Notable Tracks:
"My Hands are Tied"
"Another Face"
"More Time"

4/5 - The shocker. It's worth bragging about to a complete stranger, trust me on this one.

Scott

Falling Behind

2006-03-17T17:07:00.000-05:00

We apologize for falling behind the past two weeks. It has been due to conflicting Spring breaks. You can expect reviews to kick back up at the start of next week.

Yours Truly,
The First Review

Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I Am Dreaming

2006-03-06T19:16:00.000-05:00

As good as Wolf Parade's 2005 debut LP was, it became clear after several listenings that Spencer Krug was the superior songwriter when comparing his songs on the album to those of guitarist Dan Boeckner. As a result, I was pretty excited to hear that Krug had a side project going with another band, and after releasing a couple of EP's Sunset Rubdown's full length debut is here.

While the Modest Mouse and Arcade Fire comparisons are probably going to follow Krug wherever he goes for the next year or two, Shut Up I Am Dreaming is definitely a step in the right direction for Krug to begin defining his sound so that he may build a legacy of his own. While the opener, "Stadiums and Shrines II," could easily have have made it on the Wolf Parade album, it soon becomes clear that this kind of sound suits his voice so perfectly you can hardly fault him for it, especially considering it's a great song regardless. The treble-filled vocals and lead guitar freakouts are once again in full force on many songs, but this album is not without surprises. Among the next nine tracks we get a piano driven ballad, a Neutral Milk Hotel-ish acoustic number, an 80 second synth instrumental, and a song with a marching band feel that might come off as a little too eccentric for it's own good. The final track, "Shut Up I Am Dreaming Of Places Where Lovers Have Wings," dips into some prog experimentation and makes me wonder if this is how the Mars Volta might want to sound if they weren't busy dropping Cleveland Steamers on one another while the myspace generation waits for them to save music.

Some listeners may have described much of Apologies to the Queen Mary as upbeat and poppy, but I always felt like an air of melancholy floated over much of that album, and with Krug now a full time frontman, this becomes more easily apparent. With the varying instrumentation between tracks, he takes us on somewhat of an emotional rollercoaster, and with such a unique and enigmatic voice, the album proves him a talent that should continue to be watched.

That said, this is undoubtedly a more personal and cohesive work for Krug, but the question that needs to be asked is if that is such a good thing. On one hand, here we have a strong collection of songs that run together into a thematically sound effort. On the other, however, this collection as a whole feels less impressive and less spontaneously fun than Krug's work from less than a year ago. Yes, some of the instrumentation has changed, but the fundamental tone, emotion, and drive behind the music remains the same--one can't help but feel like the best songs of Shut Up I Am Dreaming could have fit just as easily on Apologies to the Queen Mary, with the leftovers on this album standing as not much more than outtakes, solid as they may be. Overall, this is a well above-average effort, and definitely worth checking out if you liked any of Spencer Krug's earlier work. For the others, there are probably better places to begin.

Notable Tracks:
"Stadiums and Shrines II"
"Shut Up I Am Dreaming Of Places Where Lovers Have Wings"

3.5/5 - Skeet Skeet via Hand Shit. While it may not have made your wildest dreams come true, it makes you feel special because you are special.

Henry

Related Album:
Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary : 4.5/5 - The Near Fist 4-Fingerbang

Portugal. The Man - Waiter: You Vultures

2006-03-04T13:45:00.000-05:00

Featuring members of the now disbanded screamo act Anatomy of a Ghost, Portugal. The Man were looking to do something new with their sound. And they accomplished more than just that. They have found themselves with a completely different and original sound that is very hard to compare anything to. Due to the vocals you may find them grouped into other emo acts, but this couldn't be more wrong. This fits more into the newer experimental indie rock coming out as of recently. With a jazz feeling backing some tracks and other tracks with feelings of prog rock. Portugal also uses the lead vocals dynamics in ways that attribute directly to the feel of the music. Tone and range are aided by different distortive filters that fit perfectly within this album. All of this contributes to an impressive debut album that leads me to believe that we will have something to look forward to in the future from this band. Even with this said though you will sometimes feel this album is repetitive in methods and techniques used. Although these same things are the keys to their success in making some terrific tracks, this is the double-edged sword that may keep them in the shadows until they can overcome this one small problem.

Notable Tracks:
"How the Leopard Got Its Spots"
"Marching with 6"
"Stables and Chairs"

3/5 - The Fingerbang. Only for a few seconds you pulled it off, but it was worth it.

Scott

Mutemath - Mutemath

2006-03-02T17:15:00.000-05:00

Undeniable musicians, catchy rhythms, lyrically pleasing, taking rock to a new level of talent and execution, it all seems like it adds up to something spectacular. But along with these things I felt something missing from it. I don't know I feel like it is almost a lack of origination. Although I can't say that in good heart because it's true I haven't heard anything quite like this, well that's not completely factual. It feels very similar to Cave-In's previous attempt at creating what I call post pop rock with their album "Antenna." This is where they tried to create these pop rock melodies that you find in most one hit wonder bands, but take them to a more modern perspective. I feel like this is what you would find on your local radio station that plays the modern rock songs aimed more towards the older crowds appealling their desire for new rock with a classic feel. Almost that adult contemporary feel, except Mutemath is the attempt to draw the younger crowds into this kind of music by providing a more edginess and less comparisson to classic rock. Over all it is a very listenable album, and I can see this band going somewhere with this. Unlike predecessors, with the quality of making a great single with melody and vocally pleasing, Mutemath carries this through the entire album whereas others have not been able to capture that. It truely is a modern feel with indie influences to this new wave of pop rock. There will be many more bands breaking though in the indie realm with this same feel and clever intuition to make larger fan basis by branching off and combining genres to make something new and fresh. This is something that I feel strangely drawn to and can not put my finger on it how or why. There is a lot in store for these guys in the coming time and I will be pleased to hear what else they can create, but also with that being said I also stay true to my first notion that I feel there is something lacking from the sound. You owe it to yourself to give this a listen just to take a glance at something you will be seeing more of in the future.

Notable Tracks:
"Chaos"
"Noticed"
"Typical"

2.5/5 - The Dry Hand-Job. Pleasing and painful at the same time, but it leaves some feel of satisfaction in the end.

Scott

Previous Albums:
Mutemath - Reset EP : 2.5/5 - The Dry Hand-Job.

Slight Update for The First Review

2006-03-02T16:55:00.000-05:00

Since the first post we have fixed the layout for the most part (there are a few minor tweaks I need to make). We have also set up a highly sophisticated rating system structured around Hand-Shit if you haven't already noticed that. If you are clueless as to how this works, which I would be saddened if this is the case, then drop a comment or whatever and we will try to best accommodate you with no harm to the system. Also don't be shy about commenting, whether you agree or disagree or just want to say hi it makes no difference.

John has been added to the team, hopefully a review from him will be up within the next few days. Any one of us may review an album from any genre, but the general set up is as follows:

Scott - Electronic, hardcore/emo/punk, post-rock
Henry - Misc. Indie, shoegaze, trip-hop, jazz
John - Hip-hop, rap, R&B

Alright so that's essentially how reviews are assigned but don't freak out if there's some crossover. We all know our shit.

That is all for now. We will try our best in the coming week or two to offer at least one review a day, but until things get situated properly I can not guarantee anything. We have plenty of things to review and will do our best to get these to you. We will most likely also be reviewing some albums released in the past few months maybe longer, who's to really say. Also if you have requests do not be afraid to ask, we do this for others to read and find enjoyment in that fact.

The First Review

Atreyu - Death-Grip On Yesterday

2006-03-01T17:43:00.000-05:00

There is really not much you can say about this album. The first thing that comes to my mind is this is a second rate album by a first rate band in the genre of hardcore. Even with this, though, I feel I am being generous in saying. Where they have excelled in the past in creating albums that have a voice and distinction among a genre which in the past few years has lost a lot of credibility with copycat bands and lacking in effort for standout acts (See: Nu-Metal also). It seems that it has become a marketing ploy to try and sell as many albums and make money by making and pushing these bands who are mediocre. Atreyu had defined themselves in previous albums as a force to be reckoned with, but this album shows that they are going to be overtaken. They still have the intensity they have always had, but melody is piss poor and instrumentation is nothing short of shoving a guitar up your ass and hearing what comes from it. The production couldn't save this album although it may be top notch, the lacking of musicianship has really shown what will become of this band in the future. It's unfortunate, but this album is a joke that only die-hard fans will enjoy. Well that and the mock scenesters, bordering even the scenesters possibly if they too have become too involved in what's expected of them. The End.

Notable Tracks (If you wish to call them that):
"Shameful"
"Our Sick Story"

1/5 - Circle Jerk. Compliments of the nearest scenester cliche.

Scott

Previous Albums:
Atreyu - The Curse : 4/5 - The Shocker.
Atreyu - Butterfly Kisses and Suicide Notes : 3.5/5 - Skeet Skeet Via Hand Shit.

I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - Fear Is On Our Side

2006-03-01T17:40:00.000-05:00

Coming from the same music scene as And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead and Explosions In the Sky, ILYBICD attempts to make a name for themselves in Austin, Texas with their new wave sound, complete with an overwhelming sense of despair and a few of the obligatory dancehall tracks. The two most obvious influences of this band are Joy Divsion/early New Order and the Cure. Sound a little bit too much like Interpol so far?

ILYBICD, musically, does a better Joy Division impression than Interpol ever did, and the Cure-esque emotional theatrics are really what set this band apart, as opposed to Paul Banks' deadpan delivery of non-sequitor/questionable lines. Christian Goyer's voice is full of longing, and although his voice may not be as close to Ian Curtis' as Banks, the angst he puts behind it is a dead ringer for the late Joy Division frontman. Going back to the New Order comparison, "According to Plan" is this band's "True Faith." Full of angst and armed with a driving bass riff, you shouldn't have any problem envisioning coked out 80's high schoolers going nuts over this one. Most surprising is the excellent "We Choose Faces," where in the closing minutes Goyer's wail gets lost in a blast of melodic feedback for the crescendo of the song, ultimately sounding like a B-side from My Bloody Valentine's Loveless (this is a good thing). While the comparison is so obvious I don't know if I should praise or criticize the band for attempting it, they channel Kevin Shields so convincingly here it's incredible.

Unfortunately, this album is much less than the sum of its parts. There's probably 3 or 4 standout tracks that may be worth an iTunes download, but songs such as "The Owl" and "If It Was Me" go absolutely nowhere. At moments the band seems to be content to wallow in the muck of reverb and distortion it has created, making most of the few instrumental tracks on here a chore.

If I sound negative, it's only because much of the album doesn't live up to the promise of some of its standout tracks. If you are a fan of the bands I've mentioned, it wouldn't do you any harm to give this a spin. Otherwise, stick to the singles.

Notable Tracks:
"According to Plan"
"We Choose Faces"
"-"

3/5 - A Fingerbang. You may have been destined for greatness, but gave up so soon you'll never know.

Henry

Hypatia Lake - ...And We Shall Call Him Joseph

2006-03-01T16:46:00.000-05:00

It's rare that one may find a band like Hypatia Lake, virtually unknown and a very locally centered band on a local label. From the west coast label Sad Robot Records we find this gem that is "...And We Shall Call Him Joseph." I haven't had any chance to trace back history or previous albums, but with an album that captures and maintains attention from the start who really cares where it came from. This instrumentation and execution could almost make you think this band was a post-rock instrumental band who has decided to move into more vocally aesthetic music. Even with that being said the lush atmosphere created by a moody approach to the album makes it a joy to listen to without the vocals being the focus. It's not often you will find a band capable of creating these moods that make you feel the music and feel the joy or sorrow the band is also feeling. There is not a moment that you feel this album is repetitive. At some points the only fault you may find is they may take some songs a little further than necessary and you may feel it could have easily ended a minute earlier with no harm done to the song. This I find easily over looked. The album is incredibly well produced and flows from beginning to end with no hang ups or jumpiness. This is not a disappointment and should be checked out. For fans of Broken Social Scene and Godspeed You Black Emperor!

Notable Tracks:
"Scene Eight: He Could Not Save Her From the Cold Blade in the Pale Moonlight"
"Scene Five: Farmers Can Be Jedi, Too.
"Scene Two: Joseph and the Divine Intervention of the Recreational Center"

4.5/5 - The Near Fist 4-Fingerbang. You pushed the limits, but last minute had to settle for second best.

Scott

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones

2006-03-01T14:28:00.000-05:00

Now I figured to start things off right I will look into a big release that many are anticipating. First listen through I was extremely disappointed for a band that I had taken a liking to with the previous album "Fever to Tell." I felt like they had left that special something back on their old album. Whether it was the vocals by Karen which had the uniqueness of seduction through almost growling noises and moans or the guitarists interesting patterns of repetition. Take it you can't expect the band to make an album a carbon copy of their previous attempt and by no means did I at all want this. I wanted an evolution of their sound, but I was also expecting something that brought some of their success into this new album. With that being said about first listen I move to the second and more listens through. From here I saw that my first listen was a half-assed pre-occupied listen. This time I sat down and gave it the chance it rightly deserved. I saw that "Show Your Bones" is by no means a bad album, although I have found less enjoyment in it than I have in "Fever to Tell." It has been slowed down and does not have as much as a feel good vibe I had been expecting. They did in fact include the elements I had hoped they had and I had just missed it before, but it was not used in I want to say effective ways to capture a listeners attention as they had done before. The vocals are not as much of a central focus as they had been and guitar has been not so interesting, but this could be just that the comparison to the new wave of indie bands makes anything hard to stand out. Don't get me wrong there are great tracks, including the single "Gold Lion" and the dancey feeling "Honeybear." And with the addition of synth to some tracks is not a bad touch, but alters the feel that the band used to give off. Call me a casualty of anticipation, but as a whole this album leaves something to be expected. The last few tracks leave feeling overall bad about the effort, but you must take it into perspective. This is an album that will be listened to many more times, but will disappear into the collection after a short time. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs hold much potential and I feel they will grow as time passes and they have some more good albums to come.

Notable Tracks:
"Honeybear"
"Gold Lion"
"Fancy"

3.5/5 - Skeet Skeet Via Hand Shit. One that you will never say no to, but intentionally asking for it is questionable.

-Scott

Previous Album:
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell : 4/5 - The Shocker.

One More Time

2006-02-27T20:42:00.000-05:00

So it's been a long time coming. And you have patiently waited...and waited...and waited. Now approaching 2 years since The First Rule's last post, Henry and I bring you The First Review. A dedication of bringing you the very best in music by reviewing albums that you may never have heard of, or albums that you want to know something about, even the shit that people sometimes like to call music. You may be thinking "Well hey guys I liked your older stuff more, it was interesting and fun to read." To this I reply go fuck yourself, who said you had taste. You may find some of our sarcasm and dark humor entailed in this and we may even include a little something here and there, but essentially this blog is dedicated to reviewing music and bettering your musical interests.

Now for a little more information concerning our blog. We are still in the process of developing a rating system that is user friendly. This rating system is based on how much of a "Hand-Shit" you should give about these albums. Now you may not understand this right now, but you will once the reviews start flowing. Also don't be shy we appreciate comments good, bad, or otherwise. In fact that's what we aim for, it shows you care about what's being said.

With that being said I draw our introduction to a close.