Snake's Reaction: Get A Haircut & Get A Real Job part 4

I figured it was about time I stepped up and at least finished this thought. Since it has been 5 months since my last post on this, here are the links to parts 1 -3:

Part 1 http://sbrlists.blogspot.com/2009/10/snakes-reaction-get-haircut-get-real.html

Part 2 http://sbrlists.blogspot.com/2009/11/snakes-reaction-get-haircut-get-real.html

Part 3 http://sbrlists.blogspot.com/2009/11/snakes-reaction-get-haircut-get-real_20.html


The Secret Machines: The Road Leads Where It's Led & Nowhere Again from 'Now Here is Nowhere'

First off, I love the name of this album. I am a sucker for play on words type of humor. This one took me awhile to get into and I don't know why. Once I truly decided to listen to this album, I was hooked. It was extremely difficult to pick 2 songs. Every one of them seems to have this pounding beat that just resonates in your chest. First Wave Intact is the first song on the album and I probably would have picked it if it wasn't 9 minutes long. It has that thunderous beat that seems to set the tone for the album and the band. Lights On and the title track are both close seconds as well. The two tracks I picked though do stand out above the rest for good rhythms and great lyrics.

Verdict: I need to find more by these guys. They were actually part of the musical, Across the Universe covering The Bealtes on Blue Jay Way and backing Bono's trippy I am the Walrus. I would recommend this album to almost anyone regardless of their musical tastes.

Modest Mouse: Bukowski & Satin in a Coffin from 'Good News for People Who Love Bad News'

Another great album title and another one that took me awhile to get into. I bought this because of the catchy single, Float On. As soon as I heard the line: 'God didn't wanna be such an asshole,' I knew I had to include Bukowski on this project. Satin in a Coffin is to represent the quirkier songs on this album without going way out there. That title would go to This Devil's Workday. My words could never describe that song, but I love it. The World At Large, Bury Me With It, Dance Hall & Blame It On The Tetons are the other highlights of the album and give a good representation of the range of this group. Some are so soft and beautiful that you get one image in your mind of how tender this group is. Then they turn around and smack you with these loud horns, quirky lyrics and soul grabbing hooks.

Verdict: This band would be my definition of eclectic. I have grown to love them and the variety they provide. Not for the faint heart at times and yet so gentle & serene at others, this would fit any savory listeners tastes.

The White Stripes: Baby Brother & You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do What You're Told) from 'Icky Thump'

This album is for now the White Stripes' swan song. Baby Brother is a call back to their early fuzzed out blues that Jack White is a supreme master of. You Don't Know What Love Is has that crossover blues/country feel that they seem to project at times. I almost put their cover of Conquest on this CD, but I didn't think anyone else but me would like that song. Little Cream Soda & Rag and Bone are some great Stripes-style blue tunes. The hook in Soda is so fuzzy and distorted it calls back memories of blown out speakers. Rag plays on that classic blue style of talk through the verse and then jam rather than have a chorus, done with the magic that only those two possess. St. Andrew is that one just truly out of the norm song that they seem to put on every album. Meg seemly chants over top of bag pipes, strange indeed.

Verdict: While certainly not their best album, if this ends up being The White Stripes final studio album, it will be a good ending to their place in music history.