Illuminaudio

It's always a shame when a member of a band leaves. The drama that is created among the fan base, coupled with the uncertainty of the bands future, leaves the band in a very awkward position. The remaining members have to make a choice, they can call it quits, fill the spot and make mediocre music and be forever reminded that they were always better with so and so in the band, or they can fill the spot and rise to a higher point musically. When Craig Owens departed Chiodos he left the band in a tight spot. Owens' voice is considered one of the best in the genre and many thought that without him the band would fall apart. With the doubts of the masses hanging over them, Chiodos entered the studio and came out with Illuminaudio, a more epic and powerful album than any of their previous works.

Chiodos formed in 2001 in Davison, Michigan. In 2005 they released All's Well That Ends Well and in 2007 they released Bone Palace Ballet. Owens departed the band in 2009 and was replaced by Brandon Bolmer.

Illuminaudio is the progression you want to see a band like Chiodos make. When met with a trial, the band took all their emotion and threw themselves into the creation of a product that would show the world they were still a force to be reckoned with. Bolmer doesn't try to be Owens, instead he brings his own touch to the music and helps take the album to new heights.

Almost like an answer to any question or doubt the album's strength, "Caves" is the hard hitting single from Illuminaudio. Opening with what sounds like war drums and a haunting vocal melody, the song wastes little time in flexing the musicianship of all the band's players. The song's loose feeling verses and high soaring choruses are grounded to earth only by the scattered hard hitting sections. The song could also be seen as a chance for the band to show off their new singer's range, which leaves little room for doubt.

Almost at the end of the album lies the song "Those Who Slay Together, Stay Together," a song of epic proportions. This song drips pure energy and intensity, from the driving verses to the battle cry like choruses. This is the song the band decided to pull out all the stops on, the opening's piano melody and the screams toward the end showing the vast pallet of styles the band can handle. When the ending of this song finally comes some listeners might find themselves exhausted, so consider this a heads up.

A song the casual listener might skim over is "His Story Repeats Itself," and they will miss a real treat. First off to truly hear the song, one has to start with the last 30 seconds of the previous track. This little prelude helps set up a lovely little gem, with some of the most haunting sections of the album. The bridge is especially eire and flowing, while the rest of the song feels very much like a call to arms.

"Notes In Constellations," is a simple break from the mania and intensity of the rest of the album, that being said this isn't a song to be written off. With much more melodic guitar and keyboard parts, the song flows and sounds almost like a lullaby, a very epic lullaby. The chorus is especially nice with high soaring vocals and guitar. The outro of the song is nice relaxing float back to earth from the dreamscape the song takes you to.

This album takes all expectations and shatters them. Many people expected Chiodos to roll over and die, some people even wanted them to. Instead of doing that, Chiodos brought its fans a new, powerful album. If this is a taste of what's to come then the future looks bright for this band.

Always Listening

Nick

All Day

The mash-up is a controversial topic in some circles. Some would never want anything changed in their favorite artist's works, while others see nothing wrong with a little remixing. While both sides have valid points there isn't anything really wrong with mash-ups. It is a new way to experience songs that a listener has come to love. On top of that, if the mash-up artist is good, new combinations can occur that we never imagined. Enter the ring one Girl Talk with his new album All Day. This is the blueprint that all mash-up artists should look to for their remixes. Rarely is there anything less that perfection from Girl Talk and All Day is no exception.

Girl Talk is the alias used by Gregg Gillis. The mash-up king started making music in 2001 while he was a biomedical engineering major at Case Western Reserve University. He is considered by many to be a lawsuit waiting to happen for his sampling habits, Gillis claims fair use as his backup.

All Day takes pride in surprising its listeners with combinations they would have never thought of. Classic rock under rap, dance over hip hop, alternative behind r&b; there is nothing logical with the combinations, except that they work amazingly. There is nothing quite like hearing The Ramones backing Missy Eliot or ELO backing any rapper. That's right, ELO is in this album. If you don't get that reference it's okay, most won't.

It's not like each mix happens then the next mix instantly happens either. The entire album flows smoothly from one track to the next one. Girl Talk intended this album to be enjoyed front to back like one piece of music and that's what it sounds like. The album is divided into tracks for easier navigation, but don't think that if you listen to the beginning of a track you'll know everything that will happen on that track. There are multiple samplings by multiple artists for each song on the album. If you miss a minute on the album, you miss a ton.

The samples in this album, as mentioned earlier, span multiple genres. The artists represented include, in no real order: N.E.R.D, U2, MGMT, Drake, Willow Smith, T.I. Black Sabbath, Nikki Minaj, Radiohead, Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, B.oB., Devo, Grateful Dead, Iggy Pop, Ying Yang Twins, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Jackson 5, Nirvana, The Beastie Boys, Lady Gaga, and Lil Wayne, among so many more. There is no way to really explain the sense of awe that comes from hearing two songs combine to make something so much better.

So when it comes down to it is this album worth getting? Well it's free, so there really is nothing to lose. Besides the album is really amazing, a work of art though it maybe illegal.

Always Listening

Nick

Sidewalks

With the holidays already upon the masses it is the time of year for cherry jingles and upbeat holiday music. These songs, filled to the brim with good tidings, are euphoric if not annoying beyond belief. Through all this I find myself turning not to the classics, though I do enjoy them from time to time, but to indie and like sounding genres. Who needs "Jingle Bells" when you have The Vampire Weekend, who needs "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" when you have Passion Pit, and who needs "Sleigh Ride" when you have Matt & Kim? It is the latter that I turn to the most and their new album, Sidewalks, is a prime example of an indie album that does almost everything right.

Matt & Kim joined forces in 2004 in Brooklyn, New York. They Have released three albums with Sidewalks being the latest to be released and the first one the band worked with an outside producer.

Sidewalks is full of the sugar and good feeling that is expected from Matt & Kim. But there is a deeper, more genuine sound to this album. The glee doesn't feel like a sugar rush but more like a glowing warmth that doesn't leave but carries the listener through the day. Are the songs catchy? They will be stuck in your head for weeks. Does that mean they are cheap excuses for music? Not at all.

"Cameras" is the first single off the album and for good reason. The catchy horn and xylophone background coupled with the steady drumbeat provided by Kim pushes the verses that are filled with witty lyrics sung by Matt. The chorus is a more open feeling experience; the drumming and the vocals become more open and allow the melody to carry through to the next verse.

An even more bubbly hit is "AM/FM Sound." This song will make a listener feeling like they are skipping along without a care in the world. With upbeat synths and a quick beat the song rushes the listener through an exhausting journey full of shuffle and bustle. The bridge that leads into the chorus is a genuine treat because it is a quick escape from the excitement of the song before the listener is shoved back into the fray.

On to a more epic sounding song, "Silver Tiles." This song features much more exposed vocals through out, the synths and drums only providing back up to the vocal melody. This might sound like the usual formula but most Matt & Kim songs intertwine the vocals with the instrumentals and it isn't till the second chorus that this begins to happen as the song builds to its climax. Once the song reaches its climax the song soars there, until it suddenly ends.

Then there is the erie song, "Northeast." A ballad of sorts, this song is piano, sleigh bells, and Matt's voice for most of the song. The beauty of the song is found in its simplicity, with all the electronics basically stripped away Matt's voice shines. Toward the end it feels like the light peaks into the erie space this song occupies and the listener is treated with a light synth melody that carries them to the end.

All in all Sidewalks is a great record. It provides the upbeat musical experience listeners have come to expect from Matt & Kim. At the same time the album shows improvement as a musical group as a whole and is a step in a bigger direction. Depression beware, Matt & Kim have come to end your moping and start you dancing like an idiot.

Always Listening

Nick

Your Favorite Weapon

Back in the days of high school there were certain bands that could touch every emotion you felt. From crushes and parties to heartbreak and betrayal, these bands knew how to take exactly what you were feeling and write them into lyrics with a melody. Certain bands became dull after a while, but there are a rare few that still hold up on their own. These albums are hard to come by, with most people looking back at their Simple Plan collection with disappointed eyes. Among the rare gems people don't regret sits Your Favorite Weapon, an ode to the angst filled teen in everyone that still holds a strange taste of familiarity.

Written by the ever redefining alternative group known as Brand New, Your Favorite Weapon came out in 2001. The band is from Long Island, New York and this album is the first in their four album discography. Brand New has continually evolved in musical styles through out the years, so all their albums are worth checking out.

Your Favorite Weapon is in essence the life of a teen boy, filled with break up angst and parties. The album feels like some parts were taken right out of angry phone conversations and other parts feel like they were whispered to empty bottles at three in the morning.

The only single to ever hit the radios from this album was "Jude Law and a Semester Abroad." This song seeps of the fresh wounds of a break up. It is also one of the better examples of the layered verses Brand New does. At the end of the song the chorus comes in over the bridge melody and a secondary melody. Most bands wouldn't balance these elements well but Brand New does it with style.

Second up is the smooth regret filled "Last Chance to Lose Your Keys." The song is relatively simple in structure, with quick verses and a slow chorus, but it is in these moments that the vocals come through. The bridge hits the listener with layered vocals like I mentioned earlier. It might pay to mention that it isn't just the lead singer singing, its all the members of the band contributing.

Of all the angry songs on this album "Seventy Times Seven" is by far the angriest and most angst filled. The lyrics are more shouted than sung, lending to the feeling of anger and betrayal the song carries. Everything goes along until the bottom falls out for the bridge, which contains only a bass line, vocals, and a sparse rift from the guitar. Then as if there is an explosion, all the raw emotion comes flooding out and flows through the remainder of the song.

The final song on the album is something completely different, "Soco Amaretto Lime" is simply acoustic guitar and vocals. Sounding like everyones Senior year anthem, this song is epic for an entire different reason. The simple guitar melody accompanies smooth vocals that carries the album out in a haunting way. There is no need for drums or electric guitars, only emotion and chords.

The feeling of nostalgia this album gives most listeners is one felt through all demographics. Who doesn't remember staying up late, being heart broken, or having a crush on that one hot teacher. Everyone can relate to those feelings but few bands can take all the emotions and put them into one album. So in short, go give Your Favorite Weapon a listen to.

Always Listening

Nick