Album Reviews

Dr. Dog: Shame, Shame, Rating 5.1

Another disappointment in 2010. “Fate” Dr. Dog’s previous album made my top 10 of 2008 leaving me very excited to hear their new effort “Shame, Shame.” I was immediately pleased with track 1 “Stranger” which was full of the Beatlesque pop vibe I loved so much about “Fate” but none of the tracks that followed kept my interest. I found my hand going to the next track button quite often on my second and third listen of this album. Sorry Dr. Dog but this album is tired.

Ghost, Meth, Rae: Wu Massacre, Rating 6.5

If Wu Tang or any member of Wu Tang puts out an album I will give it a listen. Over my 13 year relationship with the Wu I have been treated to some of the best hip hop albums of all time and some utter garbage. But there seems to always be on constant, the combo of Ghostface and Raekwon is a hip hop gold. When I heard they were releasing an album together with Method Man I was pretty excited, but for some reason it just doesn’t work. This albums has its moments like the stand out tracks “Our Dreams” and “Smooth Sailing” but the rest just falls into a “it’s just another average Wu-Tang record” category. “Wu Massacre” may be the result of too much of a good thing.

Jonsi: Go, Rating 7.2

Jonsi Birigisson, front man of Sigur Ros may be small in stature but “Go” might be the most epic sounding album of the year. Every song on “Go” is a wall of sound, filled with grandiose orchestra arrangements and synth loops. On top of all of this Jonsi’s distinct falsetto voice sweeps over every track completing the magic. Every time I listen to “Go” I see cartoon Gnomes dancing in my head, and I like it. Congrats Jonsi on creating yet another indie rock sub genre, Gnome Rock.

Sharon Jones and the Dapkings: I Learned the Hard Way, Rating 7.7

One thing I like about buying Sharon Jones albums is I know exactly what I’m going to get, amazing soul vocals backed by one of the tightest soul/funk bands in the business. “I Learned the Hard Way” is not my favorite album by Ms. Jones but it’s a great addition to her catalog. The only reason being I feel it’s a little over produced and is missing the rawness of “naturally.” If you get a chance to see these guys live don’t pass it up. It is very rare to see a band so in tune with each other.

Titus Andronicus: The Monitor, Rating 9.0

This is easily the best punk/rock anthem/civil war concept album to date. “The Monitor” is an ambitious effort from Jersey’s Titus Andronicus that succeeds it's goals. It’s full of sing-along choruses, catchy guitar riffs and rousing chants. I saw Titus do “The Monitor” in completion live a couple months ago and it made me like the album even more after seeing the passion that is behind all of these songs. This album I’m guessing will come in pretty high on my year end list. For every pus festering wound that Jersey has suffered from the show “Jersey Shore” Titus Andronicus comes in like a big bottle of Neosporin to make Jersey seem like a place I wouldn’t mind visiting.