Album Review: Jack White - Blunderbuss

Jack White is a man who is always busy making some new music. He is obviously best known for his rock duo The White Stripes, which officially split in February, 2011. He is also known for his work with The Racounters, The Dead Weather and many other occasional collaborations.

He announced that he will release his debut solo album in late 2011 and everybody was really excited about it. When this very anticipated record came out in late April, it got mostly positive reviews. Although, fans may have expected more rock on the record and sound similar to early White Stripes. But honestly, we couldn't expect that from this man.

The record is influenced by jazz, blues, rock and even country music. Basically, the record is mixture of all his musical influences. There are definitely more keyboards on the album, which doesn't necessarily mean a bad thing though.



Tracks were written for other artists, however, he decided that these songs best fit himslelf so he decided to finally released a solo album. The record contains 13 tracks. The first one called "Missing Pieces" is a great opener with great guitar work and solo. Also, the keyboards kind of remind me of The Doors.

Second track on the album "Sixteen Saltines" is my favorite song of the record. It was released before the whole album came out and it is by far the heaviest song on the album with great and crazy music video, too. This track is probably the only one that kind of reminds the early White Stripes.



Third song "Freedom at 21" was released as a single little unusually - via helium balloon. What I like about this song is the retro sound of it.

Fourth track "Love Interruption" is the first acoustic track of the album and the first song released. It features female singer and it is just great mellow song, which got into me more and more as I listen to it.

Fifth track is title track and another acoustic song with nice piano. "Hypocritical Kiss" and "Weep Themselves To Sleep" are tracks that continue in that piano sound like "Blunderbuss". Especially "Weep Themselves To Sleep" has sick piano line.

Eighth track "I'm Shakin'" has awesome drums at the beginning. It is track featuring electric guitar after four acoustic track. It's got really good rhythm that makes me want to dance.

I kind of feel that five last tracks are losing their power and are not as good as previous ones. However, the ending of the last track - "Take Me With You When You Go" is just awesome. It is a great closer of the album.

Overal, I like the record a lot. I'm not saying that it is Jack White's best work, but it is pretty decent record. I like that it contains variety of different sounds and genres, which makes the record colorful.

Tracklisting:

1. "Missing Pieces"
2. "Sixteen Saltines"
3. "Freedom at 21"
4. "Love Interruption"
5. "Blunderbuss"
6. "Hypocritical Kiss"
7. "Weep Themselves to Sleep"
8. "I'm Shakin'"
9. "Trash Tongue Talker
10. "Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy"
11. "I Guess I Should Go to Sleep"
12. "On and On and On"
13. "Take Me with You When You Go"

Album Review: Enter Shikari - A Flash Flood Of Colour

The whole world is in trouble nowadays. Economic crisis hit the whole world, icebergs are melting and near east represents huge threat to western world. Most of the people are afraid to face these facts. However, Rou Reynolds, Rob Rolfe, Chris Batten a Rory Clewlow, aka Enter Shikari, aren't afraid of unpleasant topics. They fight fot the third time at the beginning of magical year 2012 with their instruments and their voices against everything that is wrong in this world.

Enter Shikari's third record is called A Flash Flood Of Colour. Fans have been waiting for this album with huge expectations. I think that the band haven't betrayed their fans and this year is going to be huge for these guys. This record is colorful, extensive and ruthless. Enter Shikari really don't hide behind anything but their instruments. They have a lot to say and people actually listen to them. Enter Shikari try to join all the forces against all corporations ruining the world for money and fight for better tomorrow.

A Flash Flood Of Colour is record, which is once again (like their previous 2007's Take To The Skies ans 2009's Common Dreads) unique, rude and completely new. It is different album, but still, it is Enter Shikari like we know them - energic, melodic, tough and lyrically uncompromising. There may be no revolution musically like when they released revolutionary Common Dreads, but there are many new stuff once again. The most recognizing thing is sound of the record. It's got booming character that kicks ass.

However, the sound itself doesn't make a good record. Enter Shikari only start with great sound though. The album has huge variety of different sounds that are hard to describe. It's got keyboard parts, guitar riffs, drum'n'bass beats and hard melodies. It is quite popular these days to mix these different sounds, but Enter Shikari can combine sounds like no other band - with great energy and atmosphere. 

In overal, this album is great. This "mess" is really enjoyable to listen. It's got many new elements and every track is good on this record. I think that it doesn't have a low point. Even though this record is not as revolutionary and good as Common Dreads, these guys have a lot to say and more importantly, they know how to say it.

Tracklisting:

01. System…
02. …Meltdown
03. Sssnakepit
04. Search Party
05. Arguing With Thermometers
06. Stalemate
07. Ghandi Mate, Ghandi
08. Warm Smiles Do Not Make You Welcome Here
09. Pack Of Thieves
10. Hello Tyrannosaurus, Meet Tyrannicide
11. Constellations

Album Review: Lou Reed/Metallica - Lulu

This will be my first album review. I picked Lou Reed/Metallica`s Lulu because it is discussed a lot these days and I like both these artists.

When Metallica first announced that they will make a new record but it won't be regular Metallica record, the fans became skeptical. They just wanted regular Metallica record that would sound like Metallica. Simply, record that would be appreciated by all Metallica fans.

However, Metalica decided to go different way. They teamed up with Lou Reed and decided to make a record with him. There have been a lot of talking since the announcement about what it will be like since we consider the fact that for many people Lou Reed and Metalica are just so different and they actually really are.

Of course, it sounded weird, but everybody still believed it has to be good - it's Metallica and Lou Reed, two well respected artists.

But when 30-second preview of song "The View" appeared on LouReedMetallicaTV Youtube channel, people started to be skeptical. Later, they made the whole song available and according to Youtube like/dislike buttons, people hated it more than they loved it. It is actually kind of a shame to make an opinion about the whole album based on one song or only 30-second preview. We have to consider that it is conceptual album that needs to be taken as a whole. It shouldn't be hated based on one song.

Like many long-awaited albums, Lulu leaked on the internet before it was officially out. I think that many people decided not to wait until the official release and just downloaded the album. Well, now the album has been officially out for a week and I want to share my thoughts about it with you.

Lulu starts with quiet acoustic guitar from the starting song "Brandenburg Gate". Later, Reed joins in with singing (better said talking) along with the guitar. After 50 seconds, Metallica starts playing their typical guitars and Hetfield`s voice singing in the chorus. And sadly, I have to say that all songs have this similar structure. Metallica plays a riff basically throughout the whole song and Reed sings or speaks in top of it.
The second song "The View", already mentioned, is really Reed`s talking over the Metallica`s heavy guitars in the background. The guitar riffs are very repetitive especially in this song.

The third song - "Pumping Blood" is slower song until it passes half of its length. Heavy guitars are joined. I think it is also the only song in which Hetfield does not sing at all. It is just Reed in this one.

Fourth song, "Mistress Dread", kicks it off from the beginning with nice metal riff. However, during this song, I start realizing, all songs are very similar and do not offer much different stuff. The ending of this song is good though.

Fifth song, "Iced Honey" is for me the catchiest song of the album. It is the shortest track, it has got a cathy guitar riff and Reed sings actually kind of different and better in this one.

Last song of the first disc, "Cheat on Me", is the best song from the whole album to me. It is just so sad,urgent and beautiful at the same time. The songs start slowly. After 3 minutes, Reed urgently starts singing the sentence "why do you cheat on me" (this phrase appears a lot in this song). As the song goes, more and more instruments are added. At the end of sixth minute, song really starts. Hetfield start singing with Reed and they sound awesome together.

First song of the second disc "Frustration" starts really with frustrating sound of whatever it is. The lyrics is also kind of frustrating...However, at this point of the album, it does not offer anything new.

Second song of the disc 2 - "Little Dog" is more Velvet Underground song than Metallica/Lou Reed. The whole song is basically reed and acoustic guitar. Electric guitar in the background appears occasionally. It is one of the better songs of the album though.

Third song of the second disc is called "Dragon". It is my least favorite track of Lulu. However, I have to appreciate the riff.

The last and the longest song of the album is "Junior Dad". It is almost 20 minutes long. It's got this nice clean electric guitar at the beginning. This song is a great closer. Even though second half of this track is just slow-spacing sound of keyboards and guitars, somehow it works for me.

In overal, I really do like this album. It is not typical album. It is not album for the first listen. It is album that needs to be taken as a complex.

You need to listen to all 90 minutes at once so you get the idea. Of course it has low points and maybe you get tired of Reed's talk almost in every song, but it is well put together and it just works as an entity. Especially the riffs are really good. On the other hand, Lou Reeds sing-talking is sometimes really bad.

The lyrics may be funny and just absurd for somebody. The whole album starts with the sentence "I would cut my legs and tits off". I can really imagine many of you just turn this album off and never listen to it again. I mean, the lyrics are really really weird. It's just too weird sometimes, but I guess that was the purpose. This album is about sex,violence,drugs but sometimes it is just too much. However, it is definately worth istening and at least giving it a try, because albums like this do not come out everyday.