Day & Age

On November 24th, 2008 the Killers did not reinvent themselves.  Instead, with the release of their 4th album Day & Age, they did what they always do, with a little extra 80s on top.  You won't find anything more than what you expect from The Killers: synth pop rock, channeling Duran Duran, David Bowie, and The Smiths with a little more of a modern dance beat.

The album itself could almost be split right in two.  

The first 3 or 4 songs are really pop dance songs.  Vannucci Jr. really pushes the band forward with a pounding base drum.  Unfortunately, there are a large number of moments when it feels like Flowers can't keep up with the speed of the song.  His vocals seem to almost fall behind the beat. When he does keep up, it sounds as if he struggling to do so. 

The second half of the album is far more relaxed, starting with the African and Caribbean feel of This is Your Life and I Can't Stay.  The songs on this half of the album don't have the same push as the first few songs, but that also gives way to stronger vocals by Flowers.  I personally think the second half of the album is far and away the better half.

Honestly, this album won't blow anyone away.  The Killers aren't known for really reinventing the music world, and this album won't do anything to change that.  I personally feel they haven't created anything better than Hot Fuss, but this album is, once again, solid.  If you like The Killers, there should really be no complaints.  This is exactly what we have come to expect from the band, and the album, though not amazing, is a good listen.

Woops

On a regular basis, I find myself listening to albums I have had for awhile and never really liked, but end up changing my mind about them.  Whether the songs come up in a shuffle, get recommended by a friend, or just happen to get played by chance, it happens to me all the time and it's great.  

Finding that you actually love an album you already own is a great feeling. It's like getting a great album for free.  In the last year, this has happened with Modest Mouse, Talking Heads, and Damien Rice's 9 just to name a few of the better known groups I have "retried".  

Honestly, I have been trying to listen to everything I have, even if I didn't like it at first.  Bands tend to grow on me and I think its worth the time to give some old stuff a chance.  Try it out.

To change directions....

It's Oscar Season! The time of year when all the movie lovers can get together and criticize the academy for awarding the wrong movies.  I cannot believe that they have overlooked Synedoche New York.  Honestly, go and see it. I highly recommend it.  Phillip Seymour Hoffman is amazing in everything and deserved a nod for Synedoche more than for Doubt in which he was completely outdone by Meryl Streep.  I've been able to see the majority of the films up for awards and it is a great year for film.  Hopefully they'll get it at least mostly correct this year.

Band to check out: Office

Movie to see: The Wrestler

Almost Here

Counting down the days to Obama!!!

Alright so we can all vote for hope, but that doesn't mean it will happen.  The problem is that, even though Obama is the president, doesn't mean he can just fix all of our problems.  I guess all I want to say is: keep this in mind over the next four years.  He will do his best (and odds are good it'll be an improvement over the last eight dismal years), but it will take time.  

With that idea in mind, let's get excited. If Obama turns out to be everything that we have been promised, the next 4 to 8 years could be amazing.

The end of good TV?

Happy Holidays everyone!!!

Thanks to finals and festivus (and some other more minor holidays) celebrations, I have been a little side tracked.  

Anyway, this week I have a complaint: TV sucks.   That may be a little too broad.  Broadcast television sucks.  Cable, especially premium networks, are still pumping out some good stuff (see The Daily Show, Californication, Dexter, and Flight).  However, I find myself wishing that the broadcast networks could get their act together and put out a show that (A) isn't just an over dramatic prime time soap opera (see Grey's, Desperate House Wives, etc.) or (B) a dumbed down comedy created for the lowest common denominator (see Two and Half Men, My Name is Earl, etc.).  This is one of those posts where I'll come across as an elitist, sorry.  If you like those shows I'm sure you have your reasons and you should go ahead and enjoy them.  There is a reason why those shows are on the air.  Networks only care if you watch, not if the programming is good.  After all it is a business.  So I'll just take advantage of my ability to change the channel, thank you 100+ channels. 

It hasn't always been this way, and hopefully it won't continue.  I find myself watching way too many reruns of Seinfeld and Arrested Development.  Please networks, give us something good again.

Feel free to disagree.

Movie to watch: Wristcutters 

Band to check out: Cloud Cult

P.S. The Office rocks but is going down hill, 30 Rock is hit or miss, and How I Met Your Mother has its days.