Music

“Lead Sails Paper Anchor,” Atreyu’s latest album, is a little different than what fans are used to. It still has the same drive and riffs that Atreyu is famous for, but there is an important factor that’s missing. The heavy screaming that is associated with Atreyu is no longer painfully evident. Instead, the band has opted to follow the footsteps of a band such as Avenged Sevenfold and toned their screaming to a minimal. The music in the background now almost drowns out the vocals, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The talent of the rest of the band now shines through clearly, and radio-listeners rejoice. Screamo is very outdated nowadays, and it’s a relief that Atreyu decided to jump off that wagon. Old time fans may disagree with this change and may even go as far as to calling them ‘sell-outs,’ but there are bound to be new fans so the band should have nothing to worry about.

4 out of 5 stars

The British are very well-known for their infamous "potty mouth". Songstress Kate
Nash makes sure this stereotype is heard loud and clear on her album Made of Bricks.
But don't get a rash assumption on account of the parental advisory warning label.
Her innocent and cheery musicality gives a unique and contrasting effect to her sour and sullen messages - an effect, which instantly perked my ears and piqued my attention.

What I found quite refreshing about Made of Bricks is that this brit singer's music is quite simplistic. From the repetitive "play" to the acoustic "d***head", Kate takes a more instrumental approach to her craft. Aside from "Pumpkin Soup" à la Beyoncé Knowles, this girl beats to her own drum and pounds @#$%! the keys.

3.5 out of 5 stars

When life stresses you out, when you're in for a long drive, or you just need to be lulled to sleep, what can you turn to? Look no more, for Ben Lee's Ripe has the solution to your confusion.

With slow guitar ballads and a soft voice, the Australian-born singer has a way with soothing the sa@#$%!e beast in all of us. His music provides a great stress-buster tool whenever we get frazzled with what life throws at us.

So, whether you're a type “A” individual or just worn out mid-week, Ben Lee's Ripe is just the album to get you loosened up and feeling like it's the weekend.

This singer/songwriter is from our very own Vancouver Island. She prides herself on being fully responsible for her album; she orchestrated everything, personally. Haley contributes her talent to her father’s recording studio, which served everyone from Miles Davies to rap artists; she grew up surrounded by music.

Coming to a Starbucks near you, Hayley Sales’s album has that laid back alternative vibe that is revered by frappacino-drinkers everywhere. I love this CD because I can listen to it with my friends, as well as my mom. It’s very universal and offers something to everyone. It is the perfect soundtrack to a walk in the park or a day at the beach; it’s very relaxing and laid back.

Black earth tiger is the second album Emanuel has released, their debut album, Soundtrack to A Headrush, was released in 2005. The band, which has five members, originated in Indiana and had a less then perfect start. Their music was criticized at first. However after the band adopted a more mature indie-rock sound, things started to take off.

Black Earth Tiger incorporates a rock sound in tandem with an alternative indie vibe. This variety makes the album easy to listen to. The album alternates between fast paced harsh metal songs with stunning guitar and a little bit of ‘screamo’, and slower songs with great melodies. This allowed me to listen to the CD all the time because it had so many different things to offer, depending on my mood.

Dragonette is a part-Canadian, part-British band that produces an interesting electro-pop sound. Named the #1 act to look out for in 2007 by the music blog Popjustice, Dragonette is expected to do great things.

I listen to Galore while at work, and its upbeat electric sound is very motivating and entertaining; it has earned a semi-permanent spot in the company stereo. The single “I Get Around” is very catchy and I constantly find myself humming it. It is also great to listen to while at the gym or in your car. The simple pop tunes are easy to like.

However, because the simple pop tunes are just that, simple, the album has been labeled as boring and unoriginal. Although I do like the album, it is nothing groundbreaking or spectacular. Unfortunately, I predict that this album will be easily forgotten in the future. But, Dragonette has a significant amount of talent so perhaps their next album will reflect it properly with a more original and creative line-up.

Cexcells is a musical project developed by Davey Havok and Jade Puget of the well-known punk band AFI. The side project was believed to have started sometime in 2001, but was on an extended hiatus for a time. Although some remnants of AFI can be detected in this new album, Havok and Puget really have created a sound that sets the two bands apart quite clearly. The guys have admitted to their love of synthesizers, and it shows through in the music, giving Cexcells a futuristic pop sound.

The great thing about this album is that it is so versatile. I can listen to it while running on the treadmill or just sitting at home listening to my iPod. Every song on this album has a different type of sound so you are constantly entertained. The use of software and synthesizers also makes it extremely easy to dance to.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Whether it was their intention of not, “Fantastic Playroom” reminded me of the B52’s (you may remember the song “Love Shack” from gym class, but trust me, the songs are much better when you don’t associate them with line dancing). A much edgier version of the B52’s. There is the same sense of excitement to their songs, the same randomness to the lyrics and the same slightly frenetic, off-kilter beat.

My personal favorites are “The Bomb”, “Jerk Me” and “F.A.N.” I enjoyed the shifts from excitement to deadpan cynicism. The intentional (I imagine) breaks in rhythm and tone highlight their words and drive the meaning home. For all that their voices are often without inflection, it makes sense for it is more the rhythm that drives the music on than the voices. If you like your music edgy and random, I recommend “Fantastic Playroom.”

3.5 out of 5 stars

“Who Do You Think You Are” is the first Dala CD I’ve ever listened to, while I enjoyed it, I have to say that it wasn’t really my kind of music. The songs were often bittersweet, but always clever. The singing was harmonious with none of the pointless moaning and groaning singers use when they can’t actually sing. These girls can sing, then can play their own instruments and it’s clear from their lyrics that they aren’t lacking in intelligence.

Something about Dala’s songs that makes them particularly Canadian are the references to Canadian culture that are slipped into the lyrics. In the song “Don’t Wait” they express the opinion that if they fail, we will “always need more teachers” (which, while true for many places, is always one of the issues in Canada). There is strong imagery in the lyrics and veiled allusions to pop culture. One thing that I didn’t particularly like was that many of the songs were very similar, and most were slower, gentler songs then I tend to like. However, while it wasn’t my all time favorite, I would absolutely recommend this CD to others.

4 out of 5 stars

I definitely liked listening to this CD. There was something about the instrumentation and unique style that quickly drew me into the music. The first track on this CD “Before I Knew” starts with an interesting combination of ukulele and some clapping. It then moves into a catchy melody laced with beautiful harmonies. However, it seems to end too quickly. “I was a Daughter” is complemented by the addition of a piano and violin along with a driving drum part that weaves in and out of the song. The music is beautiful and very flowing. Bulat’s vocals are very expressive and emotion filled. A few of the songs take on a sort of deep melancholy mood. Being a flute player myself, I thought that the use of flute was neat. Bulat is able to successfully take the unique sounds of different instruments and blend them together to come up with a stunning textured sound.