Feature Album Review - The Dresden Dolls; No, Virginia

Boston based musical duo, The Dresden Dolls have been together 7 years, 3 albums, 7 singles, 2 DVDs and countless live performances.

This year sees the release of their fourth full length effort, No, Virginia (out now through Roadrunner records), which is actually a collection of unreleased tracks and B-sides from the Yes, Virginia sessions from their sophomore album of the same name.

The Dresden Dolls sound is usually labelled as being ‘Punk Cabaret’ a title invented by member, Amanda Palmer due to a fear that the press would refer to them as ‘gothic’. In actuality, ‘Punk Cabaret’ is quite a fitting title but one that doesn’t really lend itself to a full explanation of what to expect from their distinctive and overtly unique sound.

I myself am not a fan of ‘The Dolls music. It’s all a little too avant-garde and pretentious for my liking. It’s almost as if they’re trying so hard to be quirky and memorable that they’ve forgotten they’re meant to be making music worth listening to.

The tracks I find the most tolerable include, ‘The Mouse And The Model’, ‘The Gardener’ and ‘The Kill’.

There’s just something about Palmer’s voice that rubs me the wrong way. I can’t quite pinpoint what it is. All I know is after an entire album of her somewhat husky garbling I’m well on my way to needing a large glass of whatever’s on tap.

Don’t take my word for it though. There’s every chance I’m part of the minority that just ‘doesn’t get’ what The Dresden Dolls specific brand of genius is all about. If you’re yet to hear them by all means give No, Virginia a spin. To each their own, after all.

Kyle n Kieren (aka me n Teegs...)

frYars is lovely

I seriously can't stop listening to The Ides EP, it's incredible.

If you've yet to hear the genius that is frYars then check him out here on his myspace.

Feature Album Review - Snowman; The Horse, The Rat and The Swan

It was two years ago now that Perth based indie four piece, Snowman infected our airwaves and CD players with their self titled debut full length release. Their quirky, disjointed and often confusing sound has understandably been the source of much interest.

Snowman are set to release their sophomore record, The Horse, The Rat And The Swan on the 24th of this month, through Remote Control Records.

The album as a whole is a fast paced, highly energetic trip into a nearly unidentifiable world. If you’re into convention then Snowman probably aren’t the band you’ve been waiting for.

The standout tracks include ‘We Are The Plague’, ‘The Gods Of The Upper House’, ‘She is Turning Into You’ and Daniel Was a Timebomb’. The last of which has a distinctively punk-esque edge to it. I’m not talking the pale imitation ’pop-punk’ that we hear so much of these days but the kind worth your time - early Clash/Sex Pistols/Buzzcocks type punk.

In general The Horse, The Rat And The Swan is not my kind of album. At least not the kind I can picture myself feeling the need to listen to on a regular basis but despite that I still find myself quite intrigued by the whole production.

There is something oddly engaging about a record that has the ability to create a sort of noise opera from the very depths of their songs. Snowman defy normality and embrace originality. Definitely a band you’ve got to hear to understand

Injustice for all...

The following has to be one of the most shocking, embarassing and shameful [for Australian Immigration anyway] stories I've heard of late and it's even worse when you consider this isn't an isolated incident.



Daighila are a hardcore/punk band from Malaysia and came to Australia to do a brief East Coast tour late last month, but upon entering the country ended up being interrogated for several hours and then placed in a detention centre for another 24. In a statement to fans on their blog they explain that:

"...They 'assumed' that we came to find jobs and become illegal workers. Despite the lack of proof to convict us and the fact that we've already booked a ticket back from Brisbane, they insisted that we allegedly came to find jobs like the other groups of Malaysians who were detained prior before we arrived. We also presented proofs that we have stable lives in Malaysia. But it was all ignored..."

The band were sent back to Malaysia without any reinbursment or refund for their already purchased return tickets and each member copped a massive fine. It's sad that this happens in the "lucky" country, especially because the band worked really hard to come out here. They weren't going to make any money off their shows, they were doing it for their love of music and the connection they've made with people through their music [whether you like the genre or not].

Sad indeed...

Albert Hammond Jr shows ass, hipsters aroused

NSFW

the start of the obsession?...probs not.