NEW AND IN REVIEW
Beck
The Information
(Interscope)
The ability to constantly change, yet, always staying the same — that's kept Beck Hansen not just relevant, but prominent on the scene since being a "Loser" in the mid-90s. It's a tough balancing act, but works like The Information, his seventh album, advance Beck's one-of-a-kind art. Even his pick of Nigel Goodrich to produce the disc was clever. He and Beck combined creative forces to make a fun album, far distant from his recent folk fascination and packed with his trademark bounces. There's enough electro bloops and blops to last until the next Beck album; considering today's industry needs artists like him more than ever, it can't arrive soon enough.
Mastodon
Blood Mountain
(Reprise)
A few years back, something called "nu-metal" began dominating the genre — utilizing melody and rhythmic punch, its one of the style's best phases in its rather brief history. However, out with the "nu" and in with the new, as Mastodon is leading a fresh charge of metal, mach '06, with its gritty, dark style (think Queens of the Stone Age mixed with Slayer). Its ambitious new album Blood Mountain capsules this new brand fantastically, with 12 memorably piercing tunes that explore metal's underworld, yet retain enough mainstream texture to be tangible. It's an outstanding mix.
Silversun Pickups
Carnavas
(Dangerbird)
Attacking with the rawness of My Bloody Valentine, but the sweetness of Smashing Pumpkins and recent Sonic Youth, LA's Silversun Pickups is creating deserved buzz with its premiere Carnavas. The album has innocence to its dreamy tone — like it's OK to be a pop band and experiment ("Melatonin" and "Checkered Floor"). If that's a concept this quartet can never let go of, its potential is limitless.
Motorhead
Kiss of Death
(Sanctuary)
The phrase power trio is overused — I mean, just because there're three members in a rock band doesn't mean they have power. But when it comes to Motorhead, underline it and put it in italics — Lemmy and company have been had the power on full blast for 30 years. Kiss of Death sees the mighty Motorhead return like a band still at peak form, as the chugging opener "Sucker" is like a great sequel to "Ace of Spades."
The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads
(Vagrant)
During the grunge explosion of the 90s, it seemed like everybody's brother, sister and fourth cousin formed a band — it was an epidemic. The Lemonheads appeared as one of those newbies with the '92 favorite It's a Shame About Ray, but really Evan Dando formed the group in 1984. Two decades after its debut, The Lemonheads are back with its first disc in 10 years — a collection of 11 new straightforward, upbeat rockers.
Tony Bennett
Duets: An American Classic
(Columbia)
Wow, Tony Bennett's got some cool friends — and look no further than his partners on Duets to realize just how influential some of them are. Paul McCartney, Elton John, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder and Elvis Costello, just to name a few, join Bennett to croon some old, laid-back jazz standards.
Novembre
Materia
(Peaceville)
This Italian three-piece is that land's answer to bands like Porcupine Tree and H.I.M., creating graceful, driving progressive rock that's efficient, not indulgent. Materia is a glorious work of broad, musician-friendly sensory appealing hard rock.
NICK'S PICK
Porcupine Tree
Deadwing
(2005/Lava)
The 2005 album of the year is one I'd been waiting many years for — a strong, confident rock essential.
Give Go&Do editor and music writer Nick Brandon a compliment, complaint or just a helloat 734.246.0861 or NBrandon@GoAndDoMichigan.com
GO
Generalinfo
