Pretence, Power and Perfection
October 8th, 2008 - Written by stevek
The Hoa-Hoa’s: Sonic Bloom
There’s something truly pleasurable about Psychedelic Rock, Acid Rock, Progressive Rock and all that exists at the ultraviolet end of the musical spectrum. Maybe it’s the improvisational style, the long-form songs, the dreamlike, surreal ambiance that good Psych Rock creates.
The problem is that it is a genre that opens itself up to the possibility of excessive pretension. Pretension, like faking a Manchester accent when singing. Pretension, like riffing on Strawberry Alarm Clock, Pink Floyd, with elements of Joy Division, U2 and the Cult.
There’s no doubt that the members of the Hoa-Hoa’s (Pronounced “Wah-Wah’s”) have drive and talent. There’s no doubt that they love their chosen genre of music. The problem is they are squandering that talent, that drive and that love of music by making sound-alike songs. Likewise, the whole Working-Class British accent only works if you’re actually Working-Class and British. If, like the members of the Hoa-Hoa’s, you’re from suburban Toronto, well, you come off insincere.
If the Hoa-Hoa’s actually stop trying to sound like their musical idols and start trying to create their own sound and their own spin on Psych Rock, if they can lose the phony British accents when they sing, they could actually do a lot to liven up the genre. If they keep behaving like pretentious sound-alikes, well, they probably won’t amount to much more than a famous-in-Toronto bar band.
I can’t recommend this album; it’s just not good enough. I’m looking forward to hearing the next release they put out, a year or so down the road, and finding out how their sound evolves. Perhaps, if they do the next one right, then ‘Sonic Bloom’ will become an interesting reference, to see what their departure point was.
The Hoa-Hoa’s: Sonic Bloom
Optical Sounds
Steve’s Rating: 5/10
Metallica: Death Magnetic
I know, I know: this came out nearly a month ago, the time to review it really should have been then. However, when you mainly fly solo doing music reviews, sometimes some things fall by the wayside. If you’ve already heard the new Metallica and liked it, you can skim this one.
This album sounds a lot like classic Metallica. It’s not overproduced like some of their previous efforts, the songs are epic in scope and construction, and they deliver track after track of rock-hard, take-no-prisoners Heavy Metal.
The high point of the album, for me, is “Broken, Beat and Scarred”, a powerful anthem to people who don’t give up. Like the rest of the album, it is an aggressive song, loud, guitar-driven and enraged. The whole of Death Magnetic teems with power, the sort of driven energy that first propelled them into the stratosphere of Heavy Metal superstardom more than two decades ago.
‘Death Magnetic’ is a return to the source for Metallica; if you’re a die-hard or a wayward fan and you don’t own this one (or if you haven’t at least downloaded it) I can only wonder: what are you waiting for?
Metallica: Death Magnetic
Warner
Steve’s (admittedly very late) rating: 9/10
Oasis: Dig Out Your Soul
The Gallagher Brothers have been making music for fourteen years, now. Despite the volumes of derision heaped upon them by critics and fans alike in their early years, Oasis’ six previous albums have all scored multiplatinum success, each of them counting hit singles from their tracklists.
I admit that even I dismissed Oasis for a good while, but I cannot deny that their music has always been beautiful, original and unique in today’s musical spectrum. Those who disparage Oasis as nothing more than Beatles sound-alikes haven’t bothered to listen. Yes, there are similarities, especially between Liam Gallagher’s vocals and the late, great John Lennon’s vocal style, but the former manages an edge, a barely-subdued anger that Lennon was never capable of.
‘Dig Out Your Soul’ is a perfect album to reintroduce yourself to Oasis if you’ve previously put them down, or a perfect album to continue listening to them, if you’ve been loyal all this time. Either way, you will love this album; there is nothing here that distracts, detracts or disappoints. Oasis have produced what is, arguably, their best work.
The 11 tracks on this album are nothing short of perfect; songs like “Waiting for the Rapture” and “[Get Off Your] High Horse Lady” stand out on an album of outstanding work. Hands down, this is the best album I’ve listened to, this year.
Oasis: Dig Your Soul
Warner
Steve’s Rating: 10/10
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