Wolfgang Gartner - Bounce/Get It

Techno Tuesday is back with a semi odd caveat just like the new music review today. Wolfgang Gartner puts out a lot of music every couple of months, but the releases are all in separate EP type records. So I'm reviewing an 'album' that only has two tracks on it today. Strange right? Well, I'm doing this for two reasons. 1) Typically his albums only have one actual song on them, just mixed 3 or 4 different ways. I figured that's even less good, because you're really not getting introduced to anything new that way. 2) I'm hoping it will inspire people to go and listen to other stuff by him. If you've been grooving to my house/techno/dance day, this will get your toes tapping for sure. I first found out about Mr. Gartner about a year ago. I've been trying to get my hands on more stuff by him, but honestly he's hard to find. He has no entry on Wikipedia for cryin' out loud!! Who isn't on Wiki nowadays? He has a couple tracks on iTunes for purchase and then a few on other sources, but not easy to come by. Best Buy appears not to sell his stuff as I can't find it in the store or online. Not sure why I'd want to remain so out of reach if my goal was to make music to get rich, but that's another story. Anyway, dance nuts unite and check this out. I'm a little curious how many people I reach that are actually into this type of music. Maybe shoot me a post that gives me a yes or no. I really enjoy this genre, but maybe my recommendations are being passed over. If you've even got hooked on one song of one record I put out there, I'd love to hear that too. Happy Tuesday B Siders!

TRACK LISTING:
1. Bounce
2. Get It

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Bounce
2. Get It
3. Uhh....Bounce Again?

FINAL RATING:
Only because it's two songs:
2.75 out of 5 stars

Crash Test Dummies - Oooh La La

New Music Tuesday returns with a semi odd album. I think we've all heard of the Dummies before with such monstrous hits as MMM MMM MMM MMM and God Shuffled His Feet - but I'm not sure how many people have ever actually listened to an album by them before. I know I did back in the day - but being so young it was probably hard for me to appreciate their style. Side note for the day, what a SLOW new music day today. My choices were either this, Meat Loaf or something really - really obscure. Must just be one of those weeks. So back to CTD's, this album is very strange. It has a lot of big band type elements to it and then a couple songs that could pass for modern folk music. I can tell you this record was inspired by some old toys that used to produce music - but quite honestly the story is fairly boring. I can tell you the lead singer, Brad Roberts has one of those voices that is so intruiging, it makes you want more - but you probably already know about that. I can tell you that I was watching this channel called Paladia that shows only different concerts and then music videos late at night, and one day they had a CTD concert on. It was them playing at some church in the middle of Tennessee I think, back in the early 2000's. How weird is that? I think even the most religious of artists wouldn't play a church, and I know that Mr. Robers isn't that into the lord because he used the GD phrase in his tuneage which is typically a no-no. Very odd. Well anyhow, maybe one day I'll get to the old stuff by them, but until then give this one a shot. It's almost genreless with it's movement all over the music world. Kind of a neat idea, also kind of odd. So I'll have to rate it as such. I encourage you to check it out though, as it is kind of cool.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Songbird
2. You Said You'd Meet Me (In California)
3. And It's Beautiful
4. Paralyzed
5. In-Between Place, The
6. Not Today Baby
7. Heart Of Stone
8. Lake Bras d'Or
9. What I'm Famous For
10. Now You See Her
11. Put A Face

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Songbird
2. Heart Of Stone
3. And It's Beautiful

FINAL RATING:
3 out of 5 stars

The Who - Who's Next

So, it seems quite a few people were actually introduced to The Who at the Super Bowl this year. It's one of those bands that if you're not into classic rock, you've heard a dozen songs by them but don't have any idea who sings them or anything about The Who. Well, clearly they are a great band. I don't think they get the credit they deserve sometimes. I feel so many people point to Baba O'Riley, call it 'overrated' and say they're not that great. But here is a prime example of why that view is ridiculous. 'Who's Next' is simply put a rock solid record. In addition to O'Riley, it has a monster ballad in 'Blue Eyes' and then an amazing guitar anthem with 'Fooled'. I feel that people who refer to The Who as overrated or not that great are just ignorant people who don't actually listen to music. Or hear the "hits" on radio and pass judgment. Truth is, they are just as good as any classic rock band out there. The show the range and have different sounds and styles that make them great. Now, I'm not saying I enjoy them as much as Zeppelin, Floyd, Hendrix, Beatles etc...but I can see why anyone would. They have a sound that is easy to enjoy and fun to listen to. If you're a Who newbie, check this record out first. It would be easy to pick up a greatest hits record, but what fun is that? Enjoy this on your Monday B Side, and rock your way into Tuesday!

TRACK LISTING:
1. Baba O'Riley
2. Bargain
3. Love Ain't for Keeping
4. My Wife
5. The Song Is Over
6. Getting In Tune
7. Going Mobile
8. Behind Blue Eyes
9. Won't Get Fooled Again
10. Pure And Easy
11. Baby Don't You Do It
12. Naked Eye
13. Water
14. Too Much Of Anything
15. I Don't Even Know Myself
16. Behind Blue Eyes (Alternate Version)

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Baba O'Riley
2. Won't Get Fooled Again
3. Behind Blue Eyes

FINAL RATING:
4.25 out of 5 stars

+44 - When Your Heart Stops Beating

In the ongoing saga of Blink 182 and their band and their side projects, I was asked to review this record by +44. This group features Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker from Blink. To be honest, I'm just not feelin' it. I believe I mentioned that I was never huge into Blink, and this has a very similar sound to it. Hoppuses vocals sound almost identical to Tom Delonge to me, almost eerily the same. Maybe it would take a true Blink fan to recognize the difference? The record seems pretty poppy for the most part, but then has a couple tracks that slow it down. For those fans out there, did anyone like the side projects more than Blink itself? It seems to me when the group imploded and went separate ways, all these little side bands didn't compare to the real deal Holyfield. But maybe that's just my opinion. I still have to get to Angels and Airwaves as well as Boxcar Racer - and on top of that, I need to get to Blink's 'Dude Ranch' album, that some claim to be their best of. I'm confused, you're confused - let's just wrap this review up. Check it out if you're a Blink fan already - if you aren't, I'd pass it up. Doesn't seem to have anything great to go gaga over.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Lycanthrope
2. Baby Come On
3. When Your Heart Stops Beating
4. Little Death
5. 155
6. Lillian
7. Cliffdiving
8. Interlude
9. Weatherman
10. No, It Isn't
11. Make You Smile
12. Chapter 13

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Make You Smile
2. 155
3. Lycanthrope

FINAL RATING:
2.5 out of 5 stars

Aqualung - Magnetic North

I had a nice post about Aqualung's 'Strange and Beautiful' record back around the Easter timeframe. That review was incredibly positive and I told you to rush out and buy it. Well, that brings me to his new album that just came out April 20th of this year. (I know, I know - I dropped the ball on a New Music Tuesday entry...) I was inspired by Mr. Nail to do another mood type review - and I've been meaning to get to this for a while now anyway. Well, at first glance here - I'm pretty disappointed. One of the greatest pieces of Aqualung's previous work was the complete mix-up of different arrangements. This one is all pretty much the same - all piano, all the time. Usually that would score an extremely high mark from as I love piano compliments, but this just feels ordinary to me. For someone who has such great lyrics and a great voice, my expectations were much higher. About the only song that switches it up is the opening track, which I encourage you to take a listen to. For some reason it sounds exactly like Beck. The style and the lyrics actually sound like Beck...very odd. I would say if you were already a die hard Aqualung groupie, you may like this. I'd say if you REALLY liked S&B - you should give this a shot too. But if you didn't really care for the last one, this one is drastically worse. If you check out my Top 3, only what I'll be listing as my number one has the feel of his previous record. Let me know if you think I'm way off base. It pains me a little to write this because I always told everyone to check him out before. Puzzling.

TRACK LISTING:
1. New Friend
2. Reel Me In
3. Sundowning
4. 36 Hours
5. Fingertip
6. Lost
7. Time Moves Slow
8. California
9. Remember Us
10. Hummingbird
11. Thin Air
12. Magnetic North

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Sundowning
2. Fingertip
3. Remember Us

FINAL RATING:
3 out of 5 stars

David Nail - I'm About To Come Alive

Country day is back on the B Side - and today David Nail's one and only record came across my headphones. For my non country fans, I'm going to try to explain his style to you. He's different. His music has a different feel to it than typical country. If first starts out with great beats in the background. It kicks up with pretty good harmonized vocals - that are always complimented by something...there is some very well played acoustic guitar on some tracks, piano arrangement, harder electrics and then some flat snare. Very pleasing to the ear in almost all cases. Every site flat out lists this as country, but I think there are a few other elements in there. Mr. Nail has a 'mood' type feel to it in some spots, which has a little sound like a Ben Folds. I just reviewed Brandi Carlile the other day, and he has some elements of her too. Very strong on the mic and then passionate lyrically. I have to say I was pretty impressed. Part of it was I listened to track 1 first, and it really caught me. Loved the piano arrangement and the slow methodic vocal. For that reason, it will have to be my top track. To my country fans (JenInTosa recommended this one), I have to imagine you like this album. Seems like it can please both country and non-country fans alike. Non country groovers, check this one out too. I think you'll enjoy at least a couple tracks on this record as well. Happy Friday B Side!!

TRACK LISTING:
1. Mississippi
2. I'm About to Come Alive
3. Red Light
4. Again
5. Clouds
6. Summer Job Days
7. Strangers on a Train
8. Looking for a Good Time
9. This Time Around
10. Turning Home
11. Missouri

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Mississippi
2. I'm About To Come Alive
3. Clouds

FINAL RATING:
3.5 out of 5 stars

B.O.B - The Adventures Of Bobby Ray

I don't care what anyone says, this record is pop music through and through. I know that he's signed to TI's Grand Hustle and they bill him as a 'rapper', but let's be honest - that's ridiculous. It brings up and interesting point, a guy like this from the dirty-dirty in the ATL, he drops a record like this, does he lose all street cred? I mean, every rapper has a slower ballad on a record, but this is full of them. There are some pretty Neptunish beats on a couple tracks which is kind of cool - but this record doesn't even have any cameos by credible rappers. Craziness. I do enjoy that Bobby Ray callaboed with Rivers Cuomo from Weezer. That will put this up just a quarter of a notch in my mind. And I know I already ranted about this, but man - when I pop on the charts, this is killing the HIP HOP charts. Ugh. I want all my rap moguls on the blog to listen to this one and tell me if it has any elements of rap to you. The album is kind of garbage, if it wasn't so catchy in spots and have those couple redeeming tracks where it sounds like someone actually cared about the arrangement. Most tracks I find simply annoying and if I bought it would skip them in heartbeat. Maybe someday Bobby Ray will put out a deeper record (similar to a Kid Cudi maybe) and I'll give him another go. Until then, have fun with this one. I know I won't.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Don't Let Me Fall
2. Nothin' on You
3. Past My Shades
4. Airplanes
5. Bet I
6. Ghost in the Machine
7. Kids, The
8. Magic
9. Fame
10. Lovelier Than You
11. 5th Dimension
12. Airplanes, Pt. 2

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Airplane 2
2. Nothin' On You
3. Magic

FINAL RATING:
2 out of 5 stars