Aw, mom you're just jealous it's the Beastie Boys
The Wreckers
Stand Still, Look Pretty
In this debut album, Michelle Branch teams up with fellow singer Jessica Harp to produce a surprisingly impressive collection of edgy country songs. Fans of Michelle Branch's pop albums may be turned off initially by her new country sound, but after listening to the album, they will quickly discover a richer sound than previously delivered by the artist's airy pop hits. Self-described as "modern country," the songs have much more of a rock sound than pop-country groups like the Dixie Chicks but still express a definitive country twang.
Almost each track lists either (or both) Branch or Harp on the writing credits. Standout songs that you will find yourself singing along to include the upbeat "Leave the Pieces," "Lay Me Down," and "Rain," all of which exhibit the duo's trademark blend of country and rock. One of the more country-sounding pieces is "My Oh My," a song with enough fiddle to fill a square-dance hall. Every song on this album tells its own musical and lyrical narrative that invites the listener to escape into The Wreckers' enticing new niche of country-rock-whatever. Stand Still, Look Pretty should hook new fans right from the start.
-- Rachel Friedman
tool
10,000 Days
The release of 10,000 Days saw its climb to the number one spot on the top 200 Billboard charts in Canada, the US, Europe, Australia, and Austria. The WMMR reported that tickets to the Philadelphia show had sold out in one minute thirty eight seconds. The first single to come from the new album, "Vicarious," is the first song on the new album and serves as a link between Lateralus, their previous effort, and 10,000 days. "Vicarious" presents its focus in a clearer and more easily interpretable fashion than the previous albums but of the songs on the 10,000 Days album sounds most similar to Lateralus. "Vicarious" introduces a more direct approach by Maynard to make his message clear, in this case he writes about a fascination with watching death and violence from a distance.
10,000 Days plays excellently, each song blends into the next and offers something different. Tool is the only good metal band still making music and manages to improve and refine its sound with each album.
Tool doesn't release their albums on Itunes or any other online avenue because they firmly believe in the complete listening experience. 10,000 days' "Lipan Conjuring" is a 1:11 Native American chant that many might just skip over if they had to pay per song. But buying the album has its advantages. The CD comes with a built in stereoscope reminiscent of Coney Island but with less vaudeville and more skulls. Also included are images of each band member, something that a tool album hasn't included since the first release (they also do not appear in their music videos). According to the band's site "the four individual photos [of the band members] can be used as the pieces of a kind of puzzle." Tool's constant inclusion of a deeper meaning to even the cover art of their album keeps listeners searching and probing every song. With the majority of the songs on the album clocking in at over seven minutes, there certainly is a lot to probe.
Tool has consistently released high quality, enjoyable albums that are meant to create an experience when listened to from beginning to end. Although 10,000 days doesn't quite stack up to Lateralus yet, it is still the best metal being made today.
-- Ted Keller
