Disconnected

Keane's beautifully shot brand new music video. They're back, everyone!



Just a reminder, the new album, Strangeland is due to be released on May 7th.

Burn It Down

For all those remaining Linkin Park fans out there...



Well, this is at least a lot more interesting than their last album.

Revisiting: Abandoned Pools

While I do not post often, I have decided the majority of my posts for NAW will be revisiting bands from my past that I really enjoyed, but maybe didn't take off like planned. Previously, I took a look at the tremulous career of one Alpha Rev, dubbed one of the next big acts by numerous music biz people, but never got the push they deserve. For this post, i'll revisit the climatic sounds of Abandoned Pools.

The first time I heard Abandoned Pools was in the summer of 2001. Born from the ashes of Tommy leaving his perviously well-known band, The Eels, due to creative differences, Tommy formed a few short-lived bands before focusing on his solo work, later named Abandoned Pools. Humanistic was released in 2001, with the song "The Remedy" being pushed heavily in rotation at rock radio stations around the US. While it was classified as a solo project, many friends of Tommy often helped in the recording and touring process, including Bryan Head (worked with Foreigner, Live, Eddie Vedder, Dave Navarro, and others).

After falling in love with the darkness of "The Remedy", fans were starved of new music for 4 years. Abandoned Pools eventually signed with Universal, released the progressive rock gem Armed to the Teeth. The album had little push from the label, so a few months after its release, Tommy walked away from the label, went on hiatus from Abandoned Pools, and worked on two side projects - alt-rock band Glacier Hiking with Ryan Teddar (of onerepublic fame) and electronic band oliver the penguin - all while working at an Apple Store in California to pass the time and pay the bills. In 2011, he picked Abandoned Pools back up, signed a record deal with Tooth & Nail Records, and is planning the release of a new CD, his first release in 7 years, entitled Sublime Currency. Below are a selection of songs from his two previous LPs, as well as one new song. While Tommy has yet to hit the success many thought Abandoned Pools were capable of, there is one last shot of hope on the horizon for Abandoned Pools, Tommy, and his career under the moniker.

"Waiting To Panic" off of Armed to the Teeth

"Lethal Killers" off of Armed to the Teeth

"The Remedy" off of Humanistic

"Marigold" off the upcoming album Sublime Currency

Weapons

Here we go. Better late than never...

I'm far from what you'd call a typical lostprophets' fan. While I enjoy their debut and sophomore albums enourmously, I actually think they were getting continuosly better with time and that Liberation Transmission and especially The Betrayed are the best showcase of the band's capabilities.

But while on The Betrayed the band successfully stretched their range to both heavier and softer, more melodic sound, Weapons marks a safe return to their comfort zone. Lostprohets find themselves right back where they left once the Liberation Transmission tour was over. It's not necessarily a bad thing, though. Weapons is the closest they've been to Start Something, still the most popular album among their fans, ever since it came out. Needless to say, the fans are generally pleased with the newest effort.

The record takes off with Bring Em' Down, and just like we've come to expect from this band, the first track is also the heaviest. Weapons then races on, hardly ever losing pace (perhaps only in the rapping parts on Better Off Dead) and presenting one anthem after another. The band's pop sensibilities come to display on Heart On Loan or Somedays, while their experimental side shows up on the final track, Can't Get Enough. As usually, the closer doesn't quite fit with the rest of the album musically, which only makes it all the more interesting.



If anything, the album proves one thing. When it comes to writing big, catchy, stadium ready choruses, lostprophets have almost no equals. And they're remarkably consistent. They may never get rid of the 'kerrang band' stigma, but they are driven and there's at least the sense of honesty to everything they're doing. And then, there's the sentimental aspect. Lostprophets were one of the bands that helped to shape my taste in music and thus I tend to look past some of their imperfections. I'll always have a soft spot for them.

You shouldn't by any means miss the deluxe version of Weapons, which contains some great bonus 'Garage Sessions' songs. Especially Safe Yourself would make a killer track, had it been included on the regular edition. And if you want to read a track by track guide to the album by Ian Watkins, head over to NME.com.

Here's to hoping they'll tour the continental Europe someday...

Best tracks: Bring Em' Down, Jesus Walks, Can't Get Enough

Somebody That I Used to Know

I don't know if you've heard this song before or not, but I can't get enough of it! Before this song, I'd never heard of Belgian singer Gotye, but this song came on the radio in my hometown a few weeks ago and I fell in love! The video's a bit weird for my tastes, but I love the song.

To Be the Best

The D is back and their new album's gonna be the best one ever made. That's not an opinion, that's a fact.

Silenced By the Night

This new deserves its own post.

The new Keane album will be out in May. The band have stated that they were inspired by The Vaccines' debut record also that the album will have the vibe of their earlier songs. I am stoked.

Meanwhile, their brand new track appeared on the webs. Personally, I think they still got it. It's only about the path they'll take. Your thoughts?

Some Nights

When fun. released their debut in 2009, the lead singer Nate Ruess had already been a prominent vocalist and songwriter since the days of his former band, The Format. That album, Aim and Ignite, gained them considerable critical acclaim and plenty of new fans. By the end of 2009, it was featured on many AOTY lists and fun. had become one of the most interesting and promising new bands to watch. I was far from impressed, though. Can't say I didn't try to be hip like the other kids and get into the album, but it wasn't exactly my cup of tea. Back then, it was too poppy for my taste and I didn't like any of the songs except for the single All the Pretty Girls.

But I couldn't get over Nate Ruess' skinny jeans in that video... Seriously, who made him wear that? However, years passed and I found myself drawn deeper and deeper into alternative and pop genres. Yeasayer, MGMT, M83... You get the picture.

Anyway, then the lead single We Are Young came out. It was even featured on Glee and it became immediately clear that fun. would go even further into mainstream with their sophomore record. And let's be honest, that isn't the exact way to gain my sympathies. Moreover, having heard of their many hip hop influences, namely Kanye West and his pompous twisted fantasy nonsense, I was ready to hate the hell out of Some Nights.

Nonetheless, upon the first listen, my opinion changed swiftly. Because what I heard was a band expressing pure love and joy of making music. By mixing up their influences, incorporating many new styles and sounds and showing their renowned melodic sensibilities, fun. managed to create an album that sounds contemporary, very poppy and yet progressive. Kind of like what Brian Wilson did with Pet Sounds. And that seminal Beach Boys' album comes to mind several times throughout Some Nights. It's pure pop, but in the best possible sense.

It isn't without flaws, though. While the first half of Some Nights is absolutely stellar, the second one just feels a little bit weaker. It's hard to compete with songs as good as the notorious single We Are Young or the title track, which might be the very best song on the record. And then, there's the much debated, largely unnecessary and almost profane use of vocoder. Nate Ruess' voice certainly doesn't need any tweaking and the efforts to make it sound "better" come out rather unfortunate. However the band had a different opinion and we can't do anything but to respect it. Fortunately, it's featured only a few times throughout the album, which doesn't let it spoil the impression.

After all, with the boost from Glee, Super Bowl commercials, its own qualities and wide accessibility, it's no wonder the album landed on #3 on the Billboard chart. Huge success. Two months in, I think it is already safe to say that Some Nights will become one of the 2012's essential albums.

Best tracks: Some Nights, We Are Young (ft. Janelle Monáe), Why Am I the One

P.S. Don't miss the bonus track Out On the Town.

Farmer & His Gun

...and in case you missed it, there's the new music video from Charlie Simpson's latest single, Farmer & His Gun.

No One Does It Better

Newest music video from You Me At Six, probably the biggest UK pop punk band right now. When the band released their debut album, Take Off Your Colours, in 2008 I hated it and couldn't understand the hype at all. But then I enjoyed their sophomore effort, Hold Me Down, and gave the band a second chance. Their latest single is from last year's album, Sinners Never Sleep, which was again hyped to the sky but didn't quite meet the expectations. Maybe next time...

The song itself is perhaps the slowest and softest from the whole album.



In an interview, the band once mentioned Futures and Jimmy Eat World in general to be a huge influence on them. Obviously, they have a good taste.