The Dark Knight Rises Soundtrack Review

Went to see The Dark Knight Rises on Friday, was truly an amazing film. So I'd thought I'd start things off by reviewing the soundtrack, one of the best parts of the film with Hans Zimmer outperforming as usual.

I own and love both the Batman Begins score and The Dark Knight score but this score takes it all to a whole new level. It is roughly 52 minutes long and features 15 tracks. It is not an all-out action score by any means, but the action music is exceptionally good. The whole score basically flows through meditative aggression, darkened depression and energizing, forceful action. I love the repeated chant and the unspontaneous brass screeching that is maintained at length without interruption reflecting the entrance of The Dark Knight. I love the way Hans Zimmer highlights the sullen low-spirited feeling and oppressive feelings of gloom and inadequacy throughout this score.

Out of all the tracks one particularly stuck out to me and that was `Imagine The Fire'. It is the lengthiest track on the score (7:25) and Hans Zimmer is truthfully at his best here. This track has an epic and heroic style that just keeps on asserting Zimmer's engaging chaos. This track starts off with full power action music with all of Hans Zimmer's hallmark flair driving it forward. `The Kraken'-like sounds from his Pirates of the Caribbean films surfaces, followed by a mix of a altered choral Batman theme progression, the Bane chant and the fresh line of horns blaring. The theme develops to the heroic line with the Bane intonation undercurrent. I can only describe this track as the finest action track on this album and unquestionably, one of the greatest pieces of action music I have ever listened to!

The Dark Knight Rises Soundtrack feels fresh even though it is based on the previous Batman scores. It rises to a new music level for me and is nothing short of brilliant. Hans Zimmer has added some outstanding explosive stuff that keeps you coming back for more. A Must Buy!

I'm Back!

Finally caught up with all college work. Can finally get this blog back on track. Look forward to writing new reviews and posts about the music I love, gonna be posting about 3/4 times a week so keep your eyes out.

Karnage.

New Foo Fighters album. F*** Yeah!

The band began recording their seventh studio album in August 2010 with producer Butch Vig, who had previously produced the two new tracks for the band's Greatest Hits album. The album was recorded in Dave Grohl's garage using only analog equipment. Vig said in an interview with MTV that the album was entirely analog until post-mastering. Pat Smear was present in many photos posted by Grohl on twitter and a press release in December confirmed Smear played on every track on the album and was considered a core member of the band once again, having initially left as a full time member in 1997 before returning as a touring guitarist in 2006.

The first single from Wasting, titled "Rope", was released to radio on February 23rd. The album is set to be released April 12, 2011. In addition to an upcoming documentary and a new studio album of all original material the Foo Fighters are also releasing a cover album. The record, which is to be called Medium Rare, will feature the Foo Fighter’s renditions of songs from groups like Cream, Pink Floyd and The Ramones. The album will be released on April 16th as a limited-edition vinyl for Record Store Day.

Here's Rope. A seriously killer song. If the whole album is as good as this song, could be their best album yet

Review: Cold War Kids - Mine is Yours

Cold War Kids are an American indie rock band from Long Beach, California. Mine is yours is the third album released by them in January of this year.

Just like CWK's 2010 EP release "Behave Yourself", which was a definite shift in direction from their previous sound, "Mine Is Yours" continues that journey. I will admit it takes a few runs to grow on you - but after that 3rd listen, oh does it ever! Yes, it's a more mainstream sound, but it's still the CWK's we know.

I am a fan of each and every album CWK's have released thus far and as I'm sure many of you will agree, each one took some time to become accustomed to. I am dumbfounded by some of the negative reviews on "Mine is Yours". I can only assume those critics have jumped the gun after only a quick initial listen. Or maybe they are the most extreme, sadly depressed "stock-indie-hipster" folks who feel CWK's pulling away to find some mainstream success will leave them left alone in the dark to sulk.

The best thing CWK's could have done with this album is evolve, and that they did. In the song "Royal Blue" Nathan Willet sings, "why would I stick around, why would I get burned out, oh why would I... I'm always looking for a way out... with the sky as my roof". The lyrics here seem to directly reflect CWK's passion to break free from the "indie" stigma and the trap many indie bands fall into. A trap they ironically build themselves.

Too many other indie bands try and recreate the original sound that gained their initial popularity over and over again. As good as The National are musically, please, change it up. Make me feel happy for once. I get sad every time I hear Matt Berninger open his mouth. It's not that he doesn't have a great voice. It's just the same old depressing lyrics and sound. It's that way through all seven of their albums. As far as I'm concerned they aren't going anywhere creatively. Those type of bands quickly become the newest stale thing out there. They become stuck about as fast as Slant Mag, NME and other sub-par online critics can jump behind their computers and give praise to them for churning in the same old stuff. It's almost like they're saying, "Hey great job! Keep it up! Don't gain success! I need you to stay right where you are forever so I have something to write about!" In the meantime they castrate bands like CWK's and KOL who try and evolve. CWK's should be proud to have taken their sound to the next level. They would have been left behind to go stale otherwise. With "Mine Is Yours", the band is introducing to the mainstream what their unique sound is all about. Do yourself a favor, spend the 10 quid and make your own decision on this one. You will be happy you did.

Check out what is in my opinion the best song on the album.

Review: Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant EP

Have had this review sitting on my hard drive for a goood while. Throwing it up now.

Enjoy

In the words of Amazon

"Seattle's Fleet Foxes make such complex, harmonic, 70s inspired folk-rock, it's hard to believe that the band's principle songwriter, Robin Pecknold, is only 21 years old. There's a moment on David Crosby's "Laughing" where Cros, Joni, and the whole gang hit a harmony that might be the most gorgeous moment in the history of recorded music."

The Fleet Foxes' Sun Giant EP album is a lush blend of baroque-folk-rock-choral harmonies. And, yes, the Beach Boys, CSNY...60s-70s pop influence is apparent.

The most obvious for me is "Drops in a River". The instrumentation barrows a lot from David Crosby's "Laughing". "English Home" has some Beach Boys phrasing. Listening to "Sun Giant" and "Mykonos", you get a hypnotic rhythm reminiscent of the pop tunes from the Zombies, the Association or the Youngbloods.

Lead singer/composer Robin Pecknold's lyrics have a post-modern, non-linear quality. At once, poetic and open to interpretation. I can certainly see the Pacific-Northwest region of the US in some of the lyrics.

Is the Sun Giant EP worth owning? Hey, if you like this genre of music or the Fleet Foxes other songs from their Fleet Foxes album, you'll want this one.

Despite their youth (early 20s), there's a maturity in their song-craft that belies their age. You can almost anticipate greater things are ahead for them. For now though, give these guys a listen and enjoy the brilliance of Sun Giant. I guarantee you'll be playing their songs over and over. I know I haven't since I first heard them on the Radio

Here's the lead single from the EP,the song Mykonos,which also features on the movie Due Date.

It is a song i guarantee will stick with you

RIP: Jet Harris

Just heard on the news, that Jet Harris, former members of The Shadows passed away today due to throat cancer.

I play bass, and he was one my idols, being the role model, which made many of my bass heroes start to even play bass.

He played on many of the Bands hits including Apache , Wonderful Land and He also formed a duo with ex-Shadows drummer Tony Meehan, producing the number one hit Diamonds in 1963 and scoring top five songs with Scarlett O'Hara and Applejack.

Harris was awarded an MBE for services to Music in 2010 'Incredibly loyal'

In 1998 he was awarded a Fender Lifetime Achievement Award for his role in popularising the bass guitar in Britain.

Review: If yesterday was Thursday, and Tomorrow is Saturday, then...

So, the first review of the blog. Why not start of a lighter with a review, of the debut single from the "Amazingly Talented" Rebecca Black.

Kevin Rutherford, a columnist for Billboard magazine, wrote, "Black's video for 'Friday' is one of those rare occurrences where even the most seasoned critics of Internet culture don't know where to begin. From the singing straight out of Auto-Tuned hell to lyrics such as 'Tomorrow is Saturday / And Sunday comes afterwards / I don't want this weekend to end' and a hilariously bad rap about passing school buses, 'Friday' is something that simply must be seen and heard to be fully appreciated."

The one thing that struck out for me, was the solo rap from the almost Paedophiliac, Patrice Wilson, who is on his way to party with Rebecca and her pre-pubescent friends, no doubt to have a great time and party down.

I wonder will haters still hate if they find out its actually a cover of a Bob Dylan song though?