New Vibrations

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Posted: 10/30/08

ARTIST: Snow Patrol
ALBUM: A Hundred Million Suns
LABEL: Geffen
RELEASED: Oct. 20, 2008

Snow Patrol has an unusual fetish, and it's astronomy. In previous albums, phrases that referenced "Saturn's rings," would sneak themselves into the lyrics. However, Snow Patrol's fifth album is a big bang explosion of language littered with astronomical metaphors and similes. A Hundred Million Suns is musically similar to Snow Patrol's well-received most recent two albums, but lyrically it is very different. With the common thread of moon and stars imagery, it focuses on a successful relationship as opposed to the prior concentration of those romances that crash and burn.

The thematically titled "If There's a Rocket, Tie Me To It," starts off the album in a familiar tone. With refined acoustics, simple percussion and the swelling crescendos typical of Snow Patrol, the first track is representative of the entire album. Gary Lightbody's accent, revealing itself as he croons words like "fire," is another of the appealing aspects of this song.

The motif of astronomy is continued in songs such as "The Planets Bend Between Us," "Engines" and "Disaster Button." While all good additions to Snow Patrol's repertoire, as the album progresses, these songs begin to have a more grandiose air. When bands such as Led Zeppelin put forth tracks like "Achilles' Last Stand," the 10-minute opus was regarded as a work of art. However when Snow Patrol puts forth a 16-minute song like "The Lightening Strike," it is merely tedious. If a song has more individually titled chapters than does The Great Gatsby, something is not quite right. It would have been better had Snow Patrol just released the separate portions of "The Lightning Strike" as different songs.

Fans who have jumped onto the Snow Patrol bandwagon after the excessive airplay of "Chasing Cars," will find this album appealing. A Hundred Million Suns seems to be cut from the same fabric as Eyes Open and Final Straw. This is not necessarily a bad thing, for it was those albums that got Snow Patrol the recognition they deserved. Their career began as an edgier indie band, but with time and a label change, they evolved their music from less indie to more radio-friendly alternative. Thankfully, Snow Patrol continues to hold onto a unique sound that will help them stand out against the hundred million mediocre bands of this decade.

-Christina Warner

ARTIST: AC/DC
ALBUM: Black Ice
LABEL: Columbia
RELEASED: Oct. 20, 2008

They don't want to be labeled as heavy metal. AC/DC just likes to make rock 'n' roll. And they've been doing it for quite some time. In 1973, after taking their name from the words on the back of a sewing machine, AC/DC shot themselves onto the Australian rock scene with their debut record High Voltage. And now, in 2008, the rockers, with more wrinkles and looser pants, are releasing their fifteenth album, Black Ice.

After 30-plus years on the rock scene, AC/DC has been through their fair share of success and failure, loss and gain. However, their trials have been followed by some of their greatest success. After lead singer Bon Scott's death in 1980, Brian Johnson (formally with Geordie) became the front man. Not a year after Scott's death, and the release of Back in Black secured AC/DC's fame. Songs like "Hell's Bells" and "She Shook Me All Night Long" from that album that have kept them from fading into "has-been" history.

On the successful trail of putting out records, touring and continuing to rock, AC/DC has had momentary lapses in success. 1990's Razor's Edge wasn't nearly as well-received by critics and fans, as was 2000's Stiff Upper Lip. Black Ice has been released after their longest-ever gap in studio albums. To perhaps make up for their absence of releasing new music, this album also happens to be their longest one to date.

Black Ice starts with the song "Rock 'n' Roll Train" that could be straight from Back in Black. In fact, several of the songs are reminiscent of this and their debut album. Listening to these songs is akin to listening to one of their albums released in the '70s or '80s. It's remarkable that with age, AC/DC has still managed to retain the essence of pure rock 'n' roll that they possessed in their days of glory.

This is not always the case. With the passing of decades, Aerosmith's sound has changed. Instead of the '70s rock, their music in the '80s became more pop-infused. In addition, although well-received, Grammy-nominated "Rain Fall Down" from the Stones felt too much a product of the 21st century. If listeners wanted to hear pop rock, they could listen to Angels & Airwaves.

Lead singer Johnson says that this album is their best to date. Although Back in Black was their most successful and it is unlikely that Black Ice's record sales will match it, Johnson claims that this album showcases their versatility as a band. He claims that in this album his vocal chords are used more for "soul crooning" (or singing) than screaming. This can slightly be seen in "Skies on Fire." But for the majority of the album, Johnson still seems to use the scratchy singing voice of AC/DC classics like "T.N.T."

After being a part of the rock 'n' roll scene for so long, AC/DC appears to feel the need to prove that they can still rock. For example, three of Black Ice's titles include the phrase "rock 'n' roll." Although this may suggest that they should work on more creative naming of their songs, it does not suggest that AC/DC has forgotten how to put out good music. This album flows seamlessly from the music they used to make before they started getting mail from AARP. Although a few songs feature the sort of background vocals that one can find on an Aerosmith album, their exploration doesn't seem to have led them very far. AC/DC has remained the same rock 'n' roll band from the past. It may only be rock 'n' roll, but we still like it.

-Christina Warner

ARTIST: Kaiser Chiefs
ALBUM: Off With Their Heads
LABEL: Motown
RELEASED: Oct. 28, 2008

After enjoying international success from their first two albums Employment (2005) and Yours Truly, Angry Mob (2007), the British indie rock band Kaiser Chiefs released their third album, Off with Their Heads. This band from Leeds, England is known for catchy, high energy songs that get stuck in your head for days like "Oh My God" and "I Predict a Riot" off Employment or "Ruby" and "Heat Dies Down" off Yours Truly, Angry Mob. However, lead vocalist Ricky Wilson, guitarist Andrew 'Whitey' White, bassist Simon Rix, keyboardist Nick 'Peanut' Baines and drummer Nick Hodgson's new record is experimental compared to the last two, and unfortunately has few tracks that are as impressive as their past hits.

Despite that Lily Allen, three members of New Young Pony Club, rapper Sway DaSafo and James Bond composer David Arnold make guest appearances, the only new Kaiser Chiefs' songs that are reminiscent of their old spark are the CD's singles "Never Miss a Beat," "Tomato in the Rain," "Remember You're a Girl" and "Addicted to Drugs."

Released on Oct. 6, "Never Miss a Beat" features their standard repetitious and chant-like lyrics, while the sound created is reminiscent of '80s electronic music. It is one of the few that you might want to listen to over and over, as is "Tomato in the Rain," which is a bit slower-paced. "Tomato in the Rain" is filled with effortless rhymes and off-beat similes, while the melody is simple enough to memorize after listening to it only once.

"Remember You're a Girl" is the Kaiser Chiefs' attempt to write something like an indie rock ballad, which they have done before exceedingly well with "Boxing Champ," and decently this time around, as well. It is a sweet-sounding song that could have been inspired by the Kinks or the Beatles.

Yet, the other seven songs on Off with Their Heads that are not quite up to par with the four best ones are, to put it plainly, just not that pleasing to listen to. Although it includes the line "off with their heads," and provides the title for the new album, "Like It Too Much," is too staccato and at times sounds too much like yelling - not at all likable. Similarly in disappointment came "You Want History," "Can't Say What I Mean" and "Half the Truth."

The messages in the Kaiser Chiefs' CD are pretty interesting, even if they get muddled by the loudness of the songs. In their album, which was recorded at RAK & Eastcote Studios in London, they discuss frustration, lying, deception, boundaries and decay in relationships, in society and even in politics.

After listening to Off with Their Heads all the way through multiple times, some of the songs end up growing on you. That might be because the Kaiser Chiefs' electronic, beat-driven style and repetitious lyrics almost force you to learn their songs, whether you want to or not.

-Sarah Addison