LCD SOUNDSYSTEM - 45:33

This came out in 2006. You've probably heard of it already. I'm reviewing it for personal reasons. This was put out to be a soundtrack for when you go for a run. I guess it was commissioned by Nike, at least that's what I've heard. It's basically just a bunch of LCD Soundsystem ideas that are knitted together into one very long track. "Someone Great" off of Sound of Silver is definitely reused in here, minus the vocals. There may be other LCD tracks that are recycled as well, but I'm not familiar with them as much as I would be with "Someone Great". I probably would not run to this. I don't really see the point. It doesn't really move me. I also find the vocoder voices annoying. If I want to listen to LCD Soundsystem, I'll listen to regular albums, not this thing.

www.myspace.com/lcdsoundsystem
www.lcdsoundsystem.com

ERNEST GONZALES - Been Meaning To Tell You

When I first heard of this album, it was described as "electronic." I haven't been listening to a lot of "electronic" music lately but the cover art was too amazing for me to pass this up without a listen. The artwork was made by having a number of artists each illustrate what they saw after listening to one track off of the album and the end result for the cover combined all of the images. Very cool stuff.

Now that I've talked about the cover, how to describe the music? It is electronic, but there are also guitars on this record. I'm sure this music could be played live by a band of talented musicians. The music doesn't feel overprocessed like so many electronic records I sat through last year. Instead, it feels lush and warm: a jungle of melodic sounds. For over a year I have been searching for music in the same realm as B. Fleischmann's The Humbucking Coil: great beats, great melodies, no lyrics. This album illustrates what I've been looking for.

There's a number of great songs on this album so it's hard to pick a favorite one. I love how "Falling Asleep To The Glow Of The Television" makes me feel like I'm playing a classic Nintendo video game. "We Can Live In The Forest" is upbeat and would be suitable to play for a whirlwind romance with the couple falling in love. The album was made with Ernest's wife in mind and this track probably has something to do with their love. "When You Are Lost I Will Find You" is the epitome of the B. Fleischmann chilled-out vibe I've been searching for. I could go on and on about each of these tracks and the way they make me feel and think but instead I'll just recommend that you have a listen to the album and see what you feel. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Been Meaning To Tell You is scheduled to be released on February 9, on Exponential Records. Exponential Records was founded in 2002 by Gonzales and DJ Jester the Filipino Fist (I'm not making that name up). This is Gonzales's second or third full-length album, I can't figure out which, and he has also released music under the moniker Theory Of Everything. Now go get this album, why are you even still reading this post?!

www.myspace.com/theoryofeverything
www.beenmeaningtotellyou.com
www.antipop.net/expblog/(Exponential Records site)

Yip-Yip - Two Kings of the Same Kingdom

Ridiculous spastic electronic noise rock. Craziness. May induce headaches and/or seizures. Visit their myspace for more seizure-inducing content if this album is not enough. For fans of Dan Deacon and cracked electronics.

www.myspace.com/yipyip
www.yip-yip.com

Hot Chip - Made in the Dark

Hot Chip returns with their third full-length and long-awaited follow-up to 2006's The Warning. I know a lot of people who loved that one are disappointed with this effort, but I am really liking it. More mellow and laid-back, not quite as dancey, and songs tend to take longer to build-up and kick-in, but still cool. This isn't The Warning: Part Two, so don't expect that. Expect mellow indie electronic/rock and hopefully you, too, shall be impressed. "Wrestlers" is probably my favorite track off of this right now; it's very slow and almost could be considered a ballad, but it is so good.

www.myspace.com/hotchip
www.hotchip.co.uk

Ghostland Observatory - Dancing On My Grave single

The new single from their upcoming third full-length album. They are a weird mix of trashy electronica, dance, rock, and funk. The singer has a distinctive, high-pitched voice. The B-side to the single, the instrumental "Club Soda," is the best track on this three-song sampler. A band for the more adventurous person to enjoy. As a side note, I saw these two guys perform on Austin City Limits and spent most of the time watching them trying to decide if the singer was male or female (as it turns out, he is in fact a male).

www.myspace.com/ghostlandobservatory
www.ghostlandobservatory.net

The Battle Royale - Wake Up, Thunderbabe!

Out of Minneapolis, here is their second album. The first half is a strange mix of electronic-dance-rock, similar to The Faint, except not as dark. The second half segues into indie-dance/pop territory. The vocals can get annoying after a bit. Just alright.

www.myspace.com/thebattleroyalemusic
www.afternoonrecords.com/thebattleroyale