Far East Movement - Free Wired

It's tough to listen to the pop or hip hop radio airwaves and not hear 'Like a G6' right now. I will say, the beat is sick. The lyrics are pretty...umm, bad? Granted I haven't listened to it in and out - but part of it talks about drinking while driving. Or at least that's implied. I guess you can get away with that when you're saying you only care about the beats and not the lyrics. FEM began making music around the 2003 timeframe. They are a conglomerate of Asian American men that all represent a different background and culture. These guys have played some monstrous shows all over the world. They were invited to perform at the most prestigious Los Angeles hip hop show in 2009 - the Powerhouse show. That featured huge acts like Jay-Z, Black Eyed Peas and many - MANY more. In terms of that, they're certainly on the map. Does their music live up to the play time nowadays? I personally don't think so. The reason I classify them as pop and not dance, is mainly because of their lyrical content. Many tracks the lyrics are the focal point over the beats. That doesn't happen on more than a track or two with your big dance acts. Plus, I just don't think this has the block rockin' beats that other dance albums have. I mean, G6 is right up there with the better ones I've heard this year, but that's one track out of 10. I think if you're a pop fan, check this out. If you're a beatnut - you might want to skip it not causing pure frustration that pop is no invading your genre too.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Girls on the Dance Floor
2. Like a G6
3. Rocketeer
4. If I Was You (OMG)
5. She Owns the Night
6. So What?
7. Don't Look Now
8. Fighting for Air
9. White Flag
10. 2gether

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Like A G6
2. Fighting For Air
3. Girls On The Dance Floor

FINAL RATING:
2.75 out of 5 stars

Star One - Victims Of The Modern Age

Round 2 of my incredibly strange reviews continues with Star One. These guys also have a bit of an electronic feel thusly combining my New Music Tuesday entry with my Techno Tuesday entry. These guys are more hmm, hard rock than anything though. I think they use the electronics to enhance the guitar sound. Which is pretty cool. Of the two artists I looked at today, my guess is there is a better shot you've heard of these fellas than the last guy. This almost plays through from start to finish like an opera. You could easily have some sort of crazy play going on in the background to it. It has that sort of feel. Maybe a Trans Siberian Orchestra style feel? Yeah, that's what I'll go with. It's kind of neat. I wouldn't turn it on all the time or anything, but listening to it this one time today has me intrigued. All I really know about these guys is that they are a Dutch band. There isn't a whole lot of great information about either Star One or Avey Tare. I'm really opening the door to new music today. Not just new in the sense of it being released today - but also genre wise and to your ear wise something you've probably never sampled before. Check 'em out. I cannot say with any confidence that you'll like it, but you might be surprised that music like this is even out there. Step out of your comfort zone today B Siders!

TRACK LISTING:
1. Down The Rabbit Hole
2. Digital Rain
3. Earth That Was
4. Victim Of The Modern Age
5. Human See, Human Do
6. 24 Hours
7. Cassandra Complex
8. It's Alive, She's Alive, We're Alive
9. It All Ends Here
10. Two Plus Two Equals Five
11. Lastday
12. Closer To the Stars
13. Knife Edge
14. Making of Victims of the Modern Age, The

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Cassandra Complex
2. Human See, Human Do
3. Down The Rabbit Hole

FINAL RATING:
2.5 out of 5 stars

Avey Tare - Down There

Odd day on the B Side today. It is probably the SLOWEST New Music Tuesday ever. The only mentionable album is Taylor Swift - which I should have done, but did a country review yesterday. So here I am - left holding the bag. I wasn't going to do Techno Tuesday either - only because I'm always a week ahead of dance reviews. Anyway - I'm kind of doing two of each. Both of my artists today are new, electronic-ish acts. They are both pulled straight out of a hat, and I've never heard of them before. I seriously doubt anyone has. First comes Avey Tare and his new release of 'Down There'. Boy is this different. From track one it's unlike nearly anything I've heard before. It's like if you had a classic band lead singer and echoed out his vocals and added some transing beats behind it. You can't really understand the lyrics in most songs, because they're so washed out to give you that "spacey" feel. I do enjoy the track titles, that is probably my favorite thing about the record. The music itself isn't terrible - it's got a more techno beat to it. Track one starts off like it's going to be a popping dance track, but then an instrument is introduced that I think might be the accordion. This is certainly out there. I would recommend giving it a go though. I mean, why not? It's only 9 tracks and some of you may actually enjoy it. If it catches on, it'll be mainstream in no time.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Laughing Hieroglyphic
2. 3 Umbrellas
3. Oliver Twist
4. Glass Bottom Boat
5. Ghost of Books
6. Cemeteries
7. Heads Hammock
8. Heather in the Hospital
9. Lucky 1

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Ghost Of Books
2. 3 Umbrellas
3. Heads Hammock

FINAL RATING:
2.25 out of 5 stars

Thanks B Siders!

Just a quick note to give a HUGE thanks to you guys!

I mentioned in the post that I was running low on country suggestions - and BAM! All of the sudden nearly 25 requests showed up in the Suggestion Box! JenInTosa and Shaqwanada - thank you so much!

Curt and Jeff - thanks for you entries too! I should be getting to all of them soon!

You guys are the best!

B Side

Creed - Human Clay

I think a really long time ago - I mentioned that I enjoy a good Creed based album. Alter Bridge was one of my new faves when they started dropping albums around 2004. Creed was the origination of that band and Creed started making sweet tuneage in 1997. I think they came out at a perfect time. When '97s 'My Own Prison' record came out (my favorite by the way - they just don't link samples to that record) I think the US was teetering on being ready to move on from other alt rock style bands. When this album came out in 1999 - it was really ready to explore any new styles. You saw a huge shift in pop music as everyone started to open back up to hip hop with the emergence of Eminem and then Creed burst on to the scene selling tons of albums too. Human Clay is an astounding 11x platinum in the states. It's also sold over 5 million copies in the UK and Australia too. Truly a record that made everyone jam in unison. While Alter Bridge is still alive and kicking - Creed is too. They dropped their latest studio album 'Full Circle' earlier this year - and they promise to keep touring and making more music. I think had they not split up and gone 8 years between releases, Creed would still be a monster mega hit. It's not that their music is super different, but it's really good. Straight up in your face rock n roll. Like a Godsmack heaviness without the screaming lyrics or offensive lyrics. A few poppy songs mixed in is probably what caused this bad boy to sell so many copies. You should certainly toss this on today. It still isn't as good as 'My Own Prison' but it's right up there. Creed your way into Tuesday - you won't be disappointed.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Are You Ready?
2. What If
3. Beautiful
4. Say I
5. Wrong Way
6. Faceless Man
7. Never Die
8. With Arms Wide Open
9. Higher
10. Wash Away Those Years
11. Inside Us All

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. What If
2. Are You Ready
3. Faceless Man

FINAL RATING:
3.75 out of 5 stars

Tim McGraw - Not A Moment Too Soon

Monday brings some more good ol' country music on the B Side. My apologies if this review is not up to my normal standards. The Packer game was very exciting and went in the late hours of night last night. So I'm tired - and might not be writing clearly. Regardless - I mentioned last week that my country suggestions have dried up. I'm moving to simply reviewing artists I've heard of before - but not necessarily heard any tracks. McGraw I think falls into that category. I mean, I've probably heard a few of his songs before - but for sure none from this record. I was actually quite surprised, this was Tim's first studio release - and it's a nice 6x platinum. Now, normally I'd say I for sure have heard 1 or 2 tracks from an album that has sold that many copies. Alas, I haven't heard anything off this before. This came out way back in 1994 - and I certainly wasn't listening to country back then. If I dislike country now - I really couldn't stand it back then. I was listening to mostly rap back then with maybe the grunge revolution sprinkled in. I could get into his personal life a bit, (married to Faith Hill, does some acting, some charity work) but ehh, I'm not feeling like that today. Instead - just focusing on the music, this album doesn't do it for me. It sounds like his style changed quite a bit since release, and maybe it gets better from here. This is very bland to me. There aren't any tracks that really pop to me and make me want to listen to more and more. I'll have to keep him on the docket of artists to review again some other time. Today - I'll encourage country fans to pull up their favorite McGraw record and leave this one on the shelf.

TRACK LISTING:
1. It Doesn't Get Any Countrier Than This
2. Give It To Me Strait
3. Wouldn't Want It Any Other Way
4. Down On The Farm
5. Not a Moment Too Soon
6. Indian Outlaw
7. Refried Dreams
8. Don't Take The Girl
9. 40 Days And 40 Nights
10. Ain't That Just Like A Dream

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. It Doesn't Get Any Countrier Than This
2. Refried Dreams
3. Don't Take The Girl

FINAL RATING:
2 out of 5 stars

B Side Presents, "Friday Gut Check - Art-standing Inserts"

There has always been an aspect of albums/cd's that I've loved - album covers. With today's electronic albums - you don't get any of the fun inserts that contain cool artwork, maybe a lyrics sheet and whatever else the band wants to tell you. I can't say that I've ever really bought a cd just because of the artwork - but I certainly look through it everytime I get a new one. It was always a blast reading through the booklets and especially memorizing lyrics to songs that would be tough to know. I've decided today to challenge you guys (and myself) in finding my favorite cover art of all time. Maybe Heidi can join in later, we'll see what she's got going on. Let's hear what you guys come up with!
______________________________________________________

5. Hinder - Extreme Behavior: Okay, I'm a guy. I enjoy looking at tastefully done album covers featuring attractive ladies. Is that such a crime? There are TONS of covers you could go with in this genre of artwork. There is a country album by the band Roxy that caused quite a stir for it's content. I'll let you guys look that up sometime. Other than the modeling work - it's nothing major. But I feel putting something like this in my Top 5 was worth while - as I also think an artist not fearing a stigma is bold. It's easy to get censored nowadays, and everyone likes to keep the old FCC happy. Stick it to 'em Hinder!



4. Green Day - Dookie: When I got this album as a kid - I must have spent HOURS looking at the cover. There is so much going on from the totally absurd to the absolute comical. It's fun to think about what Green Day was envisioning with this piece of artwork. Was it intended to make you laugh? Make you think about society? Maybe they put no thought into it at all...who knows? All I know is I enjoyed it - and it's my number 4.



3. Stone Temple Pilots - Purple: Why do I like this one? I'm not even really sure to be honest. It's just captivating. You've got a baby riding some sort of manticore or dragon or something. Some people looking on in the background that appear to maybe be religious and then something that looks to be Japanese. Do I know what it means? Nope. Could I find out? Of course. But what's the fun in that? I'll come up with my own story as to what's going on and keep it that way locked away in my head.




2. Led Zeppelin - I: This cover is a classic. It depicts the famous Hindenburg airship catching fire and going down back in 1937. The band had gotten its name from the incident, and the image worked well to serve the first album of one of the best rock bands of all time. If this image is part of the reason they took the name they did - I'd say it worked out pretty well. The artist did a great job designing this image, and I'd say it's one of the best in history.



1. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here: You could almost go with any Floyd album cover here. Dark Side is up there in terms of most classic artwork ever. The Wall had probably the best total booklet in with the original LP and even the cd. But this image will forever stick with me. There is a man, shaking another mans hand who is clearly on fire. Why don't they put him out? Why are they shaking hands in the first place? Yet another great conversation piece and an amazing album to boot. This is my clear choice as number one - because I love the image. I should get a poster and put it in my bedroom.



Okay B Siders, let's hear what I've missed!