ALBUM REVIEW: 4 Satin - Mogwai

Album: 4 Satin [Jet Set Records Release]
Artist: Mogwai
Year: 1997
Genre : Post-Rock

Favorite Track: Superheroes Of BMX

In 1997 this EP was released by two companies, Jet Set Records and Chemikal Underground. The major difference between the two releases is an opening track that isn’t included on the Jet Set release. However, I listened to the Jet Set version and ‘Superheroes Of BMX’ is a wonderful opening track. It has a hypnotic feel with just enough play on the melodic themes to stay interesting for the full 8 minutes. The second track ‘Now You're Taken’ continues with the slow sounds of the first, but maintains an incredibly mellow throughout. Unfortunately the third track, clocking in at thirteen and a half minutes, devolves into what I can only describe as noise at about the 4 minute mark. This whole EP is just under a half hour in length and this noise is almost an entire third of that. For something that started out with such promise I am left disappointed.

Rating: 3 of 5

ALBUM REVIEW: 100th Window - Massive Attack

Album: 100th Window
Artist: Massive Attack
Year: 2003
Genre : Electronic / Trip-Hop

Favorite Track: What Your Soul Sings

Its hard to say bad things about this album because, simply put, it isn’t bad. The only problem it seems to suffer from is the fact that Mezzanine was better. When I listen to this album I become entranced by the lovely bass rhythms and unintrusive vocals. I like the sound of almost all the songs, but it is almost too similar to their earlier album. It sort of reminds me of the band Weezer, not their sound at all but in the quality of the music. As if they found a sound, a good one at that, but used all their good songs making the first album with it. The future releases then existing as something that you hear and want to like, perhaps even do like, but in the back of your mind you know “this sounds like a less good version of their last album.” What Your Soul Sings, along with the opening track are some of the strongest on the album. Perhaps this is part of what gives off an overall feeling of “good, but not great.”

Rating: 3.5 of 5

23

Another year of feeling pretty much the same as before. It seems funny how big of a deal birthdays were at younger ages. Particularly how important it was that I was ___ age. These days I either have to think about how old I am when asked, or “I’m 21" as an I’m old enough to drink thing.

Birthdays are a good excuse to get people together though. And I did have a lot of fun this weekend.

Just For Fun

http://en.tackfilm.se/?id=1266658301265RA17