Sorry for the Delay Boys...

CD Reviews:

Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I Am Not:
This was one of those albums that kept being hyped and I picked it up on impulse when I saw it on sale for $6.99. That is the best seven dollars I have probably ever spent. They remind me a more raucous Kaiser Chiefs and have an undeniable energy that you know must translate over to their live shows. The first half of the album starts off great and then takes a relaxing intermission with “Riot Van” and then picks up where it left off to continue rocking. For a group of 19-20 year olds they have a great rhythm section. I think they’re worth the hype but often bands with that much hype end up crumbling on their sophomore effort. I’ll be waiting for it, but not with too much optimism. Score: 4

Donna the Buffalo – Positive Friction:
This embodies everything I hate…country music meets Jimmy Buffett. I couldn’t even stomach a second listen. Score: 0

Echo & the Bunnymen – Ocean Rain:
I’ve always been somewhat into Echo & the Bunnymen ever since I started getting into the Dark Wave music (i.e, The Cure, Joy Division, The Smiths, etc.) back in junior high, but I never really got around to buying many albums. I had one or two cassettes but mostly downloaded tons of songs years later. It was nice to hear that many of my favorite Echo & the Bunnymen songs were on this album, so I guess I can consider this one of their best albums. I can admit that they weren’t the greatest band to come out of that whole Dark Wave scene (The Cure, Joy Division, etc.) but there’s something about the sound and timbre of Ian McCullough’s voice and the haunting music that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Score: 3

Okkervil River – Black Sheep Boy:
I had been recommended this album after being a fan of the Arcade Fire and I can see why. They are part of a number of bands bringing in more orchestration to create deeper soundscapes and more interesting layers than most current music. Okkervil River not only manage to form a distinct sound (maybe described as somewhat folky, somewhat indie-rock, somewhat classical) but they also infuse it with great poetry. With each listen I hear more and more; and I have listened to this album easily over 100 times (my brother had previously burned it for me.)

Yet somehow this album managed to escape my Top Ten of 2005 and my only guess as to the reason would be that their earlier efforts flawed my initial experience with this album. Their earlier albums had more of a folky/alt-country vibe and I didn’t enjoy them quite as much. However, having started listening to Black Sheep Boy again, I can overlook their previous albums and would strongly reconsider putting them into my Top Ten of 2005. Score: 4.5

The Police – Greatest Hits:
You can’t really knock The Police. There were a couple songs I could have gone without on this collection but overall - great picks from a great band. It’s easy to see who the real brains behind the band were considering how much of Sting’s solo work is crap.

Topic:
I think asking who has the worst taste in music is too highly subjective and I could only assume that had this group been predominately female and not male…there would be blood. But, to be entirely honest (and I’m not wimping out here) I really couldn’t point someone out for having bad taste in music because it is, like I said, too subjective. To some of my friends…you ALL suck, considering you hated Mr. Bungle and they’ve had to hear some of your choices in my car. Everyone has a different aesthetic appeal. The same can be said for naming one who has the best taste in music…of course I would have to pick whoever agrees with my picks the most, but again…subjective.

Instead…I am going to name Ken and Byron as my choices, not for their tastes in music, but because to me, they are the most open-minded. They can listen to something outside of their “comfort-zone” and try to review the album with as much objectivity as possible.