Saturday, June 21, 2008

End of the World Part II

Since my lamenting on the dearth of listenable music being released this year...and the gratifying purchase of the surprisingly great 3 Doors Down album, a couple more enjoyable, melodic nuggets have come to my attention and made their way to my ITunes collection.

Previously unknown to me, and likely the majority of others, the band Rev Theory released a rocking album, "Light It Up." A nice find.

I also downloaded six tunes from "Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace," the latest from The Offspring. I wrote last time that this was one of the new releases I was looking forward to...and it delivered. Didn't quite get sold on the entire album, but it's easily their best collection since "Ixnay on the Hombre." They show a much wider diversity in sound than on previous efforts, but don't lose the sharp melodies.

Lastly, the surprise of the year so far...at least for me..."Flavors of Entanglement" by Alanis Morissette. Never been a die-hard fan, but she's had enough great songs over the years to pique my curiousity...probably some that I should have bought but didn't. I think this is her best, top-to-bottom, since Jagged Little Pill. While she flanks a more over-produced set than most of her singer-songwriter counterparts, it works. The voice is strong as ever, the quirky and insightful lyrics remain, and the melodies and rhythms treat the ear well. The first single, "Underneath" may be my early vote for Record of the Year...albeit one that has no shot at consideration. Alanis may have lost the bulk of her commercial bankability, but this one is well-worth the $12.99.

Granted, there have been a lot of misfires since my last posting. New albums by Coldplay, Aimee Mann, Weezer, Disturbed, Gavin Rossdale, Jakob Dylan...all fell flat in my opinion. But the gems I've found from various unexpected sources have begun to encourage me that all is not lost for music 2008.