Thank you, Happy Birthday by Cage the Elephant

 It is such a great week to start off 2011 with all the new releases coming! My usual ritual on Monday is to check out some new tunes on  Spinner.  Thank You Happy Birthday by alternative rock band, Cage the Elephant, was one of the CDs available for free streaming. The Kentucky five-piece band had emerged in the indie music scene with a successful self-titled debut album in 2008, Cage The Elephant, including their hit, Ain't No Rest For The Wicked. They have become so popular all over the world, including the UK, Japan, and of course the North America.


If you are a big fan of melodic rock verses with such catchy rapping - which you’ll often find on that first album - then you would be very surprised with their new record: It is very different from the first album – this new release is grungier with lots of screaming. Some songs like '2024' and 'Shake Me Down" does still remind you their debut album – but most of songs would shatter your first impression of the band. So I would say it depends on each person whether or not he/she will favor this album. In fact, a number of CD reviews are giving mixed opinions. I like most of the songs, but found a few songs too extreme, such as 'Indy Kidz'.


I think it is such a good change for the band to expend their stylistic range more so than they had with their first album. If you didn't like the first album, give them another chance. It’s worth it - especially if you like 90s' rock bands like the Pixies. You can listen to the entire album for free at  Spinner.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Favorite song of the album: Always Something

Upcoming CD releases in 2011

Happy New Years everyone! Here we are... 2011. One more year left! There are so many anticipated CD/LP releases in 2011. Some have a set date, but not do others. Please also keep it in your mind that they are also subject to changes.

• Cage The Elephant - 'Thank you, Happy Birthday' on Jan 11th
• The Decemberists - 'The King Is Dead'  on Jan 18th
• Tennis - 'Cape Dory' on Jan 18th
• The Go! Team - 'Rolling Blackouts on Jan 31st
• Cut Copy - 'Zonoscope' on Feb 8th
• Bright Eyes - 'People's Key' on Feb 15th
• The Dears - 'Degeneration Street' on Feb 15th
• Mother Mother - 'Eureka' on March 15th

The below are the ones without a firm release date or title. But they are in various stages of development:

• Aerosmith   
• Fiona Apple  (Spring)
• Atoms of Peace (Tom Yorke's project with Flea)
• Black Lips (Spring)
• Death Cab for Cuties (Spring)
• Escalates
• Fleet Foxes
• Foo Fighters
• Franz Ferdinand
• Jane Addiction
• Jamiroquai
• Justice
• Marilyn Manson (Fall)
• The Mars Volta
• No Doubt
• Radiohead
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Rush
• The Rural Alberta Advantage (March)
• The Shins
• The Strokes (March)
• The Veronicas
• Amy Winehouse

My picks are the Strokes, Radiohead, the Rural Alberta Advantage, and the Dears. I can't wait to listen to their new albums. I will make sure to inform any updates on the releases from the above bands! Stay tuned....

Best of 2010: Best Live Act Top 3

2010 was the year that saw me going to more live shows than I have in my entire life so far .  It started off with Guns N' Roses and Johny Alexander and ended with The Artful Vandelays - totalling close to 50 bands this year.  So to sum up, here are my  top 3 picks for bands who blew my mind in 2010 .  

1. Ok Go
It'd been almost 5 years since OK Go paid a visit to Toronto. This year, the band stopped by twice after the release of new album, "Of the Blue Colour of the Sky" to satisfy the long-waiting fans in town. I was able to go to both shows, setting myself up right in front. The hyper-creative quartet delivered outstanding shows as anticipated: Lots of confetti and little tricks in each song. What made it so special was that the front man, Damian, grabbed my camera and recorded one of my favorites songs, Oh Lately It's So Quiet. I haven't posted the video on my blog yet, but I might share it with you guys in the future, so stay tuned.


Here are the show reviews for both shows: April 23rd at the Mod Club , October 14th, at the Phoenix.
 

2. Foxy Shazam

2010 was the year of Foxy Shazam. I fell madly in love with the band when I first saw them opening for Hollerado at the Horse Shoe Tavern: on endless repeat on my ipod and a constant habitual checking of any information that crops up about them. My 2011 resolution for Music Psychos is to score an interview the lead man, Eric. Click here  to check out my review of their show.  October 16th, at Horse Shoe Tavern

3. Broken Social Scene

Broken Social Scene's show at the Sound Academy is the most recent larger gig that I have been to. This might be one of the reasons why they made the cut. However, I still clearly remember the every details of the show: the peaking emotional moment when the band played Anthems For A Seventeen Year Old Girl  Click here to check out the review.



So there we have my top 3. Let me know who you liked the most in 2010! I promise you that in 2011 I will deliver more reviews and amazing band and show reviews in and around Toronto!