UNDERNEATH THE COVER

"Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends" by Coldplay

2011-12-13T14:59:00.000Z

Overall Rating: 5.4/10.0 (Good)

Coldplay is a British band. Its genre has been labeled of so many things I'll choose the two labels I prefer: alternative pop and post-Britpop. The band was formed in 1996 by Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland. Guy Berryman and Will Champion joined shortly thereafter. They had two different names before the final one: Pectoralz and Starfish. The final rename, to Coldplay, was made in 1998, before recording and releasing the three first EPs. They've won seven Grammy Awards from twenty nominations.
You shall know Coldplay is a very social band. I mean, you can find official accounts of 'hem all around the web, and it seems they're all updated frequently. Follow the Useful Links below.

About this album... It has a really good beginning. I'm someone who thinks records need to have great first two or three songs. In my opinion, the first songs of a album stand for that one track named Intro, some bands use, mostly to record some experimental stuff and make it a prologue. And, if the intro ain't good enough, the listener will lose the interest since the very beginning. That's something no one wants; neither the listener himself nor the band. Life in Technicolor and, mainly, Cemeteries of London seem to show that death and all his friends are more than sufficient. That there's a life to be lived! That last one is surely the song I like most in the whole album. A good combination of the dark and the bright side of pop.
And then, unfortunately, you have time to go to the bathroom, enjoy some time with your family, go wash some dishes, whatever. The songs are too repetitive, each one and the group of them, and you're now lost as the beginning asked for much more. It was kind of a delusion when I first listened to this part.
This blackout only ends on 7th and 8th songs, Viva la Vida and Violet Hill, the singles of this record. They're not great - Violet Hill is good enough, I may say - but are clearly the island we're searching for. Then you realize you're rewarded for the time you spent waiting. You're now hearing much more Coldplay-like songs. They're not many (three, to be accurate), but they're influence on my Overall Rating is visible. I'm sure I'd rate this one negative if it ended on the 8th track.
Well, it's not a great album... Nothing compared with Parachutes or A Rush of Blood to the Head! I bought it for $5 on iTunes (it was a promo by the time of iTunes Festival 2011, but I think the price has decreased for that value permanently some time thereafter - I don't promise, but I think it has), and I'm far from sorry. It's a great price for every album you can get, and damn... It's not bad! I'd probably use "too ordinary" if I needed to say what I think of it in one short expression.

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Update: Underneath the Cover

2011-12-05T20:16:00.001Z

Hey! I'm here to say I made a big update on this blog today. I'd say, it's the biggest one since the interface change.

As you can see, all the posts have now the respective picture in its right place. This is the main reason of today's update.

During the update I realized I made two appreciations of "By the Way" (Red Hot Chili Peppers). It's something I don't want to do once again, and I assure you I won't! This is the thing that made me write this post. I'd like to apologize, and assure you I won't do it again - I'll keep both here.

So, to avoid this kind of problems, I need to set up a very important new rule:

- Starting this month, I'll post every month. If that's impossible, I'll write twice in the following month. This is a minimum. There's no maximum of posts I write per month.

Thanks for your time,

José Nuno Vasco

"Wasting Light" by Foo Fighters

2011-10-05T23:16:00.000+01:00

Overall Rating: 8.3/10.0 (Very good)

Foo Fighters is an American rock band formed in 1994 by the former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl. It began as a one-man project but is now a very consistent band. Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Taylor Hawkins and Chris Shifflet are the members who recorded this Wasting Light along with Dave. They've been together for many years, and that helps when you want to form a cohesive bunch of people to play some music. Wasting Light was released in April 12, 2011, on RCA Records and was produced by Butch Vig.
The album has such a great beginning! Bridge Burning, the first song, is the path to the other margin. If you're sleepy in the morning, listen to this song. It just works making you unable to ease! I may say I was quite anxious to listen to this album since I'm a huge fan of the band. I didn't know what to expect, and if it would be good enough. I mean, if the quality they've shown for many time would be kept on this seventh studio work (in this case, "home work" - it was recorded in Dave's garage). With Bridge Burning, the doubts and the fears I had just fade out.
The next song, the second one, is the first single of this Wasting Light. Named Rope, this song is quite good, in fact. We always tend to see the singles as the more commercial songs as that use to be true. But Rope is far from being the classic commercial song you need to add to your album if you want to sell lots of copies around the world. It's based on a quite heavy guitar riff and has that great verse-chorus combination I love on Foo Fighters. Those guys just know how to do it as no one else.
Dave Grohl described Wasting Light as the band's "heaviest album yet". And that's the truth, I may say! After you listen to Dear Rosemary and White Limo - this one counts with Lemmy Killmister (Motörhead) -, I think it's impossible not to think how do this band made its way to these much heavier tones. I don't know from where it came, but I guess they crossed the bridge (Yes! That one that was burning!) and are now stronger - heavier if you prefer -, than ever.
But the whole album is based on this sequence of four songs. Just because the next four don't bring you anything new. I'd rather say, nothing relevant I shall write about. Then, there's Miss the Misery which is relevant mostly because of being the song that names the album. And it's quite good too! But I think there's something to be said in this very point: it's just one more song! This is why I give 8.3 instead of a 9 or even more. The songs are great, but there's nothing more than what you listened before, after the fourth song.
But the album ain't finished yet. I Should Have Known has a very relevant point I've got to highlight. The presence of Krist Novoselic, former bassist of Nirvana. He isn't lost! This song has the shiny touch given by the strong bass track.
Finishing the album, the Foo Fighters chose one of the best songs of the whole album (I don't want to choose only one). It's named Walk. It works like a charm on live shows - I can assure you, since I watched the last tour some months ago, the one that is intended to present this album to the world. In the beginning it sounds something between Nirvana and The Killers, but after the intro, it transpires Foo Fighters from everywhere. I daresay it's one of the best songs this band ever released.
I don't own this album yet. I've listened to it on SoundCloud (see the useful links below) and I advise you to do the same. I really like it and I'll buy it soon!

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"By The Way" by Red Hot Chili Peppers

2011-07-07T01:16:00.000+01:00

Overall Rating: 6.0 (Good)

The Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American band, known for fusing traditional funk with other genres, like punk or psychedelic rock. They formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1983. The band's line-up for this album was comprised by Anthony Kiedis (Vocals), John Frusciante (Guitar), "Flea" (Bass) and Chad Smith (Drums). Some time ago, John Frusciante left the band and was replaced by Josh Klinghoffer, who performed with the RHCP on the Stadium Arcadium Tour.

This band I'm talking today became very well known worldwide, mainly because of the genre mixing and the rebellion it has shown since the very beginning. Unfortunately, this album is kind of a stranger! Commercial sounds on RHCP's discography is something we've got used to, but in By The Way, things are a little different. They're so there, it's impossible to get out... And the rebellion I talked... Well, it ain't there as we used to hear before on albums like Blood Sugar Sex Magik or The Red Hot Chili Peppers. It wouldn't be fair to think this is a bad album just because of this, and there are also some exceptions like Can't Stop and Throw Away Your Television, two amazing songs that have the stuff we expect from an album of a band like this. I'd like to refer Don't Forget Me and Universally Speaking too. By The Way, the main single and the song which names the album, ain't so good. In fact, it has a very good construction, and is technically very good, but it is like the album: has a good and a not so good part!
I gotta say I'm an huge fan, but this album and One Hot Minute are something I just want to forget this band recorded. Well! I'd say the five songs I referred in this opinion are quite good, and we couldn't live without Can't Stop or By The Way, but I want to remember Red Hot Chili Peppers as the band who released some great American West Coast genre mixed albums.

"Light Grenades" by Incubus

2011-03-30T21:42:00.001+01:00

Overall Rating: 8.5 (Very good)

Light Grenades is the name of the sixth album of Incubus, an American band formed in California in 1991. In fact, Incubus is a band I've ever enjoyed a lot, and despite not being one of the ones I call "favorites" has ever been quite close from that tiny group. This album I talk you today was released on November 28, 2006 on Epic Records and was produced by Brendan O'Brien, someone who's always appearing round here on Underneath the Cover. Undoubtedly, a great producer!

These Light Grenades are far from ordinary but they're quite close to explode!.. I'd say it really explode but, in my opinion, something this album doesn't have is a great connection all along. It's a construction based on the 90's and there are some kind of songs breaking the natural stream of sound that could give us the explosion. I don't say that's foolish but the 00's brought us better types of construction for this kind of albums. And I remember this was an album released in late 2006!

But an album can't be rated exclusively for its construction, and this album particularly deserves much more than that. When you look at the Overall Rating I made, you can see it ain't wonderful as some albums I wrote about. Though 8.5 is a great mark, and that's because it has so many great songs it would be hard not to rate it so high. A Kiss To Send Us Off and Dig are the introduction of the book of love that is closed with the second part of Earth to Bella. And guess what?! There are Love Hurts, a very peculiar view of love, Oil and Water and one of the most magnificent songs I've ever listened to, named Anna Molly. And I didn't forget Diamonds And Coal and Rogues! Unfortunately, these last ones are victims of the bad construction I told you above, and they've stayed clearly (and obviously, I may say) underrated.

If you look exclusively for the Overall Rating you'll think it's not THAT album... It's fair to think that way, but I may say it is! Nowadays, it's possible to kind of rebuild the album by ourselves easily, and the songs it has are amazing by themselves. Anna Molly and Dig are two of my favorite songs and I think this album could be a 10.0 if it had a stream kind construction. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I don't rate songs, I rate whole albums, and I like much more this album than the rating shows...

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"Audioslave" by Audioslave

2010-12-08T19:20:00.001Z

Overall Rating: 9.6 / 10 (Almost Perfect)

This decade is coming to an end and I think I should talk about one of the best bands, if it wasn't the best, of the 00's. Audioslave, formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001, consisted of Chris Cornell (also known for his solo project and as member of Soundgarden), Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk (the instrumental trio of Rage Against the Machine). It was one successful supergroup, and I think it would be unfair not to call 'hem the pure and greatest image of the post-grunge scene. They also proved the American Hard Rock wasn't killed when we entered the new millennium.

This self-titled album was the first of the band, and, for me, is undoubtedly one of the best debut albums in rock history. Produced by Rick Rubin and Audioslave themselves, it was released on November 19, 2002 being Like a Stone part of the nominations of Best Hard Rock Performance on 2004 Grammy Awards.

When you hear the name Audioslave it's fair to think on one of the most powerful vocal performances and guitar tracks full of strange effects. But it's much more than that, and this album shows it clearly! All the vocal tracks are very well built; they're in perfect harmony with the instruments and with what's being sung. The instrumental seems so versatile it's strange to see who they are. In fact, the sonority we were used to listen on RATM is there, but despite that we see much more - maybe much more solidity or consistency.

The thunderous force this album shows by the begining is irrefutable. Cochise is possibly the most powerful song in the whole album. Headbanging ain't an option, is something inherent! Though, this isn't something only present at this song, it's something you can't stop doin' all across the album. I highlight Show Me How To Live, Like a Stone and Shadow On The Sun for one thing they've got in common: the magnificent meaning! They are so well writen we forget the instrumental tracks, even when they're all brilliant!

This isn't a brand new album and was certified as Platinum in the US, so it's quite possible you to have it at home. If you haven't, I promise it is a great choice... Don't need to run to buy it, but you really should!

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"The Final Frontier" by Iron Maiden

2010-11-16T20:58:00.002Z

Overall Rating: 9.2 / 10 (Wonderful) (NEW!)

Iron Maiden is the name of a great English metal band from Leyton, formed in 1975 by Steve Harris - bassist and primary songwriter. The band have suffered many changes across the time, but the members who were present in them golden times returned and they're stronger than ever. Currently, they consist of Bruce Dickinson, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Janick Jers, Steve Harris and Nicko McBrain. They're considered one of the most successful and powerful metal bands in history selling over 85 million records worldwide, even with a tiny radio and television support.

The Final Frontier, the fiftheenth album of the band, was released on August 16, 2010 worldwide. Produced by Kevin Shirley, a producer very well-know, mainly because of working with bands as Journey, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Slayer and Dream Theater, this is an album with numerous highlights. The intro, Satellite 15, opens the book, and suddently you're knocked down by the magnificent force of The Final Frontier, the song. El Dorado comes to maintain that force mentioned above. I can't highlight the whole album, or talk about each song. I do like Mother of Mercy very much, but I won't extend this review commenting every little detail. When you arrive Starblind you may think: "Well, great beginning, sounds pretty well, but..."! Man! You can stop thinking. Now the album begins! The last four songs are just the best end we might ever imagine. The Talisman, The Man Who Would Be King and, to the end, When The Wild Wind Blows, one of the best songs I've ever listened to. Great lyrics, focused in a very ruling issue by the way, and a very well built musical track.

Global conclusion: A powerful beginning and a beautiful end! Even after all these years, Iron Maiden may still surprise 'hem listeners, what's magnificent. Hope you enjoy it as I do!

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"Led Zeppelin II" by Led Zeppelin

2010-10-19T12:23:00.002+01:00

Led Zeppelin were/are an English rock band comprised by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham, formed in London in 1968. They've sold more than 200 million albums worldwide and are cited many times as the best rock band ever, what I agree. They stopped the carrer in 1980 due to the death of the drummer, but they've met again sometimes, the last one in 2007 for a magnificent show at the O2 Arena, in London. Then we have a great presage to the rest of this review!

Led Zeppelin II is the second album of the band and was released in October 1969, edited by Atlantic Records. The whole production of the album has to be credited to the lead guitarist and songwriter Jimmy Page. On 15 November 1999, it was certified with 12x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America selling over 12 million copies. But let's talk about what's important: the abum itself!

When you look to the back cover you can see the first song is Whole Lotta Love! Pure classic. The main riff is awesome, and I do like the drums and voice tracks - kinda experimental drums and a meaningful singing. And now it's impossible to get out! The calmer second and third songs - beautiful songs, by the way -, in this specific case, make the abum have something like a double beginning. And when Hearthbraker (What a riff! One more...) starts playing you arrived the begin of the real album. Despite being small, I think it's fair to think about a tripartite album - the three first songs act like a preamble and then comes the rock. And I see the last song, Bring It On Home, something like the great finale of a great book! And we may say it ain't so far from there...
Is there any counterpoint about the album? For me: No! It's one of the best I've ever listened to. But I think most people may think it a little boring till "the real beginning". It's something I already heard about. I disagree, but it's just my opinion, and I really enjoy bein' part of this minority.
In short, a epic built album, full of great guitar riffs. Probably the best act of the band as a group! And I ain't able to choose songs on it. Pure rock, pure classics, pure beautiful album! I recommend, undoubtedly!

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"American Idiot" by Green Day

2010-09-20T22:45:00.009+01:00

Green Day are known as an American punk rock band formed in 1987. It has consisted of Billie Joe Armstrong on vocals and guitar, Mike Dirnt on backing vocals and bass and Tré Cool on drums for almost all its existence. Despite the mark Green Day left on punk rock some years ago, when punk was kinda dead, I may say they recently (maybe not so recently) turned into a punk pop band. Why do I say that? It's a question I'll answer below...
I may say the begining of this album produced by Rob Cavallo is great. Well! American Idiot is actually the best song of the whole album. Full of the thunderous force of real punk rock influences. Could be the first step to remember bands as Sex Pistols, etc. But shortly thereafter we see, on Jesus Of Suburbia, things aren't so well done. The Pop influences quickly take part of the album and it begins transpiring mainstream sounds and sonorities. There's a stop on Boulevard of Broken Dreams, but it's just kind of a pit stop on Formula 1... Everything goes back to the Punk Pop songs! I can't say songs like Holiday doesn't have any kind of effect on me! Actually neither the good pop nor the good punk make us stay quiet, and here's a combination of both. If there was something we could call the good punk pop - what I don't believe, to be honest -, it would be this album.
In terms of a final veredict what would I say? Well, is quite a good album, too pop but with some great highlights. And whether a girlfriend of mine liked this album I would be happy... Women use to prefer some pop bands and songs, and pop interpreters as Green Day, Klaxons or Rod Stewart are a great starting point for all what's good in the world of music.

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"No Line On The Horizon" by U2

2010-08-22T16:49:00.000+01:00

U2 are an Irish pop rock band from Dublin. This worldwide well-known group consists of "Bono", "The Edge", Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. and was formed in 1976. They have released 12 studio albums, being the band that won more grammys, 22. U2 have sold more than 150 million record worldwide!

The latest U2 album, No Line On The Horizon is the one I want to talk you today. It begins calm but strong! Makes you believe it's gonna be a great album since the very begining. No Line On The Horizon, the song, is undoubtedly great, full of meaning, and with pure rock musical tracks. And now, you're believing on what's said! Time to Magnificent! A very good pop song maintaining the meaning and the good construction. It makes you enter the album to stay for a while. These two first songs mark the album. You can't come out, and there's much more to listen. Songs as Unknown Caller, Stand Up Comedy or Breathe can't be forgotten, even with Get On Your Boots or Cedars of Lebanon in the same album.

The whole songs of the album act as a team. They're all in the right place, having a corresponding order. But that order is changeable having no effects on the final perception. Changing the order makes the album be as a movie where the story is told behind and ahead again and again.

To finish I gotta say I liked How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, the previous U2 album, very much, and I must say I think they're being as a wine: The years are passing by them and they're getting even better. They'll be back as part of this blog soon with another album, probably!

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"Silver Side Up" by Nickelback

2010-07-07T22:43:00.001+01:00

Nickelback is the name of a Canadian pop rock band from Hanna, Alberta, formed in 1995 by the Kroeger family. This band is one of the most commercially successful Canadian groups, having sold around 30 million records worldwide. They were already nominated 6 times to the grammy awards, but they never won.
Silver Side Up is their third album. It was recorded by Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Mike Kroeger and Ryan Vikedal, and relies of a production by Rick Parashar, who is known for working with bands as Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog and Alice in Chains. Released in 2001, it was a pure success!
Despite the good reception this album had around the world, and mainly in the USA, I don't see it as a great album or even a good album. Silver Side Up is quite easy to hear, what helps a lot when you're trying to sell something, but it doesn't come out the same record. It begins with the hits Never Again and How You Remind Me and the sound is mantained along the whole album. Maybe because they're the first two songs they became the most known, as I don't see them better or worse than others. In fact, their songs are very similar but I wouldn't be fair if I said the base is bad - being precise, I can say that these songs are placed on the threshold ex-rock to pop. Another problem I see in this album is its shortness - this is secondary; I wouldn't refer this if it was good. Just if you're asking yourself what song I would highlight, I answer readily: Where Do I Hide. Sounds well (as the others), but I think it has something more than just the same old sounds.
Not a good album, but easy to hear... Not a original or creative album, but with a good base for the songs... It's an album to reach too much people! I don't have problems when this happens, but just if the music content is good...

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"Black Ice" by AC/DC

2010-06-28T00:12:00.004+01:00

AC/DC are a Australian hard rock band formed in 1973 by the brothers Young (Malcolm and Angus). They are considered one of the biggest dinossaurs of rock worldwide. AC/DC are the two brothers Young, Brian Johnson, Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd, even knowing they reached the popularity with the former vocalist Bon Scott. Bon was a very particular person and gave AC/DC the irreverence bands need to be at the top. He died in the year 1980 and wasn't part of the greatest success of the band: Back in Black, the album. The fact Brian Johnson took part of the project and kinda launched AC/DC to the top, being Back in Black his first album on the band, makes many people consider this replacement one of the best ones in the history of music.

Black Ice is the latest AC/DC album. It was released between 17 and 22 October 2008 and was produced by the well-known Brendan O'Brien. And much of the success of this album has to be given to Brendan (you'll understand why). The album, as the movie, is Fast & Furious. It's a pure AC/DC composition! For me, the mystique of Black Ice is the 70s and 80s sound produced clearly in the new millennium. You listen to the album and it's impossible you don't know which is the band you're listening to. Although, you feel it as the old AC/DC made a time travel and came to the present to record this album. That's why I highlighted the producer; he just made a wonderful job, and I'm sure it made the old AC/DC fans love this record as well as he probably made this old band be heard by younger people.

Comprised on a power chords basis, Black Ice is a union of power and hardness. It's undoubtedly a pure hard rock album! When I listened to it the first time I just couldn't be immobile. It enters through you and doesn't let you stop. Rock n' Roll Train and War Machine are, for me, the best songs of the album. It is so homogeneous that it's hard to choose some songs, but I think these are the ones that summarize the whole album.

I loved this album and after the day I saw the Black Ice Tour live I must say I'm changed. Was one of the best concerts I have ever seen - if it wasn't the best! Despite the surname of the brothers, AC/DC aren't young and sometimes can be hard to ensure their health. This album made me believe they can be active many more years, and I may say I hope it.

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"Invaders Must Die" by The Prodigy

2010-06-14T15:26:00.002+01:00

The Prodigy is an English electronic group established by Liam Howlett in 1990, in Braintree. Along with bands as Fatboy Slim or The Chemical Brothers, they are pioneers of big beat - genre - and are known for high-quality live performances. They have sold over 20 million records worldwide which is unequalled in dance music history. The current band members include Liam Howlett (composer/keyboards), Keith Flint (dancer/vocalist) and Maxim (vocalist).

Invaders Must Die is the fifth studio album of this band which was released during February and March 2009, and was the first released by the band since 2004. This album was a good surprise for me as The Prodigy doesn’t match in my ordinary choices… Or didn’t! This is, probably, the most powerful album I’ve ever listened to. It begins with Invaders Must Die, the song, which I consider the best song I have ever heard on all the dance genres – a very well-built song, undoubtedly. Omen, Take Me To The Hospital and World’s On Fire are also part of the highlights of this work. I think the four aforementioned songs set the pace of the album, and it was mainly composed around those singles. This wouldn’t be good if the quality of the other songs was much smaller, but you listen to songs as Warrior’s Dance or Run With Wolves and you realize the album has eleven good songs, even if some are very similar.

The high quality of Invaders Must Die as well as some videos of live acts I saw around made me see The Prodigy live last year. It was a great concert which met my expectations. Currently, despite don’t see me as a The Prodigy fan (or even something closer), they are a band I really like. In fact, I re-listened to the previous albums of this band and I found another world almost parallel to the one I knew. I liked what I saw and now I consider them a great band. To be honest, I think I began listening to them too early. This kind of music and lyrics weren’t accessible to my young mind.

So, this a very good album, but it is directed to a restricted group. Nevertheless, it can be a passport to enter that group, as happened to me. I hope this isn’t an exception and I’ll be waiting for their next record.

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"Supernatural" by Carlos Santana

2010-06-01T14:29:00.011+01:00

Carlos Santana is a well-known 62 years old Mexican guitarist. He was very young when he began his musical life and became famous in the late 1960's and early 1970's with his band which pioneered a fusion of rock, salsa and jazz. This fusion is the main point of Santana's career and is still very recognizable today. When you listen to his guitar tracks, you just say: "Guys! This is a Santana's song".

Supernatural, released in 1999 and conceived by Clive Davis and Pete Ganbarg, was phenomenally success selling over 25 million copies worldwide. It also won nine Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year as well as three Latin Grammy Awards. This is an album characterized not only by Santana's sounds and compositions but also by the wonderful special guests as Dave Matthews, Rob Thomas, Cee-Lo, Eagle-Eye Cherry or even Eric Clapton.

Full of latin rythms and great guitar riffs and solos, this album is sung side by side in two different languages - english and spanish. The different kinds of genres are well mixed when they're presented in the same song and well organized when you listen to this album at once. The first song, (Da Le) Yaleo, opens the book and the highlights of the story are Smooth, Love Of My Life, Corazón Espinado and The Calling. We can't also forget songs as Put Your Lights On, Africa Bamba - this song has a very special feeling to the Portuguese people because it talks about a girl who dances something from our motherland ("Ella baila la portugueza"), probably related to the Portuguese influence in Africa - or Maria Maria, but I had to choose a little limited group.

This is an album I put in the category of Very Good Albums. Guitarists' albums can be too complex, but this is, undoubtedly, an exception. Despite my love by guitars, guitarists and their work - what could make me a better listener -, I may say this album is light and soft. It's pretty audible and we can see the result: the tremendous success.

If this blog had a page for my recommendations to the visitors (something I may begin thinking about - it could be very interesting), this supernatural album would be there!

Useful Links:

Carlos Santana Official Website

Carlos Santana on MySpace

Carlos Santana on Facebook

Carlos Santana Shoes

Santana Fan Club

Articles about Carlos Santana (The New York Times)

"OK Computer" by Radiohead

2010-05-27T15:59:00.014+01:00

Well, I may say the simple act of writing the title of this post put a smile upon my face! This is an album!!

The Radiohead consists of Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway since 1985, the year they were formed. They are an english alternative/experimental rock band which already released seven studio albums, being OK Computer the third - it was produced by Nigel Godrich, and was released in 1997.

This album has twelve well comprised songs and if there were the Music's 7 Wonders of the World, it wouldn't escape from the list. It's an album which have everything what's needed to be at the top. Radiohead are as genius as Led Zeppelin (probably, my favorite band) and they use their capacities using technologies to improve the songs. Jonny Greenwood is one of the best rock guitarrists using guitar effects (side by side with Tom Morello) and that helps a lot recognizing the contemporary Radiohead's sonority...

OK Computer is a very solid album and it's hard to choose some songs on it. They're all to good! If I had to choose just one, I would say you that Paranoid Android was the song that made me begin listening to this band. At the begining, it isn't easy - songs have a very complex composition -, and that song helped a lot, probably because of the rock sounds it has. It's much more rock and is still one of my preferred Radiohead songs.

In my point of view, I'm talking about the best currently active band, and I hope this generation after Nirvana will be known (in the music world) by bands like them. There are other english bands, as Muse or Placebo, showing their genius minds (and inserted on the same genre) that may mark an epoch. We have too much pop music around and I fear we're hiding or even devaluing some of the best bands ever seen (or heard). Something gotta change!

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"A Little Less Conversation" by Junkie XL vs Elvis Presley

2010-05-25T17:40:00.016+01:00

Today I'll talk about a very particular album. And that's one of the reasons to write a short text - you'll see why!

A Little Less Conversation is a song written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange originally recorded by Elvis Presley for a movie, "Live a Little, Little Love", in 1968. In 2002, the well-know dutch musician Junkie XL, or just JXL, remixed a TV special version of the song I'm talking, for the NIKE Football World Cup advertising campaign. The remix was a success and to prove it, the song was added to the compilation of Presley's U.S. Number 1 chart hits, entitled ELV1S 30 #1 Hits, which was being prepared for release - was the 31st song of that compilation, but the name (saying they're 30 hits) was kept.

This is a CD single - only has 3 versions of the song! I don't see it as a great album, or even a great song (or remix). It's something to listen once in a while. However, I gotta say in 2002 I bought it and I was mad for this song, and I still like it...

The NIKE Football World Cup advertising campaign:

Useful Links (NEW!):

"Battle For The Sun" by Placebo

2010-05-20T21:34:00.007+01:00

Placebo are an alternative rock band formed in London, and currently consists of Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal and Steve Forrest. Steve Forrest is the last acquisition of this band and I will talk about him below. Brian and Stefan need no presentation as they are well-known in the music world by their well composed songs and their versatility. They were formed in 1994 and have marked the music last years with albums as Placebo, Black Market Music or Meds. Placebo are known not only by these studio works they have developed but also by their live acts which have everything what's needed! I already saw them - when Battle For The Sun presentation tour came to Portugal - and this is something I promise!

But let's talk about what's important: Battle For The Sun, the album! This is the sixth studio album by Placebo (released in 8 June 2009) and the first one after the inclusion of Steve Forest - the story of the inclusion is very funny, you may read about it around. Steve is a drummer full of energy and with him, Placebo got much more rock influences! The rythm suffered a big change and the songs became much more strong. I think Steve gave Placebo a renewed vitality making them release a much more pure rock album which I think was the best thing could ever happen to them - this is their album I like more. If you ask me what song or songs I enjoyed more I would probably choose Devil In The Details, For What It's Worth or Battle For The Sun, but I may also say songs like Ashtray Heart or Breathe Underwater (and others) make me say this is a very good album. I bought the CD+DVD version and I need to say the DVD is kind of a making of. And is very good as well! They show their point of view, what makes much easier to understand the whole album...

If you want to listen to a brand new album that belongs to the kind I call Erudite Rock (even knowing that, for example, Black Market Music is much more highbrow), this may be a great choice.

"The Element of Freedom" by Alicia Keys

2010-04-19T14:03:00.008+01:00

Alicia Keys is a musician from New York City who needs no presentation. She is a very well-known artist around the world, already released four studio albums and won a total of twelve grammys at the moment. The album I'm talking is the last studio one and, for me, is one of the greatest albums released in 2009 - if it's not the greatest.

Despite I'm not the classic listener of R&B and Soul, I must say Alicia Keys always made me listen to that genre. I like her voice - it's very soft; sweet -, and she always presents some well composed songs. This album isn't an exception... I would say the opposite! It's the masterpiece! This album is making its genre belongs to my «daily playlist». Empire State Of Mind (Part II) Broken Down and That's How Strong My Love Is are two of the most wonderful songs I've ever listened to. Doens't Mean Anything shows Alicia's ID... It's a song that looks like the other albums songs, what isn't properly bad - I don't care much about the albums built all about the same. I like some variety and I think it maybe the difference between a good and a great album. There is a song - Put It In A Love Song - I didn't liked so much... I see it much more pop style, and the album could lose the interest thereafter! But Alicia shows why is she so important to the music and correct that little backset rising 'till Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down and maintaining the quality thereafter.

So, it's a spectacular album and I think you should buy it, even if it's not your preferred genre. Don't bother! It will make you like it! I love this album...

By the way, Alicia Keys will be here, in Portugal, next week - 29th April - at Pavilhão Atlântico.

"O Monstro Precisa de Amigos" by Ornatos Violeta

2010-04-06T23:28:00.005+01:00

Ornatos Violeta were a great portuguese alternative rock band which were active between 1991 and 2002. Anyway, they just released three albums, being O Monstro Precisa de Amigos the second. Comprised by 5 musicians I gotta highlight the vocalist Manel Cruz, still one of the best rock composers Portugal ever met.

This album contains 13 very well composed songs and despite listening to it it's by itself an wonderful experience because of the great musical quality, is there something as important as that: the amazing lyrics! Songs as Chaga or Dia Mau have to be listened carefully.

But the (one I consider the) song of the songs inside that box is Ouvi Dizer which is probably the best portuguese sung song I have ever listened to... The lyrics makes sense day-after-day, the instrumental tracks are close to perfection and it's a song that belongs to my daily playlist. Listen to it! I'm sure you'll love as I ever did...

In Portugal, we usually prefer the foreign music - unfortunately, much times lacks the pull for what's ours -, but I see Ornatos Violeta as an exception and they always were (fairly) a very well accepted band and are still considered as one of the top bands in our little country!

So, I highly recommend this album - and all the others from these guys - hoping the really good portuguese rock music goes across the world. And I hope I'll talk about more magnificent portuguese albums!

"By the Way" by Red Hot Chili Peppers

2010-03-09T20:01:00.006Z

To begin I may say I was a Red Hot Chili Peppers' fan since I was very young. I still like 'hem a lot, but times have changed, and things change too... so I just kept liking them a lot.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are a band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 and when By the Way was released, they were comprised by Anthony Kiedis, John Frusciante, Michael Balzary (Flea) and Chad Smith (the last two guys make, I may say, one of the best rhythmic pairs I've ever seen in a band). Recently, John Frusciante went out the band to bet all on his own solo project, and Josh Klinghoffer (a wonderful musician who was playing with RHCP, them last tour - Stadium Arcadium) came in. But well, let's come back to 2002...
By the Way, the album, is a "black sheep" (not the only one taken of the whole discography, unfortunately) but have a very good beginning - By the Way, the song, comes first... But (I think) soon you begin seeing it haven't all the things we used to listen on them previous albums - looking back especially to Californication and Blood Sugar Sex Magik - as the well-build guitar tracks. Were replaced by sound tracks kinda mainstream... Needed more color! Much more. But despite the first song, there's another exception, Can't Stop, which I think is undoubtedly the best song of this album, that came with the power of the old times and have a great main riff.

After all I loved the lyrics, as ever. Was an album I bought with no regrets and have been much time on my CD players because, despite all the musical things I told you above, the RHCP songs' lyrics ever made sense to me and marked my whole life. The song I call your attention is Dosed, probably the words that meant more in my life. So, it's not an album to listen as a masterpiece... It's an album to feel!

"Pearl Jam" by Pearl Jam

2010-02-24T23:08:00.010Z

Today I present you an album of another band belonging to the group of them considered the best ones still in action. "Pearl Jam" is the namesake album of the band led by Eddie Vedder. Pearl Jam are a '90s band (formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990) included lots of times on the grunge movement. To be honest, I prefer to say they're a (hard) rock band, just because I see their sound much more complex than the other bands of the moment above. Currently they are Eddie Vedder, Mike McGready, Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament and Matt Cameron, the ones who recorded the album (released in 2006) I'm talking about.

Despite the fact I see Ten as Pearl Jam's masterpiece - which is an album just inside the grunge stuff - I think they're getting better sound maturity album after album and here's an example of what I'm talking. Hard sounds - yes, they are - but much more complete comparing to the previous works released. "Pearl Jam", the album, begins at a breathtaking pace, with Life Wasted and World Wide Suicide and you start thinking: "Man, I'll not last 'till the end. At the end, I'll be just death", but soon you see it's not just one more album to see people's headbanging and have calmer songs. When you arrive to the Marker in the Sand you look very tired but much happier.

So, it's a great rock album and I see it as a 2nd masterpiece of this band. They show even better and mature sound than in '91, but haven't the same feeling they impressed in Ten. It just disappeared, as time changes. It's a great album, released when we needed to search a lot to find a good brand new album.

"Them Crooked Vultures" by Them Crooked Vultures

2010-02-17T22:49:00.007Z

Them Crooked Vultures are a new hard rock superband comprised by the well-known music superstars Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age; Eagles of Death Metal), Dave Grohl (Ex-Nirvana; Foo Fighters) and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin). The album I'm talking today is the first (and I hope it's not the last) from those guys and shows they can work together very well.

This album produced by themselves sends energy by itself. With strong drums tracks, powerful guitars and basses only seen by Jones himself some years ago (Led Zeppelin) it has everything what's needed on a great rock album. As was said at the daily american newspapper The New York Times: This album has "A thunderous force". The songs I like more are "Mind Eraser, No Chaser" and "Dead End Friends", and I just say they're full of the best american rock 'n' roll ever made around the world.

Just to end I'll let you a verse from the first song of the album "No One Loves Me & Neither Do I" which I think says something about the album and the way it was built, or composed:

"Be quick, react, to break the box"

Just don't break it for real!! I know the CD will stay long time on your CD player, but you'll ever need the box..

“ENCOUNTERS II, LABIRINTHO 7.8” by Telectu and Jean Sarbib

2010-02-05T19:41:00.002Z

(Thanks vinyltribes.com)

The album I’ll talk you today, a Vinyl edited at 1990 by MC/Mundo da Canção, made me go back to the origins, pick up, clean and listen as it was somewhere back in ’70s or ‘80s.

Composed by the Portuguese band Telectu – Jorge Lima Barreto and Vítor Rua, their names need no presentation – and Jean Henri Sarbib who shows his bass guitar and flute talent, “ENCOUNTERS II, LABIRINTHO 7.8” is characterized by its experimental and electronic music quality. I may say despite the fact I knew a bit about Telectu before, before this proposed challenge: “start writing about music by an album from this band”, I listened to some works edited by them and I may say this was the one that came and fixed me in the eyes as was saying: “Write about me! I look pretty well! I’m brilliant, don’t you listen?”.

To end, although I liked a lot, this is a very spiritual kind of music and it’s hard to listen by everyone – needs some kind of musical culture, I may say. It’s not music to have playing on the phones when you go running... You need to sit on the couch for a while and stay wondering the song’s essence. Try it; you’ll see you’ll love it more than anybody does!

The greatest beginning I wished to write!

2009-12-07T17:49:00.005Z

(Thanks blitz.aeiou.pt)

Well... This is the day I'm officially opening my blog's posts. I begin giving you a little comment, or appreciation, about the most recent live act of the British alternative rock band, from Devon, MUSE in Portugal, at Pavilhão Atlântico (Lisbon), included on the new album's - "The Resistance" (released in Europe on 14th September 2009) - presentation Tour , which will be part of my appreciations soon (I can promise that! You'll know why).

The show I'm talking today was organized by the well-known promoter Everything is New, having the participation of the band Biffy Clyro ensuring the first part of that musical night. The MUSE trio comprised by Matthew Bellamy, Christopher Woltenholme and Dominic Howard came out and began the show at 9.15 PM, approximately. The opening was just wonderful... An audiovisual effect very well achieved, that gave all the confidence to all the audience (It's hard to explain, but I hope you have chance to see some videos). Those high quality (audio)visual effects had an important role at all the act. And were there every song.

Talking about the setlist, I think was the best they might chose. The show began with the new album's most known single - Uprising - and they tried to maintain the rhythm 'till Hysteria. There, played five more sentimental songs to make the audience live the moment (very well chosen, I may say). After Undisclosed Desires, they came back harder and stronger, starting by Plug in Baby. The encore was coming! An highlight was when they came back to that end, starting with Exogenesis Symphony Part 1: Overture.. A magical moment! And after Stockholm Syndrome and Knights of Cydonia there was the end of, I can say, the best musical night I've ever had. The perspectives were very high (I had already seen them some years ago, tough I "weren't" a fan.. Now, I "am"!) and I never thought I'd be so well surprised at the end!

Just to end, it's a band and a tour I will recommend everybody! Even being my enemies... Everyone deserves to see something like that once, at least!

Greetings!

Kind of an opening

2009-11-16T15:53:00.001Z

This post marks the opening of my personal blog. I had the idea of developing my own blog some years ago, but I never thought what I wanted to write. Few weaks ago, I was creating a song for a musical project and just thought something as: "Why don't I write about my passion?", and the day after I was seeing myself registering an account here, on Blogger, to start it.

The next step was wondering how would I do it. So, I decided to choose the albums I heard (doesn't matter when..) to talk a bit about them. I don't know when I will start working hard here, but I'll try it to be soon. I'll write appreciations of some live shows, too. Won't be all the ones I'll hear about, but just the ones I'll present (and maybe not all).
Just to finish the presentation, I may say my evaluations will be based on what I think, and you may not agree on them. I would love to have some musical arguments here. It's always a pleasure!

I hope you enjoy my blog,

José Nuno Vasco