Reviews of the CDs I got for my birthday. Why? Because I can, dammit!

Marcy Playground: Marcy Playground

Whoa....good stuff. Most people only know "Sex and Candy," but this album has a hell of a lot more to offer. All of the tracks are smooth, and great to listen to if you're looking for something laid back and mellow. History dork that I am, I was particularly impressed with Track 1, "Poppies," which is about Opium, but also the history of opium, and the friction it created between China and England in the 1800's. Fantasy geek that I am, another personal favorite of mine is A Cloak of Elvenkind. It has qualities that make it sound like a ballad, but it's not about love.

Other standout tracks:St. Joe on the Schoolbus, Another Suicide, Sherry Fraser, hell the whole album's standout, go to Amazon.com and listen to all the tracks

Idlewild: 100 Broken Windows

Already Reviewed

Only now I have the CD, I think it rocks even more! I scare the people on my floor cranking up this bad boy

Saves the Day: Stay What You Are

Saves the Day have definately matured since their last album, though most of their work has always been pretty mature for pop-punk. Kickass guitar, good beat, clever lyrics. It gets better with every listen. Another good Saves the Day Album: Through Being Cool. This album, while less mature and polished than Stay What You Are (i.e. repetative lyrics, songs tending to sound alike) is still a rock fest, especially if you like other work by Saves the Day.

Weezer: Weezer (The Blue Album)

For those of you who've only heard the latest (green) album, you're deprived! The blue album is Weezer's best work, in my opinion. Some of the tunes are incredibally catchy (Buddy Holly, The Sweater Song--well, almost all of the songs are), and many of them hit very hard, emotionally--with great guitar riffs to back it up (Say it Ain't So). And, being a D & D dork, I HAVE to love "In the Garage," a tune that starts out, "I've got dungeonmaster's guide/I've got a twelve-sided die"... and only gets better from there.

New Found Glory: New Found Glory

Okay, first of all: couldn't find a pic as big as the others, so that's why. This album: a step backwards for New Found Glory. While fellow pop-punk band Saves the Day has refined their music, New Found Glory has turned itself into a copy of Blink 182. And though I love Blink 182, I loved old skool NFG, and am really sad to see that they've turned onto the conformist route. Do yourself a favor, and listen to their old album, Nothing Gold Can Stay, or From the Screen to your Stereo, including punk style covers of "My Heart Will Go On," "The Neverending Story," and others--it's a must have!

posted by DJ Jazzy Phoe @ 10:43 AM  |