So lets talk about the CDs I got in June 2009:
The Moaning Myrtles- Toilet Humor
The Moaning Myrtles are a wizard rock band featuring Lauren Fairweather from the fiveawesomegirls on YouTube. Toilet Humor is their second album. I was a bit reluctant in getting into the whole wizard rock thing but after a while Ive really started to enjoy it. This is a great album that has lots of funny/quirky/nerdy stuff about it. Give the songs a listen and you'll be singing along in no time. The Moaning Myrtles are great live if you get a chance to see them.
Overall- 3.5/5
Lauren Fairweather- Devil's Snare
This is Lauren Fairweather's (fiveawesomegirls, The Moaning Myrtles) first solo album. Its wrock/muggle rock. There are alot of great songs on the album such as "Going to Hogwarts" and "Nerdfighterlike" (a song which appeared on Hank Green's "So Jokes" album). I prefer this album to Lauren's second album. If you already like wizard/nerd rock or just like some independent music, give this album a listen.
Overall- 3.5/5
Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Half-Blood Pizza
Im not sure which album this is from JFF (he has a lot of them). This is another wizard rock album. The songs on the album are alot more liveley than their live, acounstic counterparts. There are some awesome guitar solo/riffs over dubbed on most songs that make this album stand out from other wrock out there. A few songs are instant classics such as "Potions, Dancing, Hexing and Romancing". Other songs include "Miss Bulstrode"; a song about JFF infatuation with a Slytherin girl, and "Hairy Heart"; a song based off one of the "Tales of Beedle the Bard".
Overall- 3.5/5
DFTBA Recods Compilation-Vol. 1
An album I was VERY excited to recieve in the mail. A compilation of amazing, independently made, not to mention very GOOD, music. The album features tons of musical YouTubers such as Hank Green, Julia Nunes, Dr. Noise, Dave Days and the Doctor Who themed band Chameleon Circuit (featuring Alex Day [nerimon] and Charlie McDonnell [charlieissocoollike] from the fiveawesomeguys). If your new to this kind of music scene, this is definitely an album you want to pick up to get aquainted with the awesome your missing out on. Most of the songs are REALLY catchy and alot of them also have some witty lyrics. This album has got me to put lots of new artists' albums on my wishlist.
Overall- 4.5/5
Rancid-Let The Dominoes Fall
Ahhh... Rancid. One of the most quintessential punk rock bands of all time. Like all the albums before it, their new album has its own unique feel to it. Its influences remind me of Bluesy music and 50's style Rock 'n Roll. The whole album has this overall kick back, feel good, looking back at old times feel to it. The incredibly catchy songs will get stuck in your head very quickly. The single "Last One To Die" gets kinda drowned out by all the other songs that are better than it. The opening song "Easy Bay Night" is fantastic. My favorite on the album by far is "New Orleans". I got to see Rancid a few weeks ago with Rise Against. Their performance was nothing short of legendary. Old school Rancid fans will find lots to love on this album (although keep in mind this is probably their most mellow album). People that are new to Rancid will be able to get into this very easily because, while staying true to the Rancid sound, the album has a kind of mainstream sound to it (trying not to sound like its a bad thing) that new listeners will be able to enjoy.
Overall-4.5/5
4 DeathCore CDS I picked up for $1.75 each
I dont have much to say on these individually so ill throw them into their own category. As the title says I got these 4 cds for $1.75 each. They are:
Job For A Cowboy- Doom. Excellent excellent excellent. I love it WAY more than their first album (Doom is an ep that came before the first album). I wish there could be more songs but hey, its an EP.
Overall- 5/5
Born of Osiris- The New Reign. Another fantastic EP. This band has their first album coming out the begining of July. Be sure to check out this band, theres really something that's different about them. One of the noticeable differences is that its a deathcore band that uses synthsisers. Nice.
Overall-5/5
All Shall Perish- The Price of Existence. I really like it. Its a great album with some really heavy metal that ive been looking for. Nothing incredibly stand out about it but its still really great. If your into music this heavy, check out this band.
Overall-4/5
Despised Icon- The Ills of Modern Man. This band is supposed to be for fans of Suicide Silence (and boy do i LOVE me somg Suicide Silence). They're even on the same record label. I dont like the album much though. It makes me think of a heavier version of Hatebreed. It sounds like metal that was made by jocks. But that's just my opinion. I personally dont see anything special about it.
Overall-2.5/5
Dream Theater- Black Clouds & Silver Linings
Of course I was VERY excited for the release of a new album from the most talented band ever. However, something about this album just isnt agreeing with me. I LOVE Dream Theater but the album seems to come short of what they're capable of. The first song "A Nightmare to Remember" is probably the most epic song i've ever heard (and is becoming my favorite Dream Theater songs). "A Rite of Passage" is kind of annoying to me. There's a song called "The Shattered Fortress" that uses different parts from past songs. That's really cool. But overall, I just wanted more from this album. Its mostly mellow. I'd compare it to Octavarium. I got the 3 disc special edition and i will say the 6 cover songs on the second disk are impressive. I havnt been able to listen to the third disk yet (all 6 album songs but with no vocals) but im probably going to like that alot more than the album itself.
Overall- 3/5
Suicide Silence- No Time To Bleed
FINALLY! The CD i'm most excited about this month. Suicide Silence's second album. Its nothing short of incredible. It didnt completely blow me away like the first album did (but that might be because im used to how amazing the music is now) but the album is still amazing. The songs have more diversity than the first album and the overall sound is a bit more polished and professional. Could probably use a few extra tracks on the album but im not complaning that much about that. To make a comparison the first album sounds like listening to razor blades, this one sounds like listening to a stampede of buffalos. PICK THIS ONE UP!
Overall- 5/5
The Essential Judas Priest
Not much to say on this one. If you like Judas Priest and dont have many of their albums you should get it. Its a good collection of their songs throughout all their albums.
And there you have it. Half wizard/nerd rock, a Rancid CD and the other half DeathCore. The absolute weirdest mix of CDs ive ever bought. My musical horizons were expanded in BOTH directions this month.
