Stylo [2010] - Gorillaz

Released just a few weeks ago, 'Stylo' is considerably darker than previous Gorillaz fare. The backbone of the song is its ominous bass line which is further accentuated by Damon Albarn's (2D) melancholy vocals. Featuring Mos Def and soul legend Bobby Womack on vocals, Stylo has an old school feel to it, mixing genres such as disco and synthpop. Bobby Womack's vocals stand out in particular, delivering a powerful performance. The single oozes elan and panache and is a strong comeback for Damon Albarn in particular, especially after the hit-or-miss 'The Good, the Bad and the Queen'. I would daresay that it's a stronger song than 'Feel Good Inc.' Here's to hoping 'Plastic Beach' continues the same standards as Stylo!

"Right now here's what we got to do,
it's love of electric,
it'll be flowing on the streets,
night after night,
just to get through the week,
sometimes it's hard. "

Rating : 9/10

School [1989] - Nirvana

The first time I heard 'School' by Nirvana was when I saw its promotional video on Youtube. The band recently (not to mention finally) released a DVD of their legendary 1992 Reading Festival performance and needless to say I was hooked! 'School' is not a very complex song, the lyrics are not particularly profound but its charm lies in its pure simplicity. Starting off with a simple distorted riff, the song kicks into life when the bass and drums join in the mix. I would suggest listening to the remastered version of Bleach with the bass turned up. Trust me, the more bass, the better. Kurt Cobain restricts his vocabulary to "Wouldn't you believe it it's just my luck" , "No recess" and "You're in high school again ". Yes, that's it folks, three sentences. However, these fit well with the song and so does its noisy,discordant guitar solo. Overall, 'School' is a fun song to listen to, the kind of song that warms you up and gets your blood pumping.

Rating : 8/10

"No recess!"

Going Down [1971] - Freddie King

Released in 1971 , Blues legend Freddie King's 'Going Down' is a real monster of a song, one that would be covered by various future guitarists such as Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jeff Beck and even Joe Satriani. Featuring catchy-as-hell piano playing by none other Leon Russell himself, a groovy bass line and King's throaty vocals, the song became an instant blues classic. But the real centerpiece is King's guitar. It plays the role of a secondary vocalist, demanding the listener's attention every time it squeals through the background. It emotes as much as King, perhaps even more, channeling his passion through every note. Seen as an attempt to fuse classic blues-rock with the emerging hard rock scene of the 70s, 'Going Down' was ultimately a success that influenced a generation of guitarists and its impact can still be felt today.

"I'm going down
I'm going, down, down, down
Down, down
Yes, I'm going down, yes
I'm going down, down, down
Down, down
Yes, I've got my feet in the window
Got my head on the ground"

Rating 9/10

Never Miss A Beat [2008] - Kaiser Chiefs

After the hit-or-miss sophomore effort that was 'Yours Truly, Angry Mob' , Kaiser Chiefs bounced back to form with their third studio album 'Off with Their Heads'. Featured on this album was the lead single 'Never Miss a Beat', which included Lily Allen on backing vocals. The song fits quite nicely into the Chiefs post-punk revival sound, rivaling hits such as 'Ruby' and 'I Predict A Riot'. The drums thump along, driving the song with its catchy beat while the bass rumbles in perfect unison. There some really neat guitar work to be found on the song along with fuzzy keyboards which add a sort of sugary charm. But of note are Ricky Wilson's lyrics which feature subtle social commentary but above all are fun to sing along with. So if you are looking for a radio friendly pop-rock song, this is probably it, but be warned, it may just get stuck in your head!

"Televisions on the blink
There's nothing on it
I really want a really big coat
With words on it
What do you want for tea?
I want crisps
Why don't you join the team?
I just did"

Rating : 6.5/10

Nobody's Fault But My Own [1998] - Beck

'Nobody's Fault But My Own', was the third single off Beck's 6th studio album, Mutations. A blues song with Indian instruments? Only Beck could have come up with that! While Indian instrumentation was not uncommon in rock music, Beck gives it a unique twist in this beautiful song. The lyrics are haunting with plenty of metaphors, a prime example of his poetic talent. That coupled with his bleak delivery, the sitar and the droning tanpura in the background, really sucks the listener in, demanding more and more listens. This song received the most critical acclaim on the album, and rightly so. A classic in its own right.

"When the moon is a counterfeit, better find the one that fits
Better find the one that lights the way for you. "

Rating : 9.5/10

Nobody Loves Me And Neither Do I - Them Crooked Vultures

What can be said about supergroups that hasn't been said before? They usually comprise of highly talented musicians who come from various established bands, but never quite live up to the sum of their parts. Supergroups range from great (Cream,Crosby Stills and Nash) to average (Audioslave, Velvet Revolver) to just plain awful (Zwan anyone?). With a great set of talent often comes a whole lot of ego, leading to disastrous results. Supergroups are often treated with suspicion, and with good reason. Enter Them Crooked Vultures. Take one of the greatest drummers in modern rock (Dave Grohl of Nirvana & Foo Fighters fame) , a cult hero (Josh Homme, frontman of Queens of the Stone Age) and a rock god if there ever lived one (John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin) and you have, potentially at least, the greatest hard rock band to come out since perhaps Led Zeppelin themselves.So how does their self-titled debut pan out? I'll be reviewing just one song so you'll have to hear the whole thing, but I think the one song will be enough to give you a good idea.

The album opener is 'Nobody Loves Me and Neither Do I', a funky mix of 70's hard rock fused with 90's modern rock sensibilities. At 5 minutes long, the song showcases the individual strengths of each of the members. Dave Grohl pounds away on the drums adding a little cowbell for good measure (a little more cowbell never hurt anyone!). Josh Homme shows his penchant for hard rock riffs while singing in his trademark falsetto. John Paul Paul remains his usual composed self, preferring to remain in the background with his slide bass. Yes, his slide bass. This adds a nice twist to a song that very well could have stayed generic. Production wise, the song sounds a little raw. While this is not really a bad thing, the trio sound so tight, I wish there was a little less echo and more of the slide bass. The song really kicks into another level at around the 3 minute mark. The band launches into this, if I may say so, sick groove that carries on for the rest of the song. It is both hypnotizing and heavy at the same time, reminiscent of the last minute of QOTSA's 'Song for the Dead'. It finally ends in a flurry of guitar of drums, leaving the listener extremely satisfied. While the song is a little uneven at times due to its mishmash of styles, it is breath of fresh air in the crowded hard rock genre. The potential displayed by TCV is an indicator that perhaps supergroups can indeed be super.

"I know how to be lost in lust
Not because you should, but because you must"

Rating : 8/10

A Looking In View - Alice in Chains

After 14 long years, Alice in Chains released their much awaited 4th studio album in October this year. The question on everybody's mind was how the band would replace its iconic lead singer, Layne Staley, who tragically passed away in 2002. But die-hard AIC fans need not worry, as replacement William Duvall does more than a capable job, sounding eerily similar to Layne while not exactly imitating him either.
The lead single off the album is the 7 minute long 'A Looking in View'. It carries on the dark,sludgy sound that was first introduced on AIC's self titled album (released in 1995). From the moment the down-tuned, heavily distorted guitars kick in, you know that this is not some re-hashed attempt at former glory, this IS Alice in Chains. William Duvall's vocals are mixed at par with Jerry Cantrell's for most of the song, although you do get to hear his voice stand on its own. However, when Duvall and Cantrell harmonize their vocals, the song is at its best. The chorus is catchy by AIC standards, but on the downside, the song is a bit too long for its own good. Some of the riffs and lyrics are repeated too often, losing its effect. Also, I couldn't help but wish for a guitar solo by Jerry Cantrell. Overall the song is a fine return for one of Grunge music's big 4. For long time fans, 'A Looking In View' will fit in perfectly with the band's classics, a haunting and eerie rocker. For non-fans, do give it a listen, this is real grunge music, not the post-grunge bullsh*t that's being spoon-fed to the masses.

"Silence burning, hold your tongue
Keep us separate so they'll know"

Rating : 7.5/10