Crusher Destroyer [2002] - Mastodon

In my humble opinion, 'Crusher Destroyer' is an brilliant song title. To have it as an album opener is even better. Thankfully the title does justice to the song. Clocking in at a mere 2 minutes, 'Crusher Destroyer' feels longer than that, in a good way of course. That's only because of the insane number of riffs Mastodon have managed to cram into it. A blend of heavy and sludge metal, it's unrelenting and uncompromising, just like all of their songs.They even manage to incorporate a Southern blues solo in the middle. Special mention must go to drummer Brann Dailor for his unique drumming style and sudden changes in time signatures, always threatening to burst out from the background. Vocals are harsh but suit the song well, its hard to think of anything else other than a guttural voice to go with it. A massive opener for a massive album

"Lesson
the honoring instinct of animal
pressure
no blame on the red bull
throw fury at him
aim gorge and win
less contenders on the way today
let them pay
nothing lost
nothing gained
listen
here lies the warning for matador
blackout
blood running the dirt floor
won't bleed by accident
burn your game plan"

Vampire Weekend [2008] - Vampire Weekend

Describing their sound as "Upper West Side Soweto", Ivy-League (Columbia University to be more specific) rockers Vampire Weekend released their self titled debut in early 2008. The album is a playful yet arty mix of indie rock, pop and African music. The songs have an undeniable charm about them, the lyrics are witty and quirky if a little cryptic. On lead vocals and guitar is Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij handles a variety of instruments while also serving as producer and Chris Baio and Chris Thompson fill in on bass and drums respectively.

The most obvious thing that one is likely to notice is just how simple the songs are. Koenig limits his guitar to only the first 3 strings, while the rhythm section is left to fill in the gaps with its tricky drumming and rhythmic bass. But it works and works well as exemplified by the first two songs 'Mansard Roof' and 'Oxford Comma', both excellent songs, dealing with offbeat topics like architecture and grammar. 'A-Punk' is one of the highlights of the album and rightly so. The song is succinct, sweet and catchy. 'Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa' is the most African-sounding song on the entire album, with Conga drums and a guitar line that could easily have been taken from a Afro Pop hit, a sort of New York-meets-Africa experience. 'One (Blake's Got A New Face) ' has one of the most memorable lyrics and you may find yourself singing along even though you may not know what's going on! 'M79' and 'Walcott' with their speedy and infectious keyboards further strengthen the album. The album closer 'The Kids Don't Stand Chance' is absolutely brilliant.It only starts with bass and drums, both sounding as though they might belong to a reggae song, but by the end, you wont even know what genre of music you're listening to or how you even got there. The transition is that smooth and well worked out. The lyrics go well with the already preppy nature of the album, drawing inspiration from European History.

Vampire Weekend's debut is ultimately smart, preppy, innovative and above all a fresh breath of air in an already crowded indie rock scene. They prove that big riffs, heavy and heart pounding beats don't necessarily make the biggest impressions. Sometimes you've got to put your feet up, kick back , relax and let some ivy college kids blow you away with their music.

Song Picks :

• Mansard Roof
• Oxford Comma
• A-Punk
• Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
• Bryn
• The Kids Don't Stand A Chance
  

"You criticize the practice
By murdering their plants
Ignoring all the history
Denying them romance

The pin-striped men of morning
Are coming for to dance
Forty-million dollars
The kids don't stand a chance."

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