*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: R&B
Label Number: CK 57324
© 1994 Columbia
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: trisha covington, call me, 1994, flac,
May 15, 2025
Various Artists - The Delinquents - Original Soundtrack (1990)
*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Rockabilly, Pop, Doo Wop, Stage & Screen
Label Number: HFCD 11
© 1990 PWL Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: various artists, the delinquents, original soundtrack, ost, 1990, flac,
Various Artists - Elektra: The Album (2005)
*A photo of the disc is included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Alternative Metal, Post Grunge, Alternative Rock
Label Number: 60150-13107-2
© 2005 Wind-Up
Elektra: The Album repeats the post-grunge sins of the Daredevil and Spider-Man soundtracks. It would have been nice if the film's musical choices accentuated or commented on its main character's mix of formidable fighting skills and emotional conflict. Instead, but for a lukewarm attempt at featuring female rockers, the collection serves mostly as a showcase for plodding modern rock yeomen and the Wind-Up Records roster. Strata's "Never There (She Stabs)" is an odd choice for a first single; its title reflects the glint of Elektra's sais, but otherwise it's leaden and unhappy. Entries from Finger Eleven, Submersed, and 12 Stones don't fare much better. They vary in their use of trademark elements like chunky distortion, pleading choruses, or acoustic breakdowns. But the collective effect is to hear one long, loud, and rather unimaginative song. Elsewhere, Switchfoot and Taking Back Sunday get lost in layers of moody drama and echoing piano, with the latter's "Your Own Disaster" a close cousin to its placeholder entry on 2004's Spider-Man 2 soundtrack. Evanescence's Amy Lee has proven her ability to carry a piano ballad, and the previously unreleased "Breathe No More" is no exception. It softens Elektra a little, like a white curtain billowing in a cold stone room. And nods to the Donnas ("Everything Is Wrong") and a rising coed outfit from New York City called the Twenty-Twos (the fun Veruca Salt throwback "5 Years"), who give the set some kicky pizzazz. However, with only a faceless hard rock grind from Alter Bridge and two different hopefuls (Megan McCauley, Full Blown Rose) trying to channel that Evanescence mix of passion and rock power, Elektra: The Album never really makes its point.
tags: various artists, elektra, the album, soundtrack, ost, 2005, flac,
May 01, 2025
Cake - Fashion Nugget (1996)
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Alternative Rock
Label Number: 314 534 228-2
© 1996 Capricorn Records
Sounding like a suburban, melodic, white funk-injected version of King Missile's performance art/standup comedy, "The Distance" became a novelty hit in the fall of 1996, sending Cake's second album, Fashion Nugget, to platinum status. Certainly, "The Distance" was the only reason Fashion Nugget went platinum, because the remainder of the album is too collegiate and arcane for mainstream music tastes. It isn't because it's obscure or intellectual -- it's because the band is smirking. An "ironic" cover of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" is the key to the album, sending the signal that nothing is too insignificant to make fun of. Their blend of collegiate musical styles -- funk, hip-hop, alternative rock -- makes the music easy to digest in small doses, such as "The Distance."
tags: cake, fashion nugget, 1996, flac,
Cake - Prolonging The Magic (1998)
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Alternative Rock
Label Number: 314 538 092-2
© 1998 Capricorn Records
Supposedly their attempt to make a smugness- and irony-free album, Cake's third release does hold back the barbs a bit more than usual. And the strain shows. In these guys' hands, love songs without smirks and pop tunes straight up come out forced. So, they often fall back into familiar territory: postmodern takes on postmodern life. Flipping between earnest alt-rock rhythms and jittery, funky jazz that somehow manages to whitewash both styles, Prolonging the Magic works best when Cake lay on the irony extra heavy, or when they make their sober ambitions mesh slightly with the type of smart-ass pop they've based a career on (like the formulaic "Never There"). At least they seem to realize their place in the alt-rock universe as a novelty band with chops, counteracting the genre's overwhelming seriousness with a light dose of heavy-handed yuks.
tags: cake, prolonging the magic, 1998, flac,
Cake - Comfort Eagle (2001)
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Alternative Rock
Label Number: CK 62132
© 2001 Columbia
While so many rock bands try to reinvent themselves with every new album, Cake has made a name for itself by sticking to its brand of smirking funk-pop. Blending jazz, rockabilly, experimental rock, and a little less country than usual, Comfort Eagle, the band's first album since leaving Capricorn Records for Columbia, carries on the Cake tradition of offbeat humor and catchy melodies. While some fans may be waiting for its sound to evolve, singer/songwriter John McCrea and company seem content to reign over their quirky little corner of the popular music landscape. "Opera Singer" and the first single, "Short Skirt/Long Jacket," follow in the footsteps of Cake's previous hits, but are no less enjoyable because of it. "Shadow Stabbing" is one of the most straightforward rock songs the band has ever recorded, with McCrea forgoing his usual half-spoken vocals for an almost irony-free delivery. While it is still unmistakably Cake, it would sound right at home on a Cars album. The rest of the album is by the numbers Cake, which is comforting and slightly disappointing at the same time. The group has certainly perfected its sound, and one can understand why it would be hesitant to turn its back on its extremely distinctive style, but with Comfort Eagle Cake comes dangerously close to simply remaking its previous release, Prolonging the Magic. While new fans might enjoy Comfort Eagle on its own merits, Cake followers may feel as though they've bought the same album twice. However, both albums are strong enough that they probably won't mind.
tags: cake, comfort eagle, 2001, flac,
Cake - Pressure Chief (2004)
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Alternative Rock
Label Number: CK 92629
© 2004 Columbia
Released in 2004, Pressure Chief marks Cake's tenth year with a set of sardonic, engaging alternative pop that shows the Sacramento band's economical sound unwilted after all these years. Chief features artwork and typography typical to the group, as well the familiar three-color print scheme and stiff cardstock paper. John McCrea's wit is as dry as ever, and his tongue has grown sharper with the addition of a social comment streak that occasionally goes quite cynical. Single "No Phone" decries the encroachment of technology, while "Carbon Monoxide" is an upbeat, Beatlesque number that nevertheless wonders cynically, "Where's the air?" Later, the wispily funky "Tougher Than It Is" encourages listeners to take it easy, because life's going to keep throwing curve balls anyway. Cake have always positioned themselves as cultural observers, but McCrea's opinions on Chief rely more on clarity than wryness. This doesn't make the album a downer. It opens with "Wheels," a song built from the best parts of Cake's thrifty yet effective arsenal. McCrea's narrative mostly concerns a breakup, and life moving on ("Wheels keep on spinning 'round..."). But his imagery is on overdrive once he hits the singles bar, where the "Muscular cyborg German dudes dance with sexy French Canadians." The song's punctuated by a classic Vince Di Fiore descending trumpet line and some fan-favorite "HEY!"s from McCrea. In the tradition of "I Will Survive," the band tackles another cover song, this time reinterpreting Bread's "Guitar Man." With its vintage synthesizers squiggling off the cues of an acoustic guitar, their version meanders at a comforting pace akin to Flaming Lips' "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1," and even gives McCrea a chance to sing a little. Other highlights include "She'll Hang the Baskets," where guest Chuck Prophet fills out the mournful melody with some fuzzily toned electric guitar, and "Dime," where the charmingly home-recorded quality of Pressure Chief really stands out. Smart, subtly subversive, and always catchy -- if it ain't broke, don't fix it
tags: cake, pressure chief, 2004, flac,
April 25, 2025
Lush - Gala (1990)
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Shoegaze, Indie Rock
Label Number: 9 26463-2
© 1990 4AD/Reprise Records
Serving as an introduction to the U.S. market, Gala compiles the band's first three EPs and adds a couple outtakes. One thing that went overlooked about Lush was their ability to veer from violent and edgy noise breaks to pop effervescence. They were always capable of spewing out Saturday morning glow and Sunday evening doom from song to song. Their early reliance on sheets of distortion, buried vocals, and production issues didn't help this situation. As a result, their out-the-gate raw talent went rather unnoticed, evidenced on their earliest works. Scar demonstrated their under-appreciated diversity immediately. "Thoughtforms" is an example of their heavenly pop greatness, with the vocals sweeter and lighter than angel food cake. The haunting, atmospheric vocals and jittery tempos on the doomy "Second Sight" would end up laying the foundation for Chapterhouse's early material. Not a bad start. Guthrie and his beard hopped on board for the Mad Love EP, immediately chucking the guitars through the Guthrie-izer(tm). Most criticism of the EP pointed at the Cocteau Twin himself, who was accused of heavy-handedness. The guitars do sound a bit like Guthrie's own, but in a more assaultive, jabbing manner. A bad thing? No. All four tracks are goodies, from the cascading and shimmering walls of "De-Luxe" to the darker and heavier middle tracks. Production was an issue again on the Sweetness and Light EP. Tim Friese-Greene kind of polarizes the band's extreme ends, separating the noise and pop just a little too much. Despite a patched-on noise break during the title track, it's still one of the band's career highlights. "Sunbathing" is left in the sun too long, muffling the guitars and shrinking the sparse percussion. "Breeze" wafts by gracefully.
tags: lush, gala, 1990, flac,
Nephew - Swimming Time (2000)
Language: English, Danish (dansk)
Genre: Alternative Rock
Label Number: MR 006
.FLAC via Florenfile
.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile
© 2000 Martian Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: nephew, swimming time, 2004, flac,
Nephew - USADSB (2004)
Country: Denmark
Language: English, Danish (dansk)
Genre: Alternative Rock
Label Number: CPHREC0004
© 2004 Copenhagen Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: nephew, usadsb, 2004, flac,
April 23, 2025
Asylum Party - Borderline (1989)
Country: France
Language: English
Genre: Post Punk, Coldwave
Label Number: ARTY 9 CD
© 1989 Liveley Art
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: asylum party, borderline, 1989, flac,
Siglo XX - Under a Purple Sky (1989)
Country: Belgium
Language: English
Genre: Post Punk
Label Number: BIAS 145 CD
© 1989 Play It Again Sam Records USA
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: siglo xx, under a purple sky, 1989, flac,
Marquis De Sade - Dantzig Twist (1979)
*First pressing.
Contains 13 tracks total.
Country: France
Language: English, French (français)
Genre: Post Punk
Label Number: 837 901-2
© 1979-1989 Barclay
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: marquis de sade, dantzig twist, 1979, flac,
Babel 17 - Shades (1991)
Country: France
Language: English, French (français)
Genre: Post Punk, Coldwave
Label Number: ARTY 34 CD
© 1991 Lively Art
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: babel 17, shades, 1991, flac,
April 14, 2025
Poésie Noire - Tales of Doom (1987)
Country: Belgium
Language: English
Genre: Coldwave, Gothic Rock
Label Number: ANT 053-CD
© 1987 Antler Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: poesie noire, tales of doom, 1987, flac,
Poésie Noire - Tetra (1988)
Country: Belgium
Language: English
Genre: Coldwave
Label Number: ANTLER 074
© 1988 Antler Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: poesie noire, tetra, 1988, flac,
Deine Lakaien - Deine Lakaien (Re-Release) (1986)
Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Darkwave
Label Number: CRO 0612
© 1986 Chrom Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: deine lakaien, deine lakaien album, 1986, flac
Deine Lakaien - Dark Star (1991)
*First pressing.
Contains 9 tracks total.
Country: Germany
Language: English
Genre: Darkwave
Label Number: GYM 601
© 1991 classX Records
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: deine lakaien, dark star, 1991, flac,
April 06, 2025
Code Blue - True Story... (1983)
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*Photos of the record are included in the RAR file.
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Pop Rock
Label Number: LP THREE E 1008
© 1983 Index
*No professional reviews are available for this release.
tags: code blue, true story,1983, flac,
March 31, 2025
Dead Can Dance - Dead Can Dance (1984)
*U.K. first pressing.
Contains 14 tracks total.
Country: Australia
Genre: Ethereal Wave
Label Number: CAD 404 CD
© 1984-1986 4AD
Early punk backgrounds and the like behind them, Perry and Gerrard
created a striking, dour landmark in early-'80s atmospherics on their
first, self-titled effort. Bearing much more resemblance to the
similarly gripping, dark early work of bands like the Cocteau Twins and the Cure
than to the later fusions of music that would come to characterize the
duo's sound, Dead Can Dance is as goth as it gets in many places. Perry and Gerrard's
wonderful vocal work -- his rich, warm tones and her unearthly,
multi-octave exaltations -- are already fairly well established, but
serve different purposes here. Thick, shimmering guitar and rumbling
bass/drum/drum machine patterns practically scream their sonic
connections to the likes of Robin Guthrie and Robert Smith,
but they still sound pretty darn good for all that. When they stretch
that sound to try for a more distinct, unique result, the results are
astonishing. Gerrard
is the major beneficiary here -- "Frontier" explicitly experiments with
tribal percussion, resulting in an excellent combination of her singing
and the rushed music. Then there's the astonishing "Ocean," where
guitar and chiming bells and other rhythmic sounds provide the bed for
one of her trademark -- and quite, quite lovely -- vocal excursions into
the realm of glossolalia. Perry
in contrast tends to be matched with the more straightforward numbers
of digital processing and thick, moody guitar surge. The album ends on a
fantastic high note -- "Musica Eternal," featuring a slowly
increasing-in-volume combination of hammered dulcimer, low bass tones,
and Gerrard's soaring vocals. As an indicator of where the band was going, it's perfect.
tags: dead can dance, dead can dance album, 1984, flac,
Clan of Xymox - Clan of Xymox (1986)
*U.K. first pressing.
Contains 10 tracks total.
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Genre: Dark Wave
Label Number: CAD 503 CD
© 1985-1986 4AD
Listening to Clan of Xymox's self-titled LP is like entering a club of
black-clad vampires in the mid-'80s. That's not meant as an insult; the
album captures a certain time and place. The record epitomizes Ben Folds Five's hilarious discovery in "Battle of Who Could Care Less": "See I've got your old ID/And you're all dressed up like the Cure."
This moody, atmospheric record is as dated as a bumper sticker from a
"rock of the '80s" radio station. What once seemed cutting-edge is now a
nostalgia trip, and for aging goths, Clan of Xymox is home sweet home.
Clan of Xymox were never original; they always seemed to be picking from
the leftovers of their predecessors: the Cure, Joy Division, Modern English, Dead Can Dance, and New Order.
In other words, there are icy, throbbing keyboards; bummed-out vocals;
chilly, robotic percussion; gloomy, ethereal guitars; and unusual,
cryptic song titles. However, even before their creative peak with
1989's stellar Twist of Shadows, the group knew how to craft some good hooks. Clan of Xymox aims for Joy Division's oppressive bleakness, but vocalist Ronny Moorings doesn't have the late Ian Curtis'
intense pain or profound lyrics. The band is at their best when their
pop instincts overrule their tendency to lose themselves in misery. "A
Day" and "Muscoviet Mosquito" are both mysterious and catchy, propelled
by infectious gothic grooves that don't slow down. "No Words" has funky
riffs which reveal that Clan of Xymox listen to new romantic groups as
well, and "Stumble and Fall" is beautifully lush. There's nothing
brilliant or original here; however, the group's derivative sound
summarizes the dance sector of post-punk accurately as they pillage from
the most popular artists of the genre. An entertaining audio essay of
early- to mid-'80s goth rock; from Joy Division to Dead Can Dance, Clan of Xymox never leave a page unturned.
tags: clan of xymox, clan of xymox album, 1986, flac,
Clan of Xymox - Medusa (1986)
*U.K. first pressing.
Contains 10 tracks total.
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Genre: Dark Wave
Label Number: CAD 613 CD
© 1986 4AD
Clan of Xymox's second full album (not counting the rudimentary debut
EP) is a distinct improvement on the Dutch band's earlier work, and
indeed is probably the group's career high point. However, the band's
fatal flaws remain clear throughout the album: although these songs are
superficially attractive in a goth-dance sort of way, there's little in
the way of depth or substance here, and on closer listen, one realizes
that the best parts of these songs sounded even better when they
appeared on earlier albums by Depeche Mode, Xmal Deutschland, Propaganda, and Bauhaus. The album's high point by far is the proto-acid house "Michelle," which has the dreamy neo-psychedelic textures of Psychic TV's "Godstar" or mid-period Siouxsie and the Banshees.
tags: clan of xymox, medusa, 1986, flac,
