Monday, October 13, 2008

Keane's Absolute Must-Have New Album


Well, folks.
It's finally happened.
Not till 2004 have I been this excited about a new album as I am about Keane's Perfect Symmetry.
I'm endorsing it proudly and gladly. It is, de facto, that good.
Perfect Symmetry is as close to perfect as it could be. It is one of those creative projects that captures confidently the spirit of these times while, at the same time, being beholden to sounds past.

Here is the breakdown of the tracks:

1. "Spiralling" (Chaplin/Hughes/Rice-Oxley/Quin) - 4:19
2. "The Lovers Are Losing" - 5:04
3. "Better Than This" - 4:04
4. "You Haven't Told Me Anything" - 3:47
5. "Perfect Symmetry" - 5:12
6. "You Don't See Me" - 4:03
7. "Again and Again" - 3:50
8. "Playing Along" - 5:35
9. "Pretend That You're Alone" - 3:47
10. "Black Burning Heart" - 5:23
11. "Love Is the End" - 5:40
12. "My Shadow" (bonus track on Japanese edition & pre-order track on iTunes UK) - 4:47

As I just noted to an associate, Keane's new album is "so good, so happy, so 80's done right."
I can't beat that initial phrasing. Another phrase I don't mind sharing is what I intimated to Liam when discussing some albums earlier today. I referred to it as 'happy yet not sappy." Also, when referring to the track '"You Haven't Told Me Anything"' all I could come up with was: "wowsah. What vocal range!" I stand by this, too.
I can count with three hands the albums I could play daily. Keane's Perfect Symmetry is now added to that list, thus ousting LCD Soundsystem.

And if you, even marginally, like any of the British bands of a similar persuasion that I've reviewed here, you should definitely give this a try.
PS
Also, here is what the Rolling Stone magazine is saying about the album. Plus, you get to listen to the album as well.

Oasis: Dig Out Your Soul


Due to time constrains, I will have to economize on speech more than usual.
I have been listening to Oasis' new album Dig Out Your Soul.
Basically, once you're an Oasis fan, you'll continue to be an Oasis fan. If nothing else, these guys get full credit for consistency. Moreover, they are the kind of rock band that manages to reinvent itself within the bounds of their unique sound habits and endemic shenanigans.
Dig Out Your Soul is solidly rock&roll. I have been listening to it the same time as Keane's A Perfect Symmetry and since the latter is quickly becoming a high frequency playlist, my appreciation of Oasis has suffered a bit. Overall, I remain a faithful listener, though.
The bottom line is if you have liked their previous work, you won't be unpleasantly shocked by the new project. In sum, yes, they remain adorably obnoxious; no, they have not forgotten their deep reverence for the Beatles. Some of the tracks I'm liking the best are:
1) I'm outta time
and
2) Waiting for Rapture
graph per rs

A Nobel Laureate's Words of Wisdom


Tip of the hat to Vipul for the pointer.

Paul Krugman was awarded the Nobel prize for Economics. Business.timesonline writes:
"An American academic was named as winner of the Nobel Prize for Economics today only hours after publishing a column in The New York Times suggesting that Gordon Brown may have singlehandedly saved the world financial system.

Paul Krugman, a professor at Princeton University and columnist for the NYT, won the award for his analysis of international trade and economic geography. He is equally well known for his frequent columns in the newspaper analysing the global financial crisis."

Krugman has a specific way in which he operates. His basic rules for research are:

1. Listen to the Gentiles

2. Question the question

3. Dare to be silly

4. Simplify, simplify

What I mean by this rule is "Pay attention to what intelligent people are saying, even if they do not have your customs or speak your analytical language."

He opens his excellent narrative with the following:

"My formal charge in this essay is to talk about my "life philosophy". Let me make it clear at the outset that I have no intention of following instructions, since I don't know anything special about life in general. I believe it was Schumpeter who claimed to be not only the best economist, but also the best horseman and the best lover in his native Austria. I don't ride horses, and have few illusions on other scores. (I am, however, a pretty good cook)."

A most excellent piece. Read it all here.
graph per business.timesonline

Oasis: Dig Out Your Soul

Due to time constrains I will have to economize on speech more than usual.
I have been listening to Oasis' new album Dig Out Your Soul.
Basically, once you're an Oasis fan, you'll continue to be an Oasis fan. If nothing else, these guys get full credit for consistency. Moreover, they are the kind of rock band that manages to reinvent itself within the bounds of their unique sound habits and endemic shenanigans.
Dig Out Your Soul is solidly rock&roll. I have been listening to it the same time as Keane's A Perfect Symmetry and since the latter is quickly becoming a high frequency playlist, my appreciation of Oasis has suffered a bit. Overall, I remain a faithful listener, though.
The bottom line is if you have liked their previous work, you won't be shocked by the new project. In sum, yes, they remain adorably obnoxious, no they have not forgotten their deep reverence to the Beatles. Some of the tracks I like the best are:
1) I'm outta time
and
2) Waiting for Rapture
graph per rs