May Picks

 There was a lot of new music this month. There were a lot of May records that were good, but not quite good enough to make the cut.

The theme of the month seems to be mid-tempo dance rock.

Below is my list of favorites, summarized in 2 playlists.

Spotify Playlist:  https://open.spotify.com/user/fluid3sally/playlist/1xV1Ctz03FTWqhAFwGO0WF

YouTube Playlist:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWm4729w0mtd4ai5hTyUf30zcOEOnYgnB


LOLAA - Lolaa
Sisters of Magneta Lane are back with a new and fresh sound. A little more dance oriented compared to the rockin riffs of ML, but still the distinctive, quality song writing. One thing I always liked about ML was the ability to craft songs that grow better after many plays, and that hasn't changed. Looking forward to the Always Been video.
audio: http://ridethetempo.com/2017/05/16/listen-lolaa-spirits/


MisterWives - Connect the Dots
Sophmore album from an up-and-coming spunk star centered in NYC. This record is filled with beats to move you, horns, keys, thoughtful lyrics, funky riffs, everything you could ask for. It is not quite as instantly appealing as their 2015 debut.. the songs are a little deeper and more intricate, the hooks a bit more subtle. MisterWives compose songs that mix deep, profound meaning, with pleasant, playful dance beats. If you're just looking for another Reflections, this one may seem anti-climatic, but if you are looking for music with melody and substance, cheer and feel, I'd say both are very strong records.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhC2c6N-cFM



Blondie - Pollinator
Legends. Blondie was among the first wave of proto-spunk, emerging from the presumptive spunk capital of the world, NYC. most suns from that era have long since set, but Blondie remains alive and vibrant, and as relevant as ever.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaL-G9zVxzk


Pumarosa - The Witch
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLwJbfT05KM


At The Drive-In - in-ter a-li-a
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoNJ6AQhmFY


Brutus - Burst
the drummer is the singer. I think that's cool. 
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXP4JUo4Om0


Fazerdaze - Morningside
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My4j3vgFxbE


Paramore - After Laughter
read my less-than-impressed comments here: http://joelspunkrock.blogspot.com/2017/05/new-paramore.html
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw-RPm1uOM4


!!! - Shake the Shudder
I think it's pronounced 'sheak sheak sheak'
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPn_AnP9N9I


Seether - Poison The Parish
breaking up the dance beats with some fresh grunge riffs from down under
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnlwqqy4XB4


Dreamcar - Dreamcar
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj_fc6bG8aE


Djustin - Voyagers
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJY8vSCfv8U


Mishkin Fitzgerald - Seraphim
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejb3sITMIoM



Bruise Violet - Survival of the Prettiest
I think this was released previously, but available on Spotify this month.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RzvXPJIKtY


Sharkmuffin - Tsuki
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbMjgJmwwLg


The Nearly Deads - available on spotify next month.. waiting eagerly



special mention
Todd Rundgren - White Knight
I didn't actually care for this record, but I think this one song is worth highlighting
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=los9WulxBjM
oh and BTW.. "tweet like a GRRRL"




Heavy

• Hail Sagan
• Motionless in White
• Dream Evil
• Kobra and the Lotus
• Seven Kingdoms

Singles

• Dorothy
• PVRIS
• Thunderpussy
• Jule Vera
• Louise Distras: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMF8YzcWm2M
• All Time Low

Oops, I missed it..
and two of these were bands I "liked" already.. so much to keep up with.

• Reason Define
• Courage My Love
• The Beautiful Monument
• Ankathie Koi

Close, but nope..
Some readers may be interested to know there are new records from these groups, that didn't quite do it for me personally..

• Amanda Palmer
• Danzig
• Big Walnuts Yonder (Mike Watt on bass)
• Afghan Whigs
• Papa Roach
• Linked-in Park
• Dishwalla
• Snakecharmer
• Silver Story
• Chris Robinson Brotherhood (member of Black Crowes)
• Kasabian
• LP
• Emily Barker
• Jane Weaver
• Mandisa
• Don Bryant
• Alestorm (not to be confused with Halestorm, which, if new, would be at the top of the list.)
• The Charlatans
• Retouch
• Avatarium
• The Amazons
• Love X Stereo
• Smith & Thell
• Heirsound 
• Cannons

that's it for this month. keep listening, keep dancing. fight on. rock on. write on.

New Paramore

New Record: Paramore, After Laughter





Paramore is one of the better known of the modern pop-rock bands making a fresh spunky sound. While I was never among the crowds of die-hard Paramore fans, I have dug several of their songs over the years, and I have been cautiously optimistic that they might do something exciting with this new record.

Maybe not.

This record has a softer edge compared to the classic Paramore sound. That in itself is not a bad thing.. I like it when artists move in new directions (hopefully you've realized by now that I'm not trying to live in the past).  But I'm used to finding some hard-hitting riffs with melody hooks to engage and excite me as a listener. Here, they seem to be going for a more relaxed and introspective feel.. and I'm not sure they've yet learned how to go there.

There are undertones throughout this record reminiscent of Blondie (who, by the way, had a new record of their own last week.) I like Blondie a lot, but what I am talking here is an Island reggae type of beat. It does not work very well for them. "Hard Times" starts out this way, and moves into lyrical territory that just does not match. Another example would be the wind chimes at the beginning of "Pool". I don't have a problem with wind chimes per se, but I don't see how they belong in this song.


There are a few forgetable tracks, and then "Fake Happy" is a stand-out track for me, one of the more interesting song structures, and closer to the quality I expect from this band.

"26" is a skipper.. maybe interesting lyrically, but a sleeper otherwise.

"Grudges" picks up the tempo enough to pull my attention back, but never quite hits it hard enough.

"Caught in the Middle" has a catchy funky groove that I'm digging.. another of the better tracks for me.

"Idle Worship" continues the trend of better tracks toward the end of the record. this is an interesting song structure that will be worth a few more plays.

Next, they drop the ball with "No Friend". Total filler, WTF? It looks like this one could have ended after about 10 tracks. "Tell Me How" brings some feeling to end on a bittersweet note. I like the album composition there.


Overall, a lack-luster record.. I had hoped for more. I'm left with the sense that I don't really get what they were going for on this record. Maybe a swing and miss, or maybe I just don't see it.