 Music Reviews
Noonday Underground: Self Assembly
A simple album with charm, Noonday Underground’s new album Self Assembly resembles the feel of an album that came out in the late sixties with its shoddy drums, twangy guitar and reverb vocals. This quirky UK outfit is undoubtedly dance music, but the group uses organic instruments like guitars, drums and vocals. The rhythm section is tight, the vocals are haunting and the melodies have a certain weird charm.
This is the first time Self Assembly has been released in Australia – the album was released in Europe and America, but that release didn’t have as many tracks as this Aussie version.
Various: Hottest 100 Vol 9
 Triple J release the ninth instalment of the Hottest 100, an audience determined radio poll compiled onto two albums with 34 tracks. It’s not the complete one hundred songs (obviously) but a random assortment of what’s considered hip in 2001.
This includes Regurgitator’s Fat Cop, Blink 182’s Rock Show, Alex Lloyd’s number one track Amazing, Basement Jaxx’s Where’s your Head At, Something For Kate’s Monsters and many more great songs. Two hours of great listening.
- Freebie: The Echo has four copies of Triple J’s Hottest 100 CD to giveaway. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 12 & 12.10pm on Monday, April 15 and tell us which artist featured on the album broke their arm a few months back.
Michelle Branch: The Spirit Room
The theme of Michelle Branch’s new album The Spirit Room is love and life’s trials. This is particularly highlighted in the first single from the album, Everywhere, a brooding song about lost love.
However, despite the content it is inspiring to see a debut artist in the mainstream industry who composes all her own songs.
Branch makes her slow grooves on the guitar fuse with electronic beats and soaring rock breaks. This is complemented by Michelle Branch’s pure, crisp and clear voice, which gives some of the numbers a modern soul feel.
The CD also includes her film clip to the single Everywhere.
Down: 2
Down is five guys from New Orleans, all of whom are in other bands like Pantera and Corrosion of Conformity, and this is their side project.
All the members locked themselves away in a barn in South Louisiana to record the album ‘2’, and the result is loud, vicious and raw. Down has been an underground band for over six years surviving on little airplay, even less promotions and only thirteen live shows all up.
The album ‘2’ has a Black Sabbath quality to it – heavy bombing riffs and long rock out sections to create a solid wall of sound. The album is dark in content, the music hardcore and the vocals are abrasive and loud, but then that’s exactly what Down fans expect.
Andrew WK: I Get Wet
Partying is the dominant theme in Andrew W.K’s debut album I Get Wet. The songs are upbeat and exuberant, and the choruses are addictive and relentless.
The album I Get Wet does not lead the listener towards a very insightful experience and the lyrics are childish and lack direction. It’s a bit of fluff and lacks depth, but it will probably appeal to pop lovers and will sit nicely alongside Britney Spears albums.
Probably better as a paperweight.
Ewan Williams
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