No Line On The Horizon

I am not a big fan of U2 regardless of how popular the band is among the general public. Their old songs are fine but I have listened to the tunes in ATYCB more frequently than any of their classic songs. Before reviewing U2's latest effort, I have decided to listen to their previous album one more time. HTDAAB has not been that enjoyable back in 2005 but after a few listens in 2009, the album has aged quite well and sounds great. NLOTH sounds promising on the first play. After a few more runs, some of the songs start losing their appeal, the title track for instance. The only two tunes that stand out for me is 'Moment of Surrender' and 'Unknown Caller'.  

Moment of Surrender:

• The chord progression, bass, short guitar solo, Bono's voice and general feel do stand out from this song. The progression near the end occasionally gives me the chill.

Unknown Caller:

• Two words: Addictive riffs

U2's new materials cannot be compared to their early work. Setting a high expectation to new releases by bands who have been at their zenith in the 70s, 80s or 90s is bound to disappointment. Their new album should instead be reviewed against other rock albums that are available these days. NLOTH is worth listening and I cannot think of any albums released in the 2000s which sound like it.

Guitar Music At It's Finest

Wow, listening to the music from this movie is love on first hearing. A lot of songs out there take time to sink into your system before you like them but the songs from Once are quite brilliant and become part of you from first note. I like the way Glen Hansard plays his guitar, his songs and compositions. Markéta Irglová's piano complements his playing very well and her voice is just perfect during the duets.

If you play guitar, piano or just like good music, Once will be perfect for you. Taking a spin on the movie tag line, how often do you find the right movie?

Solid Rock Album

I thought the Foo Fighters was the best rock album of 2008 but 3 Doors Down has just dethroned them. Every single tracks on this album are very good and hard to dislike. The greatest moment of every 3 Doors Down songs are the intro guitar play followed by a great chorus, the band has not lost its touch in that department. Will I still be listening to this album in the years to come, very likely since I still enjoy the band's previous albums.

Lite Winehouse

When I first saw posters promoting Duffy's album, I thought it was Hilary Duff with a new show name, the two artists do share a similar resemblance from far away. However, after some research and listening to Rockferry, my initial impression is a very diluted version of Amy Winehouse. While I was pleasantly surprised by Back to Black, Rockferry actually grows on me the more I listen to it. There are lots of memorable tracks such as Rockferry, Warwick Avenue and Mercy. In some ways, I can compare Amy Winehouse to Maple syrup while Duffy is honey. If you like Amy Winehouse and want more Soul music, you can't go wrong by listening to Duffy.

Junebug

I have to admit, I'm a sucker when it comes to movies with terrific soundtrack, no matter how bad the movie is. In Juno, the movie is quite pleasing and charming while great acoustic music is playing in the background. If you are a fan of acoustic guitars, folk music and funny lyrics, the Juno OST is a treat that will make you come back for more.

Raggamuffin

I'm not a big fan of reggae but after hearing so many positive reviews on Stephen Marley, I have to give it a try. Even though I don't enjoy his father's music as the millions of devoted fans out there, I am very impressed with Mind Control. It is a nice mixture of reggae and hip-hop beats, this medley makes the music sound more modern that his father's work.

There are 2 or 3 songs which are not to my likings but the majority is quite pleasing and refreshing to what the radio plays these days. My favourite tracks are Mind Control, Let Her Dance, Fed Up and Inna Di Red. If you have no interest in reggae but like songs with good beats, Stephen Marley's Mind Control might be a good introductory material for you.

JJ mellowed

I first got attracted to the music of Jack Johnson because of his acoustic sound. The piano and electric guitar in his latest album caught me by surprise since I was expecting more of the same from his last effort. The tempo has also slowed down a bit compared to the more up to beat songs from In Between Dreams but the piano in some of the songs does add some oomph to the listening experience.

The piano accompaniment has been so well placed that songs like All At Once, Sleep Through Static and If I had Eyes become addictive and leave you wanting more from it. On the other hand, there are a few boring songs which do not make the album as a whole appealing. His musical direction has changed a bit from his original style but this slight diversion is welcomed, long time fans might not be pleased with it but still worth a listen.

A little bit of everything for everyone

I was never a big fan of the Foo Fighters having heard their most popular songs for the last few years but after listening to this album, it got me hooked. This release contains a wide variety of rock songs from hard rock, rock, pop rock and the acoustic, the style changes often to make the whole package more interesting to listen in one sitting.

Every album has at least one stand out track that gets lots of airplay but although Echoes contains a few great tracks, it is best to appreciate the album in its entirety. In brief, it is a very good rock album with a few face melter moments, something which I have not felt as of late.