987. Heroes to Zeroes

Heroes to Zeroes
Beta Band
2004

Tracks

1. Assessment

2. Space

3. Lion Thief

4. Easy

5. Wonderful

6. Troubles

7. Out-Side

8. Space Beatle

9. Rhododendron

10. Liquid Bird

11. Simple

12. Pure For

I've been really impressed with the albums lately, so naturally, we were due for a not so great entry. This isn't actually terrible, but compared to the caliber of the recent entries it seems worse than it is.

It's just sort of bland. I guess they were going with a Belle and Sebastian type feel, but they were not as interesting. It was still entertaining to listen to, but there was nothing particularly wow-inducing about it.

So a middle of the road album, which is not what I demand from 2004 (between Arcade Fire and Nick Cave, I'm spoiled). 

RATING: 3/5

943. Rings Around the World

Rings Around the World
Super Furry Animals
2001

Tracks
1. Alternate Route To Vulcan Street
2. Sidewalk Serfer Girl
3. (Drawing) Rings Around The World
4. It's Not The End Of The World?
5. Receptacle For The Respectable
6. [A] Touch Sensitive
7. Shoot Doris Day
8. Miniature
9. No Sympathy
10. Juxtapozed With U
11. Presidential Suite
12. Run! Christian, Run!
13. Fragile Happiness

It seems that Super Furry Animals have become even more experimental than they were in their previous List album, Fuzzy Logic. This made this slightly less enjoyable. But you get fewer and fewer Doris Day shoutouts nowadays, so you must cherish them.

For the most part, this was still an entertaining album when they didn't go off the rails too much. I liked it more when it gravitated towards an Elvis Costello sound, as opposed to death metal. But the variety kept it interesting.

Not particularly memorable, but pretty good.

RATING: 3/5

939. Hot Shots II

Hot Shots II
The Beta Band
2001

Tracks
1. Squares
2. Al Sharp
3. Human Being
4. Gone
5. Dragon
6. Broke
7. Quiet
8. Alleged
9. Life
10. Eclipse

I feel like the bands I've really enjoyed in the early 200s are all throwbacks to older bands. I suppose this is attempting to be a call back to Pink Floyd.

Here they are creating a blend of electronica and space rock, with a dose of psychedelica as well. None of those elements contain my favorite styles of music, but I still enjoyed listening to what they came up with.

Maybe not the most memorable album, but entertaining while it lasted.

RATING: 3/5

920. Our Aim is to Satisfy

Our Aim is to Satisfy
Red Snapper
2000

Tracks
1. Keeping Pigs Together
2. Some Kind Of Kink
3. Shellback
4. Don't Go Nowhere
5. The Rake
6. The Rough And The Quick
7. Bussing
8. I Stole Your Car
9. Alaska Street
10. Belladonna
11. They're Hanging Me Tonight

These last few albums haven't been terrible, but they do kind of blend together. This is dark electronica, the previous album was dark electronica/hip hop, and the album before that was hip hop. So we are just revolving around the same sound, which is a sound I'm pretty tired of.

Like I said, this is pretty dark, brooding electronica. So for me, this was a total bore. Others might be able to appreciate the mood of thing, and its effectiveness in bringing you down with it.

But I would take any electronica album over what is coming up next.

RATING: 2/5

881. Sao Paulo Confessions

Sao Paulo Confessions
Suba
1999

Tracks
1. Tantos Desejos
2. Voce Gosta
3. Na Neblina
4. Segredo
5. Antropofagos
6. Felicidade
7. Um Dia Comum (Em SP)
8. Sereia
9. Samba Do Gringo Paulista
10. Abraco
11. A Noite Sem Fim
12. Pecados Da Madrugada

Shortly after this was released, Suba died in a studio fire. He was overcome by smoke inhalation trying to rescue the newly recorded material.  You can feel his passion for his music in this album, but I guess he could have done with a little less passion.

I feel like some electronic artists don't aspire to create anything more than background music (or if they do, it doesn't translate). That is clearly not the case here. This was interesting chill out music with an unusual Brazilian vibe. Unusual to me, anyway, I am sure it was very familiar to anybody who follows Brazilian music.

Still, it doesn't really elevate itself beyond mildly engaging, and again, I must plead with the Powers That Be to explore another genre. Just to try it, I mean.

RATING: 3/5

755. Strange Cargo III

Strange Cargo III
William Orbit
1993

Tracks
1. Water From A Vine Leaf
2. Into The Paradise
3. Time To Get Wize
4. Harry Flowers
5. A Touch Of The Night
6. The Story Of Light
7. Gringatcho Demento
8. A Hazy Shade Of Random
9. Best Friend, Paranoia
10. The Monkey King
11. Deus Ex Machina
12. Water Babies

I guess this is the type of music that is supposed to serve as background noise. As a concept, that's a bit difficult for me to wrap my head around. I can't think of any other form of art where you are encouraged to not pay attention. 

Maybe some people do get pleasure from concentrating on this music and that baffles me even more. I just found it pretty boring and long. I guess it's just one of those things I don't get, like the Monty Hall problem or Republicans. 

To me, it felt pretty empty. 

RATING: 2/5

396. The Man-Machine

The Man-Manchine
Kraftwerk
1978

Tracks
1. Die Roboter
2. Spacelab
3. Metropolis
4. Modell 
5. Neonlicht
6. Die Mensch-Maschine

It is albums like this that make me think the whole List is an elaborate joke, designed to make us all look like idiots.  I feel like I heard of someone doing that with modern art.  Someone had their child paint a few pictures, claimed the paintings were done by an anonymous artist, and critics went gaga over them.  Now we have some band playing with sound effects and it makes me wonder: "Is this a joke?"

The songs feature laser sounds, with the band saying "We are robots" approximately a thousand times.  I felt like I was listening to the same song for an hour, which would be annoying even if it was a track I loved.  As is, I think it is going to resurrect the migraine I had on Monday.

Wow, I miss the sixties.

RATING: 1/5