Quiet Color

by qc staff

There’s a lot of aging rock stars in this week’s Full Release. From the still-cooler-than-you Dinosaur Jr., who release their second album since reforming two years ago, to the most recent releases from Tortoise and The Mars Volta. Even the most recent Sunset Rubdown album is beginning to sound like the work of an artist maturing. Check out our reviews below, along with some videos and tunes to help you make up your mind when you visit the record store this week.

Artist: Sunset Rubdown Song: Silver Moons

Artist: Tortoise Song: Northern Something

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► Tortoise - Beacons Of Ancestorship

by john cole

Beacons Of Ancestorship, Tortoise’s first album in the last five years, doesn’t really do it for me. One aspect of the album that I was bothered by was the opening track “Hi Class Slim Came Floatin’ In” which goes on for over eight minutes.  Being a fan of the three-minute song, I was restless and already over the album before I even started. Perhaps if they started with a shorter opening track, or if the song itself was half the time, I wouldn’t have had to go on to the next track “Prepare Your Coffin” so quickly.  Despite the lack of interest I had halfway through this album, Tortoise has still proven that each member is extremely talented and there are some highlights including the already noted, “Prepare Your Coffin,” “Gigantes,” and my favorite, “Northern Something.”  With Tortoise’s music, I feel like it’d sound ten times better live, perhaps under the influence of something potent illegal.

► Dinosaur Jr. – Farm

by charles poladian

The strained vocals coated with years of use, the rhythmic interplay of the bass and drum, and steady guitar lines and exploding riffs.  That’s what we have grown to expect and love from rock veterans Dinosaur Jr.  When Dinosaur Jr. came back with 2007’s great Beyond, the idea of guitar driven rock was re-introduced and ears perked up when J. Mascis’ riffs came through the speakers.

Farm is more of the same from the band. But that’s not a bad thing at all.  “Pieces” kicks things off with a no frills approach determined to let you know you are listening to a Dinosaur Jr. track. The dynamic interplay of Mascis, Barlow and Murph is something rare in the history of rock music. Check out the work as Mascis rolls into an effortless riff is built upon the steady foundation of Barlow’s bass and Murph’s drumming as “Plans” closes out. The exuberant lead single “Over It” is another pleasure for those who want some guitar with their rock.

Each song follows a similar pattern of standard structure, fractured lyrics, riffs, rolls, and bass lines, but when it’s Dinosaur Jr. that’s doing it, it’s hard to say no.

► The Mars Volta – Octahedron

by greg dybec

Octahedron is The Mars Volta’s fifth studio album, released only shortly after their fourth studio album The Bedlam in Goliath (2008). I am sure that all of The Mars Volta fans were curious of what Octahedron would bring ever since singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala explained, “It’s our version of what we consider an acoustic album.”

This album of course is not acoustic though it does shed light on a more melodic and mellow side of this always experimental and energetic progressive rock group.

It is not the usual whirlpool of forceful noise and stunning chaos that the band usual provides, but who says an already experimental band can’t experiment some more? Octahedron brings the same fantastical ambiance and musical talent of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Bixler-Zavala, just in a much more serene nature. Luckily this new found calmness does not take away from the immensity of this album. It is a pleasure to hear Rodriguez-Lopez focus heavily on the guitar and its chords more than manipulation and effects, while Bixler-Zavala’s unique vocals and always ambiguous lyrics compliment beautifully.

Overall, The Mars Volta have once again created a great album. There are some moments where it is obvious that the group was truly making an attempt to keep a soft tone, with a few questionable moments of silence and simple guitar chords taking up space. However, I acknowledge and congratulate them for being able to restrain themselves in the moments where they would normally explode into musical madness, and still create highly entertaining tracks. As expected The Mars Volta provides a unique and interesting listen.

► Sunset Rubdown – Dragonslayer

by kevin diamond

Spencer Krug is a prolific motherfucker. Between Wolf Parade, Swan Lake, and this, his Sunset Rubdown moniker, he churns out at least three albums a year. Last year, we saw Wolf Parade’s At Mount Zoomer disappoint, and many pointed to the fact that Spencer and his cohort, Dan Boekner (Also of Handsome Furs), were saving their best songs for their other projects. Handsome Furs’ recent album, Face Control, helped prove that theory, and here comes some more evidence in the form of Dragonslayer, perhaps Sunset Rubdown’s most cohesive release, if not their most exciting.

From the opening strings and lilting electric piano of opener “Silver Moon,” to the 10 minute closing opus “Dragon’s Lair,” Krug sounds like an artist maturing. His trademark strained vocals are still here, but seem slightly restrained, more sure of their place, and no longer fighting the music for dominance. “I believe in growing old with grace” he sings, proclaiming what is his thesis statement for the rest of the album. Along the way, we get rockers like “Idiot Heart,” the moody samba of “You Go On Ahead,” and the long, meandering finale “Dragon’s Lair.” If you’re a Krug fan already, you’ll be pleasantly satiated by his latest installment. Toss it on the portable music listening device of your choice, and take a walk.

Here’s a full list of releases for 6/23:

► Alexisonfire: Old Crows/Young Cardinals
► Amber Asylum: Bitter River
► Baby Teeth: Hustle Beach
► The Bats: The Guilty Office
► Bygones: By
► Cheap Trick: The Latest
► Deastro: Moondagger
► Deer Tick: Born On Flag Day
► The Dear Hunter: Act III: Life And Death
► Dream Theater: Black Clouds & Silver Linings
► Dinosaur Jr: Farm
► F.L.Y: Jamboree
► Foreign Born: Person to Person
► Gossip: Music For Men [Digital release, CD - Oct 6th]
► Ginuwine: A Man’s Thoughts
► He Is Legend: It Hates You
► Michael Johns [Season 7 American Idol]: Hold Back My Heart
► The Lemonheads: Varshons
► The Mars Volta: Octahedron
► Patterson Hood [Drive-By Truckers]: Murdering Oscar (And Other Love Songs)
► Pete Yorn: Back And Fourth
► The Roots: How I Got Over
► Regina Spektor: Far
► Royal City: Royal City
► STS9: Peaceblaster : The New Orleans Make It Right Remixes
► Serengeti and Polyphonic: Terradactyl
► Tom Brosseau: Posthumous Success
► We Were Promised Jetpacks: These Four Walls
► Zs: Magic of the Modern White