Some cool stuff

Smashing Pumpkins - Despite my Dad's retirement ramblings...Billy Corgan is one of the great songwriters. I love his voice. I really like the industrial side of the Pumpkins that emerged after Mellon Collie. that's when their ratings plummeted but I really like this album and Machina. The electricity running to all their new digital toys also runs through their music as well. Oh, how shocking...

Muse - This is a powerful album. There was a disappointing review on it at www.pitchforkmedia.com. They said something about liking Muse required believing that the world will be ruled by robots in the future. Uhhhh and the music? The intense guitar distortion is very Muse-ish and I love it. The intense vocals are a highlight. And the lone-ranger-esque beat on Knights of Cydonia is one-of-a-kind. Awesome. Map of the Problematique is unreal. And the piano riff on Starlight.

Keane - not as catchy onthe surface as the debut. These guys are better than Coldplay though. Not as overplayed and just...well...deeper. Not a stand-alone single on the album it seems. I need to give it some more listens.

The Format - How in the world do you classify this music? Awesome. I really enjoy the poppy, harmonic nature of track 3 (Nuckolls hasn't got me the track names yet.) The driving beat of this song is...almost...Jamiroquai-ish? Wow! Really cool Arcade Fire-ish singing exchange in the background (about 2:30) toward the end.

Mew - Graywhale is finally selling this CD. The others are still imports. My gosh guys...I really like this stuff. I finally realized why I like them so much. They seem to be a modern junction of Tears for Fears and Radiohead. Very anthem-like productions. Soaring melodies (Zookeeper's Boy) and a different kind of musical intensity (Apocalypso). Music like this should resonate with someone who loves the Format so much! A-hem....you "Nuckoll" head.

Tool - brooding music. They preserve th long song...the jam session...the instrumental marathons. I love these guys. This album doesn't have a parental advisory. I would still like more of them...but I hesitate due to the album art on Aenima. Mercy. "Vicarious" is really good. Love the upper register whine at the end. Cool melodic idea there.