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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Mar 3, 2019 1:36:07 GMT 1
Ok, I haven't listened to many albums in full over the last few year so I thought I would give a few new releases a spin and see what happens, this way I get to listen to more new music, enjoy a few new albums in their entirety and maybe generate a bit of interest in bands that deserve a listen
2019 Albums 1. The Amazons - Future Dust 8.25/10 2. Pretty Vicious - Beauty of Youth 8.16/10 3. Starcrawler - Devour You 8.03/10 4. Sam Fender - Hypersonic Missiles 8.0/10 5. Catfish and the Bottlemen - The Balance 8.0/10 6. The Sherlocks - Under Your Sky 7.95/10 7. Yonaka - Don't Wait 'Til Tomorrow 7.95/10 8. Foals - Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost – Part 2 7.94/10 9. White Lies - Five 7.94/10 10. Two Door Cinema Club - False Alarm 7.90/10 11. Badflower - OK, I'm Sick 7.88/10 12. Sunset Sons - Blood Rush Déjà Vu 7.88/10 13. Masked Intruder - III 7.83/10 14. The Black Keys - "Lets Rock" 7.83/10 15. I Fight Dragons - Canon Eyes 7.79/10 16. Feeder - Tallulah 7.75/10 17. The Menzingers - Hello Exile 7.75/10 18. The Raconteurs - Help Us Strangers 7.75/10 19. Bring Me The Horizon - Amo 7.73/10 20. Rammstein - Rammstein 7.72/10 21. Keane - Cause and Effect 7.72/10 22. Whenyoung - Reasons To Dream 7.72/10 23. The Darkness - Easter Is Cancelled 7.7/10 24. Longfellow - Longfellow 7.68/10 25. Jimmy Eat World – Surviving 7.65/10 26. Idlewild - Interview Music 7.65/10 27. Royal Republic - Club Majesty 7.63/10 28. Temples - Hot Motion 7.63/10 29. Fangclub - Vulture Culture 7.59/10 30. Puppy - The Goat 7.58/10 31. Red Rum Club - Matador 7.55/10 32. Vampire Weekend - Father Of The Bride 7.47/10 33. Foals - Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost – Part 1 7.44/10 34. Barns Courtney - 404 7.35/10 35. Circa Waves - What's It Like Over There? 7.33/10 36. Hatchie - Keepsake 7.25/10 37. Calva Louise - Rhinoceros 7.05/10 38. Furious Monkey House - Love, Scum & Dust 6.95/10 39. Weezer - Black Album 6.85/10 40. Honeyblood - In Plain Sight 6.63/10
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Mar 3, 2019 1:41:33 GMT 1
BADFLOWER - OK, I'm Sick Released date: February 22, 2019 LA alternative rock band Badflower released their debut album last week, I liked their singles so thought I would give it a few spins and give a review a go 1. x ANA xThe opening track is in your face, frantic and hard hitting, the band once stated they want to bring back emo and they do a great job here, it reminds me of My Chemical Romance in places and the subject matter is about prescription medications like Xanax, they did a great job here making the listener feel as if they have a window into the mind of someone suffering from mental illness, this is a constant theme throughout the album and the y do it well without pulling any punches 9.52. The JesterAfter the frantic opener we have a chilled out track which is about isolation and feeling alone, the guitars soon kick in though as the second verse starts the music builds and builds until frontman Josh Kats sings "Is there anybody out there looking out for me? Just say you want me, just say you need me. Is there anybody out there looking out for me? Does anybody need me? Is every last soul just f***ing me over?" 93. GhostThis is the single that got people paying attention when it reached #2 in the US Mainstream Rock chart. This song is about self harming and suicide but the protagonist never cut deep enough because of the pain it would cause his loved ones, but he ultimately feels they are better off without him and one day he went too far after cut deep and realises he never left a note. "I couldn't tell my mother that I love her, I'm a bad son, This life is overwhelming and I'm ready for the next one". The sombre lyrics concerning mental health and depression really leave a lasting impression here and throughout the album 94. We're In LoveThe lyrics describe a sexual experience between the protagonist and someone of the same gender, the song skips erratically from feelings of confusion, shame and anger about this experience to feelings of acceptance, enjoyment and love. By the end of the song he seems to accept the way he feels about the other person but the constant repetition of the phrases such as ‘lights out’ suggests a certain amount of shame at what he is doing but despite this the overarching feeling that “We’re in love” and “I know what I want” imply the opposite. This constant conflict in the lyrics perfectly reflects the inner conflict many people feel when questioning their sexuality for the first time. 6.55. Promise MeNew single, it just entered my chart, I guess its a song about fearing growing up and growing apart, this one also has strong MCR vibes, Josh Katz says in a recent post on their Instagram page "I’m terrified of growing up. I’m afraid of not being in my 20s. I’m afraid of responsibility. I’m afraid of not looking like or being perceived as a ‘kid.’ I like recklessness. I like that love still feels new and exciting. I like that heartbreak still hurts worse than being hit by a truck. I struggle with the concept that getting old is inevitable. This song is special to me because it validates some of my most complex thoughts and fears in the most simplistic way. And it made perfect sense, musically, to make it feel the way bands like My Chemical Romance felt in the early 2000s 9.56. DaddyThis is another dark one about a girl who was sexually abused by her father which messed her up and left emotional scars, she grows up damaged and never amounts to anything so one day when seeing red she kills him on his hospital bed, lyrically it is a bit heavy but the music is actually quite catchy, even jolly which makes it a bit creepier, musically the harmonies remind me of early 2000's band Halo who only released one album, the excellent Lunatic Ride, remember them? I like the song but the content is a bit heavy 77. 24A slow one about being 24 years old, when the protagonist was 24 they had hopes and dreams, they were happy but now they are on drugs, anxious, isolated and generally lost or crushed by life, I like the concept but its the weakest track on the album so far for me 58. HeroinThis is the song that got me hooked (no pun intended) and captured my attention, it peaked in my chart at #2 on January 25th 2019. It is ultimately just a song about a toxic relationship but uses Heroin as a metaphor for something highly addictive that often causes multiple relapses on the path to recovery, its quite clever, it starts slow and builds nicely, certainly an album highlight and well placed as the album was just starting to drift off a bit 9.59. DieBelieve it or not this one is about Donald Trump and the lyrics are self explanatory regarding how the band feel about the President of the USA as Josh Kats snarls "Impeach the asshole, and all of his friends. DIE! Like everything that you ate, Like the American dream, Like everybody I hate. So just die, everyone out of the way, because we want life...f*** you" Get in son, love this one 8.510. Murder GamesThis one makes Meat Is Murder look tame, Kats heavily criticizes the meat and dairy industry asking “how can we live with one another” when we continue to exploit and slaughter animals, he has a point but meat is tasty so I think I will enjoy this one on a surface level but I still continue to enjoy my sausages, this concept of morally taking a stand is really at the core of OK, I’m Sick 711. GirlfriendThis one starts a bit bluesy and chugs along nicely, throughout the album they managed to fuse all kinds of genres from Nu Metal, Grunge, Emo and Alternative Rock, this one seems to be written from the point of view of a lonely guy who becomes infatuated with a girl through her social media account, the song gets progressively more aggressive and unsettlingly as his thoughts go from simply liking her to wanting to cut her open and taste her blood. "I'm sick of lurking on your sh*t like I'm a f***ing loser, I'm closing my computer, I'm comin' over to ya, I wanna see you naked, I wanna feel you naked, I wanna cut you open, I wanna taste your blood 8.512. Wide EyesThis is Badflower’s song about the sexual abuse the Catholic Church committed with Katts declaring "there's no use in hearing the truth from a liar". The singer chronicles the anguish that a boy who suffered that abuse endured, from the act itself to the lies, trauma, and damage that hung over him years later. Its another frantic one, with big riffs and a strong My Chemical Romance vibe, as I said earlier they certainly don't hold back with how they feel 7.513. CryThe closing song on the album is a slow burner and ends the album with the same subject matter it started with, Drug abuse. But unlike the high energy and seemingly positive view on drugs in x Ana x, Cry is slow, brooding and regretful so in a way it is the perfect way to end the album, you feel like you've been on a journey where at the beginning drugs were an escape from all of the things in life that cause us pain but in the end the addiction and dependency is just another problem that negatively contributes to your mental health 6Summary From references to depression, self-harm and mental health to expressing disillusionment with the state of things Badflower hold no punches with their debut album, it is a grungy, emo alternative rock album for the discontented and disfranchised generation and it draws strong comparisons with the best of My Chemical Romance both musically and in content 7.88/10
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TheThorne
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*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,551
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Post by TheThorne on Mar 3, 2019 10:37:15 GMT 1
Yes really like them, they haven't done as well in my chart as they maybe deserve, think they only had 1 top 40 hit, which was 'Ghost'. Well done at proper review wish I was literate enough to that with my album list but I am not hehe
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Mar 3, 2019 15:46:13 GMT 1
Yes really like them, they haven't done as well in my chart as they maybe deserve, think they only had 1 top 40 hit, which was 'Ghost'. Well done at proper review wish I was literate enough to that with my album list but I am not hehe Cheers, glad you enjoyed, i missed Ghost, I think it was Animal I first charted which didn't make it on the album Feel free to suggest a few new indie/rock releases. I only have 2 on my list to do next. Weezer and Sundara Karma from this week stand out
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Mar 4, 2019 0:39:50 GMT 1
WEEZER - Black AlbumRelease Date: March 1 2019Weezer are back with their thirteenth studio (and sixth self-titled) album, Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo first hinted at the album in April 2016 "What could stand out more against 'White' than 'Black'? I think it's going to maybe be like Beach Boys gone bad. So lets see if this album hits the mark 1. Can't Knock The Hussle The opening track from the Black Album can only be described as a blend of 70s funk and traditional Eastern European Jewish folk music with Rivers kind of alternating between rapping (like the whitest white person in the world) and singing “Hasta luego, hasta luego, hasta luego, adios” in Spanish, I'm not sure if he is trolling us but I liked the funky sound, its a fun song and I always get a tongue in cheek vibe with Rivers, it charted at #1 in my personal chart for 2 weeks in November 2018 and is a strong opening track 8.52. Zombie b*st*rdsThis one is an acoustic reggae jam about Zombie's, it has an over produced pop finish which is not surprising considering it was co-written with Rami Yacoub who is most famous for his work with Britney Spears, Weezer are certainly taking their musical experimentation to a new level with the Black Album but this song doesn't really go anywhere and the content is limited to a few verses of nonsense and a repetitive chorus about Zombie b*st*rds 4.53. High As A KiteHigh As A Kite is Weezer at their best, melodic, weird, dreamy with a heavy bridge, this is by far the closest thing we have here to traditional Weezer, the video is set in “Mister Rivers’ Neighbourhood,” in which Rivers Cuomo cosplays Mister Rogers on a faux TV set. By the end of the show Cuomo has terrified all the children in the audience, I love it and it could well be the highlight of the album 9.5
4. Living In L.A
In the song’s lyrics, Rivers talks about a girl he’s pining after and compares his loneliness to living in Los Angeles, a city known for its sprawling geography. Its an up-tempo electro pop song which is fine, its a genre I quite like and sounds like it could've been a radio hit in the late 2000's, so far 4 very different songs, I can tell already the Black Album is going to be a mixed bag 7
5. Piece of Cake
Not sure what to think of this one, corny lyrics and over produced pop melodies seem to be slowly taking over what could've been a solid album, the Do-do-do-do-do-do-do hook sounds out of place, it feels overwhelmingly sugary sweet, it feels like they were aiming for Island in the sun and ended up with an album track from Raditude 4
6. I'm Just Being Honest
Ok we are back on track, "I’m Just Being Honest” originally appeared on Rivers Japanese side-project Scott & Rivers, in 2017, it's a beautiful melancholic pop-rock piece that sounds like Weezer at their best, the tone of this one is very similar to High as a Kite which is great as so far that is my favourite track on the new record. The best description of this song I heard was "It sounds like if Dashboard Confessional wrote a poem and the Fray set it to music with help from Keane" and I couldn't agree more 8 7. Too Many Thoughts In My HeadOk I quite like this one, it has terrible lyrics like "Stay up reading Mary Poppins, overwhelmed by Netflix options" and is quite repetitive but I'm liking the chorus, very upbeat for Weezer, maybe too much high hat and there is no need to rap at the end of the song, I mean this is cheesy and poppy but this is Weezer at their cheesiest 7.5 8. The Prince Who Wanted everythingIn an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rivers Cuomo talked about how the song gradually turned into a song about Prince:"It didn’t start out to be about Prince. But as I was working on the song and listening to it every day, I just couldn’t help but be reminded of him and his story. I was such a big Prince fan from probably about age 20, even before Weezer started. I just started tweaking the lyrics to make some Prince references. It has a strong 70s kind of riff throughout reminiscent of T-Rex 7.59. ByzantineRivers said "The bridge of the song “Byzantine” is from 1991, a very early-’90s grunge Soundgarden-type of song. But we reimagined it as this French-pop ’60s thing with a drum machine." Like Can't Knock The Hussle this has Latin themes with bossa nova rhythms throughout the song, its a goofy love song and dare I say it another solid effort 710. California Snow"California Snow" was released as a single for the soundtrack of the 2018 film Spell and made its way onto this album, the music is set to heavy synths starts with Rivers sounding like he's trying to impersonate some kind of modern rapper with attitude before letting out a very awkward "woo" after each line, which has you questioning if the track is some sort of satirical piece, again you can't be mad but it is a disappointing end to what I found a very enjoyable album 5SummaryIf you were expecting Blue Album 2 or Pinkerton 2 I'm sure this album will infuriate you, it barely skirts the edges of rock and I counted over 170 instances of the word do-do-do, it is a solid album though with a few dud tracks, Rivers said he wrote all the songs on piano. "We’ve been trying to make this record for several years. We’ve ended up putting out more normal records, just ‘cause we weren’t able to figure this one out. We finally found the right partner in [producer] Dave Sitek and really committed to the idea of throwing out the rule book. Without the big guitar, there’s more room for reverb and different kinds of psychedelic effects". It sounds to me like the album they were going for when they released Raditude (which for me is one of their worst albums), but this time I think they got it just about right, the lack of guitar, and sugar sweet poppy over production doesn't bother me though, I was always more a fan of the cheesier moments of Weezer's career like "Island In The Sun", "Keep Fishing" and "Pork and Beans" 6.85/10
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Roo.
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Post by Roo. on Mar 4, 2019 1:02:38 GMT 1
I lost track of Weezer around the Raditude era - If You're Wondering If I Want You To is one of my favourite songs but the rest of that album is just meh - but this review is making me want to catch up, especially since you named 3 of my other favourites of theirs at the end.
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TheThorne
Member
*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
Posts: 27,551
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Post by TheThorne on Mar 4, 2019 8:23:40 GMT 1
'I'm just being honest' is the best non grat or single i say,although need to play it again though.
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Mar 4, 2019 10:01:51 GMT 1
'I'm just being honest' is the best non grat or single i say,although need to play it again though. Yeah it got my highest score out of the non singles/grats, wouldnt be surprised if it is the next single if they release anything else from the album
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Mar 4, 2019 10:07:26 GMT 1
I lost track of Weezer around the Raditude era - If You're Wondering If I Want You To is one of my favourite songs but the rest of that album is just meh - but this review is making me want to catch up, especially since you named 3 of my other favourites of theirs at the end. The new album is certainly worth a spin, it is Weezer at their quirkiest, I just think a few of the songs suffer from straying too far down the rabbit hole into genres Weezer aren't comfortable with but others might like them songs but the highs are quite high and there are more highlights here than filler
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Mar 5, 2019 17:19:29 GMT 1
CALVA LOUISE - RhinocerosRelease Date: February 1, 2019The debut full-length release from London-based fuzz rock trio of Jess Allanic, Alizon Taho and Ben Parker. Jess Allanic is a native of Venezuela who moved to France in her teens, there she met bassist Alizon Taho, they moved to the UK where they found drummer Ben Parker and after years of touring last month they released their debut album, I have been raving about them for 6 months so they are the perfect candidate for my next review 1. I Heard A CryThis was the song that got me interested in Calva Louise when I heard it back in October, by December it was #5 in my personal chart. As an opening track it just hits you straight away with a catchy scuzzy riff followed by sweet female ‘ooh ooh’ harmonies, its a perfect mix of catchy melody and garage rock, it just fizzes with energy and attitude and makes you sit up and take notice 8.5 2. I'm Gonna Do WellI'm Gonna Do Well starts a bit slower than the usual Calva Louise song but it doesn't take long before your submerged in walls of distorted power chords joined by killer synths during the chorus, it gets more and more pop punk throughout the song and leads perfectly into the next track 73. Tug of WarWhich is another one I knew before the album was released, the follow up single to I Heard A Cry reached #3 in my chart and it is another energetic song full of catchy riffs and hooks, lyrically it is about a toxic relationship and the power struggle from that but the lyrics generally take a backseat whilst the music is very much the star with Calva Louise on Rhinoceros 9
4. Outrageous
Outrageous is a nice change of pace from the frantic opening tracks, the slower pace, reverb and echo remind me of Blood Red Shoes at times, this one is melodically driven, the guitar plods along but we still have the fuzzy guitars packed with cymbal-heavy drums and a la-la-la-la-la-la chorus as the song builds. At the heart of this record are subtle struggles with coming to terms with growing up in such an uncertain world “Living in this limbo, all that you can do is laugh” 7
5. No Hay
In this one Jess sows her Venezuelan roots singing mostly in her native tongue with only the refrain sang in English, "Do you think you gonna see? Do you think you gonna travel the world? And save everybody from the corruption you ignore?" a quick google translate of the Spanish lyrics I reckon this song is a reference to the corrupt Venezuelan Prime Minister, Nicolás Maduro, but it is very subtly done, its a nice song and the most indie pop song we have on the album so it is a nice break from the high energy pop punk 6
6. Getting Closer
We are back with the big riffs, this one starts off with a bit of a head nodding bassline before hitting us with a wall of noise, they switch up speeds really well on this album and slow things right down at just the right time and Getting Closer is no different before it really lets lose at the end, yeah it isn't ground breaking stuff but it is one of the highlights on the album 8 7. WondertaleWondertale is a mid-tempo offering, Jess sings reflectively "Today I wanna change the game, It was another time, when I looked away. But now I feel like I don't care chasing the mirage, go back to square one", nice enough but I do feel Calva Louise are at their best with their high energy up-tempo songs 58. Cruel GirlThe power pop guitars are back and are as urgent and in your face as ever, this one is simply about falling out with a friend but again its the music that is the star here, the lyrics are really secondary but fit in with the theme of the album, becoming an adult and the scariness and unpredictability of the world 79. Down The StreamFor Down The Stream Calva Louise slow it right down again with a contemplative song. "Sorry, Father I have been away. I'm leaving tomorrow, going out of my shell. I keep forgetting to tell you how much I care but I still remember your words every day", this is them at their poppiest especially during the sing along chorus 6.510. Out of UseThe closing track on the album starts rather subdued but slowly builds into a power pop song and the crashing drums and power chords take over and they really let loose, a fitting way to end an album so high on energy 6.5SummaryCalva Louise have mastered the 3 minute pop punk song, the album touches on themes of isolation, unfairness in the world and a helplessness not being able to do anything about it, themes about relationships with friends and family and growing up in a confusing time are maybe sometimes lost amongst the fuzzy power pop moments but on repeat listens they subtlety is appreciated, sometimes you just want to nod your head and say yeah this is a banger 7.05/10
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Mar 25, 2019 21:16:27 GMT 1
MASKED INTRUDER - IIIRelease date: March 1, 2019 The pop punk criminal super group Masked Intruder are back with their third album, their identity is hidden by different coloured balaclavas but what I can tell you is Masked Intruder consist of Blue (vocals/guitar), Green (guitar/vocals), Yellow (bass/vocals), Red (drums). 1. No CaseNo Case starts with sirens as the band are perused by their arch nemesis officer Bradford but they are not going down for another crime without a fight as they plead "You got no - you got no - you got no case on me, bro", the song packs a punch with catchy hooks and a sing along melody 8.52. Mine All MineMine All Mine is a love song, maybe even a love letter to Blues girl, it comes across a bit possessive and creepy but musically it fuses pop-punk and doowop nicely and I am a sucker for modern bands exploring doowop, I don't know why but it just works with the pop punk genre 83. All of My LoveThis one is a banger, we are back from our jaunt into doowop with just a super catchy pop punk song but they keep it interesting with a hair metal-esq guitar solo and that guitar riff over the bridge is so 80's, I love it, it's their new single and it just entered my chart this week 94. Just So You Know
Masked Intruder teamed up with the likes of Less Than Jake’s bassist Roger Lima and All American Rejects guitarist Mike Kennerty on this record and Just So You Know sounds like it came from the 90's pop punk scene with a nice blend of guitars and a twinkly synth in the bridge, they even make a song about a bank robbery sound happy 7.5
5. I'm Free (At Last)Masked Intruder have dabbled in bubble gum pop-punk but this is as good as it gets and this is the perfect place on the album for a euphoric sticky sweet song, as the song title might suggest, the protagonist is finally free as he sings "I’m free, at last. I’m free at last. My darkest days are all in the past" 7.56. Please Come Back To MeClearly producer Roger Lima (Less Than Jake) and co-producer Mike Kennerty (The All-American Rejects) had a hand in the cleaner production on this record as they are no strangers to the pop punk sound, the guitars are clean and catchy and there's also some Barber shop style vocals here 97. B&EThis is the heaviest song so far on the record but whilst B&E is still very much pop punk it's more Ramones inspired than anything else and its a great change of pace for the record, it needed the energy and urgency this song brings 7.58. Maybe EvenMasked Intruder venture into Blink 182 mode here to churn out a safe pop punk number whilst fantasising about a potential love interest, they never steer far from their formula of robbing banks and love but its hard to get bored when the songs are catchy 89. Not Fair Ok the album is taking a turn as Blue made his move and he has been rejected by the girl who already has a boyfriend, I love the slightly creepy tale of unrequited love as he sits in the tree house spying on them, lyrically it is a classic your bf doesn't deserve you" Flavor of The Week by American Hi-Fi kinda song, musically we are back to bubble gum punk pop, I am liking how the darker and creepier they get the happier and catchier the music is 910. Stay With Me TonightThe pop punk takes a back seat here replaced by classic power pop, I'm not sure it completely fits in here though, whilst undeniably catchy Stay With Me Tonight is the weakest song on the album so far 6.511. Dream a Little DreamOk, another slower one, they are mixing it up a bit towards the end of the album, I like the driving hard rhythm running through the track and the intro is cool 6.512. I'll Be Back Again SomedayA nice closing song as the band let everyone know in no uncertain terms that they will be back which is the perfect finale for III, there is a sense of sadness from the lyrics about having to leave a loved one and that's the album over 7
Summary
With III Masked Intruders have shown they are not just a novelty act, they have crafted some perfect pop punk songs and it is hard to find a bad track on the entire album, I know Frag is a fan having charted No Case at #3 and having 2 more songs in his current chart, Their songs are catchy and full of hooks, most of all though, it’s just simply fun music 7.83
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Apr 11, 2019 16:46:38 GMT 1
IDLEWILD - Interview MusicRelease Date: April 5, 2019Scottish rock band Idlewild are back with their 8th studio album recorded in Los Angeles with Scottish producer Dave Eringa, their first since 2015's Everything Ever Written 1. Dream Variations Opening track and the first single from Interview Music takes you on an atmospheric psychedelic journey which is a different direction for Idlewild as they have always bordered on grunge inspired indie pop. With no real chorus the memorable guitar hook repeats throughout along with Roddy Woomble's distinctive vocals making Dream Variations sounds both very different but very familiar at the same time before breaking down into a dreamy haze of psychedelia 82. There's a Place for EverythingOn There's a Place for Everything we see Idlewild in fine form, they up the tempo and blend both their new sound with their old adding a sprinkling of synths to give There's a Place for Everything a distinctively eighties feel. This has radio friendly single written all over it with catchy backing vocals and customary Roddy Woomble obtuse lyrics such as “A stable full of houses, a fully automatic washing machine” or maybe it is a nod to Mark Knopfler? either way these are the quirky kind of Idlewildisms fans love 7.5
3. Interview Music
The title track is another one that breaks the traditional verse chorus verse structure as Idlewild continue to experiment by knitting together distinct musical pieces seamlessly over a theme of anti consumerism repeatedly warning “Consumers", "Don’t come too close to the shore” before completely descending into a piano led jam session, this is Idlewild at their chaotic best which certainly lends elements from their debut album 6.54. All These WordsAll these words is a classic Idlewild rocker with catchy guitar hooks and a positive sing along chorus that wouldn't be out of place on The Remote Part, this is Idlewild at their most melodic, with melancholic lyricism and indie pop hooks, this is the Idlewild that had 13 top 40 singles in the early 00's 95. You Wear It SecondhandThere is a beautiful plodding predictability to You Wear It Secondhand that just sounds quintessential Idlewild, here they slow it right down and strip back their sound with Woomble reminiscing “It’s too bad, there’s nothing permanent from the past.” It might be a basic acoustically led indie pop song but Idlewild do these well and it wouldn't be an Idlewild album if they didn't have a melancholic slow paced stripped back song in the middle of their album like Live In A Hiding Place, I Understand It, Future Works, Take Me Back To The Island, Like a Clown etc 8.56. Same Things TwiceThe second single from Interview Music has a heavier off kilter grungy sound harking back to their older music from Hope Is Important but with a polished finish only the maturity of a band releasing their 8th full length studio album can pull off, walls of power cords and choppy guitar work break the album up nicely 8.57. I Almost Didn't NoticeThe dreamlike I Almost Didn't Notice is Woomble at his most melancholic and melodic here, dreaming and nostalgia are recurring themes on Interview Music, looking backwards, reminiscing but with a sense of being content rather than regret with Roddy musing "This luminous emptiness, this feeling of home, It’s perfect for a restless soul, like the classic mix of poetry into rock and roll'. 78. MiraclesIf the last song was a slow burner this one is the complete opposite, here we have a classic 2 minute rock and roll song full of classic rock riffs and a wandering piano with lovely poppy backing vocals 79. Mount AnalogueMount Analogue is a jazz inspired bluesy bit of Brit pop with an amazing brass section, in a recent interview Woomble said "I'm a big jazz fan so I listen to a lot of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and some of the more esoteric free jazz or whatever you want to call it" so its great to see them take a risk and experiment with genres they enjoy listening to. There's even a poetry reading here by Robert Frost reading part of his poem ‘Stopping By The Woods On A Snowy Evening’ which was a nice throwback to Scottish Fiction 810. Forever NewAnother track with a fair amount of commercial appeal, this one is a Teenage Fanclub-esque melodic pop song, maybe a tad cliché with lyrics such as "I always thought our love could be forever new." but it is another perfectly crafted pop song 7.511. Bad LogicAnother short, punchy rock song that clocks in at just over 2 minutes with distorted guitars and Woomble singing “The past is not dead it’s just living within us”, like track 8 Miracles it is just another frantic, catchy song 712. Familiar to IgnoreFamiliar to Ignore starts off as a fragile piano ballad that sounds like an off-cut from Ryan Adams Love Is Hell before launching into a soaring indie pop song. Songs like "All These Words" and "Familiar to Ignore" feature leftfield snippets of incidental music that knit the whole album together allowing the album to veer from hazy, psychedelic moments into melodic pop songs, Woomble explains where the idea came from. "I was quite interested in that and to a degree Rod was. But the compromise was that we decided to do this incidental music between tracks like a soundtrack. The theme is that Interview Music itself is a bit like a soundtrack". 813. Lake MartinezThe closing track to Interview Music is a beautiful fragile piano ballad, delicate keys and haunting vocals, sounds a lot like Roddy's solo work and a nice way to round off a very solid album 7Summary Idlewild’s eighth studio album is one of their most experimental, they explore new territory but aren't scared to embrace what made them successful in the first place either, this album is their most diverse and daring to date and with 25 years under their belt they have outlived numerous fads and evolved into a very solid rock band, they are fantastic live and most importantly after reading a few recent interviews they seem driven by the joy of making music great again. 7.65/10
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Post by Shireblogger on Apr 11, 2019 17:01:37 GMT 1
I wasn't impressed on first listen, but was not paying much attention. But your review has encouraged me to go back, and try again, so thanks for that Razzle Dazzle. I'm seeing Idlewild live next month, and I'm sure they'll be playing quite a lot of the album.
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Apr 11, 2019 18:10:23 GMT 1
Took me 4 or 5 listens, it is very different and a there are a few growers in there, I'm seeing them 2nd of May up Newcastle, Hupin was going to come but we had to change our plans from Manchester to Newcastle so he couldn't make it and I think Thorney just got tickets the other day too and Jade is seeing them later this month, seems we have a few Idlewild fans in our ranks, enough to enter into a Haven Factor I wonder
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Jul 10, 2019 13:17:57 GMT 1
THE AMAZONS - Future Dust Release Date: May 24The Indie Rock band from Reading are back with their second album Future Dust, after a hugely successful self titled debut album which peaked at #8 in the UK lets see how this one stacks up compared to their excellent debut release. 1. MotherThe Amazons go heavy on their opening track with an anthemic introduction to Future Dust, this was their first single and marked their return in some style with a huge stomping riff like a fuzzed up You Me At Six, a great opening tack which peaked at #2 in my personal chart 92. Fuzzy TreeFuzzy Tree continues in the same vein as Mother, another hard hitting rocker with surging guitars and pounding drums that you would associate more with bands like You Me At Six, Nothing But Thieves or Deaf Havana 8.53. 2525 was the fourth single to be released from Future Dust and unlike the two opening tracks on the album this one has an acoustic melody running throughout the song in combination with their heavier sound it works a treat, it was another song that did great in my personal chart peaking at #3. The main theme of the song is the fear of growing up and turning 25 which we can all relate to 94. The Mire30 second intro into Doubt It N/A5. Doubt ItDoubt It is a swaggering juggernaut of jagged guitar riffs, groovy bass and pounding drums with a dark and brooding feel, another one that peaked at #2 in my personal chart when it was released as the second single back in April 9.56. All Over TownThe indie sound of All Over Town is much more like the songs we saw on their debut self titles album, a slower song and a nice break from heavy hitting rockers 87. End of WonderThis one is the third single from their new album, it peaked at #4 in my personal chart. We are back to the riff drenched bangers but under the surface the band are diving into themes of lust, depression and eating disorders giving Future Dust a more grown up feel 88. Dark VisionsThe juxtaposition between the dark lyrics and the jangly pop melodies make Dark Visions a solid album track and my favourite non single on the album, "All my demons keep me overthinking of dark visions, of dark visions, and the beasts, they come in the dead of night feeding all my fears, brings them back to life, dark visions, dark visions, they'll be calling at my door" 8.59. 25 (Reprise)A nice stripped down acoustic version of track 3, this is a nice surprise amongst an album where The Amazons have turned rock up to 11 but one version of the song would've done 7.510. Warning SignWhilst a solid song, it doesn't pack the same punch as other similar tracks on the album, the roaring vocals and guitar riffs build nicely and it does that loud/quiet thing that Feeder at their peak did so well 7.511. GeorgiaThe final track on the album has a nice groove about it and its hard to ignore the sense of longing here, a nice closing song but if I have one criticism the album does start to fade a bit towards the end 7SummaryFuture dust is a darker, grittier and heavier album than their debut self titled effort with themes of lust, depression and eating disorders running throughout, their sound is firmly routed in classic rock and I can honestly say there isn't a bad track on the album 8.25/10
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Jul 10, 2019 19:06:27 GMT 1
RAMMSTEIN - RammsteinRelease date: May 17, 2019Rammstein's self titled album is their first album in a decade! this will be the German band's seventh full-length album and they are no strangers to controversy. Having heard all three singles so far I am looking forward to this one, Industrial Metal sang in German isn't usually my cup of tea but Rammstein rarely disappoint 1. DeutschlandFirst single Deutschland saw Rammstein come back in spectacular fashion, the song itself is about the history of Germany, all the good, all the bad and the mixed feelings of wanting to love your homeland and never wanting to leave it but not being able to give it your love. The song starts off with killer synths reminiscent of their earlier material which was very much synth rock, then the thundering guitars roll in over the top of the synths as the intro slowly builds until a second guitar kicks in emphasising the synths and the drums build, boom Rammstein are back! Till's distinctive vocals growl DU...HAST, a throwback to their earlier material? musically the song is epic, the 9 minute music video that accompanies the song is a cinematic masterpiece and the occasional chants of Deutschland! as the juggernaut of a song destroys everything in its wake is a thing of beauty 102. RadioThis is Rammstein at their most melodic but don't be fooled into thinking this is a poppy throw away song about the radio, it was the second single from their new album but it is deeper than you think. The entire band grew up in East Germany behind the iron curtain where they had one state ran tv channel and western radio stations were jammed but late at night sometimes western radio stations got through for an hour or two and this was the only contact with anything outside of East Germany. "We weren’t allowed to belong, couldn’t see, talk, or hear anything but every night for one or two hours I disappeared from this world. Every night a little bit happy, my ear so close to the world receiver, radio, my radio, I let myself get sucked into the airwaves, my ears become eyes, radio, my radio. So I hear what I can‘t see secretly satisfying my wanderlust" 93. Zeig DichZeig Dich begins with some kind of choir singing in what I think is Latin, the lyrics have a religious theme too "Curse desire, Condemn, Temptation, Promise damnation, They commit crime, Proclaim promise, Forgiveness of all sins, Spread and lose in the name of the Lord", it soon builds into a classic Rammstein song with heavy guitars and a sing along chorus before the choir is back with a creepy outro with more chanting in Latin 84. AuslanderTheir third single is erm... disco infused industrial metal, it shouldn't work but it does, they have really turned up the electro sound on this album, which I love. Auslander is the German word for Foreigner and the lyrics seem to be about feeling a foreigner and maybe even losing your national identity which is certainly on trend 85. SexSince I read Sex sounds ‘Personal Jesus’-esque I cant get the similarities out of my head, the Marilyn Manson version ofcourse, its another catchy tune and that creepy laugh by Til hallway through ha, the lyrics are pretty straight forward "We only live once, We love life, We love love, We live sex, Ha ha ha ha, yes" 7.56. PuppeThis one reminds me of Mutter from their album of the same name, it has the same vibe, spoken words over gentle keys and picking until it all kicks in and Til starts aggressively almost yelling "and then I tear off the doll's head, then I tear off the doll's head.Yes, I bite off the doll's neck. I am not doing well". Parts of the lyrics refer to the poem “Wenn Mutti spät zur Arbeit geht” (“When mom goes to work late”) by Till Lindemann about a mother who works as a prostitute but the song seems to change that to sister, which gives Puppe a darker, more sinister twist 87. Was Ich LiebeProbably the most forgettable moment on the album so far, a slow intro builds into the anthemic chorus which just about saves Was Ich Liebe from going into the filler pile, its certainly the weakest track on the album so far though 6.58. DiamantOh a ballad! I guess there is a reason you don't hear many German ballads, not an electric guitar in sight and in a way Diamant is hauntingly beautiful. At 2 minutes 34 long it is the shortest track on the album and it is a nice break from the industrial metal but it isn't a song I would go back to 69. Weit WegWhirring synths and lyrics about sexual voyeurism in the guise of a power ballad, I like this one, the album needed this, musically it picks the album back up when it was just starting to drift, the more I listen to Weit Weg the more the synths remind me of a boss level of an old Sega Megadrive game 7.510. TattooTattoo is the heaviest song on the album in both music and lyrical content, first it is almost pure metal and Tattoo is a reference to the branding of Jewish prisoners in Nazi concentration camps 6.511. HallomannHallomann sounds almost like the end credits of a movie about a child abductor with haunting synths and lyrics that delve into the inner monologue of the child abductor, yeah creepy, haunting, Rammstein. Its a great closing track 8SummaryThere are rumours this could be Rammstein's last album, if it their last album then they left on a high, if not I look forward to more material of this quality hopefully before 2029! don't let me wait another decade. This album is classic Rammstein, dark, thought provoking, melodic and beautiful in equal measure 7.72/10
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Jul 11, 2019 20:17:26 GMT 1
New review up, I was going to keep it brief, oh well, Black Keys next I think
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Jul 28, 2019 23:52:28 GMT 1
THE BLACK KEYS - "Let's Rock"Release Date: June 28, 2019The Black Keys have returned after a five-year break to release their ninth studio album! I have been a fan right ever since I heard their raw blues rock sound back in 2002, their first single "Leavin' Trunk" / "She Said, She Said" from their debut album The Big Come up got some heavy rotation on my MP3 player when I was at collage along with album tracks Heavy Soul and Them Eyes. I have loved all 3 singles from "Let's Rock" so lets give the album a spin 1. Shine A Little LightNice opening track, we have some BIG riffs over a stomping beat, classic Black Keys formula really, there's some nice female vocals in the background as the song chugs along but the real star of the show is that guitar riff, Dan Auerbach sure has mastered the 3 minute pop song without losing what made The Black Keys so unique 8.52. Eagle BirdsThis was the second single to be released from "Let's Rock", I said at the time The Black Keys are definitely channelling their inner T Rex! Dan Auerbach and Co were definitely listening to a fair bit of glam rock when they came up with this one with the hand claps and boogie-woogie guitar, it's camp and peaked at #3 in my chart so no surprise I like this one 8.53. Lo/HiAnother nod to 60's/70's glam era, since Andy mentioned this one sounds a bit like Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit In The Sky” I cant unhear it, but you cant deny the groove. It was the first song to be released from their new album, peaking at #2 in my chart. I love all of that over the top camp glam era though and the female backing vocals remind me of Primal Scream 84. Walk Across The WaterWalk Across The Water is more of a sultry slow-burner, dialling down the glam on this one. Dan Auerbach was going through a divorce whilst making this record and with lyrics like “Rivers run into the ocean, oceans run into the blue, look around at all the commotion, then I walk across the water for you” you can tell, its a nice song though 6.55. Tell Me LiesIf Walk Across The Water was a subtle, Tell Me Lies has all the subtlety of a brick to the face as Auerbach sings "Tell me lies, tell me all your pretty lies" and "Every woman who has ever loved you is telling you lies". It's not just the lyrics that remind me of Fleetwood Mac, it is other 70s-influenced track 7.56. Every Little ThingThe opening guitar licks remind me of Since You've Been Gone by Powderfinger, then it kicks in and the Black Keys are back to their more bluesy sound here, there are definitely 60’s/70’s vibes running right through "Let's Rock". It's almost as if they are paying homage to different genres of rock music 87. Get Yourself TogetherThe feel-good boogie rock of Get Yourself Together is a nice surprise with its sing along chorus, adding Leisa Hans and Ashley Wilcoxson on backing vocals has added a soulful new dimension 78. Sit Around And Miss YouTen seconds in I said to myself this sounds like that Louise song, the guitar lick is shamelessly similar to Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle With You”, as the entire album is coming across as a homage to the best of rock I will let it slide, it is obviously what they were going for here 6.59. GoMy favourite of their three singles, Go spent 3 weeks top of my personal chart, this one is the closest song on the album to their peak El Camino days and the closest thing to a hit single if that was still possible for an act like The Black Keys, if this was released 10 year ago it would be a top 40 hit 9.510. Breaking DownA pleasant break from the harder hitting songs, Breaking Down opens with a sitar sounding guitar riff but builds into another nice rock song that sounds a bit Steely Dan in places which flows nicely into track eleven 811. Under The GunAnother southern rocker complete with hand claps and a nice groove that benefits from nice backing vocals, some nice squealing guitar in there too, a nice strong finish to the album 812. Fire Walk With MeOk this one has the same primary groove as “Go,” but has the best guitar solo of the album and a nice way to end the album, the final few tracks certainly close the album on a high note 8
Summary
If your looking for the band to completely go in a ground-breaking direction and experiment with weird song structures or exotic instrumentation you will be disappointed, if you hated their most commercial work like El Camino then this probably isn’t the album for you either, for me "Let's Rock" comfortably alongside high water marks like El Camino and deviates far enough from their sound for it to be a fun and interesting addition to their discography. On "Let's Rock" The Black Keys sound like two people having fun and enjoying themselves in the studio, drummer Patrick Carney called the album "an homage to electric guitar" and that's probably the best way to sum up the album. 7.83
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Aug 29, 2019 18:37:59 GMT 1
RED RUM CLUB - Matador
Release Date: January 11, 2019Red Rum Club are a sextet from Liverpool (Francis on lead vocals, Michael and Tom on guitar and backing vocals, Simon on the bass, Neil on the drums and Joe on the trumpet!), yes TRUMPET, they combine Indie pop with Spaghetti Western horns which delivers an original sound 1. AngelineThis is the perfect introduction to what Red Rum Club are about, Angeline starts with horse hoofs and some kick ass horns, the chorus soars and your straight into what the album is all about, the western influences are evident, if you close your eyes you could almost imagine this as a credit song for a modern western, it peaked at #6 in my chart earlier this year and is a solid opener 8 2. Would You Rather Be Lonely?This one was released last year as a single and peaked in my chart at #7 in January, slower and more melodic, the western theme still permeates throughout the melody and this time it's complete with ‘Hoo-ha’ chants, the instrumentation is slick and the harmonies are brilliant 83. Hung UpHung up has a higher tempo which I think compliments the trumpets well, a catchy number, short, punchy song with gritty lyrics 6.5 4. TV Said SoI always get a Echo and the Bunnymen inspired vibe from Red Rum Club, especially some of the guitar work, this one wouldn't feel out of place in the 80's, probably the most recognisably Indie song on the album 75. HoneyThe instrumentation on Matador has more than a hint of The Last Shadow Puppets about it at times, this was the 2nd single to be released from Matador and peaked at #18 in my chart at the back end of 2018 76. Nobody Gets Out AliveNobody Gets Out Alive has a coral-esque rhythm section and sounds like Milburn in places who of course were very Arctic Monkeys sounding, this is just a great mid 00's indie sounding song that wouldn't be out of place on any one of those bands albums 77. CalexicoThis is my favourite track on the album with it's Latin flavours, Calexico sways with the passionate vibrato of the trumpet over the Latin melody, it was the first single from the album and peaked at #16 in the middle of 2018 and then featured in my top 400 of 2018 at #163 98. CasanovaDare I say it, Casanova has a flamenco vibe about it which goes hand in hand with the Matador/Americana theme they are mashing up on their debut album, I love the line "We Don't, We Don't want to play, i'll be your, C.A.S.A.N.O.V.A" 7.59. Remedy (To Clean A Dirty Soul)Remedy has some nice synths to accompany the trumpet and a wicked bass line, one of the poppiest songs on the album, I don't know if it is just the scouse but the vocals sound like it could be Dave McCabe from The Zuton's which isn't a bad thing, maybe its just the scouse but they sound very similar and my favourite album track on Matador 810. MatadorNice closing track to a very good debut album, everything about this song feels like feel like the end of a journey and a perfect closing track with the Matador/Americana theme permeating right through the album right until the last note 7.5SummaryThere isn't a bad track on Matador, not a hint of tumbleweed to be found, the scouse Americana/Matadore sound makes Matador a fun and creative album, certainly one of the best debut albums I have listened to in a long time. The lyrics of the album explore the themes of solitude and loneliness which add a layer of depth, set over that Americana sound 7.55
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Sept 24, 2019 15:47:24 GMT 1
BARNS COURTNEY - 404Release Date: September 6, 2019404 is the second album by 28 year old Barnaby George Courtney with his unique blend of folk and indie pop, I know he has a few fans here so thought I would make this my next review because they had a #3 hit in my chart this year and currently have two tracks in my top 40, I first heard of him in 2015 when I charted his debut single "Glitter & Gold" but it wasn't until "99" came out in 2018 where I thought yeah I really like this. 1. HollowMusically Barns Courtney makes it clear he is moving into a more pop inspired direction with track one Hollow, it's full of synths and pop hooks, lyrically Hollow is about the emptiness a person feels and the music video is pretty cool with him in hospital and the nurses trying to find out what is wrong with him and diagnose him as "hollow", it is currently at #13 in my chart and could climb further 7.52. You And IThis one was a big hit in my chart peaking at #3 earlier this year. "Well, I know they said I'm bad news, that I wouldn't treat you right. Got no money in my pocket, guess I have to hitch a ride. I would flag down any motorist, I'd run the whole M5 for you and I, you and I, you and I". 8.53. "99"This was the song that got me back into Barns Courtney and blends his older bluesy sound with the new pop direction perfectly which ended up at #260 in my top songs of 2018, it's a nostalgic look back at the year 1999 which peaked at #5 on the US Airplay charts and received support from BBC Radio 1 DJ, Annie Mac who described it as “a cross between Kings Of Leon and MGMT”. 9 4. London GirlsLondon Girl See's the album move into classic indie rock territory, this could easily be a song by The Sherlocks, its certainly the rockiest song on the new album and I do like the outro'Cause she's a London girl, Oh, she's a London girl, Oh, she's a f***ing nightmare, Oh, she's a London girl" 85. Fun Never EndsThe latest Barns Courtney song to enter my chart, currently at #25 and climbing, the middle of this album has certainly come alive with another fantastic song, the distortion, pop hooks and acoustic guitar all added to the mix and is one of my highlights of 404. 9 6. Boy Like MeBarns slows it down on Boy Like Me, I love the bassline here, it's a bit of a plodder of as song but has that recognisable Barns Courtney sound which keeps it interesting 77. The Kids Are AlrightThe Kids Are Alright, this song is alright too, another slower song but with less of a punch of Boys Like Me but a nice hook, "Oh horror, oh horror, what did you see? Monsters in the closet and they just won't leave, clogging up your arteries with memories, oh yeah". 6.58. CastawayCastaway gets a bit dubstep in places, a nice chorus but the rest of the song is pretty forgettable, not what I was expecting anyway, not sure it works, its not a bad song but its not great either 69. BabylonOh, ok, this is better, a nice synth line that sounds like a string section, excessive pounding drumbeats that are very Imagine Dragon's esq, I was wondering when or if the album will pick up again and it certainly has here 810. CannonballBabylon aside a very disappointing end to a promising album, I don't like the vocal distortion here and if you end an album with a slow burner it has to be a good one 4 SummaryA slow end to the album and a disappointing second half to what was a very good first half of 404, there is certainly enough on here to warrant a repeat listen but it's a shame that 404 loses steam towards the end because the first half of the album is a great collection of pop rock with the signature Barns Courtney sound 7.35
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