What follows are ten videos we could not stop viewing and pondering over again and again. (Just a note, all of the songs are in alphabetical order according to song title, but we decided for the first time to single out our top pick at the bottom of the list.) Enjoy!
The Chapman Family’s “Anxiety” from thechapmanfamilytv YouTube Channel.
IAMX’s “Bernadette” from the iamx YouTube Channel.
Villagers’ “Cecelia and Her Selfhood” from the DominoRecords YouTube Channel.
Mojo Fury’s “Colour of the Bear” from the mojoFURYvisual YouTube Channel.
Creep’s “Day” from the youngturksrecords YouTube Channel.
David’s Lyre’s “In Arms” from the ThisIsDavidsLyre YouTube Channel.
Thirteen Senses’ “The Loneliest Star” from the ThirteenSensesTV YouTube Channel.
Erland and the Carnival’s “Map of an English Man” from the FullTimeHobbyRecords YouTube Channel.
Those Dancing Days’ “Reaching Forward” from the UniversalMusicSweden YouTube Channel.
Video of the Year: Duran Duran’s “Girl Panic” from the DuranDuranVEVO YouTube Channel.
Read more ...
Showing posts with label IAMX. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IAMX. Show all posts
01 January 2012
04 September 2011
Videos - Round 1
Here is the first of two rounds of videos that have caught my eye over the last four weeks or so … Enjoy!
Tom Vek’s “Aroused” from the TomVekVEVO YouTube Channel.
IAMX’s “Bernadette” (English version) from the iamx YouTube Channel.
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart’s “The Body” from thepainsofbeing YouTube Channel.
The Chapman Family’s “Burn Your Town” from thechapmanfamilytv YouTube Channel.
St. Vincent’s “Cruel” from the 4ADRecords YouTube Channel.
Kasabian’s “Days Are Forgotten” from the KasabianVEVO Channel.
Charlie Simpson’s “Parachutes” from the charliesimpsonmusic YouTube Channel.
White Lies’ “The Power and The Glory” from the WhiteLiesVEVO YouTube Channel.
Read more ...
Tom Vek’s “Aroused” from the TomVekVEVO YouTube Channel.
IAMX’s “Bernadette” (English version) from the iamx YouTube Channel.
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart’s “The Body” from thepainsofbeing YouTube Channel.
The Chapman Family’s “Burn Your Town” from thechapmanfamilytv YouTube Channel.
St. Vincent’s “Cruel” from the 4ADRecords YouTube Channel.
Kasabian’s “Days Are Forgotten” from the KasabianVEVO Channel.
Charlie Simpson’s “Parachutes” from the charliesimpsonmusic YouTube Channel.
White Lies’ “The Power and The Glory” from the WhiteLiesVEVO YouTube Channel.
Read more ...
22 April 2011
Four for April
I am finally back from a much needed holiday and escape from reality. When I finally sat down to start writing again, what I became seriously conscious about was that there were albums I never got to. I have tried to avoid doing reviews with multiple artists, but for the sake of expediency, that is what I’m going to do now. This is not a reflection on any of these artists or their work – it is simply a reflection of my lack of time. (I’m also learning to shut my mouth about upcoming releases I am excited about, as I have been disappointed quite a few times over the past few months.) Though I do not plan to make these brief “four” reviews a regular feature, I think there will be at least one later this year down the road. For now, welcome to the worlds of Brothertiger, The Chapman Family, IAMX, and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Enjoy!
Brothertiger: “Point of View EP” (14 February 2011 in the USA)
One listen to “Point of View,” it is more than obvious that Brothertiger is more sophisticated than most electro/synthpop bands. The brainchild and moniker of John Jagos, Brothertiger weaves traditionally 80s influence electronic music with a bit of downtempo and chillwave. Where the music may not be dance ready in a non-remixed form, it is seductively loungey and trippy. I still cannot get over the opening track, “Real Life”: it is somewhere lost between swanky lounge and Art of Noise, and this is an incredible space to be lost in. With an Erasure-esque bassline, Jagos’ vocals, like Bell’s of Erasure, adds to the soundscape, and not simply sung above the musical arrangements – and this is something rare in electronic music! “Back To Us” slips into an electro new romantic style ballad, while “Even Glow” moves closer to dance with the bassline and melody sections, but continues to chill with its electro-beats. In “A House of Many Ghosts,” various ostinati, vocal samples and effects, and ambient key arrangements conspire to create a truly updated, contemporary take on sythnpop. Four tracks and only one thought/question at the end of listening: when is the full-length album coming out?
Track Listing: 1. Real Life 2. Back To Us 3. Evening Glow 4. A House of Many Ghosts. 5. Lovers (Casa del Mirto Remix)
Keep up with Brothertiger at their MySpace and Facebook. Also, check out John Jagos’ blog presence. Go over to the band’s Bandcamp page where you can preview and purchase past releases. Head to iTunes (USA link) where you can preview and purchase “Point of View EP.”
IAMX: “Volatile Times” (18 March 2011 in the UK, 22 March 2011 in the USA)
Considering that I am one of those that really loved 2009’s “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction,” I was anxious to finally hear IAMX’s fourth album, “Volatile Times.” In photographic terms, prior to “Kingdom,” emotions were always expressed in over-exposures; with “Kingdom,” there was a sense of preciseness and perfect focus and exposure to the emotional anxieties and urgencies. I had no reason to believe that “Volatile Times” would be any different.
“Volatile Times” continues to be more precise in terms of the visceral, but musically Chris Corner (the man behind the moniker) has returned to a broader and more eclectic collection of soundscapes. However, this genderfucker has set the expectations really high with “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction,” and I can see people saying that “Volatile Times” does not meet their expectations. Well, I agree; if you are looking for another “Kingdom,” this is not going to float your boat. But, if you take this album at face value … just for a moment, imagine it is a debut album by a new band … it is one of the strongest albums released this year. Contradiction? No.
The music in not only more introspective, such as “Fire and Whispers” that combines gritty and crisp electronic sounds, the volatility that sometimes follows failed contemplation is so perfectly captured, especially in “Music People” – as the song slowly seeps towards a close, it becomes cacophonous, as it speeds up and the drums/percussion take over the arrangements. Furthermore, as seen in the lead single, “Ghosts of Utopia,” Corner is stepping away from the traditional synthpop / new wave revival and moving towards darkwave, sans all that etherealness that darkwave revivalists are so found of lately. The album closes with the epic “Oh Beautiful Town” – “In the floorboards under insolent feet, I left the hopscotch to my parents retreat with words of goodnight in the back of my head, words of desperation on my tongue: good night father, goodnight mother. I used to awake.” Lyrically, cynically twisted as the best of them (Gore, Murphy, Reznor, Sioux, Smith), musically beautifully, anxiously sad and sensual. No, this is not “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction”; “Volatile Times” is more sophisticated, more intricate, and more artistic. Think a bit outside of the box (even if you are a fan already) and take a serious listen to this album.
Track Listing: 1. I Salute You Christopher 2. Music People 3. Volatile Times 4. Fire and Whisper 5. Dance with Me 6. Bernadette 7. Ghosts of Utopia 8. Commanded by Voices 9. Into Asylum 10. Cold Red Light 11. Oh Beautiful Town [12. Avalanche (deluxe edition) 13. Ghost of Utopia video (deluxe edition)]
Keep up with IAMX at their homepage, MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter.
Here is the video “Ghosts Of Utopia” from their YouTube Channel: iamx.
The Chapman Family: “Burn Your Town” (22 March 2011 in the USA as import)
I have friends who have been waiting for the release of Chapman Family’s debut, “Burn Your Town,” for a few years now; straightforward, thriving indie rock, this album was definitely worth the wait. It is obvious that the music on this album is meant to be experienced live and that static recording can only hint at the power of the music. The lead single, “Anxiety,” lives up to its name: anxiously guitar driven music, with fretful lyrics: “And they say our best isn’t good enough.” This may very well be the perfect mantra for anyone living in these economically and socially repressive times.
To give credit to my friends, they noted a certain post-punk influence on the band. This is most obvious in tracks like “1,000 Lies,” which may have been influenced by listening to a bit too much Bauhaus and Siouxsie and the Banshees (which of course is a good thing). But this brings to the forefront something that was sadly missing in the 1990s: the bridge between the alterative rock/grunge world with that of the post-punk, dream pop/shoegaze world. This kind of mergence is most apparent in “Something I Can’t Get Out.” But this, of course, brings something else to mind. The Chapman Family not only has a large range of musical references that may not always be compatible, they also have a wide range of styles at their commands. I only have one question: what else do they have up their sleeves? (By the way, the band should release the punkish “Kids” as their next single!)
Track Listing: 1. A Certain Degree 2. All Fall 3. Anxiety 4. The Sound of the Radio 5. 1,000 Lies 6. She Didn’t Know 7. Something I Can Get Out 8. Kids 9. Million Dollars 10. Virgins
Keep up with The Chapman Family at their homepage, MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter.
Here is their videos for “All Fall” and “Anxiety” from their YouTube Channel: thechapmanfamilytv.
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart: “Belong” (29 March 2011 in the USA)
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart was one of the first bands that I reviewed on the blog (link), and I remembered making an offhand comment that their eponymous debut album would be something more welcomed in Europe than America. Noise pop, traditionally, has been more successful overseas, not to mention twee pop and the current shoegaze revival (no, I will not call it nu-gaze; when you consider the vast majority of these bands, there is nothing new here!). “Belong,” the sophomore album, is another story altogether. This time around, the band concentrates on their pop sensibility – their catchiness and hooks. Bands have one of two trajectories. In general terms, like Radiohead, they can go from highly accessible to esoteric, or, like The Cure, go for esoteric to accessible; The Pains of Being Young At Heart have obvious gone the latter route.
Flood’s sophisticated production style is all over this album, but most apparent in “The Body.” To Flood’s credit, he can polish and refine any song while keeping its primal urgency intact. Though we continue to hear the influence of The Jesus and Mary Chain (“Anne With An E”) and slight echoes of My Bloody Valentine (“Girl of 1,000 Dreams”), the references are broader: a bit of dream and synth pop in “My Terrible Friend” (my favorite track on the album) and alternative rock of bands such as Smashing Pumpkins (“Heart In Your Heartbreak”).
Was this album an obvious shift to garnish more American attention? I can’t answer that, but I can say that it is no sophomore slump. In many ways “Belong” is superior to the debut album (a blasphemous comment to some, I know!). What the album has going for it is to take all of their quirky references and distill them into something new, fresh, and accessible.
Track Listing: 1. Belong 2. Heaven’s Gonna Happen Now 3. Heart In Your Heart Break 4. The Body 5. Anne with an E 6. Even in Dreams 7. My Terrible Friend 8. Girl of 1,000 Dreams 9. Too Tough 10. Strange
Keep up with The Pains of Being Pure At Heart at their homepage, MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter.
Here is their video for “Heart in Your Heartbreak” from their YouTube Channel: thepainsofbeing.
Read more ...
Brothertiger: “Point of View EP” (14 February 2011 in the USA)
One listen to “Point of View,” it is more than obvious that Brothertiger is more sophisticated than most electro/synthpop bands. The brainchild and moniker of John Jagos, Brothertiger weaves traditionally 80s influence electronic music with a bit of downtempo and chillwave. Where the music may not be dance ready in a non-remixed form, it is seductively loungey and trippy. I still cannot get over the opening track, “Real Life”: it is somewhere lost between swanky lounge and Art of Noise, and this is an incredible space to be lost in. With an Erasure-esque bassline, Jagos’ vocals, like Bell’s of Erasure, adds to the soundscape, and not simply sung above the musical arrangements – and this is something rare in electronic music! “Back To Us” slips into an electro new romantic style ballad, while “Even Glow” moves closer to dance with the bassline and melody sections, but continues to chill with its electro-beats. In “A House of Many Ghosts,” various ostinati, vocal samples and effects, and ambient key arrangements conspire to create a truly updated, contemporary take on sythnpop. Four tracks and only one thought/question at the end of listening: when is the full-length album coming out?
Track Listing: 1. Real Life 2. Back To Us 3. Evening Glow 4. A House of Many Ghosts. 5. Lovers (Casa del Mirto Remix)
Keep up with Brothertiger at their MySpace and Facebook. Also, check out John Jagos’ blog presence. Go over to the band’s Bandcamp page where you can preview and purchase past releases. Head to iTunes (USA link) where you can preview and purchase “Point of View EP.”
IAMX: “Volatile Times” (18 March 2011 in the UK, 22 March 2011 in the USA)
Considering that I am one of those that really loved 2009’s “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction,” I was anxious to finally hear IAMX’s fourth album, “Volatile Times.” In photographic terms, prior to “Kingdom,” emotions were always expressed in over-exposures; with “Kingdom,” there was a sense of preciseness and perfect focus and exposure to the emotional anxieties and urgencies. I had no reason to believe that “Volatile Times” would be any different.
“Volatile Times” continues to be more precise in terms of the visceral, but musically Chris Corner (the man behind the moniker) has returned to a broader and more eclectic collection of soundscapes. However, this genderfucker has set the expectations really high with “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction,” and I can see people saying that “Volatile Times” does not meet their expectations. Well, I agree; if you are looking for another “Kingdom,” this is not going to float your boat. But, if you take this album at face value … just for a moment, imagine it is a debut album by a new band … it is one of the strongest albums released this year. Contradiction? No.
The music in not only more introspective, such as “Fire and Whispers” that combines gritty and crisp electronic sounds, the volatility that sometimes follows failed contemplation is so perfectly captured, especially in “Music People” – as the song slowly seeps towards a close, it becomes cacophonous, as it speeds up and the drums/percussion take over the arrangements. Furthermore, as seen in the lead single, “Ghosts of Utopia,” Corner is stepping away from the traditional synthpop / new wave revival and moving towards darkwave, sans all that etherealness that darkwave revivalists are so found of lately. The album closes with the epic “Oh Beautiful Town” – “In the floorboards under insolent feet, I left the hopscotch to my parents retreat with words of goodnight in the back of my head, words of desperation on my tongue: good night father, goodnight mother. I used to awake.” Lyrically, cynically twisted as the best of them (Gore, Murphy, Reznor, Sioux, Smith), musically beautifully, anxiously sad and sensual. No, this is not “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction”; “Volatile Times” is more sophisticated, more intricate, and more artistic. Think a bit outside of the box (even if you are a fan already) and take a serious listen to this album.
Track Listing: 1. I Salute You Christopher 2. Music People 3. Volatile Times 4. Fire and Whisper 5. Dance with Me 6. Bernadette 7. Ghosts of Utopia 8. Commanded by Voices 9. Into Asylum 10. Cold Red Light 11. Oh Beautiful Town [12. Avalanche (deluxe edition) 13. Ghost of Utopia video (deluxe edition)]
Keep up with IAMX at their homepage, MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter.
Here is the video “Ghosts Of Utopia” from their YouTube Channel: iamx.
The Chapman Family: “Burn Your Town” (22 March 2011 in the USA as import)
I have friends who have been waiting for the release of Chapman Family’s debut, “Burn Your Town,” for a few years now; straightforward, thriving indie rock, this album was definitely worth the wait. It is obvious that the music on this album is meant to be experienced live and that static recording can only hint at the power of the music. The lead single, “Anxiety,” lives up to its name: anxiously guitar driven music, with fretful lyrics: “And they say our best isn’t good enough.” This may very well be the perfect mantra for anyone living in these economically and socially repressive times.
To give credit to my friends, they noted a certain post-punk influence on the band. This is most obvious in tracks like “1,000 Lies,” which may have been influenced by listening to a bit too much Bauhaus and Siouxsie and the Banshees (which of course is a good thing). But this brings to the forefront something that was sadly missing in the 1990s: the bridge between the alterative rock/grunge world with that of the post-punk, dream pop/shoegaze world. This kind of mergence is most apparent in “Something I Can’t Get Out.” But this, of course, brings something else to mind. The Chapman Family not only has a large range of musical references that may not always be compatible, they also have a wide range of styles at their commands. I only have one question: what else do they have up their sleeves? (By the way, the band should release the punkish “Kids” as their next single!)
Track Listing: 1. A Certain Degree 2. All Fall 3. Anxiety 4. The Sound of the Radio 5. 1,000 Lies 6. She Didn’t Know 7. Something I Can Get Out 8. Kids 9. Million Dollars 10. Virgins
Keep up with The Chapman Family at their homepage, MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter.
Here is their videos for “All Fall” and “Anxiety” from their YouTube Channel: thechapmanfamilytv.
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart: “Belong” (29 March 2011 in the USA)
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart was one of the first bands that I reviewed on the blog (link), and I remembered making an offhand comment that their eponymous debut album would be something more welcomed in Europe than America. Noise pop, traditionally, has been more successful overseas, not to mention twee pop and the current shoegaze revival (no, I will not call it nu-gaze; when you consider the vast majority of these bands, there is nothing new here!). “Belong,” the sophomore album, is another story altogether. This time around, the band concentrates on their pop sensibility – their catchiness and hooks. Bands have one of two trajectories. In general terms, like Radiohead, they can go from highly accessible to esoteric, or, like The Cure, go for esoteric to accessible; The Pains of Being Young At Heart have obvious gone the latter route.
Flood’s sophisticated production style is all over this album, but most apparent in “The Body.” To Flood’s credit, he can polish and refine any song while keeping its primal urgency intact. Though we continue to hear the influence of The Jesus and Mary Chain (“Anne With An E”) and slight echoes of My Bloody Valentine (“Girl of 1,000 Dreams”), the references are broader: a bit of dream and synth pop in “My Terrible Friend” (my favorite track on the album) and alternative rock of bands such as Smashing Pumpkins (“Heart In Your Heartbreak”).
Was this album an obvious shift to garnish more American attention? I can’t answer that, but I can say that it is no sophomore slump. In many ways “Belong” is superior to the debut album (a blasphemous comment to some, I know!). What the album has going for it is to take all of their quirky references and distill them into something new, fresh, and accessible.
Track Listing: 1. Belong 2. Heaven’s Gonna Happen Now 3. Heart In Your Heart Break 4. The Body 5. Anne with an E 6. Even in Dreams 7. My Terrible Friend 8. Girl of 1,000 Dreams 9. Too Tough 10. Strange
Keep up with The Pains of Being Pure At Heart at their homepage, MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter.
Here is their video for “Heart in Your Heartbreak” from their YouTube Channel: thepainsofbeing.
Read more ...
04 March 2011
Videos, Videos, Videos
Thought I would sneak on and post some videos. Enjoy!
Glasvegas’ “Euphoria, Take My Hand” from the glasvegasVEVO YouTube Channel.
Kyte’s “Fear from Death” from their YouTube Channel: kytetheband.
Senses Fail’s “The Fire” from the vagrantrecords YouTube Channel.
IAMX’s “Ghosts of Utopia” from their YouTube Channel: iamx.
Lykke Li’s “I Follow Rivers” from her YouTube Channel: lykkelivideos.
Beth Ditto’s “I Wrote the Book” from the BethDittoVEVO YouTube Channel.
Erland & The Carnival’s “Map Of An Englishman” from the FullTimeHobbyRecords YouTube Channel.
Hurts’ “Sunday” from the HurtsVEVO YouTube Channel.
Sea of Bees’ “Wizbot” from the HeavenlyRecordings YouTube Channel.
Read more ...
Glasvegas’ “Euphoria, Take My Hand” from the glasvegasVEVO YouTube Channel.
Kyte’s “Fear from Death” from their YouTube Channel: kytetheband.
Senses Fail’s “The Fire” from the vagrantrecords YouTube Channel.
IAMX’s “Ghosts of Utopia” from their YouTube Channel: iamx.
Lykke Li’s “I Follow Rivers” from her YouTube Channel: lykkelivideos.
Beth Ditto’s “I Wrote the Book” from the BethDittoVEVO YouTube Channel.
Erland & The Carnival’s “Map Of An Englishman” from the FullTimeHobbyRecords YouTube Channel.
Hurts’ “Sunday” from the HurtsVEVO YouTube Channel.
Sea of Bees’ “Wizbot” from the HeavenlyRecordings YouTube Channel.
Read more ...
07 January 2010
Videos to Ring in the New Year
So 2009 has come and gone, now let’s ring in the New Year with some videos from those that made it on our Best of 2009 and welcome some new comers as well.
Angus & Julia Stone's "and the boys" from The Nettwerk Music Group Youtube Channel.
Temposhark's "Bye Bye Baby" from the Temposhark YouTube Channel
A Place To Bury Strangers' "Keep Slipping Away" from the MuteUSA Youtube Channel.
IAMX and Imogen Heap's "My Secret Friend" from the IAMX Youtube Channel.
Moby 's "One Time We Lived" From the MuteUSA Youtube Channel
Editors's "You Don't Know Love" from their editorsofficial YouTube Channel:
Read more ...
Angus & Julia Stone's "and the boys" from The Nettwerk Music Group Youtube Channel.
Temposhark's "Bye Bye Baby" from the Temposhark YouTube Channel
A Place To Bury Strangers' "Keep Slipping Away" from the MuteUSA Youtube Channel.
IAMX and Imogen Heap's "My Secret Friend" from the IAMX Youtube Channel.
Moby 's "One Time We Lived" From the MuteUSA Youtube Channel
Editors's "You Don't Know Love" from their editorsofficial YouTube Channel:
Read more ...
30 September 2009
Videos on a Brisk Evening
Ah, that brisk air is blowing through my window - autumn is here! This is definitely my favorite time of the year. Thought I would catch up on a few videos by artists we have posted before. Hope you enjoy!
V.V. Brown's "Game Over" from her YouTube Channel: VVBrownTV.
The Joy Formidable's "Greyhounds in the Slips" from their YouTube Channel: TheJoyFormidable.
Reverend and the Makers' "No Soap in a Dirty War" from the WallOfSoundRecording YouTube Channel.
IAMX's "President" from their YouTube Channel: iamx.
Fever Ray's "Seven" from the MuteUSA YouTube Channel.
Read more ...
V.V. Brown's "Game Over" from her YouTube Channel: VVBrownTV.
The Joy Formidable's "Greyhounds in the Slips" from their YouTube Channel: TheJoyFormidable.
Reverend and the Makers' "No Soap in a Dirty War" from the WallOfSoundRecording YouTube Channel.
IAMX's "President" from their YouTube Channel: iamx.
Fever Ray's "Seven" from the MuteUSA YouTube Channel.
Read more ...
11 July 2009
More Videos
Some videos to enjoy.
The Boy Least Likely To: “When Life Gives Me Lemons I Make Lemonade” from the boyleastlikelyto Vimeo Channel.
IAMX: “Tear Garden” from the iamx YouTube Channel.
The Maccabees: “Can You Give It” from TheMaccabees YouTube Channel.
Major Lazer featuring Andy Milonakis: "Zumbie" from the downtownmusic Vimeo Channel.
Maximo Park: “Questing, Not Coasting” from the maximoparkofficial YouTube Channel.
Metric: "Help I'm Alive" from the metricmusic YouTube Channel.
Read more ...
The Boy Least Likely To: “When Life Gives Me Lemons I Make Lemonade” from the boyleastlikelyto Vimeo Channel.
When Life Gives Me Lemons I Make Lemonade from The Boy Least Likely To on Vimeo.
IAMX: “Tear Garden” from the iamx YouTube Channel.
The Maccabees: “Can You Give It” from TheMaccabees YouTube Channel.
Major Lazer featuring Andy Milonakis: "Zumbie" from the downtownmusic Vimeo Channel.
Major Lazer - "Zumbie" ft. Andy Milonakis from Downtown Music on Vimeo.
Maximo Park: “Questing, Not Coasting” from the maximoparkofficial YouTube Channel.
Metric: "Help I'm Alive" from the metricmusic YouTube Channel.
Read more ...
23 May 2009
IAMX: "Kingdom of Welcome Addiction"
Chris Corner is best known for being one of the two founding members of Sneaker Pimps (Liam Howe being the other); he has been a leader in trip-hop, electronica, and downtempo. But we are here to discuss his side project, IMAX, and his recent release titled “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction” (19 May 2009). In IAMX, Corner assumes different personas, in order to write from outside of himself. This allows him to cover such diverse topics from unicorn sex to death. Combining the best elements of synthpop and electropop, and usually neglecting what pleases radio programmers, his approach is essentially that of a pop genius, influenced by a wider ranger of music than is usually assumed.
The first album by the Sneaker Pimps was entitled “Becoming X” (19 August 1996). The “X” is never clearly defined, not even in the title track, just an “incomplete, the consequence of something to be.” It is that mantle that Corner embraces in his side project: “IAMX” – that is, “I am X.” “X,” that infinite variable, the infinite possibilities, this is the nature of the music on “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction.” Though Corner admits that he is not into destructive addictions anymore (perhaps an allusion to drugs), there are many other kinds of addictions: love, food, masochism, and even unicorn sex.
With provocative lyrics, “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction” has a bit more substance than previous albums. Containing beautiful transitioning and a slight change in mood throughout the album, “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction” exudes a feeling of nostalgia (as the sounds and arrangements are reminiscent of the 80s) and a bit of eerie sadness (as much of the topics are heavy). True to his DJ and songwriting mentality, the album is self-produced, which is the pattern of all of his solo albums, ensuring that the album has the mark and feel that he conceives. (By the way, on the stage, the flamboyant get up just amplify the uniqueness of how each of his “personas” see the world.)
The album is extremely catchy, continuously hooking you with synth sounds, guitars, and beats that only a DJ could think of. It gets better and better as one moves towards the middle and latter tracks. The first single, “Think of England,” was released as a free download. The free download adds to the “free music” movement. (What would Fat Bob say? I mean there is a big free music debate going on within the industry. Link.) Regardless, this is a perfect lead single – it represents the album well. As quirky and simple, yet intricately arranged, as all the songs on the album, there is a feel of ambiguity, the kind that artists like Annie Lennox has capitalized on. For instance: “In twilight hours of nervous rest, I bought the beast before believing the threats; in a foreign field I cut all regrets, but the poisoned stories just repeat themselves in fucked-up mess.”
The lyrics are profound, intriguing and poetic eeriness to listen to. For instance the Nietzsche-esque line: “God is dead, we get to sleep tonight, walk with me into the truth, out of your lies. Man equals woman. I'm just the messenger don't shoot me down” (“The Stupid, the Proud”). From the first listen the album is appealing, but the appeal only gets greater with each following listening, as you learn the words and are anxiously waiting the change ups.
Track Listing
1. Nature of Inviting
2. Kingdom of Welcome Addiction
3. Tear Garden
4. My Secret Friend – featuring Imogen Heap
5. An I For an I
6. I Am Terrified
7. Think of England
8. The Stupid, the Proud
9. You Can Be Happy
10. The Great Shipwreck of Life
11. Running
Keep up with IAMX at their homepage, MySpace, and Facebook.
Here is “Think of England” from IAMX YouTube Channel.
Read more ...
The first album by the Sneaker Pimps was entitled “Becoming X” (19 August 1996). The “X” is never clearly defined, not even in the title track, just an “incomplete, the consequence of something to be.” It is that mantle that Corner embraces in his side project: “IAMX” – that is, “I am X.” “X,” that infinite variable, the infinite possibilities, this is the nature of the music on “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction.” Though Corner admits that he is not into destructive addictions anymore (perhaps an allusion to drugs), there are many other kinds of addictions: love, food, masochism, and even unicorn sex.
With provocative lyrics, “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction” has a bit more substance than previous albums. Containing beautiful transitioning and a slight change in mood throughout the album, “Kingdom of Welcome Addiction” exudes a feeling of nostalgia (as the sounds and arrangements are reminiscent of the 80s) and a bit of eerie sadness (as much of the topics are heavy). True to his DJ and songwriting mentality, the album is self-produced, which is the pattern of all of his solo albums, ensuring that the album has the mark and feel that he conceives. (By the way, on the stage, the flamboyant get up just amplify the uniqueness of how each of his “personas” see the world.)
The album is extremely catchy, continuously hooking you with synth sounds, guitars, and beats that only a DJ could think of. It gets better and better as one moves towards the middle and latter tracks. The first single, “Think of England,” was released as a free download. The free download adds to the “free music” movement. (What would Fat Bob say? I mean there is a big free music debate going on within the industry. Link.) Regardless, this is a perfect lead single – it represents the album well. As quirky and simple, yet intricately arranged, as all the songs on the album, there is a feel of ambiguity, the kind that artists like Annie Lennox has capitalized on. For instance: “In twilight hours of nervous rest, I bought the beast before believing the threats; in a foreign field I cut all regrets, but the poisoned stories just repeat themselves in fucked-up mess.”
The lyrics are profound, intriguing and poetic eeriness to listen to. For instance the Nietzsche-esque line: “God is dead, we get to sleep tonight, walk with me into the truth, out of your lies. Man equals woman. I'm just the messenger don't shoot me down” (“The Stupid, the Proud”). From the first listen the album is appealing, but the appeal only gets greater with each following listening, as you learn the words and are anxiously waiting the change ups.
Track Listing
1. Nature of Inviting
2. Kingdom of Welcome Addiction
3. Tear Garden
4. My Secret Friend – featuring Imogen Heap
5. An I For an I
6. I Am Terrified
7. Think of England
8. The Stupid, the Proud
9. You Can Be Happy
10. The Great Shipwreck of Life
11. Running
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Here is “Think of England” from IAMX YouTube Channel.
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