Gabba Gabba Hey!

Not to knock Sesame Street or that creepy mannequin show, but last time I checked, children's programming was just never this cool when I was growing up. Jimmy Eat World recently filmed a taping on the Yo Gabba Gabba show on Nick Jr. And no joke, the song is all sorts of amazing. Here's the video, which is obviously much, much better than Weezer covering Oasis:


And I just checked. Apparently, the show has had musical guests in the past that have included The Shins, The Ting Tings, and Mark Kozelek, among MANY others. What??!?! I guess studies have proven that indie rock goes over well with that tough-to-please 3-5 year old demographic. SNL should take some notes.

Morning Glory, Really?

If you knew me growing up during those awkward early teen years, you knew that I was obsessed with two bands: Oasis and Weezer. To this day you won't find a bigger fan of Pinkerton and (What's The Story?) Morning Glory. Considering these truths, maybe the following video would have been the bee's knees to the pudgy little 13-year-old version of myself. But alas, no more. Consequently, do yourself a favor by viewing and quickly discarding from your memory bank:

Thnks Fr Th Cvrs

That was quick. There's already a cover of "Love Lockdown" floating around, and admittedly it's not bad at all. Click HERE to get a free download of Patrick Stump's version of the song (scroll about halfway down or CTRL+F "Love Lockdown"). If it's variation you're looking for, you WILL be disappointed; it's pretty much the same song with Stump's overdubbed vocals. But he does bring it. Yeah.

Movin' On Up

Yet more Kanye news, I know. Those eagerly anticipating the new Kanye West album are in store for some pretty good news. According to the rapper, he's moving up the release date of the highly-anticipated 808's & Heartbreak substantially. Stereogum reports 'Ye as saying, "I CHANGED MY ALBUM TO NOVEMBER SOMETHING CAUSE I FINISHED THE ALBUM AND I FELT LIKE IT.. I WANT YALL TO HEAR IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."

So there you have it, the album is now coming out some time in November.

Two-night, Two-night

As reported awhile ago, the Smashing Pumpkins are planning on playing a bunch of "20th anniversary shows" at scattered venues across the country this fall. Well, today those dates have finally been revealed. Locally, the Pumpkins (or Zwan 2.0 if you prefer) will be playing a two night jaunt at the United Palace Theater in Harlem in early November. Supposedly, those cities that have multiple nights will be entertained with completely different sets. Here is the full itinerary:

10-26 Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre (Bridge School Benefit)
11-01 Cleveland, OH - Palace Theatre
11-03 Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall ("Black Sunshine")
11-04 Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall ("White Crosses")
11-06 New York, NY - United Palace Theatre ("Black Sunshine")
11-07 New York, NY - United Palace Theatre ("White Crosses")
11-08 Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata
11-11 Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall ("Black Sunshine")
11-12 Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall ("White Crosses")
11-14 Boston, MA - Wang Center ("Black Sunshine")
11-15 Boston, MA - Wang Center ("White Crosses")
11-16 Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
11-18 Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre ("Black Sunshine")
11-19 Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre ("White Crosses")
11-21 Chicago, IL - Auditorium Theatre ("Black Sunshine")
11-22 Chicago, IL - Auditorium Theatre ("White Crosses")
11-26 St. Louis, MO - Fox Theatre
11-30 San Diego, CA - RIMAC Arena
12-02 Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Amphitheatre ("Black Sunshine")
12-03 Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Amphitheatre ("White Crosses")

In other news, the band will be premiering a new song called "G.L.O.W" in the new Guitar Hero game that comes out later this fall.

Human After All

As reported a few days ago, the new Killers single, "Human," hits radio this week and iTunes a week after. Well, if you can't wait until then or you are just cheap like me, click HERE to download a free copy of the song. Just to warn you, this is easily the most poppy/techno the band has ever been. Yes, more so than "Mr. Brightside". Can't quite put my finger on it, but I'd say this is a nice middleground for those polarized by the two distinct sounds of the band's first couple of releases. Personally, I'm digging it.

Hello, Cleveland!

The nominations for the Rock and Hall of Fame were announced this morning. Here are the eligible candidates for the 2009 induction ceremony:

Jeff Beck, Chic, Wanda Jackson, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Metallica, Run-D.M.C., The Stooges, War, and Bobby Womack.

To be eligible for nomination, 25 years must pass before an artist/band's first single or record is pressed. Taking this into account, nominees must have released their first single no later that 1983. Yes, I was alive then.

Pretty sure Metallica, Run-DMC, and the Stooges are a lock based on the weakness of this year's list. But there's something else that needs to be said. If we've accepted that that metal/glam is hall-worthy, why weren't invitations sent out to the members of KISS or Iron Maiden? And why on Earth did it take so long for Black Sabbath to get in? Something's a little off here, just saying.

Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll

As I mentioned earlier this summer, I was really digging the new material that the Killers debuted that Highline Ballroom show I went to back in late July. The band's been throwing around some tentative release dates for the new album, Day & Age. Well, it's official -- the disc is coming out November 25th. The first single is "Human," which hits radio next week. The digital download comes out a week later. Sources that have had the opportunity to preview the album had nothing but good things to say, so this is a excellent sign. Surprisingly, there have been no early leaks of the song.

Cardinal Rules

The tracklisting for the new "Cardinals" record, Cardinology, has been revealed. The songs are finished and, as reported earlier this week, the album is slated to come out in late October. Word on the street is that this one is more concise and less alt-country sounding than some of Ryan's previous Cardinals offerings. Considering how I think I was the only person who REALLY loved Rock N Roll, this gets me very excited. According to some message boards I tend to read, the first single is "Fix It". Here are the tunes:

1. Born into a Light
2. Go Easy
3. Fix It
4. Magick
5. Cobwebs
6. Let Us Down Easy
7. Crossed Out Name
8. Natural Ghost
9. Sink Ships
10. Evergreen
11. Like Yesterday
12. Stop

Supposedly, this is the album artwork. But I have my doubts because a) it's horrendous and b) it kinda defeats the whole "Cardinals" solidarity movement the band was going for. Who knows.

Over and Out?

According to NME, Dave Grohl has confirmed that the Foo Fighters will be taking an indefinite hiatus starting immediately. He told BBC 1, "We've never really taken a break, I think it's time." He went on to say "We're over in the UK every year every summer, so I think it's time to take a break and come back over when people really miss us."

I mean, I'm not going to lie here and say I'm particularly saddened by this news. The band's last couple of records didn't exactly hit the spot for me. A bit presumtuous to assume he and his band will be missed terribly, no? Needless to say, long breaks are never a good sign.

Love Letdown?

Apparently too many people complained about the quality of Kanye West's new single, "Love Lockdown". Kanye's re-recorded it, and it sounds a little better. In any case, 'Ye's found yet another way to make headlines. I'm not audiphile, but methinks still not great. But what are you gonna do? Snatch it HERE before it gets taken down once again.

A Thursday In The City

Chances are, I'm probably the last to know about this one too. Bloc Party is playing a free show at Roseland on Thursday. Doors open at 7:15, but you probably need to get there obscenely early to guarantee getting in. There is a site that advises you to RSVP, but I have my doubts about how legit it is. In any event, you might as well go HERE to put your name on this list. Awesome idea, but hopefully this just isn't a showcase of their new material.

Vulgar Era

Somehow, this one managed to slip under my radar. The last time we heard from Josh Homme, he was in some Scandinavian country giving a homophobic earful to a fan that fired a shoe to his head. Anyway, he's back with his side-project, Eagles of Death Metal, a band that has absolutely nothing to do with Don Henley or death metal. They have a new one coming out next month called Heart On. Very mature, guys. It's due out 10/21 and here's the (graphic) album artwork:

Scientific Method

If I had any complaints about the last TV On The Radio record, I'd say there was bit of a consistency problem. And yeah, I know I might be alone here. The high points, which obviously outweighed the low, made Return To Cookie Mountain hands down one of the best records of the decade. However, the album wasn't without its faults -- the less-than-stellar spastic moments were nothing to write home about. Well, it appears that Tunde Adebimpe and crew have learned a thing or two in two years that have passed since Mountain's release. Tweaks have been made here for the better which will only accelerate this band's already rising stock. I'm happy to report that you'll be hard pressed to find a flaw on the new record, Dear Science. And as always, you'll be even harder pressed to put your finger on a specific genre here. This new oeuvre spans everything from hip-hop, trip-hop, shoegaze, funk, electronica, punk, and everything in between. If you thought these art rockers were out there before (in a good way), you really ain't seen nothing yet until you've experienced Science. Bottom line, this is the record Bloc Party tried to make if they had this Brooklyn quintet's talent.

The throbbing bass/bent guitars of "Halfway Home" scream textbook British post-punk. What it equates to is five and a half minutes of pure sonic bliss. There's nothing to feel sad about on the proceeding track, "Crying". Melding 70's funk with 90's electronica, this one pulls a 180 that makes this tune of the more infectious tracks of the year. The party continues on the choppy "Dancing Choose" -- a quick little number that showcases Tunde's mic-spitting abilities. Things slow down a bit on the trippy "Stork and Owl," and oh, what's that we hear? A string section? Sure, why not. This meshes well with the band's closest encounter to a ballad, "Family Tree," which reprises the violins to make this one a potential crossover hit. Music supervisors will be itching to get this one in the next episode of Grey's Anatomy. Which isn't to diminish the credibility of the song. Wedged in between the string-sensational tracks, is the very radio friendly-first single "Golden Age," which is already remix tested and approved. Up next is "Red Dress" -- the album's easiest classifiable track. This one's straight-up funk; no gimmicks.

If it's experimenting you're looking for, have no fear; thing's start to get interesting again on "Love Dog". The boys pull out all of the tricks here including Tunde's soaring pipes, some horns, and yes, even more strings -- all backed by a hypnotic trip-hop beat. Perhaps the album's most remarkable offering is the schizophrenic "Shout Me Out". This one seemingly starts off as a nice sing-along pop number. That is, until you hit the 1:49 mark. From then on it's an all-out, head-spinning electronica assault. Damn, this is good, but we're not done yet. "DLZ" is Science's closest comparison to the band's most successful and anthemic song to date, "Wolf Like Me". The album's finale is, unsurprisingly, a winner. A escalating 6-minute number, "Lover's Day" seems to consolidate all the bells and whistles that have been thrown on the table during the previous 45 or so minutes. Backed by Katrina Ford's vocals and a reprised horn section, this one shifts direction as quickly as Tunde's vocal tempos.

No matter how you slice and dice it, Dear Science is a resounding follow-up triumph to one of indie rock's most celebrated (and probably overhyped) bands. Although I'll admit I got a little swept up in the hoopla of 2006's breakout smash, this record only affirms why these guys have been have been turning heads and selling out shows left and right. I had my doubts, but TV On The Radio has certainly put those to bed. I know I've been saying this a lot lately, but this one ranked up there amongst the year's best. Hey, it's science.

Dear Science comes out next Tuesday, September 23rd.

My Rating: 8.9/10

Group Work

As it turns out, the next Ryan Adams album won't be a "Ryan Adams" album at all. The "fabulous one," as he's been called by Elton John, is giving his longstanding backing band full credit on the new record. No "Ryan Adams," no "Ryan Adams & The Cardinals" -- just "The Cardinals" here. The album is tentatively called Cardinology and is due out in just over a month -- October 27th to be precise. Critics have knocked Adams for his prolific ways, often citing than the man focuses too much on quantity versus quality. But I beg to differ; Adams really couldn't release a bad record if he tried. And if the new material he's been testing out on the road is any indication of what we're in store for, this is going to be some pretty great stuff.

Mercury Rising

I know I'm a broken record about these things, but my loss in credibility is your gain! Anyway, if you go back to Amazon again this morning, there's yet another amazing deal on a fantastic record. The new Elbow record, which recently won the Mercury Prize (year's best album from the UK and/or Ireland), is on sale for 2 bucks. Considering how this country is on the brink of utter financial disaster, this might not be the worst investment in the world. I think you'll agree with me once you give it a listen and opt to purchase it instead of your afternoon Starbucks. For the record, the album, which is called The Seldom Seen Kid, beat out Radiohead's In Rainbows. So there you go.

If This Week Wasn't Bad Enough For Noel...

Numerous sources are alleging that Radiohead are actually almost finished recording their follow-up to last year's surprise sensation In Rainbows. Umm...what? According to TheFly.co.uk, guitarist Ed O'Brien explained, "We've finished the main bulk of it, and we're off to Japan in a couple of weeks to finish it off." He went on to say, "First we came off tour to do some writing and we wanted to just carry on doing it because it was so brilliant. We're really excited about it."

A couple of things here. I'm pretty sure Radiohead had been on a pretty relentless touring schedule the entire summer. When did they have time to sit down and pen a collection of new songs? Secondly, if they did, and it apparently comes this easy for them, what exactly did they do during that four year lapse in between Hail To The Thief and In Rainbows? Answers please.

It's Getting Worse (Man!!)

Fans who were lucky enough to score tickets to tomorrow night's exclusive Oasis show at Terminal 5 will, needless to say, be bummed. According to the band's website, the show has been cancelled due to the injuries Noel Gallagher suffered earlier this week from the that freak stage stormer who threw him to the ground in Toronto. Apparently Gallagher's now on the disabled list with nasty rib and hip injuries. The good news is that boys will likely be back later this fall to promote Dig Out Your Soul. Just no more club show unfortunately.

We Have The Facts, And They're Absurdly Cheap

I know the idea of purchasing music is kind of an afterthought to many people these days. However, if you ever feel so inclined to kick it old school, there is a great Amazon MP3 deal today that's really hard to pass up. The first GREAT Death Cab For Cutie Album, We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes, is on sale today for a measly $1.99. I URGE you to take advantage of this deal. Go HERE for the deets.

Only Getting Better

With autumn unofficially upon us, we can expect to gear up for the year's final push of big time releases. And what would a year (an excellent one musically, at that) be like without a new Kings of Leon record? Fortunately, the Followill clan doesn't intend for us to find out. I'd like to say that their fourth full-length album has maintained some prime real estate in my "highly anticipated" column, but the band's sneak attack strategy prevented any word of this album from leaking to the general public until about a month and half ago. This lack of preparation, however, does not take away from this reviewer's excitement about the band's new undertakings. Like its predecessor Because of The Times, this new one's got a prepositional phrase for a title -- Only By The Night -- a move that will surely cause these two to be mistaken for each other years down the road. And let me just warn you, the similarities don't end with titles. Musically, this one picks up where BoTT left off. And while those who have irrevocably expressed their distaste for the sleek, polished sound showcased on Times will inevitably share their same sentiments for Night, I'm going to have to take the high road here. Put simply, it is this overblown production that shows development within the group -- a move that proves that the Kings are in it to win it. And while I will agree that the brash garage rock of yesteryear worked for these guys for their first couple of releases, it is sometimes this very lack of depth that causes notable bands to lose their luster faster than Shaun Alexander (sorry, sports metaphor).

Like many of the tunes on Because of The Times, Only By The Night has its share of experimental crescendos and solos -- a sign that these guys are starting to think outside of their creative comfort zones. Thankfully, the band no longer feels obligated to replicate the straight-to-the-point, one-dimensional rock of Aha Shake Heartbreak. Album opener, "Closer," which may or may not be ironic depending on how it's read, is chock full of distortion pedal goodness. This aural complexity doesn't stop on the proceeding track, "Crawl," which features a incendiary reverb-induced bass riff from brother Jared. Things really start picking up on the horribly-named, yet near-perfect first single, "Sex On Fire" -- the band's most infectious song to date. The album's standout track, however, is the ballad "Use Somebody," which appears to have stolen that wall of sound, neo-shoegaze from those Brian Eno/Coldplay sessions. Hell, it even contains the "whoa ohs" that Chris Martin has ingrained so thoroughly in our brains. Like any strategically arranged album, the boys slow it down with some decent but forgettable old school Kings songs that will appeal to the masses (see "Revel" and "Manhattan"), but have no fear; things start to get interesting again on "17" -- a song about jailbait that may very well be the prequel or sequel to BoTT's "Knocked Up". "Notion" strikes up some serious resemblances to the band's Youth & Young Manhood days, which serves as a nice blast to the not-too-distant past. The band's musical prowess is evident on "Be Somebody" (not to be confused with "Use Somebody"), and features the clinic-worthy pounding abilities of brother Nathan. The album concludes on a very high note with the slow-building "Cold Dessert," which is, to say the least, a far-cry from the band's "Wasted Time" days.

The unfortunate thing to consider is how much Kings of Leon have developed in a such a short period of time. I say "unfortunate" because I am almost certain that all this experimentation will lead to the inevitable backlash from countless critics who will claim that these guys have strayed too far off the beaten path from their roots. Which to me, is obviously nonsense. Although I am certainly appreciative of the amazing one-two punch of their first records, it's gratifying to see one of the most talented bands step it up notch. Take into account the band's productivity, precocious musical sense, and their relentless touring tendencies, and you've got some kings, er, legends in the making.

My Rating: 8.3/10

Party Favor

Maybe they've come to realize that their most recent offering isn't exactly up to par. In any case, Bloc Party is already moving on with the second single off of Intimacy. The song, called "Talons," has been conveniently left off the digital release, but will be included on the physical version of Intimacy when it comes out in late October. The song is much better than the recent material I've heard so far, which means maybe there is hope after all. 

Weekend Hype

The year's most overexposed indie band, Vampire Weekend, are returning home to play what is likely their largest local show to date. If you still don't know who this band is, a) you live under a rock and b) you haven't seen one of the 1,000 movies/commercials/TV shows their song "A-Punk" has been featured in. The guys will be playing Terminal 5 on December 3rd. Tickets are $25 and go on sale Friday at noon. No word on openers just yet, but still definitely worth checking out.

The 411 On The 808

Kanye West's new album will be called 808's & Heartbreak, and has a tentative release date of December 16th according to Target and Amazon. This marks a new era for 'Ye, as he's apparently decided to move on from the "academic" themes of his first three albums (College Dropout, Late Registration, Graduation). For those in the dark about things, "808" is a type of drum machine that is often used to compose hip-hop. Kanye performed the album's first single, "Love LockDown" at the VMA's this past Sunday night. Here is the album artwork for the song:

Back To The Basics UPDATE

As reported last month, Sonic Youth had fulfilled their longstanding album contractual obligations with Geffen. The band had mentioned that they would be going "indie" once again for next year's studio release, but was unwilling to reveal the specifics. Well, it has been confirmed that the label they are now signed to is Matador. The Manhattan-based label's lineup continues to get more and more stacked. Good for them.

Red Letter Day

The saying goes, "as one door closes, another opens". Well, I am happy to report that this time a not-so-great one is shutting only for an AMAZING one to reopen. James Dewees, the brains behind Reggie and The Full Affect, recently embarked on a farewell tour that inevitably means the demise of Reggie. While some may find this to be sad news, rest assured many (including myself) will be thrilled to learn that this break-up means the reunion of The Get Up Kids! At Friday night's Reggie & The Full Affect show in Chicago, Dewees confirmed what many had been speculating for quite awhile. He told the crowd to expect a all-out spring tour with a Get Up Kids show in Chicago within the next six months or so. Needless to say, this news has made my Monday.

Something To Love

Taken from the FOW website:

"On Wednesday, September 10, Fountains of Wayne will participate in a benefit show at NYC's Knitting Factory for Kelly Buchanan, a friend and singer/songwriter who was recently injured and is suffering from traumatic brain damage. Also appearing will be Nada Surf, Measure, and an "All-Star Band" featuring Mike Viola and others. Each artist will play approximately four to five songs and also cover one of Kelly's songs. Doors at 7pm. Tickets are $25, All Ages. for more info see kellybuchanan.com."

Reasons you should go to this:

1) Fountains of Wayne AND Nada Surf at one of the city's best venues.

2) Knitting Factory is moving to Brooklyn, so catch it while you can.

3) Who doesn't love power pop?!

3) It's a great cause.

VMA's? We Don't Care....

As much as I hate to acknowledge the existence of the VMA's, the one silver lining is that we got a first taste of the new Kanye West song, "Love LockDown". Kanye closed out the show with the first single off his still untitled album that comes out this upcoming December. Check it out HERE.

Falling Down

Karma's a bitch. Just ask Noel Gallagher -- the front man with very loose lips as of late. This past weekend, he and Oasis played the Toronto Virgin Festival. But it wans't the band's set people were talking about. Apparently, someone wanted to shut him up the hard way. During "Morning Glory," a crazed fan bumrushed the stage and bulldozed Gallagher mid-song. It was caught on tape and is of course now the toast of the town over in YouTube land. Scroll over to the minute-and-a-half mark to see said spill. Despite the nasty tumple, the band finished their headlining set. 

Still Haven't Found What They're Looking For

It looks like Bono has been too busy trying to save the world. The highly anticipated U2 album that was supposed to come out this holiday season has been pushed back until at least 2009. Apparently the band has written over 60 new songs, but I guess this just isn't enough for them. The band hasn't released new material since 2004's How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.

Even Stronger

Apparently, Kanye West hasn't stolen the spotlight enough this year. News has filtered in that he will be releasing his fourth album this December. Although there is no word yet on the title of the record, it has been confirmed that the first single will be "Love LockDown". I'm sure it will be as good as Ye will inevitably claim it to be.

Another Secret To Everybody

Don't be fooled by the moniker, Mark Knight's Tropic Zone. This band is really Tokyo Police Club incognito, and the excellent news is that they will be playing Mercury Lounge this Sunday night. If you're in the mood to hear some great indie rock at a venue that's way to small for these guys, do yourself a favor and pick up some tickets now while they are still available. They're 10 bucks. Again, feel free to thank me afterward.

No Longer Fighting It

It looks like the inevitable is finally happening -- Ben Folds is reuniting with his former bandmates Robert Sledge and Darren Jesse. For the first time in nearly a decade, Ben Folds Five will play an exclusive one-off performance later this month at UNC's Memorial Hall. But here's the catch -- the band is only playing 1999's underrated final BF5 album The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner in its entirety. Those looking forward to hearing "Kate" or "Brick" will unfortunately be out of luck. I have a feeling that this might lead to an eventual tour, but this will likely have to wait after Ben is finished promoting his solo album which comes out later this month. But hey, I'll take what I can get here.

M.I.A., Literally

According to numerous sources, British-by-way-of-Sri Lanka visual artist/songwriter/producer, M.I.A., has pulled a Barry Sanders -- quitting the scene at the top of her game. Earlier this summer, she cryptically shocked the music world after her set at Bonnaroo by announcing that she had just played her last gig. A lot of people speculated that this was just a stunt, but no one thought this would really be the end for her. She was recently interviewed by AceShowbiz.com, where she confirmed, "It was my last ever show. And it still is. I stopped touring after that and I didn't want to make music again. I was quite happy to just leave it all behind. I was happy with what I had achieved."Needless to say, we've heard this before -- The Eagles, The Smashing Pumpkins, Jay-Z -- pick your poison. I have a feeling once the royalities of "Paper Plans" start to peter out, she might reconsider. Hmm...just when we thought neon was making a comeback.

Viva La EP

Not to steal The Verve's thunder or anything, but it looks like Coldplay might actually end the year on top. According to Paste, the band is confirmed to release an EP of leftover recordings from the Viva La Vida sessions by the end of the year. The EP, which comes out on December 26th (can't believe that's already months away) is tentatively titled Prospects March or Prospects Songs or “something like that”. The band is still on tap to release a new album in 2009.

No Longer Bitter, Just Sweet

The last time we heard from The Verve, the band was in the midst of a heated legal battle that, when all was said and done, left them stripped of any of the royalties they would have garnered from their most popular single to date, '90's anthem, "Bittersweet Symphony". This was ten years ago, and although we've encountered some of frontman Richard Ashcroft's solo exploits, nothing he's done has really left a longlasting blip on our radar. Well, it looks like time sometimes really is the best medicine. The band reunited in 2007 for some gigs, and this apparently got the creative juices flowing. Less than a year later, we are given the appropriately titled Forth, which just happens to be (surprise, surprise) The Verve's fourth studio album. Gotta appreciate the play on words. And while on paper this appears to be just another check in the old comeback album column, you'd better think again. Afterall, this was the band that many a music critic felt should have been Oasis. In any case, it looks like the guys have put their tumultuous past behind them, and are ready to move on with their lives -- all the while taking a stab at making some pretty great music. And in true Verve fashion, this one is anything but forced. Forth picks up right where Urban Hymns left off; the leadoff track "Sit And Wonder" is trippy shoegaze bliss. The outstanding single "Love Is Noise" is better than anything we've heard from Chris Martin and crew since 2000. But buyer beware: if it's three and half minute Britpop you're looking for, you'll be a little disappointed. Most tracks on Forth thankfully surpass the five minute mark, which allows the band to further explore the expansive space rock they introduced to us fifteen years ago. Case in point -- standout track "Noise Epic". Building up slowly, this one blasts out like canonfire before unleashing an all-out assault of distorted guitars at around two-and-half minutes. From then on, it is epic indeed. You'd be hard-pressed to find a track on Forth that doesn't match up with some of their best material from their trio of '90's albums. And unlike their contemporaries Oasis, this band wisely took the time to not release forgettable drivel. Hell, "Mover," a throwaway b-side that they gave away for free on their website, even strikes my fancy. While this year has had its host of music highlights, I am gonna go ahead and award these guys the "feel good" story of the year. Because quite honestly, The Verve are one of the most underappreciated bands of the past twenty years. For them to come back with such quality material is living proof that that this industry might just very well be on the upswing. I'd say that's pretty sweet.

My Rating: 8.2/10