Machine Head - The Blackening (2007)

1. Clenching the Fists of Dissent

2. Beautiful Morning

3. Aesthetics of Hate

4. Now I Lay Thee Down

5. Slanderous

6. Halo

7. Wolves

8. A Farewell to Arms

I've only recently got in to Machine Head after Elliott sent me their album with strong recommendation. I'd only previously heard 'Aesthetics of Hate' through the realms of 'Rock Band' and loved it yet hadn't checked the band as a whole out for some strange reason. I've had this album for about 2 weeks now and can honestly say it's one of the best albums I've ever heard. That's not a knee-jerk reaction, it is simply incredible. From the complexities of the guitar solos and the aggression in some of the riffs and vocals to beautifully melodic choruses, I really can't think of anything more I could want from a band. The guitar solo in 'Aesthetics of Hate' is up there as probably one of the best solos I've ever heard. I love this album and hopefully others amongst you will too.

Personal Favourites:

Beautiful Morning

Aesthetics of Hate

Now I Lay Thee Down

Halo

Mammal - The Majority (2009)

This is what I posted last week. But no one reviewed it, so it's obviously going to stay :)

Mammal are a band that I stumbled upon recently. I downloaded this album (which I've recently discovered doesn't come out until August 1st) and was really impressed by what I heard.
Mammal have a sound which I think is unlike many other bands in my music collection. They have some very different tracks, and I'm pretty sure some of the songs sound like something my Dad would listen to. Which doesn't have to be a bad thing.

Mammal are from Australia, and if you don't like the accent there are points in the album which you won't like. If you like the accent, then you may well love it.
Also, the lead singerof the band has my new favourite name, which is Ezekial Ox. He is, apprently, a strong political activist and I suppose you can tell from some of the lyrics.

In Australia, Mammal are very well known for their incredible live shows. They will be playing their first ever UK show this September, so if anyone likes this album we can all go and see it, it should be special.

By no means am I saying this is one of my favourite albums, but I think it's good for a debut album, and I wanted to share it with everyone. I've got no idea what to expect from other people's views.

Track Listing:
[1]The Aural Underground
[2]Smash The Pináta
[3]Bending Rules
[4]The Majority
[5]Mr Devil
[6]Religion
[7]Clear Enough?
[8]Burn Out
[9]Hollywood Shrine
[10]Zero Infinity
[11]Living In Sin

Dan

Pearl Jam - Ten (1991)

I only decided to listen to this band a few weeks ago, when I noticed a best of album in my guitar teacher's CD collection. I chose to listen to this album because it seemed to have most of the popular songs on it and, having listened to it once, I was genuinely angry with myself for not having listened to them before.
Ten is an incredible debut album, one which I can listen to from start to finish countless times and not become bored of. They sound like an almost more American version of Alice In Chains: another band I was annoyed I hadn't listened to before Matt introduced me to them. Eddie vedder is both a great lyricist and a great singer, and the music itself is instantly memorable. Pearl Jam are a very good band.

Track List:
01. Once
02. Even Flow
03. Alive
04. Why go?
05. Black
06. Jeremy
07. Oceans
08. Porch
09. Garden
10. Deep
11. Release

Personal Favourites:
03. Alive
05. Black
06. Jeremy

Alex x

Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (2008)

Untrust Us 3:06
Alice Practice 2:42
Crimewave 4:18
Magic Spells 6:07
XXZXCUZX Me 1:54
Air War 4:12
Courtship Dating 3:30
Good Time 2:56
1991 1:53
Vanished 4:02
Knights 3:13
Love and Caring 2:18
Through the Hosiery 3:07
Reckless 3:28
Black Panther" 2:56
Tell Me What to Swallow" 2:14

Worst album cover ever? I like to think so. Despite this the music inside is very original and very good. You may have heard Alice Practice on Skins if you watch it and that's a good idea of what to expect with the other songs. But if you don't really like that sort of music then I think you should still download it just for the album closer, which is completely different from the rest of the album and is absolutely phenomenal. The music is what I like to call 'electronic' because I don't think it has a real genre, some people call it 8-bit but that sounds gay, soooo...
Anyway, enjoy.
http://rapidshare.com/files/106668151/11cc-cc11.rar