It's good to go back to the old style, and this week it's a return to the norms. I have an album to review, a most played song, and a 'random download'.

It'll be brilliant.

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Glastonbury may have been a few weeks ago, but, it got me into a new band. For some, they may be the oldest thing in the world, but for me, they are fresh meat for the ears to devour.

Rodrigo y Gabriela's self-titled Rodrigo y Gabriela is not the average fare from ex-thrash metallurgists. If I'd been told they were from a thrash group, I'd have expected something a lot heavier.

As it stands, this album is a nice, melodic flow through latino classical guitar. Rodrigo's jazzy latino leads complement Gabriela's rhythms spectacularly; so much so, that you'll want to improvise over the top of the songs sometimes, for an even fuller experience.

I have to say, the first five tracks really set the album up to be good. The first five tracks, for me, are the ones that 'seal the deal'; they get me into it, and are usually the ones I listen to the most. With five out of five on those, it's a bit of a downer when Stairway to Heaven kicks in.

I'm all for covers, but as B-sides. I'm all for instrumental covers, but not of whored songs. People should be told that Led Zeppelin are not really as good as everyone makes out. They are brilliant for their field; amazing for their time, but, in modern society, they are whored for being a name, rather than the quality of their music.

So, once I got through that, I was shocked to find that Orion is the track that shows you their background. It's a lot 'darker', with a more noticable thrash/death metal influence in there. It's not quite my favourite, but it stands out from the crowd, I think.

The final two songs send the album off on a bang, and, if you're like me, you'll go back to the start for more. It's just that good.

It's well worth the money, and well worth the listen.

*****
5/5

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The 'Random Download' of the week, is by Dandi Wind, and is called Apotemnophilia.

For electro-goth-glam-punk, it's really good. I was half-expecting something that sounded a shade darker than The Faint, but what I got was a kick to the ears that resulted in pure love of this song.

The only downside to this electro-spazz-rawk wonder, is it ends in a terribly poor way. If it weren't for the ending, it'd be a perfect piece that is more punk than electro, and more dance than rawk.

***
3.5/5

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And finally, the Most Played this week goes to a Last.fm free track.

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Fabian's Children are kind of what I imagine New Order's Blue Monday would sound like if they were less brash, but it also makes me think of things like Craig Armstrong's composition for Layer Cake, as well as a lot of simple New Wave.

It's pretty easy to get into, and should be on any easy listening compilation.

Head over and download it; it's great.

*****
4.5/5

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Yet again, that's it for another week.

I'm in London on Monday, but, I have no time to shop, so I'll find something interesting to write up for that, maybe.

If not, it'll be "whatever"; a generic journal like this.


So,
Thanks for Reading
CatatonicStupor