Get Your Fix: Album Reviews by the CoolJunkie Staff

May 14, 2008 6:05 PM
by Marcos Colón [email]

We Are Scientists - Brain Thrust Mastery
by: Marcos Colón

As everyone remembers from the School House Rock videos, three is the magic number. This seemed to be the case for Brooklyn trio We Are Scientists, until late last year when drummer Michael Tapper decided to call it quits just before a tour in the UK. Now it seems like Keith Murray and Chris Cain are trying to make two the magic number.

With their recent effort, Brain Thrust Mastery, the face of We Are Scientists may have gone down a number, however, the quality in their sound is still there. What came with their first effort, With Love and Squalor, was an edgy and raw supply of loud and jittery riffs accompanied by Murray’s clever word-play. Although the album was a hit in the UK, the trio at the time didn’t get the recognition that they deserved for the effort, leaving many waiting for their next album which would be the deciding factor as to whether they would accept them or not. Well, the album’s finally out, and it’s definitely not what was expected.

With Brain Thrust Mastery, the duo lost the raw edge they previously had, opting for a more clear-cut and poppy sound. For tracks like Lethal Enforcer and Impatience melodic drama is the key as Murray croons lines like [Forget what I said/For every promise kept/There’s a thousand I don’t even know I’m making]. The only track reminiscent of what the band used to offer is Tonight, a truly inventive tune that delivers a stammering guitar combined with Cain’s distorted bass.

Fans of the quirky named duo might be a bit let down by this recent effort. But who knows, they don’t need to make it in the US in order to stick around. Remember, everyone across the pond is a fan of everything.

Argy - Focus On: Argy
by: Aubrey Ford

In the second installation of tech house giant Poker Flat’s ‘Focus On’ series, Greek producer Argy realizes a specific and unique concept. In Focus On: Argy the artist stays relatively true to his tech house roots, while introducing a number of unconventional and highly inventive moves that make it fit for both the dance floor and the living room. The overlying pace and sequencing of the album is largely in the minimal vein, however, the coldness common to this sound is curbed with the use of warm and animated instrumentation and rhythms typical of house. An omnipresent tribal element furthers this tendency. A strong bass ties the album together by locking everything into a perpetual groove.

The album is a robust display of Argy’s many skills as it functions both as a full fledged DJ mix as well as a bountiful release of Argy’s original productions. In fact, five of the eleven tracks are produced exclusively for the compilation by Argy and his host of collaborators. Collaboration is, in fact, a central theme in this release, as stated by Argy himself. He believes that in a successful partnership between two skilled producers, a conceptual “third producer” will materialize and introduce distinctive elements into the music.

This is clearly the case, as each track introduces a unique twist on Argy’s sound. Focus On: Argy covers a lot of ground, yet consistently keeps things simple and streamlined, bringing the many skills of a promising young artist to the forefront.

Duffy - Rockferry
by: Marcos Colón

The UK has supplied us with soulful voices in the past few years. Joss Stone, Corrine Bailey Rae and Amy Winehouse are just a few to name. Then came Leona Lewis, the Pop Idol winner from the UK who’s backed by Simon Cowell and has Clive Davis naming her the Whitney Houston and Mariah. But just when you thought that Lewis was the new hit singer out of the UK, Aimee Duffy comes in, drawing strong comparisons to Amy Winehouse, and no, this isn’t referring to the crack smoking.

With her debut album, Rockferry, Duffy has been getting nothing but praises and comparisons to Winehouse. She does have the soulful element and lacks the problems, which is a plus, but only time will tell if she offers the raw energy that Winehouse has. Rockferry is a collection of beautifully written and emotionally inspired tracks that compliment Duffy’s smooth and passionate vocals.

On tracks like Mercy and Hanging on Too Long the comparisons to the other soulful singer might kick in the most. Serious, the title track of the album, is filled with Motown inspired rhythms and soulful sixties energy as Duffy sings [I’m a trophy on your arm/You wear me like a charm/An accessory that suits/Your new suede boots].

To make a prediction whether Duffy will be a hit in the US, is to make a prediction as to whether Winehouse will ever get clean. Who knows? One thing for sure is that the comparison’s are there, and even though she may seem to have a better image than Winehouse, that itself could work against her. Think about it. Who’s not curious to listen to a cracked out songstress.

Keith Sweat - Just Me
by: chipi

Keith Sweat is the man. This is an indisputable fact. A pioneer of the "new jack" swing era, Keith Sweat has been helping people make babies since Make it Last Forever. Over the years he's changed the face of R&B and stayed on the forefront of the music scene with his website and radio show The Sweat Hotel. With the help of Atco, an imprint of Rhino, Just Me brings about the resurrection of the "Nobody" age of Keith Sweat.

His single "Suga Suga Suga" is giving the people exactly what we expect from him, a smooth R&B kick and an infectious hook on a love-making track. Sweat addresses this issue himself, stating clearly that he knows "people want to hear Keith Sweat. I remember that I have a fan base and I'm very careful to give the people what they expect from me." His duet "Butterscotch" featuring Athena Cage follows up this mission statement with Sweat's signature emotional depth, belting lyrics like "let's do what freaks do" and "girl I like the way you sound when you put it down". He even goes so far as to reference his previous success with Cage, dropping a few of the signature wailing lines from the hook on "Nobody", singing "In case you forgot, it went a little something just like this, on on on and on on" before launching into his first verse.

This album may not be innovative, revolutionary or complex - but it's a damn good R&B CD. Sweat merits respect for never trying to be more than what he is and staying loyal to his fan base.