Get Your Fix: Album Reviews by the CoolJunkie Staff

December 9, 2008 4:29 PM
by The CoolJunkie Staff

The Killers - Day and Age
by: Marcos Colón

Apparently there was a point in time when Brandon Flowers thought that bands like The Bravery, Panic! At the Disco and Fall Out Boy were gaining success only because they were riding the coattails of The Killers. Unfortunately, Flowers pussied out and retracted his statement. Let’s be real, it’s true. If The Killers never came around, those bands would have nothing to base their debut album’s on (Sophomore effort when it comes to The Bravery). Anyway, The Killers are back at it again with their fourth release in their six-year career. Returning with their signature synth-pop and arena-rock anthems, Day and Age hints at a stab at international success.

The opening track, Losing Touch, seems like a bit of a slow start for the Vegas boys, having trumpets and trombones carrying the melody along as Flowers’ mediocre pipes carry just enough oomph to be convincing. The Vegas influence has always been in affect for The Killers, but this time around it seems like the band is trying to spread their sound to a bigger audience, just as recent releases by Kings of Leon and Coldplay. The hint of arena rock is still in their sound, almost creating a scene in the listeners’ head with thousands chanting along, lighters and lit cell phones in the air. Tracks like Spaceman conjure up memories of the Hot Fuss days as the synth is in full affect. Answer this. What would The Killers be without synth?

All in all, Day and Age is a solid effort that will keep fans pleased and just might add a few thousand more friends to their myspace profile. With the same energy found in Sam’s Town and similar emotions on Hot Fuss, The Killers have yet again produced another solid effort worth a listen.

Click here to hear more from The Killers.

Britney Spears - Circus
by: Marcos Colón

Ok, so while most of you may be thrilled at the fact to see Britney Spears fail at nearly every project she works on, this time it may be a bit harder to nit-pick. After a few years of struggles, marriage, kids and a bad case of ‘not giving a fuck,’ Britney’s back, but this time it feels a little different. The image is slowly morphing into the Crossroads bod that we all missed, and the sounds are finally starting to get to the pungently gross level that Baby One More Time and In The Zone, two major successes. With Circus, Britney officially back, both with a sound mind and a sound body.

The first single released, Womanizer, has the catchy chorus that everyone missed from her previous hits, and space aged sounds to intro the track. Teaming up with pop producer heavyweights, and putting in some actual studio time, rather than the lack of effort on the easily forgotten Blackout, Britney’s put together a solid collection of tracks that will definitely make this album a big seller, and will put her back on the map as the pop’s queen. On Out From Under Spears actually gets an A for effort as she actually sings! This could actually be the best ballad by her since Everytime.

Let’s face it everyone, there’s been a point in time in everyone’s lives where Britney’s either come up on the radio, at a party, or even at the club (if it’s a remix) and the song’s got your foot tapping, or even has you dancing. Pop is pop, and Britney is pop. It’s going to be hard for anyone to dodge this effort. Expect your radio stations and MTV to be overtaken by………yes, ‘Britney Mania’! Déjà vu?

Click here to hear more from Britney Spears.

Jihae - Elvis is Still Alive
by: Damon Dewitt Boardman

For those of you familiar with Jihae and her debut album, My Heart is an Elephant, know that she hasn’t shifted gears but she has turned down different roads, bringing in a new effort with a familiar sound, her voice still husky and lusty, her mood still sultry and subdued. The title of the album Elvis is Still Alive which has a snap shot of Jihae in an over the top Elvis hairdo on the cover cries Elvis impersonator to an out of the loop on taker.

On the opening song, one of the top tracks on the album, Jihae separates herself from the King instantly. The track is quirky and quick to change tempo never looking back. Hide, one of the longer tracks on the album has a constant and beautiful build into the final turn where the energy falls off a cliff. Pink Sands is her only vocal collaboration. David Steel of English Beat and Fine Young Cannibals is the counter part, but she collaborates and draws energy from many throughout the album. The music plays in well with the vocals. There are a variety of sounds incorporated into the album keeping things interesting. Besides the regulars, guitar, bass, drums and keyboard, you can find such outsiders as the glockenspiel, viola, banjo, various horns and percussion as well as programmed electronic beats. That type of variety is not one you would expect with the soulful sound this album puts forth. But it works.

Every track seems like a completely independent creative thought, but it also works. The album seems to come together by pulling out from a cluttered closet or junk drawer all the obscure things thrown together that would have never met if not placed by the individual who allows them to share a common space. Jihae is a native of South Korea. She grew up in Nigeria and Sweden, lived in the UK and now resides in NYC. Her love for the arts has led to many different side projects with musicians and multimedia artists. In essence Jihea is an eclectic individual and Elvis is Still Alive, the common space for her latest creation.

Click here to hear more from Jihae.