CD Reviews

THERE was the second album syndrome to overcome and, more specifically for neo-folk messiahs Mumford & Sons, the not inconsiderable added burden of attempting to follow up a high-selling and highly decorated debut release and having to record between an unrelenting tour schedule.

Brooklyn's Yeasayer are just as experimentally world-hugging as homeys like Animal Collective and Dirty Projectors, but they're also dedicated to pop grandeur on its own terms.

Despite a name that nods to a cheery all-American 1980s sitcom, Irish quartet The Cast Of Cheers serve up joltingly catchy guitar tunes that reveal they’re really post-punk spirits.

He stood as a giant of the Australian music scene for decades and his passing in 2007 left a space on stages that will never be filled, so it’s understandable that the posthumous release of Billy Thorpe’s final work was always going to be met with great curiosity and expectation...

There seems to be a new age of avant-garde experimentalism ushering the music world into what will surely be a truly exciting period. The fractured beauty of this new breed is both refreshing and overdue, and as so many bands rest on their laurels, others are mounting expeditions to faraway places chasing the new sounds.

Aus-rock darlings Something For Kate have always defied classification. Their meandering melodies and musical permutations have always kept fans and critics guessing - an ability that has kept the band relevant for well over a decade. Now, for the first time, SFK frontman Paul Dempsey is going it alone - literally.

We’ve been pretty indifferent toward the last 8 or 9 female singer-songwriters wheeled out by the business, sporting “next big thing” tags. We have our Sarah Blasko, Regina Spektor and Lily Allen, we’re good for feisty young sirens; at least that’s what we thought. Combining the wavering heart of Grace Slick, the floating notes of Kate Bush and the conviction of Annie Lennox, Florence and the Machine have arrived with one of the year’s best in Lungs.

Can you imagine the groupies these kids are bedding right now? Preacher’s sons, recently shaved, and sporting a number one record… my god! From the reports coming in, they have moved away from their strict religious upbringing somewhat and are now dedicated to bringing the rock… and on Only By The Night, they do exactly that.

Well there’re two schools of thought here. Either you’re on your feet applauding AC/DC for staying true to their rock’n’roll roots, or your sitting, arms folded, wondering why they would release another rehash of the greatness they captured on Back in Black. Here at RedHotPie, we’re in the former camp, up the front, metal horns in the air, banging our head along with the greying, Aussie rock legends… and let us tell you why.

Well anyone who sat through the eye-gougingly painful Some Kind of Monster documentary chronicling Metallica as they crafted their uber-shite St Anger album would be very curious to see if this fractured quartet could regroup to produce anything resembling quality metal ever again. The answer is yes.

It’s almost embarrassing that when discussing Birds of Tokyo, front-man Ian Kenny’s other musical juggernaut, Karnivool will be referenced. I mention this only because with the release of their second album, Universe’s, Perth’s Birds of Tokyo have completely emerged from the shadow of their heavy hitting relation.

Well if there has ever been an example of middle-America rock, here it is. After establishing themselves with trademarked vocal terrets built atop staccato metal riffs on their debut long player The Sickness, the Chicago four-piece have been puttering along quite nicely without ever really challenging the formula that put them on the map in 2000.

With a plethora of fans, including some zealous Aussie and Kiwi ex-pats in the UK, New Zealand born and bred rock and post heavy metal outfit, Shihad do not disappoint with their latest offering.

Katie Noonan’s latest offering Second Skin resembles a sophisticated compilation of elevator tunes rather than a slice of musical gold. A highly respected member of the Australian music fraternity, Noonan appears to have embarked on an existential journey and got off the bus a few stops too early.

There are a lot of reasons to be sweet about Gabriella Cilmi, while most 16-year-olds are busy finding friends on Facebook, this talented songbird with the velvet vocal chords is waxing lyrical about love and life with a maturity well beyond her years on her debut album, Lessons To Be Learned.