September 2013: Studio Killers

Wow. Remember when this was a thing? No? Well, I’ve decided I’m going to listen to an album a month and do a post about it. Feel free to play along at home, listen and comment. Or don’t. That’s cool, too.

The current album in heavy rotation on my iPhone and Spotify is the self-titled debut album from Dutch electro-pop group Studio Killers. If we’re being completely honest, I’m not even sure what the hell electro-pop is. I assume it means there are no actual “instruments” – just lots of digital manipulation. But as I’m not much of a purist when it comes to my music, it totally works for me. The tracks are catchy and fun and I always find myself dancing along – even if it’s only in my head.

album cover

Studio Killers is comprised of Cherry on vocals and musicians Goldie Foxx and Dyna Mink. In addition to her singing skills, Cherry does some fun and funky digital art. The band’s Tumblr is the best place to check out her portfolio. In addition to the band’s three members, their manager Bipolar Bear often makes an appearance in the artwork and on the blog as well.

band

I like most of the songs, but a few stand out. The lead off “Ode to a Bouncer” is a fun tune that includes clever lyrics and even a little homage to Pink Floyd’s The Wall.

‘Cause all in all, you’re just another prick at the door

Read more: Studio Killers – Ode To The Bouncer Lyrics | MetroLyrics

My absolute favorite single is the song that led me to the band in the first place: Jenny.

Jenny - Single

I’m a sucker for any song with my name in the title – in fact I have an entire playlist devoted to Jenny songs and this is by far one of my favorites. The tune and the lyrics are fantastic. I listen to it on repeat all the time. I defy you to listen and not get the chorus stuck in your head.

Jenny darlin’, you’re my best friend
But there’s a few things that you don’t know
Why I borrow your lipstick so often
I’m using your shirt as a pillow case.

I wanna ruin our friendship
We should be lovers instead
I don’t know how to say this
’cause you’re really my dearest friend

Read more: Studio Killers – Jenny Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

The video is still to be released, but you can listen on YouTube.

I recommend you check out Studio Killers. If you’re not into pop or dance music, you might not enjoy them as much as I do. But if you’re looking for something to put you in a good mood and leave most of the angst at the door, give Studio Killers a try.

If you do take a listen, please let me know what you think in the comments.

In my grand tradition of doing almost everything three months late, I present my March Album Club Review!

Exiled in Style

My review of Indestructible Machine by the lovely Lydia Loveless could be just one word: LOVE.

But I’ve yet to be the exemplification of brevity, so I’ll expound on that a bit. This album rocks. I was immediately intrigued by the album cover, because it is badass. And I was not disappointed. From the opening strains of Bad Way to Go (probably my favorite track), Loveless is taking us on a honky-tonk road trip. She’s definitely in the driver’s seat and the listener is just along for the ride. And I’m okay with that. Every track on this album is great. I love her voice, I love the twangy guitar riffs, I love the lyrics.

Seriously: It’s good stuff.

You can check out my overly detailed spreadsheet review, but honestly, I’ll save you some time. I loved all the tracks. I love Lydia Loveless. I could listen to this…

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Oh, look. It’s my February Album Club Review. Only three months late. Not bad.

Exiled in Style

This review is super late, I’m a loser, blah, blah fish cakes. On with the review!

Goyte’s Making Mirrors is an album of highs and lows with me. I will say that when I first listened to the album, I found it pleasant. But it didn’t rock my world or anything. Then, like the mass-media-guzzling slut that I am, Somebody That I Used to Know started getting tremendous radio air play and I started paying attention. Nice, right? If I had written this Album Club review back in February when I should have, I could have pretended I was ahead of the curve with my Goyte love. But that’s not the way it happened. Nope. And I enjoy being painfully honest with you, dear reader. Especially when it’s embarrassing to me. It’s the masochist in me.

Glee even did a slightly creepy, fairly strange cover of Somebody That I Used…

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Album Club Mar/Apr Review: Indestructible Machine, by Lydia Loveless

Stevil

I’m not sure what happened to the good momentum of The Musical Bum Club last month – I didn’t see an April selection, but we were just coming back from vacation, so I know a lot of things fell through the cracks.

Anyway, regardless of whether we have more new music to review and discuss, I declare the effort a success for the sole reason that it has brought singer-songwriter Lydia Loveless into my auditory universe.

March’s album selection was Loveless’ debut effort, Indestructible Machine. I have to say that for someone who was under 21 when the album was recorded, there are an awful lot of songs about drinking to excess. Though now that I stop and consider my own late teen behavior, perhaps not. And don’t we all think we’re indestructible when we’re teens?

I hadn’t heard of Lydia before and when I heard her name, I…

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Album Club February Review: Making Mirrors, by Gotye

Stevil

It was with a lot of interest that I started listening to February’s musical bum club selection, Gotye’s Making Mirrors. I had never heard of the artist before (I thought it was a band name…sigh), but really isn’t finding music you haven’t heard of part of the point of this club?

I think Jimmy gave a great review in which he thought that it had a real 80’s groove and I can hear that, too, but after multiple listenings, I decided that to me Gotye is sort of musical chameleon – many of the songs in this album reminded me of other artists’ music.

For example, the song Easy Way Out sounded to me like it could have been done by Rogue Wave. Smoke And Mirrors sounded like Peter Gabriel and I Feel Better had a distinctly retro Motown-y feel. And in Save Me, I coulda…

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Album Club: January 2012 Reviews

The reviews are in!