The Slip

If you are a fan of Nine Inch Nails, then this is for you.

"The Slip" by Nine Inch Nails

I'll admit, Nine Inch Nails probably isn’t the first band that springs to mind when you think of independent and alternative music. The Slip" leads you in with the gentle crescendos of a simple electric pattern. These themes (namely submissiveness, relinquishing control and giving up in general) permeate the entire album. "Letting You", the next track, has a very pushy rhythm. Coupled with Reznor’s edgy electric vocals, the simple instrumentals create nice listening music.

"Discipline", however, is. The bass-heavy drumbeat is sure to set your head banging, and the guitars have an almost motivational feel to them; motivating you to put the song on repeat. It is one of those few, elusive songs that captures the listener’s attention to the extent of addiction. The piano during the verse was a nice touch as well, and helped lighten the mood.

All in all, this is a nice album by Nine Inch Nails, and the best part it’s absolutely free to download, the entire album, and to make the deal better its 100% legal.

So what’s the bottom line? "The Slip" is good, for a free album. Three very strong tracks don’t quite balance the lack of anything interesting on the remaining seven, however. But should you download it? Sure, why not.

(download from here)

Goodbye Doesn't Mean I'm Gone

Scarlet Youth 
Shoe-gaze pop at its best, this album manages to infuse a tone of depression into their upbeat songs and vice versa. With ten tracks of sheer beauty, this album soothes your soul and give your heart a much needed jump start as it awakens feelings of longing and nostalgia in you. This makes it perfect for sleepless nights, as it has calm yet driving melodies. Listen to this if you're not a Nazi supporting bastard.

1. Sofia C
2. Catch Me When I Fall
3. Farewell Ghosts
4. I Will Be Waiting
5. Between Summer And Spring
6. Somewhere
7. Twilight Room
8. Walls Of Freedom
9. Night Falls Over London
10. Sunshowers

Out of It

Brad Sucks
If you, like me, were drawn in by the colorful 8-bit image art, you are very likely to enjoy this album. The first track, "Dropping Out of School", leads you in with a videogamey keyboard solo before the electric guitar makes its first appearance. Brad’s voice, while having a melancholy texture and a hint of depression (a theme that continues throughout the album), is nothing short of pure musical greatness. In every song on the album, the vocals are a perfect fit and never feel out of place or awkward. "Dropping out of School" is one of my favorite tracks on the album.

"Certain Death" is a well done track, but not one of the best. "Fake It" is next. The lead in is a grungy electric guitar, and again, Brad’s voice is smooth and provides a very approachable texture to the song. Next is "Bad Sign", one of the best songs Brad has ever done. A catchy vocal melody, addictive electric and acoustic guitars, and a thumping-but-gentle drumbeat mesh together to provide an amazing listening experience. If you listen to only one song from this album, make sure it is "Bad Sign".

"There’s Something Wrong" is a worthy sequel to "Bad Sign". They follow a very similar instrumental layout, with an acoustic guitar to accompany the electric one. I’m not sure what it is about this setup that so intrigues me. All I know is, it sounds excellent. Afterwards is "Gasoline", the only track on the album I dislike. It feels too slow and repetitive.

The catchy lyrics are back again in "Total Breakdown". Brad leads in with "if you’re tryin’ to wreck my life, why don’t you just smile and have a good time about it / I’m always tryin’ to see the bright side of everything / you’re always down about it". The most important thing about this song is that it showcases Brad’s vocal range. While the intro is sung low, the chorus comes in at near the top of his range. Again, one of my favorite tracks.

Title track "Out of It" is the first track on the album that could be described as "optimistic". From the lyrics, I would assume it was written after a breakup ("I’ve got so much time/ to take it easy now that I/ am on my own"). Lastly, "You’re Not Going Anywhere" is a fitting and emotional finale for the album. The chorus, "I’m not saying anything you haven’t heard before / no one’s gonna wait for you to wake up anymore", will be stuck in your head for days. I promise.

I have heard a lot of music, and never before have I heard anything as passive but addictive as "Out of It" by Brad Sucks. A rhyming blend of truly legendary vocals and inventive musicianship, "Out of It" is an album that should belong in every music lover’s collection.

So with no addu I give you music that will make you happy.

(Album up for download at the artist's web page.)