A Girl's 4 Star Review

[pic source: themusicslut.com]

I have mentioned Florence + The Machine on this blog before, specifically the song, 'Dog Days Are Over'. Her album, 'Lungs', has been hotly anticipated in Britain (from which she hails) and by those lucky enough to be in-the-know here in the States. If you have listened to any of the three singles ('Dog Days...', 'My Boy Builds Coffins' and 'Drumming Song') dropped since its release (July 6, 2009), then you understand why this is. Passionate and evocative her music grabs your guts by way of your ears and shakes you until you capitulate. To what I don't know. The beauty of a bashing female voice, perhaps? No trembling juvenile vocals here, ladies and gentlemen, oh no! Hers is a vocal expression ripened to fruition. They don't make 'em like this anymore.

For a mini-sampling of the album check out Florence + The Machine's MySpace page. For background information check out Florence + The Machine's wiki page. The album may be purchased on iTunes, Rhapsody and (I'm sure) Amazon.

Now, onto the song by song review! I'm keeping it simple, just stars --

* being crap
* * being 'eh'
* * * being 'good'
* * * * being 'hell yeah!'
* * * * * being fan-friggin'-tastic

-- to indicate which I like best and perhaps a word or two on the extra special ones. I'm also providing links to my favorite songs in case you don't wish to got to MySpace. Plus I also get to backdoor some pretty cool music blogs, ha! Here we go:

* * * * Dog Days Are Over pagan and gorgeous.
* * * * Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) pagan gorgeousness.
* * * I’m Not Calling You A Liar
** * * Howl I had to come back to this song and mark it up! Love it!
* * Kiss With A Fist
* * Girl With One Eye
* * * * Drumming Song gut-grabber!
* * * Between Two Lungs
* * * * Cosmic Love transportive!
* * My Boy Builds Coffins
* * * Hurricane Drunk
* * * Blinding
* * * * You’ve Got The Love a celebration of a song! Warning: link leads to a live version.


I just had to put the video of 'Drumming Song' on my blog, I just had to! Say, "Hello Florence!"


Florence + The Machine - Drumming Song

"You've already lost."

Remember what I told you about Iowa last year, Brandon?



Vermont also struck down a similar amendment introduced by its governor.

not exactly (ag'smg) but an observation

I don't know how late I am to this but I just watched Ciara's "Love Sex Magic" video, featuring Justin Timberlake. I consider it one of her better songs since I could hardly stand her previous undertakings and this one... well, I don't precisely like it but I don't hate it either. I can see how it could grow on me if it were ever on heavy rotation and I was unable to shut the audio device off. Do I damn with faint praise? ^^

The Ciara I remember (I haven't followed her career) has always been a super-sexed up, synthesized version of hip-hop R&B; I think that version is epic-fail, however, that's just me. What I hear in "Love Sex Magic" is still super-sexed and synthesized but it's closer to R&B-inflected pop than hip-hop. That may be a good thing, the best thing for her. Then it struck me: she's a modern-day upgrade of Janet Jackson at her most Miss Nasty-est! Except without half the charisma or charm. I swear it wasn't just the Justin Timberlake sighting! She really seems to represent -- purposefully? -- a 21st Century Janet. Thinking back on it, her earlier work might have had a bit of that vibe in its undercurrent -- again without half the charm.

I'm probably really behind the times in recognizing this, or really off-my-rocker for writing it. Either/or those are my cents for what they're worth!

ag'smg: The video's half the fun...

............................................. Ida Maria


Find a cure
A cure for my life
Find a cure

OMG

eager

-- the ending credits of the anime, "Spice and Wolf".

I think this song is super cute, with its accented English
and sunny, semi-ludicrous lyrics. I look at the world
through apple eyes and cut myself a slice of sunshine pie...
oh, salt and sugar stars! I'll put them in a jar... ooh,
wish around the world!