The Record Lounge: Reviews 02/16/11 – PJ Harvey, Mogwai, Motorhead
Click To Buy
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
The enigmatic PJ Harvey has effortlessly become the most ambitious, unpredictable woman making music today; each recording is significantly different than the previous, keeping her fans on their toes not unlike a female Elvis Costello (in theory and practice, not necessarily in style). Let England Shake is undoubtedly the product of years and years of musical experimentation and influence rolling into one cohesive package; a culmination of making bold records such as Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea, To Bring You My Love, and 2008’s self taught piano driven White Chalk, and will help cleanse the palette of those who might have felt disregard for records such as Uh Huh Her and her last offering, the collaborative A Woman A Man Walked By with John Parish. 2011 find Ms. Harvey in a place where she seems comfortable and (somewhat) relaxed, while maintaining her challenging charms.
Click To Buy
Mogwai – Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
The seventh full-length from these Scottish post-everything purveyors does not disappoint. Mogwai’s take of post-rock adds a bit of post-punk keyboard textures into their mix of largely instrumental selections this time around establishing their singular sound even further while simultaneously subduing the band a little. One can always count on Mogwai to be inventive and creative, and Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will lives up to expectations for sure. Look for the 2 disc version, which includes the bonus almost 23 minute track piece “Music for A Forgotten Future (The Sleeping Mountain)”. It’s simply gorgeous.
Click To Buy
Motorhead – The World is Yours
Pioneers of punk metal, Motorhead, return with their all too familiar formula. If you like Motorhead, at all, you will be pleased – especially if you never want them to change. The World Is Yours contains 10 songs that do not stray from their successful past formula and breaks no new ground. But is this a bad thing? Not unlike their brethren the Ramones, they broke the new ground with their inception, and need not do anything else. Ever. Who’s going to argue with Lemmy? Not I sir. Not I.
The Synaptic Empire 