Monday Music Monkey Review

Dirte - Broken Wings Hello my bitches, I am back today I am reviewing the band "Dirte" they hail from South-West Swindon in the UK.  DIRTE, which is an acronym meaning (DEATH ISN'T REALLY THE END) formed in late October 2013 by singer songwriter Lee Stevens and they feature Ben Jerram on Guitar/Vocals, Jack 'JD' Daniels on Guitar, Ben Reynolds on Bass and Will Hack on Drums. I am reviewing their EP Broken Wings. Let's get into shall we. We start with the first and title track "Broken Wings" the track starts with a killer guitar riff and launches into some amazing vocals all set to an awesome drumbeat. The song is fucking awesome, I actually found myself singing it all over the house. The lyrics are kick ass. It is so cool to hear some serious rock music again I absolutely love this song. We move onto the next track "Chasin Rain" the song starts with some incredible guitar playing, yeah thank you! it is so cool to hear a guitar being played by someone who can make it talk, I mean seriously the guitarists in this band are phenomenal, they make this track unfuckingbelievable. The lyrics are first class and the vocals in this song are superb, Ben has a perfect rock voice, one of those voices that has so much power and aggression, and it is perfectly suited to the fast and furious yet totally unreal guitar riff in this song, my favourite song on the EP so far! The next track is "Dead Inside" it starts with a slow guitar intro that builds and then unleashes, and once the vocals kick in and they are so raw and powerful, and they all combine to create this absolute wall of awesome. I love the lyrics in this song, man what a seriously awesome band, shit I wish I could see these guys live because I reckon they would shit over half the bands that are playing today, this is real rock none of the top forty shit that passes for rock. The final track on the album is "Not Alone" and it a slower song but man I love it, This song is going to be an absolute classic, I just wanted to get my lighter out and hold it up. I especially love the lyrics they are just so poignant and the music, seriously I can't wait to buy their album. I am giving these guys five shots of whiskey out of five, not only is their music freakin awesome but when I was reading an interview I saw this and decided I had to share it "Yea its great to sing the classics and get paid for it but it takes balls to write and perform your own material and that's something we aint short of and are willing to work at it instead of being yet another cover band for hire type shite". How fucking cool is that! Seriously these guys deserve to be at the top. I think that they will be the next great rock gods, up there with the likes of Pearl Jam and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. In fact I reckon that DIRTE has an edge and a rawness about their sound that makes them way better! I especially love the fact that they are staying true to themselves and when you listen to this EP you can see that they have made the right choice, so much talent exists in this band that I can't wait till they tour the world and I might actually get to see them in OZ! I highly recommend that you get this E.P. I swear that you will have it heavy rotation! You can check them out here http://www.dirteuk.com/home and you can buy their album here That's it from me this week till next week Peace out my bitches!

Monday Music Monkey Review

Agony In The Garden Today I mixing it up a bit, the songs I reviewed last week were truly amazing and I was humbled that such a great musician would take the time out to write to me, I was going to respond personally but I felt it was important to let everyone know just how great Mack Perry from Agony in the Garden is! To Mack Perry, I am so glad you liked the review you deserved it! I was absolutely floored by your music and lyrics, they were visionary and the pictures you painted with lyrics and music was mind blowing not to mention your amazing vocals, so sincere, powerful and honest. I often review albums from the past as I feel that the music by many of today's artists lacks sincerity, honesty and more importantly soul. It's almost as if the music of today is just churned out with very little thought put to it. It seems to lack that power, that ability to still be as good today as it will be tomorrow or even ten years from now. Music should be the soundtrack to your life, music should be what emotions sound like. Now, with all that in mind it does seem that "musicianship" a term that I often think of when I listen to music has gone out the window with todays modern music. Here is the definition of musicianship; Noun. Musicianship - artistry in performing music, artistry, prowess, art Now when I speak of musicianship, I talk about that ability to "think in sound" and create a work of art, a piece that actually provokes you, moves you and makes you think, lyrics that can paint a sea of images in your mind, take you on a journey, that can touch you and give your feelings and emotions a voice and that for me is the hallmark of a great musician, and if today's charts are anything to go by, I struggle to find anyone on there that can do this, which can be quite disheartening, many a time I have turned the music off because the music seems so bland. I would much rather silence then some mindless drivel being passed off as the next best thing. I hadn't blogged in a while because of this. It seemed to me, that musicianship had been lost, until a twitter follower suggested I listen to you, Mack you have restored my faith in music and more importantly you made me fall in love with music again, your musicianship is absolutely amazing! I still have your songs on heavy rotation and every time I hear them I fall more in love with them such is your talent and flair, you are a true musician and it is your true musicianship that makes you one of the greatest artist/musicians that I have ever heard! Music as good as yours deserves the greatest audience! Till next week Peace out my bitches!

Monday Music Monkey Review

Agony In The Garden Hello my bitches, I am back with a vengeance. Today I am reviewing the awesomeness that is "Agony In The Garden" "Mack" a one man band that goes by the name Agony In The Garden (AITG) he is an independent (yeah!). He hails from West Carrollton, OH in the US of A I got a tip to check him out from one of my twitter followers. Can I say it was one of the best things I did. I paid and downloaded his songs and well it is now on heavy rotation and I mean that I can't get enough of it, Let's get into it shall we? The first track is "Aegis (The Contagious Mix)" and what a track it is, the awesome guitar intro to start the track is kick ass, then the vocals kick in and what a voice, it suits this music and the wall of sound guitar that dominates this track, the drums are amazing and I especially love the lyrics and mid way through it is like poetry one of my favourite tracks! "BD - Shadows And Dust" I love the lyrics at the start of this track "Darkness is upon our gate..." and then this track kicks in with a guitar and drum intro, yeah I love it! The guitar and drums really set the mood and intensity of the lyrics and the vocals. Man I love this track, it has more emotion and soul than most music out there today, I do love the lull in the music about three quarters of the way into into the song and especially towards the end of the song when it launches into one of my favourite things of all time a "blistering guitar solo!" I love guitar solos as they really highlight how talented a musician Mack is, they are the sign of a true musician. Mack you are one gifted musician! "In Despair We Rise" - absolutely one of my favourite tracks on the album (yes I can have more than one favourite). I love this song from start to finish. The guitar, the drums, the bass, the vocals, the lyrics the whole fucking song is perfection! I highly recommend Agony In the Garden" it is truly awesome! Mack Perry is one super talented musician with an amazing sound and I feel so inspired after listening to his songs, I have been playing them non-stop, they have something that I can only describe as having been created by a true artist who knows his craft and each of the songs displays that talent and flair that only a true musician can create. The songs are almost like an experience you feel moved and only great musicians can do this and it is amazing! I especially love playing the songs really loud! I am giving these songs a massive 5 shots of whiskey out of 5! Yes they are that good so do yourself a favour and get this songs for your collection! You can buy them here. On facebook here. Till next week Peace Out my Bitches!

Monday Music Monkey Review

Rudimental - Home Hello my bitches!I have had a mini holiday and it has been great @redi_25 has been really busy, so I decided to totally blugde and do absolutely nothing. Anyway, I am back, with a great album that I have been listening to, it's Rudimental and their debut album "Home". I have had this album on heavy rotation since I got it a couple of weeks ago! Lets get into it shall we? The album kicks off with the title track "Home" and this is a great song I especially love the start of the track, with it's awesome drum and bass, the vocals are sensational, upbeat and uplifting start. The next song is "Feel the Love" (featuring John Newman) and this is kick ass John Newman has an amazing voice and the real electronic dance beat is awesome! Seriously though the drum and bass are killer and the speed of the music adds this incredible energy, I love it and when the trumpet kicks in, unbelievable! We then move onto"Right Here" (featuring Foxes) which starts with an awesome beat and the lyrics are great, The standout on this track is the vocals, We then move onto the song "Hell Could Freeze" (featuring Angel Haze) and it is an amazing song Angel sings with so much power and soul the music is unreal, the rapping is so cool, what a talent they have used on this track, the way she moves from ballad into rap is just sublime. One of my favourite songs on the album. "Spoons" (featuring MNEK & Syron) is the next track and when you realise that they actually use spoons to lay down the beat, makes you think about how talented the four guys that make up the group (Piers Aggett, Kesi Dryden, Amir Amor and Leon Rolle) are really accomplished musicians. I love this track the vocals by MNEK man what a soulful voice he has! One of my favourites on the album.  The next track is "Hide" (featuring Sinead Harnett) which is a slower song and although it's a great song, it is not my favourite on the album. We then move onto the song "Powerless" (featuring Becky Hill) this song which has a beautiful introduction one that is so haunting. Becky Hill has an amazing voice, this song has a lot of emotion and as the song progress it gets a lot faster then it slows down again which makes it an unreal song. The next track is "More Than Anything" (featuring Emeli Sandé) which has an orchestral feel to the start with the haunting vocals of Emeli, her voice has so much emotion, I really like this track the music is amazing, I love the way it seems to just complement the song and match the vocals in pace and strength, an awesome track!  We then move onto the mega hit for Rudimental "Not Giving In" (featuring John Newman & Alex Clare) John Newman's voice is one of the best I have heard and he makes this song, with power and grace, the music is the perfect accompaniment to his superb voice, this track is an absolute killer, I love it! The music has such a frenetic pace that  you can't help but want to get up and move, I think they really nailed it with this track, just perfect so uplifting and upbeat! The next song is "Baby" (featuring MNEK & Sinead Harnett) and it is a slower song and it is a hidden gem on this album, it really grows on you this song, I am not sure if it is the music or the vocals that make this song so cool. I love it. Then we move onto "Waiting All Night" (featuring Ella Eyre) which is unbelievable another monster of a song, the vocals by Ella Eyre are so emotional and moving, the music helps make this song a massive hit, it has everything, great music, great vocals, great lyrics, man this album just keeps getting better. The last song is my all-time favourite song on the album, "Free" (featuring Emeli Sandé) I love this song the lyrics are so true, I feel like this so many times, where you just don't fit in at all and when Emeli Sandé sings it the message is delivered in such a potent way that you can't help but be moved by the message in this song. The musicianship in this song is awesome, the way it builds and builds and paints this amazing soundscape that uplifts you, only a truly great song can do that and this here is one of them, my favourite song on the album! This album is an amazing debut album from four amazingly talented musicians, it takes you on a journey and none of the songs are boring and each song stands on it's own. It manages to keep you listening to it over and over again which to me is always a sign of a great album. The way each song is different in it's own right makes you love it even more, I really love that eclectic nature of the album, it just works. I am giving this 4 and a half shots of whiskey out of five. I love it and I recommend that you get this album now! Till next week, Peace out my bitches!

Monday Music Monkey Review

Toni Childs - Greatest Hits Hello my bitches I am back , apologies for the long wait, I have been so fucking busy wooing the ladies and slamming the scotch that I haven't done one single review in weeks, but I am back now bitches so let's get into it shall we? Today I am reviewing the one and only Toni Childs and her monster album " The Very Best Of". The album was released in 1996. The album kicks off the track "Stop Your Fussin" which is an awesome start to the album, the pure emotion that Toni is able to convey is amazing and her voice is just so powerful that it connects with you and moves you. We then move onto my favourite song of hers "Zimbabwe" I love this song, the lyrics are powerful and moving, the music is  hauntingly beautiful, I just love this song, the way it builds, the woodwind start, the African chant it adds up to one of the greatest songs ever written. I love it! The next track is "I've Got To Go Now" which has a powerful message about domestic violence, it is at once beautiful but so painful at the same time. This song is in a whole new level, the powerful message told in lyrics and music really highlights why Toni Childs is such an amazing singer and musician. We then move onto "I Want To Walk With You" this song is another ripper of a song, so emotional and so moving, the guitar in this song is awesome as is the beautiful lyrics and her voice just pure bliss! The next track is "House of Hope" which has a really cool intro, with all the laughing, and her voice, man I love that voice, it has just a beautiful tone that you can't help but fall in love with. the next track is her rendition of "Many Rivers To Cross" originally written by Jimmy Cliff. Toni Child's version is simply superb, she owns this song, the music is truly magnificent and the lyrics really suit her voice. One of my favorite songs on the album, I especially love the pared back reggae vibe that the music has. The next track is "Don't Walk Away" the song starts straight away with her powerful voice that dominates this track, the emotion and raw power makes you sit up and take notice a great song! We then move onto " Let The Rain Come Down" which is a slower track, I especially love the music on this track, again her voice is the star of this track. This track kicks off with a killer bassline and although it's a slower song, the lyrics are just so beautiful, it paints an amazing picture with words and music, I love it. The next song is one of my all time favorite tracks on the album, I just love the melancholy feel and darkness that makes this song so eerily beautiful. The lyrics paint such a bleak picture but you can't help feel somehow uplifted with her incredible voice! The last song is "Where's The Ocean" another slower song that washes over you, her voice suits this song so much the way it lifts and that signature tone that makes this song unreal. All up I give this album 4 and a half shots of whiskey out of five, Toni Childs is a seriously underrated musician whose pure talent needs to go out to the world again, she is unbelievable and in a world of manufactured pop idols it unbelievable refreshing to listen to a singer of such soul and depth that you are actually moved by the words she sings and the music that she plays, do yourself a favour and go get this amazing album, you will not be disappointed. Till next week Peace Out My Bitches!

Monday Music Monkey Review

Lucy & La Mer - To The Skies E.P. Hello my bitches I am back with a brand new E.P. to review, I found this awesome band on twitter they are Lucy & La Mer, an L.A. based band, that consists of vocalist/ukulele player, Sarah “Lucy” LaForge, drummer Matt Cook, bassist Jonathan Nesvadba, banjo player Danny LaForge, accordionist Tom R. Pike, and trumpet player Gabe Martin. They are a folk pop band from Los Angeles, California in the US of A. I know you're excited so lets get into shall we? The album kicks off with the track "Oak Tree" and it starts with kick-ass strings and then the piano kicks in and then those vocals so beautiful, what a magnificent voice she has, so pure and she has such a beautiful tone as well. The lyrics paint such an awesome landscape that makes you want to be there, especially if Lucy is there and yes I'd wait for you Lucy! The next track is "Rainy Days" and the sound of the rain is a great way to start, I can so relate to the lyrics especially about spilling your coffee twice. The harmonica is such a great choice of instrument in this song as it gives the song an intensity and almost melancholy feel that makes this song awesome. It really highlights that Lucy has a maturity and understanding of music beyond her years and that is most likely down to pure natural talent. My favourite song on the album. We then move onto "Roomie Wanted" and I must say that Lucy & LaMer really know how to tell a story with music! I love how she uses  music so effectively, the drumbeat in this song is fucking awesome and I love it, just love it. This song highlights that they are true muso's, as it takes serious talent to create a story with just instruments alone! This song is an absolute joy! The next song is "Wanderlust" which is an awesome song, the piano and accordion start are very clever then when the vocals start it dominates this track and along with the amazing lyrics it is an amazing song, I love it Lucy's voice is pure bliss on this song, it is an absolute joyous song that seems to fill this little monkey with so much happiness argh I am so happy, I can't stop smiling. It really captures something real and tangible and all this from a song, genius. The last track is title track "To The Skies" and from it's piano playing start again, like so many of Lucy and LaMer's songs the beauty is in the simplicity of the music, it takes real talent to know what to leave out and this song is poignant and has a quiet intensity that grows on you. I think it's my new favourite! All up Lucy & LaMer's E.P. "To The Skies" is a masterful album by accomplished musicians who know how to craft great songs and the vocals are just superb. I really can't fault this album it is truly magnificent! I highly recommend it, now go and get it now. You can check them out here and you can buy this E.P here.     Till next week Peace out my bitches!

Monday Music Monkey Review

George Michael - Faith Hello my bitches I am back, this time I am reviewing perhaps one of the finest pop/rock albums of all time, this masterful musician was the first white dudes to hit number one on the R&B charts. I am talking about the one and only George Michael and his first solo album (after Wham of course) the Faith album released in 1987! Let's get into it shall we? Faith kicks off with the title track "Faith" and what a song it is, it starts with a church organ then launches into some awesome guitar strumming this is one kick ass song. One of my all-time favourite songs to this day. the next track is "Father Figure" a much slower song but one that is so brilliant that even to this day it is just as good, I love the lyrics and George Michael's vocals are amazing on this track.A smooth and incredible track. We then launch into the controversial track which was banned on some radio stations "I Want Your Sex (Parts 1 & 11) and it is a killer track, with pleading lyrics and a whilst it starts quite slow by Part 11 it kicks in with a full horn section and has such a funky beat that it gets better as the song goes on, this little monkey loves sex and I love this song, it will be  my bedroom theme song when my lady friends come over. We then move onto "One More Try" a slow start to the song with a hauntingly beautiful intro, then that smooth voice of his kicks in and I love when he hits the high notes, so powerful. i like this song i know it cops a lot of flak but it has just the right amount of emotion so it's not to over the top and suits the music very well.We then move onto another song "Hard Day" which starts out with a very slow and soulful and then kicks in with it's very eighties beat with a very heavy bass, not my favourite on the album. The next track is "Hand To Mouth" again the eighties beat is there but it's the lyrics that are so poignant and ring true even today, I do love this song, I think it has a great message in it. The next track is "Look At Your Hands" has a real jazz feel to it and it makes it a stand-out on the album. The way that George Michael can move in and out of musical genres with such ease is a testament to the talent of the guy. One of my favourite songs on the album. "Monkey" is the next track that has a real eighties feel to it, that at once sounds dated but yet still has a fresh vibe to it. "Kissing A Fool" is the next track and it is more of an adult contemporary feel to it that it stands the test of time, it has that real singing in a smoky bar vibe and it just works.I especially love the instruments in this song.   The next track is the funky remix of "Hard Day (Shep Pettibone Remix)" this is so much better than the first version, it is more upbeat and funky and this would have to be one of the first instances of a remix sounding better than the original, it's really good when you blast it especially with maximum bass (take that my fuckwit neighbours). The last song is "A Last Request (I Want Your Sex Part III)" which finished off the trilogy of sex songs and who doesn't love sex? Although not as good as the first parts it still an OK song, it does have a nice jazz feel to it especially towards the end. This is a classic eighties album with so much of it standing the test of time, I highly recommend this album for your collection, it is a great mix of some amazing styles like R&B and pop and rock, they are done so seamlessly that it makes the album fairly cohesive. All up I am giving it 4 shots of whiskey out of 5. Yes add this to your collection for nostalgic purposes, you may actually find yourself liking it almost as much as I do. Till next week Peace out my bitches!

Monday Music Monkey Review

 Jan Smosarski - Red Lights EP

Hello my bitches I am back, sorry for the no post last week. I was listening to all this fantastic new music that I have been getting from artists and bands from twitter, man they are fantastic, I can't believe the talent from up and coming artist that are out there at the moment.
Which brings me to this guy his name is Jan Smosarski and his new EP "Red Lights" which I purchased online all by myself. It does mean that I burn it to CD upon purchase (this little monkey always pays for music to help support artists!) The CD then goes into my massive collection, anyway I digress let's get into the album shall we?
 The EP kicks off with the killer track and title track "Red Lights" man what can I say right from the amazing guitar intro and his voice so soulful and so just fucking beautiful, man this guy has an awesome voice, he has one of those voices you never tire of listening too. The song is brilliant and the song-writing is first class. I especially love how his voice really suits the paired back instruments, I would love to see him playing live as this song has so much emotion and soul, I love this song and it has been on heavy rotation since I bought it! (It is very catchy and you will find yourself singing it everywhere!)

We then move onto the the next track "You Were My Sun" what a song, it's a lament but what a lament it is, I love his voice in this song the lyrics and the way he makes the guitar seem to talk is superb! It starts with guitar that sets the mood for something quite passionate and when the vocals kick in they convey such an emotion that it pulls you into the song - a rare feat for any artist, but Jan Smosarski does it with such ease, what a legend! I love the ending in this song!

The last track on the EP is the track "Fly" man can it get any better! This song is unreal, I love it, the music and lyrics are awesome, and his voice, man this song is a killer song and one of my favourites, I especially love the guitar work, it compliments the song so perfectly and becomes a part of the song, in way that I haven't heard in a long-time, it reminded of Led Zeppelin! What a great way to end the EP.

All up I give this EP 4 and half shots of whiskey! The only fault I can find is that it's not long enough, I so wanted to hear more! I love this album it's the work of a truly accomplished singer, song-writer and true musician! I love how he can move you with words and music like only a true artist can! The production of this album is first -class, sometimes the greatest gift a singer can give us is to pair everything back so that everything shines and it is done to great effect on this EP, it's not what you put in, it's what you leave out that makes it fucking brilliant! 

I highly recommend you go and get this album I got it from here
you can check him out here
Till next week Peace out my bitches!

Monday Music Monkey Review

 

Tori Amos - Under The Pink

Hello my bitches, I am back for another week! I trust you all had a great weekend, I sure did. I am loving watching that new MTV Dance channel and eating Pork Crackles OMG the best but that's enough about me, today I am reviewing one of my guilty pleasures Tori Amos and my favourite album of hers Under The Pink. Under the Pink was Tori Amos's second album and was released in january 1994.
So let's get into it shall we.

The album kicks off with the track "Pretty Good Year" starts with an awesome piano intro and Tori's amazing voice, she has such a wonderful voice, one that can convey emotion so easily, which is a rare talent. towards the end of the song her voice becomes so powerful making this song the perfect start to the album.

We then move onto the next track "God" which is completely different, a real rock guitar song although it seems after the soft start that I put in another album, this song is most notable for its controversial lyrics like this line for example "God sometimes you just don't come through/do you need a woman to look after you?"Cue christians up in arms but what the hell, a good song is a good song. I do love this song, very intense. 

"Bells for Her" is the next track and it is a soft piano based song, like the first one, again i love the vocal ability that Tori Amos possesses, she can go from a soft whisper to a foghorn at a moments notice. This song is very hauntingly beautiful and compliments her amazing piano playing.

The next track is "Past the Mission" it launches straight into her singing, has a very pop feel to it at the start and then it seems to change immediately which makes it a bit schizophrenic moving from pop to piano based ballad, but it is just so Tori. The next song is "Baker Baker" and this is a soft and beautiful piano ballad with her soft and sensuous voice telling a beautiful story.

"The Wrong Band" is the next song and this is so cool, so different and has a real cabaret feel to it which is fucking awesome.I love it, something about it is makes it so seriously cool, I think it's the piano which gives it an almost carnival feel. The next track is "The Waitress" is a bit experimental with it's sound, the lyrics are first class, they tell an awesome story of a woman who hates on other women but is nice as fuck to men. love the sound, it goes from dirty to soft and beautiful in the the blink of an eye.

We then move onto "Cornflake Girl"  which is my all time favourite Tori Amos song, I love the start the instruments from the drums and piano, to the guitar are first class, the lyrics are potent, this is an amazing song the reason I love it is because its just so schizophrenic which I absolutely love! Why to the same old formula top 40 shit when you can do whatever the fuck you want because it's your fucking song, Go Tori!

We then move onto the track "Icicle" which is right up Redi 25's alley, a song about masturbating to the image of Christ, whatever turns you on I guess, the start of this song is so cool, just piano and nothing else, you actually think it's an instrumental, the lyrics kick in about the 2 minute mark worth persisting though just to hear the lyrics like this ''When my hand touches myself I can finally rest my head, and when they say 'take of his body' I think I'll take from mine instead.'' Cue christians up in arms.

"Cloud on My Tongue" is a softer more achingly beautiful song,so hauntingly beautiful, that voice of hers, really shines, I love it it's here that Tori's voice really sits well, this is Tori at her best. The next song is "Space Dog" which has an awesome drum beat intro and her voice again shines with that raw power she is known for, I love how it moves in an out of soft and sweet to loud and powerful.I still have no idea what this song is about though.

The last song is " Yes Anastasia" it is like a classic masterpiece full of subtle moments that move in and out lurching from soft to loud and raw. The song is a tale of tragedy and lament and clocking it at around nine minutes is epic but you know what it works and the piano playing makes it seem like it belongs in the past. Seriously cool song, especially when the strings kick in and give it a much needed boost, the lyrics paint a hauntingly beautiful picture of a tragic story.

All up I give this album 4 shots of whiskey out of 5, I do recommend this album and it should be in your collection. It's intense, playful, warm, fiery a real juxtapoz that just works,do yourself and your collection a favour and add it now, you won't be disappointed.That's it from me this week and until next Monday
Peace out my bitches!

Monday Music Monkey Review

Neon Heartz - Demo

Hello my bitches, today I will be reviewing a new group that hails from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I stumbled across them on twitter. You can hook-up with me on Twitter here.
I must say their seems to be an amazing amount of talent coming from Canada at the moment and I am so jealous!
The band I am reviewing today is Neon Heartz and they are a Dance/ Electro Pop/ Rock/ New Wave band, which seems like a bit of a mouthful, but I will persist.

I must say that I love the name "Neon Heartz" it is just so cool! Now let's get into it shall we?

The first song is 'I Loved You (and I Didn't Try)' this song goes straight into the lyrics, which is very original and I love it, the song starts slowly and has a great beat, the lead singer Lissa Sanderson has an amazing voice and the guitarist Jes Danson, shines on this song especially at about 1:15 into the song, very cool song.

The next song is 'Life'. This song has a real Dance/Top 40 feel to it, I absolutely loved it, the song lyrics are really catchy and before you know it, you're singing along, I especially love the drumbeat in this song, it does make you want to get up and dance and Lissa's voice is superb.

We then move onto the next song "Part Of Me (Belongs To You), this song has such a beautiful piano intro and the lyrics are unreal, a real lament, but that's what makes a great song, you can relate to the lyrics/situation. I love the music in this song, hell, I loved this track. We then move onto the song 'Don't Blame Me For Your Misery' is a more upbeat song and is fucking awesome, dance song, from the driving beat to the rapid-fire lyrics, this song is my favourite and is fucking awesome!

We then move onto the song 'Last Shot To The Heart' with it's synth music and electronic drums is an energetic number but the standout is again that voice, so powerful, so beautiful, with such a rich tone, just awesome, I could listen to it all day, everyday.

The last track I am reviewing is 'Not Own Your Own (Live)' what a fucking cool song, I love when a band sounds as good if not better live than they do in the studio! The mark of a seriously great band is their ability to perform live and I am sure that one-day when I am in Canada I will definitely see them live! Anyway, love this song and it is my new favourite, it has so much raw emotion and the vocals are so powerful, the lyrics are uplifting, this has #1 HIT written all over it!

I must say that I am so glad I stumbled across this band as they are awesome. I am giving them four and a half shots of whiskey out of five, as the songs are awesome and in such a crowded genre Neon Heartz rises to the top!

I am giving Neon Heartz four shots and a half shots of whiskey out of five as the songs are amazing, they are seriously cool, from the music to the lyrics and the gorgeous voice of Lissa these songs will be massive . Look, I loved all the songs and I would have given them five but I couldn't download an album (this little monkey is so old-school, and prefers to play them on his massive stereo that gets him in trouble with the neighbours).

You can check out neon Heartz songs here and follow them on twitter here and you can download (yes I know I prefer the CD but it's pretty much the only way to get new music from up and coming artists) their songs here.
Well that's it from me till next week
Peace out my bitches!

Monday Music Monkey Review

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Uprising

Hello my bitches I am back, this time I will get my funk on and be reviewing the master Bob Marley and his funk soul reggae band the Wailers! I will be reviewing their final studio album ever released in 1980 - Uprising. (Bob Marley passed away a year after this album was released on 11th of May 1981 RIP). This album is one of Marley's most directly religious, with nearly every song addressing his Rastafarian beliefs, so let's get into it shall we! The album starts with the classic "Coming In From The Cold". The song starts with an awesome guitar intro and a smooth drum beat, then Bob's smooth vocals kick in and this song is unreal!

The next track is "Real Situation" and it has that trademark reggae sound that Bob Marley and the Wailers are famous for, this is a seriously cool song I especially love the lyrics in this song. We then move onto "Bad Card" again that distinctive Reggae sound that Bob does so well is evident, this song is a bit slower but still cool. The next track is "We and Them" I love this song, it has a real gritty feel to it and is almost a lament in the way it is sung, a great song.

We then move onto the track "Work" which is one of my favourite tracks on the album, it has Bob singing at his best and the laid back music makes it sound seriously cool. The next song is "Zion Train" another classic, I love the guitar work in this song. The backing vocals add to that majestic voice of Bob.

"Pimper's Paradise" has an awesome drum roll at the start and the whole song is just a classic. We then move onto "Could You Be Loved" with its trademark bass beginning, awesome guitar work, this is a band at the top of their game, the lyrics and vocals are kick-ass, it is so catchy and you will find yourself singing along!

The next track is "Forever Loving Jah", this has some seriously sweet as music and is an ode to Bob's religious beliefs, he was a Rastafarian which was a key element of reggae. A seriously cool song. We then move onto the most potent, political song of all time, "Redemption Song" a truly masterful song that shows his skills as a song-writer and musician and is one the greatest songs ever, It shows that fighting spirit that Bob Marley had throughout his life and why to this day he is a hero to those who struggle with poverty and oppression! A true master-class in music, for all those who aspire to be the difference, this is music that moves you and will stand the test of time!

All up this album gets 5 shots of whiskey out of 5. I recommend you add this to your collection! I also recommend that you read the biography "Catch A Fire" by Timothy White, and I especially love the quote by Bob Marley after an attempt was made on his life. He shows up to play at the concert two days later, wounded and when asked why, he responded, "The people who are trying to make this world worse aren't taking a day off. How can I?" What a LEGEND! Now do yourself a favour and get this album.
Till next week
Peace out my bitches!
This is the biography that is definitely worth reading!

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Monday Music Monkey Review

Collective We Hello my bitches I am back brand new and bitchin'. As part of my plan this year to review new artists and bands, so trolling my twitter account, I stumbled across this awesome ensemble. They hail from Calgary, Canada, it seems that the Canadian music scene is exploding at the moment - damn here I am stuck in heatwave hell here in OZ! Collective We is an alternative rock band made up of four friends growing up on the same street, which is so cool! Now we get into their album/E.P.? I got the cover from their facebook page, it's pretty cool I love the 8 bit graphics not as much as redi though.Anyway let's get into it shall we. We kick off with the first track 'A Walk with You' which has a great guitar and bass intro, I love the bass in this song, then the lead singer Brighid kicks in with quite possibly the sweetest voice I have ever heard, so cute and oh so sexy, it's like wow, it just leaves you speechless. At the halfway mark of this song we get a cool drum solo (not long enough for my liking) but seriously cool song, very catchy though, found myself singing it in the pool (it's a wading pool as redi is a cheap son of a bitch). The next track 'Funkified Symphony #82' kick starts with a cool drum and bass intro, seriously these guys are true muso's who really know how to write great music, and that voice is amazing, This little monkey is in love with that voice. The next track is 'False Notions' which has a real folk sound to it, which I love, and it is here that the lead singers voice really shines, her voice is melodic and sweet and it really tells a story, which is a gift and very hard to do. The music in this song is superb, the guitar, the drums, and the clapping which is so cool and you actually find yourself wanting to clap along. It is my favourite song on the album/E.P We then move onto 'Gentle Giants' , it starts slow with some great guitar work, and builds slowly again the lead singer's voice is so suited to this music she has a real story-tellers voice which I said before is a rare talent. This is a really accomplished song for such a young band and they write amazing melodies.  The last song is 'Minor' again it slowly lulls you in and that voice is beautiful the lyrics are awesome and the music is truly magical, I think I found my new favourite song! I love how it undulates, soft and loud, signs of musicians who really know their craft really well, I think I have found my new favourite song, the instrumental towards the back of the song is fanfuckingtastic. Look I am giving this album/E.P. from "Collective We" 4 shots of whiskey out of 5, I am always a sucker for an alternative band. Look I highly recommend it, purely for the musicianship from band members Liam, Ethan and Matt who are truly talented musicians and it is always refreshing to hear people actually play instruments in an era of computer generated music and the sweet, sexy and oh so angelic voice of Brighid, man I am in love with that voice, so do yourself a favour and go and get these songs, you won't be disappointed, and if you are in Calgary go see them live because I am sure they will kick ass! You can check them out here and here, you can download (yes I know I prefer the CD but it's pretty much the only way to get new music from up and coming artists) their songs here. Well that's it from me till next week Peace out my bitches!

Monday Music Monkey Review

Cold Chisel - Cold Chisel Hello my bitches! I am back after a two week hiatus of sun, sex and booze that culminated in OZ day, I am still piecing together the events as per hangover and rest assured I will remember what happened that sweet lady who keeps calling me. So please excuse my nudity as I type as I seem to have lost my pants, this little monkey got seriously fucked up as per OZ customs! Being OZ day on the 26th of january I thought I would review the legend that is Cold Chisel and their self titled debut album released in April of 1978, this is an absolute ripper of an album and it kicks off with the track 'Juliet' it has a real pub rock feel that I love, the fast paced drums, the cool riff, the unreal guitar solo and the awesome vocals of Jimmy Barnes, a cracking start to the album. The next song is an OZ institution, this song is always played as a last song before the pubs and clubs close, it means that its time to binge drink and hit the road. It's the one and only 'Khe Sanh' - do yourself a favour and get this song, it's political and poetic and is such a truly incredible song. A real anthem in this monkey's life I can only say pure genius lyrically, vocally and musically! The next track is 'Home and Broken Hearted' this has a real cool rock n' roll feel with it's awesome piano and it's frenetic pace, Jimmy does well to belt this one out and it has a blistering guitar solo at around the 2 minute mark, take note all you bands out there! The next track is 'One Long Day' this track has a real bluesy feel to it, with it's piano and guitar and it would be right at home in a smoke filled pub, cool song. The next song is 'Northbound' it's instrumental start gives it a real jazzy feel and the saxaphone is kick ass. That would have to be one of the sexiest instruments ever it sounds so sexy! This song features the lead singer Jimmy Barnes at his raw and honest best a ripper song! We then move onto 'Rosaline' this song starts slower, it's a lament and yes it's another fucking love song, but I will forgive them because they are Cold Chisel, it does get a real jazz injection when that awesome sax kicks in. We then move onto the song 'Daskarzine' which as cool song, I love the drums in this song and it is best played really loud, it's just a really raw song, both musically and lyrically I absolutely love it! The last song is 'Just How Many Times' and it's a great way to end an awesome album, it's a lot slower and is more pared back which allows the vocals and instruments to shine, get your lighters out for this one. All in all this is one hell of a debut album and still to this day it feels just as raw and potent as the day it was released. I say you must have this in your collection - go and get it and it gets 5 shots of whiskey out of 5 from me, just because it's Cold Chisel! Till next week Peace Out My Bitches!

Monday Music Monkey Review

Avicii - True

Hello my bitches, I hope you are well, I had an awesome week, Testudo's album Dark Chapter has put me on the biggest high! To mix it up today I am reviewing an album by Tim Berg, aka Avicii and his debut album True. I must confess that I am still rocking from Testudo's album I reviewed last week, you must go and get it!Now back to Avicii.

Avicii's new album true marked a major change in style, one which led to many fan's being pissed off at them, but as redi 25 pointed out, as an artist one does not create anything with the view of other people liking it, art is intrinsic, you create because you have to and it's never to please other people, if they like it, it's a bonus, but ultimately it's done to to please the artist. You can see how studios can fuck things up for artists and ultimately they end up selling out and that is because they are creating to please other people, anyway I digress.

Avicii's debut album starts with the cracking blend of country and dance and voiced by the soulful voice of Aloe Blacc the awesomeness that is 'Wake Me Up'. I love this song and I have no idea why. We then move onto 'You Make Me' which has an amazing intro and the beat is pretty cool. The next song is 'Hey Brother' this song really hits the mark, blending country with the guitar at the beginning, then the drum beat kicks in and slowly it becomes a dance track, so cool.

The next song is 'Addicted to You' from it's cool acoustic begins and the vocals start and I love Audra mae's voice so soulful and so beautiful. The next song is "Dear Boy" which is an alright song, just not my favourite, the electronic dance music really dominates on this track. The next track is 'Liar Liar' which is different, I just didn't seem to get into it as much as I would have liked to at about 2:44 into the track it sounds pretty cool, not my favourite though.

'Shame on Me' is the next track and it's a cracker, Nile Rodgers shines on this, it is such a melting pot of styles has a real sort of 1950's rock and roll beginning, then that beats kicks in and I love this track, I especially like the electronic vocals, this song is kick-ass. We then move onto the track 'Lay Me Down' which features the voice of Adam Lambert it's a cool song. We then move onto 'Hope There's Someone' which is a lot slower then most of the songs on the album, the standout on this track is Linnea Henriksson her voice is just so beautiful, so sweet and so melancholic at the same time.

the last song on the album is 'Heart Upon My Sleeve' it has a great acoustic guitar intro that I love has an almost classical feel to it. I love the drums in the beginning as well, so cool. It really picks up when the dance beat kicks in and it is a great song.

All up I give this 4 shots of whiskey out of 5. I liked it a lot but dance music is not really my thing. Look don't get me wrong it's great, it really is, but this little monkey just couldn't get into it as much as I would have liked. Anyway, I scored it higher because Avicii had the balls to try something new, all artists should do this for themselves it's what leads to greatness (like Testudo's album from last week).
You can check out Avicii here avicii.com
Till next week
Peace out my bitches

Monday Music Monkey Review

Testudo - The Dark Chapter Hello my bitches, to kick start 2014, I decided that this year I will also be reviewing albums from up and coming artists. So today I will be reviewing an album from one of my followers on Twitter they are the one and only Testudo and their latest album The Dark Chapter. I love their logo it looks so kick ass, so I did something I don't normally do and downloaded their album (I always pay to support artists, Redi 25 taught me this). Anyway this little monkey is old school and prefers actually owning the CD, but I digress, Testudo is a Heavy Metal band from Vancouver, BC, Canada. So let's get into shall we. The E.P. kicks off with the song "Let Me Be", it has a massive guitar and drum intro that reminds of old school heavy metal at it's best. Then the vocals kick in and man what a voice, so powerful with just the right amount of anger. The song is an absolute winner, the lyrics, the vocals and I must say that the blistering guitar solo is something that has been missing from music for a long time, thank you Testudo for bringing it back! We then move onto the second song "Execrate", What a song, now I am starting to bang my head, I love this song more for the lyrics and vocals, just what the world needs at the moment a raw and honest song, sung with passion and venom and more, massive riffs and screaming guitars, my favourite. The next song is "Missing Pages" wow, it just keeps getting better, I love it, my head just can't stop head banging, this is unreal, the vocals are, man I can't describe just how fucking awesome they are! The next song has the best title ever thank fucking god that someone has the balls to do "Not A Love Song"  about fucking time I am so sick of love songs! This song starts with another awesome riff and a slow steady drum beat and then the lyrics kick in and you hear the awesome line "fuck that" and now I am sold, what a band what a song, it is truly awesome, that's why this monkey don't do relationships, do it and dump 'em I say. Back to the song at about 2:21 minutes into the song a truly unreal guitar solo kicks in and thank you, finally someone who can actually play guitar and do a fucking flying solo. The next song "Unworthy" is hell good, old school metal at it's very best, Testudo is Heavy metal at it's very best, by now I am head-banging hardcore, this song is so cool. I especially love the lyrics and the vocals, they are sung with so much passion and venom, what an amazing talent the lead singer is. i love the guitar riff in this song.   We then move onto the next track "Anger Addiction", the song starts with some amazing drums and that voice again, just un-fucking-believable. I am so in love with this song, it is my new favourite on the album. The last song is "Winters Hold" and it is really showcases the talent this band has for straight-up Heavy metal and this song is a great end to an amazing album! All up I am giving this album 5 shots of whiskey out of 5! this album has achieved the highest result from me and giving me hope that this year will see great bands like this dominate music, this is true musicians at their best, the talent is insane, it is inspiring and I can't believe that they do guitar solo's. I actually thought that solo's had ended and along comes Testudo and blows me away with raw talent and passion and venom. The Dark Chapter is truly an amazing album and has been on heavy rotation since I bought it. Do yourself a favour and buy this album for your collection, you will not be disappointed! You can buy it here http://www.reverbnation.com/store/view_item_album/artist_73243?item_id=1921499 Till next week Peace out my Bitches!

Happy New Year

Hello my bitches, just wanting to wish everyone a Happy New Year, hope your Christmas was awesome, now I shall get back to the sex, the drinking and of course the MUSIC!
till next time
Peace out my bitches
Herbie

My New T-Shirt

Hello my bitches,
What do you think of my new t-shirt?Redi 25 got it for me for Christmas, from here;
http://bitterandtwistedcomics.wordans.com.au/t-shirt/infected-536504
Peace out my bitches!
Herbie