The Rasmus: Rise – the Review

So, today I had time to listen to the album. I know, I’m supposes to be blogging about yesterday, but all I’ve got that’s vaguely interesting is the electric company’s progress in my yard. So, we’re going to cheat a little. (Progress pics later, haha).

All together it’s a good album. Like I said the other day, I’m pretty sure this is our in between album on the way to the next sound, and hearing it I’m even more convinced of that.

Art, and the insert book are great. The font on the lyrics is tiny, but that’s only because my eyes are going. Boo. Ten years ago I wouldn’t have even noticed the small size.

Now, on to the songs.

Live and Never Die – I had this one embedded the other day. It’s a poppy, catchy, feel good anthem, designed to remind you that your life is precious so live it. Lyrically, it’s not as strong as some of the others, but I think that’s because they had a very specific message to deliver, and I know when I write verses with a particular message like that, they’re never as good as meaningless free flow that discovers its meaning as it goes. Not saying it’s a bad song, or that the lyrics are bad. And there’s no mixed metaphors, so that made me happy, haha! Over all, it’s a 4 of 5 for catchiness.

Rise – this is another single that’s already out. This one is closer to their older stuff – in fact the music really reminds me of something off of The Rasmus album, when they were first flirting with Electronica. Has another upbeat message, because The Rasmus are almost always upbeat. 4 of 5.

Fireflies – I really like the lyrics on this one. They’re kind if a throwback to The Rasmus more gothy days. Example:

The winter in ending
And the clouds go away
I’ve started descending
To the bottom of the grave
But what if I hurt myself?
I really don’t know what I’m doing
I wanna bе somewhere еlse
Cold wind is blowing

[Chorus]
Kill the light
Show me the dark side
Rule the night
High in the skies like fireflies
They don’t hurt my eyes
Fireflies

Buuuuut….I’m not sold on the music. There’s a…sound that reminds me of my cat howling. I’m not sure what it’s supposed to be. It gives it a purposefully discordant sound, that makes it almost jarring and uncomfortable to listen to. If that was the goal, then succeeded. Musically, this leans toward their last album, but again the lyrics are much better. Because of the howling 3 of 5.

Be Somebody – Another song with better lyrics (okay, honesty time, I didn’t think most of the lyrics on their last album were up to their potential, but this one is an improvement). The verses are really good, and though the chorus isn’t as good, it’s catchy enough thar I’m good with it. Sound wise, it kind of calls back to Stranger from The Rasmus album I already mentioned.

Odyssey – I initially thought the chorus was better than the verses, but as catchy as this bad boy is, it’s going to grow on me, and I’m already thinking that the verses are pretty good, after all. This one reminds me a lot of their last album, Dark Matters. 4 of 5.

Jezebel – This one has been put for awhile. It was the song they wrote for Eurovision, where they might have had a chance if Ukraine hadn’t won with a sympathy vote. Sorry, but I still think that’s BS. The other bands that were there won’t get a second shot at winning, which they should all get. Anyway, the song. It’s a catchy, catchy earworm, though lyrically it has a few issues. I can just ignore most of them until the line “A girl who looks like she’s a boy”. Now, I know English is not their first language, so there are a lot of little connotations and subtle meanings they miss (like in the song Shot saying “I’ll stand in your way” and meaning they’d stand between her and the bullet, basically) and I’m happy to forgive a lot of clunkiness, but that line still throws me every time I hear it. I also feel a bit like this was written to take advantage of the new female member specifically for Eurovision performances, and I’m not saying that bad, but again when you write with too much purpose, the flow suffers, and this has that trouble. Though I’m fond of the lines:

Sunrise, you crawl under the covers
Sleep tight until the dying sun
Tonight you’ll catch another lover

But, past that… anyway, for its catchiness it’s still a 4 of 5

Endless Horizon – Good lyrics, though “You are an island ON my horizon” would have worked better than “You are an island IN my horizon” but, like Shot, it’s clise enough. Musically, it’s a pretty even mix of Dark Matters and their older stuff,  I think, especially with the electronic background vocalization. Honestly, I think the song would have been better without it. 4 of 5

Clouds – the lyrics here are pretty good, though there are a few weird word choices, but like I mentioned I think it’s because English isn’t their first language and frankly, writing in a second language amazes me. Not to mention, I’m such a sucker for the evil corrupting the innocent girl schtick that I’ll forgive them all. The music is also good on this one. It’s a slower song, which they historically do with mixed results because catchiness is their strong point, but I like it. 4.5 of 5

Written in Blood – lyrics aren’t too bad. There are some good lines such as:

I’m like a ghost in the night
Wandering far from the light
And when it’s getting too bright to see
You come to give me your hand
You take me just like I am
Always ready to fight for me

Musically it’s about a half and half mix of the previous album and I assume what is coming next. 3.5 of 4

Evil – on first listen I’d say the lyrics are just okay, but I’m a sucker for themes of misery, so I know it won’t be long until it’s grown on me. The music is quite good with a great melancholy feel to it. 4 of 5.

Over all, I’d give the whole album a 4 of 5, or more specifically a 4.2 (don’t ask) but after repeat listens that is likely to go up. I’m initially picky and then chill out as time passes. But, if you’re a The Rasmus fan, it’s definitely worth it.

And now I leave you with the yard progress.

Have a new album kinda day!

Jo 🙂

The Rasmus Rise

Guess what came in the mail yesterday….

That’s right, The Rasmus’ new album Rise! Ans it has a booklet with the lyrics!!! Sorry, I’m a child of the nineties and still get excited to have actual official lyrics. Anyway, I haven’t had a chance to hear the whole thing yet, but it’s not as Electronica as their last album was. I’ve noticed that every other album is a different style and the one in between is a mesh of the previous and what is coming next, and this would be an in-between one, I think. Anyway, better opinions when I get a chance to hear it. But it does have Jezebel, which they did for Eurovision, and a couple others that are already released. Rise, and Live and Never Die. Videos incoming!

Yeah, not much of a blog, but at least I’m here. I leave you with some cool eye of Sauron clouds.

Have a new album kinda day!

Jo 🙂

Two Bands: One Name

Not much to share today. The bro had his infusion, paperwork got completed, life is rolling along like it always does. Someday there will be spare time. Maybe.

Since I didn’t do anything fit for public consumption, thought I’d share something interesting I ran into. Paul Durham of the (American) band Black Lab is putting out a solo album (there was a kickstarter. Now there’s that other thing. I should find the link to it. – found it. It’s Indie go go ) Of course, I’m down for that (gotta get that signed CD), and that comes with membership in the secret group…anyway I’ve been listening to Black Lab lately (mixed with Soul Asylum because, why not?), which led to a discussion with the bro about why they came up with that name. So I did a google search, but instead of finding the answer I found another band also named BlackLab (without the space). And though the names are pretty much the same (and if you believe wikipedia and bandcamp they came from the same place – a combination of Black Sabbath and Stereolab. which I find hard to believe that BOTH bands named themselves that after the exact same reason*), their music is nothing alike. Black Lab is alternative, while BlackLab calls themselves the dark witch doom duo.

Oh yeah.

Basically they are two Japanese women playing black metal, and honestly they’re pretty good. At least I’m enjoying their album Abyss. It’s an odd break from what I’ve been listening to, but it’s definitely fun. You should give it a listen.

Not much else to share that anyone wants or needs to hear about. I have a pile of work I need to do; some beta editing, a couple of covers, but I need more than five minutes on the laptop to get it done. As one of my friends says, “My life is just unmanageable at the moment”. LOL!

Have a dark witch doom kinda night!

Jo 🙂

*(those screen caps from BandCamp and wikipedia)

In case you can’t find the links in the above text:

• Black Lab’s website: https://www.blacklabworld.com/
• The Indie Go Go Campaign for the solo album: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-solo-album-continues#/
• BlackLab’s album on Bandcamp: https://blacklabmoon.bandcamp.com/album/abyss

It’s Arrived

At last, the correct lyrics to the album Horse They Rode in On. I’ve waited most of my life for this. Ha ha!!

Seriously though, I rarely read nonfiction but am excited for this as there’s lots of little tidbits and such along with all the lyrics.

Hope everyone had a great new year. I’m sick at the moment so been outta things. Bleh.

Have a lyrics to your favorite songs kinda day!

Jo 🙂

Mysteries & Flowers

Today I am thankful for the third mailing of Risen, the Mysterious Package experience we got for my brother. He has enjoyed it, which I’d hoped he would. Though I will say we didn’t have to spend as long solving things on this one, but that was because we have the translation app on his phone, so the Russian was easy to translate. Had we not had the app it would have been quite an ordeal, let me tell you. This mailing included a letter that wrapped things up and a severed finger in a vial of serum. OoooOOoooOOooo.

 

Other than that I finally got around to buying the Last Shadow Puppets second album. I admit, I put it off last year because I HATED the song Bad Habit and was only iffy on Everything You’ve Come to Expect – and then I forgot all about it. But I thought of it today, so I finally broke down (after sampling the songs on Amazon) and I’m glad I did. I still dislike Bad Habit, but it might eventually grow on me. The rest of the songs are worth a listen, especially Patterns, Aviation, and The Bourne Identity.

And now I share some more pretty flowers with you! Ha ha! They will never end!

Tomorrow evening we’re heading to Bloomfield, Iowa so we can make it to the salvage yard there in the a.m. and get the fender for our truck – the only thing left to fix from where hubby hit the deer.

Have a severed finger kinda day!

Jo 🙂