Gorillaz "Plastic Beach" album

Five years ago I remember waiting in line at Borders with what would be the last CD I would ever buy, it was Demon Days. I had been anticipating the release after receiving my first gen iPod Shuffle (which was released in Jan '05) after discovering Gorillaz while searching for things on iTunes.

The new album is Plastic Beach, which doesn't sound to inviting, but alluring enough to get some one to pick it up and look at the other side of the CD case if it is to be spotted in FYE. Name aside this is a great old school, chill album featuring Mos Def, Snoop Dogg, and many more. This album, like the other Gorillaz albums, is very different.

Everything starts out slow and does not pick up until the third track and 2D is not even heard until the fourth song. Then everything flows seamlessly. This album is not for the typical listener, its very experimental and old school, though if you love some electronic beats and tolerate some rap you will love this. You can see the video for the song Stylo here.

Gorillaz.com

Dropkick Murphys

There I was front and a little off of centre, in front of me was a stage, behind me were hockey fans and a sea of men wearing flat caps, waiting to see the famous Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys (DKM) from Boston. lights dimmed and they all walked out some with instruments in hand, and played "Boston". The stage presence was great but not the best. Al Barr (lead vocalist) had a presence that seemed greater than the rest of DKM.

Going to a DKM concert is very different than going to any other kind of concert, in many ways it is like going to a concert for the first time.

This is there 2010 St. Patty's tour, that ends on the 17th, after a week of shows in Boston, MA. Then they hit the British isles.

DKM brings a unique sound inspired by life in Boston, Celtic music, drinking songs, and punk rock. They gained mainstream attention when their song "I'm Shippin Up to Boston" was featured in the Oscar Award winning movie "The Departed". Stream some songs on their Myspace and check out their website, and be on the lookout for their Live On Lansdone album coming out March 16th.

myspace.com/dropkickmurphys

dropkickmurphys.com

Assemblage 23

While listening to VNV Nation I came across an album called Failure by Assemblage 23. A small industrial band with some wicked beats and poetic lyrics, for me it was like the first time I listened to New Order's Substance all the way through.

The simplicity of the synth creates an old school sound mixed with rhythm that are unique, creating a truly original sound that reflects the Industrial genre of the early 90's. The lyrics (most if not all) are deep, though uplifting in some songs, but not upbeat in the traditional way that most popular music is.

Assemblage 23(AKA: A23) is the brainchild Tom Shear, a musician that dabbled in Punk and Pop in the 80's that went into the Industrial scene after hearing some tracks from an opening act at a Depeche Mode concert. Tom Shear writes, plays, and records everything. On stage he preforms along side a few musicians.

A23 will kickoff it's tour in the states in Seattle, Washington on March 29th. The full tour schedule is posted on A23's website.

http://assemblage23.com