The Dead Weather’s Sea of Cowards Out Tomorrow

Sea of Cowards is not a neat little package of an album. In fact it seems to be pulling at the threads left by The Dead Weather’s debut album Horehound, but this only makes it that much more appealing. Jack White and his second super group manage to take their mad scientist approach to blues-rock a step further in this album. Sea of Cowards doesn’t house radio hits or sentimental sing-a-longs, but it manages to contain a shit ton of attitude, frustration and unedited in your face rock’n’roll.

Alison Mosshart (VV of The Kills) sounds more at home in this album. “The Difference Between Us” fits her like a black leather fingerless glove. She then pushes the boundaries with no apologies in “Gasoline.” Mosshart and White share the floor each respectfully out for blood.

Not to be over looked is Queens of the Stone Age’s own, Dean Fertita (also toured with The Raconteurs) who’s guitar and keyboards set the tone for the albums ménage-a-trois of pop, blues and psycadellic rock.

This is definitely the darkest and most raw of White’s recent projects. For some it may feel unfinished and self-indulgent. To others it will feel honest, dirty and daring. It all depends on if  you like your music shaken or stirred.

Sea of Cowards will be released tomorrow (May 11, 2010).

The Dead Weather’s Sea of Cowards

I am so excited for this album! Listen free to Sea of Cowards today only (April 30th). It’s streamming all day click here to listen.

I Am Still Wild And You Can Be Too.

Where The Wild Things Are Motion Picture Soundtrack.

When you were a kid, if you were one of the lucky ones, perhaps every so often in your room a forest would grow, and your “ceiling hung with vines.” Maybe “an ocean tumbled by with a private boat” to sail you in and out of days.If you were super lucky perhaps you even got to be “king of all the wild things.”

If you have no clue what I am talking about, you are never too old. Run out now and get yourself a copy of Maurice Sendak’s award winning book, Where The Wild Things Are.

For those of you who are following, you probably have been eagerly awaiting the release of Spike Jonze’s new movie version of the beloved children’s book. I have, but with some hesitation. Can you take something that represents a child’s unequaled power of imagination and turn it into a movie that we can all agree on? I don’t know, but when I see this movie I will be back to tell you what I think.

One thing I can say is that Karen O and the Kids have succeeded in making a soundtrack that lets the mind soar at will. It’s creepy. It’s beautiful. It’s imaginative. It’s reminiscent and hopeful. It fits the book and my imagination perfectly.

In an interview with New York Magazine, composer Karen O, says she was influenced by the Langley School Music Project, which is my favorite children’s choir piece, because of it’s sweetness, and imperfections, it’s just pure honesty. This soundtrack has this same raw sound. However, the sounds these young voices emit, somehow sands away the rough edges.

The songs are simple. The instruments are lo-tech and childlike. However, this is not a children’s album by any means. The track “Animal” is scary and wild. It could fit perfectly on Fever to Tell. “Hideaway” is sad and painful and a step forward for Karen O. The rest of the musicians that pieced this project together include some of the most influential in the current indie scene. Including, Bradford Cox from Deerhunter, Dean Fertita and Jack Lawrence currently from The Dead Weather, Aaron Hemphill form Liars and of course the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

This album totally warms your heart, makes you yearn for simpler times, and reminds you that after all your big adventures, all you really want is a dinner that is still hot and someone who loves you “best of all.”