CD Reviews

February releases:

Belle & Sebastian's The Life Pursuit (2/7/06)

Some would say this is the best release yet of 2006. It could possibly be the best Belle & Sebastian album released. It is one of those albums that don't grab your attention until the second time around. Every track screams Belle & Sebastian which some tracks have a David Bowie influence to them. Their sound definitely brings a 70s feel to the album. "We Are The Sleepyheads", "Funny Little Frog", and "For The Price Of A Cup Of Tea" are just a few of the highlights.

Arctic Monkeys' Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2/21/06)

I have to admit that Arctic Monkeys didn't catch my eye when I first hear "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor" and despite hearing and reading all the good reviews and success they were having back home in the UK. Their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not released on Domino Records made history by breaking the number of record sales in its first week with 365, 735 records sold in the UK. They've also been "claimed" by Harry Potter. No, not the wizard Harry, but actor Daniel Radcliffe, who has been jealous of the many new fans of the Arctic Monkeys nowadays from their success. Every track on their debut album is brilliant and is just as good as The Libertines whom they've been compared to. They've got a little bit of The Libertines and Kings of Leon in their sound. Highlights on this album include "Fake Tales of San Francisco", "Dancing Shoes", "Riot Van", and their latest single "When The Sun Goes Down".


Hawthorne Heights' If Only You Were Lonely (2/28/06)

The second album release of Hawthorne Heights' on Victory Records has received some mixed reviews. Hawthorne Heights has a following and has been mainstreamed on MTV with "Ohio Is For Lovers", but there are those who think their sound is "generic" and do not see anything "special" about them. You can decide for yourself. Highlights include "I Am On Your Side".