Category: Music

{mosimage}I am very glad that there is still the thing called genuine punk rock, although I don’t necessarily spend a lot of time listening to it. Jumalan Ruoska, a Finnish punk rock band, remind me of that once again.

Jumalan Ruoska’s brand of punk rock is somewhat different from all these “too serious to be taken seriously” bands – they have a sense of humour and are not afraid to show it. This sense of humour and playfulness is evident from both the music and lyrics. There are moments of social commentary, like the song Eihän tässä nyt näin pitänyt käydä (which is about global warming), but overall they seem to be focusing on having fun.   

Sixteen songs, total length barely over thirty minutes, so Jumalan Ruoska don’t really like to spend too much time on one single track. Although the music couldn’t exactly be called challenging to play, at least they sound tight and not the least bit sloppy. They also offer some variety: amongst the straight-ahead blasting there are a couple of acoustic numbers, and even the most blatant hardcore numbers don’t sound boring.   

Since the release of this album, Jumalan Ruoska has split up, but all the members of the band continue making music. The spirit of punk rock lives on, and I feel happy about that.

Rating 4/5 

{mosimage}Widescreen Mode has become one of the newest and hottest hard rock bands in Finland, with the release of their debut album: Until the End.

The debut album of the Finnish metal band Widescreen Mode, Until the End, has raised like a rocket into the Finnish music charts, directly to the peak, and this is greatly due to the good promotion campaign in Internet, MySpace and Itunes with their first single Everlasting Bomb (lyrics inspired by the film The Planet of the Apes), a success that has been followed and even increased with the second single of the album: Dead Inside, an excellent choice since it is undoubtedly one of the best tunes of the whole record.

The band from Riihimaki is composed by Samu Brusila on the vocals, Janne Lahtinen as guitarist, Janne Stenroos on the bass and Janne Aaltonen on the drums (it could have perfectly been renamed as "the Jannes").

Widescreen Mode makes a perfect example on how the promotion in alternative channels like Internet can bring excellent results. They were finalist in the MTV’s unsigned competition and have gathered more than 65.000 fans in MySpace. But when I listen to them, I cannot see the special magic needed to push the songs to the number 1 of the charts. The melodies are correct and technically, they sound compact; the vocals skills of Samu work fine, the CD visual design is cool, but the sound, that explores more the softer than the rougher side of the metal, although the brutal beginning of the album in Without Me could mislead you, is typical and unsurprising; nothing that you could not hear from dozens of other Finnish bands trying to make their way in the difficult world of music business. In any case, for being a debut album, it gives a very praising result, and hopefully with more maturity and new works Widescreen Mode could reach the status of new Finnish super metal band. But there is still a long way to go…

Rating 3/5

{mosimage}It doesn’t really take a huge cynic to be a bit cautious about Samuli Edelmann’s new album. The famous Finnish actor/singer is making here his own interpretations of Christian hymns in a quite traditional – if not a bit conservative at the same time – manner, and the fact this was released just before Christmas just makes one think somebody has thought of a perfect Christmas present bestseller.

So, one can question the integrity behind this album, but one cannot say it is not a carefully constructed piece of work. Instead of the usual organ dominated church arrangements the album’s producer Markus Koskinen has opted to make more modest versions, backed with acoustic guitars. double bass and other such instruments. Edelmann is a talented singer, and he interprets these hymns with the necessary seriousness.

However, the songs themselves are hard to bear. Regardless of my opinion on religion itself – considering the subject of this review, it’s quite irrelevant anyway – I have never been a huge fan of traditional Christian music. It brings to my mind memories of funny-smelling churches in my childhood, and the overall tone of these sings is far too sad and grave that I would ever listen to them voluntarily.

Virsiä is certainly a well made album, so anybody wishing to hear these hymns once again – and there seems to be lot of those – ought to check this out. Personally, I’m pretty sure I won’t be listening to this ever again. Maybe this would be a good Christmas present for my mother?

Rating 2/5

{mosimage}Manifest is Impaled Nazarene’s tenth studio album, and I really don’t know what to make of it. I have liked some of the earlier ones, while some others left me unimpressed, if I happened to check them out at all. Anyway, before hearing Manifest I was kind of sure I would never need another new Impaled Nazarene album again.

In this light, listening to Manifest feels surprisingly sensible. Impaled Nazarene’s take-no-prisoners black metal assault had a limited appeal to begin with, but it sounds like they are really making effort to bring some variation to the picture. Especially the start of the album is strong: The Antichrist Files is a full-on Impaled Nazarene onslaught at it’s best, whereas Mushroom Truth brings to the table some melodic elements and even a symphonic middle section. Later on, songs like Funeral for Despicable Pigs and the album closer Dead Return prove, that the band can sound good even when they slow down a bit.

The lyrics have always been the weakest link of Impaled Nazarene, even if nobody takes them seriously. They may be black humour, but not very good black humour; they may be intentionally politically incorrect, but even so, they should have a rational point behind them. That the lyrics have no poetic value whatsoever is certainly besides the point – remember, the music isn’t that subtle either – but if you have an opinion, you also should have rational reasoning to back it up.

Well, it’s kind of hard to hear what Mikaakim is screaming about anyway. Impaled Nazarene may be the AC/DC of black metal, and I am not really waiting impatiently for their next album, but Manifest is quite enjoyable in its own right.

Rating 3/5 

{mosimage}Re-edition of the concert that the French musician celebrated in Moscow in 1997.

For those of you who have had the opportunity of visiting the Russian capital and taking a look at the façade of Moscow Stage University, you know how impressive the landscape can be. The huge building dominates the Russian capital from one hill, giving the impression that giants must be studying there. For those others who did not have the chance, they can at least have an approximated idea after watching this magnificent DVD that features the concert that Jean Michel Jarre offered to nearly 4 million inhabitants to celebrate the 850th anniversary of the city. The keyboardist and composer hosts an excellent electronic opera where there is space for a bit of everything: projections, laser harp, mind-blowing fireworks and the intervention of the Bolshoi Kids and the Red Army Choirs.

There is also some emotive moments like the moments of silence that Jarre asks from the Russian audience (in English counting with the help of a Russian translator) to dedicate to his friend Lady Diana, or the connection far beyond the sky with the cosmonauts of the MIR. As a great bonus, you can find an interesting documentary: The Making of Oxygene in Moscow that turns to be a perfect complement to a great show. If something can be criticised about the concert is the short length resulting after being edited: hardly 1 hour. But it is worth every minute of it!

Rating 4/5

{mosimage}Eleven of the most recognized and skilled Finnish metal guitar players burning together the strings of their guitars!

Those of you who like guitar solos and Finnish metal must feel totally delighted with this new release of Sony: Guitar Heroes. No, this is not a video game but a cool double CD featuring some of the most enraged musicians that you can find around the world (and around the corner) The list of guitar players appearing in the album is as follows:

Timo Tolkki (STRATOVARIUS)
Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM)
Roope Latvala (CHILDREN OF BODOM)
Emppu Vuorinen (NIGHTWISH)
Esa Holopainen (AMORPHIS)
Nino Laurenne (THUNDERSTONE)
Mr Crab (BLEAK)
Mikko Salovaara (KIUAS)
Tuomo Louhio (IMPALED NAZARENE)
Sakari Hietala (TAROT)
Euge Valovirta (GODSPLAGUE)

The musicians have composed new themes for this album, and there is an authentic battle of guitars in the first track, 12 Monkeys, where all of them participate.

Apart from that impressive guitar players list, the album counts with the collaboration of other talented Finnish musicians such as Lauri Porra, Mirka Rantanen or Janne Parviainen.

If you like electric and fast guitar riffs and good heavy metal, this is your album. Personally, I find a special weakness for the magic fingers of Timo Tolkki, the guitar player of Stratovarius, who features the last track: If God Will Send Her Angels.

On the other hand, if you get easily bored of listening instrumental songs, this album was not made for you.

Rating 4/5.

{mosimage}A  triple CD with 47 songs that go all around the history of one of the hardest rock bands in Finland: Kotiteollisuus.

Luxury design for this triple CD that features songs extracted from all the periods and stages through where these guys from Lappeenranta have gone. Leaded by the charismatic vocalist Jouni Hynynen (who happens to be a public celebrity in Finland, exploding his image of tough guy in TV series like Äijät together with Jone Nikula, or just writing about love and sex in his recent and widely promoted book Rakkaudella, Hynynen, the band launches what could have been perfectly a normal double CD, with all the singles and radio hits condensed in the second one, plus the special gift of a third one that collects the B-sides.

Maybe, at the end, it turns to be a bit overcooked and the compilation could have been just put into two discs, but undoubtedly there will be many fans that will feel more than pleased with all the amount of rare material poured inside the black covers of the album. If you have gone to parties or rock bars in Finland (and we bet you have…), or just listened to rock channels on the radio, it is impossible that you cannot recognize any of the hits of the band; a huge collection that includes titles like Helvetista Itään, Minä olen, Kaihola, Jos Sanon, Vieraan Sanomaa, Tuonelan Koivut or Arkunnaula, for putting some examples of the most successful ones. Songs that are able to dig deep inside your brain with strong but catchy choruses that will turn you soon or later into a(nother) believer of Kotiteollisuus´faith, based on spreading a good doses of raw punk-rock music all over Finland.

If you are tired of heavy singers who look like dolls and want some real men with hair on the chest, Kotiteollisuus is your Finnish band (and if you prefer the glamour of angelical looks and evil voices, remember that Sebastian Bach has just released his new album too…). I personally love the second CD of the compilation, and surely the list of songs will bring good memories to more than one listener.

Rating 4/5 

{mosimage}The most famous Swedish-Finnish band is back and stronger than ever with a new album!

Kent is probably the most popular Swedish band in Finland (with permission of The Hellacopters or The Ark), and good proof of it is the massive amount of followers that attract in every visit here, with venue after venue sold out.

The band is back from studio and in excellent shape with this Tillbaka Till Samtiden. The opening track, Elefanter, starts slowly and languid, but step by step grows with glittering guitars on top of the electronic beats and bass. That could be a perfect metaphor for the whole album: the first time you listen to it seems to be another one more in a million, but you need to taste it step by step to appreciate all the connotations. And once that the sensuality of the Swedish language gets inside you, turns impossible to escape from the spell; Joakim´s intriguing voice just conquers your ears even if you cannot understand more than 5 words in Swedish (as it is my case).

Touches of instrumental dance music like in the catchy Våga vara rädd that counts with a hypnotic trumpet, mixed with darker atmospheres that remind their beloved Depeche Mode like in Berlin or especially in Columbus which sounds like a slower Swedish version of I feel You. No wonder that these guys cram people together whenever they come to play to Finland. With excellent release after release they show why they continue on the top of the charts after more than one decade of existence.

Rating 4/5

{mosimage}More than just a game! The saga of Halo has totally broken boundaries in the videogames world since the launching of the first part in 2001.

Not so often times a single game is able to back up the purchase of a whole video console, but Bungie, the company that gave birth to Halo, did it possible. Amazing graphics, a great plot and tones of action available for the games lovers, especially if you wanted to play online.

The release of Halo 3 has become not less than worldwide phenomena, and obviously such an awaited game deserved a very special soundtrack. The guys of Bungie, Microsoft and Sumthing Else Music have done an excellent work this time, after facing some critics with the previous Halo 2 soundtrack, and counted with the outstanding collaboration of the award-winning composer Martin O´Donnell and Michael Salvatori for recording an amazing orchestrated score that would be worthy to be listened in any Hollywood super-production. A twenty-four voice choir and sixty piece orchestra that really make the difference with almost any videogame soundtrack you had listened before.

O´Donnell re-recorded some old themes from the previous soundtracks that sound fresh and better than ever with. A double CD with 27 tracks plus 4 bonus tracks that will get addicted to fans or not fans of Halo Saga. Quiet melodies in a perfect combination with others more electronic themes. You will love every second of it.

Rating 4/5 

{mosimage}Juanes’ follow up album to the great success that he achieved with the previous Mi Sangre and his hit La Camisa Negra.

The Colombian artists comes back with new look, but the same good
quality and catchy rhythms of the previous album. Teaming up again with
famous producer Gustavo Santaolalla, Juanes shows a great maturity and
a global vision of the problems of the world. Without the God status by
other American stars, but just step by step, he has been able to pour
some good songs in the ears of an increasing worldwide audience.

Juanes
can be very intimate in No creo en el Jamas or Me Enamora, but it also
shows the side of a person down to earth with his particular relaxed
view of life in La vida…es un ratico. The artist can be also committed
with the problems of the world  like in Bandera de Manos, sung in two
versions, alone and with Campino, the leader of the German band Die Toten
Hosen. A duet that is, in my opinion, the best track of the album. But
Juanes really knows how to show some class when choosing the
collaborators, since he also features Andrés Calamaro, the ex member of
the legendary band Los Rodriguez in the song Minas Piedras.

Detail
after detail, from the people surrounding him to the lovely design of
the dove that decorates the compact disc, Juanes makes the difference
to be at the top of the Latin music once more.

Rating 4/5

{mosimage}Christmas time is getting closer and compilation albums start to
flourish in the music shops. One good example is the latest of Mexican
guitarist Carlos Santana.

The magician Carlos Santana has some surprises reserved for those of you who decide to pursue this Ultimate Santana album.  Among the big collection of duets with renamed artists, here you will find for first time three unreleased ones: This boy´s fire with Jennifer Lopez and The Game of Love with Tina Turner, plus a very powerful beginning of the compilation with Chad Kroeger, the singer of Nickelback, in Into the Night.

Revered almost as an ancient Aztec king in his native Mexico, Santana has also received critics (me included) of being too monotonous and repetitive with his guitar riffs. In any case, it is undeniable that he has achieved a personal style and it is undeniable that when you listen to one of his songs in the radio, you know when Santana is playing there. Classics like Sampa Pa Ti, Black Magic Woman or Oye Como Va are already classics of music history.

If you add to this excellent songs like Smooth featuring the great voice of Rob Thomas, the singer of Matchbox 20, Corazón Espinado with Mana or Just Feel Better with Steven Tyler (my favourite one, cannot deny my weakness for Aerosmith…) you have in front of you an excellent album for good music lovers (and who is not one of them?) to enjoy 100% Santana at his best.

Rating 4/5