Blake Hannon's take on CD releases and everything music.

CD Review: Coldplay's "Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends"
by Blake Hannon
Thursday, July 10, 2008

Since the start of this decade, Coldplay have risen from next-big-thing mellow/melancoly Brit-rockers to the height of rock's pantheon, making the alternative digestable to the masses. While their first two albums, 2000's "Parachutes" and "A Rush of Blood to the Head" in 2002, were track-for-track some of the best albums since the start of the new millenium, something happend in the music of 2005's "X&Y."
Coldplay injected their winning combination of piano, hooks and heartache with arena-sized steroids, making their songs sound bigger but never sounding broader or more expansive. No risks were taken, but boy could that sound fill the space.

CD Review: Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III"
by Blake Hannon
Thursday, June 26, 2008

Lil Wayne is now rap's big dog.
After two years of releasing online mixtapes, dozens of tracks and appearing in countless guest spots, Lil Wayne managed to capture the attention of the hip-hop masses. His new album "Tha Carter III" sold over one million copies in its first week of release, something unheard of in today's music industry. Many critics are ready to give the self-proclaimed best rapper alive that title after this release, debating the album's instant classic status. While "Tha Carter III" doesn't completely live up to that claim, it cements Lil Wayne as hip-hop's wildcard and most exciting MC.

CD Review: Death Cab For Cutie's "Narrow Stairs."
by Blake Hannon
Friday, May 16, 2008

This decade's most heralded Seattle band Death Cab For Cutie have built their following on two foundations: There's singer/songwriter Ben Gibbard, with his fragile, boyish tenor and his tales of dishevled love and nostalgiac longing. Then there's the rest of the band, with Chris Walla providing clashing guitar nirvana with bass and guitar shading in the lines.

The Metallica effect
by Blake Hannon
Thursday, March 27, 2008

When I looked at the 2008 Bonnaroo lineup, I saw a band on the bill that made me have to blink a few times to make sure that my contacts weren't smudged. Right there, at the top of the bill.
Metallica. Kings of thrash metal. A legendary group in the minds and hearts of metalheads with an absolutely rabid fanbase.
But the more I talked to people, so many people thought they didn't belong on the bill. That they weren't appropriate headliners for the 4-day music and camping festival in Manchester, Tenn. The question is why?

Rock N' What?
by Blake Hannon
Thursday, March 20, 2008

When the inductees for the 2008 Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony were announced, I had to admit it was a head scratcher. Madonna in the Rock Hall? Leonard Cohen? John Mellencamp? Well, at least John Mellencamp put out a few good Midwest rockin' tunes and a Hall of Famers list of influences.
So, I tuned in to watch the ceremony on VH1 only to find out that it was going to be broadcast live on VH1 Classic. Instead, I was treated to an episode of one of VH1's many celebreality programs. Oh, how the coverage of rock royalty has fallen.

The new rock cinema
by Blake Hannon
Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008

No longer are fans of today's biggest acts required to haggle ticket scalpers or wake up at 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning clicking refresh to get a chance to see their favorite bands live.

Oscar's musical crimes
by Blake Hannon
Friday, Feb. 22, 2008

The biggest night in Hollywood happens this Sunday. The 80th Annual Academy Awards will feature the brightest stars in filmmaking in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
Of course, it's not only what's seen on screen that is recognized but what is heard within the films themselves. Based on the nominees and the rulings of the minds behind Oscars, non-classical musicians are getting no recognition from the golden boy in 2008.

Reality killed the video star
by Blake Hannon
Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008

Many a columnist has discussed the death of music television. How MTV is no longer the groundbreaking musical outlet it once was. Innovative videos that once saturated the channel (anybody remember Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer"?) have been replaced by reality shows like the spoiled brat-a-thon "My Super Sweet 16" and "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila," a dating show where women and men vy for the affection of a petite, bi-sexual, "X-Files" alien with a wig who expresses her love for somebody by saying "I'm feeling you."

The Gods of Metal return
by Blake Hannon
Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007

In my mind and the minds of many rock fans, hard rock icons Led Zeppelin haven't gone anywhere. Jimmy Page's titanic riffs have provided the framework for much of today's hard rock and metal (whether it's grunge or Wolfmother). As for Robert Plant, his avalanche-causing vocal style continues to influence the likes of Chris Cornell among others. John Paul Jones was responsible for one of the most memorable bass lines of all time in "Dazed and Confused." And John Bonham...probably the greatest rock drummer of all time.

Coming to you in Hi-Fi Stereo
by Blake Hannon
Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007

Unless you are a rabid fan or at least a curious listener of The Beatles, you don't care too much about songs known as "B-sides." They are often the least accessible tracks from a band. Songs a band doesn't think would fly on mainstream radio.
That being said, this is not a blog about B-sides.