Modern: Tell A Friend EP 8/10

Wow.

I don't really know what I expected when I first listened to this EP, but I LIKE WHAT I HEAR.

Third Smoke only has three songs on this too short EP, but every single one satisfies.  Especially for music nowadays, I'm impressed.  Each one becomes easy to get lost in - if you're going to listen to this EP or any one song off it, set some time aside.  You can not multitask while listening because each song is so captivating.  I have a feeling they'd be an amazing band to see live, because just their recorded songs can charge up listeners; I'd love to see the audience connection/reaction at a concert.

They are able to convey a similar attitude in their music to that of The White Stripes or The Black Keys (the Grey Third Smoke? Eh? EH?  ...ignore me.), but their sound is entirely their own.  For example, Dog Rough Dancing, with the backing up chorus singing "hey man, what you gonna do?", the minor harmonies, and the building up at the end of the song where the song slowly starts growing and rushing and then drops to the last line of the song; it all comes together and hits the listener hard and directly.  I especially love closing it off with Sticks and Stones, which contrasts with the relaxed vibe of Metaphysics, and ends with an explosion of energy that leaves you in silence.

I have one qualm (and this is more of an artist review, than specifically for this EP): they should stop doing covers of other bands like Bon Iver and Foster the People, because they have a unique, great sound that they should take advantage of because not every band can say they have that.

Original, raw and powerful, I look forward to more Third Smoke in the future.

Modern: Crystal Castles III 8/10 (and Through the Years)

Crystal Castles has two kinds of songs: the ones that anesthetize your body and bring you to a state of complete calm, and the ones that go past your ears and overload all your senses with the sheer sound and feel of chaos; both styles force you to focus only on the music.  This may not sound like a good thing; however, Crystal Castles has pulled it off not once, but three times in a mere four years.  Crystal Castles's III definitely takes a turn towards the relaxed, but still holds onto the use of extreme noise as displayed in II (I seems to be a perfect combination of the two styles).  The contrast is interesting; how Alice Glass whispers you into mental numbness in III, instead of screaming you awake in II; how III goes down easily, allowing you to let go of your body and relax completely, while II's gritty sound forces itself into your mind and takes over.  In this new album, the beats are slower, the vocals are less screeching, the noise is overall less imposing to the listener's brain, but the impact is the same.  Crystal Castles remains a force not to be listened to lightly.

examples of "smooth" songs: 

Wrath of God (III)

Transgender (III)

Courtship Dating (I)

Vanished (I)

Celestica (II) 

examples of "rough" songs:

Doe Deer (II)

I Am Made of Chalk (II)

Xxzxcuzx Me (I)

Alice Practice (I)

Pale Flesh (III)