New Music: Dear Science On The Wrong Side Of The Magnetic Death

I've been reviewing a ton of albums lately and there's a few that have really impressed me. The 3 standouts are from Metallica, TV on the Radio, and Kristoffer Ragnstam. Alright so first off- I have eclectic tastes obviously because these groups couldn't be more different but I'm a music lover so I dont care.

Metallica’s new album, Death Magnetic, is like a greatest hits album but all the songs are new. In the first track, “That was just your life,” one can hear that the band is back and hasn’t lost a thing. The signature Hammett guitar solos have returned and the songs have a sense of energy that has been absent for a decade. The album has some flaws but it's a gift to all the old school fans who should reach deep into their dresser drawers and pull out some classic Kill ‘Em All t-shirts because Metallica is back.

I never understood the hype about TV on the Radio but when I first heard their new album Dear Science it all started to make sense. Their last album Return To Cookie Mountain showed potential but now it has turned kinetic with a great textural bend of orchestration and improved sense of lyricism. The New York based band has really come into their own and in the process they’ve created one of the most interesting and original albums of the year. Dear Science is a welcome surprise and the album reveals its intelligence and complexity more and more with each listen.

Finally- Kristoffer Ragnstam’s new album Wrong Side Of The Room is a relevant and modern rock album that should turn a few heads. The songs have a wry intelligence and the sound is a terrific blend of classic rock, electronica, and modern indie. Kris proves himself as an important up and coming artist with a number of excellent tracks such as the funky “Disco Fiasco”, “2008”, and “Swing That Tambourine”, which is a hit song waiting to happen. It’s just a matter of time until some big company grabs one of these songs for a big commercial and everyone begins to notice it.

If you want to read any of the full album reviews check out the blog Short and Sweet NYC.