He sits quietly and looks around the carcass of the once lively room and is content. He holds his friends very close and is appreciative of what has commenced in the past night. They knew he was feeling sullen since his boyfriend made his heart weep earlier that day. And even though the room consisted of pairs, they all kissed him simultaneously once the countdown reached zero. His smile was as bright as the over-sized Christmas lights that still hung in the living room window. In that exact moment, nothing else mattered: his hurtful paramour, the rude message by his neighbor from last year, or how little money he had in his wallet. The night was perfect, whether spent in the heavenly room or alone in the cold with his cigarette.

As the sun bleeds through the curtains of colorful birds in abstract cages, the glorious echos are slowly dissipating with each grain of time. He starts to concentrate on the tangible noises of the shaking ceiling fan and the uncaged birds singing out to the sun. A familiar song plays with the current sound orchestra. It’s a tune that was popular in 2005 and is reserved for his fond memories of him and his deceased friend. He isn’t sad and instead of a river, a smirk forms. The boy is happy in knowing that he had made him proud tonight. Flashes of his past are now running a marathon in his mind and the smile decorated on the young man’s face doesn’t fade.

The song ends and the fan is still vigorously waving its noisy hands. A new sound appears and the boy realizes it’s his makeshift bed for the next few hours; the lumpy, quilt-covered couch is screaming his name.

AMORAL FIXATION would like to send a congratulatory welcome to Sonia Sotomayor who was sworn in as the United States’ 111th Supreme Court justice today. This is a historic event because Sotomayor will be the Supreme Court’s third woman to attain this honor but the first Hispanic justice in the court’s 220-year history.

As a Hispanic female justice, she will be looked upon with a heavy magnifying glass by the nation and hopefully will represent the needs of the people from all backgrounds.

Once again, congratulations to Associate Justice Sotomayor. Now go out there and make America proud.

The Dead Weather formed in the first quarter of 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. It is apparent that this band all had a hand in the development of Horehound due to the amalgamation of genres heard on the release. Some tracks are heavy while others are lo-fi garage and near the end, the sound is rooted in blues. It is often hard to remember that it is a single album being heard because of the mash up of sounds and yet, still transitions very nicely. White primarily plays the drums on the record while Mosshart takes control as the front woman of the group. Her sultry, cigarette smoker voice is brought along the tracks adding mystique and sexiness. Fertita and Lawrence do a great job as guitar and bass and contribute further levels of depth.

Horehound, thankfully, is not one of those albums that can be consumed automatically, rather only by truly listening to it a few times can the majesty be appreciated. Though the only slight problem that can be heard is the consistent inconsistency. By having a huge range on genres, it limits the group to really shine in just one. Though it can be argued that an aimless arrow never misses its mark. Despite the sometimes jumpiness, it is not a deal breaker.

Songs of Interest:
- “Treat Me Like Your Mother”
-  “New Pony”
- “3 Birds”
- “Rocking Horse”
- “Will There Be Enough Water?”

Artist Fun Fact:
The album was recorded at Third Man Studios (Third Man Records, who is the band’s record label is owned by White) during a three week session in January 2009.

Overall Rating:
4.25/5.00

Favorite lyrics:
There are more than enough
To fight and oppose
Why waste good time
Fighting the people you like
Who will fall defending your name

I swallowed my feelings
I swallowed my heart
The conversations we had
Kind of began but never did start
I was worried what you’d say
Or what you would think
And now I miss you everyday
Wasting my pen and the ink
I finally have something to proclaim
But you’re gone and nothing’s the same
And who I am won’t float, just

s

i

n

k

.

With his first album, Music for Tourists, the majority of songs were sullen sounding with his heavy piano keys. This time around, Garneau attempts to break the sadness with a few tracks of upbeat rhythms and harmonies. He doesn’t try to make the entire album too light because he knows what got his fans to follow his music in the first place. He continues to bring his passionate falsetto voice with a soft backdrop of piano and bass.

When hearing this record the past week, the perfect setting to listen to El Radio is during a summer Barbecue at dusk. It’s a fun and entertaining album but if conversations among friends were to slow down, the sounds of Garneau’s latest album would definitely fill the gap.

Additionally, the incorporation of trumpets, drums, finger snapping, clapping, and even spoon playing was very pleasing . The use of the non-traditional instruments added more charm to this already innocent and playful record. Overall, El Radio is a solid second release, with room for added progression for Garneau’s third album but definitely surpassing his first. 

Songs of Interest:
- “Dirty Night Clowns”
- “Fireflies”
- “No More Pirates”
- “The Leaving Song”
- “Hands on the Radio”

Artist Fun Fact:
Chris Garneau collects lamp shades and often displays one on his piano during his concerts.

Album Rating:
4.00/5.00