Pink Rock Candy-Entertainment

My ears are swooning. For the past couple of hours I’ve been listening to the new Panic at the Disco album, Pretty. Odd., and the new album from The Raconteurs, Consolers Of The Lonely on repeat. I know everyone is probably thinking, how exactly do you put those two bands together or better yet, “If you like The Raconteurs how can you like Panic at the Disco?”

Well the first of all, I’ve decided to throw these two odd ball bands into a playlist together because both of their albums came out today (along with Gnarls Barkley’s and Temposhark’s albums). And secondly, I happen to like Panic at the Disco, so scorn me and cal me a fan girl, I don’t care.

Consolers Of The Lonely is totally fresh and full of that Jack White-y amazingness (does that make sense to anyone else?). I love how The Raconteurs (Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence, Patrick Keeler, and Jack White) can take you from fun, riff heavy “Solute Your Solution” to manic, screeching, dirty rock like in “Five On The Five” to haunting country covered blues in “Carolina Drama”. If you liked Broken Boy Soldiers then you’ll definitely like Consolers Of The Lonely, for that matter if you just liked “Steady As She Goes” or “Level”, I’d suggest you pick of these guys new album.

Now, Panic haters can stop reading, because I’m about to compliment them. Though Pretty. Odd. is completely different that A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, they dropped the synth heavy beats with the ‘!’, I can honestly say I like it just as much or even more. Sure, Ryan Ross seems to love writing nonsensical lyrics, they now sound eerily similar to The Beatles, and the video for “Nine In The Afternoon” is an obvious nod the St. Pepper, I can’t help appreciate that they decided to do something different than their last album (a big risk that could alienate their fan base). I think Brenden has finally figure out the proper vocal range for him, and Ryan’s voice is very 60s pop, which makes me smile a bit to myself. My favorite songs out of the bunch are “Northern Downpour”, “Pas de Cheval”, “Behind The Sea” (yes the one Ryan sings), “Folkin’ Around”, and “Mad as Rabbits.”

Did you buy either of these two CDs? What are you’re thoughts? What other new CDs do you like?

For more information on The Raconteurs visit: theraconteurs.com or myspace.com/theraconteurs. For more information on Panic At the Disco visit: panicatthedisco.com or myspace.com/panicatthedisco.

Every time I read something about Phantom Planet new album Raise The Dead, the band that sings The OC’s theme song “California”, I get a little bit sad because my favorite dandy, Jason Schwartzman, is no longer part of the band. Most people don’t like when actors or models try to cross over into music, but I find guys do it better than girls and Phantom Planet was totally A+. I’m still going to support them because they make great music, but if you need you’re caterpillar-brow fix like I do, you should check out Schwartzman’s new project Coconut Records.

The first time I heard the song “West Coast”, I was hooked. I know I say this a lot, but I was literally addicted. I only listened to satellite radio to hear the song (its not on any normal radio stations), and I scribbled the chorus all over my notes during class. Apparently, the song was a gate way drug because I’ve gone from obsessing over just one song to listening to the entire album, Nighttiming, on repeat.

Some of the songs are very country, which always makes me think of The Doors because Jim Morrison’s distinct version of bluesy-country-rock always makes me swoon. Other songs are a bit disco, and the rest are just eargasmic. It’s a fresh take on a lot of different old school sounds, but once you hear it, you won’t be able to get enough.

Fave Listens:
~West Coast
~Nighttimg
~Mindin My Own Business

For more information on Coconut Records visit youngbabyrecords.com or myspace.com/coconutrecords