Gogol Bordello "Trans-Continental Hustle"

Gogol Bordello is one hell of a fun band to listen to. I've heard they're pretty amazing live as well, however, i've not had the pleasure to see them. Trans-Continental Hustle tends to lean more toward their folksy gypsy roots than their punk roots, but its no less entertaining. Eugene Huts has one of the most recognizable voices in the industry. These songs are full of bouncy rhythms and fun sing along choruses, and lets face it, you can't sing along in a normal american accent, you've got to put on the Russian voice that everyone has hidden deep in their soul. So if you're looking for some fun folk punk that will get your body moving in all of its vodka soaked glory, this may just be the album for you. Or any of Gogol Bordello's albums so far.

MInus the Bear "Omni"

I'm a bit too close to this band to give an objective review. I love this new album. They've moved forward with their sound in a great way, by incorporating more synthesized sounds and beats, while at the same time moving toward more traditional sounding guitar solos. The guitar tapping is still there, but not quite as much as their earlier albums. The songs however are catchier and very well produced, which some fans have complained about, but if you've listened to them progress as a band, this album only sounds like the logical next step. The lyrics are blatantly sexual in most songs, including "My Time" which is their current "single" if they get played on any station near you. "Into the Mirror" and "Backwards Animal" share the same beat and key part, however, on "Backwards Animal" the beat is reversed and almost gives a "Paul Revere" (beastie boys" feel to the song. This album, to me, seemed to be more about sustaining a mood, or feel throughout the entire album, rather than a certain mood in each song. The subject matter they choose to deal with isn't much different than in previous albums, sex, alcohol, drugs, good times etc. I love the fact that they've stayed true to themselves in that regard, and still been able to progress their sound to where its gotten. This is a really fun album to listen to. Going along with their theme of basically a fun night out, the album sort of peaks and wanes along those lines. The first few songs are upbeat and get you in the mood to go out, the climax would of course be "Into the Mirror", and then the 4 songs afterwards are like the party winding down, they get progressively more sedate and relaxed, which could be a downfall to some fans, but given the proper mood, it could fit in perfectly, if only the album were long enough to last all night.

Deftones "Diamond Eyes"

The Deftones have always been somewhat wrongly pigeonholed as a nu-metal bad, with the likes of Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Godsmack and bands of that ilk. They are, however, a much more artfully and existential band than any of the previous bands mentioned. They've always pushed the genre they were in to new corners and new sonic realms, giving you an equally brutal and beautiful sound that not many, if any, could replicate. With the absence of Chi Cheng, their longtime bassist, one might wonder where their sound would go, since in several interviews, Chi seemed to be the one pushing them to stay heavier, and Chino was the one who wanted to move in an artier direction. The sound however, is very reminiscent of their 2000 album "White Pony", which is probably their most critically acclaimed album. As a fan, i was glad to hear them still pushing themselves, even through the tragedy that befell their longtime bass player. (www.oneloveforchi.com for more info) The album is a bit more focused than their 2006 effort "Saturday Night Wrist", which makes for a much more enjoyable listen. Although possibly a bit too brief. The single, and title track, along with "sextape" were amongst my favorites on the album. Bottom line, this is a solid album from a great band, and most likely won't disappoint longtime fans. But its not necessarily something you haven't heard from these guys before.