The Polygraph Record:

Deftones – Diamond Eyes
Today we will be reviewing the new album by Sacramento, California based band Deftones called Diamond Eyes. It’s a follow up to 2006’s Saturday Night Wrist and was released on Warner Bros. Records May 4th, 2010. This record has quite a bit of history to it. After the long and arduous process in making Saturday Night Wrist, the Deftones immediately went back into the studio to bang out another record and strip down the production that had gradually plagued their last two albums. In 2008, the tentatively titled Eros was completed and ready to be released when in November 2008, bassist and founding member Chi Cheng was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that left him in a coma. Devastated, the band decided to shelve Eros and start over. After only two months in the studio, the band wrote and recorded Diamond Eyes with former Quicksand bassist Sergio Vega. The album is a conscious departure from all other Deftones records in that the lyrical content is completely positive and less personal. It’s an album that has also been extremely well received from people that are tired of the negative, whiny elements of metal and hard rock since the 1990’s.

As always, the tracks below are listed in the order they appear on the podcast and the number is the track number on the album. If you click on the album cover, you can listen to the album via We7.com.

1. Diamond Eyes
2. Royal
8. Sextape
5. Beauty School
3. CMND/CTRL

June 27th, 2010
Categories: Podcasts . Author: Jeff . Comments: No Comments

Dr Who 5 – The Token Brit Edition
A very late release of this podcast due to numerous technical difficulties (hat tip to Libby and Pete) and not having enough time to deal with them until now.
This edition we add a new panel member to the podcast… and he’s actually British! We welcome Pete Tomkies to the podcast and welcome his point of view. He’s our token Brit! Woohoo!
In this edition, we talk about the tragic second part of the Silurian saga, Cold Blood. We talk about Rory and the piece of the TARDIS pulled from the crack. Then we move on to the Doctor meeting Vincent Van Gough (pronounced Van-GO) in the aptly titled Vincent and the Doctor. We discuss chickens, schmaltz, and fucking with time. Enjoy!

Asher’s questions this week are:

1) Asher was too broken up about the events of Cold Blood to come up with anything this time.

2) Name at least 3 historical figures (from Earth) that the Doctor has previously met?

June 20th, 2010
Categories: Dr Who . Author: Jeff . Comments: No Comments

Pop Culture for the Week of June 7th, 2010
Today we bring you some great pop culture shout outs and in a timely manner no less! Lindsay recommends the really super-great photo blog 500 Photographers, Asher endorses your younger, geekier side with VirtualNES.com (play Zelda!) and Jeff endorses Paul McCartney singing Hey Jude at the White House with Obama (is that Jack White and Jerry Seinfeld hanging out?!?!).

June 10th, 2010
Categories: Podcasts, Pop Culture . Author: Jeff . Comments: No Comments

Sage Francis – Li(f)e
We take a brief stop at white boy rap to review the new album by Providence, Rhode Island native Sage Francis called Li(f)e. It’s his fourth studio album and was released on ANTI- Records May 11th, 2010. Mr Francis has made a name for himself by starting out as a slam poet and dabbling in the spoken word. He then moved on to hip-hop and has never looked back, being one of the only rap artists on the famous punk label, Epitaph. For this album, Sage Francis has enlisted some of the biggest music names in indie rock to provide a background for his lyrics. Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie, Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, Tim Rutili of Califone, and the late Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse have all contributed music to Li(f)e. The results are incredible earnest and sappy emo-rap that can be tough to listen to, even for people who are dyed-in-the-wool fans.

As always, the tracks below are listed in the order they appear on the podcast and the number is the track number on the album. If you click on the album cover, you can listen to the album via We7.com.

1. Little Houdini
8. 16 Years
3. I Was Zero
12. The Best of Times

June 9th, 2010
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Reflection Eternal – Revolutions Per Minute
Our album up for review today is comes from the hip-hop collaboration between Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek called Reflection Eternal. The album is called Revolutions Per Minute and is the first album since 2000’s Train of Thought. The sophomore output by the duo was released on Talib Tweli’s Blacksmith Records May 18th, 2010. This album contains an anomaly found on most hip-hop records released today: one producer. Hi-Tek was in charge of putting together the music and the entire album was recorded in the famed Electric Lady Studios. You can hear the chemistry on the album as the established artists work together and feed off of what each other does best. Kweli’s lyrical content does not skimp on substance either, with topics that range from the influence of money on artists, a career in the hip-hop industry and the evils of the music business.

As always, the tracks below are listed in the order they appear on the podcast and the number is the track number on the album. If you click on the album cover, you can listen to the album via Entertainment Weekly.

3. Back Again (feat. Res)
2. City Playgrounds
5. In This World
15. So Good
12. Just Begun (feat. Jay Electronica, J. Cole & Mos Def)

June 8th, 2010
Categories: Podcasts . Author: Jeff . Comments: 1 Comment

The Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards
Today we go deep down into muck and review the new album by The Dead Weather called Sea of Cowards. The sophomore studio album is a follow up to last year’s Horehound and was released on Third Man Records May 11th, 2010. Jack White and crew are back with even more attitude and heaviness than their previous output. The songs can easily be traced back to the direct lineage of bands like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Of course, part of the real appeal of the band is the duelling vocals of White and The Kills singer Alison Mossheart. White has said that album’s title refers to “..the way the internet allows people to spit venom and knock people in a cowardly way using fake names.” Indeed, Mr White. Indeed.

As always, the tracks below are listed in the order they appear on the podcast and the number is the track number on the album. If you click on the album cover, you can listen to the album via We7.com.

5. Die By The Drop
3. The Difference Between Us
7. Gasoline
2. Hustle And Cuss
1. Blue Blood Blues
10. Jawbreaker

June 7th, 2010
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The New Pornographers – Together
We kick off our first review by looking at the new album from The New Pornographers called Together. It’s the band’s fifth studio album and was released on Matador Records May 4th, 2010. Now, while the band certainly didn’t start off a supergroup, the band members have gradually all done solo records and gain notoriety of their own. Members Neko Case, AC Newman, Dan Bejar and Todd Fancey have all released solo records with varying degrees of critical and commercial success. With Together, the band have firmly found their groove and sound very comfortable in their own skin. The music is exactly what you would expect from a band that has been at the forefront of the mellower side of indie rock music.

As always, the tracks below are listed in the order they appear on the podcast and the number is the track number on the album. If you click on the album cover, you can listen to the album via We7.com.

12. We End Up Together
1. Moves
6. My Shepherd
3. Your Hands (Together)
4. Silver Jenny Dollar
9. Valkyrie In The Roller Disco

June 6th, 2010
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Pop Culture for the Week of May 30th, 2010
Today we have a great set of pop culture shout outs that you should see. Alex endorses the Six Degrees of Black Sabbath website. It’s really worth checking out and a great time waster. Kelly endorses the really funny fake Twitter account BP Public Relations. (My favorite Tweet: “We’d like to thank David Vitter for his support, nobody knows more about drilling in the wrong places.”) Jeff endorses the new album/DVD by David Cross called Bigger and Blackerer.

June 6th, 2010
Categories: Podcasts, Pop Culture . Author: Jeff . Comments: No Comments

Crystal-Castles – Crystal Castles (2010)
Today we journey up north to our friends in Canada to review the new album by Crystal Castles. Confusingly, the sophomore studio album is their second to be self titled. Crystal Castles, the 2010 version, was originally set to have a hard release at the beginning of June, but due to mass leakage was released in digital format April 23, 2010. Ethan Kath, one half of the duo, produced the album in various locations including a church in Iceland, a self built cabin in northern Ontario, a garage behind an abandoned convenience store in Detroit, and one song recorded in a London studio. The band has continued to bring fuzzed out electroclash/indiewave music to adoring fans. This album doesn’t stray too far from their last album and should prove to still be a hit amongst tastemakers.

As always, the tracks below are listed in the order they appear on the podcast and the number is the track number on the album. If you click on the album cover, you can listen to the album via We7.com.

2. Celestica
1. Fainting Spells
11. Pap Smear
9. Vietnam
5. Year Of Silence

June 3rd, 2010
Categories: Podcasts . Author: Jeff . Comments: No Comments

Pop Culture for the Week of May 23rd, 2010
So this is a BIT dated but they’re still there for you to check out. Asher endorses the Philly Flyers kicking lots of ass, (They’ve even made it to the Stanley Cup finals!) Angie endorses Better Off Ted (and saving the damn show), Lindsay endorses the last episode of Lost, and Jeff endorses the re-launch of the BBC podcast A History of the World in 100 Objects. Enjoy!

June 3rd, 2010
Categories: Podcasts, Pop Culture . Author: Jeff . Comments: No Comments

The Black Keys – Brothers
Today we focus our sights on the new album by the Black Keys called Brothers. It’s the band’s sixth studio album and was released on Nonesuch Records May 18th, 2010. The Akron, Ohio based duo pump out blues revival rock that is at times so muddy that it’s delicious. For this go-around, the band have decided to produce the album themselves and try to find some of that bluesy magic again. The result is a pretty standard and straightforward blues and psych rock album that takes a few twists and turns throughout the journey.

As always, the tracks below are listed in the order they appear on the podcast and the number is the track number on the album. If you click on the album cover, you can listen to the album via We7.com.

8. Too Afraid to Love
6. Black Mud
9. Ten Cent Pistol
3. Tighten Up
14. Never Gonna Give You Up

June 2nd, 2010
Categories: Podcasts . Author: Jeff . Comments: No Comments

Dr Who 4 – The D&D Alignment Edition
For our Dr Who edition of the podcast, we today take a look at the episode 7 (Amy’s Choice) and episode 8 (The Hungary Earth). We delve into the issues of the Doctor as a D&D Alignment, reflect on Matt Smith’s portrayal of the Doctor and totally slag off the Eighth Doctor. We also go all heavy-like on y’all by talking about the colonial implications with the Silurians and the great interrogation scene between the Doctor and Alaya.

The podcast is quite long and we apologise for the length. We’ll try to keep it down to an hour next time.

Asher’s questions this week include an essay question! They are:
1) a. Do you think the Dream Lord featured in Amy’s Choice is an early version of the Valeyard? Back up your reasoning! b. In Amy’s Choice, we were lead to believe that Rory had died. Name all of the companions (They must have travelled in the TARDIS from one place to another at least once) that died whilst on an adventure with the Doctor.
2) What Dr Who monster/villain returned to the series after a 40 year absence?

Our Dr Who Wild Cards this week are as follows: For all the Dr Who classic series novices, Jeff decided to do a bit of homework for the podcast and watched the 7 part introduction to the Silurians via YouTube. Libby has found the gift of audiobooks and recommends you check out some of the classic series Dr Who audio recordings at your nearest library. Asher would love it if you checked out a great Dr Who animated storyboard via Rich’s ComixBlog who has put together a great story featuring a lot of the past Dr Who characters. It’s quite good if you have the time to read it.

June 2nd, 2010
Categories: Dr Who, Podcasts . Author: Jeff . Comments: No Comments

Gogol Bordello – Trans-Continental Hustle
Today we take a look at the new album by New York based Gypsy-Punk band Gogol Bordello called Trans-Continental Hustle. It’s a follow up to 2007’s Super Tranta! and was released on American Recordings April 27th, 2010. The band has a huge line-up of instrumentalists and vocalists and usually features some really great and intense live shows. With this album, not only is it Gogol Bordello’s debut album on a major label but it’s also produced by super-producer Rick Rubin. The main subject matter of the album is based on Eugene Hutz’s experience living in Brazil, which is where he currently calls home. With Trans-Continental Hustle, the band has decidedly calmed down quite a bit. So, instead of in your face Gypsy-Punk, the album features more nuanced dynamics and mid-tempo songs.

As always, the tracks below are listed in the order they appear on the podcast and the number is the track number on the album. If you click on the album cover, you can listen to the album via We7.com.

1. Pala Tute
4. Rebellious Love
12. Break the Spell
10. To Rise Above
6. When Universes Collide

May 31st, 2010
Categories: Podcasts . Author: Jeff . Comments: No Comments

Jakob Dylan – Women + Country
OK, so Alex swears that he got this to me earlier. As it might have gotten caught in my spam catcher, I apologise for releasing this late. It should have come out a few weeks ago during the solo reviews.
Anyway, this is Alex’s review of the new album by Jakob Dylan called Women + Country. I didn’t assign it. He WANTED to review it. Although for the regular listeners, this will not surprise anyone.

May 30th, 2010
Categories: Podcasts, Solo Review . Author: Jeff . Comments: No Comments

LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
Our album up for review today is the new one by James Murphy aka LCD Soundsystem called This Is Happening. It’s his third studio album under the LCD Soundsystem name and a follow up to the highly acclaimed and English-approved 2007 album Sound of Silver. This Is Happening was released on DFA Records May 17th 2010. LCD Soundsystem has made a splash by being the band-of-the-moment and integrating dance and punk music to great effect. James Murphy, who is also founder of DFA Records, has said that this album will be his last under the LCD Soundsystem name but will continue to make music with other projects. This Is Happening doesn’t really stray to far away from the first two albums and has done a good job to give red meat to the rabid fans.

As always, the tracks below are listed in the order they appear on the podcast and the number is the track number on the album. If you click on the album cover, you can listen to the album via We7.com.

2. Drunk Girls
5. I Can Change
7. Pow Pow
8. Somebody’s Calling Me
1. Dance Yrself Clean
3. One Touch

May 28th, 2010
Categories: Podcasts . Author: Jeff . Comments: No Comments