January | 2012 | TRAINWRECK'D SOCIETY

Mainly Lanes: Oomami [Album]

January 30, 2012 by rontrembathiii 4 Comments

There is something so wonderful about simply “having” to love a group. When you discover a new band that seems to fit the prototype of exactly what you want to hear, it is a beautiful thing. What is even more special is when said band steps upon your line of acceptance, and kicks it into a zig zag pattern that pushes your own limitations, and exposes you to fresh new ideas you might have never considered. This is exactly what Mainly Lanes have done to standard indie pop on their debut album, Oomami. They take seemingly ambitious and joy oriented pop songs, and stabs them in the proverbial throat with lyrics about suicide, isolation, and why you are an asshole.

Now, Mainly Lane’s Alanis Morissette circa ’95 attitude is not always prevalent. For example, the track “Global Warming”, though the word “hate” is thrown in more than the word “ass” in an Akon song, it’s lyrics are much more lovely (I hate global warming/ because I want to go snowboarding with you!). “My Hero”, with it’s incredibly mild attitude yet pain staking violent lyrics, features a strange Opera like interlude in the middle of the track that is so perfectly out of place that it fits oh so well (look for an even greater example in “Keep The Quit”). The entire play list of Oomami is one that slips and slides through a spectacular bevy of emotions that are definitely worth a full listen.

Front woman Toni Zaman’s vocals are very much in tune with the more smiling and pretty side of indie pop, but Mainly Lanes goes beyond such simplicity. And Oomami is a brilliantly developed exposure of their insatiable seperation from the relaxed and flower riddled sort of indie pop we are used to hearing from female fronted groups. This is not to say these happy go lucky songstresses aren’t wonderful, but this is a group that disregards any sort of standard stereotypes you could possibly try and throw their way.

Filed under Music

Top 37 1/2 Albums of 2011

January 8, 2012 by rontrembathiii 2 Comments

One more year has come and gone. Reflecting on 2011 can leave a person feeling estranged and severely disoriented. From Occupy Wall Street, all the way back to Middle East uprisings, to the death of Osama Bin Laden….it was definitely a strange year. But, what a year for music! Hell, even the big whigs at the major record companies saw some improvement (of which at least one should be kissing Adele’s ass hard). But, when Arcade Fire took home the bacon at the Grammy’s, it became pretty obvious that the indie crowd would come out on top.

Although this is the first “end of year list” for Trainwreck’d, anyone who has seen a list I have created in the past, will see some very familiar faces. Not so ironically, he whole stole the top prize this year, was also top dog last year. This is my third list I’ve created in my tenor as a music blogger. And some of these artists are making their third appearances. Maybe I’m scared of change, but I’m leaning more towards the idea that they are awesome and extremely dedicated artists. We also have a very broad range of music here! Everything from garage rock, hip hop, electronic, folk, and good old fashioned indie rock. Very few stones are left to gather moss this year.

And all that rambling being said, let’s get this show on the road. I present to you, Trainwreck’d Society’s Top 37 1/2 Albums of 2011. Enjoy!

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