Heartbeat (Kodo 25th Anniversary) - Kodo

I always thought of Africa when I thought of drumming.  This included products of the African diaspora like Brazil (Olodum), Cuban rhythms, etc.  This is a stereotype most people hold I would guess.  I was watching OvationTV, a station I only recently discovered and they had a special on Kodo.  This album is kind of a best of and contains many of the pieces performed by Kodo in that particular show.  I would say this group is much more of an act to see live.  There is a very important visual aspect to it including the movements and positions of the drummers, the size of the drums and how they are attacked, and additional dancers.  Some of that is lost in an audio recording, but the rhythms and melodies (played on on the fue and shamisen) are enough.

Kodo is a taiko drumming troupe.  Members begin as apprentices living within the Kodo village community until they are full time members.  This makes Kodo a very large, very tight knit, and very serious group.  They play traditional Japanese rhythms and melodies combined with compositions by contemporary composers and their own members.

Played in Space - Something Corporate

This was my favorite band in college.  Now they have this compilation album, which seems a little weird since they've only released two full length albums.  In the meantime, Andrew McMahon has been working on his solo project, Jack's Mannequin, and battling leukemia.  Both bands have a great sound.  McMahon hit the keys with the same passion in his voice and songs are melodically well put together.  This album features remakes of songs that were a little raw when they were first leaked on the internet or unofficially released.  Some of these songs including "Wait" and "Letters to Noelle" were my favorites.  Its maybe better to buy this album on Itunes since that is the only way to get "Letters to Noelle" and then go back and buy the rest of the songs on North and Leaving Through the Window.  Ultimately it is the second disc of the set that makes it worth buying.  "Watch the Sky" and "Konstantine" finally make it on an album, where they belong.  It's very exciting that Something Corporate is back on tour, although with very limited dates, but I'm eagerly awaiting new songs from either this band, even with new members, or Jack's Mannequin.