Kashmir "E.A.R." (2013)

E.A.R.
release date: Mar. 18, 2013
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,25]
producer: Kashmir
label: Columbia Records / Sony Music - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 2. "Piece of the Sun" - 3. "Peace in the Heart" - 4. "Seraphina" - 7. "Purple Heart"

7th studio album by Kashmir. The album's title is apparently an abbreviation for 'Eternally Amplified Restlessness' [!] - whatever that is supposed to suggest! The album marks yet another change of style into more bold dream pop. It also introduces sampling taken from electronic styles. There's a quiet and ambient feel to several songs as heard on chamber pop, art pop releases, making me think of Teitur ("Piece of the Sun") and / or Efterklang, Agnes Obel, or Sigur Rós. As usual, when Kashmir incorporates new styles and genres in its music, it hardly ever sounds original, and neither does this. This is yet another mediocre release from Kashmir.

Kashmir "Trespassers" (2010)

Trespassers
release date: Feb. 1, 2010
format: cd
[album rate: 2 / 5] [2,05]
producer: Kashmir, Andy Wallace, John O'Mahony
label: Columbia Records / Sony Music - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Mouthful of Wasps" (2,5 / 5) - 2. "Intruder" (3 / 5) - 3. "Mantaray"

6th studio album by Kashmir is yet another not so original album release with music strongly inspired by (mostly British) artists like Radiohead, Coldplay and bits of new stylistic elements in its universe taken from post-punk revival artists like Editors and Interpol. The track "Mouthful of Wasps" featuring Oh Land on vocals was played so often on the national radio stations P3 and P4 that I had to turn off my radio - it's simply not a fine song - at the best it's mediocre (this album isn't even that), and that's really a fitting label for this copy-band, but don't say that to a Dane - they are so proud of Kashmir, and Eistrup is such a gifted songwriter (there). The bass, guitar and drum lines are Radiohead-founded to a degree that makes me wonder: WHY not try something else??? And no, I don't mean when you add a piano-sequence from a Coldplay track! That doesn't make it any better.

Kashmir "No Balance Palace" (2005)

No Balance Palace
release date: Oct. 10, 2005
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,32]
producer: Tony Visconti
label: Columbia Records - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Kalifornia" - 4. "Ophelia" - 7. "She's Made of Chalk"

5th studio album by Kashmir who continue its style founded on Radiohead art rock with a new certain twist of dream pop. The prominent stars David Bowie and Lou Reed both feature on one song each on the album (tracks #3, and #10 respectively), and one may add that also producer Tony Visconti is a prominent guest artist. The setup and the dreams are certainly present. The music, however, mostly leaves me indifferent. Some of the songs are rather nicely arranged but the sources are as always too evident, and Kasper Eistrup is simply trying too hard to sound like either Thom Yorke or Chris Martin instead of finding out how to just be an original. The dream pop element doesn't come out very successfully. It only makes me think of it as Mew, Radiohead and Coldplay in one huge melting pot - I mean, that could be meaningful and original, but this is not.

Kashmir "Zitilites" (2003)

Zitilites
release date: Mar. 3, 2003
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,78]
producer: Kashmir
label: Sony - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Rocket Brothers" - 2. "Surfing the Warm Industry" - 7. "Ramparts"

4th studio album by Kashmir who basically continue its own blend founded on other artists' music. The title is a play with words as it's supposed to be pronounced "City Lights". The band has been expanded to a quartet as Henrik Lindstrand has joined as permanent member playing keyboards and guitar. Completely gone are the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam influence. Radiohead ("Surfing the Warm Industry" and heard on other tracks) still plays a major role in shaping the band's musical universe but more so is Coldplay ("Rocket Brothers", "Ramparts", etc.) now a more obvious source of inspiration. Despite not really being a recommended listen, this is in my mind the band's best effort.

Kashmir "The Good Life" (1999)

The Good Life
release date: Jun. 7, 1999
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,33]
producer: Joshua (Jon Schumann) and Kashmir
label: Start / Sony - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Mom in Love, Daddy in Space" - 4. "Graceland"

3rd studio album by Kashmir, and here produced by Kent producer Joshua. Here, the band has changed its style somewhat and moved away from the grunge rock element. It's also evident that it's still not that original as they now found the music more on alt. rock as played by Pearl Jam and / or art rock as played by Radiohead.
I only regret purchasing this album beacuse I found the first track quite good - for some time, at last.

Kashmir "Cruzential" (1996)

Cruzential
release date: 1996
format: cd
[album rate: 2 / 5] [2,15]
producer: Ron Saint Germain
label: Sony - nationality: Denmark

2nd studio album by Kashmir. Stylistically, the band continue its copy-paste of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam blend of alt. rock and grunge rock. It's not really original, and like the debut really not recommended.

Kashmir "Travelogue" (1994)

Travelogue
release date: Feb. 17, 1994
format: cd
[album rate: 2 / 5] [2,05]
producer: Poul Martin Bonde
label: Start Electric - nationality: Denmark

Studio debut album by the Danish alt.rock, indie rock and grunge rock trio Kashmir, consisting of Kasper Eistrup on vocals and lead guitar, Mads Tunebjerg on bass, and with Asger Techau on drums. Stylistically, the band base its sound on Red Hot Chili Peppers funky alt. rock style in a mix with grunge rock from Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins. On the national scene, however, the band experienced huge success with its releases, and Kashmir found itself in a league with the best new rock artists especially including (better and more original bands like) Dizzy Mizz Lizzy and Psyched Up Janis - the latter being my personal favorites.
To me, this is pastiche alt. rock and not recommended :-/