If you wished the Drums would have detoured from the eighties synth-rock they’ve been pumping for almost eight years now, you’re gonna be really disappointed. Portamento is full of the same Joy Division-esque bass-thumping and keyboard-bellowing that original members Jonathan Pierce and Jacob Graham’s spilled on their debut, as well as their project Elkland that disbanded right before the dawn of this duo. However, if you happen to be a gigantic fan of the Drums, or at least mildly enjoyed [...]
Archive for Category: "Reviews"
Tripper – Hella review
Blissed out hippies beware. Tripper isn’t for you if you’re into lying in the tie-dyed grass, closing your eyes and listening to quiet, breath-like atmospheric shit. But, you know, you could very well like lying in the silent grass and still dig this if you’re a musically diverse person who appreciates many different ways of approaching style and sound and so in that case, MDMA dancers, ditzy junkies, shallow flamers and hard addicts of Peter Paul and Mary, all are [...]
Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost review
Father, Son, Holy Ghost is an unlikely title choice for an album that stays true to the modern musical standards of sex, drugs and rock and roll. Then again, Girls are a band comprised entirely of males so maybe outright contradiction is their thing. Or maybe for their title they exchanged the international garage band triumvirate for the paradigm of trinities because they’re just that clever. And maybe Girls is a nod to those who obviously inspire some of their [...]
St. Vincent – Strange Mercy review
St. Vincent wasn’t on my radar prior to late spring of 2009, even though the band had already released an album two years before. My wife and I were set to head to Bonnaroo in a couple months and, in preparation, were listening to as much music as we could get our hands on from dozens of bands in the lineup, St. Vincent being among them. So, Actor was in the rotation. I wasn’t sure what to make of St. [...]
Bush – The Sea of Memories album review
Following a decade-long hiatus and the subsequent reunion spearheaded by front man, Gavin Rossdale, British rockers, Bush have released a sparkly new album. The Sea of Memories is not quite what old fans may expect, though it seems to me that it’s the right step towards a hearty and forceful comeback that might actually give them a few more years in the business. The first indication of discrepancy between this release and those prior is Rossdale’s choice of producer. This [...]
Lady Antebellum – Own The Night review
Lady Antebellum’s third album, “Own The Night,” truly has a song for just about anyone. Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott blend their vocal strengths wonderfully over the twelve tracks, and Dave Haywood provides vocal backup and instrumental support. Though definitely a country album (banjos, mandolins, and acoustic guitars largely make up the instrumental background), the variety of songs and topics covered makes it an album that many people can appreciate. The album opens with “We Owned The Night,” an energetic [...]
Grimes – Geidi Primes review
I put this review off for a while. I stashed this album away in my iTunes library and went to a few too many concerts, took about two thousand pictures, and then realized, “Oh yeah, I’ve got that review to write about Grimes, but I’m seeing her open for Arcade Fire so I’m going to wait until I see her stuff live and then I’ll finally write the review.” Montreal musician Grimes has put out a new album called “Geidi [...]
Neon Indian – Era Extraña album review
Neon Indian’s sophomore album, Era Extraña, is a bit softer than 2009’s debut Psychic Chasms. The synth back beats still provide a foundation for founding artist Alan Palomo’s breathy vocals, and he continues to use ebullient sound effects and swooping video game sounds, but where Psychic Chasms bears a similarity to fellow chillwave pioneers, Com Truise (with whom Neon Indian is scheduled to tour soon), Era Extraña’s tinkly blur is a bit closer to the swirl and lash of Washed [...]
Slow Club – Paradise review
Slow Club’s second album, Paradise is a reminder to all that relationships can bring us happiness. This indie pop England duo knows how embrace those percussions and are not afraid of being open. It’s surprising that there are only two members in this band considering the whole lotta sound they produce. Slow Club reminds me of an English version of Mates of State-a male and female ensemble pop duo with harmonizing melodies. There are certain elements which make Paradise stand [...]
Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost review
“Father, Son, Holy Ghost” sounds like a tortured version of wholesome Christian family band pop. It has influences of the Beach Boys, the Everly Brothers, and good 50s rock and roll and pop music in songs about drugs and bad relationships. Owens’s lyrics aren’t cool or self-conscious. He’s candid and open with his emotions to the point of almost sounding self-absorbed, but it never burdens the wholesome pop vibe. If you’ve ever listened a Beach Boys album or to some [...]
