Album Reviews – Page 7

MEN try to fill the Le Tigre void with Talk About Body

[Full disclosure: I’m an avid Le Tigre fan] After Le Tigre went on hiatus in 2007, there has been an empty void that was once filled by their dance/electronica music about feminism and left-wing social commentary. IT’S BEEN FOUR LONG YEARS but we now have something to come and fill that void! But can MEN,… Continue reading MEN try to fill the Le Tigre void with Talk About Body

Lia Ices casts her spell on Grown Unknown

I hadn’t heard much of Lia Ices, if anything at all, until I heard “Grown Unknown,” the teaser track off her similarly-titled album. Immediately captivated by the simple combination of Ices’ echoing vocals and sparse instruments, including my favorite – hand claps, I began to wonder: were we getting another Glasser here? It seemed so… Continue reading Lia Ices casts her spell on Grown Unknown

Fujiya & Miyagi leave the listener waiting for something new on Ventriloquizzing

Hoping for a less monotonous record compared to 2008’s Lightbulbs from a group who dazzle a live audience, Ventriloquizzing is a typically synth-heavy offering with songs that, just when one thinks they will go to “that place” and crescendo–DO SOMETHING–go nowhere. Sigh. Laden with whispery vocals throughout, it’s difficult to distinguish one track from the… Continue reading Fujiya & Miyagi leave the listener waiting for something new on Ventriloquizzing

Deerhoof challenge fans and foes alike on Deerhoof vs. Evil

This album should have been titled Deerhoof vs. Preconceived Notions of Music. Over the last decade, Deerhoof has been the lovable band known best by cutesy frontwoman Satomi Matsuzaki and their ever-evolving, always odd sound. Since 2002’s Reveille, the band hasn’t made a bad or even mediocre record. They have continued to shock, awe and… Continue reading Deerhoof challenge fans and foes alike on Deerhoof vs. Evil

Destroyer romps through the ’80s with Kaputt

Did you ever notice that the longer you sit in the waiting room at the doctor’s office the more appealing those smooth soft-rock sounds become? You know perfectly well that this music is not what you want to hear, it really gets under your skin, but what can you do? You try and tune it… Continue reading Destroyer romps through the ’80s with Kaputt

Iron & Wine venture into unexpected territory on Kiss Each Other Clean

Honestly, I hadn’t listened to Iron & Wine much in the past five years. 2004’s Our Endless Numbered Days–and even moreso non-album tracks “No Moon” and “Sinning Hands”–was my “fall asleep” music in my first year of grad school. But I hadn’t paid much attention to Sam Beam’s latest work, so I expected more gentle whispers over… Continue reading Iron & Wine venture into unexpected territory on Kiss Each Other Clean

Ducktails’ Ducktails III: Arcade Dynamics is beautifully built, easy to miss

The cover of Ducktails III: Arcade Dynamics sort of says it all. We see a nondescript building beside some body of water on what could be a warm summer evening. Everything reflects in the calm waters, a still and serene picture seen through a washed out, hazy filter. At first glance the photo is of… Continue reading Ducktails’ Ducktails III: Arcade Dynamics is beautifully built, easy to miss

Smith Westerns polish off their charm on Dye It Blonde

When Smith Westerns first jumped onto the scene two years ago, they were just a ragtag group of kids (all under 20 years old) making surprisingly mature Nuggets-era garage rock. The songs on their self-titled debut were full of spunk, energy and enough great hooks to make your head spin. Two years later, they’ve released… Continue reading Smith Westerns polish off their charm on Dye It Blonde

The Decemberists escape to the country on The King Is Dead

When I fired up this new Decemberists album for the first time I was blown away by how much it sounded like Tom Petty. That’s right, Tom Petty. Specifically, Tom Petty’s hit “You Don’t Know How It Feels.” During the course of those first strange 15 seconds of “Don’t Carry It All,” the opening track… Continue reading The Decemberists escape to the country on The King Is Dead