Naturally, when there are two “sides” to an album, I listen to it in the order it’s given to me. Like an album is supposed to be listened to. I was plenty excited to hear Field Music’s newest (larger than) full-length as Tones of Town and Field Music were past favorites and I thought when… Continue reading On Field Music’s Measure, disc two exceeds disc one by leaps and bounds
Tag: Album Reviews
Yeasayer brilliantly balances pop and experimental on Odd Blood
Just over a year ago, Animal Collective released an album that I noted was “a great balance between art and pop,” a trend that continued thoughout 2009, the year that experimental indie bands began to embrace pop sentiments and make amazing albums. Without missing a beat, Yeasayer gives their own brilliant take on experimental and… Continue reading Yeasayer brilliantly balances pop and experimental on Odd Blood
Massive Attack is inconsistent, but ultimately gratifying, on Heligoland
2010 is the year of the archipelago, it seems. Having already mentioned Shearwater’s upcoming The Golden Archipelago quite a few times, we can now dive into Massive Attack’s Heligoland, named after the German archipelago in the North Sea. What is it about archipelagos that makes us want to associate them with music? I suppose the… Continue reading Massive Attack is inconsistent, but ultimately gratifying, on Heligoland
Hot Chip gets serious, evolves on One Life Stand
Hey remember Hot Chip, that quirky electro dance band that always keeps it silly and fun? Well let me introduce you to Hot Chip, that quirky sometimes quirky electro dance electro dance-influenced indie band that always keeps it silly and fun sometimes keeps it silly and fun but suffers from heartbreak, just like the rest of… Continue reading Hot Chip gets serious, evolves on One Life Stand
U.S. Girls plays off impulses, raw emotion on Go Grey
If 2008 was the year for lo-fi and 2009 was the year for thoughtful experimentation (not necessarily so, but), perhaps 2010 will be the year for thoughtful lo-fi experimentation. Perhaps. Or perhaps it will just be the year that U.S. Girls came onto the scene with a wonderfully lo-fi experimental album that fuses basic tribal… Continue reading U.S. Girls plays off impulses, raw emotion on Go Grey
Why wasn’t Malachai’s Ugly Side Of Love released here ages ago??
Ok, somebody please explain to me how this whole album releases in the U.S./UK thing works, because I’m LOST (no appropriately timed pun intended). Bristol band Malachai released their debut full-length, Ugly Side Of Love, last year in the UK, but it didn’t make it across the Atlantic until this week. What’s the deal? Is… Continue reading Why wasn’t Malachai’s Ugly Side Of Love released here ages ago??
Midlake is pretty much pretty great on The Courage of Others
Midlake is a lot like a musical chimera. But not in a bad way; it’s more of a badass chimera, like one you’d fight in Final Fantasy X (shut up). I say that because the base of the music is generally acoustic, and a lot of “folk” generalizations can be made about the band. But… Continue reading Midlake is pretty much pretty great on The Courage of Others
The Album Leaf’s A Chorus Of Storytellers is just that; and it’s breathtaking
It’s necessary to start this review with a disclaimer. I have been in love (no hyperbole) with The Album Leaf since I first heard Jimmy LaValle’s project over a decade ago (heh). So, every time a new album comes out, it’s difficult for me to think about anything in an objective light, and contrary to… Continue reading The Album Leaf’s A Chorus Of Storytellers is just that; and it’s breathtaking
Toro Y Moi just makes great, chilled out music on Causers Of This
Causers Of This is a lot like a bullet train (go with me on this). If you’re on board with it, it’s a beautiful and impressive experience. But if you let it, it will pass you in a second, leaving behind a trail just impressive enough to make you chase after for another chance (if… Continue reading Toro Y Moi just makes great, chilled out music on Causers Of This
Charlotte Gainsbourg needs “umph” on IRM
The Urban Dictionary defines “Umph” as lots of strange sexual things, but I’ve always understood the word to mean that little extra power to make something great. Like “My car just needs a little more umph to get up this hill” or “This amp could use a little more umph to really ROCK” or “Charlotte… Continue reading Charlotte Gainsbourg needs “umph” on IRM