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Vincent Vincent and the Villains Gospel Bombs [EMI/Mar 10] |
| I have been looking forward to Vincent Vincent’s debut LP since first hearing a few tracks a few years ago (most notably “End of the Night”). The Villains’ style of retro rockabilly-meets-samba would fit quite comfortably on a Quentin Tarantino soundtrack — at times delving into Caribbean-flavored lounge jams, then harking back to a classic whammy-bar tantrum that brings Roy Orbison or Ennio Morricone to mind. Vincent’s stylized vocals are strong and heartfelt, giving the record an irresistable vintage charm not heard from many other neo-retro bands.
RIYL: Tiger Army, Roy Orbison, The Rumble Strips, Richard Hell & the Voidoids, Sublime |
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vincent vincent and the villains - gospel bombs (2008)
By drunkie mcdramaqueen, March 25th, 2008 | RSS feed |
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---------------- Music, 2008 albums
crystal castles - crystal castles (2008)
By drunkie mcdramaqueen, March 25th, 2008 | RSS feed |
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Crystal Castles Crystal Castles [Last Gang/Mar 18] |
| Crystal Castles’ long awaited full-length debut finally leaked a few weeks ago and was released just a few weeks later (the difficulty of finding a decent leak of this album was on par to finding the Team Sleep debut a few years ago). And though it only contains a few new tracks, this record is by far the best release of 2008 to date. Smothered in 8-bit terror and synthy aural candy and out-of-this-world vocal manipulation and otherwise pure insanity, Crystal Castles continue to show why they are the greatest band in the world right now. The new tracks keep the band’s renowned nightmare freakscapes while adding an even more dancable vibe, creating a blistering fusion of intensity and melody.
RIYL: The Knife, Health, New Young Pony Club, CSS |
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m83 - saturdays = youth (2008)
By drunkie mcdramaqueen, March 25th, 2008 | RSS feed |
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M83 Saturdays = Youth [Mute/Apr 14] |
| M83’s fourth proper album moves even further into the lush, 80s-synthpop-cum-post-rock territory that recent releases have suggested, resulting in a typically inconsistent record filled with mediocrity that occasionally stumbles onto something great. The problem with M83 has always been inconsistency — with stunning, synth-soaked MBV-styled freakouts such as “*” and “Unrecorded” paired with boring post-rock that ambles along but never really goes anywhere (I won’t even get into the awful “Cyborg”). Anthony Gonzalez seems to be moving in a more mellow direction, which is unfortunate, as the aforementioned wall-of-sound is the reason we all fell in love with M83 in the first place. And though there are a few gems to be heard here (“Couleurs”, “Dark Moves of Love”), Saturdays = Youth is the least impressive M83 album to date — featuring boring vocals and bland soundscapes that do not live up to the promise laid out by earlier releases.
RIYL: Ova Looven, Cut Copy, Sigur Ros, Hooverphonic |
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silver jews - lookout mountain, lookout sea (2008)
By drunkie mcdramaqueen, March 25th, 2008 | RSS feed |
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Silver Jews Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea [Drag City/Jun 17] |
| The latest offering from the prolific indie mainstay David Berman isn’t as instantly accessible as some of his older work (read: American Water), however, it definitely creeps up after multiple listens. The lack of Stephen Malkmus is particularly notable (his touring backing band has much more of a pentience for americana-styled guitarplay), but Berman’s brilliant, literary lyrics and deadpan delivery are as clever and witty as ever. Though not his best work, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea is certainly a worthy companion in Silver Jews’ catalogue.
RIYL: Stephen Malkmus, Pavement, Okkervil River |
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