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Yeasayer Alll Hour Cymbals [We Are Free/Oct 23] |
| Honestly I have no idea wtf took me so long to listen to (and then to write about) this experimental NYC band, dudes (and/or dudettes). I do tend to go in cycles when it comes to the neo-psychedelia of Animal Collective, Panda Bear, et al., so I guess it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that it took a few months after downloading this album to give it a fair listen. But seeing as I am seeing these dudes with Man Man next month, I have been randomly playing this album more than I normally would, and I have to admit it’s killer. The one-two punch of “Sunrise” and “Wait For the Summer” sets the tone for a brilliant foray through the acid-tendered influence of 60s flower bands or into the theoretical traveling insanity of the Elephant 6 Collective having mated with Paw Tracks. Consider All Hour Cymbals a belated entry in my favorite albums of 2007.
RIYL: Animal Collective, Panda Bear, 13th Floor Elevators, Love, Radiohead, Man Man |
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yeasayer - all hour cymbals (2007)
By drunkie mcdramaqueen, April 8th, 2008 | RSS feed |
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---------------- Music, 2008 albums
the notwist - the devil, you + me (2008)
By drunkie mcdramaqueen, April 7th, 2008 | RSS feed |
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The Notwist The Devil, You + Me [City Slang/May???] |
| It has been 6 years since The Notwist released their stunning masterpiece “Neon Golden”, so…needless to say I was ttly stoked to give this record a listen when it leaked last month. To my chagrin, though, the band’s focus seems to have moved much closer toward the sleepy, dream-inducing lap-pop that has previously acted only as meandering segues between brilliance. Though the tracks to be found here are nothing too stylistically different than some of the softer moments from “Neon Golden”, an entire record of it is somewhat tedious and — dare I say, boring. With the exception of the album’s opener, there are hardly any energetic moments here — certainly nothing in the same spectrum of amazingness as “Pilot”, and that is unfortunate :(
RIYL: Styrofoam, Lali Puna, Ms. John Soda, Dntel |
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witch hats - cellulite soul (2008)
By drunkie mcdramaqueen, April 4th, 2008 | RSS feed |
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Witch Hats Cellulite Soul [In-Fidelity/Mar 1] |
| I have been anxiously awaiting a Witch Hats full-length ever since hearing their 2006 EP Wound of a Little Horse, and O.M.G. does this record deliver in every possible way. Kris Buscombe’s guttural vocals perfectly match the band’s grungy, Nirvana-influenced palate. The explosive breakdowns of the EP aren’t quite as dramatic here, but the energy is everywhere. The fevered, frantic tone of each song blends into the next, creating a sort of catastrophic sounding cacophony of melodic noise. Cellulite Soul is easily one of the best releases to date this year.
RIYL: Nirvana, The Pixies, Die! Die! Die!, Pidgeon, The Distillers, Liars |
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the kills - midnight boom (2008)
By drunkie mcdramaqueen, April 3rd, 2008 | RSS feed |
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The Kills Midnight Boom [Domino/Mar 10] |
| Though I have admittedly not listened to The Kills with any regularity since their 2003 debut, I also lack an explanation as to why (I loved that album). Having downloaded their latest LP a couple of months ago, I randomly put it on again last week and something clicked — namely that this album is brilliant. Probably better than Keep On Your Mean Side, even. The band’s raw songs are as catchy as ever, and the production is perfectly abrasive. VV’s vocals are spot on, with a heavy reliance on melodic PJ Harvey-styled causticity. And the mellow moments (“Black Balloon” and the stunning closer “Goodnight Bad Morning”) add a delicate, complimentary flavor to the edgy mood that surrounds.
RIYL: The White Stripes, PJ Harvey, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Raveonettes, Mary Timony |
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devotchka - a mad & faithful telling (2008)
By drunkie mcdramaqueen, April 2nd, 2008 | RSS feed |
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DeVotchKa A Mad & Faithful Telling [Anti-Records/Mar 18] |
| Though I have never been too enamored by the gypsy-laced music of DeVotchKa, 2004’s “How It Ends” as well as their appearance on the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack certainly have their moments. A Mad & Faithful Telling stays true to the band’s eccentricity and maintains a willingness to experiment, though the tracks on this record are somewhat more somber than their recent work. At times Nick Urata’s warbling vocals are strangely reminiscent of Radiohead, while other times meandering into the spaghetti western territory paved by Ennio Morricone. Fans of the band should not be disappointed by this release, though I personally prefer the temperament of their recent past.
RIYL: Calexico, Radiohead, Beirut, Ennio Morricone |
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vincent vincent and the villains - gospel bombs (2008)
By drunkie mcdramaqueen, March 25th, 2008 | RSS feed |
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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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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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colour revolt - plunder, beg, and curse (2008)
By drunkie mcdramaqueen, February 26th, 2008 | RSS feed |
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Colour Revolt Plunder, Beg, and Curse [Fat Possum/Apr 1] |
| I have been looking forward to Colour Revolt’s first full-length ever since hearing their self-titled EP a few years ago, and this release delivers on all counts. The raw, abrasive attitude of the EP has been slightly toned down in favor of a muddier, more introspective tone — lending the record a mature, slow-paced drawl that snakes around like a dirty southern creek littered with weeds and leeches. Yet, this subtle shift in songwriting enhances the band’s strengths even moreso, resulting in a strong record that reveals more of its secrets with each successive listen.
RIYL: Kings of Leon, We Barbarians, My Morning Jacket, Okkervil River |
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