Artist- Six Organs of Admittance
Album- Asleep on the Floodplain
Label- Drag City
Six Organs of Admittance is primarily the project of guitarist Ben Chasny, a major player in the freak-folk scene of the early 2000’s (notably memorialized in the 2004 compilation Golden Apples of the Sun curated by Devendra Barnhardt). On his fifth album for Drag City, Chasny strays away from the oft-cutesy BS side of freakfolk and instead turns melancholy and images of the drifting American west. Chasny’s gentle voice and fragmented lyrics never overpowers the simple and sometimes psychedelic guitar pickings. SOOA’s new album is a spacious work, and anyone who digs Devendra Barnhart, Jack Rose or Sir Richard Bishop should check this out.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Anna Calvi
Artist- Anna Calvi
Album- Anna Calvi
Label- Domino
Anna Calvi: perhaps the new PJ Harvey? Brian Eno is her personal mentor and calls her the “biggest thing since Patti Smith”; Nick Cave personally asked her to open for Grinderman’s tour. The collection of 10 songs on her self-titled debuted are sultry and sumptuous in a way that recalls Harvey (and PJ’s drummer Rob Ellis produced this album) – and all of Harvey’s lyrical mainstays are present: devils, femininity & masculinity, desire, the usual tricks. Calvi sure loves her twangy guitar licks, at time recalling the best moments of Television’s “Marquee Moon”, and her sultry vocal stylings are cigarette-tinged – all the best chanteuses smoked. “Blackout” is certainly the most commercial track here, and I recommend avoiding it for the more raw cuts.
Album- Anna Calvi
Label- Domino
Anna Calvi: perhaps the new PJ Harvey? Brian Eno is her personal mentor and calls her the “biggest thing since Patti Smith”; Nick Cave personally asked her to open for Grinderman’s tour. The collection of 10 songs on her self-titled debuted are sultry and sumptuous in a way that recalls Harvey (and PJ’s drummer Rob Ellis produced this album) – and all of Harvey’s lyrical mainstays are present: devils, femininity & masculinity, desire, the usual tricks. Calvi sure loves her twangy guitar licks, at time recalling the best moments of Television’s “Marquee Moon”, and her sultry vocal stylings are cigarette-tinged – all the best chanteuses smoked. “Blackout” is certainly the most commercial track here, and I recommend avoiding it for the more raw cuts.
Lumerians
Artist- Lumerians
Album- Transmalinnia
Label- Knitting Factory
This is the debut full-length from the psych-rock San Francisco band (the music scene that undoubtedly rules the current psych-rock genre). It kind of sounds like a more prog Sun Araw, or basically like the Black Angels. There’s loopy, fuzzed out bass, distorted guitars, and some spacey keyboards. On tracks like “Black Tusk” the band gets kind of 60’s in their Nuggets-influenced melodies. “ Atlanta Brook” totally sounds like a Spaceman 3. Lumerians manages to do drony, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club-rock without overstaying their welcome.
Album- Transmalinnia
Label- Knitting Factory
This is the debut full-length from the psych-rock San Francisco band (the music scene that undoubtedly rules the current psych-rock genre). It kind of sounds like a more prog Sun Araw, or basically like the Black Angels. There’s loopy, fuzzed out bass, distorted guitars, and some spacey keyboards. On tracks like “Black Tusk” the band gets kind of 60’s in their Nuggets-influenced melodies. “ Atlanta Brook” totally sounds like a Spaceman 3. Lumerians manages to do drony, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club-rock without overstaying their welcome.
Duchess Leo
Artist- Duchess Leo
Album- Golden Grey
Label- Whale Heart
Duchess Leo is an electronic music producer and a songwriter, and the duo is pretty great. This album is like the string section of an orchestra meets electronic beats meets Sun Airway. “Your Sweet Love” is a Lee Hazlewood-appropriating, crazy string sample hit. “Bloom” is more chilled out with reverb-laden echoed guitar rhythms and almost violent drum beatings– kind of Phantogram-ish almost. This LP is a little lopsided unfortunately, with nothing really matching the greatness of “Your Sweet Love”. Still, fans of this type of chill, guitar-electronics combination should give this a listen.
Album- Golden Grey
Label- Whale Heart
Duchess Leo is an electronic music producer and a songwriter, and the duo is pretty great. This album is like the string section of an orchestra meets electronic beats meets Sun Airway. “Your Sweet Love” is a Lee Hazlewood-appropriating, crazy string sample hit. “Bloom” is more chilled out with reverb-laden echoed guitar rhythms and almost violent drum beatings– kind of Phantogram-ish almost. This LP is a little lopsided unfortunately, with nothing really matching the greatness of “Your Sweet Love”. Still, fans of this type of chill, guitar-electronics combination should give this a listen.
Lykke Li
Artist- Lykke Li
Album- Wounded Rhymes
Label-Atlantuc
Lykke Li’s much-anticipated sophomore album does not disappoint. The most common complaint about her first album, Youth Novels, was the sound which seemed cutesy to some listeners. On WR, her voice is still high-pitched and delicate, but much more powerful and sure; her versatility is now evident through the contrasting sounds on this album. Normally woe-is-me songs bore me, but LL delivers such spunk and dazzling soul that I just can’t get enough of this rich, moody (and dare I say dark?) album. She launches listeners into a frenzy when she incites them to “come on, get down” on the first track. From then on it’s a melee of emotion and sound, the textured percussion and small details hinting at Bjorn (of Peter and John)’s superb production. This album ranges from slow, haunting, terrifyingly beautiful tracks, to deliciously saucy danceable pieces. Lykke Li does not deny heartbreak and wistfulness, but embraces them. When she expresses her emotions, she does so with grace and careful execution. Musically and thematically, this album is a knockout.
Album- Wounded Rhymes
Label-Atlantuc
Lykke Li’s much-anticipated sophomore album does not disappoint. The most common complaint about her first album, Youth Novels, was the sound which seemed cutesy to some listeners. On WR, her voice is still high-pitched and delicate, but much more powerful and sure; her versatility is now evident through the contrasting sounds on this album. Normally woe-is-me songs bore me, but LL delivers such spunk and dazzling soul that I just can’t get enough of this rich, moody (and dare I say dark?) album. She launches listeners into a frenzy when she incites them to “come on, get down” on the first track. From then on it’s a melee of emotion and sound, the textured percussion and small details hinting at Bjorn (of Peter and John)’s superb production. This album ranges from slow, haunting, terrifyingly beautiful tracks, to deliciously saucy danceable pieces. Lykke Li does not deny heartbreak and wistfulness, but embraces them. When she expresses her emotions, she does so with grace and careful execution. Musically and thematically, this album is a knockout.
Memphis
Artist- Memphis
Album- Here Comes A City
Label- Arts and Crafts
Memphis is a duo consisting of Torquil Campbell (the singer of Stars and sometimes member of Broken Social Scene) and Christ Dumont. This group definitely has that mellow indie-rock sound popularized by BSS down to a T. The Smiths-y jangle pop of “Apocalyptic Pop Song” sets it apart from other tracks. There’s the swirling atmospheric glaze that seems to appear on every Arts&Crafts band’s cd, but the cheerful guitar riff and steady drumbeat of “I Am The Photographer” saves the song in this instance. Memphis seems to be one of those side-project groups that remains similar enough to the original act in order to keep fans’ attention, but it’s nice to see Campbell stretching his comfort zone.
Album- Here Comes A City
Label- Arts and Crafts
Memphis is a duo consisting of Torquil Campbell (the singer of Stars and sometimes member of Broken Social Scene) and Christ Dumont. This group definitely has that mellow indie-rock sound popularized by BSS down to a T. The Smiths-y jangle pop of “Apocalyptic Pop Song” sets it apart from other tracks. There’s the swirling atmospheric glaze that seems to appear on every Arts&Crafts band’s cd, but the cheerful guitar riff and steady drumbeat of “I Am The Photographer” saves the song in this instance. Memphis seems to be one of those side-project groups that remains similar enough to the original act in order to keep fans’ attention, but it’s nice to see Campbell stretching his comfort zone.
Kurt Vile
Artist- Kurt Vile
Album- Smoke Ring for My Halo
Label- Matador
On his fourth LP and his second for indie heavyweight Matador, Kurt Vile has expertly expanded his sound to create an stunning album of rock ‘n roll bedroom pop.
On tracks like “Puppet to the Man”, Vile does his best Lou Reed impression while his excellently-named backing band The Violators fleshes out his murky musings into a full-fledged rock song. Other tracks find Vile practically solo: “On Tour” is a sprawling yet captivating abstract diary, and “Baby’s Arms” sees Vile trying to convince himself that he’ll never be alone. This LP is expansive, soft, and gritty all at once – gone is the lo-fi sound of early Kurt Vile, but the result is now we’re at the heart of things. It’s difficult to find “picks” because each song is perfectly nestled next to its neighbor in this astoundingly cohesive CD.
Album- Smoke Ring for My Halo
Label- Matador
On his fourth LP and his second for indie heavyweight Matador, Kurt Vile has expertly expanded his sound to create an stunning album of rock ‘n roll bedroom pop.
On tracks like “Puppet to the Man”, Vile does his best Lou Reed impression while his excellently-named backing band The Violators fleshes out his murky musings into a full-fledged rock song. Other tracks find Vile practically solo: “On Tour” is a sprawling yet captivating abstract diary, and “Baby’s Arms” sees Vile trying to convince himself that he’ll never be alone. This LP is expansive, soft, and gritty all at once – gone is the lo-fi sound of early Kurt Vile, but the result is now we’re at the heart of things. It’s difficult to find “picks” because each song is perfectly nestled next to its neighbor in this astoundingly cohesive CD.
Sacred Animals
Artist- Sacred Animals
Album- Welcome Home EP
Label- Delphi
This EP culls the best elements of Radiohead, Air, and Sigur Ros and somehow makes it all work together. The singer sounds like a more normal Thom Yorke (a reference that is played out in today’s music scene but it’s true). “Chosen Seed” has neat arpeggiated guitar loop (hints of Air circa Talkie Walkie or the Virgin Suicides OST). The lyrics are all oblique and strangely cautious in their wording. This “secretive” Dublin group (actually the solo project of one man) has wonderfully come upon the weird intersection between psych-folk and electronic music and turned it into a delightful 4-song EP. They’re not the most immediately gratifying tunes but these 4 songs are compelling growers.
Album- Welcome Home EP
Label- Delphi
This EP culls the best elements of Radiohead, Air, and Sigur Ros and somehow makes it all work together. The singer sounds like a more normal Thom Yorke (a reference that is played out in today’s music scene but it’s true). “Chosen Seed” has neat arpeggiated guitar loop (hints of Air circa Talkie Walkie or the Virgin Suicides OST). The lyrics are all oblique and strangely cautious in their wording. This “secretive” Dublin group (actually the solo project of one man) has wonderfully come upon the weird intersection between psych-folk and electronic music and turned it into a delightful 4-song EP. They’re not the most immediately gratifying tunes but these 4 songs are compelling growers.
The Caribbean
Artist- The Caribbean
Album- Discontinued Perfume
Label- Hometapes
Discontinued Perfume, the fifth album by D.C. art-pop trio The Caribbean, is a weirdly calming yet disjointed record. This album is all about singer Michael Kentoff’s pleasant storytelling lyrical style. The music itself is “chill” I suppose, yet at the same time it’s quirky and a little disquieting. Soft guitars arpeggios, weird handclaps and time signatures- yet none of it is jarring or experimental. I think the fact that it’s so normal and weird is what helps this band’s aesthetic.
Album- Discontinued Perfume
Label- Hometapes
Discontinued Perfume, the fifth album by D.C. art-pop trio The Caribbean, is a weirdly calming yet disjointed record. This album is all about singer Michael Kentoff’s pleasant storytelling lyrical style. The music itself is “chill” I suppose, yet at the same time it’s quirky and a little disquieting. Soft guitars arpeggios, weird handclaps and time signatures- yet none of it is jarring or experimental. I think the fact that it’s so normal and weird is what helps this band’s aesthetic.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Luke Rathborne
Artist- Luke Rathborne
Album-Dog Years / I Can Be One EP
Label- Dilettante
On this split EP, Luke Rathborne shows that he really wants to be Bob Dylan. What folk-guitarist doesn’t? Rathborne changes up the traditional man-and-guitar formula with well-done production, drum backing, and a general knack for a good tune. Personally invited by Devandra Barnhart to tour, Rathborne rises above the other singer-songwriter dreck.
Album-Dog Years / I Can Be One EP
Label- Dilettante
On this split EP, Luke Rathborne shows that he really wants to be Bob Dylan. What folk-guitarist doesn’t? Rathborne changes up the traditional man-and-guitar formula with well-done production, drum backing, and a general knack for a good tune. Personally invited by Devandra Barnhart to tour, Rathborne rises above the other singer-songwriter dreck.
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