Artist- Blaqstarr
Album- Divine EP
Label- N.E.E.T./Interscope
Genre- hip-hop
Not to be confused with confused with other rap group Black Star (Talib Kweli & Mos Def), Baltimore DJ Blaqstarr is mostly known for his production work on M.I.A.’s albums. “Rider Girl” is a of reworking of previous collab with Rye Rye with Kanye-esque short verses about relationships. This definitely is more experimental as hip-hop goes, but anyone familiar with M.I.A.’s work should dig this. None of these are club bangers, definitely a more laid-back feel.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Apex Manor
Artist- Apex Manor
Album- The Year of Magical Drinking
Label- Merge
If you’re like me you pulled this off the shelf because of the album title
(who doesn’t love magical drinking?) but here’s some bad news: it doesn’t
quite live up to its charismatic name. That’s not to say this isn’t a
decent album. In fact the relaxed, catchy, slightly poppy guitar based
rock on Magical Drinking has a pretty classic sound (there’s even cowbell
on a few tracks) and is very easy to listen to. Think something like a
late Wilco with less piano, more electric guitar, and a deeper voice.
Album- The Year of Magical Drinking
Label- Merge
If you’re like me you pulled this off the shelf because of the album title
(who doesn’t love magical drinking?) but here’s some bad news: it doesn’t
quite live up to its charismatic name. That’s not to say this isn’t a
decent album. In fact the relaxed, catchy, slightly poppy guitar based
rock on Magical Drinking has a pretty classic sound (there’s even cowbell
on a few tracks) and is very easy to listen to. Think something like a
late Wilco with less piano, more electric guitar, and a deeper voice.
Tristen
Artist- Tristen
Album- Charlatans at the Garden Gate
Label- American Myth
Tristen is yet another songstress coming out of the Nashville scene. This is good enough, not great by any means. These songs draw more inspiration from Revolver and folk-pop than country. Opener “Eager for Your Love” is rather Cardigans-esque, featuring a vintage organ that provides a nice backing. The key word here seems to be “ernest” in its pop-stylings.
Album- Charlatans at the Garden Gate
Label- American Myth
Tristen is yet another songstress coming out of the Nashville scene. This is good enough, not great by any means. These songs draw more inspiration from Revolver and folk-pop than country. Opener “Eager for Your Love” is rather Cardigans-esque, featuring a vintage organ that provides a nice backing. The key word here seems to be “ernest” in its pop-stylings.
Fierce Creatures
Artist- Fierce Creatures
Album- I Mostri Feroci
Label- Self-released
This debut EP is pretty exceptional for being just that – a debut effort. It has all the enthusiasm of kids not yet jaded by the music industry, kids who saved their best melodies for their debut. It’s quirky folk-pop with quick melodies. Opener “Satan is a Vampire” is anthemic in its vocal melodies; it reminds me of Funeral-era Arcade Fire. The female vocalist takes over on “The Great White” and the effect is delicate. Closer “The Brute and the Beast” is the undisputed standout – it starts off well enough before adopting a soft, spaghetti-western surf guitar riff. Wonderful debut.
Album- I Mostri Feroci
Label- Self-released
This debut EP is pretty exceptional for being just that – a debut effort. It has all the enthusiasm of kids not yet jaded by the music industry, kids who saved their best melodies for their debut. It’s quirky folk-pop with quick melodies. Opener “Satan is a Vampire” is anthemic in its vocal melodies; it reminds me of Funeral-era Arcade Fire. The female vocalist takes over on “The Great White” and the effect is delicate. Closer “The Brute and the Beast” is the undisputed standout – it starts off well enough before adopting a soft, spaghetti-western surf guitar riff. Wonderful debut.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Lia Ices
Artist- Lia ices
Album- Grown Unknown
Label- Jagjaguwar
This carefully-constructed album is delicately beautiful, carried by simple melodies and Lia Ices’ amazing, ghostly voice. “Daphne” begins with acoustic guitar and light straight arrangements before Bon Iver pops up half-way through to duet. Ethereal and poetic. I like the handclap backing on the title track “Grown Unknown” in particular. Definitely not for everyone, but this rises well about the usual singer-songwriter crap on the basis of Lia’s voice and the minimal arrangements.
Album- Grown Unknown
Label- Jagjaguwar
This carefully-constructed album is delicately beautiful, carried by simple melodies and Lia Ices’ amazing, ghostly voice. “Daphne” begins with acoustic guitar and light straight arrangements before Bon Iver pops up half-way through to duet. Ethereal and poetic. I like the handclap backing on the title track “Grown Unknown” in particular. Definitely not for everyone, but this rises well about the usual singer-songwriter crap on the basis of Lia’s voice and the minimal arrangements.
Blank Dogs
Artist- Blank Dogs
Album- Land and Fixed
Label- Captured Tracks
Blank Dogs is the lo-fi post punk project of Mike Sniper, the owner of veritable indie label Captured Tracks. This LP is certainly cleaner in sound than the last few Blank Dogs releases, but it still has an unpolished charm. “Goes By” features the mechanized drumming of Joy Division with gothy synths. All of Sniper’s vocals are distorted in some way on this album; it comes off as distant yet strangely cool (influences of 70’s group Suicide). “Northern Islands” has elements of 8bit, Nintendo-ish beats. “Insides” sounds like the Cure for the first minute until the song opens up into a quicker punky jam. Sniper has definitely begun to make a transition from post-punk to new wave on this LP.
Album- Land and Fixed
Label- Captured Tracks
Blank Dogs is the lo-fi post punk project of Mike Sniper, the owner of veritable indie label Captured Tracks. This LP is certainly cleaner in sound than the last few Blank Dogs releases, but it still has an unpolished charm. “Goes By” features the mechanized drumming of Joy Division with gothy synths. All of Sniper’s vocals are distorted in some way on this album; it comes off as distant yet strangely cool (influences of 70’s group Suicide). “Northern Islands” has elements of 8bit, Nintendo-ish beats. “Insides” sounds like the Cure for the first minute until the song opens up into a quicker punky jam. Sniper has definitely begun to make a transition from post-punk to new wave on this LP.
Delicate Steve
Artist- Delicate Steve
Album- Wondervisions
Label- Luaka Bop
“Delicate” Steve Marion’s album is a wondrous exploration of a variety of styles. Psychadelic guitar shredding on “Welcome-Begin”; Afro-pop in the style of Dirty Projectors on “Sugar Splash” or “Butterfly”. The entire thing is instrumental, but the guitar riffs were interesting enough to keep my attention through. Fans of Marnie Stern, Dirty Projectors, or tropicalia will dig this.
Album- Wondervisions
Label- Luaka Bop
“Delicate” Steve Marion’s album is a wondrous exploration of a variety of styles. Psychadelic guitar shredding on “Welcome-Begin”; Afro-pop in the style of Dirty Projectors on “Sugar Splash” or “Butterfly”. The entire thing is instrumental, but the guitar riffs were interesting enough to keep my attention through. Fans of Marnie Stern, Dirty Projectors, or tropicalia will dig this.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Ben + Vesper
Artist- Ben + Vesper
Album- HONORS
Label- Sounds Familyre
Husband and wife duo who are tight friends with Sufjan Stevens (he plays piano on this) put out their first full-length in four years. It’s not twee like all those other boy-girl duos. This is balanced and well-done freak-folk pop. Often both vocalists sing the same parts together, though “Holly Home?” is more call-and-response. “How You Are” is kind of a nice, drifting tune too.
Album- HONORS
Label- Sounds Familyre
Husband and wife duo who are tight friends with Sufjan Stevens (he plays piano on this) put out their first full-length in four years. It’s not twee like all those other boy-girl duos. This is balanced and well-done freak-folk pop. Often both vocalists sing the same parts together, though “Holly Home?” is more call-and-response. “How You Are” is kind of a nice, drifting tune too.
When Saints Go Machine
Artist- When Saints Go Machine
Album- Fail Forever EP
Label- !k7
Blissed out rpm with dancey tones, ghostly vocals, and some hazy atmospheric sounds. The Danes sure do know how to do this shit right. Singer Nikolaj Manuel Vonsild’s vocals remind me of a not-annoying Anthony Hegarty (of Antony and the Johnsons / Hercules + Love Affair). “Pick Up Your Tears…” is influenced by Salem and it shows. “Fail Forever” and “You Or the Gang” are definite favorites – the later almost veers into Miike Snow territory but is saved by the great beat drop. While WSGM has an RPM base, this definitely has crossover appeal in my opinion.
Album- Fail Forever EP
Label- !k7
Blissed out rpm with dancey tones, ghostly vocals, and some hazy atmospheric sounds. The Danes sure do know how to do this shit right. Singer Nikolaj Manuel Vonsild’s vocals remind me of a not-annoying Anthony Hegarty (of Antony and the Johnsons / Hercules + Love Affair). “Pick Up Your Tears…” is influenced by Salem and it shows. “Fail Forever” and “You Or the Gang” are definite favorites – the later almost veers into Miike Snow territory but is saved by the great beat drop. While WSGM has an RPM base, this definitely has crossover appeal in my opinion.
Daniel Martin Moore
Artist- Daniel Martin Moore
Album- In the Cool of the Day
Label- SUB pop
Sub Pop gone folk? What??? This Kentucky-based dude’s CD for classic indie label Sub Pop is straight up Appalachia-tinged folk. Acoustic guitar, sometimes a piano, sometimes that’s all music needs. My Morning Jacket’s Jim James helps out on the banjo too. DMM definitely has an appeal – headphone music, chillout, whatever – and a lot of these songs have a gospel underpinning.
Album- In the Cool of the Day
Label- SUB pop
Sub Pop gone folk? What??? This Kentucky-based dude’s CD for classic indie label Sub Pop is straight up Appalachia-tinged folk. Acoustic guitar, sometimes a piano, sometimes that’s all music needs. My Morning Jacket’s Jim James helps out on the banjo too. DMM definitely has an appeal – headphone music, chillout, whatever – and a lot of these songs have a gospel underpinning.
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