Album Reviews

Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker

October 27, 2016

Beloved Canadian poet and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen has had a long and illustrious career. The 82-year-old returns with his 14th full-length study album, and possibly a hint at retirement. You Want It Darker is bleak and grim in tone, and exquisite in its execution. Cohen doesn’t shy away from the inevitable: death. The record plays out like he’s preparing himself for it, as he gets his affairs in order. His trademark hushed and low growl is as dark as ever, and truly suits the undercurrent of the music. The arrangements here are carefully constructed, with each production and instrument choice having a precise and integral place. Although it is stylistically eclectic and layered, it is still quite sparse and intimate. The record opens with the title track “You Want It Darker,” a grooving synth-bass driven hymnal that almost sarcastically begs to plunge further into the abyss. Complete with a repeated[...]

Various Artists – Say Yes! A Tribute to Elliott Smith

October 21, 2016

You would be hard pressed to find an artist in the indie realm that hasn’t been affected by Elliott Smith’s music in some way or another. On Say Yes! A Tribute to Elliott Smith, a collection of artists takes on the daunting task of interpreting the formidable singer-songwriter’s catalog. For this record, released through American Laundromat, a diverse group of acts is assembled, from Yuck to William Fitzsimmons. The wide range of Smith’s compositions are well represented, with new takes on everything from his most intimate hushed folk to his more symphonic basement pop. It is impossible to put a singular label on Smith’s songs because of how intricately he interweaves genres. The soul-crushing earnestness of his lyricism is undeniably relatable, providing a broad appeal that transcends just “rock” or “folk” music. Historically, his music is so difficult to cover because it is so complex, and so perfect in the[...]

Shovels & Rope – Little Seeds

October 14, 2016

Charleston-based Shovels & Rope are back with their fifth LP. The husband and wife tandem of Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst specialize in an energetic brand of Americana and alt-country. Their new record, Little Seeds, comes just over a year after the birth of their first child, an amazing feat even for this relentless duo. Shovels & Rope’s eclectic sound is rooted in the music found across America: blues, folk, country and rock & roll. Acoustic guitars are met with electric ones, mandolins with organs and wild percussion with thumping bass. The pair sings with an obvious chemistry, and an overt earnestness. Their vocal range is undeniable; both Trent and Hearst can achieve such quiet tenderness, as well as an all-out chaos at the top of their lungs. However, no matter the intensity, at no point do the harmonies ever falter. The fact that they are married only adds[...]

SURVIVE – RR7349

October 11, 2016

The second half of 2016 has been a very good to Austin, Texas electronic band SURVIVE. The preposterous viral success of Stranger Things on Netflix this summer catapulted the largely unknown band into the public’s imagination thanks to adoring articles from Pitchfork, NME, and AV Club, a hot two volume soundtrack album from band members Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, the show’s obsessive fans, and the band is making the most of it with a national tour and a well timed sophomore album, RR7349. But could it live up to the expectations that come from sudden increases in attention, and could it exist separately from Stranger Things? The answer on both counts is definitely. SURVIVE as a full band trades emotive minimalism for glacial synths and pulsating, widescreen vistas that occupy an entirely different sonic space. The layered sounds of RR7349 conjure 80’s futurism, bleak coldness and human struggle, to create subdued but epic soundtracks for movies[...]

Hypoluxo – If Language

October 7, 2016

Drawing inspiration from bands like Beach Fossils, DIIV, and Told Slant, it isn’t difficult to figure out the hometown of new Broken Circles signees Hypoluxo. Further building on “that Brooklyn sound,” Hypoluxo’s new record, If Language, takes atmospheric dream pop and jangly post-punk guitar work to the next level with Sam Cogen’s captivating baritone. Comparisons to Matt Berninger are obvious; however, Hypoluxo prove themselves to be much more than “what it’d sound like if that guy from the National sang for Beach Fossils.” On first listen, songs like “Winter” and “Name Game” drift and lilt along as soundtracks to sleepy, freezing days indoors, while quicker paced songs such as the single “Directions” and album opener “Fronts” seem to hazily speed by like a cannabis-fueled summer road trip. What’s special about these moods, though, is their malleability. While those tracks appear as such at surface level, the band’s penchant for both[...]

Bon Iver – 22, A Million

October 6, 2016

In 2012, Justin Vernon announced he was putting his musical brainchild, the beloved and acclaimed Bon Iver, to rest on an indefinite hiatus. In the years since, he has been essentially in hiding. There were occasional collaborative efforts with the likes of Kanye West and James Blake, a blues-rock record with The Shouting Matches, and other odd appearances. Now, the silence has been officially broken with Bon Iver’s third record, 22, A Million, a huge leap forward both sonically and creatively for his group. For many die hard fans, the first listen through may be quite jarring, and feel as if Vernon has lost his mind. In some ways, he has. There are many similarities between the events that led to his debut For Emma, Forever Ago, and what led to this new record. The world had broken him down, and he retreated inward. Out of the anxiety and depression[...]

Hamilton Leithauser and Rostam – I Had a Dream That You Were Mine

September 29, 2016

I Had a Dream That You Were Mine is the debut album from the partnership of Hamilton Leithauser and Rostam Batmanglij. Appropriately named Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam, the duo has found a delightful sound together as they venture into solo careers. Leithauser’s band The Walkmen are on an indefinite hiatus, and earlier this year Rostam left his group, the indie darlings Vampire Weekend. This collection of songs the pair has crafted is perfectly representative of their collective musical personas. Rostam possesses a mastery of the American songbook, as well as a penchant for DIY production techniques. Leithauser’s voice is unique and versatile, shifting through moods and tones with charisma. While his vocals take center stage and give the record direction, it is Rostam’s eclectic palette that is the backbone, expertly molding the arrangements. The two match wits, providing thoughtful counterpoint to one another as they dance through different styles and[...]

Wilco – Schmilco

September 21, 2016

On their tenth album, Wilco’s arrangements are as bare as ever. Following last year’s more effervescent release Star Wars, 2016’s Schmilco is laid-back, stripped-down and acoustically driven. The band themselves described the record as “joyously negative,” an intentional and enigmatic oxymoron. Acoustic guitar takes center stage, and beyond that it doesn’t get too heavy. The percussion is light and accentuated with brushes, while organ and piano lilt around the periphery. Electric guitar does make an appearance, but its role is ornamental. Wilco channels the twang of Neil Young style Americana and the jangle of mid-‘60s Beatles. On “Normal American Kids,” Jeff Tweedy looks back on his youth, not so much with nostalgia, but rather a longing for such a carefree time, with perceived and comparatively mundane plight. “If I Ever Was a Child” and “Cry All Day” are both breezy and emotional. “Shrug and Destroy” is Lennon-esque; contemplative and full[...]

Prince Daddy & the Hyena – I Thought You Didn’t Even Like Leaving

September 7, 2016

Do you like Bomb The Music Industry!? Do you like PUP? Do you like Weezer?  Do you like WEED? If you answered any of those questions, you should probably go put on I Thought You Didn’t Even Like Leaving by Prince Daddy & The Hyena.  Hailing from Albany, NY, the four piece has been ripping it up in the DIY circuit since the release of their two tapes, Skip Cutscenes! Blow Loud! and Adult Summers, which we loved. After signing with emo super label of sorts, Broken World Media, the group really started picking up speed. Simply put, I Thought You Didn’t Even Like Leaving somehow pulls off being a total fucking blast, while still tugging at the heartstrings. From the driving title track to the all too easy to relate to album closer, Really?, P Daddy takes no breaks. The album boasts nine brand spankin’ new tracks, as well as clean sounding re recordings[...]

De La Soul – and the Anonymous Nobody…

September 2, 2016

It isn’t easy being De La Soul. Almost from the start, the struggle has been real for the Long Island trio: instead of enjoying immediate cultural impact of their debut album Three Feet High And Rising and it’s idiosyncratic and irreverently funny explorations of hip hop and it’s possibilities, they got to be sued over a sample not even used in a hit song by the utterly forgotten original artist (Flo and Eddy?). They refused to be pigeonholed by fans and critics, confounding both on subsequent albums De La Soul Is Dead and Buhloon Mind State, and have seen their whole catalog get trapped in legal and record label Hell. After all this there was much rejoicing when the band announced that they were working a new album, their first in eleven years, and more when it arrived last week. Made possible by a resoundingly successful Kickstarter/Go Fund Me/whatever campaign, and the Anonymous Nobody by De La Soul finds Pos,[...]

Frank Ocean – blond

August 25, 2016

For most fans, the wait for new Frank Ocean has felt like more than just four years. However, four years is all it has been since his landmark debut album channel ORANGE firmly put him on the map. Much speculation and anticipation feverishly built up over that time span, with hints at new music along the way that went unfulfilled. Finally, late this summer, Ocean broke the silence and dropped two new projects. The first was a visual album entitled Endless, which included snippets of songs and ideas, pasted together and accompanying a video of him assembling a staircase in black and white. Two days later, he officially released his second studio album, blond (or Blonde; both are used intentionally in reference to his bisexuality). The record is a testament to Ocean’s ability to blend influences and genres, while escaping categorical definition. It’s a unified, singular statement from the singer,[...]

County Mike – Live Alone

August 19, 2016

Alongside other Albanian groups like Coupons and They Are Gutting A Body of Water is County Mike, a new, mysterious one-man-band fronting a near lo-fi sound that flutters comfortably within the boundaries of alt-folk. The man behind the mask (and beard) is Michael Campana, Jr. I’m not sure if County Mike is a reference to Campana’s possible declaration that his body is his to govern, to control, or if he simply feels pride toward the county within which he resides – a more rural take on the subject. Regardless, County Mike’s Live Alone comes across as tender storytelling lullabies both confronting and skirting commonplace issues we all know and love. The first tune is “Watching/3 Years.” Campana’s voice is crystal clear amongst somber electric guitar arpeggiation. There’s a little bit of crackling going on. Soon enough, Campana kicks it up a notch, performing gentle, quick guitar widdlies. No matter how hard Campana pushes it,[...]

Michael Kiwanuka – Love & Hate

August 12, 2016

British soul singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka has released his second album for Polydor Records. For this sophomore release, he enlisted the help of veteran Danger Mouse to handle the bulk of production duties. Love & Hate is a smooth and melodic record steeped in introspection and social commentary. Kiwanuka’s diverse set of influences is on display here, incorporating elements of ‘70s r&b and soul as well as gospel, blues, rock and folk. His voice, both as a singer and a lyricist, is reminiscent of legends like Bill Withers, Curtis Mayfield or Marvin Gaye. On Love & Hate, his slow jams pull less from the sexual side of r&b and more from the protest-song side, the realm in which Withers, Mayfield and Gaye were arguably at their best. The record starts out ambitious, with opener “Cold Little Heart” clocking in at over 10 minutes long. The mostly instrumental track is complete with[...]

Coupons – Number One Hit Album

August 9, 2016

Coupons is an Albany-based group that seemingly mastered mid-tempo, just-sad-enough songs. At times they’re bluesy, at times they’re straight power-pop, and at times they’re math-y (namely the drums). In creating their Number One Hit Album, Coupons carved themselves a nook with a careful rhythmic section, jangley guitars, and forefront vocals. “Sirens” is the first song off Number One Hit Album. As you assume, the song is about deadly girl-like, winged creatures and their call that lures the curious to shipwreck. There’s a cool, slightly fuzzy break in the song connecting high point to build-up, and build-up to  true climax. “You’re such a careful siren – I never sleep!” is yelled before the band goes into full blast. The second song is “Birthday” and it starts with the singer trying to cheer up a girl in the midst the dumps. On top of a synth string pad, the protagonist also compares[...]

They Are Gutting A Body of Water – s/t

August 5, 2016

They Are Gutting A Body of Water is a rather complex name for an emotional, lo-fi solo act by singer/songwriter Doug Dulgarian. Dulgarian, a lead singer to Albany-based Jouska, proudly released late last month via the project’s bandcamp. The album is written as if staring into a looking glass watching a microcosm of the world work its underwhelming wonders. They Are Gutting A Body of Water is as contained as it is immense – the old-fashioned style helps the album both relate to and speak out against modern day apathy, regret, and introspection. “Swanny Luv” is the first track on this damaged (sound quality adjective) record. Punchy drums keep your mind afloat as the draining music pulls you down into somewhere between awful depression and teary-eyed anger. A special shoutout is given to his mom for being a “G since knee-high.” “Main Breaker” is fronted by a haunted, polka accordion sound and pleasing,[...]