Album Reviews

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – This Unruly Mess I’ve Made

February 29, 2016

Seattle-based hip-hop duo, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, have a lot to say on their sophomore album. This Unruly Mess I’ve Made is a hodgepodge of genres, thoughts and stories. A lot of the tracks do actually hit their mark, while others fall short of the massive hype. Musically, the pair continues their brand of underground-cultivated indie-gospel, with heartfelt piano, dramatic strings and joyous choir. Unfortunately, the lyrical content is all over the map. The record starts off earnestly enough, with a song about Ben Haggerty’s (aka Macklemore’s) disdain for award show culture. But after that it begins to wander through a strange assortment of politically charged, inspiring tunes and quirky joke-rap. The contrast between the two doesn’t quite add up to the overall intellectual statement Haggerty would like it to be, instead creating a frustrating ambivalence toward a record that could have been truly great. The silly tracks actually undermine the[...]

Ra Ra Riot – Need Your Light

February 25, 2016

After three years of no music from Ra Ra Riot, they have finally released new material with the act’s fourth studio Need Your Light. Co-produced with Rostam Batmanglij, former member of Vampire Weekend, the album has brought Ra Ra Riot’s electronic anthems back to the scene. Working with Batmanglij has given Ra Ra Riot a distinct and unique sound to the band. Need Your Light has combined the lyrical talent of Wesley Miles from their album The Rhumb Line with the electronic pop progressions of Beta Love and solidified Ra Ra Riot’s sound. The opening track “Water” clearly brings out Batmanglij’s unique talents, which have been carefully honed from his tenure with Vampire Weekend. Wes Miles shares his vocals through the falsetto chorus lines, while the keys kick in a heavy hitting melody. The drums bring this whole piece together with a stomping beat throughout the entire song. With the second track coming in[...]

The Pooches – Heart Attack EP

February 22, 2016

The Pooches are an up-and-coming indie band hailing from Glasgow and signed to Philadelphia-based indie label, Lame-O Records. The band’s latest release, Heart Attack EP, is modern indie-surf pop at its best, coming across like the softer albeit friendlier little brother to the band Wavves. Heart Attack’s strongest suit is found in creating some relaxing surf riffs and they nail that atmosphere that so many “surf” bands fail to accomplish as of late. Songs on this EP seem as though they were written on a hot summer’s day, as the sunny songs are a quick sampling that includes four songs that average at about 2 minutes each. If you like what you hear on the first track, then you’re going to like the whole thing because there’s not a ton of variation in the songs. The album is effective in establishing a specific sound that has some promising aspects. The soft and relaxing[...]

Ty Segall – Emotional Mugger

February 17, 2016

Ty Segall is arguably one of the most hardworking artists in music right now, and he’s only improving with an increasing catalog of releases and side-projects. The guy has kept good company since he started making music in his early years with the likes of Mikal Cronin and King Tuff whom are both featured on the new project titled Emotional Mugger. The band also features members from the band Wand, Corey Hanson and Evan Burrows, making The Muggers somewhat of an all-star lineup. If you’re familiar with Ty’s work you know his projects are usually reliant upon some heavy guitar riffs, and show the music of those he’s been influenced by such as The Gories, The Mummies, Alice Cooper, The Cramps, and Black Sabbath to name a few. Simply put, Ty Segall makes rock n’ roll music for people who appreciate its history. Emotional Mugger is definitely a bit more experimental and chaotic than his previous records. The guitars often sound frenzied[...]

Hinds – Leave Me Alone

February 16, 2016

Hinds’ debut album Leave Me Alone is bursting with sunny energy. Direct from Madrid, Spain, these indie rockers come out with a bang. Leave Me Alone was released in the middle of winter and their spin on garage-rock pop is a much-needed doldrums-reliever. From the first echoing, reverb-laden chord of the album, these four ladies have you hooked. The music spouts easygoing vibes and playful mirth, fit to accompany a beach party. Catchy guitar riffs jangle while carefree rhythms achieve the right kind of groove for a summer’s night.  Mix in some old-school punk undertones (a la The Velvet Underground) and you can’t help but get carried away with these tunes. But it’s the vocals that really bring the album to life. Co-singers Carlotta Cosials and Ana Perotte share lead duties, singing most often in unison rather than in harmony. They weave in and out of the melody with an[...]

J. Cole – Forest HIlls Drive: Live from Fayetteville, NC

February 12, 2016

J. Cole released his fourth album,  Forest Hills Drive: Live from Fayetteville, NC at the tail end of January. This is a live album of Cole’s third album Forest Hills Drive, except with the bonus addition of “Note to Self.” The album is very different from the studio version. The intimacy, and emotion with his lyrics are brought to life. The big hits like “Fire Squad,” “Wet Dreamz,” and “G.O.M.D.” are told with so much passion emotion that the listener will feel as if they were at the concert with their eyes closed. Forest Hills Drive: Live from Fayetteville, NC runs through each song starting with “Intro” and ending with “Love Yourz.” Throughout this album, you get a chance to experience J. Cole on a personal level. The story he tells through Forest Hills Drive is explained in easier terms through this live album. It gives us an intimate experience where we[...]

MONEY – Suicide Songs

February 9, 2016

Hailing from Manchester, England, MONEY’s aim is wide on their sophomore album. Titled Suicide Songs, the album takes on a large, atmospheric scope, and a tonality of self-oblivion. Here, lead singer and songwriter Jamie Lee tackles isolation and despair head on. He calls to mind The Smiths (with whom they share a hometown), a band that had a penchant for this kind of melancholy. Dealing primarily with loneliness, Lee accompanies his words with long instrument drones, lilting rhythms, exploding horns and lush strings. The arrangements truly are beautiful and the resonant production lends a perfect touch to the epic, almost uplifting musical tone. The overall combination creates a dual feeling of hope and desolation. Lee’s voice is thick-accented, rugged and meandering, reminiscent of The Pogues’ Shane MacGowan. He achieves an almost mellow, calming sound that is at the same time rough around the edges, especially when he reaches for the[...]

The Black Ships – Dead Empires

December 15, 2015

The question of what would have happened in a world where Joy Division still exists is one of pop culture’s enduring questions. And while the Manchester foursome may have never been able to answer, Saratoga Springs’ The Black Ships may be able to, at least sonically. Awash in the same emotional bleakness and unease as Joy Division, and the same new wave pop hooks as New Order, the band finds a middle ground that immediately wins over fans of both groups. This, however, is no mere tribute band. While it’s easy to spot their influences, The Black Ships are making a definitive statement on Dead Empires. This is a act that sounds wholly unlike any other band in the upstate NY area but arrives fully confident in their technique and vision. Take for example the stellar “Sea of Cortez.” While the band’s synth/guitar combo gives a rather new wave vibe, The Black[...]

Petite League- Slugger

December 2, 2015

Baseball. Rock ‘n’ Roll. The Carrier Dome. Do those phrases resonate as “American” to you? Well, they should. And they’re three words that, more or less, resonate with the band from ‘Cuse known as Petite League. Petite League is a lo-fi garage rock band currently inhabiting Syracuse’s scene. The band’s newest release is titled Slugger. When one pays a visit to their bandcamp page, they’re greeted visually by a collage of vintage baseball trading cards which easily blend with Slugger’s album art. When you hit play on Slugger’s first track, “Ocean Honey,” you’re instantly transported into a basement in Syracuse with your cheap beer of choice in hand; accompanied by the smell of cigarettes, cheap whiskey, and the guy standing next to you. It’s garage-pop music for sure– in the same realm as early  Cloud Nothings, Ex Hex,  and Wavves. Each song brings an upbeat guitar riff– technical, yet not intimidating. Repeating melodies[...]

Prince Daddy & The Hyena – Adult Summers

December 1, 2015

Prince Daddy & The Hyena has me baffled. They’ve just put out something truly unique, an almost unclassifiable sounding new EP called Adult Summers. My attempt at classification: take equal parts Andrew W.K. and The Hotelier, and toss in a dash of The Locust. One of their songs even sounds like Atom and his Package. Either way, their music is fast, loud, and weird… In a good way. A very good way. Amidst the aggression, there’s a cavalcade (yes, a cavalcade) of really impressive and beautiful guitar work, not to mention the myriad of other creative noises peppered into the mix. At any rate, Prince Daddy & co. are pushing the limits of whatever genre they’re defying. In order to truly describe this band, you’ll probably just need to use the word “party.” If it’s not apparent by their irreverent approach to musicianship, Prince Daddy & the Hyena are a release from Broken World[...]

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – It’s A Holiday Soul Party

December 1, 2015

It’s not that holiday music stinks per se, it’s the fact that holiday music is bloody ubiquitous for a solid month; weaponized against us every time we go into a store (notably, except for The People’s Wegman’s on Amherst St). There’s also a lot of terrible holiday music out there, which doesn’t go well with the whole ubiquity thing, a shame considering most music fans have a holiday music stash of their own they annually retreat into. Beach Boys Christmas singles, “Christmas In Hollis,” Mr. Hanky’s Christmas Classics, Flaming Lips’ psychedelic Yuletide jams… we’ve all got something  that makes our ears feel warm and fuzzy in the month of December. Enter It’s A Holiday Soul Party, the latest from Daptone Records stalwarts Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, a dynamite multi denominational collection of holiday classics that provides some serious emotional release while showcasing the incredible range and power of Miss Jones, and[...]

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Paper Mâché Dream Balloon

November 10, 2015

If you haven’t heard of King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, here’s a short history of the band’s existence. They formed in 2010 in Melbourne, literally as a side-project/joke band. They released the hard-hitting 12 Bar Bruise in 2012. It was mostly garage-ey psych punk revival. The next year saw two completely different, completely amazing albums released from the band. The first, Eyes Like The Sky, was a spaghetti-western themed album that really is in the realm of spoken word. Float Along- Fill Your Lungs was the second that year, which was more of a pure psych-rock album complete with time changes, lofty melodies, and of course, a 16 minute long song. 2014 saw the band drop two more albums, and in early 2015, Quarters!, a collection of four ten-minute songs that was just recently nominated for “best jazz album” of all things, as a part of the ARIA awards, was released[...]

BØRNS – Dopamine

October 21, 2015

Hey, did you like Foster The People’s Torches? …No? Well boy oh boy, do I not have the album for you. This time around, it’s from Garrett Borns. Birthed in Michigan, and better known as his stage name BØRNS, Mr. Borns has released his full first length album, Dopamine, that has somehow garnered a huge amount of anticipation, thanks to two things. firstly, illuminati recruiter Taylor Swift (she instagrammed a picture of the upcoming album giving it high praise), and secondly, his single “Electric Love,” which has received a ton of play on alt radio stations. So, here’s the reason for the Foster the People comparison. Lead singer’s last name “creatively” shoved into the band name. Oddly huge amount of fame from a catchy single, and only an EP to support, preceding an overly promoted album release. Falsetto vocals. Huge anticipation for an album that’s hailed as “different” in the[...]

Neon Indian – VEGA INTL. Night School

October 13, 2015

After what seemed like a relatively boring end of summer in terms of new releases, we’ve got a bunch of goodies coming out from indie icons. Seasoned veterans (Wavves) and 22 year future bedroom stars (Alex G) have both put out new stuff this month, but we’re going to talk about something in between: Neon Indian’s VEGA INTL. Night School. Okay, this album is just good. Neon Indian has always sounded like a classic arcade video game turned sentient and shoved into a studio. VEGA INTL. Night School follows suit in this regard, just in a more hi-fi, more dance oriented way. It’s like Tron: Legacy. Sorry, let me clear that up. Not everyone liked that movie. Actually, most people hated it. I liked it, because it sucked. It’s gonna be a cult classic in a few years just because it was so bad. That’s not even remotely close to the[...]

City and Colour – If I Should Go Before You

October 12, 2015

City and Colour strikes gold again with its fifth album titled If I Should Go Before You. The band preserves its deep and solemn lyrics accompanying its melodious sounds, but definitely has changed from previous album The Hurry and the Harm, opting for a newer mixture of southern blues, and rock. This album is the most consistent in its sound throughout as compared to the bands previous EPs. Dallas Green continues to grow as an artist, electing for a more southern, soulful, and dark entrance to the album with “Woman,” an interesting and eerie introduction, which is drawn out at over nine minutes. He displays his mesmerizing and iconic falsetto throughout the album once more, which I personally find to be one of the most captivating features of his work. It is also interesting to see this track in contrast to “The Girl” from his 2008 release Bring Me Your Love. Green is[...]