Gotye – Making Mirrors
The international sensation’s acclaimed third album FINALLY arrives in the US and proves it was the worth the wait. For the Australian Gotye, whose micro beats and falsetto have made him a sensation in the music world for years finally comes full circle with Making Mirrors. One of the most well thoughtout, creative and fresh pop albums to arrive since Robyn’s Body Talk series. Making Mirrors crosses boundaries and genres in a record about heartbreak, yet, through all of the raw emotion put on the album, Gotye shows off there is something triumphant to come. It is only February but this could end up on many top 10 lists at the end of the year.
FINAL GRADE: A
Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory
Lo-fi meets grunge on the Midwestern American bands third record in as many years. The brainchild of singer Dylan Baldi fires back with distorted guitars, melodic hooks and brings us back to the days of Sub Pops heyday. At first listen to Attack on Memory, you really believe it is 1989 again and grunge is about to explode at any moment, yet, with basic production and sounding like it was recorded in a garage, Attack on Memory plays on our nostalgia and shows how Cloud Nothings is a band we maybe talking about all year.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Crosses – EP 2
Deftones frontman Chino Moreno and Far guitarist Shaun Lopez return with their second EP and after a very disappointing first start on EP 1, EP 2 works out all the kinks. EP 2 finds Crosses blending the moody disposition of classic Deftones songs like “Digital Bath,” “Be Quiet and Drive,” and “Pink Cellphone,” and takes Lopez’s attacking guitar work and brilliant production qualities and marries the California musicians together.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Craig Finn –Clear Heart, Full Eyes
The Hold Steady front man goes solo and finds his inner Nebraska. Much like one of Finn’s heroes, Bruce Springsteen, the rock and roll front man went acoustic and simple on his solo debut. Trading Brooklyn for Austin, Texas to work and record Clear Heart, Full Eyes and inspired by the hit TV show, Friday Night Lights, Finn gets much more introspective than ever before. Unlike his work for The Hold Steady, the brilliant lyricist does not tell a story of central characters but seems to pour his heart out in what he loves and lives for. For fans of Finn’s words this is one for you.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Lana Del Rey – Born to Die
Born and bred in hype via the internet, loved and praised by nearly every blogger and major magazine and then a disastrous SNL performance seemed to give everyone that loved her, the right to bash the New York singer. So when her debut, Born to Die was released, it was unfairly trashed and trampled on. However, while it may have been cool and fun to bash the singer, when you really listen to what Born to Die has to offer, it is far from a terrible record. Sure, her debut is not ground breaking nor the beginning of the second coming, but it plays like an SOS for distraught females everywhere who are looking for love or who have been scorned by the men in front of them. Her vocal range is low, her lyrics are clever, the beats are sublime, so why all the hate? Oh right, the fellow pretentious writers of today get upset when someone becomes popular.
The Hold Steady front man goes solo and finds his inner Nebraska. Much like one of Finn’s heroes, Bruce Springsteen, the rock and roll front man went acoustic and simple on his solo debut. Trading Brooklyn for Austin, Texas to work and record Clear Heart, Full Eyes and inspired by the hit TV show, Friday Night Lights, Finn gets much more introspective than ever before. Unlike his work for The Hold Steady, the brilliant lyricist does not tell a story of central characters but seems to pour his heart out in what he loves and lives for. For fans of Finn’s words this is one for you.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Lana Del Rey – Born to Die
Born and bred in hype via the internet, loved and praised by nearly every blogger and major magazine and then a disastrous SNL performance seemed to give everyone that loved her, the right to bash the New York singer. So when her debut, Born to Die was released, it was unfairly trashed and trampled on. However, while it may have been cool and fun to bash the singer, when you really listen to what Born to Die has to offer, it is far from a terrible record. Sure, her debut is not ground breaking nor the beginning of the second coming, but it plays like an SOS for distraught females everywhere who are looking for love or who have been scorned by the men in front of them. Her vocal range is low, her lyrics are clever, the beats are sublime, so why all the hate? Oh right, the fellow pretentious writers of today get upset when someone becomes popular.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas
The brilliant songwriter, poet and author returns with a new album. While Old Ideas shows off classic Cohen, it also shows off why we need more of his work today than ever before.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Foxy Shazam – The Church of Rock and Roll
The Ohio rockers return with album number four and preside in The Church of Rock and Roll. Foxy Shazam are a group that simply know how to have fun, they do not take themselves too serious and make a form of rock and roll that you can easily let your hair down to. The Church of Rock and Roll hears the band paying homage to 70’s classic rock, 80’s hair metal, 90’s grunge and beyond. A record to pick up and rock out to.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas
The brilliant songwriter, poet and author returns with a new album. While Old Ideas shows off classic Cohen, it also shows off why we need more of his work today than ever before.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Foxy Shazam – The Church of Rock and Roll
The Ohio rockers return with album number four and preside in The Church of Rock and Roll. Foxy Shazam are a group that simply know how to have fun, they do not take themselves too serious and make a form of rock and roll that you can easily let your hair down to. The Church of Rock and Roll hears the band paying homage to 70’s classic rock, 80’s hair metal, 90’s grunge and beyond. A record to pick up and rock out to.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Guided by Voices – Let’s Go Eat the Factory
The Ohio indie rock legends release album number 16 and after a revolving door of musicians to come in and out of the band for years, this has GBV bring their “classic” line-up to their new record. Let’s Go Eat the Factory is classic GBV and with 21 songs and clocking in at over 40 minutes, GBV show they still go it.
FINAL GRADE: B
The Ohio indie rock legends release album number 16 and after a revolving door of musicians to come in and out of the band for years, this has GBV bring their “classic” line-up to their new record. Let’s Go Eat the Factory is classic GBV and with 21 songs and clocking in at over 40 minutes, GBV show they still go it.
FINAL GRADE: B
Ingrid Michaelson – Human Again
The Staten Island born singer/songwriter fires back with album number five and shows her flexing serious muscle. Human Again hears Michaelson’s voice like never before, playing off both pop and indie rock, Human Again blurs the fine line between the two genres and shows how you can do a record that will appeal to various groups of people and fans. One of Michaelson’s best.
FINAL GRADE: B
Big Deal – Lights Out
The debut record of couple Kacey Underwood and Alice Costelloe shows off sexual tension, colorful sounds and the music world at their fingertips – after all they are Big Deal. While what is based around the duo is very minimal and at times ambient, what works is Big Deal’s members playing off each other with such camaraderie that it is something to look forward to as to what they will do down the line.
FINAL GRADE: B-
The Staten Island born singer/songwriter fires back with album number five and shows her flexing serious muscle. Human Again hears Michaelson’s voice like never before, playing off both pop and indie rock, Human Again blurs the fine line between the two genres and shows how you can do a record that will appeal to various groups of people and fans. One of Michaelson’s best.
FINAL GRADE: B
Big Deal – Lights Out
The debut record of couple Kacey Underwood and Alice Costelloe shows off sexual tension, colorful sounds and the music world at their fingertips – after all they are Big Deal. While what is based around the duo is very minimal and at times ambient, what works is Big Deal’s members playing off each other with such camaraderie that it is something to look forward to as to what they will do down the line.
FINAL GRADE: B-