Mars Volta – Noctourniquet
The prog / metal / rock / indie / haymakers of sound return
with album number six and prove that you can make a living out of making music
far beyond the human condition could allow. Noctourniquet is simply one of the
best albums of the year, thus far, however, it is not for everyone, it is a
record for the open minded and one with adventurous taste in music that is not
afraid to hear something so foreign, it is difficult to pinpoint what exactly
you maybe hearing. The record is devoid of the band’s usual story lines but
still a concept record based off nursery rhymes, Solomon Grundy, and the Greek
myth of Hyacinthus. One of the most daring and brilliant records released so
far.
FINAL GRADE: A
Rocket Juice & The Moon
Damon Albarn, Tony Allen and Flea are all in a band together
– that enough should suffice as something amazing but then add Erykah Badu to
the mix and cornucopia of African musicians, Rocket Juice & the Moon goes
from a super group to a group that is super. A band for the world around them,
Albarn recruited various musicans from various styles from jazz to hip-hop,
R&B, rock, funk, soul and tribal and mixes it together. While elements are
reminiscent of Gorillaz, Albarn still makes it sound so fresh.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Dr. John – Locked Down
The legendary Dr. John links up with Black Keys guitarist
Dan Auerbach for a new album filled with the blues, rock, jazz and his
signature Bayou beast style. Locked Down showcases Auerbach and Dr. John
working in tandem as two generations of rockers hit the decks for no bullshit,
no frills, no gimmick record.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Lee Ranaldo – Between the Time and Tides
Sonic Youth member goes solo on a record that is far from
the indie post-punk roots he helped pioneer and closer to a perfect pop / rock
record. Ranaldo strays from what has made him famous and becomes something
more, of all of the Sonic Youth solo records, Between The Time and Tides ranks
as one of the best.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Sharks – No Gods
British punks return with a new record and have no problem
getting in your face about it. No Gods is the supreme blend of rockabilly, pop-punk, garage
and backed by slick guitars and catchy hooks, a record to really pay attention
to from a band that has so much promise in their career.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Birdy
Another British singer with a big and soulful voice comes
into the limelight. At first listen to Birdy, one would just write her off as
another Adele, Amy Winehouse, Duffy wannabe, however, Birdy opens up beyond
what one would expect. Her self-titled solo record is not so much a girl
signing with a broken heart but someone singing for hope, love and guidance. A
promising debut from one of 2012’s new voices.
FINAL GRADE: B
Margot & the Nuclear So &So’s – Rot Gut, Domestic
The beloved indie band returns and hears a heavy influence
from The Pixies, Melvins and Cure. While Rot Gut, Domestic is a solid effort
from the band, one would have expected a much more original sound, however,
they still make it work, even when taking a stab at sounding like those that
have played a major role in influencing their sound.
FINAL GRADE: B
The Wedding Present – Valentina
The British indie rockers are back! The Wedding Present
released their long awaited new record. While swimming in the ether of bands they
have influenced, they tend to not stray away too much and sound vastly
different; Valentina is a safe comeback album.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Odd Future – Vol. 2
The most controversial group in hip-hop returns with a new
mixtape of the same vulgar-yet-clever material that have made them famous. The
latest installment in the Odd Future mixtape series finally hears the enigma
Earl Sweatshirt, which is the real treat, but still is more of the same lyrics
and content. While lyrically it sounds rather familiar, Sid the Kid still
provides brilliant beats, mixing and Tyler is on point with the production
value of something that is looked at as a free record to fans.
FINAL GRADE: B-
New Build – Yesterday Was Lived and Lost
The debut LP from members of Hot Chip and LCD Soundsystem is
exactly what you think – fun dance music with great production. However, that
seems to be all it really is. While New Build are a new band with brilliant
members of two of electronic music’s biggest names, one would have expected
something much more grander and bigger in sound.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Susan Justice – Eat Dirt
The former Susan Cagle comes back with a new name, new
attitude and new material. The New York City songstress has gone from singing
in Subways to singing to Oprah to now finally releasing a long awaited debut of
folk and mellow rock tunes.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Blood Red Shoes – In Time Voices
The British guitar and drum duo return with a typical Blood
Red Shoes record. In Time Voices is more of the same from the duo that have
proven, in recent years, England’s answer to The White Stripes, while fans
(including myself) are excited over a new album, it sounds very much like a
Blood Red Shoes record. The clear surprise on the record is “Je Me Perds,”
which is something the record needs more of to stray away from what they have
given us previously.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Unsane – Wreck
Unsane - the heavy / post-hardcore band
return with a new record of thumping basslines, pounding drums, screaming
vocals and roaring guitars – sometimes in life that is all you need.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Madonna – MDNA
The Queen of Pop returns with a new album that hears her
attempt to keep up with the new class of female artists in the pop world. While
Madonna features guests like MIA, and Nicki Minaj, Madge’s appreciation for
current music is not new – in the 90’s she worked with William Orbit, Bjork,
Babyface then in the naughties she linked up with Justin Timberlake and
Timbaland, so the duet’s are not new and that is not what makes the record unoriginal,
MDNA is just Madonna trying to sound like everyone else, when she is far more
talented than this. With MDNA, she tries to push the envelope, she tries to
make the record a club record, she tries to make the record a pop record, she
tries to make the record something people will remix, with all of this trying
she strays far from herself and it feels like desperate attempt to stay
relevant while the Pop throne is all of hers.
FINAL GRADE: C
Nicki Minaj –
Pink Friday…Roman Reloaded
Nicki Minaj returns with album number two but as her alter
ego – Roman. Much like her debut, it is a hard attempt at sounding
controversial, sounding hard and wanting to be taken serious with colored hair
and thick make-up. While Minaj’s appearance is like a real-life cartoon, what
Roman Reloaded displays is something much more introspective and much more
serious and underneath the gimmick look, Minaj has something to share to the
world, yet, still would rather draw attention to who she is than what she has
to say.
FINAL GRADE: C