Santigold – Master of My Make Believe
Four years after her brilliant debut, Brooklyn’s Santigold
returns with a record that was worth the wait. While she was ahead of the curve
and ahead of the musical landscape, she continues on her alternative stream but
gets much more introspective on Master of My Make Believe. In between albums
Santi produced for Devo, worked with Jay-Z, Beastie Boys, Spank Rock, Diplo,
and picked up a few things from her famous friends to enhance her new album.
Master of My Make Believe is easily one of the years best.
FINAL GRADE: A
Hot Water Music – Exister
If every comeback record sounded like Exister, every
comeback would be not be as special, so with that, Hot Water Music made not
only one of the best comeback records of all time (and the blueprint on how to
do it right), they made one of the best albums of their career. Eight years
after the band’s hiatus, Chuck Ragan and Gainsville, Florida punks get together
with a record full of disciplined anthems, inspiring songs and ball-to-the-wall
rock and roll. As abrasive as the band have always been, the incorporate
melodies more in their new record, which makes it and them progress in all the
right ways. In case you missed or forgot about this band – they steadfast
remind you to remember.
FINAL GRADE: A
Damon Albarn – Dr. Dee
The musical genius that is Damon Albarn arrives with his
long awaited solo-debut and it is nothing like you would expect. Dr. Dee is a
symphonic opera that comes from the same name of Albarn’s 2011 opera. Yet, this
may sound unlike what Albarn has done in the past, which is exactly why it is
one of the best reasons for Albarn to do it. Always pushing boundaries, always
pushing the musical limit and raise the bar. While the album is unique
territory for Albarn, he still lays his signature sound on it.
FINAL GRADE: A-
OFF!
The hardcore supergroup finally delivers their long awaited
debut and running in under a half-hour, the record is exactly what music needs
now. A pure raw, unconditional and full throttle old-school hardcore punk
record from a group of old school punks. Songs lasting under a minute, riffs as
furious as vocalist as Keith Morris’ lyrics, OFF! Delivers high energy and
vintage fun. Read our April interview with Dimitri Coats of OFF! HERE.
FINAL GRADE: A-
The Cribs – In The Belly of the Brazen Bull
The UK trio return with their first album since the
departure of Johnny Marr. In The Belly of the Brazen Bull hears the band
capturing their live sound and tossing it on wax. The raw and raucousness of
this record hears the Jarman brothers just being themselves and doing what they
love – playing loud, fast, punk. The Cribs have made a fine record and one for
all to hear.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Silversun Pickups – Neck of the Woods
The California rockers return with album number three and
delivers exactly what fans would expect – high emotional, roaring rock and
roll. Neck of the Woods hears Silversun Pickups evolve in the ever-so-slightly
ways, it is a record that will be embraced by both fans and critics and may turn
others onto the band.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Reptar – Body Faucet
Athens, Georgia’s latest buzz band finally brings their
debut to the world and is exactly what one would expect from a band named
Reptar – simply fun. Body Faucet is a enjoyable and well developed first album
from a band with so much hype around them. With catchy hooks, pop riffs and
hyper rhythms; Reptar will have you bouncing for hours. Read our 2011 interview
with the band HERE.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Keane – Strangeland
The UK adult rock band finally find their voice. For all of
Keane’s albums they have always sounded or mimicked the sounds of someone else,
their debut, Hopes and Fears though fantastic still heard the band following
the piano rock coattails of Coldplay. Their sophomore record, Under The Iron
Sea was their take on Achtung Baby-era U2, their last record, Perfect Symmetry
was them trying to be a bad version of Duran Duran. Now, back with Strangeland,
Keane finally sound like Keane and for that, they made their best record since
their debut. Still taking a focus on piano ready radio-friendly rock, they
perfect the art and may even have Chris Martin scratching his head wondering if
this is what he should be doing with his band.
FINAL GRADE: B
Norah Jones – Little Broken Hearts
The Brooklyn jazz singer returns with a mellow rock record
produced by the one and only Danger Mouse. Little Broken Hearts is an
emotionally heavy but musically sedate record from Jones, with an album title
like that, the motif of the record is straight away. Having Danger Mouse on the
decks and lending a hand as a musician on the record, Little Broken Hearts
continues their relationship that they developed last year with Mouse’s Rome
album.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Beach House – Bloom
The shoegaze dream-poppers return with their fourth record
and pick-up where they left off. Bloom is just a continuation of the band’s
summertime sound, nothing new, nothing different, just more of the same.
FINAL GRADE: C+
Tenacious D – Rize of the Fenix
Rock and Roll’s favorite comedic duo return with another
album of comedy anthems over heavy hitting metal. Rize of the Fenix is a
Tenacious D record through and through, nothing more, nothing less.
FINAL GRADE: C+
Best Coast – The Only Place
Best Coast comeback with their sophomore release, and like
another shoegaze dream-pop band – Beach House, they continue where they left
off.
FINAL GRADE: C+
Pennywise – All or Nothing
Influential Cali punks return with their new album and new
singer, Zoli Téglás. All or Nothing is a traditional Pennywise record, just
under new vocal powers – fast, raw, loud and thrilling.
FINAL GRADE: C+
Marilyn Manson – Born Villain
Eight albums in Manson still has something to say. Born
Villain is a look inside the man who has been blamed, ridiculed and frowned on
for so much in the music world. However, for Manson, the problem is this record
would have been much more relevant a decade ago. Now, the controversy and
issues that brought him to popularity have subsided and the discussion within
the lyrics of the record seem a bit irrelevant. Musically, Manson takes a
darker turn (if that could be possible) and much more intricate than his
previous records of the last 5-10 years, yet not much has changed considering
his is still covering old songs – only this time he has Johnny Depp on board to
do it.
FINAL GRADE: C+