Deftones – Koi No Yokan
This review of Deftones new album could be summed up in one
word – “Wow.” Koi No Yokan, which translates from Japanese to “the sense upon
first meeting a person that the two of you are going to fall into love,” clings
to its meaning. After its first listen, Koi No Yokan is without a doubt one of
the best albums of this year and one of the best records of the Sacramento,
California post-hardcore legends career. As we mentioned when the band returned
in 2009 with the phenomenal Diamond Eyes, a record about bassist Chi Cheng, who
has been in a coma since 2008 following a devastating car accident, the band
have taken their tragedy and channeled it into some of the greatest music and
sounds of their career. This album continues that path and as we all hope and
pray for Cheng to recover, the Deftones will continue their musical path of
destruction in the absense of their brothers wake.
FINAL GRADE: A+
Action Bronson – Rare Chandeliers
The best rapper to emerge in years comes back with his second
mixtape of 2012. Queens’ Action Bronson follows up his collaboration with Party
Supplies with The Alchemist for Rare Chandeliers. Rapping about everything from
food to girls to weed, Action Bronson is serious about making a name for
himself in hip-hop but dishes on having so much fun while doing it.
FINAL GRADE: A+
Crystal Castles – III
The third and much anticipated new record from the British
neo-cold wave band is much of the dark and electronic blips and noise we have
come to love from them over the years.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Bat For Lashes – The Haunted Man
After hitting a patch of writers block after her
breakthrough 2009 release, Two Suns, Natasha Khan aka Bat for Lashes contacted
Thom Yorke for advice and it seemed to work. The Haunted Man is a record that
is not only far superior than her debut but hears her broadening and
experimenting with new sounds and styles in sophisticated and clever fashion.
FINAL GRADE: B+
How to Destroy Angels – An Omen EP
The second EP from Trent Reznors other band which features
his wife and collaborators Atticus Ross and Rob Sheridan gives fans a
dynamic taste of what is to come from their much anticipated LP in 2013.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Rolo Tomassi – Astraea
The third release and first self-released record of
Britain’s mathcore titans is as brutal, fierce and fucking scary as one would
imagine. Rolo Tomassi are a band that do not manage to get the proper attention
Stateside as they deserve, we hope with Astraea they finally will.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Pig Destroyer – Book Burner
The Virginia grindcore / metal band return with one of the
finest albums of their career and also one of the most pulse pounding. Book
Burner is one of 2012’s heaviest albums and one of the years best heavy records
at that.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Neil Young and Crazy Horse – Psychedelic Pill
The second release of Young and Horse this year and much
like its predecessor, Americana, it makes us smile that these two legendary
acts are working together again. While Americana was a much more straightforward
record for them, Psychedelic Pill, like its title, is far diverse, it is a
jam-rock record of massive proportions.
FINAL GRADE: B
Of Montreal – Paralyitic Stalks
The 11th album from Athens, Georgia, psychedelic
art rockers is a typical Of Montreal record. Nothing much different to the
bands twisted formula, but at this point in their career, there really is no
need to.
FINAL GRADE: B
Donald Fagan – Sunken Condos
The fourth solo record from one half of Steely Dan is a
lush, layered and lighter record than Fagan has released as a solo artist.
FINAL GRADE: B
Brian Eno – Lux
The genius producer and musician returns with his latest
solo record, a four song swelling, epic, lush record that clocks in over an
hour and as usual, hears him pushing the boundaries of modern music.
FINAL GRADE: B
Alicia Keys – Girl on Fire
Enlisting a tribe of producers like Jamie xx, Babyface,
Swizz Beatz, Jeff Bhasker, Kerry Brothers, Jr., Alicia Keys, Warren
"Oak" Felder, Salaam Remi, The Smeezingtons, Pop Wansel, Alicia Keys
returns triumphantly. Girl on Fire is Keys at her finest since her stellar
debut, Songs in A Minor.
FINAL GRADE: B
Bad Brains – Into the Future
The 9th album from the legendary Bad Brains hears
them, like much of their recent years, combine dub, raggae, rock, and punk
together. While Into the Future is not Bad Brains at their finest, it is a
special album since it pays tribute to longtime friends and massive fan, the
late Adam “MCA” Yauch of Beastie Boys.
FINAL GRADE: B-
…and You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead – Lost Songs
The eighth record from Texas’ indie titans was recorded in
Hanover, Germany, and hears them dabbling into much more than aggressive rock
or prog-rock but something much more for them. While Lost Songs is not as
strong as last years Tao of Dead, it is something to admire.
FINAL GRADE: B-
FINAL GRADE: B-
Calvin Harris – 18 Months
The third album from Scottish superstar DJ, Calvin Harris,
plays more like a compilation and a guest of whose who of stars. 18th
Months features Rihanna, Florence Welch, Dillon Francis, Dizze Rascal, Ellie
Goulding and more for an EDM manifesto.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Guided By Voices – The Bears for Lunch
The third album of 2012 of the “Classic” GBV line-up hears a
continuation of what they had done twice over the year already.
FINAL GRADE: C+
Shiny Toy Guns – III
The third record from L.A.’s glam rockers and first album of
new material since 2008 hears the band doing more of the same and nothing else.
FINAL GRADE: C
Rihanna – Unapologetic
There is no denying Rihanna’s ability to deliver
hit-after-hit and smash album after smash album, but as she and her team of
writers and producers dive into a new record each year, but with such talent,
it would be smart to slow down the machine and instead of cranking out
quantity, they should look to deliver quality.
FINAL GRADE: C-
Aerosmith – Music From Another Dimension!
In their first album of new material in over a decade,
America’s legendary rock and roll band disappoints. With a title called Music
From Another Dimension, one would have high hopes that Steven Tyler, Joe Perry
and co., would craft something original and different than what we have been
accustomed to. However, they fail to do so and craft a generic, embarrassing,
sorry excuse for a rock and roll record. American Idol seemed to do Tyler in,
even dueting with Carrie Underwood on a track, but instead of making fans and
lovers of the band proud, he and the Boston legends opted to go and make quick
cash and put a smile on Simon Cowell’s botox face.
FINAL GRADE: F
