Action Bronson & Party Supplies – Blue Chips 2
It has been a year-and-a-half since Bronson and Supplies
teamed up for their near flawless mixtape and one of last years best albums,
Blue Chips. Now, the prove that they are one of the best rapper / producer teams
in hip-hop with the brilliant Blue Chips 2. The latest mixtape proves that
sequels do not suck and hears them paying homage to the mid 90’s. It is a slice
of life style tape that features samples from Phil Collins, Billy Joel, Tracy Chapman, and memorable bites
from NBA players of the era, and of course raw sampling and beat work that is a
throwback to hip-hop’s glory days. Bronsolino and Supplies do it again, and we
hope there is a third installment to the Blue Chips saga in the works.
FINAL GRADE: A+
Arcade Fire – Reflektor
After months of viral campaigns, little information, new
sounds, and much anticipation, Arcade Fire released their fourth album and what
a change of atmosphere but not pace. For Reflektor, the Canadian band was
influenced by the street musicians of Haiti, African drummers, and clearly the
1980’s, instead of using their signature string section, the band dropped that
in flavor of horns and synths for an apocalyptic dance party for the ages.
Taking in clear influences from Talking Heads, New Order, and 80’s era Bowie,
who appears on the record which was produced by James Murphy of LCD
Soundsystem. Reflector is a musical voyage that feels like something very
positive and friendly, but what makes this stand out above just being a pop
album done a la Arcade Fire, is that each song has a deep, personal, and often
times very dark message and story. It is something you can dance to but it is
something that will also bring out raw emotions in you as well, which is why
this band is so special.
FINAL GRADE: A
Lorde – Pure Heroine
Lorde is the New Zealand sensation that rose to fame this
summer thanks to the worldwide hit, “Royals.” However, she is so much more than
just a flash-in-the-pan pop song, Pure Heroine, hears a girl reaching for her
goals thanks to hear talent but on a deeper level hears her reaching out to
become her own woman. She is one to keep an eye out on for years to come.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Mazzy Star – Seasons Of Your Day
For the first time since 1996, Mazzy Star returned with a
new album and fresh collection of tracks that picks up as if they never went
anywhere all these years they were gone. While the album was recorded between 2007 and 2012, it does
not feel disjointed or sporadic, it feels whole and complete as if they were in
the studio focused for a matter of weeks rather than years.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Strangelight – 9 Days
With Geoff Rickley of Thursday linking up with members of Goes
Cube, Mussels, Made out of Babies, Bad Powers, Pushmen, White Widows, United
Nations, anything is possible. Strangelight is that possibility, a collection
of post-hardcore songs influenced by Fugazi that just make total sense for
everyone in this band to be doing at this point in their careers.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Motorhead – Aftershock
Lemmy and the boys are back, enough said.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Holy Ghost! – Dynamics
The DFA synth-pop duo return with their sophomore effort and
clearly have been perfecting their craft in the studio and on the road.
Dynamics is a fun, dance party free-for-all that has Holy Ghost! Continuing the
iconic DFA legacy.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Chromeo – White Women
The Canadian dance duo return with their third album of
party anthems and in typical Chromeo fashion, it brings together sexy beats,
fun lyrics, and good vibes.
FINAL GRADE: B
Diplo – Revolution EP
Only Diplo can DJ a debaucherious dance party with a full
suit on and not break a sweat, and only Diplo can release an EP that allows you
to do the same. Revolution is a short and too the point way of Diplo saying,
“Go get crazy, on me.”
FINAL GRADE: B
Saves the Day
The eighth album from the emo legends hears something so
fresh and so relaxed from the Jersey band that it sounds as if they are a whole
new act all together. For years, Saves the Day never got the recognition they
deserved as a band, and now, it seems as if they stopped caring what people
think of them and wrote from the heart, and it pays off. This is their best
album since Stay What You Are.
FINAL GRADE: B
Ariana Grande – Yours Truly
The debut from one of music’s new pop princesses, Ariana Grande,
sounds more like a what should be on pop radio rather than some of the crap
they are playing from bigger names. Yours Truly is a dive in R&B, pop, and
soul that hears Grande showcasing what she does best, steal the spotlight.
FINAL GRADE: B
Royal Bangs – Brass
Royal Bangs return with their new album produced by Patrick
Carney of The Black Keys who really gets his claws into the bands sound – in a
good way. Brass hears The Royal Bangs still bringing somewhat aggressive
rock-meets-synth-pop sounds but thanks to Carney’s touch, it now has a fuzzy,
distorted feel to it that feels just right.
FINAL GRADE: B
Fanfarlo – The Sea EP
As we wait for a brand new Fanfarlo LP, the English band
released an EP to satisfy cravings of the symphonic rock band. The Sea is a
self-produced and self-released EP that is much more raw and organic than what
they have done in the past, the only issue is, we want an album now!
FINAL GRADE: B
Pusha-T – My Name Is My Name
The long awaited new album from ½ of Clipse has finally
arrived. My Name Is My Name is a star studded production featuring Kanye West
and Hudson Mohawk on the decks and appearances by Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, 2
Chainz, Kanye, Big Sean, Future, Pharrell Williams, Chris Brown and Kendrick
Lamar. The only issue with the album is that with so many guests, Pusha hardly
leaves room for himself, but overall, it is a worthwhile listen.
FINAL GRADE: B
Frankie Rose – Herein Wild
After last years outstanding Intersteller album, Frankie
Rose returns to her garage DIY roots on Herein Wild that has her sounding like
she is back in one of her former bands like Dum Dum Girls and Vivian Girls.
While it is still a decent listen, we do wish it was another sonic shift like
she took us on last year.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Yoko Ono – Take Me To The Land Of Hell
Linking up with her son, Sean, again as producer and
musician, the icon that is Yoko Ono also teams up with The Flaming Lips,
surviving members of Beastie Boys, Yuka Honda, Lenny Kravitz, and slew of
others to produce a record of art rock that only Yoko could give us.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Yuck – Glow and Behold
The English garage rock band return with their sophomore LP
and Glow & Behold picks up just where their acclaimed 2011 debut left off.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Dale Earnhart Jr. Jr.
– The Speed of Things
The lightning fast pop rock band from Michigan come back
with a new record that features that same old tricks, and there is nothing
wrong with that.
FINAL GRADE: B-
The Sounds – Weekend
The Swedish dance rock outfit return with their fifth album
and while we always felt that they sound be way bigger in the U.S. than they
already are, this album seems to sidetrack them. Weekend sounds as if the band
are trying too hard to write and record the perfect pop-rock radio friendly
song, but the thing is, they are far too talented to be trying, they can do
that and have done that in the past thanks to their stellar first three albums
and showcased that again in 2011 with Something To Die For. We love this band
and will continue to love them, but they just need to be themselves and not try
and be on the radio.
FINAL GRADE: C+
2Chainz – B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time
2Chainz is a rapper that is way smarter than he lets on, a
former scholarship student and deans list student, he is famous because of a
fucking catch phrase – his signature, slowed down “Two Chainz.” However, his
latest offering showcases more of his brains than his gimmicks thanks to songs
like “Black Unicorn,” and “Beautiful Pain.” If he releases an album full of
tracks like that, we might take his seriously.
FINAL GRADE: C
Black Flag – What The…
Given all of the controversy over Black Flag coming back
together and touring this year, they buckled down to release a new record,
their first with Ron Reyes on vocals since 1980’s Jealous Again and the first
album of new Black Flag material since 1985. However, not all reunions are
justified and not all of them warrant a new album, especially when What The..
sounds like middle aged men just trying to capitalize on their youth and trying
to be cool. However, word to the wise guys, you founded Black fucking Flag, you
don’t need to try! Just let it be!
FINAL GRADE: D
