Beck – Morning Phase
Beck returns with his first album in six years with the
unofficial sequel to 2002’s flawless Sea Change with Morning Phase. His latest,
is his finest work since 2005’s Guero and on Morning Phase he brings his moody,
melancholy symphonic opera that combines his desperate vocals over a lush and
thriving symphony orchestra. While it lacks the subtle electronic elements that
Sea Change had, Morning Phase is indeed it’s own record. Sea Change was the
break-up album to end all break-up albums, while Morning Phase is about the
struggle to find the courage to continue and go on with you life and let the
past be the past, even though the demons may still haunt you.
FINAL GRADE: A+
Band of Horses – Acoustic at Ryman
The much anticipated acoustic live record from the Band of
Horses has arrived and it came just in times for Valentines Day, as it may be
the most beautiful record to be released this year. Fans of the bands will know
the songs by heart, but the new arraignments will freshen up and alter your
view on classic songs like “Funeral,” “No One’s Going To Love You,” and
“Factory.” Casual listeners of the band, we bet, will become deeper fans of the
band now thanks to their new, tender directions.
FINAL GRADE: A+
Chuck Ragan – Till Midnight
One of America’s best songwriters and one of punk’s greatest
voices returns with a new solo album that is one of his most sublime to date.
Ragan paints with sound more than ever before thanks to lush orchestral
arraignments, the use of choirs, and help from his friends like Dave Hause.
Ragan comes off with the energy of a Baptish preacher and the soul of a gospel
choir to lay more of his emotions out on the line. Till Midnight is a record
that will not only give you chills, it will make you want more.
FINAL GRADE: A+
✝ ✝ ✝
(Crosses)
After two EP’s, Deftones’ Chino Moreno, Far’s Shaun Lopez
link with musician Chuck Doom to release their debut album as ✝ ✝
✝ (Crosses). The music of this
band is as ominous, moody, and dark as the tone they set on stage. It is not
Deftones, it is not Far, it contains some elements of those bands, but it is a
long way away of being anything like them. Taking a dark electronic / cold-wave
vibe, with inspiration from bands like Depeche Mode, Bauhaus, and Jesus and
Mary Chain.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Phantogram – Voices
The sophomore release from New York duo Phantogram comes a
record far more complex, layered, and diverse than their previous releases.
Voices hears Phantogram proving they are hear to stay and not just another
electronica act trying to craft a hit.
FINAL GRADE: B+
St. Vincent
Indie darling St. Vincent returns with her fourth album and
her most multifaceted and diverse record to date. After recording and writing
the album in Texas, it sounds much more metropolitan and cosmopolitan than
where the record was conceived. This maybe St. Vincent’s finest record to date,
it is clearly her strongest.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Nina Persson – Animal Heart
The latest solo record from The Cardigans / A-Camp front
woman, Nina Persson hears her returning to her Swedish roots by crafting a
magical pop record that will have you hitting replay over and over again.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Snowmine – Dialects
The atmospheric Brooklyn indie band return with a stark and
surprising sophomore album that combines the creativity of Sigur Ros and the
ambiance of James Blake.
FINAL GRADE: B+
The Family Rain – Under the Volcano
Our February Rising Artists, British blue rockers The Family
Rain, release their debut album and it proves why they are a band we all need
to keep an eye out for. Under The Volcano combines Thin Lizzy riffs and Rolling
Stones swagger and keeps the dreams of Britrock alive.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings – Give The People What They
Want
After being diagnosed with cancer, Sharon Jones had to
sideline the release of this record, but Give The People What They Want proves
that nothing, not even cancer, will stop her. The funk and soul on this record
shows that Jones’ spirit is alive and her fans are her needed medication.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Bombay Bicycle Club – So Long, See You Tomorrow
British indie band Bombay Bicycle Club return with their
fourth and best album. So Long, See You Tomorrow is a lush adventure in
electronic pop, jazz, and alternative. Pushing the envelope forward, Bombay
Bicycle Club are on the verge of showing why they are here to stay.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Kevin Seconds – Off Stockton
The new solo album from 7 Seconds front man, Kevin Seconds,
arrives and his self aware and self pride are stronger than before. Seconds,
who has made a career out of speaking his mind, does not disappoint on Off
Stockton and shows why he is still an icon in his scene.
FINAL GRADE: B
Schoolboy Q – Oxymoron
The much-anticipated third album from A$AP Crew member,
Schoolboy Q arrives and he enlisted some heavy hitters like Kendrick Lamar, 2
Chainz, Jay Rock, Tyler, The Creator, Suga Free and Kurupt, to support his
sound. Oxymoron is in fact his best solo effort to date and shows he has a
bright career ahead of him.
FINAL GRADE: B
Katy B – Little Red
English songstress Katy B returns with her semi dubstep, sub
bass, electronic pop sound and hears a much more mature and grown up gal than
when we met her a few years ago. Little Red is causing a stir across the pond
and once it picks up on American radio, Katy B will be one of the biggest
females to come from Britain since Adele.
FINAL GRADE: B
The Gaslight Anthem – B-Sides
After four albums, New Jersey greats The Gaslight Anthem
release a record of B-Sides and while that usually means covers or songs left off
an album or two, this compilation is a majority of their classic tracks from
their first three records redone acoustically. It does feature covers like
those they play in concert like Pearl Jam’s “State of Love and Trust,” and
Rolling Stones’ “Tumbling Dice,” but falls short of rare tracks we have not
heard, which is the biggest issue with the album.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Chain Gang of 1974 – Daydream Forever
The indie garage / pop / electronic hybrid The Chain Gang of
1974, make their major label debut with their third album and while the
creativity is still there, it is nothing new that we have not heard before from
this band.
FINAL GRADE: C+
Cibo Matto – Hotel Valentine
For the first time since 1999, New York City art rockers
Cibo Matto return with Cibo Matto and bring their classic trip hop and indie
pop sound back to life. After all these years apart, nothing has seemed to
changed, fans of the band that waited for a new release will eat it up, but a
new audience or critics wanting for something more from a band that was so
forward thinking back then, will be disappointed with what they are doing now.
FINAL GRADE: C+
Maximo Park – Too Much Information
The once promising career of British alternative band Maximo
Park seems to be fading with their new record. Too Much Information lacks the
energy and clever sound that made them the talk of the music world nearly a
decade ago.
FINAL GRADE: C-
