Fucked Up – Glass Boys
The Canadian punks fire back with an amazingly beautiful and
brutally chaotic new album that takes everything that you love about this band
and gives more. Glass Boys may not be as ambitious as their Zodiac series or
their brilliant 2011 record, David Comes to Life, but it does the job and does
it with flying colors. Glass Boys is a look at social life in the social media
age, it is an observation of what is wrong with us as a society and that
instead of being alive we need to start living.
FINAL GRADE: A
SZA – Z
Last month we picked SZA as our Rising Artist and her
latest, Z, proves why. Z is minimalist R&B, Europop, hip-hop, and New Wave
rolled into a fantastic E.P. that makes us beg for her to release a full length
soon!
FINAL GRADE: A-
Kylie Minogue – Kiss Me Once
The Australian pop goddess returned to dancefloors this
spring with her 12th studio album and did not disappoint. Kiss Me
Once is Ms. Minogue doing what she does best, just letting the beat captivate
her audience while she puts her vocal power on another set of great pop tunes.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Bob Mould – Beauty & Ruin
The iconic Husker Du and Sugar frontman returns with his 11th
studio album and like a fine wine, Mould keeps getting better with age.
FINAL GRADE: B+
7Seconds – Leave a Light On
The news came rattling in like a shockwave that 7Seconds
were going to release their first album in nine years and the legendary punks
to do let fans down. While it has been a long wait, 7Seconds have not lost
their fierce touch. Maybe a few years away from the studio together did them
some good and they could recharge their internal batteries and creative juices
and just burn through and burn down their audience like they did in their
heyday.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Chromeo – White Women
The Canadian dance duo storm back with another party
starting album that hears them doing nothing too diverse than what they have
given us in the past, nonetheless, it still is superfun record to play. The
beauty of Chromeo is that you always know what you are getting yourself into.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Jack White – Lazaratto
Jack White returns with his second solo album and instead of
being “Just another Jack White” record, he actually pushes himself as a
guitarist and goes beyond blues. Incorporating psychedelica, metal, punk, and
garage riffs, the man who saved rock and roll seems to be saving himself with
his latest solo venture.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Little Dragon – Nabuma Rubberband
Sweden’s Little Dragon come back with their fourth album and
like their fellow countrymen they know how to make a great pop record, yet,
Little Dragon make pop on their terms. It is whimsical, more playful, and less
serious than others but is not frivolous in their delivery.
FINAL GRADE: B
Howler – World of Joy
Minneapolis’ Brit-influenced rockers Howler came back with
their second record two years after releasing their awesome, America Give Up.
Their latest, World of Joy, is a total 180 in both style and sound. It is much
more polished, positive, and profound.
FINAL GRADE: B
The Menzingers -
Rented World
Pennsylvania punks The Menzingers fire back with their
fourth studio album and still bring their combination of abrasive punk and
classic rock and roll together. This is a band that should be far bigger than
they actually are and Rented World is another reason why.
FINAL GRADE: B
Pixies – Indie Cindy
When we said we wanted a new Pixies record, we didn’t mean
just a compilation of E.P.’s that didn’t feature the original line-up. Then
again, a Pixies record is better than no Pixies record, right?
FINAL GRADE: B-
Michael Jackson – Xscape
When it was announced that their would be ANOTHER posthumous
MJ record, we rolled our eyes and wanted to dislike whatever his family and
estate were putting out. The thing is, Xscape is actually not a bad record it
is just put out for all the bad reasons. It makes us miss the King of Pop’s
style, singing swagger, and j’hamon.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Fu Manchu - Gigantoid
The SoCal stoner punks return with another record for fans to add to the growing collection of Fu Manchu''s long history.
FINAL GRADE: C+
The Faint – Doom Abuse
It has been six years since The Faint released a new album
and their latest, Doom Abuse, feels like it took them eight days to put
together. It is a disjointed, chaotic, and sloppy return.
FINAL GRADE: C
The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger – Midnight Sun
The long awaited debut from John Lennon’s kin, Sean’s band
finally arrives and it is a trip on the magical mystery tour. The album is an
electronic and psychedelic journey into the mind of Lennon, who at times,
writes and sings like his late father, and at other points sounds like his
mother. Midnight Sun is not a record you digest right away, it takes a bit to
get into.
FINAL GRADE: C
Tune-Yards – Nikki Nack
Tune-Yards return with their third record and it’s playful
and childish sound takes on adult themes that, at often times, makes the music
sound disjointed and uncoordinated.
FINAL GRADE: C
