The Gaslight Anthem – Get Hurt
The Jersey punks moved to Nashville to craft a record of
heartbreak, tenderness, and clearly the most introspective of their career. The
band, known for their rockabilly meets punk attitude go for more roll than rock
on Get Hurt, which, by their standards is a bold move. The Gaslight Anthem
clearly are growing up and are clearly different people from when they arrived
on the scene a decade ago, and now, as they get older life sets in. The record,
which is inspired by singer Brian Fallon’s divorce showcases his pain but also
the pain that the band goes through seeing their leader suffer. It does have
it’s moments of “classic” Gaslight but instead of anthems, it is more stories
from a man coming back from the brink. Get Hurt is a break-up record but it is
also a record that has a sense of hope for a better tomorrow.
FINAL GRADE: A
SPEAK – Pedals
The Austin synth-pop artists return for their second album
and rise to the occasion to prove that this is no sophomore slump. The band packs
enough joy and energy into this record that it becomes an instant dance party
and will keep you tapping your feet all day long.
FINAL GRADE: B+
White Lung – Deep Fantasy
The Canadian hardcore punks fire back with their third
record that displays that this band is not slowing down, going soft, nor
changing their tone for anyone.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Nico Vega – Lead to Light
The long awaited sophomore album from LA’s Nico Vega is
finally hear and proves that it was worth the wait. Recorded at a Texas ranch,
these titans of the Sunset Strip bring forth a sound that can fill an area and
still make it intimate enough to feel as if you are watching them in a club.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Bright Light Bright Light – Life is Easy
Following the release of his Tour EP, Rod Thomas aka Bright
Light Bright Light brings the dynamic power we have been waiting for after that
tease of an extended play. Now, with a full albums worth of material, Bright
Light Bright Light proves he is ready for his major day in the sun with Life is
Easy. A record that will make you dance, cry, feel all the emotion you would
want in a record and does it with such pose and grace that if this record does
not put him in the stratosphere, than pop music as we know, has failed it’s
audience.
FINAL GRADE: B+
The Strypes – 4 Track Mind EP
Ireland’s slick garage rockers The Strypes give us a tease
four-song EP that tries to hold us off till the next record, but now only makes
us want it more!
FINAL GRADE: B+
Birdy – Fire Within
British songstress Birdy returns with her second album but
this time, it is really her first proper album as this is her first composition
of all original material. Fire Within is an intimate look inside the soul and
heart of a young rising star.
FINAL GRADE: B
Antemasque
The debut album from Mars Volta / At the Drive-in members
Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, Flea, and Dave Elitch arrives.
Antemasque is basically a stranger version of Volta and holds fans over as the
building blocks to the Volta foundation are being laid again.
FINAL GRADE: B
Jenny Lewis – The Voyager
On her third solo effort, former Rilo Kiley and Watson Twins
singer, Jenny Lewis brings Ryan Adams along to helm the controls and produce a
record that finds the perfect balance between folk and pop.
FINAL GRADE: B
United Nations – The Next Four Years
The hardcore supergroup featuring Geoff Rickley of Thursday,
members of Glassjaw and Converge unleash their sophomore album that stokes the
fire deep within it’s listener. With massive inspiration from Black Flag,
United Nations showcase that this once side project is now the real deal.
FINAL GRADE: B
Boris – Noise
The experimental Japanese rockers return with their 19th
album and brings forth every sound, style, and sonic offering they have offered
the masses over the years. Noise is their most complete album to date.
FINAL GRADE: B
Jungle
The debut album from British soul producers and DJ’s is
finally here and the album has it’s funk, soul, R&B, ebb and flow and would
serve more as beats to a mixtape for a series of rappers and singers to voice
over.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Pennywise – Yesterdays
With Jim Lindberg back on vocals, Pennywise really return to
form and bring a record for fans to add to the collection.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Tiesto – A Town Called Paradise
The EDM explosion has made even the most creative DJ’s
complacent and A Town Called Paradise is proof. The legendary Tiesto is back
with a subpar trance album that lacks focus, creativity and lives just for the
radio singles instead of the beats.
FINAL GRADE: C
Sheer Terror – Standing Up For Falling Down
The NYHC titans return following last year’s release, Kaos
for Kristen and seems like a rushed and incoherent effort to a band known for
crafting focused and visionary hardcore albums.
FINAL GRADE: C
How to Dress Well – What is the Heart?
How to Dress Well aka Tom Krell returned with a record that
could put the dead to sleep.
FINAL GRADE: D