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Interpol – El Pintor
With their fifth record and first release with original
bassist Carlos D., Interpol return to form and reclaim their spot as one of the
best New York City bands to emerge in the last 20 years. El Pintor is the band
at their finest, combining their dark tones with a much more aggressive
polished rock sound. Easily their best album since 2004’s Antics, Interpol show
that even as they have gotten older, they have not lost their edge, grace, and
style.
FINAL GRADE: A
Royal Blood
While Prince William and Duchess Catherine announce they are
expecting their second child, there seems to be only one Royal Blood that the
music world should care about. The self-titled debut from this English duo
combines the furious musicianship of The Black Keys, with vocals reflective of
Jack White and John Gourley of Portugal. The Man and mixed with the heaviness
of a metal band. Royal Blood have been all the rage back home and now, with
this debut, they are set to take the world by storm. Easily one of the best
debut albums of the year and a true must listen from start to finish.
FINAL GRADE: A
FKA Twigs – LP 1
Following two critically acclaimed EP’s, England’s latest
sensation and the woman bringing trip-hop back to life, FKA Twigs released her
debut album, LP1 and showcases the power, seductiveness, and creativity, that
will lead her for years to come. Combining the coy and romantic ambiance of The
xx, with the sensitivity of James Blake, and the production and influence of
Tricky, FKA Twigs is showing British music at it’s finest right now. LP1 is a
must listen and a record we will be talking about for years to come.
FINAL GRADE: A
U2 – Songs Of Innocence
Only one band could upstage Apple at their own conference
and that band is U2. The surprise announcement that their new album, Songs of
Innocence was not only finished, but ready for fans to hear, within seconds of
the announcement and that it was free seemed to supersede whatever new iPhone
or piece of technology the tech giants were going to announce. That being said,
it has been a long journey for fans of the Irish legends to hear this album
after so many delays, false starts and rumors. With production from Danger
Mouse, Paul Epworth, Flood, and others, U2 find a balance that still makes
their music exciting but also fresh. A far greater step then 2009’s No Line on
the Horizon, U2 bring back the roaring guitars but also utilize a modern twist
thanks to the production of Mouse and special appearance by Lykke Li. The
record, one of the bands most personal since their debut, Boy, hears Bono
singing about his influences ranging from The Ramones to The Beach Boys to The
Smiths and just as when they started, the songs are about holding on to
innocence, even after all these years it is an idea they are still striving for
as millionaire rock stars. Songs of Innocence is 11 tracks that are equally
classic U2 and modern U2.
FINAL GRADE: A-
The Rentals – Lost in Alphaville
For the first time in 15 years, Matt Sharp resurrected The
Rentals for a new record and bring with them the classic sound that made them a
late 90’s favorite. It is a nostalgic trip around the block with Lost in
Alphaville and makes us remember why this band was so loved back then.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Tricky – Adrian Thaws
Following the critical success of last year’s fantastic
False Idols, Tricky returns using his birth name, Adrian Thaws, for his 10th
album. Still proving to not only be the creator of trip-hop, but still reigning
as the master, Adrian Thaws features guest contributions from Nneka, Mykki
Blanco, Oh Land, and Blue Daisy, to bring his self-made sound to life.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Alt-J – This Is All Yours
The experimental British band returns with their sophomore
album and with so much success, both critically and commercially from their
debut, An Awesome Wave, Alt-J don’t seem to be phased to live up to any hype on
their latest release. The band take things further with the sound they
unleashed to the world just two years ago and showcase that all of the pressure
and anticipation has not made them crack, only made them stronger and still
strange.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Dilated Peoples – Directors of Photography
Eight years since their last release, the lyrical icons
known as Dilated Peoples fire back with a record that shows the new school of
rappers how it is done. Directors of Photography does not disappoint thanks to
the cadence and lyricism of the group and production by The Alchemist, 9th
Wonder, DJ Premiere, Oh No, Twiz and of course, DJ Babu, not to mention the
slew of guests including, Vince Staples, Aloe Blacc, Catero, Gangrene, Sick
Jacken, Krondon, Fashawn, Rapsody, Domo Genesis, Vinnie Paz and Action Bronson.
Directors of Photography is welcomed return and gives fans hope that it won’t
take eight more years for another release.
FINAL GRADE: B+
The Last Internationale – We Will Reign
The Long Island rock band featuring Brad Wilk of Rage
Against The Machine blew us away this summer when we caught them at Mercury
Lounge, now, their anticipated debut has arrived and it does not fail to pack
the same punch as their concerts. We Will Reign is a politically charged rock
record that is the siren song of our times.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Johnny Marr – Playland
Following the release of his first ever debut album, last
year’s The Messenger, the former Smiths guitarist and icon, Johnny Marr quickly
returns with his sophomore album, Playland. This time around, Marr seems to
have more fun and still brings the same creative edge to his guitar work that
we have known and loved for so many years.
FINAL GRADE: B
Karen O – Crush Songs
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs leading lady brings a much more stripped
down and intimate approach to her debut album, Crush Songs. The record is a
love letter to people she has admired in her life and while we have all felt
the emotion of “having a crush on someone” only Mrs. O, expresses it the way we
wish we all could.
FINAL GRADE: B
Bishop Allen – Lights Out
After five years away from the scene, Bishop Allen come back
with their fifth record and give fans exactly what they want.
FINAL GRADE: B
NehruvianDOOM
MF DOOM and Bishop Nehru combine forces for this hip-hop extravaganza
that showcases each of their strengths together on one album.
FINAL GRADE: B
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers – Hypnotic Eye
The classic American rockers return with their 13th
studio album and bring with then a politically charged and angst filled sound
that one would not expect from Petty. Musically it hears them throw back to
their earlier days. It is a record that at their level of success they did not
have to make or could have phoned it in, however, they still feel the urge to
write great rock and roll songs and still check their creative pulse.
FINAL GRADE: B
Ryan Adams
Fourteen albums in, Ryan Adams still has a lot on his mind
and still wants to get it all out. Like most Adams records, the first few
listens will sound very similar to much of his catalogue, then, after a few
more chances and listens, you always find something brilliant and that spark of
genius in his lyrics that make you realize why you were interested in a new
record from him in the first place.
FINAL GRADE: B
Blonde Redhead – Barragan
The New York indie darlings come back and for the last 20
years, they have shape shifted their sound so much that every record seems to
mark a new era in their style, Barragan is no exception. This latest release is
their most intimate and somber to arrive to date.
FINAL GRADE: B-
JEFF The Brotherhood – Dig The Classics EP
The Tennessee garage rock duo churn out an EP of covers from
Beck, Pixies, My Bloody Valentine, Teenage Fanclub and more and do it in the
style of The Brotherhood. What is not to like?
FINAL GRADE: B-
Jessie Ware – Tough Love
For her second record, Jessie Ware gets much more personal
and poetic than before and even enlists the help of Ed Sheeran, Dev Hynes of
Blood Orange and The xx’s Romy Madley-Croft to bring out a deeper sound and
tougher sense of love.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Kasabian – 48:13
The English stadium rock giants return with their fifth
record and a decade in the game, Kasabian still want to make swelling sounds
that will fill a festival field and surrounding towns. Yet, with all of the
sound they create, it all still sounds like a Kasabian record.
FINAL GRADE: C
