Fantasma – Free Love
South African rap king Spoek Mathambo organizes a full band
to craft one of the most far out, creative, and surprising debuts of the year
so far. Mathambo is an icon in his home country and an international star, but
his venture into something that dabbles into jazz, rock, funk, and altering
traditional native sounds makes Free Love a record to admire.
FINAL GRADE: A-
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Marina and the Diamonds – Froot
The English born, Greek blooded pop star returns with her
third album and it might be her most intimate and best yet. Marina finally
sounds as if she is coming into her own and comfortable in her own skin. Her
musical Froot is ripe.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes
I Just Sit
After a series of EP’s, Australia’s daughter of garage rock
arrives with her debut and she impresses. With her smart, clever, and ultra
witty lyrics over basic garage sound, Bartnett is showing promise in what lies
ahead of her career.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Liturgy – The Art Work
A Liturgy in Greek is “the customary public worship done by
a specific religious group, according to its particular beliefs, customs and
traditions.” Brooklyn black metal favorites have crafted a following that does
just that. This band impresses on stage and their fans are some of the most
loyal, now, on their third studio album the band looks to pontificate further.
The Art Work hears the band alter their sound a bit and dive further into
various musical genres while sticking to their roots.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Lightning Bolt – Fantasy Empire
Fantasy Empire is more chaos and ultimate creation from the
Rhode Island duo.
FINAL GRADE: B+
JEFF the Brotherhood – Wasted on the Dream
Eight albums into their career, the dynamic duo of JEFF the
Brotherhood are still punching along with the engine that hasn’t shifted too
many gears but continues to run.
FINAL GRADE: B
Earl Sweatshirt – I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside: An
Album By Earl Sweatshirt
The best rapper from Odd Future released a surprise
sophomore record to much controversy. As the rapper blames his label for
allegedly ruining the records release, it doesn’t mean that the record still
isn’t worth a listen. Earl, still vulnerable as ever, has a unique vision for
what growing up should be and what his life is like these days.
FINAL GRADE: B
Mew - +-
The Danish alternative band return and bring forth an unique
vision and musical landscape that is enough to make anyone curious as to why
they are not bigger than what they are.
FINAL GRADE: B
Matt & Kim – New Glow
There continues to not be a single band on this planet that
has more fun than Matt & Kim. New Glow isn’t anything new sounding from the
band, just new music, but still enough to become an instant ray of sunshine to
your day.
FINAL GRADE: B
The Prodigy – The Day is my Enemy
Over 20 years into their career, The Prodigy refuse to calm
down, they refuse to relax, and they refuse to stop. For all of that, it is
worth hearing how the ravers still continue to adapt to the scene and bring
aggression to the digital age.
FINAL GRADE: B
The Go! Team – The Scene Between
Four years after their last year, the English genre bending
band release their fourth album and still pack a punch. While The Scene Between
is a welcomed return from this band, we know it’s real luster lies live in
concert.
FINAL GRADE: B
Strung Out – Transmission Alpha Delta
The West Coast punks return and bring forth a new collection
of tracks to add to their classic arsenal.
FINAL GRADE: B
The Cribs – For All My Sisters
The Jarmin fraternity is back with Rik Okasek behind the
decks to bring a much more pop and polished sound to the bands garage rock vibe
and from their previous efftort which was produced by Steve Albini. For All My
Sisters is The Cribs at a turning point but still being themselves.
FINAL GRADE: B
Will Butler – Policy
Recorded over a week in Jimi Hendrix’s old living room at
Electric Lady Studios in New York during Arcade Fire’s massive Reflektor tour,
the band’s multi-instrumentalist Will Buter, brother of singer Win, goes solo
for the first time and brings with him the ghosts of Arcade Fire past. With
impromptu dance breakdowns and perfect indie pop hooks, Will Butler holds his
own on his own.
FINAL GRADE: B
Calexico – Edge of the Sun
Eight albums into their career, Arizona’s Calexico still
push the instrumental boundaries of their music and go further into the mind of
the listener, this time, they bring us to the Edge of the Sun.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Wale – The Album About Nothing
When Wale bursted onto the scene it was with his Seinfeld-inspired
mixtape, A Mixtape About Nothing. Now, he takes that same idea on a studio
album proving that the 90’s sitcom is this D.C. rappers muse.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Death Cab For Cutie – Kintsugi
The latest record from the Washington state indie gods is
the final for founding member and guitarist Chris Walla, while his departure
will be felt down the line, this is an appropriate send off.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Action Bronson – Mr. Wonderful
After years of indie records, mixtapes, EP’s, Queens’ Action
Bronson makes his major label debut and proves that the sound he gave us in the
past was something to gain respect, credit, and attention. On his debut,
Bronsolino does whatever he wants. With producers like Party Supplies,
Alchemist, and Mark Ronson, Bronson uses a bit of his old tactics but brings a
trippy, stoner rap record that is so far gone and so far out there, it feels so
mashed together and convoluted that his past shines even more.
FINAL GRADE: C+
