David Bowie – Blackstar
It has been nearly two weeks since David Bowie passed on and
two weeks since he released his final studio masterpiece and body of work,
Blackstar. The record, which was made during his battle with cancer, is indeed
his goodbye letter to fans and the parting gift of his courage, spirit and true
artistry. It is in fact, one of the finest albums of his in a very long time.
FINAL GRADE: A
Savages – The Answer
The London based post-punk band returns and defies the
sophomore slump. Building on the critically acclaimed debut they unleashed to
the world two years ago, they fire back with The Answer. A record that mixes
the hop of new wave, the despair of cold wave and the attitude of the 21st
Century post-punk sound they are after.
FINAL GRADE: A
Suede – Night Thoughts
After their blockbuster return in 2013, Suede are back again
with Night Thoughts. The record dips more into the darkness that they are known
for while giving the savvy and slick musical ability to make a pop song about
death sound sexy.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Hinds – Leave Me Alone
The fine Spanish export that is Hinds arrives to North
America with their debut Leave Me Alone. It is a firey album of Latin fury and
angst that mixes so well over the ladies fine garage pop hooks. Certainly one
of the year’s best new artists already and one to keep an eye out on.
FINAL GRADE: A-
NEVERMEN
The long awaited debut from Tunde of TV on the Radio, Mike
Patton and Doseone is an album of strange noises and funky riffs. The record is
an experiment into what they can do together but what they can give to fans as
a collective piece of art. You can’t say you are surprised by the record but
you are still left feeling uncomfortable.
FINAL GRADE: B
Chairlift – Moth
The Brooklyn duo are back with a record that finds the
perfect way to balance old and new schools of synth pop. Taking influences from
Yaz, New Order and Boy George and mixing it with a fresh blend of contemporary
ideas, Moth flies pretty high for them.
FINAL GRADE: B
Rihanna – ANTI
After much anticipation and excitement, Rihanna unleashed
ANTI to the world and even at her popularity the singer still does not give a
fuck what people think of her and does her own thing. While the record feels
brave parts of it do feel disjointed, maybe it is a reflection of what she is
going through as someone who is brave in the public eye? Could she be giving us
a clue in the feel of the record? That is a conspiracy we will let you figure
out but in the meantime, listen to the album and have a feel for yourself.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Bloc Party – Hymns
It says Bloc Party on the title, it has some members of the
original Bloc Party that put out four records together but it doesn’t sound nor
feel like a Bloc Party record. Hymns is this band trying something new, both in
members and in sounds. Dabbling and progressing in areas that they have not
gone before like using acoustic guitars, world music and more melody rather
than funk. Hymns is certainly not the best album they have put out however, it
is a shift if who they were.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Daughter – Not To Disappear
The English trio return with a record that was crafted in
Brooklyn and bring their alternative pop to a new level. Leaving England
behind, the record feels less British and more American influenced as they look
to broaden their horizons.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Sia – This Is Acting
Australia’s best pop songwriter of this century returns to
shake up the radio friendly world of music and certainly succeeds but gives us
more of the same of what she has already done.
FINAL GRADE: B-
