Wednesday, May 16 2012
Simian Mobile Disco: Unpatterns
Simian Mobile Disco's attempt at a headphones record, after making a name for themselves as blog-house practitioners, is marred by aloof monotony.
White Fence: Family Perfume Vol. 1 / Family Perfume Vol. 2
While Family Perfume treads familiar lo-fi psych-folk ground, it does it well, as well as anyone since the weird ramblings of Elephant 6’s Olivia Tremor Control and Apples in Stereo. Good melodies, weird noises, basement tape production – what’s not to love?
Andre Williams & The Sadies: Night & Day
Williams's latest batch of gritty, unapologetic blues allows us to walk, a little, in the shoes of a grizzled vet who’s seen it all but is still hungry.
Electric Guest: Mondo
This Danger Mouse-produced debut LP shows serious promise for the electro-pop duo.
Marisa Monte: O Que Você Quer Saber de Verdade
Her artistic vision remains as gritty and vital as ever, but somehow her melodies have gotten even more beautiful.
Belle and Sebastian: Late Night Tales Volume 2
There are situations when this is the perfect album to play, but it is limited in its scope.
Tuesday, May 15 2012
Best Coast: The Only Place
The sky might be the limit for Best Coast as a brand, but The Only Place only ends up highlighting Bethany Cosentino’s ceiling as a performer and songwriter.
Richard Hawley: Standing at the Sky’s Edge
From the very start of his seventh solo album, Standing at the Sky’s Edge, it’s apparent that Richard Hawley’s sound has been defatted and pulverized, yet emotion and beauty remain intact.
Ufomammut: Oro: Opus Primum
All Ufomammut's members are clearly adepts of Hermetic rock of the highest order. The band has crafted acclaimed albums in the past, but the rarefied distillation of the cryptically spiritual and the sonically stentorian marks Opus Primum as its finest work yet.
Tomat: 01-06 June
Tomat's debut 01-06 June is an occasionally terrifying, often exhilarating, record that finds the delicate balance between structure and chaos.
Chicago Underground Duo: Age of Energy
Cornetist Rob Mazurek and percussionist Chad Taylor have been at this Chicago Underground thing for a long time now, yet they still sound refreshingly bizarre.
The Pierces: You & I
Charming Alabama sister duo looks to capitalize on UK success with latest release.
Monday, May 14 2012
Beach House: Bloom
Bloom should be to the year 2012 what Loveless was to 1991, or Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was to 2002, or Funeral was to 2004: a landmark release.
Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson: Thick As a Brick 2
Ian Anderson, who has cycled through sidemen the way his more hedonistic compatriots once speed-dialed through dealers, has yet another cast of characters for this recording.
Lords of Acid: Deep Chills
Just when you thought they were gone, Belgian electro-industrial artists come raging back with their first new album in over a decade… Much like herpes.
Kenny Garrett: Seeds from the Underground
Saxophonist Kenny Garrett's latest studio effort, his most cohesive release to date, is a sprawling work that serves as a nice summary of his impressive career.
Extra Life: Dream Seeds
Dream Seeds is the worst case scenario of a concept album, it's laughably over-wrought and horrendously uninspired.
Said the Whale: Little Mountain
Vancouver five-piece sound a little out of depth -- or maybe above their altitude -- on third album Little Mountain.
Friday, May 11 2012
PS I Love You: Death Dreams
With longer songs, a darker theme, and catchier melodies, Death Dreams is a second album that doesn’t fall prey to the sophomore slump. Instead, it builds on past successes and expands the group’s ambitions.
Mary Halvorson Quintet: Bending Bridges
One of today’s finest and most adventurous small jazz groups turns in a sophomore effort that stuns.
