January 2010
7 posts
HOT CHIP - ONE LIFE STAND
Hot Chip One Life Stand 8.3/10 iPod Worthy The fourth album from British electro-dance group, Hot Chip was an unexpected surprise.  The album launches off with one of the best tracks on the album “Thieves in the Night” - a river of synths gets interrupted with a “Seven Nation Army”-esque drumming.  The smooth and sexy chanting of Alexis Taylor cry; “my...
Jan 28th
LINDSTRØM & CHRISTABELLE - REAL LIFE IS NO COOL
Lindstrøm & Christabelle Real Life is No Cool 8.0/10 Recommended Disco meets style in Real Life is No Cool.  Lindstrøm draws on all the best parts of disco and pop to make a clean and sometimes sexy dance/disco record.  There is a clear influence from Michael Jackson on many of the tracks but especially “Baby Can’t Stop”.  Flourishing horns and sexy...
Jan 25th
SPOON - TRANSFERENCE
Spoon Transference 6.8/10 There isn’t much to say about Spoon’s seventh, lackluster album Transference.  There are no strand out tracks besides “The Mystery Zone”. The album goes in one ear and out the other. Not to say the album was terrible - but it will be lost and easily out-shined throughout the year.
Jan 23rd
THESE NEW PURITANS - HIDDEN
These New Puritans Hidden 7.3/10 It is a struggle to get along with the sophomore album, Hidden by Southend-on-Sea band, These New Puritans. With such an interesting concept, you really want to like the album. Hidden was influenced by war with song titles such as; “We Want War”, “Attack Music” and “Fire-Power”, the best track on the album.  The...
Jan 14th
LOS CAMPESINOS! - ROMANCE IS BORING
Los Campesinos! Romance is Boring 7.7/10 Recommend There has been a big evolution through the short, but very productive life, of Los Campesinos!.  They owned 2008 producing two stellar albums Hold On Now Youngster… and We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed. It was easy to tell the direction the band was heading in with We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed.  They were leaving behind...
Jan 11th
VAMPIRE WEEKEND - CONTRA
Vampire Weekend Contra 8.8/10 iPod Worthy For Vampire Weekend’s sophomore album, Contra, the Brooklyn based band leaves the fast-paced east coast and flies cross country to sunny California. Much like “The Golden State”, a lot of the songs on Contra are low-key, laid back and relaxed.  Besides the stellar, and best track “Cousins”, which is a fast drum...
Jan 7th
OWEN PALLETT - HEARTLAND
Owen Pallett Heartland 8.0/10 Recommended Heartland, Owen Pallett’s (once known as Final Fantasy) third album is musically rich and technical. The album works cohesively telling a catchy story. The best thing about Heartland is the music. Pallett clearly worked methodically and specifically on the album - getting every single note, violin pluck and drum beat in the right...
Jan 3rd