Bass Drum Of Death
Bass Drum Of Death
(Innovated Leisure)
June 25, 2013
I really dug these guy's debut album, GB City back in 2011. It was criminally underrated then and they were a criminally underrated band. After it seemed like everyone was getting into the stripped down, rock n' roll, two-piece free love (and the little fact that The Black Keys were ridding really high about that time), Bass Drum Of Death just seemed like another flash in the pan trying to catch some of the sweet, sweet critical acclaim before their descent into obscurity. But GB City didn't sound like every other wannabe trying to sound like Ty Segall. The reverb soaked production was there, but if you removed all that fuzz you got the feeling you'd still get some tight songs; the kidna songs that actually hearkened back to the early days of 60's garage rock (The Sonics, The Kingsmen, The Trashmen. Lots of The _'s) as opposed to sounding like some 20 somethings who heard the word "garage" and assumed that was indie for "NEEDS MORE REVERB." That proto punk swagger of The Stooges mixed in with the bluesy swing of the Mississippi Delta is still present on Bass Drum Of Death, and Josh Barret's only gotten better as song writer and arranger. Since moving to Innovated Leisure and getting more of a paycheck this time, it's safe to say his days of recording entire albums in his basement with shitty equipment are behind him. That's not to say that the allure of a paycheck has tamed the blistering furry that is Bass Drum Of Death. No, you still get the half hour of foot stammpin', hook heavy, fuzzy, shake rattle' n' roll, you got last time around. Just a lot more of it with cleaner sounding production on top as a bonus.
Bosnian Rainbows
Bosnian Rainbows
(Sargent House/Rodriguez-Lopez Productions)
June 28, 2013
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez has returned with yet another brand spankin' new band. After The Mars Volta ran it's course (Omar got bored) and he announced that new At The Drive In material was never going to happen and he'd like to move on (after being informed that a majority of people actually LIKED At The Drive In more then Mars Volta), he retreated back to his home in El Paso, and reemerged with a new band and sound, Bosnian Rainbows. While I still hold reservations of Omar being the exact kind of person anyone thinks of when the word pretentious gets thrown around, I will say that Mars Volta actually sounded like a pretty good idea for a few albums before he got so far up his own ass and it became a pointless 8 minute long, jerk-off session. But Bosnian Rainbows restores my faith in believing Omar CAN still make cool music when he acknowledges that maybe his ideas are a little much. With Bosnian Rainbows, the band is much more of a think tank trading ideas, and it finds the balance between pushing creative boundaries while still being accessible. The prog rock rhythms of Mars Volta have been traded out for some gorgeous electronic soaked experimental rock trappings. There are grooves, there are melodies, There are even honest to god enjoyable lyrics. And the crooning, seductive vocals of Teri Gender Bender (presumably her stage name), complements the music nicely.
India.Arie
Songversation
(Motown)
June 25, 2013
India.Arie's an Atlanta girl and because of this, I've got a knee jerk reaction to spotlight the accomplishments of the talent of my city. But man, if you haven't heard of India.Arie, her latest is as good a place as any to get on board. This girl for the lack of a better word can "siiiing". Her voice might be considered a bit weaker if you compare her to titans like Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera; But rather then letting her voice be a weakness she turns it to a strength. The production on Songerversation complements her well, highlighting her whisperer, soft croon with some creative song arranging. From the more in your face, hook heavy up-tempo numbers to the slower piano and guitar ballads (instruments which she plays on by the way), to dazzling in some jamming bossa nova tunes on one practical song, India.Arie's not afraid to experiment with the neo sou/R&B format to make something that stands out. Her creativity as producer shines through, even when her lyrics are a bit lacking.
Lighting Dust
Fantasy
(Jagjaguwar)
June 25, 2013
Lighting Dust is something of an enigma to properly describe and it's existence is even harder to explain. The duo of Amber Webber and Joshua Wells from the Vancouver based heavy rock/psychedelic band Black Mountain, decided to nurse a side project that started off as a showcase for their sparse, sad acoustic songs that didn't fit in with Black Moutain. Then Lighting Dust evolved to include hazy electronic elements, drone, and some flirtatations with goth rappings. Now on their latest album, the stripped down effect is still present, but where its usually been stripped down guitars up to this point, Fantasy showcases stripped down synths that sound lifted right out of an 80's Casio. The result is a confusing but enjoyable mix of slowcore, ambient electro grooves that, if left on in your car, might make you feel like you've suddenly woken up in time for the final act of Drive.
Palms
Palms
(Ipecac Recordings)
June 25, 2013
After Isis decided to formal dissolve with dignity back in 2010, the music world has been somewhat curious as to what they would do next. Their latest project, Palms, has been in the works for a little over a year now ,but when rumors had began circulating that they were going to try something different from Isis, with Chino Moreno of Deftones contributing vocals, my initial response was.......I kinda would have liked it if you COULD just be Isis with Chino on vocals because that sounds kinda kickass. But after hearing their debut album as Palms, I can say that it kicks ass in a different sort of way. The heavy stoner-riff sound of Isis is traded in for a more atmospheric, post-metal feel that just sounds beautiful. The gentle sonic swells sudden shifts into chaotic crescendos are just the kind of patterns that Chino's voice seem made for. But that's not to say Palms don't bring any of their Isis past with them. The jazz-tastic guitar noodlings, the crashing highs followed by quite lulls, and the creative sound exploration are inherent to Isis's indentity after all. But it's nice to hear them be gung-ho about trying to use those Isis powers on something new and enjoyable.
Rose Windows
The Sun Dogs
(Sub Pop Records)
June 25, 2013
Continuing our trend of debut album from a new band we have Rose Windows from Seattle, who tentatively describe themselves as hard hitting hippies. That's the kind of phrase that's so perfect at describing their sound, I wish I had thought it up. Rose Window sure don't sound like they're just recording their first album, and for having a band of 7 members, they manage to balance everyone out so it doesn't all sound like so much aimless cacophony. Their sound easily invokes the flue playing antics of Jethero Tull, the spaced out heavy hitting keyboards of The Doors, the guitar soloings of Led Zeppelin, the other worldly feel of Genesis (The Peter Gabriel one), and the vocal stylings of Jefferson Airplane courtesy of Rose Window's primary vocalist, Rabi Qazi.
Smith Westerns
Soft Will
(Mom + Pop Music)
June 25, 2013
The Smith Westerns are very much still a band that's growing up trying to figure out ultimately what they're going to end up sounding like. While their debut album was the sound of a bunch of teens banging together instruments in a flurry of lo-fi, garage rock goodness, you got the sense that there wasn't a lot of depth behind the noise. Sure it sounded good but kinda disposable. But then their follow up album, Dye It Blonde in 2010 showed some surprising new variety. Smith Westerns toyed around with a lot less fuzz and a lot more crafty song writing to make a creative throw-back, power pop record. Now with Soft Will it seems they're still trotting in that direction of "less in your face guitars" and more" attention to gentle melodies"; but while Dye It Blonde felt like a strong step forward, Soft Will sounds a lot less sure of itself. The power pop hooks are toned down for an almost alternative country twang, and there are far fewer uptempo rolickers. The word boring would be an adequate word to throw around in describing this album, but I prefer the term "slow burner". True it doesn't sound as fun as their debut or as compelling as their follow up. But if your in the mood for a more introspective sounding album, Soft Will fits that description nicely.
Transplants
Warzone
(Epithath)
June 25, 2013
This band was sold to me as Travis Barker from blink-182 on drums (yes he looks docuhey but he's much MUCH better then everyone gives him credit for) and Tim Armstrong of Rancid on vocals. Surprisingly enough, an idea that awesome has only put out three records and Warzone is by far the strongest yet. After nixing that hokey rap-rock format of their's, Warzone cuts right into what you'd wanna here from a union like this; tight, hooky punk rock lifted right out of the sun drenched early 90's with Armstrong's growl and Barker's drum fills. It's fun, it's catchy, and a dream come true for anyone raised on Solcal neo punk.
Wale
The Gifted
(Maybach Music Group)
June 25, 2013
Wale has certainly grown bigger in the rap game, and The Gifted may be his most ambitious album to date; featuring collaborations from Ne-Yo, Nikki Minaj, CeeLo Green, 2-Chainz, and Jerry Seinfeld (that last one's not a typo). Not a bad place to be in for a guy who essentially started out by being good at spitting out club anthems who's lyrics really didn't matter as long as you had someone or something to bump n' grind too. But here Wale uses that husky deliver of his to actually put out some heavier lyrics dealing with some pretty depressing subjects; loneliness, isolation, the futility of wealth and fame, crushed dreams, and failed heroes.... So yeah! Probably not going to be featured at any club anytime soon. But Wale's flow is still incredible and the outro featuring Jerry Seinfeld has to be heard to be believed.
No comments:
Post a Comment