But because the album does a half-decent job of catching that lightning in a bottle, it is a glorious blast of summery goodness. I won’t gush over Givers’ live show; I did that once already. They are the most enthusiastic band I’ve ever seen, and some of that transfers over to the 10 songs that comprise […]
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Son Lux — We Are Rising
Ryan Lott, who is Son Lux, is most often referred to as an electronic musician, but “We Are Rising” is more orchestral than almost any Sufjan Stevens’ work (especially “The Age of Adz”). There are electronic elements here, but to lump this in the same general category with techno is not only selling it to […]
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tUnE-yArDs — w h o k i l l
But, as with the baffling punctuation and spacing on the band name and title, there’s nothing here that’s normal. This is an idiosyncratic release to the core: Singer/songwriter Merrill Garbus does what she wants, and she doesn’t care if you don’t like it. This results in some of the most inventive pop songs I’ve heard […]
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Delay Trees — Delay Trees
Delay Trees’ self-titled album is the best DCFC album that Ben Gibbard didn’t write. It’s put out by four Finns, proving once more that Scandinavians are just cooler and better than you. The resemblance is eerie at first: Rami Vierula’s easy-going, high-pitched keen echoes Gibbard’s, while the band’s dreamy soundscapes within indie-pop structures call up […]
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Heavy Years: 2000-2010 — Chris Mills
It’s a straightforward, difficult-to-Google proclamation that belies a wry, self-aware sense of humor and a lack of concern for popular acclaim. “Heavy Years: 2000-2010” is a great introduction to his enthusiastic, acoustic-based, alt-country/rock/pop ballads. His well-developed melodic touch (horns everywhere!) and impressive lyrics show that although Mills knows all the rules, he has more fun […]
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The Antlers — Burst Apart
This set of dreamy slow jamz from a trio of indie-fied white dudes starts with the bluntly titled “I Don’t Want Love” and ends with “Putting the Dog to Sleep”; in between, we’re treated to tunes named “Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out” and “Hounds.” Peter Silberman’s got sex on the mind, but it […]
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Saturday Sirens — Saturday Sirens
The city-based band he fronts is an excellent outfit versed in indie, punk, rock and pop, creating the perfect environment for his voice. Saturday Sirens writes songs strong enough to catch the ear, but not so strong that they steal the spotlight from the vocals. That’s the best of both worlds. “Christopher Walken” sees Anderson […]
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Manchester Orchestra — Simple Math
It’s June, and the early front-runners for 2011 album of the year are Tyler the Creator’s lewd/homophobic/sexist/angsty “Goblin” and Adele’s “21.” I’m terrible at predicting what blogs will like (read: chillwave, Sleigh Bells), but if the music world were a just place, the members of Manchester Orchestra would be waving trophies above their heads for […]
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Death Cab for Cutie — Codes and Keys
The 2003 masterpiece, “Transatlanticism”? A fond memory. The not-so-masterful 2005 release, “Plans”? Also in the back of the band’s mind. While the four-piece continues the trend of not repeating work on “Codes and Keys,” the unit also proves that behind-the-scenes thoughts can influence the stage. Old-school fans will do a double-take at “Doors Unlocked and […]
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Laura Stevenson and the Cans — Sit Resist
Laura Stevenson and the Cans’ “Sit Resist” does that, too, but on steroids. Genres that are beautifully integrated here include (but are not limited to) folk, pop, rock, indie rock, indie pop, ’50s girl pop, Motown, gospel and waltz. And somehow, she ties it all together into an incredibly coherent album. Wow. The unifying thread […]