James Blake’s new EP, much like his self-titled debut earlier this year, is loaded with ideas that, to me, don’t feel completely finished. Still, the guy draws up some interesting concepts–even as he attempts to focus more on building songs on voice and piano this time around.
vlog
-
-
La Dispute’s Wildlife is a fantastic and rewarding gauntlet of emotional rock music. Even if post-hardcore isn’t in your comfort zone, this album is worth a shot. WATCH THE REVIEW
-
On the Future Islands’ new album, they continue breeding the simple, bare, and dramatic style of synth pop that caught ears in 2010 on the group’s last album, In Evening Air. WATCH THE REVIEW
-
On his latest solo effort, legendary producer 9th Wonder invites some of his favorite MCs to spit over his beats and celebrate his relevancy as a fixture in hip hop. WATCH THE REVIEW
-
Wild Flag’s self-titled debut album is a light, fun, and upbeat reformation for these indie rock veterans. I think some longtime fans–especially those in the Sleater-Kinney camp–will expect a little bit more. That’s fine and understandable. I feel the same way to an extent. However, after
-
Ah, the new Opeth record. Was I expecting to like this? No. Was I hoping I’d like this? Yes! A big, fat “yes,” actually. I’ve never been an Opeth fan. Their melodic and almost overproduced take on death metal–and progressive metal, generally–just doesn’t have anything
-
With an almost unmeasurable poetic bitterness, Andrew Jackson Jihad are as sharp as ever on their new album, Knife Man. As usual, the music here is about the lyrics. The chord progressions are familiar copies of folk songs and punk tunes. Hell, some of the songs even sound similar to
-
Das Racist’s Relax is a bit of a letdown for me. I just didn’t enjoy it as much as the tapes. There are plenty of tracks here where the guys are their usual, hilarious selves. However, some of the funnier tracks lack the focus that make songs such
-
Sad to say, I’m not big on this new Neon Indian album. I’d like to think that it’s not because of the hype that was built around the project’s last album, Psychic Chasms, but I’m afraid that might be a possibility. I don’t think
-
On St. VIncent’s latest album, singer-songwriter Annie Clark comes together with some pretty bold and experimental flavors.I wouldn’t be surprised if fans found this to be a stranger record than 2009’s Actor. But while many moments on Strange Mercy are, uh, strange, I found this record
