September 2011
8 posts
4 tags
Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost →
The thing about the new Girls record is that it’s just so very, very good. From start to finish it’s quality. In a way you could see this coming - the progression from the debut album Album (yes) to last year’s Broken Dreams Club EP was astounding (especially given the catchiness and enjoyment that the former offered) and this is one step further. It is aided immensely by...
5 tags
Jeff The Brotherhood - We Are The Champions →
Hey bro, what’s going on? Feeling bummed out by all those hipster bands full of bearded guys in cardigans introspectively whining over their soft-ass acoustic guitar about some girl or industrial water purification or a forest or some shit? Cut it out and plug it in, brojoke. If you miss those sweet days when Weezer could just rock up to some bar and jam out some riffs with the Fonz all...
4 tags
St. Vincent - Strange Mercy →
At times, Strange Mercy can have the appearance of a Ming vase - simultaneously fragile and beautiful. But whilst they are both something to admire, that’s a false allegory. It’s just the composition, as mesmerisingly complex as the carbon atoms that construct diamonds, that makes it surprisingly robust. Strange Mercy has elements of the Dirty Projectors, PJ Harvey and a dash of...
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R.E.M. - Life's Rich Pageant →
In the week that sees Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills call it a day after three decades it only seems fitting to pay tribute to them with a Sunday Sermon and perhaps one of their finest albums. Life’s Rich Pageant was originally released in 1986 but this is the Super Deluxe Mega Directors Cut With Extra Cheese Edition, released only a few weeks ago and containing a bunch of...
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The War On Drugs - Slave Ambient →
Slave Ambient is a powerhouse of a record. Anyone who has heard preceding single Baby Missiles could expect that already. That song itself is the perfect road trip track - literally a driving track, you’ll find yourself accidentally up at 120mph without even noticing (imagine now the wise traffic cops cunningly using Shazam). It, and the rest of the album, manage to soak up American rock...
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Veronica Falls - Veronica Falls →
Veronica Falls… right into your inbox today you lucky reader you. Because this album is so dark that it’s hot. Like charcoal. And like when fiery charcoal hits you in the face, this record is going to leave an immediate impression. After releasing a string of singles over the last two years that were nothing short of glorious, Veronica Falls debut LP proves that they...
4 tags
CANT - Dreams Come True →
Cant is the solo work of Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor (several instruments, backup vocals). It’s a different sound from Grizzly Bear- more muted, more distant, channeled from a dream or another world. It’s music from a walk home in the early morning hours, when it’s still dark and the lights from signs and cars blur together between the darkness. It’s the voice you...
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Pelle Carlberg - In A Nutshell →
Pelle Carlberg is a master of the story and master of the never-ending song title. Charming stories of procrastination, mis-spent youth, Smiths drummers and very, very occasionally love fill out this delightful album, originally released in 2007. Anyone who likes Belle & Sebastian for their dry wit and endearing music will love songs such as Clever Girls Like Clever Boys Much More Than...