Album Reviews: Portugal. The Man, The Fiery Furnaces, Wye Oak
»Album Reviews For Release Date: 07.21.09
by Joshua Krage
Once again a long, slow string of triple-digit temperature days has brought all our productivity to a standstill in the music reviewing department. Either that or there’s just nothing I’m really excited about coming out this week. Enh, I guess I’ll substitute color commentary for enthusiasm, but there’s still a big list to peruse. So get perusing, people:
Aimee Allen
Cheap Trick
Eyedea & Abilities
The Fiery Furnaces, I’m Going Away – literate and quirky sibling duo turn in a strikingly accessible LP, still quite liberal with the freak-out instrumental flights of fancy, but more sparingly so, and in between some very engaging songs from a spry array of genres.
The Generationals
Groundation
He Is Legend
Her Space Holiday, Sleepy Tigers EP – a sneak peak at bedroom-pop wizard Mark Bianchi’s upcoming LP which promises to make use of more warm, acoustic-based sounds in place of blip-top soundscapes, but still with plenty of hip indie-kid-with-glasses laissez-faire vocals.
Brooke Hogan
Ian Hunter
Incubus – Monuments & Melodies single-disc release
Kenny Loggins
Demi Lovato, Here We Go Again – I won’t say much about her since she’s just one tier below the JoBros on the Disney radar, but I really like her voice and she’s a big sweetie, so of all the pop princesses I hope she rises above the pack and keeps her head, because her music tastes are not so bad. There, I’ve said it. You may now resume sipping your latte and calmly enjoying your obscure ’60s folk B-sides… (Bonus Note: ace John Mayer collaboration here, worth checking out — especially since it’s very unlikely to be a radio single.)
Magnolia Electric Co.
Megafaun, Gather, Form & Fly – the best shade-tinged, banjo-folk-infused indie rock band around with ghostly-gorgeous harmonies colored just the right shade of crimson red to flesh out the dark introspection of the lyrics, even in the midst of all the sunny vocal beds and breezy acoustic flourishes. Call it Appalachian Gothic, but don’t call it folk because these kids layer on the fuzz at just the right temperature.
Motley Crue – live
Our Lady Peace
Portugal. the Man, The Satanic Satanist – nobody has produced a better band name since these guys turned the carcass of Anatomy of a Ghost into a monstrously-creative post-pop rock organism whose music should occupy a top spot on any self-respecting hipster music snob’s playlist. Keen understanding of understated, well-orchestrated production and subtle vocal arrangement bring sharp definition to this album’s corners, and they know how to meld jazz and percussion flourishes seemlessly into a rock context. Highly underrated band, and another stellar album
Reel Big Fish – live
RX Bandits
Raphael Saadiq – live
Sax Ruins
Set Your Goals
Skygreen Leopard
Jordin Sparks
Starlight Mints, Change Remains – this is psychedelic pop that is downright challenging at times, swinging wildly from dark to catchy to puzzling to dangerously playful, but always masterfully executed with studied deliberation. These guys are deep in on their own in-joke, but those of us on the outside can still enjoy the obtuse corners…
Sugar Ray
Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs, Under the Covers, vol. 2 – Matthew Sweet’s sugar-sweet pop style is a no-brainer good time, and I could both listen to and look at the Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs for hours upon hours (those eyes!), so this second installment of radio-friendly covers is money in the bank for anyone looking to revisit some classic fare, this time focusing on the ’70s singer-songwriter crowd.
13th Floor Elevators
Robin Trower
Frank Turner
Kurt Vonnegut / David Soldier
Hayley Westenra
Brooke White
Wye Oak, The Knot – Maryland guitar/drums duo who are wonderfully demonstrative indie rock, hitting all the major touchstones that make non-mainstream bands great: chick singer, great reverb, odd guitar layers, quirky instrument augmentations, spacious production, barely-discernable lyrics, and so much more. Great sophomore album, and extra kudos for getting both of them to sing on it.
You Me at Six
…aaand I’m spent. “Spent” as in “spent 16 of the last 24 hours at work” spent. I’m gonna go take a nap. Go enjoy a nice cool beverage on me, but not literally because I’ll be sleeping…
P.S. Enjoy a sampling from this week’s new songs on my MySpace page. It’s updated pretty much weekly now…
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