»Album Reviews For Release Date: 05.03.11
by Joshua Krage

You ever have one of those moments where you hear a beautiful voice singing something downright naughty? I had one of those moments this week, but in a good way, hearing Priscilla Ahn’s cover of the Benji Hughes come-on “Vibe So Hot.” It’s just… odd, hearing the tones of a silken angel cooing you can have me anytime you want– is that weird? Anyway, that’s just one of the highlights on the list this week, including some ball-busting Beasties and serene harmonies from Fleet Foxes. Read on to weigh in:

Priscilla Ahn, When You Grow Up – this woman is just hands down one of my overall favorite artists. She has a voice as smooth as buttercream and bright as a newborn’s smile, and covers a lot of stylistic ground in her songs, all while evoking a sense of wide-eyed wonder and earnest expression. This is her second album and it’s much more focused, wandering leisurely through a loose narrative which begins in the schoolyard, twists through life, love and loss, and ends breathtakingly looking back at it all. She fills many of these tracks with her own perfectly-placed harmonies and, with the help of producer Ethan Johns, finds just the right instrumentation for each track, from old-timey piano tones to sweeping strings and beyond. I really can’t say enough how excellent this artist is. Take a listen – you’ll have lots more smiles in your life if you do.
Read the full review of When You Grow Up here.

Architecture in Helsinki

Beastie Boys, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two – if you’re up on your music news, you should’ve already seen/heard the kickin’ new Beasties jam “Make Some Noise.” That track and this whole album basically demonstrate how up-to-speed these three veteran Brooklyn MCs are with their music. When nobody comes close to sounding like you, you’re your own competition, and the boys step up their rhyme game here and rope in Nas and Santigold for a couple of choice guest spots. Wiggy synths all over this thing, and it works. Plus, ace “routine” tracks add flavor with a tongue-in-cheek skit-ish edge.

The Blind Boys of Alabama
Brandi Carlile – live

Dredg, Chuckles & Mr. Squeezy – while I was unimpressed with their last effort (2009’s The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion), it was only because it followed 2005’s Catch Without Arms, which was a bulletproof batch of ambient alt-rock righteousness all the way through. I think I’m judging this new album a bit harshly for the same reason, but there are some marked differences here, like more synth work, a darker tone, more space and restraint on most tracks. Gavin Hayes’ crystalline tenor is clear as ever, but for some reason it just feels like he’s trying to force more meaning into his words than they can hold. Maybe it’s just me. In any case, this is a less guitar-heavy Dredg, more focused on finding creative and subtle layers for these tracks than riff-rocking into arena territory, and in some places the rhythm section drops out altogether and shows a rarely-seen side of this philosophical rock powerhouse.

Danny Elfman/Tim Burton – 25th Anniversary box set

Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues – long-awaited second album by Robin Pecknold’s hillside-born, harmony-laden folk collective. With “blues” in the title, you know the palette is broader going in, and the songs here do come with more of a raw edge, mostly in the lyric department (existential musings abound), but the musical arrangements are the real star behind the gorgeous harmonies here. All sorts of obscure instruments spring up (zither in the house!) and the production leaves room for all the glorious layers to coexist in perfect, er, harmony. Some interesting, almost prog dynamics on some of the songs here, but overall a fitting and well-measured step forward for this exemplary band.

The Fling
INXS
Levon Helm
Jennifer Lopez
Barry Manilow – duets
Musiq Soulchild
Stevie Nicks
Donny & Marie Osmond
OST – Thor

James Pants, James Pants – I know, how seriously can you take an artist who calls themselves James Pants? On his previous two works, that question would apply, but on this third, self-titled LP, JP ups his game away from gamey, ironic ’80s references and joke synths and moves into focused, indie-grade electrofunk groove. Buckets of echo permeate every vocal and thick, rubbery bass provides solid foundation for the fuzzed-out keyboard layers and strange sounds that slither in and around these tracks, all congealing into a surprisingly cohesive set of catchy tunes. There’s even a half-handed go at an R&B bedroom jam (or his version of one), but most of the album is reserved for beat-heavy noise juggling, which Mr. Pants handles here with clear vision.

Kelly Price
Gruff Rhys
Sade – ultimate collection
Shinedown – live
Sixx: A.M.
Doug Stanhope
Title Fight
VA – Now 38
Loudon Wainwright III
Wild Beasts
The Wombats

We’re in the middle of a really great run of new music and it just keeps getting better. Next week, get ready for massive quality from Manchester Orchestra, indie craziness from Gang Gang Dance, stellar songwriting from Christina Perri, heartland hipster cred from Okkervil River, and of course peerless style from the Lonely Island’s “Turtleneck and Chain” fashion statement. Rock.

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To view past reviews, visit our archives.

»Album Reviews For Release Date: 12.08.09
by Joshua Krage

Still rather lean but at least this week has enough releases in it to warrant writing something. Stay tuned for a year-end recap later in the month (week?), but for now enjoy most of the rest of what 2009′s new music has to offer:

30 Seconds to Mars, This Is War – say what you want about the rock and roll credibility of a former Teen Beat poster boy who started his band by going with the Flock of Seagulls hair and space guitar look — on 30STM’s last album, Jared Leto realized there was a worldwide army of disenchanted fans for their sprawling, stratospheric brand of angst rock and he opened the throttle to ludicrous speed, never looking back. Some of the tracks dial back the tempo a bit on album #3 (maybe showing maturity? Enh.), but plenty of throaty yowls crowd these choruses, ensuring his fan base will be present at every show, fists a-pumping. I have to admit, predictable as it may be, their enormous sound is somewhat exhilarating…

AC/DC- DVD

Chris Brown, Graffiti- oh no you di’n't try to release an album while everyone still thinks you’re the poster-child for girlfriend abuse. Should’a taken the R. Kelly approach, lay low and then maybe write a 14-part saga about being trapped in tha locker or something…

Clipse
Cloud Cult
Creed DVD
Gucci Mane
LL Cool J – hits pt 2
Yngwie Malmsteen
George Michael- DVD
La Oreja de Van Gogh – a really good, female-fronted Latin rock band, if you’ve never heard them and enjoy that sort of thing.
OST – Glee: the Music vol. 2

James Pants, Seven Seals – rather eccentric vocalist/multi-instrumentalist and frequent Peanut Butter Wolf live DJ who sings and plays everything on his releases (this one included), for better (the playing) or worse (the singing). Inventive stuff which will mostly be appreciated by informed musicians; not mainstream by any standards, and still a bit odd by indie standards, but his beats and noises are definitely unique, either because no one else can sound like him or because no one else wants to. Out on Stones Throw Records.

Puddle of Mudd
Pulp – reissues
Seal – hits
Snoop Dogg

Timbaland, Shock Value: II – not a lot of chances left to take after tackling a full Chris Cornell album, so the guest list on SVII should be no shock, so to speak. Requisite appearances from known Timbassociates Justin Timberlake, OneRepublic, Nelly Furtado and Keri Hilson are well-joined by inventive turns from the likes of Drake, Chris Daughtry, The Fray, and wise re-discovery of obscure vocal talent Esthero. Interesting as these non-traditional pairings are, somebody really should inform Mr. Mosley that AutoTune isn’t helping convince anyone he should be singing, and painful big-name turns from Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus are probably doing more to injure his career than to help it. Volume two of Shock Value ends up shocking in some unpleasant ways, but accomplishes the same thing as volume one did: getting everyone to scratch their heads and maybe chocking up a throwaway Top 40 pop hit or two.

Tricky – Maxinquaye deluxe
We The Kings
Neil Young – live ’92

… And only two more weeks until this trip around the sun wraps up and we’re on to the next one. As the year winds down, think about what’s been best about it for you, and we’ll be doing the same — with the results to be posted tout suite. TTYL, hope to hear from you soon, XOXO, and so on…

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To view past reviews, visit our archives.