Wampire – Curiosity (2013) – Review

Review: Portland, Oregon, synth-pop group Wampire got their start blasting electronic music at house parties, but Rocky Tinder and Eric Phipps had higher aspirations.

For their debut album, Curiosity, they approached their music differently, writing guitar pieces and adding a drummer before approaching their synthesizer/laptop. The result is a very accessible album full of great songs (that seemingly pull from a myriad of influences). Tinder and Phipps have created a cohesive sound that in ways is both simple and intricate – simple in that the songs have a very clear pop sensibility (and feel like a mixture of today’s indie rock sound that is very electronic music infused and the rock/pop of the late 1960s) and intricate in the way the sounds are written and layered.

On a side note, Wampire’s album cover for Curiosity is incredibly weird, tacky, and hideous (which, I think is the point) – but also hilarious and well suited to that collection of songs, which have an overall odd tone and spooky ambiance.

Curiosity is well worth checking out, and fans of synth-pop and indie rock/pop will probably enjoy it. 3/5

Essential Tracks:

1)      Spirit Forest

2)      The Hearse

3)      Orchards

Available on: Digital Download

Dum Dum Girls – End of Daze EP (2012) – Review

Review: Coming off the good sophomore album, Only In Dreams (Coming Down was one of my favorite songs of 2011), the Dum Dum Girls quartet is back with a new EP End of Daze. It features three songs originally done for Only In Dreams (to be used as B-sides) and two new songs.

The EP has a very atmospheric sound, having an ethereal feeling but still mixed with the band’s darker tone. It has a much more dream-pop quality to it than their more indie/garage rock sounding output. However, they are working again with producers Sune Rose Wagner and Richard Gottehrer (who they have great chemistry with), and thus will be familiar to returning fans.

The Dum Dum Girls seem to strive in short form, as like their last EP (He Gets Me High) End of Daze is their best work to date. 4/5

Essential Tracks:

1)      Lord Knows

2)      Season in Hell

3)      Mine Tonight

Available on Digital Download

The xx – Coexist (2012) – Review

Review: After the critical success of their first album (xx), The xx have returned with their sophomore follow up Coexist. The group is made up of Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim (who both front the group) and Jamie Smith (who produces the songs as Jamie xx – he is maybe best known for producing Drake’s Take Care single).

Coexist is moody and frail. Much of it, musically, seems to fall within a specific tonal range. At times it drifts into the background, almost as a monotone hum. And yet, there is also an emotional power (especially in Croft’s voice – sort of a longing sadness). It draws the listener in with its best moments. Both singles, Angels and Chained, stand out above the rest of the album, but there are no bad songs. Jamie xx’s beats are also a strong component of the music. His drums drive the songs.

Fans of The xx will like this album. Casual fans will also find something here too, especially with the singles. It is worth checking out. 3/5

Essential Tracks:

1)      Angels

2)      Chained

3)      Tides

Available on CD and Digital Download

Purity Ring – Shrines (2012) – Review

Review: Canadian electronic dream-pop group Purity Ring (made up of Megan James and Corin Roddick) deliver a good first album with Shrines. When first listening to the group, they reminded me of another Canadian duo Crystal Castles. However, the more I listen to Purity Ring, the less they resemble Crystal Castles. Purity Ring lacks the raw power and energy, but they have a much more enchanting sound. They mix their pop melodies with very personal lyrics both inviting the listener to dance and have fun, but also find deeper meaning in the songs (not always the case in what seems to be today’s overly frivolous pop music). Shines is well worth checking out for fans of more electronic sounding pop. 3/5

Essential Tracks:

1)      Obedear

2)      Belispeak

3)      Crawlersout

Available on CD and Digital Download

Family Band – Grace & Lies (2012) – Review

Review: Family Band is made up of visual artist Kim Krans and her husband metal guitarist Johnny Ollsin. Their debut album Grace & Lies has a very folky/dreamy and dramatic tone. It is pop music that strikes to the bone (or soul) with its bleak yet enchanting sound. The album is drenched in moodiness and somber wallowing. It evokes sort of a sadness in the listener, as the mind wanders to the darkness. But, Krans’s rich voice guides the listener through. It is a fantastic album that seems to haunt the listener each time. It is well worth checking out. 4/5

Essential Tracks:

1)      Night Song

2)      Ride

3)      Rest

Available on CD and Digital Download

Regina Spektor – What We Saw from the Cheap Seats (2012) – Review

Review: What We Saw from the Cheap Seats is the sixth LP from Russian born indie rock artist Regina Spektor. She has such an eclectic style that the album has a little bit of a ton of genres, but all piano driven. Spektor has a fantastic quirky voice that she uses in many different ways – it can be funny, sensual, sad, lonely, happy, inviting, and many more – allowing her to connect to her listeners on many levels. As distinct as each song on the album is, there is still a flow that makes the LP feel like a specific set of tracks put together purposefully (which seems like an obvious choice for an artist, but today is rarely the case). There are a number of very good woman-headed bands in indie rock (or post-rock), and my favorite is probably St. Vincent, but that said Spektor is right there at the top of the list as well. This album is well worth checking out for fans of different sounding music (and eclectic/eccentric piano based songs). It is a fun and genuinely unique album. 4/5  

Editor’s Essential Tracks:

1)      All the Rowboats – Produced by Regina Spektor and Mike Elizondo

2)      Open – Produced by Regina Spektor and Mike Elizondo

3)      Patron Saint – Produced by Regina Spektor and Mike Elizondo

Available on CD and Digital Download

The Shins – Port of Morrow (2012) – Review

Review: Port of Morrow is the Shins fourth studio album, largely with a different line-up (but front-man James Mercer still writes all the music and lyrics, and is the only remaining member of the original group). The new line-up (or five year break) may account for Port of Morrow sounding quite different from the Shins’s previous records. However, the lead single Simple Song does sound the most like a ‘Shins song’ (and has a great music video). That is not to say that the music is not good or that the band (James Mercer and friends) has lost its sound, as the Shins still make folky/poppy indie rock that is easily accessible, well-crafted and lyrically beautiful. I actually like that the band has taken their sound to a new place (imagine if the Beatles never explored different sounds, we would not have many of their greatest songs). The Shins have almost a timeless sound with this grouping of songs (like many of the great albums), not sounding specifically to one decade or genre trend. While Chutes Too Narrow is probably still my personal favorite Shins record, Port of Morrow is a very good return for the band, and an album I will be listening to a lot in 2012 (and beyond). 4/5

Editor’s Essential Tracks:

1)      Port of Morrow – Produced by Greg Kurstin and James Mercer

2)      Simple Song – Produced by Greg Kurstin and James Mercer

3)      No Way Down – Produced by Greg Kurstin and James Mercer

Available on CD and Digital Download

WZRD – WZRD (2012) – Review

WZRD – WZRD

Kid Cudi and Dot da Genius (the duo behind Cudi’s first big hit Day ‘N’ Night) form the experimental rock/pop group WZRD. While personally I enjoy Kid Cudi’s hip hop albums more, WZRD features some great tracks, some good ones and a couple that do not work that well. After Nirvana’s brilliant cover of Lead Belly’s Where Did You Sleep Last Night?, I thought no one would ever take a shot at that song again. Cudi shows no fear (as a Nirvana fan himself) with his cover. It is straight-forward and decent, but really does not add much to the song. The sound of the album may be different and new for Cudi and his fans, but really it is nothing new to what I call post-rock (stuff like art rock/pop and the more indie sound and chill wave music of the last few years – a less upbeat Sleigh Bells might be a good comparable to this album). The production is done entirely by Cudi and Dot da Genius, but feels maybe too simple and not polished enough in some places, while in others it is quite good. There is certainly a lot of potential for this project should Cudi and Dot da Genius make another album. Fans of art-pop, chill wave and indie rock will probably find things they like with WZRD and Cudi’s hip hop fans will too. It is a good album overall, but still feels in its infancy of its potential. 3/5

Editor’s Essential Tracks:

1)      Teleport 2 Me, Jamie – Produced by Kid Cudi and Dot da Genius, featuring Desire

2)      Efflictim – Produced by Kid Cudi and Dot da Genius

3)      The Dream Time Machine – Produced by Kid Cudi and Dot da Genius, featuring Empire of the Sun

Available on CD and Digital Download

St. Vincent – Strange Mercy (2011) – Review

St. Vincent – Strange Mercy

St. Vincent, the stage name of performer Annie Clark, is a described as Art Rock or Baroque Pop – sub-genres that alone intrigue potential listeners. But what is so brilliant about Clark’s songwriting and aesthetic is that it is both challenging music (in that it is not just bland radio fodder) and completely accessible for those who enjoy pop music. Her third album, Strange Mercy is maybe her most poppy and also rocking, though its sound feels in tune with her style progressing from Marry Me through Actor and now to Strange Mercy. Clark’s singing and lyrics have a cryptic yet genuine emotion to them, which play against the listener’s own. The album is an experience (which seems to be rare these days). The overall sound she creates is fantastic – powerful and interesting, as it evolves and artfully flows. There are not too many artists right now that can capture the same amount energy in their records – Clark just has this rawness to her that is really appealing, despite her sweet voice. The lead single Cruel is a phenomenal song (and the video is cool too), and probably my favorite of the genre so far this year (though, I do really like Peter Bjorn and John’s Second Chance – even if it was overplayed in TV commercials, as with The Black Key’s Tighten Up). I highly recommend picking this album up if you like indie pop (or as I would categorize it post rock) that has a great sound and complexity to it. 4/5

Editor’s Song Picks:

1)      Cruel

2)      Dilettante

3)      Cheerleader

Available on CD and Digital Download

Peter Bjorn and John – Gimme Some (2011) – Review

Peter Bjorn and John – Gimme Some

The Swedish trio’s sixth outing sounds and feels a lot more like their most loved records (Falling Out and Writer’s Block, but not quite as good), after the stylistic departure from their typical sound on Living Thing. Gimme Some plays a bit too much like every other indie pop album to really stand out, but it does have some great moments. The album’s single Second Chance is a wonderful track (though, maybe a bit on the commercial side for some fans – hearing it in the Bud Light Lime ads does not help either). It is sonically powerful and could be the group’s biggest hit since Young Folks. The rest of the album tackles pop genres lacing their sound with PBJ’s – Breaker, Breaker has sort of a new wave vibe to it, while Black Book sounds a bit punk. I Know You Don’t Love Me is a great closing track to the album, summing up the musical experience (it reminds me a lot of Joy Division). This may not be the band’s best work, but it is a good album with plenty of catchy yet cool tracks. 3/5

Editor’s Song Picks:

1)      Second Chance

2)      May Seem Macabre

3)      Dig a Little Deeper

Available on CD and Digital Download