"Antony Hegarty's recipe for beautiful..." more

"Antony Hegarty's recipe for beautiful music:
1. Compose contemplative, affirmative poetry.
2. Insert passionate and gentle vocal presence.
3. Layer on minimal, mostly atmospheric piano-upper string accompaniments.

Enjoy!" less

"When I listen to AiH, I can't help bu..." more

"When I listen to AiH, I can't help but hear a little bit of Los Campesinos! with the rapid tempo changes and not-quite singing but instead yelling-at-the-top-of-their-lungs vocal quality. This comparison is most apparent in the bouncy "Its 5!" and the playfully pretentious "Wishbone". The tone of the album is quite varied at times, owing in part to the size of AiH; it seems each member chips in on vocals at some point or another, and even the sound of the album changes greatly over the course of the album. Around track 6 (Do the Whirlwind), AiH begins to incorporate simple electronic beats, hand-clap happiness, and a more concentrated vocal effort. By the end of the album the sound becomes quite different, however the departure does not affect the quality of music, which remains first-rate throughout. I highly recommend this album for someone looking for fresh music "off the beaten path"!" less

"Art Brut is punk-rock with a heavy in..." more

"Art Brut is punk-rock with a heavy infusion of Brit-attitude. Most recognizable are the vocals of Argos, which are half-sung, half-narrated, and one-hundred percent over the top. In the catchy love ballad 'Emily Kane' when he sings "Other girls went and other girls came / I can't get over my old flame," its hard to take him at his word. Or in the closer "Maternity Ward", when he assures the listener "Everything's gonna be alright," one can't help but feel that he really doesn't care. Yet despite his lack of sincerity and empathy, it is nice to have musical punk without the drama. Musically, Art Brut is a guitar-heavy rock band (see both "Weekend" tracks), but also show off a nice stadium sound on late track "These Animal Menswe@r". Altogether, the album is a consistent, energetic production. Recommended!" less

"Perhaps the only fault of this 7 trac..." more

"Perhaps the only fault of this 7 track EP is the fact that its only 7 tracks. (Okay, maybe track 6 is a bit...how do you say?) From the first ten minutes or so, the listener gets the feeling that IaW and Calexico really had fun making this album; the sound is relaxed and confident, and utterly lacking anything one might call "hurried". Whether it be the groovy "Red Dust" or the somber "16, Maybe Less", this feeling exists throughout - overall, a highly recommended listen." less

"M.I.A can't really be classified into..." more

"M.I.A can't really be classified into the traditional genre schemes - her sound is truly hers and hers alone. To generalize though, her sound is upbeat, original and fresh. Regarding Arular, this album doesn't really get going for me until "Amazon" with its lyrical imagery and jungle beats. And not until "10 Dollar" do we get a nice dancehall track, where it seems M.I.A is most comfortable. The final track is actually "Galang" (sub-par) and a very respectable hidden track, "MIA", which jabs at consumerism and certain world leaders. A nice beat accompanies her similar to that of "Amazon". This album certainly has its moments but I think it comes of a little unrefined. Definitely check out MIA's 2007 "Kala" if you liked this album!" less

"I can't tell if The Sunlandic Twins i..." more

"I can't tell if The Sunlandic Twins is the perfect "feel good" album, or the perfect "summer" album...Regardless, Kevin Barnes has crafted an hour of catchy, hook-ridden pop that goes down really smooth. Download the whole album (including the bonus tracks)!" less

"What I love most about Okkervil River..." more

"What I love most about Okkervil River is not their songcraft or imaginative lyrics, but simply the voice of Will Sheff. There is something truly beautiful about its meekness - as if his voice's unsteadiness and limited range are not points of criticism, but ultimately its most endearing aspects. Look no further than "For Real" where his voice seems to materialize out of the same darkness he describes ("It's just a drive into the dark stretch / Long stretch of night/ Will really stretch this shaking mind"), and despite the fact that his range is pushed to the limit it seems that this is where Sheff should always exist - right on the edge. However, it seems that "For Real" sets the standard too high as the later tracks pale in comparison. The rest of the album is highly listenable, (the varied instrumentation and rapid dynamic changes should make Shearwater and OR fans alike feel at home) but Sheff's vocals are never truly tested again - something I would have liked to see." less

"Everything about the album seems to i..." more

"Everything about the album seems to indicate a sort of return to a standard "rock album". For example, each song is a comfortable 3-4 minutes (no epic ballads, or minute long instrumental tracks). The album itself plays at an even tempo, and even the sound really never experiences a dramatic shift - individual tracks shift almost seamlessly into the next with no single song standing out for too long. And I suppose that is maybe the one slight to the album: there really aren't any transcendent moments, just one consistently solid groove. Nevertheless, a very accessible listen from a highly literate and developed band." less

""When there is nothing left to burn, ..." more

""When there is nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire," is certainly a way to open an album. Suggesting urgency, passion, and martyrdom, this album never really fully conveys this feeling despite some awesome musicianship. "Ageless Beauty" (Oceans won't freeze /So loosen your heart /Underestimated /Undefeated in this love) is cutesy and catchy, but nothing new to someone familiar with the Stars' sound. Not until "One More Night" do we get a spoonful of urgency portrayed by a thick bass line and easily the best vocals on the whole album. After this track, one might get the feeling that the album is turning a corner, perhaps heading towards a sound that can achieve the weight of the opening line, but instead we run into "The First Five Times" which not only seems out of place in the album, but as a Stars track itself it is just very pedestrian. Amy Millan's beautiful voice really takes over in the last three tracks to give the back end of the album a solid sound." less

"While there is nothing groundbreaking..." more

"While there is nothing groundbreaking about their sound, The National does a bunch of little things that amount to a truly memorable album. From the incompatible yelps of the chorus in "Secret Meeting" and "Abel", the cello flourishes in "Looking for Astronauts", to the la da da's in "The City Middle", this album has a decidedly unique texture. Perhaps most poignant though is Beringer's sweet baritone voice which, when paired with even the simplest of lyrics, produce the album's most tension-filled, beautiful moments. (See "Baby, We'll Be Fine" and "Mr. November") Career defining stuff. Highly, highly recommended." less

"NP at their most confident and tunefu..." more

"NP at their most confident and tuneful. Amazing vocals (thank you Neko Case and AC...even you too Bejar) and catchy guitar hooks make this album a no-brainer for a top album of 2005. Listen front-to-back on repeat. Enjoy!" less

"For fans of Tough Alliance familiar w..." more

"For fans of Tough Alliance familiar with their delicious, bite-sized EPs, it seems the operative question is whether TTA's high-energy beats can be rationed over a full-length album, so that the listener doesn't collapse from exhaustion (or ennui). Answer: yes and no. The first couple tracks have a dance-hall ready sound incorporating synths with ominous vocals. So, it is a welcome change when the patented TTA sound flips on in "Koka-Kola Veins", where a caffeinated, playful TTA sings: "We got koka-kola veins - we don't use our brains. Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla". The album finds its most concentrated and complete effort in rebellious pop anthem "Keep it Pure". Following this track though, interest tends to wane despite four quality tracks. In sum, The New School is a catchy, consistent listen but there is certainly a degree of relief when the listener crosses the finish line." less