This may not change the world of folk/pop music, but through McKeown's deft hand at flirting with different genres, all against the backdrop of solid songwriting, Manifestra holds its own in her discography and is a great step forward for her.
Authenticity, among other things, drives this album, and this band, to bridge the gulf between west-coast sunshine-pop and mid-west folksy rock. With the energy of youth and the buoyancy of hope and possibility, The Lighthouse and The Whaler deliver here with an engaging sound that shows room to grow and mature and will hopefully carry forward and be enhanced by their solid production, passionate lyrics and innovative instrumentation.
Centipede Hz is a step forward for Animal Collective while not really coloring to riskily outside the lines.
On Gossamer, Passion Pit is taking a step forward in craftsmanship, genre-bending experimentation and delivering once again a powerful and enjoyable album experience.
Combining a witty lyrical framework with a grand sense of musical pomp and circumstance, Kimbra uses her debut album Vows to provoke listeners to be bold and go against the flow.
Neck of the Woods is a compelling reminder that bands can successfully blend personal expansion and experiments while paying homage to years gone by.
Beware and Be Grateful manages to dodge mediocrity with its bombastic sound and clever sonic architecture, but it still slightly misses the mark by flexing muscles that may have been better served with consistency over experimentation.
he Lumineers is an incredibly impressive opening statement from a band with a lot to say, but who is determined to say it with a level of emotional integrity that is bound to resonate across genre.
Ultimately, New Wild Everywhere just doesn’t go many places that the band hasn’t already gone, and instead gives glimpses into the exciting styles of other bands and influences without elevating those for Great Lake Swimmers.
Always facing the specter of a comparison to 69 Love Songs, Merritt and company have produced an album that maintains their classic factors of fun, wit and innovation while coupling it all with a palpable sense of maturity that will make longtime listeners nostalgic for their older work while enjoying the progression that this album represents.
