While the lyrics and background vocals leave much to be desired, with this album Kasabian are clearly taking steps to improve as a band and release a collection of songs illuminating their goals and plans for the future.
Encompassing the genres of trip-hop, dance, poptronica, piano pop and down tempo, Breathe Me In is quite the calling card for anyone who is just learning about this promising singer-songwriter.
“Ghost on the Canvas” is AM country/rock king Glen Campbell’s swan song before he retires ahead of and advancing case of Alzheimer’s disease. While the album’s lyrical content is full of hints, this is the final public statement of a man looking back on a very colorful life; the music itself is surprisingly strong and upbeat, and Campbell’s voice is as rich and emotional as ever.
Rise Ye Sunken Ships, the debut album by We Are Augustines, is a raw meditation on the loss, pain and hardships that have encompassed the band members. Guitarist Bill McCarthy and bassist Eric Sanderson began penning the songs for what would have been the sophomore album of their previous band, Pela. While writing and recording the tracks, the band feuded with management, the record label and with themselves while McCarthy tried to cope with news that his little brother, James, had committed suicide at a psychiatric hospital.
Though the after taste of Dracula might be a bit lacking, Nurses' quirky take on contemporary music is definitely worth a listen.
Three years after meeting up, Grouplove has released their full-length debut, Never Trust a Happy Song. This indie pop effort has all of the passion and intensity that inspired the individual musicians to join up originally. The album’s title may bring to mind introspective, shoegaze songs about loss and rejection to the tune of bitterness. However, Grouplove delivers songs that are anything but downers.
On All Things Will Unwind, Shara Worden delivers a tour de force that stands far above the majority of contemporary music. It’s a masterpiece that will prove quite difficult to surpass, but the fact that this is only her third album as My Brightest Diamond makes the future look even more the brighter.
Deer Tick live and in person is always a spectacle to behold. Regardless of the day of the week they play your town, the band members will whoop it up like a revved-up start to the weekend. With Divine Providence, they’ve made a recorded document that spreads around the debauchery and rock decadence for all times sake.
The tone and feel draw you in but the final product doesn’t do much to stick around when the disk ends; unfortunately West is more numbing instead of expanding.
Just last year Trombone Shorty introduced himself to the world with Backatown, a blistering effort which had his beloved New Orleans flowing via it’s hot instrumentals and hip soul get downs. A year later we get For True which continues the same blueprint but expands the guest list to a wider range of non-NOLA based contributors without sacrificing the southern spice. The albums are similar in style and substance and could almost be viewed as a double album.
