Sloan, The Waxwings, and Roman Candle, are three bands that came to mind when listening to the debut album from Yukon Blonde, a Canadian outfit formerly known as Alphababy. Their music is pleasant and airy; poppy and hooky, but not too daring.
What do you get when you combine large doses of jam, untz and prog with a dash of Broadway? Look no further than U-Melt’s latest album – and first for Harmonized Records – Perfect World. The group’s third studio album shows off the strong songwriting, unorthodox harmonies and instrumental prowess that are the hallmark of U-Melt’s sound.
After reuniting behind an album that was praised (and panned) by some, Clem Snide have returned with a far more focused record, one which gets off on the right foot with the punchy, punk-ish “Walmart Parking Lot,” resembling an equal mix of Ryan Adams and Arcade Fire. The same can be said for the urgent “BFF” later in the album. Meanwhile lead singer Eef Barzelay also shines on the lighter, intriguing, roots-meets-strings “Denise” and extremely tender “Denver” that is definitely worth repeated listens.
In addition to the superb playing throughout the album, the compositions, all by John Ellis, are outstanding. That is for good reason, he has been at this for a long and dedicated while and has honed his chops with some of the best in the game including Ellis Marsalis and Charlie Hunter. In his writing, Ellis really has a knack for infusing that subtle New Orleans undercurrent into just about any flavor he is concocting.
Mark Everett is back at it. His Eels have been quite busy in the last few years, recording a record in each of the last three years if you include the soundtrack to Yes Man, which was comprised mostly of songs by Everett. For those familiar with Eels music, this latest release, End Times, won’t provide anything new to the puzzle in terms of style or feel, though it may be the darkest release yet.
Southern sounding singer-songwriter Ken Will Morton’s latest release True Grit brings to mind a cross between Tom Waits, Marah, Steve Earle circa Exit O and Ryan Adams. Whether it’s the safe but solid opening title track to the roots-rock nugget “Gamblin’ Man’s Blues,” Morton can pen a song with an equally strong melody. And thankfully Morton doesn’t ease off that quality pedal for a moment judging by the mid-tempo “Hard Weathered Life.”
Having opened for Wilco and Meat Puppets among others, this Minnesota band makes a huge impression with album number two. The trio of drummer Eric Pollard, bassist Steve Garrington and singer/guitarist Alan Sparhawk kick things off with an endearing slow-burner “Hide It Away” evoking a blend of Explosions In The Sky and Coldplay.
The Free Ice Cream Crew has come out with another underground hip-hop scorcher via Kats’s Levitate. The Brooklyn based MC boasts all over his “tenth album” and the braggadocios flow abounds, yet he manages to remain rooted in common stories like the tale spun on, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” and that title tune, “Levitate”.
Hot Chip's One Life Stand is one of the most genuine, unpretentious albums of the young year. Without trying to re-invent the wheel, the band has steadily produced albums of increasing quality throughout their career. One Life Stand is the next logical progression in their timeline, a deliciously and deceptively simple affair that showcases the band's best qualities. The subtle differences in their sound aren't forced or fabricated, making the album a unique listen while comforting the listener with a consistent, dance-driven pop style.
Garage-y guitar driven for the most part, bands such as Woven Bones (“Spirits Roam”) and Dikes Of Holland’s “Little City Girl” would give Band Of Skulls a run for the money in the near future.
