Recent Articles in CD Reviews
Stars – ‘The Five Ghosts’
Stars have made a career with tunes that I like to describe as “breezy bereavement.” Now on their fifth studio album, The Five Ghosts, the beloved Montreal quintet have chosen to take it down a notch, lacing each maudlin tune with pristine, sparse, synth-leaning arrangements…
The Pretty Reckless – ‘S/T EP’
When we hurl the presumptively judgmental slur of “precocious” at a young star as was the case with Dakota Fanning some years ago, is it because they are too talented for their own good? Thereby inciting a jealousy no one wants to cop to?
DJ-Kicks: James Holden, the Juan Maclean and Kode9
The !K7 DJ-Kicks series, now in its seventh year, has always seemed to live in the shadow of London’s all- encompassing Fabric mix compilations. But !K7′s curent set of spring/summer releases are a ridiculously strong trifecta.
Karen Elson – ‘The Ghost Who Walks’
Before Karen Elson became one of the most photographed women on the planet, wife to an influential rock star, and mother, she was a pale, gawky bird in Manchester, England, tormented by her classmates. Hence the name of the album, recalling one of the nicknames she was fitted with long ago.
LCD Soundsystem – ‘This is Happening’
The slow build of opener “Dance Yrself Clean,” with its steady tapping and synth-heavy, cathartic finish, is the perfect intro for an album filled with equal parts jubilant release and bittersweet, meditative revelation.
Kitsuné Maison 9 (V/A) – Petit Bateau Edition or The Cotton Issue Compilation
Kitsuné Maison, once thought of as a harbinger of all foxy and French, from its t-shirt-heavy fashion label to its electronic music imprint, seems to be evolving. We always want to love the newest Kitsuné compilation, but sadly, the recent ones have been hit or miss.
Sleigh Bells – ‘Treats’
The hype around the Sleigh Bells album Treats has been breathless and immediate. So breathless in fact that tickets to see the Brooklyn-by-way-of-Florida duo at the out-of-the-way Brooklyn watering hole Coco66 were sold out. Now, upon first listen to the album (co-released by M.I.A.’s new N.E.E.T. Recordings imprint), and resulting Twitter mayhem after its NPR streaming debut, all the hype is beginning to make sense.
Keane – ‘Night Train’
There is no question that Keane’s status has been cemented with their past three chart-topping releases, but Night Train reflects the U.K. trio in a different light, breaking the Top 40 boundaries the boys are known for catering to. While still melodic and pop friendly in all aspects…
The Dead Weather – ‘Sea of Cowards’
That Jack White chose to introduce Sea of Cowards to the world with a camera pointed at a record player is no accident. The group’s sophomore effort is meant to be seen as a cohesive front-to-back experience. Every single particle was tracked and organized to be a long-player event.
Greg Laswell – ‘Take a Bow’
Brooklyn-by-way-of-California singer-songwriter Greg Laswell has built a respected career with lived-in relationship records. And while that might sound cringeworthy, there’s nothing cliché about the places Laswell goes to in song.
