New Music Spotlight ::: February '13 Album Reviews

The year opened with a fury of new music that could fit anyone's musical tastes. February did a tremendous job following up January's fire storm. Remember to support live music and your local record stores!!!

My Bloddy Valentine ::: M B V

Released 02/02/13

In their first release in over 22 years, My Bloddy Valentine didn't miss a beat in that time. M B V shows the evolution of the current four members, all of whom were part of their previous two releases, while holding true to their original musical form. Overall MBV fans have to be trilled with what the band created.

B Rating: 63 

R Rating: 69

Overall: 66 

Local Dates: No current North American dates  

Top Tracks: if i am, nothing is, new you

Dog Bite ::: Velvet Changes

Released 02/05/13

Atlanta's own Phil Jones brings you his debut LP, Velvet Changes. Previously known for his work in Washed Out as the keyboardist, Dog Bite credits his influences to the work of J Dilla, Portishead, Caribou, and The Roots, Jones found more inspiration for Velvet Changes in the New Zealand psych-pop of Connan Mockasin and the chilling 1975 film Picnic at Hanging Rock.  

B Rating: 56 

R Rating: 56

Overall : 56

Local Dates: Played Masquerade with Toro Y Moi February 6th

Top Tracks: Native American, Paper Lungs

Unknown Mortal Orchestra  ::: II

Released 02/05/13

A follow up to their self-titled 2011 release, II works in many different sounds from 60's psychedelic and 90's garage rock to new wave tones.   

B Rating: 61 

R Rating: 74

Overall : 67.5

Local Dates: 529 with Foxygen and Wampire

Top Tracks: So Good at Being in Trouble, Dawn, Swim and Sleep

Night Beds ::: Country Sleep

Released 02/05/13

This album reminds me at times of Bon Iver, Explosions in the Sky, and Ray Lamontagne blended together to make what we call audible ambien. 

B Rating: 78 

R Rating: 70

Overall : 74

Local Dates: None

Top Tracks: Ramona, 22, Lost Springs

Guards ::: In Guards We Trust

Released 02/05/13

B Rating: 80 

R Rating: 71

Overall: 75.5 

Local Dates: 40 Watt February 21 Athens, GA

Top Tracks: Heard the News, Coming Through

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down ::: We the Common

Released 02/05/13

Though they've been around since 2003, I'm relatively new to Thao & The Get Down Stay Down. After listening to their previous two releases, We Braves Bee Stings and All and Know Better Learn Faster prior to We the Common I'm a bigger fan of Thao's latest release. 

B Rating: 56 

R Rating: 61

Overall : 58.5

Local Dates: Smith's Olde Bar March 18

Top Tracks: Holly Roller, We the Common, Clouds for Brains

Jim James ::: Regions of Light and Sound of God

Released 02/05/13

No rookie to the big-time music scene, Jim James, in his debut solo release hits it out of the park. Having set the bar high with his works with Monsters of Folk and My Morning Jacket, the Louisville native successfully added to the legend of Yim Yames. Regions of Light and Sound of God reunited Jim's tranquilizing voice with escalating rhythms. A New Life's slow sultry start that builds into an eruption of drums and guitar will translate amazingly to the stage. 

B Rating: 72

R Rating: 84

Overall :  78

Local Dates: Shaky Knees Festival and Bonnaroo
Top Tracks:State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U), Actress, A New Life

Frightened Rabbit ::: Pedestrian Verse

Released 02/05/13

This Scottish group has steadily gained space in the indie rock genre since their 2003 inception. Pedestrian Verse should only help improve their standing. This album was the first time Scott Hutchinson wasn't solely responsible for the lyric writing and it's a noticeable improvement.  

B Rating: 53

R Rating: 64

Overall : 58.5

Local Dates: Masquerade April 10th

Top Tracks: Dead Now, December's Traditions

UUVVWWZ  ::: the trusted language

Released 02/05/13

From the album cover that looks like it's straight out of a 90s 'I Spy' book to the vivacious sounds, this album is slowly becoming my favorite of the month. Some how Teal Gardner, lead singer for UUVVWWZ, is able to portray saddness, fear, excitement, and utter joy in the same string of lyrics. Saying that the sound of the trusted language comes straight from the late 80s and early 90s doesn't do it justice. Listening to this album it's almost like eating food that you continuously taste different ingredients, all of which you like, but can never fully pinpoint what they are. GRIPS first reminded me of Fell in Love With a Girl by the White Stripes. Gardner's voice reminds be a female Jack White.

B Rating: NA

R Rating: 86

Overall : 86

Local Dates: None

Top Tracks:GRIPS, Possible Project, Open Sign

Foals  ::: Holy Fire

Released 02/12/13

B Rating: 83

R Rating: 76

Overall : 79.5

Local Dates: The Goat Farm April 30th with Surfer Blood and Blondfire

Top Tracks: Inhaler, Bad Habit, Moon

Pissed Jeans  ::: Honeys

Released 02/12/13

B Rating: 44

R Rating: 51

Overall: 47.5

Local Dates: None

Top Tracks: Vain in Costume, Chain Worker

STRFKR ::: Miracle Mile

Released 02/19/13

Having been a big fan of their previous releases Miracle Mile feels like a more complete album, even though I don't see a true single or hit on the album. 

B Rating: 81 

R Rating: 84

Overall: 82.5

Local Dates: Terminal West March 11

Top Tracks: Malmo, Last Words

Atlas Genius ::: When It Was Now

Released 02/19/13

The Australian four-piece band has been getting rave reviews since their single Trojans hit the airwaves. Their first hit got even more praise when XM's Alt-Nation put an acoustic version in their rotation. Having toured in America with Silversun Pickups and Imagine Dragons doesn't hurt getting you noticed either.   

B Rating: 75

R Rating: 80

Overall: 77.5

Local Dates: None at this time. Rumored to be an addition at Bonnaroo.

Top Tracks: Trojans, If So, Electric

Beach Fossils ::: Clash the Truth 

Released 02/19/13

B Rating: 80 

R Rating: 76

Overall: 78 

Local Dates: None

Top Tracks: Shallow, Careless, Generational Synthetic

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds ::: Push the Sky

Released 02/19/13

B Rating: 73

R Rating: 66

Overall: 69.5

Local Dates: None

Top Tracks: Water's Edge, Mermaids, Push the Sky Away

Palma Violets ::: 180

Released 02/25/13

Palma Vioets are a four-piece band from London, made up of bassist/vocalist Chili Jenson, keyboardist Peter Mayhew, guitarist/vocalist Sam Fryer, and drummer Will Doyle. They play a more garage rock n' roll than garage rock, a difference that may only be different to me. I'd liken their sound to a British Japandroids. There is such a differentiation between the best and worst songs on this album it's hard to rate it accurately. 

B Rating: 56 

R Rating: 67

Overall: 61.5

Local Dates: None

Top Tracks: Best of Friends, Chicken Dippers

Mogwai  ::: Les Revenants Soundtrack

Released 02/25/13

New release by post-rock band Mogwai is a relaxing blend of instrumental rock. 

B Rating: NA

R Rating: 64

Overall: 64

Local Dates: None

Atoms for Peace  ::: Amok

Released 02/26/13

Supergroups have begun to sprout more often lately. One of the strongest lineups of these groups is that of Atoms for Peace. The group consists of Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar and piano), Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea (bass), Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich (keyboards, synths), Joey Waronker of Beck & R.E.M. (drums) and Brazilian instrumentalist Mauro Refosco (percussion). Their first full length production Amok, which had each persons parts recorded separately and at various times over the past year and a half, merges the songs together perfectly into a great first record. 

B Rating: 88

R Rating: 80

Overall: 84 

Local Dates: None

Top Tracks:Judge Jury and Executioner, Default, Unless

Doldrums  ::: Lesser Evil

Released 02/26/13

B Rating: NA

R Rating: 60

Overall: 60

Local Dates: Tabernacle April 17th
Top Tracks: Golden Calf, Less Evil, Egypt

Mount Moriah  ::: Miracle Temple

Released 02/26/13

Having first discovering Mount Moriah while hearing The Letting Go in a Subaru commercial (possibly my favorite commercial) in the fall I have patiently waited for Miracle Temple to drop. From their sound to having the state motto etched in their vinyl, Esse quam videri is a Latin phrase meaning "To be, rather than to seem", this band screams Tar Heel State.  
B Rating: 66

R Rating: 81

Overall: 73.5

Local Dates: Drunken Unicorn March 9th

Top Tracks: Bright Lights, Connecticut to Carolina, I Built a Town

Shout Out Louds ::: Optica

Released 02/26/13

Optica could very well be this Swedish pop groups best album to dates. This album has a very Cure-esq vibe to me with SOL's own variations with 80s John Hughes soundtrack hints mixed in.
B Rating: 84

R Rating: 83

Overall: 83.5

Local Dates: None
Top Tracks: Sugar, Circles, Destroy



Like what you hear? Feel differently about a certain album? Leave a comment below!

What to look forward to in March...
March 5th ::: At the Drive-In, The Cave Singers, Chelsea Light Moving, How to Destroy Angels, Sigur Ros, Son Volt, They Might Be Giants
March 12th ::: David Bowie, Mice Parade, Sound City, Wild Belle
March 18th ::: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
March 19th ::: The Black Crowes, Low, 
March 26th ::: CHVRCHES, Depeche Mode, Wavves