Thursday, April 4, 2013

New Music Spotlight ::: March '13 Album Reviews

YOTHT Album Rating System
90-100 Played on repeat through the month, will continue to get playtime through the year
80-89   Very good, gained air time throughout the month.
70-79   Solid album, few misses. More of a mood listen.
60-69   Quality songs at the top of the record, but larger disparity between the best and worst tracks
50-59   Serviceable cd with growing disparity from top to bottom
40-49   Let down from hype/previous albums
30-39   No more than one catchy song likely will not keep the album
20-29   Total miss in our eyes
1-19     Trying to prove how horrible an album can be
Albums are rated using this system, though it's typically more comparative of albums in the same light, mood, and genre. 

March 5, 2013:
The Cave Singers ::: Naomi 
Released 03/05/13
I've never been sure how to peg The Cave Singers, it's almost like every song is mimicking a different artist or sound. Naomi is their fourth overall release and their second since making the switch to Jagjaguwar Records. From the very My Morning Jacket sound in the  intro track Canopy to the more John Denveresque 'Northern Lights' the album shows more depth for the four piece band made from the ruins of Pretty Girls Make Graves. The addition of Namoi to their discography mixed with positive reviews of their live performances, this is a big plus for The Cave Singers.
B Rating: 74
R Rating: 76
Overall: 75
Local Dates: April 12th at the Earl w. Bleeding Rainbow
Top Tracks: It's A Crime, Canopy, Week to Week

Chelsea Light Moving ::: Chelsea Light Moving 
Released 03/05/13
With the increase of super groups, Chelsea Light Moving is a super group on a smaller scale. Headlined by Thurston Moore, Sonic Youth singer, song writer, and guitarist, who routinely had solo albums during their 20 year run. Manning  Womaning the violin and adding vocals it Samara Lubelski who has worked with Moore for some time while being a part of nearly five other bands over the years. John Moloney and Keith Wood round out the group. Their first release since forming in 2012, the self-titled record is exploding guitar riffs and whistful lyrics with hints of early 90s garage attitude. 
B Rating: 72
R Rating: 78
Overall: 75
Local Dates: March 8 at the Earl w. Talk Normal
Top Tracks: Alighted, Groovy and Linda, Mohawk

How to Destroy Angels ::: Welcome oblivion 
Released 03/05/13
Speaking of super groups, the highly anticipated release from Nine Inch Nails leader Trent Reznor's new project How to Destroy Angels finally landed. Joining one of the busiest men in music is his wife Mariqueen Maandig who adds the perfect voice for electronic, purposeful beats laid on the record. Atticus Ross reconnects with Reznor, as if they ever left each others sides, having worked together for the Social Network Soundtrack together. For those who have listened to the soundtrack or just watched the film you can see that this is very much an extension of that work (one of my top 5 soundtracks of all time) more than leans toward NIN's way. Rob Scheridan is the final piece in the blueprint to destroy angels. Scheridan's work has mainly been in photography and graphic design as he also was part of the Social Network Soundtrack, creating the package and artwork. As Reznor and Ross talked about recently on a reddit AMA, it's difficult to work with other projects and groups because 40 percent want it to sound more like NIN, 40 percent think it's too close to the Nine Inch Nail's sound, which leaves the 20 percent that I am in that just listen and enjoy this wonderful album that can even get soft at times with tracks like 'Ice Age'.
B Rating: 83
R Rating: 85
Overall: 84
Local Dates: No southeast dates
Top Tracks: Ice Age, and the sky began to scream, The loop closes

Jimi Hendrix ::: People, Hell and Angels 
Released 03/05/13

Call it my unwillingness to bad mouth anything that comes from the most musically gifted musician of all time, the joy of my tympanic membrane with new Hendrix two scores after his untimely passing, or call it what it is...this is just a great album. The fact that twelve high-quality, in production and song value, are just being released makes my heart and ear happy. People, Hell, and Angels adds to an already 
B Rating: 90
R Rating: 92
Overall: 91
Top Tracks: Hear My Train A Comin', Izabella, Hey Gypsy Boy

The Men ::: New Moon 
Released 03/05/13

The 4th album released by Brooklyn punk rock band The Men, New Moon is a string of fast paced aggressive cords and drums with a beautiful blending of vocals and harmonic.
B Rating: 70 
R Rating: 75
Overall: 72.5
Local Dates: None   
Top Tracks: Without a Face, High and Lonesome, Freaky

Rhye ::: Woman 
Released 03/05/13
Woman was an album I wasn't sure what to expect from it. This made it even better when this album blew me away with it's trance-like waves of calming energy.
Rhye is a Los Angeles, California-based indie musical duo. Its members are the Canadian Mike Milosh and the Danish Robin Hannibal. 
B Rating: 82
R Rating: 84
Overall: 83
Local Dates: No southeast dates
Top Tracks: The Fall, Last Dance

Son Volt ::: Honky Tonk 
Released 03/05/13

The album name doesn't pull punches, this is a very Honky Tonk type alternative country album. Typically not the biggest fan of the twangy alternative sound, but as far as they go Son Volt put together a good 11-track piece for long sunny day drives through the country and internal reflection. This is an example of album ratings  being more aligned with their genre and similar sounds than the entire musical world. 
B Rating: 63
R Rating: 67
Overall: 65
Local Dates: April 12  at Terminal West   
Top Tracks: Seawall, Brick Walls, Down the Highway

They Might Be Giants ::: Nanobots 
Released 03/05/13
The marathon 25-track Nanobots is the group's seventeenth release since getting their start in 1986. Their dabbles in children music shines through on this album, many of the songs seem like they could be blared through the mini-van surround system to the enjoyment of parents and kids alike.  
B Rating: 70
R Rating: 62
Overall: 66
Local Dates: April 13 & 14 at Variety Playhouse 
Top Tracks: Nanobots, The Darlings of Lumberland

Wampire ::: The Hearse 
Released 03/05/13
After forming Wampire, Rocky Tinder and Eric Phipps steadily began to make a name for themselves in the same Portland, OR, scene that has produced labelmates STRFKR as well as Unknown Mortal Orchestra. The Hearse, a 7-inch, two song release is the precursor to the band's May 14th full length album Curiosity. Listening to this release and seeing them live, we wanted to share this to whet the appetite.
B Rating: 81
R Rating: 79
Overall: 80
Local Dates: Played 529 with UMO and Foxygen in February
Top Tracks: Hearse, Das Model

Youth Lagoon ::: Wondrous Bughouse 
Released 03/05/13
The sophomore album from 24-year old Trevor Powers. Powers describes the album as "becoming more fascinated with the human psyche and where the spiritual meets the physical world." During the time he wrote, Trevor became intrigued with the metaphysical universe and blending those ideas with pop music.
B Rating: 68
R Rating: 74
Overall: 71
Local Dates: May 1 at Terminal West  
Top Tracks: Pelican Man, Third Dystopia, Attic Doctor

David Bowie ::: The Next Day 
Released 03/12/13

There's something reassuring about music and hearing new music behind David Bowie's voice. The Next Day is a return to 'power Bowie'. The album seems like a reflection on his career picking out pieces of all his previous sounds to meld them together into this release. 
B Rating: 76
R Rating: 72
Overall: 74
Local Dates: No southeast dates
Top Tracks: The Next Day, Dirty Boys, The Stars (Are Out Tonight)

Wild Belle ::: Isles 
Released 03/12/13

B Rating: 84
R Rating: 81
Overall: 82.5
Local Dates: Played Masquerade with Toro y Moi in February
Top Tracks: Shine, June, Another Girl

Justin Timberlake ::: 20/20
Released 03/15/13

An impressive return to music by JT, especially when you consider from start to finish the record was made in twenty days. 
B Rating: 78
R Rating: 81
Overall: 79.5
Local Dates: Joint arena tour with Jay-Z late summer, likely will announce Fall solo dates in the coming weeks
Top Tracks: Mirror, Pusher Love Girl

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club ::: Specter at the Feast 
Released 03/18/13

B Rating: 82
R Rating: 80
Overall: 81 
Local Dates: April 30 at the Masquerade 
Top Tracks: Rival, Teenage Disease, Fire Walker 

The Black Crowes ::: Wiser For the Time 
Released 03/19/13

R Rating: 77
Local Dates: April 23 at the Tabernacle

Low ::: The Invisible Way 
Released 03/19/13

One of the more highly anticipated albums of the first quarter of 2013 for me, it did not disappoint. The one negative I found was that it's a very melancholy and is a perfect winter or late fall listen, but now that the weather has turned it hasn't fit my mood very much. 
B Rating: 81
R Rating: 81
Overall: 81
Local Dates: No southeast tour dates
Top Tracks: Plastic Cup, Mother, Clarence White

Phosphorescent ::: Muchacho
Released 03/19/13

This YOTHT alum's release was even more anticipated than the previous. Matthew Houck got his start in Athens, Georgia before making the move up north to Brooklyn. The first single off the record, 'Song for Zula', is one of the prettiest songs I've heard lately. 
B Rating: 80
R Rating: 88
Overall: 84
Local Dates: No southeast tour dates
Top Tracks: Song for Zula, Ride On / Right On, Down to Go

The Walking Dead ::: AMC Original Soundtrack, Vol. 1 
Released 03/19/13
More than zombie noises and the theme song, this soundtrack features the grizzled voice of Jaime N Commons that to fit perfectly with the hopeful, helplessness of a Zombie Apocalypse. Also on the album are Icelandic folk group Of Monsters and Men with their first new music since their homerun album was released in 2012. 
R Rating: 80
Top Tracks: Lead Me Home, Warm Shadow, Sinking Man

CHVRCHES ::: Recover (EP)
Released 03/26/13

Words can't express the head over heels love I have for CHVRCHES, they're a must listen.
B Rating: 93
R Rating: 92
Overall: 92.5
Local Dates: No southeast tour dates
Top Tracks: Recover, Now is Not the Time

Depeche Mode ::: Delta Machine 
Released 03/26/13

B Rating: 76
R Rating: 79
Overall: 77.5
Local Dates: No US tour dates
Top Tracks: Heaven, Slow, Welcome to My World 

The Strokes ::: Comedown Machine 
Released 03/26/13

B Rating: 78
R Rating: 75
Overall: 76.5
Local Dates: No tour dates
Top Tracks: Tap Out, Chances 

Wavves ::: Afraid of Heights 
Released 03/26/13

B Rating: 79
R Rating: 86
Overall: 82.5
Local Dates: April 15 at Drunken Unicorn
Top Tracks: Dog, Afraid of Heights, Everything is My Fault
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