Ember FX - Across The Land

Ember FX compiles a few EP songs, singles, and a few new tracks into an 11 song full length. The pretty and soothing melodies combined with mediocre lyrics is Ember FX's style, evident on "Wherever You Are" and "The Afternoon". But the album is very enjoyable, especially the Postal Service-ish "Gravel", and "San Francisco", which is a great song about a great city. While nothing groundbreaking, Across The Land is very pleasant and enjoyable.

3 1/2 STARS

We Were Promised Jetpacks - These Four Walls

Sounding like a perfect combination of Frightened Rabbit and Silent Alarm-era Bloc Party, Scottish band We Were Promised Jetpacks outperform somewhat other seemingly uninspired bands with their debut, These Four Walls. It opens with the epic opener, "It's Thunder and It's Lightning", which starts like Bloc Party's "Helicopter", but ends more along the lines of "This Modern Love". Other highlights include the Interpol-esque "Quiet Little Voices", the moving "Moving Clocks Run Slow", and the slow, brooding "Conductor". A great record, but its slightly repetive nature hints that there is plenty of room for improvement, which would easily catapult them to indie rock stardom.

4 STARS.

Owl City - Ocean Eyes Review

The disappointing thing about Ocean Eyes, the third record by Owl City, continues to be the atrocious lyrics contained within the pleasant sounds that Owl City has always made. Corny and cliched, the lyrics, along with horrible vocal melodies sung by whiny singers, enormously affect the music in a negative way. In addition, the music, while enjoyable, completely fails to develop, or evolve from his past records. It's hard not to cringe when you hear "The Bird and the Worm", "Dental Care", or "On The Wing", but it's also hard not to enjoy "Hello Seattle", "Fireflies", and "Vanilla Twilight."Adam Young might get some real critical reception if he starts making songs that try to capture a feeling other than euphoria, and lyrics that talk about something other than how much you love her.

2 1/2 STARS

Passion Pit - Manners Review

Passion Pit's meteoric rise in the indie rock community is the perfect example of the power the Internet holds in music these days. Their smash Internet hit "Sleepyhead" from their Chunk of Change EP wowed almost anybody who heard it, a song so amazingly other-worldly perfect that it probably made Ben Gibbard jealous. All this has led to their debut LP, Manners, in which they attempt to avoid the trend of unimpressive debuts that has been rife in 2009 (White Lies, Emperor of the Sun, and Chester French). No such results here. Passion Pit deliver a classic, every bit as playful and euphoric, and probably more so, than their debut. Michael Angelakos and company expand their sound on Manners, more complexities, subtleties, and emotions than their initial EP would suggest. The epic soundscapes on "Moth's Wings", "Eyes as Candles", and "Seaweed Song", the melancholy of "Swimming In The Flood" and "The Reeling", and the childish, unapologetic bliss of "Little Secrets", "To Kingdom Come" and "Let Your Love Grow Tall" highlight the unpredictable, and often moving moments on Manners. One thing that I at least did not expect from this album after the cliched and corny lyrics on their EP, was the depressing, powerful, and brilliant lyrics on Manners. In fact, Angelakos transformation into a good lyricist might be the most satisfying thing about Manners. A truly spectacular album, Passion Pit should be a force in the indie rock community for many years to come.

5 STARS

Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream Review

Empire of the Sun, one of the many bands to follow the dance/rock/prog style of MGMT, attempt to create their niche in the movement with their debut album, Walking On A Dream. Consisting of Luke Steele (of The Sleepy Jackson) and Nick Littlemore (of Pnau), Empire of the Sun takes a more laid back approach than MGMT, and occasionally recalls the hypnotic melodies of Cut Copy, a comparison helped by the similar vocal style shared by Steele and Cut Copy frontman Dan Whitford. The album starts well with the pleasant "Standing on the Shore" and the album's title track, "Walking on a Dream", the highlight of the album. The album starts to drift away from there, as the repetitive nature of the album reveals itself. "Delta Bay" is a disaster, with pounding drums and oddly distorted vocals, the song does not work in any way possible. "Country" meanders and never hits its mark, which can be said about most songs on the record. Walking on a Dream shows flashes of brilliance, but never puts the pieces together to make something unique, something which Empire of the Sun are capable of.

2 1/2 STARS

Dntel - Early Works for Me If It Works for You II

Jimmy Tamborello (aka Dntel) made quite a name for himself with his breakthrough album, 2001's Life Is Full of Possibilities. The album featured moody, downbeat, and sometimes ambient sounds flowing so naturally it couldn't evade critical acclaim. Critics raved about the album, giving Tamborello newfound recognition. Fans who wanted to get their hands on the first Dntel album, Early Works for Me If It Works for You, were usually unsuccessful in procuring it, as very few copies were made and distributed. This has changed now with it's reissue, Early Works for Me If It Works for You II. In addition to his debut, the reissue includes Dntel's first EP, Something Always Goes Wrong, and a collection of unreleased tracks made prior to Life Is Full of Possibilities, called Early Works for Me If It Works for You II. For fans of Dntel's latest LP, Dumb Luck, you may not enjoy this as much. Far removed from the quiet chill of Dumb Luck, or even Life Is Full of Possibilities, Early Works features fast beats, edgier synths, and absolutely no vocals. According to Tamborello, these tracks were composed using just one sampler/synthesizer, and "some basic seqencing software," and he was not able to add vocals. He claims the tracks were inspired by Aphex Twin (well, whose weren't?), U-Ziq, and Warp Records among others. The fact that both Aphex Twin and U-Ziq were both important figures in the Drum n' bass movement is not a coincidence, as many songs have a drum n' bass tinged sound, especially "Loneliness Is Having No One to Miss" and "Sky Pointing." Also, the eerie feel of "Termites In The Bathtub," "Tybalt 60," or "Curtains" fall in line with the Aphex Twin comparisons. But this album is also breathtakingly beautiful, mostly due to the dazzling "Fort Instructions" and the uplifting "Sky Pointing." The aptly named "Danny Loves Experimental Electronics" is an odd moment, yet it is still strangely satisfying. Surprisingly, it just so happens that Dntel's long lost debut maybe his best work...if not for his first EP, Something Always Goes Wrong, which IS his greatest work. Something Always Goes Wrong is much more sparse than Early Works, featuring long tracks with synths drifting in and out and beats slowing and quickening. Most track titles on the EP (if you call it an EP, it's longer than Early Works) begin with "In Which Our Hero", which indicates there is a story being told, despite the absence of lyrics. Other than the mute storyline, the EP contains a track called "In Which Our Hero Dodges Bullets and Swords", which might be the greatest song Dntel has ever created, with the exception of "(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan". Exciting, dramatic, and intense, Something Always Goes Wrong is an unsung gem. The last component of the reissue, Early Works for Me If It Works for You II, is also an intriguing listen, and will probably please fans of Dntel's later work more than the rest of the reissue did. As basically a compilation of non-included (sometimes non-finished) songs, it doesn't cohesively fit together as an album. But II still has memorable tracks, including the pretty "Don't Try" and the bright "Smile Break". A must have for a Dntel fan, this reissue is a tremendous gift from Mr. Tamborello.

4 1/2 STARS

Ultre - The Nest and the Skull Review

Bordering somewhere between the unorthodox melodies of Four Tet and the electronic acoustics of Boards of Canada's The Campfire Headphase, Ultre (aka Finn McNicholas) has unleashed a dramatic improvement from his debut, All The Darkness Has Gone To Details with his 2nd album, The Nest and the Skull. Fueled by acoustic guitars, electronic glitches, and ambient soundscapes, McNicholas is able to evoke much more emotion, good or bad, than what was on ATDHGTD. The melancholy of "The Smirks", the haunting "Museum of Air", and the radiant "Struggle and Nothing" are the album's high points, while the sluggish melody of "Takas" is one of the lower points. Desolate, bleak, and isolated, The Nest and The Skull is a challenging listen, but your patience will be rewarded.

3 1/2 Stars

Death Cab for Cutie - The Open Door E.P Review

Songs that tend to end up on EPs are usually songs that didn't fit into the album they were recorded for, which basically means that they weren't good enough to make the final album cut. When Death Cab for Cutie announced that they had a five track EP, comprised of songs that weren't included on the highly disappointing Narrow Stairs, I was left to ponder whether or not it was possible that Death Cab could actually have recorded worse tracks than the ones on Stairs. The answer is yes. Forced melodies, failed hooks, and cringe-worthy lyrics, The Open Door sets a new low for Death Cab for Cutie. The tracks are rife with strumming, quirky lead guitar parts, self-pitying lyrics, and emotionless vocal melodies. The lyrics resemble those on Narrow Stairs, particularly the similar mid-life crisis themes of "I Was Once a Loyal Lover" and "Bixby Canyon Bridge." "Little Bribes", lyrically, retraces Gibbard's talent for summarizing the emotions felt in specific places ("What Sarah Said, "Why You'd Want To Live Here"), though it is offset by Gibbard's new, low singing style and and a horribly forced bridge. One can't forget that EPs are made up of extra tracks though, so you must take the mediocrity with a grain of salt. But still, it's pretty rough.

2 Stars

Royksopp - Junior Review

Junior, the third album from chillout extraordinaires Royksopp, has been described as a combination of their brilliant debut, Melody A.M., and their somewhat disappointing sophomore effort, The Understanding. I don't find that sentiment to be very accurate. It resembles the loud excitement of The Understanding much more than the cool, lush, and sparse Melody A.M. Sparse is not a word that describes Junior. Each song seems to have a surplus of sounds that sometimes feels overdone and in some cases, forced, rather than the sparse perfection of Melody A.M. In fact, the only song that I think could pass as a Melody A.M. doppelganger is the bonus track "Across The Graveyard". Where once low male voices sang about another place in time, the female vocalists on Junior sing love songs that often are pushed to too large of a role. It seems that at times, instead of the singing complimenting the music, the music is complimenting the singing. Yet the singing can sometimes save songs that are otherwise mediocre. Karin Dreijer's vocals on "This Must Be It", for example, rescues the song from becoming too repetitive and unexciting. But this album has it's moments: the sad yet sweet "Miss It So Much", or the oddly enthralling opener, "Happy Up Here", which is one of the most irresistibly uplifting tracks I've ever heard. The standout though is "Vision One", with pretty keyboards and sublime vocals, it can't help remind me of, um, "Remind Me". It is not a great album, but Junior is a satisfying and intriguing listen from a truly unique duo.

3 1/2 Stars

Handsome Furs - Face Control Review

Handsome Furs, the side-project of Wolf Parade's Dan Boeckner and his wife Alexei Perry, attempt to follow up on their stellar 2007 album Plague Park, with Face Control. At a first listen, there doesn't seem like a large difference. But multiple listens unveil a different and more complex sound. The album is much warmer and emotional than Plague Park, although the album does contain dense tracks such as "I'm Confused" or "Passport Kontrol". Handsome Furs still specialize in making rough and rugged synth tracks with searing, yet irresistible guitars. Album opener "Legal Tender" is a perfect example. Starting with jagged and grimy sounds, the song reveals a beautiful synth line towards the end as Boeckner's yelps unleash a sense of emotion that were absent prior. The highlight of the album is no doubt "All We Want, Baby, Is Everything". A sure single, it is definitely the most accessible song in the band's catalogue. An impressive album, Face Control matches, if not exceeds, Plague Park, which is saying something.

3 1/2 Stars

The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love Review

After all the talk by frontman Colin Meloy about the album's content, who called the album "mossy and evil", it must be a relief to fans that The Hazards of Love does not deviate too much from the usual Decemberists sound. Yes, it has the thunderous, metal inspired "The Queen's Rebuke/The Crossing, or the bluesy "Repaid" of "The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid". But those are strategically countered by the elegant "The Hazards of Love 1" and the beautifully simple "An Interlude". Also, the much harked about storyline about a shape-shifting animal, his lover, the evil queen, and a sadistic rake doesn't overshadow the music, nor does it become too direct. For the most part, the story is conveniently vague, which leaves a lot up to the imagination of the listener. Though the album isn't quite as impressive as The Crane Wife, it is a thrilling, challenging, and epic addition to a great band's catalogue, who continue to expand their musical reach. Hopefully they won't stop reaching soon.


4 STARS

All Time Favorites

For my first post, I'll create a list of my 25 favorite albums of all time.

1) Death Cab for Cutie - We Have The Facts and We're Voting Yes
2) Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism
3) Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
4) The Postal Service - Give Up
5) Steely Dan - Aja
6) Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City
7) Boards of Canada - Music Has The Right to Children
8) The Beatles - Rubber Soul
9) Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
10) Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92
11) Bloc Party - Intimacy
12) Tegan and Sara - The Con
13) The Beatles - The White Album
14) Death Cab for Cutie - The Photo Album
15) Milosh - Meme
16) The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
17) Interpol - Antics
18) Sigur Ros - ( )
19) Milosh - III
20) Radiohead - In Rainbows
21) Steely Dan - Gaucho
22) Ulrich Schnauss - Far Away Trains Passing By
23) Kiln - Dusker
24) Aphex Twin - Richard D. James
25) Hatchback - Colors of the Sun