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