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