Sometimes simply being refreshing is enough. Take Estelle: she’s a good singer, but not a vocal powerhouse. She’s a fine emcee, but not a magnetic one. And yet, 2008’s Kanye duet “American Boy” was such a shot in the arm; the London vocalist’s flirtatious interplay with Ye was engaging, the hook burrowed deep into the brain, and the splashy electro-funk production sounded like both a fresh diversion and a remarkably spot-on prediction of the direction pop music would take in […]
Spin Cycle
Spin Cycle: Sinead O’Connor’s “How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?”
There’s a quip that’s been fluttering around music circles for the past year. The wording varies, but it boils down to this: “So, when Adele’s happy, does she just stop writing songs, or what’s the deal with that?” The witticism is a bit played-out in the wake of the singer’s Grammy sweep, but it poses an interesting question: can a singer known for spinning their depressive notions into musical gold excel when they’ve arrived at a place of relative contentment? […]
Spin Cycle: Sleigh Bells’ “Reign of Terror”
I was a huge fan of Sleigh Bells’ debut album Treats when it dropped two summers ago: a heavy, low-fi party album steeped in 80s guitar crunch and the double threat of Alexis Krauss’ delicate melodies and crazed cheerleader screams, assembled over electric drum machine back beats. The album excelled at many things, but outside “Rill, Rill”, subtlety wasn’t one of them. Then again, when your aim is 32 minutes of catchy, feel good, danceable noise pop, you don’t really […]
Spin Cycle: Antlered Man “Giftes 1&2”
Imagine a Desert Sessions album with Josh Homme and King Buzzo on guitar, Nick Oliveri on bass, Dave Grohl on drums and John Lydon (In PIL mode) singing his ass off behind the mic. That, my friends, is Antlered Man in a nutshell and Giftes 1&2 is what that Sessions disc would sound like, only better. Now I bet a bunch of you are saying “Who the hell are Antlered Man?”. Have no fear, Popblerd is here to sort you out. Didn’t […]
Spin Cycle: Baddies’ “Build”
If Devo ever decide to call it day, Baddies is the band that the torch needs to be passed to. Part Devo (“Man Made Man”), part Queens of the Stone Age (“These Animals”), part Oingo Boingo (“The Lightmen”), UK’s Baddies are simply delightful and on Build, the band’s second full-length, they keep it delightfully simple. On the follow-up to Do the Job (Please tell me you’ve heard this record!), Baddies streamline their sound, keep it at a concise 10 tracks and […]
Spin Cycle: Buck Satan & The 666 Shooters’ “Bikers Welcome! Ladies Drink Free!”
I can’t believe that I am sitting here typing about an Al Jourgensen country album. Part of me can’t believe the debut from Jourgensen’s country alter-ego Buck Satan is finally available while another part of me can’t believe AL JOURGENSEN MADE A COUNTRY ALBUM! Like a mix between Crazy Heart, Reverend Horton Heat and the Rebel Meets Rebel album by David Allan Coe and three fourths of Pantera, Jourgensen’s alter ego Buck Satan is a an evil industrial country hellraiser […]
Spin Cycle: Band of Skulls’ “Sweet Sour”
The second album from stoner alternative rock band Band of Skulls, Sweet Sour, contains the perfect concoction of both sweet and sour. With grungy guitar riffs, heavy drum beats, and soulful and savory vocals, the album has a certain edge to it that makes it the perfect follow up to first album Baby Darling Doll Face Honey. Certain aspects of the album resonate into unexpected melodies and rhythm changes which can only be described as, “I don’t know what just […]
Spin Cycle: fun.’s “Some Nights”
You’ve heard “We Are Young” all over the place, now check out what we think about fun.’s new album.
Spin Cycle: Burial’s “Kindred”
Dubstep/electronic act Burial have a new EP out called “Kindred.” Check out our review.
Spin Cycle: Shearwater’s “Animal Joy”
It’d be a shame if Shearwater’s ultimate legacy was as Okkervil River’s de facto kid brother. Originally envisioned as an artier side project for the wordy indie-rock artisans of Okkervil, Will Sheff and Jonathan Meiburg, Shearwater has evolved considerably. A lot that’s due to the amicable division of labor between the two bands: Meiburg has emerged as Shearwater’s figurehead, while Sheff generally keeps to Okkervil River these days, and under the tutelage of their respective artistic directors, both outfits have […]
Spin Cycle: Mark Lanegan Band’s “Blues Funeral”
We here at Popblerd get so excited about certain albums that we can’t contain our excitement in just one review (have you seen the Van Halen thing that we posted?). Mark Lanegan is such an artist that evokes such a response in some of our writers that one opinion is not enough when it comes to his latest record, Blues Funeral. So here you go with Lanegan Shenanigans (AKA: A few different ways of saying Blues Funeral is the bomb) […]
Spin Cycle Plus!: The Staff Poptificates On Van Halen’s “A Different Kind Of Truth”
Mike D.: Some time ago – probably after Bob Dylan released Time Out of Mind – it became common for music pundits to slap their foreheads and declare that, you know, the newest album by a major pop/rock act previously viewed as past their prime actually isn’t so bad. Koomdogg: After a month of previews and slow reveals, Van Halen’s A Different Kind of Truth is finally out. Jay: Considering it’s been 14 years since their last album (and that album was VH III, which […]
