Initially a collaboration between producers Diplo (MIA, Santigold, Amanda Blank, Die Antwoord) and Switch (MIA, Santigold, Beyonce, Xtina), Major Lazer’s debut was the summer album of 2009. A dance album that blended reggae, dubstep, reggaton, and dancehall, Guns Don’t Kill People was an eclectic, refreshing, and quite frankly, fun album perfect for block parties, beach bonfires, and sweaty, sweaty clubs. Aside form the occasional remix EP, the duo has been rather silent since. Free the Universe (Secretly Canadian) breaks that […]
Spin Cycle
The Shouting Matches, Grownass Man: Album Review
Musical anonymity can be a funny thing. Justin Vernon, the neo-folk mastermind behind Bon Iver, isn’t going completely incognito by stepping out with a few friends to record a loose-limbed garage-blues record, but it’s something of a musical disguise nevertheless; his ethereal, crooning falsetto replaced with a gnarled, expressive wail, one could easily mistake his vocals on The Shouting Matches’ Grownass Man for the work of… of anyone else, really. Take your pick. But that’s not to say that Grownass […]
Ghostface Killah, Twelve Reasons to Die: Album Review
A grisly, retro-fitted, blood-spattered, cinematic Tarantino pastiche for music nerds and hip-hop heads everywhere, Ghostface Killah’s enthralling Twelve Reasons to Die isn’t merely the emcee’s finest hour since 2006’s career-high Fishscale; it’s also, assuming it gets the respect it deserves, poised to be hip-hop’s most prominent excursion into the grindhouse, and the true breakthrough of producer Adrian Younge. Or perhaps “composer” is the better word. Twelve Reasons to Die is the result of a miraculous and rare synergy between sound […]
Declan’s Well, Campaign Capsized: Album Review
An electronic musician from New Jersey makes catchy pop about heartbreak and suburbia. What’s not to like?
Iron & Wine, Ghost on Ghost: Album Review
It’s interesting that being a fan of Iron & Wine isn’t necessarily a prerequisite for enjoying (or not enjoying, for that matter) Sam Beam’s latest album, Ghost on Ghost. Artistic evolution (and devolution) happens all the time — how different could Ghost on Ghost be? Well, for longtime fans of the hirsute folkie, the answer is: very. Beam — who performs as Iron & Wine — made his reputation on a host of recordings that caused the rock-crit elite to […]
Spin Cycle: Cold War Kids, Dear Ms. Lonelyhearts
If the Cold War Kids were a cat, I’m not sure which life they’d have used up by now in the ever-changing landscape of 21st century indie alternative. It hasn’t stopped them from being one of the most creative acts of the past six years. They’ve spawned four albums and a couple EP’s in that time frame – so they’ve certainly done their part to stay in the public eye and flesh out both a developing sound and discography over […]
Rhye Gives You 21st Century Quiet Storm Vibrations on Woman
The mysterious duo known as Rhye have created an interesting throwback of an album with “Woman.” Check out our review!
Sky Valley Mistress, the best thing you’ve never heard. EP: Album Review
the best thing you’ve never heard. is the best thing you’re likely to discover in 2013. I’m not sure if this UK 3-piece meant for their name to be an ode to Kyuss’ masterpiece third record but it certainly doesn’t hurt and the comparisons don’t end with the name thankfully. Fuzzed out and soaked in Blues For The Red Sun goodness, “The Day Of The Lion” rages out of the gate and sets the tone for the 5-song EP instantly […]
Dawes, Stories Don’t End: Spin Cycle
It’s Round 3 for Dawes. Find out why “Stories Don’t End” is one of the best albums of 2013.
Spin Cycle: The Strokes, Comedown Machine
The Strokes have reached album number five. I’m not entirely sure anyone’s more surprised at this fact than Strokes fans themselves. I say this counting myself among those ranks, though I’ve done more head scratching than bopping to the beat in more recent years. Julian Casablancas seems almost like a falsetto-voiced (though it didn’t used to be that way) Marlon Brando of 21st century new wave revival. To find his genius you have to dig and sometimes you find diamonds, […]
New Kids on the Block 10 Album Review: NKOTB Acts Their Age
If, during the New Kids’ heyday, you thought folks would still be talking about them in 2013, I want you to pick some lotto numbers for me.
The Soft Moon, Zeros: The Spin Cycle Review
Much like Ulterior from my first “I Read AP’s …..” post, The Soft Moon take goth to a new level. In the case of this San Franciscan band though, it’s as if The Cure went darker, more cold, and more mechanical after Pornography. And those lush vocals that Robert Smith provided? Gone, replaced with Luis Vasquez’s dark delivery. The instrumental “It Ends” ironically begins Zeros signalling the oncoming aural apocalypse with a cacophony of programmed beats and synthesizers culminating with […]
