A Sunny Day In Glasgow Nitetime Rainbows EP (Mis Ojos Discos)
On their new EP, A Sunny Day In Glasgow mixes conventional instrumentation with synths and programmed beats to create shimmering soundscapes. They make up for their lack of defined choruses by creating lush beds of sound that your head can sink peacefully into. Tough to categorize, but impressive nonetheless.
Beach House Teen Dream (Sub Pop)
I loved Mazzy Star back in the day, and it seems Beach House did too. But they trade Mazzy Star’s ominous hazy atmosphere for the sort of open, sunny production sound that makes pop bands sound as lightweight as possible. This record may be pretty, but it is also unmemorable.
A Sunny Day In Glasgow Nitetime Rainbows EP (Mis Ojos Discos)
On their new EP, A Sunny Day In Glasgow mixes conventional instrumentation with synths and programmed beats to create shimmering soundscapes. They make up for their lack of defined choruses by creating lush beds of sound that your head can sink peacefully into. Tough to categorize, but impressive nonetheless.
Beach House Teen Dream (Sub Pop)
I loved Mazzy Star back in the day, and it seems Beach House did too. But they trade Mazzy Star’s ominous hazy atmosphere for the sort of open, sunny production sound that makes pop bands sound as lightweight as possible. This record may be pretty, but it is also unmemorable.
The Eels End Times (Vagrant)
This is a quiet record, full of slow and mournful songs. I’m hearing none of the “pop genius” people usually refer to when they talk about the Eels. Instead, it brings a heartfelt sensibility that makes me think of recent Paul Westerberg solo work. A welcome change of pace.
Juliana Hatfield Peace And Love (Ye Olde)
Ms. Hatfield is better known for alt-rockin’ power pop tunes. Here, though, she takes a break from distortion, and gives us an album of percussion-less acoustic pop tunes. What really makes this work is her beautiful multi-tracked vocals–a chorus of Julianas serenading us sweetly to sleep.
Liars Sisterworld (Mute)
Sometimes this album sounds like bizarro-world Echo And The Bunnymen, because the singers for both bands sound exactly alike. That quietly sinister postpunk feel of early Echo is definitely here as well, although the minimalist Liars tend to structure their songs around negative space. The result is strangely fascinating.
Wonder Years Upsides (No Sleep)
They’re calling this stuff “easycore” now, but really it’s the same stuff Stryder and the Movielife were doing a decade ago–catchy pop-punk with chunky hardcore breakdowns. It takes more than a new name to revive a played-out genre, and Wonder Years’ songwriting chops aren’t there yet. Skip this one.
