By:
On:
In: _CD Reviews 2010, _Four or More 2010, Album Reviews, Recommended
With: 0 Comments

School of Seven Bells – “Disconnect from Desire”Vagrant Records-out July 134 / 5 When dream-pop trio School of Seven Bells mix fluid beats with ethereal vocals from twin sisters Alejandra and Claudia Deheza, the result is the easily accessible “Disconnect from Desire,” their second full-length attempt. The group has a natural way about establishing flow, utilizing synth effectively to the backdrop of guitar and percussion, and while easy to pick up, there’s no reason to assume that this album is simple. “Dust Devil” helps to highlight the careful layering of effects, not drowning the listener in an overabundance of sounds, but filling the sound withRead More →

By:
On:
In: _CD Reviews 2010, Album Reviews
With: 0 Comments

The Chap – “Well Done Europe”Lo Recordings -out now3 / 5 The most infectious of these beats, “We Work in Bars,” has such a strong chorus that it props up the song just a bit too long; the opposite is the case with much of the rest of “Well Done Europe,” London-based The Chap’s fourth album. It is good, certainly, but is it great? We’re saying no, and while its whimsical instrumentation and somewhat sordid lyrics can etch out a smile here and there, the final verdict is this: there just isn’t enough material here (sonically, lyrically) to pull you in and leave a lastingRead More →

By:
On:
In: _CD Reviews 2010, Album Reviews
With: 0 Comments

Herbie Hancock – “The Imagine Project”Herbie Hancock Records-out June 213 / 5 Herbie Hancock is a veritable jazz god. There is no overstatement on our part; “Maiden Voyage,” “Head Hunters,” “Takin’ Off,” “The Joni Letters”: there is no dearth of creativity in the man. His pinky could probably quash us with its wink. But on this latest effort, spangled with stars from diverse genres of music (Pink, Los Lobos, Dave Matthews), there’s a lack of challenge, and a bit of tameness has crept in. “Space Captain,” featuring Susan Tedeschi, feels a bit flat for Hancock and Tedeschi, and there is little interplay between them. ToRead More →

By:
On:
In: _CD Reviews 2010, Album Reviews
With: 0 Comments

Fol Chen – “Part II: The New December”Asthmatic Kitty-out June 223.5 / 5 While still listening to the opening two tracks of “Part II: The New December,” we should remind you that Highland Park, CA’s Fol Chen takes experimental/ electronic pop very literally. There doesn’t seem to be a note that isn’t a bit off-kilter, a chord or chorus that doesn’t drop you off in a slightly unusual place. That said, back to those first two tracks: “The Holograms” is a playful, energetic romp with a few twists and turns, while the following song “In Ruins,” is an absolute explosion of pure pop bliss. FolRead More →