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The National – “High Violet”4ad Records-out May 113 / 5 This is a tough cookie for us at the blog: following their breakout 2007 album “Boxer,” the Brooklyn, NY band release their fifth album to anxious indie crowds. The verdict is… well, we’ll get to that in a bit. Here’s what we hear, though: droning, monotone vocal range, excellent backing instrumentals, and similar-sounding, monochromatic songs. Their music is an acquired taste, one that we don’t have yet, and while we don’t want to write off The National, the first 3/4s just don’t pull you in. What we do appreciate is the explosion of sound andRead More →

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The New Pornographers – “Together”Matador– out today!4 / 5 The first thing to notice on the fifth album by Vancouver’s New Pornographers is the heavy, deep cello and guitar providing the opening bassline to what is, for many, a highly anticipated return. To judge that this particular release is more “Together” as the name suggests, is to overlook the groups already gorgeous sense of balance and musical coherence; in fact, “Together” is just slightly less so than their previous (and wonderful) album “Challengers.” While that cello provides satisfying contrast on “Crash Years,” it seems slightly overbalanced on that opener “Moves,” and on “Your Hands (Together),”earningRead More →

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Minus the Bear – “Omni”Dangerbird– out May 4th3.5 / 5 So the electronic instruments tend to be heavy-handed; that’s not a huge problem for Seattle-based pop band Minus the Bear. Their latest is chock-a-block with singable lyrics and choruses that would please even the toughest of Motion City Soundtrack and Owl City fans. Blasting immediately into the opener “My Time,” MtB right away hooks you up with their strongest song concepts. This album feels fresh and fun, strongly edited, polished, and sonically different enough for an album that is generally satisfying on most levels. What holds us back is a somewhat cluttered feeling coming fromRead More →

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Chain Gang of 1974 – “White Guts”Golden Gold-out April 274 / 5 The pure, blissful retro glee of the opener “STOP!” rides this Denver-based funk- contraption of club music all the way through. Chain Gang’s debut album is, in one word, hypodiscofunkatelikinetic; meaning, its pure drive and energy are enough to fuel several rocket ships and put you on the moon. We’re not going to lie and tell you these are the deepest of songs, lyrics that’ll get you wondering about life, the universe, and everything (to quip Douglas Adams), but Chain Ganger Kamtin Mohager knows the crowd he’s playing to, and those who appreciateRead More →