Portugal. The Man – “In the Mountain, In the Cloud”Atlantic-out now4 / 5 We’re big fans of Portland, OR’s P.TM. Remember the sweet hooks and 60’s choruses of 2009’s The Satanic Satanist? Thankfully, they’re back for In the Mountain, In the Cloud. Their sixth album in as many years (yes, it’s a crazy number of releases) returns the rock/pop band to what we feel is their true element: polished, straightforward psychedelia replete with harmonies, highs and lows, and strange-ass lyrics. While we feel lyrically this album is a shade off of par with Satanist, fans of Portugal will find them musically in high form, especiallyRead More →

St. Vincent – “Strange Mercy”4ad Records-out today4.5 / 5 We’re not going to say that “Strange Mercy” is a whole step up from 2009’s “Actor.” We’re also not going to say St. Vincent is a modern female Brian Eno. But what we will say is, this album rocks, in the bizarre, angular-electronic way that Annie Clark is getting known for. Add to that a pop sensibility, and you get the knock-out single “Cruel,” which, if you could comprehend the strange lyrics, would make you sing along soulfully. The heart of this album is that it doesn’t rest after that second track, and that Miss VincentRead More →

Disco Biscuits – “Otherwise Law Abiding Citizens”Diamond Riggs-out now2 / 5 We appreciate dance music of all types, colors, beats, etc. But when it comes to this latest from the Philly, PA dance/trance group, we find these Biscuits need some sweeter jam. Their nine extended tracks here do fit the trance train, and certainly jam a bit, but these beats don’t capture, they don’t pound and soar like they should from an otherwise tight quartet. What’s on this album is repetitive, not particularly engaging beyond the first couple plays, and not terribly dynamic enough to stick with you (or us, for that matter). The vocalsRead More →

The Wandas – Self-TitledTFMRA-out tomorrow2.5 / 5 We like “Do or Die.” We enjoy “Forever and Ever.” And, if we were to liken their sound to anyone, it might strangely come close to Wilco’s “Summer Teeth;” an alt-country feel, Tweedy-ish tone to the vocals, light and poppy (which is a good thing). But, ultimately, we’re going to draw the line in the sand and say, unfortunately, The Wandas’ self-titled release isn’t our bread-and-butter. Why not, you may ask? Ask away: because, unlike “Summer Teeth,” these songs are tragically straightforward, lacking the interesting lyricism or sonic departures that made Wilco a groundbreaking band. And, while TheRead More →