_CD Reviews 2013 (Page 12)

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – “II”Jagjaguwar-out Feb. 5 3 / 5 There’s a subdued simplicity about II, the second full-length from New Zealand trio Unknown Mortal Orchestra. A simple backbeat, half-hushed vocals, one guitar hook and a chorus; somehow all this suffices for “So Good at Being in Trouble,” a crazily simple track that can easily fly under the radar the first few listens. The chaps stamp this almost shy approach on each track, sort of an unconscious decision to hold back, ultra lo-fi, and this is their greatest asset as well as hindrance. It gives II the distinction of not trying to try, almost toRead More →

Adam Green and Binki Shapiro – Self-TitledRounder Records-out Jan. 292 / 5 The Civil Wars. Slow Club. The White Stripes (though they’re related). There are certain dynamics that come out in a guy-girl duo, whether you’re singing ballads or slashing rock, and on Mr. Green’s and Ms. Shapiro’s debut here, we’re just not getting that. We’re not saying they have to kiss or anything crazy like that, but there’s such tepid chemistry in their music together that we wonder if we’re missing something big here. We’re also going to fault Adam with some of that in particular: his unemotive baritone is frustratingly bland. Binki isn’tRead More →

Widowspeak – “Almanac”Captured Tracks-out Jan. 222 / 5 Rock and Roll duo Molly Hamilton and Robert Earl Thomas roll out their second album here, a dreamy-sounding, laid-back rocking affair. While they have a flair for awesome western-frontier enrobement (as evidenced by their cover), we’re not huge fans of their rocking and rolling here. The tracks have enough solid guitarwork to recommend that aspect, as on the opener “Perennials” and “The Dark Age,” but we have to fault the sweet lass on lackluster vocals; a Stevie Nicks she is not. She comes off dull instead of sparkly-dreamy, and her voice doesn’t pull us in, entice, makeRead More →

Trixie Whitley – “Fourth Corner”Strong Blood Records-out Jan. 293 / 5 The opener captivates us: “Irene,” a metallic, steam-engine of a track hits all the right notes that a power female vocalist should – passion, drive, soul. Belgium-born Whitley has a strong voice and presence on her debut solo, intimate, immediate, and capable, but we’re going to shy from giving it our full-on approval. Yes, she’s got pipes, and yes, she knows how to use them; yet, as good as her performances here, we feel she’s a bit too in control. These songs are here to showcase her vocals, which are composed of equal partsRead More →