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Fleet Foxes – “Helplessness Blues”Sub Pop -out May 34.5 / 5 As one of the most anticipated albums of the (indie) year, the Fleet Foxes have their work cut out for them. Having delayed the release of Helplessness Blues since announcing the sophomore album last year, critics and fans alike have been wondering: is this second release going to be as brilliant and polished pop-perfect as their self-titled debut? The answer to that question, is this: Helplessness Blues is good. Quite good. Rife with their celestial male harmonies (which are most of the show) and clean, classic guitar, Helplessness Blues will repay fans itching forRead More →

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Al Di Meola – “Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody”Telarc-out now3 / 5 When judging a record by such a technically renowned master of the fusion guitar as Mr. Di Meola, there are a few difficult things to consider: technical prowess, the crafting of the songs, and how they match up to past accomplishments. Ultimately, we want to tell you whether to put your money on this CD or another. That first one, technical prowess, is no issue here: Di Meola is as fine as he’s ever been, and has definitely retained his delicate touch. The songs, though, lack a bit of that je ne sais quoiRead More →

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Tin Can Radio – “Chase the Sun, Hold the Night”Self- Released-out now 3.5 / 5 If there’s one thing that can be said about the debut album from Aussie rock group Tin Can Radio, it’s this: poppy. But in this case, saying one thing isn’t enough: “Chase the Sun, Hold the Night” is energetic, fun, and contains some varied, really well-constructed music. The kind of music that surprises, just catches you off-guard. “A Deafening Silence” is a perfect example of this, opening like a light pop act before breaking into thrumming guitars and punked-up dancy vocals. What these guys do best, in order, is 1.Read More →

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Panda Bear – “Tomboy”Paw Tracks-out tomorrow4 / 5 It’s here. It’s finally here. After Animal Collective’s incredible Merriweather Post Pavilion, the much awaited solo album from AC frontmant Panda Bear (aka Noah Lennox) has finally come to the masses. If you’ve kept up with the creation of Tomboy, the tracks here have been released on separate singles, though this LP offers different versions of the tracks. First impression: this is going to take some getting used to. Just like MPP, the denseness of this album is something of an acquired taste, and P Bear doesn’t give much ground. Around listen 3-4 is when you finallyRead More →