Album Reviews (Page 50)

Analog Moon – Ascent and the Secret There BelowCircuit Rider Productions-out now!3.5 / 5 With a little twang of country does Asheville, NC’s Analog Moon release their second full-length. On “Ascent and the Secret There Below,” pop is ultimately the flavor of the day, especially on “Soda City,” replete with falsetto in the chorus and a great, driving beat. The self-described “band of ideas” has good ones throughout, and has obviously taken time and care to hone them down. The moments of weakness are when the whetstone of editing (how’s that for a metaphor?) has ground down a little too far, and not left enoughRead More →

Liz Janes – Say GoodbyeAsthmatic Kitty-out now!2.5 / 5 Liz Janes can be cool, Liz Janes can be smooth. But on Liz Janes’ “Say Goodbye,” her latest release in five years, she comes off slight and under- whelming. While the opener, “I Don’t Believe,” sways sexily with Rhodes and percussion (and we do adore that), much of the album comes off too pretty and music-box-y. “Bitty Thing” and Time and Space” fall into this description almost intentionally, with glockenspiel and whispery voices making the track a bit too saccharine. What makes that opening track so strong is the depth of personality it has, striking aRead More →

Linfinity – “Martian’s Bloom”American Myth-out now!3.5 / 5 Dylan von Wagner’s vocals haunt like Duncan’s ghost on the sophomore release by New York quintet Linfinity. Spinning up this mixture of somber rock via David Byrne, we’re reminded of the strong vocal presence of the National’s and Shearwater’s lead vocalists. There is no denying that it’s Wagner’s voice, take it or leave it, that supports Linfinity’s efforts, but credit should be given to such tracks as “Choo Choo Train to Venice,” which rocks like an iconoclastic surf-influenced punk, and “MSG,” which feels inspired by the Talking Heads. While, lyrically, “Martian’s Bloom” doesn’t grip as tightly asRead More →