Album Reviews (Page 54)

The Chap – “Well Done Europe”Lo Recordings -out now3 / 5 The most infectious of these beats, “We Work in Bars,” has such a strong chorus that it props up the song just a bit too long; the opposite is the case with much of the rest of “Well Done Europe,” London-based The Chap’s fourth album. It is good, certainly, but is it great? We’re saying no, and while its whimsical instrumentation and somewhat sordid lyrics can etch out a smile here and there, the final verdict is this: there just isn’t enough material here (sonically, lyrically) to pull you in and leave a lastingRead More →

Herbie Hancock – “The Imagine Project”Herbie Hancock Records-out June 213 / 5 Herbie Hancock is a veritable jazz god. There is no overstatement on our part; “Maiden Voyage,” “Head Hunters,” “Takin’ Off,” “The Joni Letters”: there is no dearth of creativity in the man. His pinky could probably quash us with its wink. But on this latest effort, spangled with stars from diverse genres of music (Pink, Los Lobos, Dave Matthews), there’s a lack of challenge, and a bit of tameness has crept in. “Space Captain,” featuring Susan Tedeschi, feels a bit flat for Hancock and Tedeschi, and there is little interplay between them. ToRead More →

Fol Chen – “Part II: The New December”Asthmatic Kitty-out June 223.5 / 5 While still listening to the opening two tracks of “Part II: The New December,” we should remind you that Highland Park, CA’s Fol Chen takes experimental/ electronic pop very literally. There doesn’t seem to be a note that isn’t a bit off-kilter, a chord or chorus that doesn’t drop you off in a slightly unusual place. That said, back to those first two tracks: “The Holograms” is a playful, energetic romp with a few twists and turns, while the following song “In Ruins,” is an absolute explosion of pure pop bliss. FolRead More →

Pernice Brothers – “Goodbye, Killer”Ashmont Records-out June 153 / 5 We want to like the Pernice Brothers, from Dorchester, MA, and there is something to like here. The sixth studio album is enjoyable, standard fare indie-rock not unlike Jim O’Rourke’s solo work (“Insignificance” in particular), with drums, electric guitar and vocals. In this setup, everything’s based on the quality of songwriting and lyrics, and at least the lyrics are pretty good. Listening to this album again, though, it’s hard to say what reactions Joe and Bob Pernice are trying to evoke from their audience; while good, the lyrics don’t strike any special chords, and severalRead More →