Album Review: How To Be A Human Being, Glass Animals

Forget pineapples, this album is in my head and has been since it was released August 26th of last year. The idea for Glass Animals' sophomore album, How to be a Human Being, began with stories frontman Dave Bayley had heard as the band toured around the world.

In an article on creativereview.co.uk, Bayley tells of how he would record tales people would tell him. "I sat back and listened to all of these stories and started thinking about the way that people tell stories and what that means about them as people; what they might have embellished, what they might have left out and what that says about their life." And thus, How to be a Human Being was born.

Mothers, stoners, young boys being seduced by older women--Glass Animals have given everyone a voice. The songs themselves reflect whoever is telling the story. "Season 2 Episode 3" sounds like a video game, with quirky sound effects accenting the other instruments, whereas "The Other Side of Paradise" conveys the heartbreak and bitterness of a girl who was left by her star basketball player boyfriend.

Though 11 stories are being told, they come together to create this unique album that shows just what it means to be a human being.

Rating: 8/10

Favorite tunes: "Season 2 Episode 3", "Take a Slice"

Album Review: Young Chasers, Circa Waves

Circa Waves' debut album, Young Chasers, is a great album to put on this time of year to beat the winter blues. Each of the 14 tracks could become part of your next summer soundtrack, with beachy vibes that make you think of the sun and waves.

The album starts off fast paced. The second track, "T-Shirt Weather", is sure to become the anthem of your summer after just one listen. Things begin to mellow out a bit with "My Love" and "Deserve This", but pick right back up with the title track "Young Chasers".

"Lost It" and "Good for Me" specifically remind me of Wavves and early Best Coast, so if you're a fan, give this album a spin.

The album has a good flow overall, up until the end. "Talking Out Loud" would be a better closer simply for the fact that it has an air of finality about it. Because of this, "100 Strangers" feels more like a bonus track and disrupts the flow of the album. As a whole, the album shows a promising start for Circa Waves. Let's wait and see what the future holds for them.

Rating: 6/10

Favorite tunes: "Stuck in my Teeth", "Fossils"