Spoon's ninth studio album, Hot Thoughts, was released March 17th. I was initially excited to listen--their eighth album, They Want My Soul, is in my top 3 favorite albums by Spoon. Maybe it set the bar too high for Hot Thoughts, but as a whole this album doesn't cut it for me.
The title track, "Hot Thoughts", is a catchy and chill tune that blends seamlessly into the second track, "WhisperI'lllistentohearit". There's a definite tonal shift into "Pink Up", the nearly six-minute long song (that feels a bit too repetitive overall). However, the group switches back into an indie-pop feel with "Can I Sit Next to You". The last song, "Us", ends the album on the same tone as "Pink Up", and even mimics the same beat.
In a way, Hot Thoughts reminds me of The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour, with instrumentals mixed in among catchy-yet-trippy piano accented songs. I hear this specifically while listening to "Tear it Down", "Us", and "Pink Up".
Hot Thoughts isn't bad, per say. Simply put, it feels lackluster compared to the past albums Spoon has released. The songs sound too similar, and after a while I started getting bored listening to it. This one ain't the one for me.
Rating: 6/10
Favorite tunes: "Shotgun", "Do I Have to Talk You Into It"
Monday, March 27, 2017
Monday, March 13, 2017
Album Review: Ripe Dreams, Pipe Dreams; Cameron Avery
My first experience seeing Cameron Avery live was hearing him play bass with the rest of Tame Impala back in June of 2015. Imagine my surprise to find this same man opening for The Last Shadow Puppets, presenting a completely different sound than the psychedelic band I'd seen the summer before. I wanted an album then and there, but it was well worth the wait.
Inspired by voices like Dean Martin and Etta James, Avery has given his songs that same vintage, crooner-esque feel. This album uses melodic notes and beautiful lyrics to tell stories of love, heartbreak, and lust. "A Time and Place" has a soft start to the album, while "C'est Toi" brings a sense of pure, whole love at the end. However, not every song sounds as romantic and smooth as these. "Dance With Me" has a vampy feel; it's a song you'd expect to hear being played in a dimly lit jazz club. "Whoever Said Gambling's For Suckers" sounds like it could be narrating a Tarantino film filled with blood, sex, and adventure.
The variety keeps listeners interested in the voices Avery has written. This album will make you feel like you're in a black and white film every time you put it on--why not give it a listen?
Rating: 7.5/10
Favorite tunes: "A Time and Place", "An Ever Jarring Moment"
Inspired by voices like Dean Martin and Etta James, Avery has given his songs that same vintage, crooner-esque feel. This album uses melodic notes and beautiful lyrics to tell stories of love, heartbreak, and lust. "A Time and Place" has a soft start to the album, while "C'est Toi" brings a sense of pure, whole love at the end. However, not every song sounds as romantic and smooth as these. "Dance With Me" has a vampy feel; it's a song you'd expect to hear being played in a dimly lit jazz club. "Whoever Said Gambling's For Suckers" sounds like it could be narrating a Tarantino film filled with blood, sex, and adventure.
The variety keeps listeners interested in the voices Avery has written. This album will make you feel like you're in a black and white film every time you put it on--why not give it a listen?
Rating: 7.5/10
Favorite tunes: "A Time and Place", "An Ever Jarring Moment"
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
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"
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"
Monday, January 9, 2017
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"
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"
Thursday, December 31, 2015
A List of my Favorite Albums of 2k15
I've seen a few of my other friends post lists like these, so I decided to take a stab at it myself. Here's a list of my favorite albums to come from 2015 (tentative order):
- Currents- Tame Impala
- To Pimp a Butterfly- Kendrick Lamar
- The Great Pretenders- Mini Mansions
- Glitterbug- The Wombats
- Blurryface- Twenty One Pilots
- Born Under Saturn- Django Django
- Another One- Mac Demarco
- Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit- Courtney Barnett
- Multi-Love- Unknown Mortal Orchestra
- Chaos and the Calm- James Bay
- How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful- Florence and the Machine
- Positive Songs for Negative People- Frank Turner
- Happy People- Peace
- COIN- COIN
- Caracal- Disclosure
Thursday, October 1, 2015
New Semester, New Tunes (As published in The Exponent 24 Sept 2015)
As students become swamped with classes and coursework, it
is important to keep up with ways to de-stress. Luckily, music is a way to
escape from everyday troubles and is readily available.
New
music is continually being released. To keep students up to date as well as
bring back some oldies-but-goldies, I've compiled a Spotify playlist to start
this semester off right:
1. “Multi-Love” by Unknown Mortal
Orchestra
The first song off of Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s latest album, Multi-Love draws listeners in right away with its blend of synth, bass and drums.
The first song off of Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s latest album, Multi-Love draws listeners in right away with its blend of synth, bass and drums.
2. “Hurricane” by MS MR
Lead singer Lizzy Plapinger’s vocals blend well with the band’s orchestrated accompaniment.
Lead singer Lizzy Plapinger’s vocals blend well with the band’s orchestrated accompaniment.
3.“The Moment” by Tame Impala
Vibe out with one of Kevin Parker’s latest concoctions, off of Tame Impala's third studio album Currents.
Vibe out with one of Kevin Parker’s latest concoctions, off of Tame Impala's third studio album Currents.
4. “Pity Party” by Melanie Martinez
Sampling an old tune, “It's My Party” by Leslie Gore, Martinez gives the old a new electronic twist.
Sampling an old tune, “It's My Party” by Leslie Gore, Martinez gives the old a new electronic twist.
5. “East of Eden” by Zella Day
Day hypnotizes audiences with her pop voice and a catchy beat in "East of Eden".
Day hypnotizes audiences with her pop voice and a catchy beat in "East of Eden".
6.“New Americana” by Halsey
At only 20 years old, Halsey has already shown the world the potential she has. "New Americana" is an anthem for our generation.
At only 20 years old, Halsey has already shown the world the potential she has. "New Americana" is an anthem for our generation.
7. “Lane Boy” by Twenty One Pilots
These fellow Ohioans have been at it again to create sick rap/pop blends that manage to strike a chord in listeners.
8. “Mountain at my Gates” by Foals
Melancholy guitar riffs paired with the smooth tone of Andrew Mears' voice create an emotional melody.
9. “Power Hungry” by Albert Hammond Jr.
Reminiscent of The Strokes’ older albums, Hammond Jr gets audiences grooving with captivating bass lines and melodic guitar riffs.
10. “Pedestrian at Best” by Courtney Barnett
A native Australian, Barnett gives audiences a garage-band feel similar to that of The White Stripes and St. Vincent.
11. “Headspace” by The Wombats
Off of their third studio album, this Liverpool band slows things down with a jam that almost sounds like it’s right out of the 80s.
12. “Reflections” by MisterWives
Lead singer Mandy Lee’s vocals are packed with energy—paired with the band’s accompaniment, this song is sure to have you grooving anywhere you go.
13. “Slow Motion Jeans” by The Modern Electric
A sweet, slower tempo song that'll have you swaying with that special someone.
14. “Crystals” by Of Monsters and Men
The band blends together the sounds of Arcade Fire and Florence + the Machine to create the perfect end-of-summer tune.
15. “Stuck in my Teeth” by Circa Waves
Circa Waves’ summery vibes will have you dancing no matter what weather we’re having.
16. “Street Fight” by Smallpools
This
up-tempo song will turn walking across campus into your own personal music
video.
17. “I Wanna Get Better” by Bleachers
You’ll want to sing along with this track—it’s the perfect tune to blast in your car when you’re done with classes.
Be sure
to tune in to 88.3 FM The Sting to hear some of the artists listed above. Follow
this playlist as well as a few more I've created here: https://play.spotify.com/user/gabychu223/playlist/5BrS7TFIlhtBv1ewivkYgW.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Album Review: Currents, Tame Impala
Yesterday, Tame Impala released their third studio album, Currents. Fans waited with anticipation since January, when the first single for this album was released. Was it worth the wait? In my eyes, yes; this album is a good follow up to 2012's Lonerism. It shows the band's progress with a synth-heavy sound, yet still has a good balance between upbeat and slower songs.
As evident by the title (and some song titles), this album is about changes. The title seems to be an ode to the ocean of music pushing and pulling them with currents. Opening with "Let It Happen", the nearly eight minute tune sets the tone for this album. Its use of Kevin Parker's vocals and drums give it an upbeat, funky tempo. All the songs flow well together, and even short songs like "Nangs" and "Gossip" act as good transitions and pull the album together as a whole. "New Person, Same Old Mistakes" has a bittersweet tone that closes the album well. The synth in this song is reminiscent of Mac DeMarco, yet is still uniquely Tame Impala.
Quite a few times I found myself headbobbing to songs, and I don't expect that to quit. Give it a listen when you get the chance and see how you like it yourself.
Rating: 8.9/10
Favorite tunes: "The Less I Know The Better", "Disciples"
As evident by the title (and some song titles), this album is about changes. The title seems to be an ode to the ocean of music pushing and pulling them with currents. Opening with "Let It Happen", the nearly eight minute tune sets the tone for this album. Its use of Kevin Parker's vocals and drums give it an upbeat, funky tempo. All the songs flow well together, and even short songs like "Nangs" and "Gossip" act as good transitions and pull the album together as a whole. "New Person, Same Old Mistakes" has a bittersweet tone that closes the album well. The synth in this song is reminiscent of Mac DeMarco, yet is still uniquely Tame Impala.
Quite a few times I found myself headbobbing to songs, and I don't expect that to quit. Give it a listen when you get the chance and see how you like it yourself.
Rating: 8.9/10
Favorite tunes: "The Less I Know The Better", "Disciples"
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