It's been a while...quite a while. I have a few moments now that I am starting to fall into a routine here in the BIG city, so I thought I would take the time and write up on three of my favorite new albums, which I want to share with you all.
CD Review:
Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
A strong candidate for album of the year, the latest offering by the Glasgewian indie-pop group is...well Amazing! It has been on constant rotation on my iPod since I picked up the disc. I also picked up the 7" single of "French Navy" during Record Store Day. The entire disc from start to finish is exceptional, the vocals of Tracyanne Campbell are warm and inviting, her lyrics are filled with a sarcastic and ironic personality. I perhaps connect with the songs because of the pessimistic look at relationships Camera Obscura so delightfully sings about. This album is amazing, with songs that you will hum throughout the day and not be able to get out of your head. My Maudlin Career is a vital album to add to your collection - Buy it.
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
Described as chamber-pop, Grizzly Bear's album Yellow House was when I was introduced to the band. At first I couldn't help but think, what are these guys doing? In the world of indie music, where it is cool to play off key and for young, skinny guys to dress in the tightest jeans to showcase just how skinny they are, here is this band that has arranged their music to a beautiful collection of tracks and have obviously taken each note and lyric to heart. Veckatimest takes a slight turn from Yellow House and creates an album with a pop feel to it, but don't think indie-pop style or heaven forbid "Britney Spears" style pop. It creates a album that is easier to listen to any day of the week, where as Yellow House I only listen to on occasions when the mood is exactly right. Tracks like "Two Weeks" and "About Face" are just simply great tracks that have an incredible arrangement and stunning vocals. Buy It! You need this album, EVERYONE needs this album.
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
From the first track and carried through, this album makes you want to dance a little... maybe it's just me, but I can't help tap my foot along to the songs as listen. I imagine if I were walking around the city on the weekend and listening to this album, I would burst into sudden moments of dancing. The band is straight outta France, which is where a lot of great dancey indie-pop/rock styles come out of. What I love most about this album is it doesn't rely heavily on deep synth beats which a lot of albums have been in this genre of late. Thomas Mars the lead vocals has a voice that compliments the beats so perfectly. It is very hard to pick out any specific track that stands out above the rest. It is an album that should be listened to in it's entirety as the tracks just flow seamlessly into each other. I'm gonna make a bold statement and call this the album of the summer Buy it and play it at BBQs.
Music I Don't Like:
I like a lot of music and most of what I review is positive, so it may be hard to imagine that there is anything I won't listen to. However, there are certain artists that get a lot of attention and hyped, yet I just can't get into them and don't really have too many good things to say regarding them. Leading the charge this year is Asher Roth. He has been getting a ton of hype and admittedly some bad press as well, he comes across arrogant in his interviews, which given the fact that he is a white rapper, he kinda has to. But I just don't feel he's strong and lyrically nothing I have listened to has impressed me.
Music I Want:
Warp Records is releasing a 20th anniversary box set and it looks AMAZING! This is one of the box sets I would like!
The Pixies is also releasing a box set and is also looks AMAZING!
These are two box sets I would love to have added to my collection, if any kind souls out there feel like getting me a kick ass present, feel free, I won't complain. Both of these box sets can be viewed in all their awesomeness at pitchfork.com.
Living in Toronto:
So many stories to tell of the odd things I have seen in the city, from guys dress in completely lilac suits with matching pimp cane...that's right a matching lilac coloured pimp cane. Girls in leather vests with fur shoulder pads. And neighbours who have great taste in music who asked me to crank the Black Keys on vinyl so they could chill out in the courtyard and smoke.
I hope I can get back on track with some regular updates, but I make no promises. If any of the readers have heard anything great lately, let me know.
Till next time.
--Dave
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