New Music Roundup, 1/29/13

Tegan and Sara - Heartthrob

I'll get the suspense out of the way: I love this album.  Lead single and album opener "Closer" is probably the best song on here, but what a song it is: a bouncy peppy song that makes you want to jump up and down and shout out the chorus at the top of your lungs, never mind who may be in earshot.  It taps into a vein that is pop music at my most favorite.

The remainder of the album is in a similar style, never straying too far from the catchy accessible pop path.  Oh, and synthesizers; there are a lot of synthesizers on a few of the songs.  Despite their presence, few of the songs seem overly 80's-ish, and even the ones that do still have very strong choruses to anchor them.

Anyway, I recommend everyone listen to this album.  Hopefully this represents a mainstream breakthrough for the band: I could see something like seven or eight of the ten songs receiving radio airplay, and really, there isn't a whole lot of sonic difference between this album and some of the acts currently dominating the top 40 (Ke$ha's latest in particular, which shares a producer with this album).  I hope the album doesn't get pigeonholed as indie; it is pop through and through, and a heck of a lot better than a lot of recent pop releases.

Selections
Closer

I'm Not Your Hero

Drove Me Wild

How Come You Don't Want Me
Tegan And Sara – How Come You Don't Want Me




Local Natives - Hummingbird

I'm not really sure how to describe the Local Natives' sound.  Maybe chamber pop?  At least chamber pop has the added benefit of being a genre of music no one can really define.  Anyway, their first album, released in 2010, was probably what would have been considered stereotypical indie, but the two things that set it apart were varied, almost tribal percussion and an infectious sense of energy.

Their follow-up Hummingbird definitely retains the sunny harmonies and driving percussion of their debut.  I'm not as sure it has all the infectious energy; the vibe here seems to be towards a sound that is simultaneously bigger and yet more introspective.  In some ways, the album reminds me of the Fleet Foxes, but with more ostentatious drumming.  The drumming does allow the band to build several of their songs to crescendos, so maybe a better comparison would be The National, and not coincidentally, this album is produced by National guitarist Aaron Dessner.  Though not nearly as morose as The National can be, both bands have an interesting contrast between the subdued nature of their harmonies and the power and attention given to their drummer.

Anyway, this is an interesting album from an indie band with a lot of potential.  It's probably going to take multiple more listens before I can really judge the album fully, but it is worth checking out.

Selections
Ceilings

Breakers

Mt. Washington

Singles Section

Gin Wigmore - "Man Like That"

I'm a big fan of this song, and I can't wait until this young New Zealand singer releases her next album in the US (the album this was on was apparently released in New Zealand in 2011, but I have been unable to find a US release date).  I'm struggling to define the groove on this song as either big band, shitkicker country, or jazz, but it definitely is insanely catchy.  Her voice and persona also appear to bear at least a passing resemblance to Amy Winehouse, and the whole thing was produced by Butch Walker (he of "Synthesizers" fame and starting to appear to be something of a pop genius).  This is just a fun song.

Gold Fields - "Dark Again"

This Australian electro pop group's album is supposed to be released in America in about a month, but until then this song will have to tide us over.  Driving electro pop with Peter Gabriel influences (which isn't a bad thing: see bands like Tanlines and M83), this song is plenty catchy.

The Strokes - "One Way Trigger"

I'm not really sure what to think about this one, but I'll at least give The Strokes credit for surprising me.  Julian Casablancas singing in a falsetto over a cheesy synth line that recalls A-Ha?  I did not predict that.  One encouraging thing about this song that will hopefully translate to the entire album: the band displays a heck of a lot more energy here than they did on all of their lethargic last album.