The Computers - Love Triangles, Hate Squares
I find this album insanely fun. The Computers are a British band of Black Flag fans who have managed to infuse their punk music with rockabilly, 60's doo-wop, and other oldies sounds, all led by a lead singer who sounds more than a little bit like Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump attempting an Elvis Costello impression. That's a lot to digest there, so I'll say that the band's final product ultimately reminds me of the Hives: they rock bombastically, but it's always in service to a bouncy beat and a catchy chorus. This album is highly recommended.
Selections:
Love Triangles, Hate Squares
The Computers – Mr. Saturday Night
C.R.U.E.L.
The Computers – C R U E L
Disco Sucks
Laura Stevenson - Wheel
Laura Stevenson is a sweet-voiced singer-songwriter from Long Island, and Wheel is her third album, albeit the first one I've heard. After hearing album opener "Renee," I thought I had more or less had Stevenson pegged: she was just another indie-folk act, featuring songs with heartfelt vocals over acoustic guitars with a country-ish tinge. None of that is necessarily bad, but it is something I've heard from many other acts in the past few years. Think of someone like Sharon Van Etten or Kelly Hogan.
Still, I decided I'd give the whole album a shot, and I have to say I am very glad that I did, as it didn't take more than ten seconds into the album's next track to realize that Stevenson and her backup band Cans rock a hell of a lot harder than I had initially expected. In fact, it's this combination of heart-on-sleeve Americana and straightahead rock that make listening to Wheel unique. At first I was thinking I was getting a Bright Eyes record, but this is far more in the Alabama Shakes vein.
Selections
Runner
Laura Stevenson – The Hole
!!! - Thr!!!er
I'm not sure there's much to say about this album, beyond noting that it's plenty groove-heavy and likely to be a lot of fun for people who enjoy dance-rock. This is almost certainly the most consistent album !!! has ever made.
Selections
One Girl / One Boy
!!! – Careful
Youngblood Hawke - Wake Up
This band is very good at doing what it does, but what it does may ultimately prove too syrupy sweet for some folks' tastes. You've probably already heard lead single "We Come Running," which was released over half a year ago and has received a decent amount of radio airplay. That song serves as the sonic blueprint for Wake Up, but it is far from the only effective song. The whole album features numerous modern alternative "indie" type songs with a decent amount of synthesizers and soaring singalong choruses, all presented completely and totally unironically (think Imagine Dragons). For those who like the style, it's fairly impressive how consistent Youngblood Hawke manage to be throughout the album. For those who find the style played out, well... there are plenty of other albums this week for you.
Selections
Rootless
The Airborne Toxic Event - Such Hot Blood
On some level I just kinda dig The Airborne Toxic Event. I know that's not a particularly cool position to take, but there it is. This album doesn't present a new direction for the band: they're still at their best when lead singer Mikel Jollett is singing in an overwrought manner and the guitars go all the way up to the rafters. If anything, this album is a slight step down in scope from their previous album, but that's more a statement about that album's excess than anything about this one.
Selections
Timeless
The Fifth Day
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