About a year ago I reviewed “This Happening,” an EP. Now I finally get the full length. Three tracks stand out. The first one is “Shadow.” The guitar is your standard indie rock fare that sounds good when you see the band live. It is sort of weird that the song ends in a fade, though, because usually strong guitar songs have rockin’ finishes.
The fuzzy guitar in “Hate Smile” takes me back to the mid-’90s. I hope it does for you, too. Even though it’s an all-female band, this track has me thinking of the male-dominated Catherine Wheel. The acoustic guitar at the end wraps it all up like a Christmas present, one I wouldn’t return even if it were bought on Zappos.
The other track I really like is “Sun Tsunami.” It also features that super-fuzzy guitar that increasingly is defining Is/Is’s sound. And to that, I say “Huzzah.”
Archive for the ‘KSCU’ Category
Is/Is “III”
May 20, 2012The Polyphonic Spree “What Would You Do?”
May 20, 2012It’s just the single. But it’s fun indie rock and exactly what you would expect from them. If you’ve been waiting for something new of theirs play, your wait is over. If you’ve never listened to the band before, there’s been no better time to get to know them.
Spiritualized “Sweet Heart Sweet Light”
May 20, 2012The title is in the chorus of “Hey Jane,” which is a good song in its own right, even if it is nearly nine minutes long. Long tracks are nothing new for Spiritualized. I first saw them when they opened for Siouxsie and the Banshees. That’s how long ago it was. And now Spiritualized are old. I guess, unfortunately, it also means that I am old.
“Get What You Deserve” is another good track. But I especially like “Headin’ for the Top Now.” This song has everything, although it does take more than eight minutes to deliver that everything.
A bit of a gospel feel is evident in “I Am What I Am.” It’s honestly hard not to sing along with this one. The other song I like is “Life Is a Problem.” The harmonica at the beginning sets the tone for a brooding ballad that reminds me musically of Lisa Germano.
Spiritualized have come a long way, baby. Their sound is still downtempo, but it is much more lush than their early years. It’s always nice to see a band evolve.
Battles “Dross Glop”
May 20, 2012It seems to be some sort of remix album of “Gloss Drop.” “Bundt cake” is still the best spoonerism out there, but if you like Battles and you like remixes, this is the record for you. Each track is done by someone different, so really just pick out the original Battles song you liked best the first time around or pick the DJ you like the best this time around. And of course, with Tyondai Braxton gone, there are no lyrics on most of these tracks.
Beyond all that, I did prefer some tracks over others. “Wall Street” gets the Gui Boratto treatment, and his effort here will please Daft Punk fans. Alchemist remixes “Futura,” and the result is a DJ Shadow-like track. It is definitely one of the trippier numbers on here.
Fans of early-2000s house will like Kode9’s remix of “Africastle.” I have to think that Kangding Ray’s rendition of “Toddler” was trancelike because all of a sudden it was done.
“Ice Cream” is downright whimsical after Gang Gang Dance get their hands on it. The other track I like is “My Machines.” Patrick Mahoney and Dennis McNany Irish up that coffee quite a bit, if you know what I mean. It makes me think of Thompson Twins.
A real treat for Battles fans, but otherwise, it’s just a bunch of remixes of a bunch of songs that didn’t have a lot of vocals to begin with. I guess that’s why it’s called “experimental.”
Erasure “Fill Us With Fire EP”
May 20, 2012I can tell I’m old because when I see Erasure put out an eight-track record with three B-sides and a bunch of remixes, I immediately blurt out “maxi-single.” But no one calls them that anymore. And honestly I have trouble calling it an EP because it’s eight freakin’ tracks. But it sure isn’t an LP. Their promoters call it an EP, so it’s an EP. Fine.
Anyway, all the B-sides suck, which is a shame. “Fill Us With Fire” is much more like what I expect from Erasure, and all the remixes are good in their own little way.
Cock and Swan “Stash”
May 20, 2012For me it’s an honor to review this because someone else did their last album, and I played it a lot. I find it funny that iTunes calls this Electronica, though. Their sound hasn’t changed a bit. The first track, “Sneak Close,” provides more Softies-like experiences, even if a little less playful.
Slightly noisier is “Raging Chisel.” The vocals are mixed a little low, but otherwise this one is pretty good. Stereolab fans will like “Happy Thoughts” even if there’s no dominating synths to speak of. Maybe next time.
“Unrecognized” is a good title. I’ve never heard this before. It’s slightly plodding but still enjoyable. Similarly, “Remember Sweet” has a steady beat that keeps you going longer than you might think.
The last track is “Walking Up Dandelions.” It has a really long intro but otherwise sends the listener off with a thorough understanding of the Cock and Swan sound. Nothing too innovative on this record as a whole, but then no one is really expecting that, either.
Sarah Jaffe “The Body Wins”
May 20, 2012This is my third Sarah Jaffe review. I’ve become a bigger fan over the years. (I checked. It’s been years.) She continues to treat music as a way to make her voice better, rather than something that gets in the way.
The title track is a bit more upbeat than I’m used to, but really, it’s about time. Even Space Ghost would agree that it’s a peppy rhythm. “Mannequin Woman” is outstanding. Again, the instrumentation shows that Jaffe is with it, and it’s so thoughtful. Ellie Goulding better watch out.
If you want something that sounds more like Jaffe’s traditional sound, “The Way Sound Leaves a Room” shows she still remembers. “Hooray for Love” sounds like Portishead with more strings.
The faster pace comes back for “Sucker for Your Marketing,” which sets high expectations with its title but is otherwise mediocre. The last track is “When You Rest” and reminds me of some Sinead O’Connor melodies I can’t quite place. The strings throughout this record help make this Jaffe’s best effort yet.
The Dumb Easies “Love! Love! Love!”
May 20, 2012Fun power-pop with a male lead and female backing vocals. Inspired by Glee, perhaps, this has a lot of the ’80s rock sound to it, mixed with bits of doo wop and Grease. “Go Go Go” sets me up for a joke about good music coming in threes, but I’ll pass. This track is more of a power-pop anthem that doesn’t rely on guitar wanking or ’60s inspiration. It reminds me of Imperial Teen.
The lead singer sounds a bit like Joey Ramone on “Bobby’s Song.” This track is well-balanced. If you want something a little heavier, give “Testify” a shot. It’s a little bit metal, at least relative to the rest of the tracks.
The last track is “Fading Away.” It has hand claps and is an all-around good time. In general the more rocking tracks are better, but there are other options available if you like the C-86 sound, or just girl-group harmonies, even if it is mostly a dude singing.
The New Kinetics “Contact”
April 29, 2012Time for some straight-up indie rock a la old Yeah Yeah Yeahs, with a bit of a rockabilly edge. Tracks such as “Riffle Raff” must sound great live, perhaps with an onstage guest like Neko Case.
“Wind Me Up, Hear Me Sing” features Brian singing, and it makes me think of some old Bob Dylan, although his vocals are certainly clearer. “Cha-Cha” focuses on Birdy’s vocals again, and the result is fantastic.
A slower track can be found on “Polly Pocket.” It’s good as well, but the faster tracks are definitely the winners here.
Lux “We Are Not the Same”
April 29, 2012This is what I’m talking about. When I hear songs such as “The Window” I am reminded that you can have synths and other fun programming, a la Book of Love, without anyone getting hurt. The backing vocals in the chorus are ethereal and can’t help but put a smile on your face.
“Little Cripple” may not have the most politically correct name, but the accompaniment has enough of a gothic edge to it that it makes me want to dance around a room with my hands behind my back.
If you want something more trance-like, “Cachexia” is more than a cereal served at Coachella. This one could end up on a movie soundtrack. I think of Cocteau Twins when I hear “1000 Airwaves,” specifically “Cherry Coloured Funk.”
The last track is “Blackout” and, after nearly three minutes of silence, really sends you off in a good way. It’s hard to believe this pair has only been collaborating for two years. Hopefully they will stick together for many, many more.
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