Album Reviews – Page 74 – The Light Appears

Dum Dum Girls – Too True (2014)

Posted on February 23, 2014July 20, 2014 by Michael

At the tail end of Dum Dum Girls’ debut, I Will, there appeared a cover of the Sonny and Cher track “Baby Don’t Go”. In the hands of Dee Dee Penny, the mid tempo 60s pop nugget was turned into a yearning torch song. It is this sophistication that drives most of the new album, Too True. Opener, “Cult of Love” features a reverb drenched, spaghetti western guitar line. Elsewhere, a touch of The Divinyls infects the vocals of “In The Wake Of You” and a programmed drumbeat drives punchy rocker “Little Minx”.

A close touchstone to Too Truewould be Hole’s third album, Celebrity Skin. That was the point that Courtney Love left behind the post punk of earlier records and got more in touch with her inner Stevie Nicks and Carole King. Working with Richard Gottehrer and Sune Rose Wagner (The Raveonettes), Dee Dee forges a similar path on her third album. ““I’m reckless at night, I’m sorry for days” intones “Are You OK?” followed up by the album’s dreamy title track, “Too True”. Clocking in at almost exactly 30 minutes, Too True makes every minute count and easily lends itself to repeat listens.

8/10

Album Reviews

Warpaint – Warpaint (2014)

Posted on February 16, 2014July 20, 2014 by Michael

Back in 2010, LA band Warpaint were much buzzed about in the indie rock community. Their debut album landed them festival slots at Glastonbury, Coachella and Lollapalooza. This time around, veteran producer Flood (U2, Depeche Mode) handles the production for the all-female band’s self-titled sophomore effort.

Notably, the band wrote the songs together working them up from various jam sessions. This shows in first single “Love Is To Die” where the rhythm section locks in tightly, continuing a groove started with the aptly named “Intro” and “Keep It Healthy”. A 90s trip hop influence is all over the atmospheric “Feeling Alright”.

Most of Warpaint takes on a haunting quality (“Biggy” and “Hi”) but on “Disco//very” the hushed vocals are replaced with disco beats, a shouted chorus and a menacing bassline. Not sounding like anything else on the record, this really stands out. There is much to like on Warpaint, however, there are a handful of tracks that aren’t quite hypnotic or ethereal enough to be truly memorable which lessens the overall impact.

7/10

Review also found at UMFM.com

Album Reviews

Cults – Static (2013)

Posted on February 6, 2014July 20, 2014 by Michael

Back in October, New York duo Cults released Static, the follow-up to their 2011 self-title debut. Most articles at the time of Static’s release centred on the fact that it was formed in the midst of Madeline Frolin and Brian Oblivion’s break-up. A quick scan of song titles can attest to this – “Keep Your Head Up”, “I Can Hardly Make You Mine”, and “No Hope” are just a few examples.

While the reviews at the time were generally positive, the album seemed to get lost in the big fall release schedule. This is a shame as while not being a huge leap forward stylistically, the 60s influenced indie-pop is still intact, Static is a more consistent album than the debut. Both “I Can Hardly Make You Mine” and “Keep Your Head Up” bristle with energy with the latter being a stomping battle cry. “Always Forever” sees Frolin singing at the top of her vocal register to an updated early 60s beat whereas “We’ve Got It” recalls the sound of the swinging late 60s. While “Go Outside” will certainly be the song they are most known for, Static adds considerable punch to Cults’ (hopefully still) growing catalogue.

8/10

Album Reviews

The Cure – Seventeen Seconds (1980)

Posted on January 29, 2014July 20, 2014 by Michael

On virtually every vacation I take, a trip around the local used record stores is a must. I usually come out with 10+ discs that I may or may not listen to for quite awhile; often they are filling blank spots in the collection. A trip to Portland, Or last year was no different. It took exactly a year to finally get around to listening to the second album by The Cure, Seventeen Seconds. Sharing the same sparse minimalism as the debut, Three Imaginary Boys, Seventeen Seconds leaves behind some of that album’s punky roots and moves the band into its gothic phase.

“Play For Today” with the chorus, “and wait for something to happen” bears the most resemblance to what appeared on the debut. “In Your House” features an almost jangly guitar line that Johnny Marr would become famous for a few years later. The instrumental “Three” has a menacing vibe that sees the band moving in a new darker direction. Single “A Forest” adds a bass propulsion to the sound that makes it the standout track and “M” contains the most conventional alt rock sound on the album.

Through no fault of its own, Seventeen Seconds is not the record that the casual fan of The Cure would reach for, myself included. It’s good, very good in spots, but with so many other great albums by The Cure, this one will virtually always get lost in the shuffle outside of the most diehard of fans.

7.5/10

Album Reviews

Drinking Buddies OST (2013)

Posted on January 29, 2014July 20, 2014 by Michael

For the past several months, the movie Drinking Buddies has been on my “must see list”. When I finally saw it recently, I absolutely loved it! A slow moving yet utterly charming and funny movie. I next to never buy soundtracks, last one was Billy Elliot(!!), but I did for this one. Something about the music just fit perfectly with the whole feel of the movie. And what is the feel? Its summertime BBQs, nights at the lake, and weeknight drinking beers in half empty pubs.

Broken up into three parts, the soundtrack starts off with the high falsetto of Richard Swift’s “Lady Luck” followed by the upbeat indie rock of Cayucas and the 90s ska-like horns of Rubblebucket. The middle section is dominated by singer-songwriter (mostly) acoustic ballads, the centrepiece being the nine minute wonder “Soon It Will Be Fire” by Richard Youngs. Here We Go Magic appear late with the terrific “How Do I Know” before Canadians Plants and Animals close things out. If I had discovered this a few weeks ago, it surely would have been in my top ten of the year.

9/10

Review also found at UMFM