Album Reviews – Page 85 – The Light Appears

Grimes – Visions (2012)

Posted on April 2, 2012July 20, 2014 by Michael

In the past year, Claire Boucher, better known as Grimes has been a busy woman. The Vancouver native, now living in Montreal, has released 3 albums as well as a split 12” with D’eon and toured with Lykke Li. Grimes latest release is Visions and is also her first on legendary label 4AD (Grimes remains on the Arbutus Record label in Canada).

Already making waves across the internet, Visions is absolutely stunning and one that is not easily comparable to other artists. In spots Grimes sounds like a lighter, poppier version of Crystal Castles with a dose of Austra thrown in for good measure. The upbeat “Circumambient” is one remix away from being club ready as is “Be a Body” with its slashing keyboard lines. Visions really shines on tracks such as the Japanese sounding “Genesis”, the haunting echoed vocal effected “Nightmare” and first single “Oblivion” with its buried lyric – “it’s hard to understand cause when you’re really by yourself it’s hard to find someone to really hold your hand”.

The hype surrounding Grimes coming into this year was well justified. Visions is one of the first great albums of the year and sure to hold up as one of the best of 2012.

9/10

Grimes – Oblivion

Album Reviews

Seeker Lover Keeper – S/T (2011)

Posted on March 26, 2012July 20, 2014 by Michael

Over at Earshot-Online.com we have a new review up for Seeker Lover Keeper‘s self titled debut that was released in North America a few months ago. With several great tracks, the album also contains one of the better songs we’ve heard in the past while, “Even Though I’m a Woman”…

Album Reviews

Sleigh Bells – Reign of Terror (2012)

Posted on March 24, 2012July 20, 2014 by Michael

Bringing the noise in 2010, Sleigh Bells released their debut Treats which was generally well received by the cool kids. Fuzzed up guitars from Derek Miller, cheerleader vocals from Alexis Krauss and drums like machine guns – the first album hit the mark more often than not. The single “Rill Rill” still remains very high on TLA’s iPod most played playlist.

Coming from the hipster enclave of Brooklyn, it would have been very easy for Sleigh Bells to have released one good album, one terrible one then quietly slipped into oblivion. Instead, they avoid the sophomore jinx with Reign of Terror featuring songs titles that read straight out of a hair metal band’s greatest hits catalogue – “Born to Lose”, “Road to Hell”, “D.O.A”, etc.

ROT starts off right where Treats left off, with “True Shred Guitar” and never has a title been more apt. Much guitar riffing while Alexis shout outs the title. The aforementioned “Born to Lose” as well as “Crush” are more of the same. The album really gets going with “End of the Line” which just may end up being one of the tracks of the year. Slower than the normal clattering Sleigh Bells track, an insistent high-hat propels the song forward with the lyrics being the standout – “Can you hear me, can you see me? Well this is the end of the line so goodbye” In amongst the fuzz, later tracks like “Road to Hell” and “You Lost Me” continue this ‘softer’ sound.

While Reign of Terror follows the template laid down by Treats, Sleigh Bells are able to expand their sound and continue to move forward. ROT may not win many new fans but those that tag along with SB will be duly rewarded with a slightly flawed but very worthy follow-up.

8/10

Sleigh Bells – End of the Line