By Jon R. LaFollette
Japandroids - Celebration Rock
As heavy as they are nostalgic, this duo of Vancouver geek-punks still wouldn't know the definition of a sophomore slump even if it was the title of a Romantics record they most assuredly would use to gain inspiration from. Turns out they also don't know what a good hook is - or even how in the hell to craft one. So rather than give their hopelessly romantic songs about drunken nights run amok in the city, summertime sex with someone they certainly don't call anymore, or howling at the moon around bonfires any semblance of melody, they wrap it up in high octance doses of distortion, noise and echo, then shout in tune until the whole thing almost collapses under its own weight. After twelve rotations, I still can't tell you which song is which (except for the finale "Continuous Thunder") or if they even succeeded at making the best indie-rock version of Born to Run, but I know I felt something. Good thing feeling counts. Still, where were these guys when I needed them most in high school? Apparently living out this album. GRADE: A
Key Tracks:
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Americana
On Neil Young's first album with Crazy Horse since 1996, he cherry picks a handful of classic folk songs and gives them the rough and tumble treatment until they're so unvarnished you'd swear they were unearthed demos found in Woodie Guthrie's attic. The idea here is as simple as the music; revert these deciptively dark anthems to the forboding prophecies they were written as. "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain" is transformed from a kiddie jingle to a galloping ballad that his greatest fist-pumping tune since the era of Bush Sr., and "This Land is Your Land" is reinstated as the elegant protest song it always was. While at first I thought this record to be too obvious and even a tad redundant, it's unrelenting rock-n-thud approach and steadfast commitment to the source materials converted me to Young's religion of Dust Bowl Rock. GRADE: A-
Key Tracks:
Azealia Banks - 1991
A promisng debut EP comprised of four songs which may or may not be included on her upcoming mixtape / album, she's as quick-togued as Nicki, and smart enough to know that less is more. Where her Top 40 counterpart blows up the production to infinity, along with her grating schizo-voice shtick, Banks strips the beats until they're almost naked, but still retain their danceable, nimble nature, and weaves her indistinct voice through some of the more clever verses you'll hear this year. Best example? "212," a zig-zag of rhyme, including a near-perfect segment performed in her best uptown white girl voice (the high point of the record). GRADE: A-
Big K.R.I.T. - Live From the Underground
A slick, suave emcee from the greasy bowles of M.I.S.S.I.S.S.I.P.P.I., this propper debut album from Justin Scott follows a series of mixtapes which teased his love of sleepy soul samples and reminiscent rhymes. Where the first half finds him on the braggadocious, and more conventional side of things, the second finds him back in familiar territory, only with more fanfare - no way a B.B. King sample and an Anthony Hamilton guest spot happen without the help of his record company's buget. When he's introspective, thoughtful and sincere as he is on "Rich Dad Poor Dad," and "If I Fall," the best tracks to be had, he shows promise as one of hip-hop's rising young talents. The brag raps? He just sounds like a Ludacris knockoff (who makes an apperance on "What U Mean"). His boasting would be more effective if it were placed behind his better songs. The easy solution? Play this album backwards. GRADE: B+
Key Tracks:
A Place to Bury Strangers - Onwards to the Wall
Brief, uptempo and loud, yet also vague, droning and lyrically incomprehensible, this NYC bunch know the best way to avoid being an outright bummer: be propulsive. On this five-song EP, the drums motorize, the bass pummels and the guitars bite (when they aren't busy overwhelming your senses). The vocals? They echo and swirl around before they ultimately fall flat. But isn't that the point when your childhood idols were The Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine? To sound smart without ultimately saying anything? For those who claim an indifference to the shoegazing genre, simply crank the volume until the brittle distortions become tidal waves of sound. Congratulations, you've just transformed them into a rock band, which is what they were really going for in the first place. GRADE: B+
Key Tracks:
Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel...
The unyielding praise for this not-quite-good-enough-to-be-great record in the blogosphere is unfortunate if expected, but it's nothing I can hold against Miss Apple who simply delivers what her audience wants - hell, even deserves. Just her fourth album in 16 years, The Idler Wheel... is as challenging a listen as its itle is long (23 words). Almost every one of these 10 tracks is clunky, semi-dissonant, and stiff. Nothing unusual there. But listen closely, very closely if avant-garde isn't your thing, to the lyrics. Where she was once content to spit bile at any low life boy who dares cross her, here she's found a man worth staying with, flaws and all mind you. Then where is the conflict? In the power struggle between the two of them. While she might hope to steal a kiss on the train to Coney Island in "Jonathan," "Daredevil," the gnarliest track, finds her wishing she had never met him. Regardless of all the back and forth, Apple seems feisty and renewed by the finale "Hot Knife," where she proclaims "I'm a hot knife / he's a pad of butter." I still can't figure out if she's left the man she calls a werewolf in the song by the same name, or found a new relationship - what she calls an artistic endeavour. GRADE: B
Key Tracks:
"Werewolf"
"Jonathan"
Rye Rye - Go! Pop! Bang!
At 17 tracks, this Baltimore rapper's debut is too messy and too long to stick the way it should, and it doesn't help that the better songs (all featuring her mentor M.I.A. - who is on her N.E.E.T. label) have been floating online since 2009. It also doesn't help that she can't carry a song without the help of expensive guest stars (Robyn, Tyga and Akon). But I'll be damned if her microwavable pop appeal didn't have me humming against my will. GRADE: B-
Key Tracks:
"Never Will Be Mine" (R3hab Remx) feat. Robyn
"Sunshine" feat. M.I.A.
"Boom Boom" feat. M.I.A.
Honorable Mentions
Hot Chip - In Our Heads
Electro-nerds keep it cool. Too cool. GRADE: C+
Key Tracks:
Choice Cuts (Good songs from otherwise bad records)
Everclear - Invisible Stars
"Volcano"
Bobby Womack - The Bravest Man in the Universe
"Dayglo Reflection" - featuring Lana Del Ray
Exitmusic - Passage
The Flaming Lips - The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends
"I Don't Want to Die" - featuring Chris Martin
Dud(s) of the Month
Usher - Looking 4 Myself
This may seem trivial given the type of performer Usher is, but if he "Cares For U" so much, then why can't he spell it properly? Because he just wants to use U for a "Climax." I'd say I just helped the man find himself. Make the check out to U, as in Me. GRADE: C-
Key Track:
Justin Bieber - Believe
The best sex appeal money can buy paired with the lamest auto tune Top 40 craves. GRADE: D+
Key Track:
Dud List
The Beach Boys - That's Why God Made the Radio
Ty Segall Band - Slaughterhouse
The Hives - Lex Hives
Maroon 5 - Overexposed
The Tallest Man on Earth - There's No Leaving Now
Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania
Kenny Chesney - Welcome to the Fishbowl
Linkin Park - Living Things
Joe Walsh - Analog Man
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