Spoon | Transference

Spoon is considered to be one of the great late bloomers when it comes to popularity. The Austin Texas based band has a career that extends back 17 years, Spoon only gained the attention of the mainstream a few years ago with the album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Songs from that album could be heard in the background of everything from car commercials to movie soundtracks. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga really seemed to resonate on a wide scale and for good reason the album was a testament to years honing diverse musical chops.

But what of their follow up album, Transference? Sometimes the success of a previous album can overshadow any follow ups and between the two albums mentioned comparisons are inevitable. Just to get it out of the way Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is an energetic pop-centric riddled medley of lyrics, delivered with equal parts gusto and style; Transference is all that but darker in overall tone but the desired effect is achieved, the listener is left with a feeling of satisfaction. One thing the listener may notice is the near absence of horns in Transference, one of the more identifiable aspects of the Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga and its cuts. What you will be getting in Transference is singer Britt Daniel’s lyrics dripping with introspectiveness that would catch in the throat of most people finding themselves saying them without a melody attached.

Efterklang | Magic Chairs

Some bands lull you into a sense of comfort and joy while others stir the heart and mind. The Danish band Efterklang has done both with their third LP Magic Chairs. Perhaps it’s the horns or the orchestral sense of grandeur, but Magic Chairs offers the listener a complex set of tracks with nuances worth exploring. The strings remind one of Ra Ra Riot’s while the tone is more akin to friendly chamber pop. There is a certain bread of people who have a soft spot for all bands who incorporate even a little bit of a horns section into their music. Not too much but just enough to make it memorable, Efterklang’s new album does just that.

Bear In Heaven | Beast Rest Forth Mouth A Review

 Bear In Heaven a band whose origins stem from the southern states have come out with their second LP, Beast Rest Forth Mouth. Brooklyn seems to be drawing in the happy sort with psychedelic intentions on their musical minds. Silent League, another psychedelic styled band based out of Brooklyn NY. Their album But You’ve Always Been The Caretaker was a memorable note from late 09’. The same can and will be said about Beast Rest Forth Mouth, on the pop-ier side of the genre’s scale, this album manages to provide an upbeat yet understated experience for the listener. The tracks are textured throughout with a discreet distortion not unlike what The Big Pink did with their latest effort A Brief History Of Love. Overall, Bear In Heaven has produced a welcomed addition to the growing tome of Brooklyn based acts and we look forward to hearing more about them in the future.

Get Well Soon | Vexations Review

Indie pop can often be lost in the fog of over enthusiasm and dosed with a dreadful amount of pep. Get Well Soon may have a pop base but it’s hardly a one trick pony. Cantering from simplistic songs to more intricate ones from track to track this German band seems to take its cues from the likes of Fanfarlo or more famously, of a similar bread of band Arcade Fire. These bands seem to revel in the complexities of music, incorporating every instrument they can get their hands on into their music. With others bands who attempt the same, it’s not such a success. But in Vexations, the second album to come for Get Well Soon, the cacophony of noise makes for a pleasurable listen. The album itself has a cohesive overall tone, held together by lead singer Konstantin Gropper. The best tracks of the album are, Red Nose Day, A Voice In The Louvre and We Are Ghosts.

Adam Green | Minor Love Review

Crooning, garage band, roots rock is what Adam Green delivers in his new album Minor Love. Formerly of The Moldy Peaches, Green has created a more mature album in comparison this time around despite some mentions of flatulence in a song or two. Minor Love could be cast aside as a Lou Reed imitation, though the style may be similar the bones of the music are distinct and notably individual, with a relaxed indie folk tone at times the likes you would hear on M. Ward’s last album.

Lyrics for the ages may be lingering on Minor Love. Green delivers with the lyrics on this one, making the instrumental parts fade into the background like so much white noise in comparison. Perhaps inspired by the troubles the musician is going through, a divorce is never a pleasant experience but makes for an excellent set of bitter ballads. Lyrics that stand out are “Join the living obnoxious lullabies…” in Give Them A Token and “To all those special friends, slated to meet you, I’d new I’d never stay. I don’t believe you.” on Bathing Birds manage to capture the tone of this misanthropic album.

In the Buddy Bradley music video, which is the second of four videos shot by director Dima Dubson for Green’s new album, you can sense the distain Green has for normality as he candidly moves his way through city streets like an intoxicated busker. The reactions of the surrounding pedestrians as Green saunters his way through them mouthing the lyrics of Buddy Bradley, are very funny and if staged, were done so very well by director Dubson.