Sunday, September 29, 2013

Album Reviews: September 2013 Week 2

Houses - "A Quiet Darkness" 2013
I first discovered this dude as a one man act using keyboards and vocals as an opening act for Baths a couple years ago. That was an appropriate fit, as their styles mesh well together, concert-wise. I purchased the album he had for sale that day, which was 2010's "All Night". This album was not very much like his live show at all. His vocals were more confident sounding and less muted and effected, and the music plays out more like rock music than it does in his live show. This new album takes that way further, and is a very lush sounding indie rock album. There is a certain precision within the production that isn't incredibly apparent when you first start listening, but once you warm up to the music a little, you start noticing a crazy amount of detail. I'm actually curious as to why this new album hasn't gotten much press in the internet hipster world or any airplay on a local station like The Current. This is better than 98% of the stuff they play and somewhat in the same vein. Ahh well, if I knew how any of that stuff worked, i'd be a millionaire and wouldn't care anyways.... I would recommend this album to people who enjoy stuff like Radiohead, Jose Gonzales, Baths, and Peter Gabriel. Check out the videos for "Beginnings" and "The Beauty Surrounds". Also check out "The Tired Moon""Peasants", and "A Quiet Darkness".

Franz Ferdinand - "Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action" 2013
I admit that I never really checked this band out before. They seemed kinda media padded from the start, and something about being told to like a band by a bunch of people in the press makes me want to check out a band less than I normally would. I admit that this new album sounds pretty good to my ears, but I don't have any reference point from any of their earlier stuff to compare it to. This could suck compared to their albums before it and I wouldn't know. I'll have to check out their other albums. This is just some good sounding, upbeat, pop rock that is easy to dance to, but all real drums, no programmed stuff. Very lush and full production. Check out the videos for "Love Illumination""Evil Eye" (this video is so ridiculous and awesome...seriously one of the best videos i've ever seen, but not the the faint of heart) and "Right Action". Also check out "Fresh Strawberries""Stand On The Horizon", and "Treason! Animals".

Auditive Escape - "Curves" 2013
Some nice, chill trip hop vibes. Some of the drum and bass sounds are more like beat scene stuff but it still has the pacing of typical trip hop stuff. Listen or download here.

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