year: 2016
tones of: local natives, iron & wine, modest mouse, the black keys (softer side of), the shins
genre samples: indie folk, country blues, indie rock, california rock
music: crooning, calming, weightless, beautiful, nostalgic, warm, soothing, shimmering
lyrics: longing, lost, confused, cathartic, contemplative, hopeful, reflective, mature
favs: no woman, light upon the lake, golden days, dave's song, red moon
notes: similar to Cardinal from Pinegrove this album only takes 30min to do what is does so well
bonus: lead singer is a former member of unknown mortal orchestra (a 2015 favorite, with a way overdue review)
score: 8/10
year: 2016
tones of: bright eyes, tonic, wilco
genre samples: rock n roll, emo, lo-fi rock, garage rock, college rock, grunge
music: bare, simple, fuzzy, acoustic, detailed, jangly, distorted
lyrics: detached, somber, intellectual, dense, cynical, introspective
vocals: raspy, emotional, straining, punchy, urgent, distressed
favs: old friends, aphasia, size of the moon, cadmium, new friends
nb: this album only clocks in at half an hour, but really maximizes every minute
score: 8/10
year: 2013
tones of: the black keys, red hot chili peppers, the beatles, the strokes, coldplay, the white stripes
genre samples: blues, rock n roll, soul, psychedelic rock, punk, lo-fi rock, garage rock
music: marching, bombastic, busy, drumming, big, winding, jangling, cruising, lazy, swirling, mellow
favs: do you wanna know?, r u mine?, one for the road, arabella, no. 1 party anthem, why'd you only call me when you're high?, knee socks
nb: if you're anything like me, it's been a minute since you've really liked a rock album so give this a couple of spins. feels like a maturation of that early 2000s "post-punk/garage rock revival".
score: 8/10 (and the first half of this is just really on point)
year: 2013
tones of: the flaming lips, the beatles (sgt. pepper style)genre samples: indie-rock, psych popmusic: expansive, personal, intimate, radiant, enveloping, vibrating, sonic, slow, prodding, sonorous, hazy, mystical, sparkling
lyrics: paranoia, mortality, loneliness, trust, abandonment, darkness, illness, instabilityfavs: through mind and back, mute, pelican man (beauifully bleak lyrics), raspberry cane
note: not many specific songs stand out here, but the ambiance they all produce is this album's greatness.
score: 8/10
year: 2013
tones of: the shins, paul simon, the beatles
genre samples: indie-rock, world music, punk
music: sedate, busy, slow, sombre, quick, ominous, compact, calming, heavy, abrupt, marching
lyrics: dark, disenchanted, spiritual, futility, slow, sad, mortality, life, depressed, thoughtful
favs: obvious bicycle, unbelievers, step, diane young, don't lie, hannah hunt, ya hey
note: if your band name is vampire weekend, using "vampire" again in an album title is a bit much, no? and this from a band full of columbia language arts majors. tsk tsk.
score: 8.5/10 (the first half of this is simply incredible)
year: 2013
tones of: grizzly bears, radiohead, the shins, coldplay (some vocals), black keys
genre samples: indie pop, indie rock
music: somber, driving, melodic, fast paced, tumbling, harmonic, sweet, sad
lyrics: searching, love forlorn, longing, reflective, earnest, yearning
favs: heavy feet, wooly mammoth, colombia
cover: the cover is apparently a photo of the band climbing up onto the roof of their practice space mashed up with the desktop background of one of the members. interesting.
score: 7.5/10
