THE AMERICANS – Stand True
Never before has a band name been more in line with what that band actually sounds like – The Americans combine psychedelia, folk, and meat & potatoes heartland rock into one very neat package that is 100% American. (8)
THE BLACK KEYS – Dropout Boogie
Sticks to their tried and tested blues-based arena rock formula. (7)
HALESTORM – Back From The Dead
The songwriting’s OK but not spectacular, sort of like a poor man’s Disturbed. But damn, this girl’s voice is so powerful it should’ve been banned by the Geneva Convention. (7)
IBEYI – Spell 31
Afro-Cuban/French twin sisters live up to expectations of their multicultural background on new album, a mesmerizing, globetrotting collection of minimalistic soul/electronica/hip-hop/trip-hop tunes (plus a Black Flag cover!) featuring their unique close harmony singing. (8)
KENDRICK LAMAR – Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
A divisive album by the world’s best rapper, it focuses on trauma and recovery from a very personal perspective. I think it’s great. (8)
LYLE LOVETT – 12th Of June
There’s very little resembling country here, if you always thought of Lovett as a country artist but hadn’t actually listened to any of his stuff. This is more of a big band jazz/swing thing, and a highly enjoyable one at that too. (8)
KEVIN MORBY – This Is A Photograph
Why haven’t I heard this guy’s work earlier? What have I been missing out on? This is a fantastic album of Dylan-esque (both in sound and in quality) songs, epic in scope and vision, that I just can’t stop listening to. (9)
MOTOR SISTER – Get Off
Supergroup featuring Scott Ian, Joey Vera and John Tempesta but the real stars here are the two lesser-known band members, co-vocalists Jim Wilson (from the excellent, criminally underrated Mother Superior) and Pearl Aday (Ian’s wife, Meat Loaf’s daughter), singing their balls/ovaries off some really great no bullshit hard rockin’ stuff. (8)
JO QUAIL – The Cartographer
Roadburn Festival-commissioned composition in 5 movements by electric cellist finds the perfect balance between Igor Stravinsky and Sunn O))). (8)
THE SMILE – A Light for Attracting Attention
Honestly, I don’t understand why this is not a Radiohead album – Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood are 2/3’s of the band and it sounds just like Radiohead too. Not “The Bends”/”OK Computer” Radiohead unfortunately, more “Hail To the Thief”/”In Rainbows” Radiohead, but still. (8)
SHARON VAN ETTEN – We've Been Going About This All Wrong
A truly beautiful album by Van Etten – smart pop songs that are personal and at the same universal, with an epic production. (8)
