Wednesday, April 30, 2014

QUICK SPINS

 
Damon Albarn Everyday Robots
Damon Albarn is a musical Renaissance Man. From his Britpop fame with Blur to his hip-hop infused / experimental outfit – Gorillaz to managing to get legends like Tony Allen, Paul Simonon, and Danger Mouse for the underrated The Good, The Bad, and The Queen; to working with African musicians on Africa Express to curating two operas to producing Bobby Womack’s best album in decades, he now returns with an album of just his own thoughts, gatherings, and expressions. Everyday Robots is Albarn’s official solo debut, he linked up with XL Records main man, Richard Russell for a moody trip into the mind of a musical genius. Albarn is never afraid to express himself and push for a record that has basically no singles, but still manages to make you feel a moment in time. Much like one of his musical heroes, Brian Eno, who guests on the LP, Albarn pushes himself to find a sound that has not yet been created and mastered.
FINAL GRADE: A

The Afghan Whigs Do The Beast
It has been nearly 20 years since the last Whigs LP, but the underrated grunge gods are back with Do The Beast, and the best part about it – it doesn’t sound like an Afghan Whigs album! Not that we have anything against how the Whigs sounded in the 90’s, they were an underrated back and singer Greg Dulli is one of America’s most underrated songwriters, but the fans and fame they had seemed to fade with their hiatus. Now, recharged, regrouped, and rearranged, the Whigs brought themselves to modern times and instead of going back on the sound that gained them acclaim then, they realized it is not who they are now. Instead of making a safe comeback record, they go the distance and raise the bar to any band looking to do a reunion album – this is how you do it! One of the greatest comeback albums of all time and one of the year’s best albums so far.
FINAL GRADE: A

Curtis Harding Soul Power
Curtis Harding will be a superstar, make my words, a fucking superstar. The rising Michigan R&B artist combines the soul of Marvin Gaye, the garage rock licks of The Black Keys, the lyrical power of Bobby Womack, and the creative musical designs of Danger Mouse. Harding, whose debut, Soul Power, is a magnificent and near perfect venture into a throwback sound with a new Millennium twist. Easily, the best debut of the year, so far.
FINAL GRADE: A

OFF!Wasted Years
The hardcore supergroup return with their sophomore LP and like their first four EP’s and debut, they comeback with the sound we love and appreciate – sort, fast, loud, and raw.
FINAL GRADE: A-

Cloud Nothings Here and Nowhere Else
The Ohio garage rockers return with their sophomore album, and pick up right where 2012’s fantastic Attack on Memory left off. It still rages and drives us into the fuzzy atmosphere of rock and roll.
FINAL GRADE: A-

RatkingSo It Goes
One of the most exciting new hip-hop groups to emerge from New York City in years arrives with their pulverizing and shocking debut. Ratking hail from Manhattan and have been emerging as a new voice in Big Apple rap since 2010. Now, with their debut, So It Goes, Ratking provide lyrical blows to the hipsters, the NYU crowd, and anyone who thinks they are the King of New York. Plus, thanks to chaotic and ravaging production and a guest appearance from King Krule, it displays how diverse and exciting this group really is.
FINAL GRADE: A-

Until the Ribbon BreaksThe Other Ones EP
The British soul singer returns with another EP full of tracks that tease us with his magnificent voice, lyrical talent, pure emotion and only makes us beg for his long awaited full length to come sooner rather than later.
FINAL GRADE: B+

Blood Red Shoes
The UK duo return with their fourth album and bring forth some of their most thrashing and vibrant riffs since their fantastic 2008 debut. Box of Secrets.  The record which was written, recorded, and produced entirely by the two members of the band and was recorded over six months in Berlin to capture a new energy, sound, and inspiration. Four albums in, and they still remain to be one of the most exciting bands out there today.
FINAL GRADE: B+

Secret SistersPut Your Needle Down
The Southern sorority return with their T-Bone Burnett produced sophomore album and showcase their vulnerability, creativity, and beautiful songwriting again with their latest album. They are a country group that is far too traditional and far too creative for the modern bullshit country pop that is on radio and award shows. The Secret Sisters are one of the few country acts out there today that would make Johnny and June Carter Cash proud.
FINAL GRADE: B+

Anthony Valadez In Search Of
Taking old school jazz and blues riffs and sounds and mixing it with ambient and electronic hooks, Anthony Valadez has crafted one of the most refreshing, fun, vibrant, and electic albums of the year.
FINAL GRADE: B+

DeathIII
The third album of unreleased material from the Detroit protopunks arrives with the most wild fanfare thanks to their 2013 documentary – A Band Called Death. After touring for most of 2013 and most of this year, Death now have the following the deserve and III will be what was left from their vault.
FINAL GRADE: B

YG – My Krazy Life
Since Kendrick Lamar put Compton back on the musical map, YG is one of the first to come through that door that Kendrick opened to make a name for himself. My Krazy Life is his debut and highlights what is making West Coast hip-hop so much fun again.
FINAL GRADE: B-

Broken Ankles
The debut EP from Girl Talk and Freeway highlights two of Pennsylvania’s big talents together under one album. Broken Ankles is a chaotic hip-hop creation that features Girl Talk’s brilliant production and Freeway’s one of a kind lyrical delivery.
FINAL GRADE: B-

I Am The Avalanche Wolverines
The Brooklyn punks return with one of their fiercest albums to date. While it has only been three years since Avalanche records, instead of the six between their debut and sophomore LP, Wolverines strikes hard and wild to make us remember why they caught out attention a decade ago.
FINAL GRADE: B-

Wolfmother New Crown
Pulling a Beyonce, Australian rockers Wolfmother returned with their third album in a surprise fashion by releasing it on Bandcamp to mark their comeback. What was supposed to be the sophomore album from singer Andrew Stockdale transformed into him getting his old band back together for a stoner / blues / classic rock extravaganza.
FINAL GRADE: B-

Ingrid MichaelsonLights Out
The sixth album from Staten Island’s reigning singer / songwriter is one of her strongest to date. Lights Out hears Michaelson craft her traditional heartfelt pop song but also goes and packs a punch with her emotional release.
FINAL GRADE: B-

Madlib & Freddie GibbsPinata
The collaboration between Madlib’s production and Gibbs’ flow and cadence, brings forth Pinata. This hip-hop team is creative and wild, but sometimes one outshines the other. Madlib’s flawless production may be too perfect sometimes for Gibbs to rhyme over, even with guests like Raekwon, Earl Sweatshirt, Danny Brown, Domo Genesis, Scarface, BJ the Chicago Kid, Ab-Soul, Casey Veggies, Meechy Darko, Mac Miller, Pinata is decent but doesn’t hit the bulls eye.
FINAL GRADE: C+