Slightly Abbreviated, Again

Shout out to my buddy Reis who was kind enough to give me an extra(!) ticket to the Yeasayer concert on Monday in Boston. Thanks Reis! A-MAZING show. See them if they come to your town...

After my previous effort in concision was applauded by one of my six readers, I decided to bless you once again with very short album reviews. I gotta be honest: it's May in New England. It's beautiful outside. It's almost the end of the school year. I love being outside. I just don't have the time right now. Plus, you still get to hear about some cool albums without listening (er, reading) to me going on and on! Once things wind down and summer rolls around, I'll have much more time. I've also been reading a ton lately. You should consider reading This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I had only ever read Gatsby, and I was delighted to find his first novel not only extremely engaging and entertaining, but an artistic marvel as well. I'm currently reading (for the first time) The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. If you prefer listening to reading, here are some suggestions to bring in the summer.

Artist: The Radio Dept.

Album: Clinging to a Scheme

Released: 2010

Click here to listen

If you don't love this album for the cover photo alone, love it for it's Swedish indie-goodness. Awesome mixture of mellow, dreamy tunes with a tinge of electronic influence. Reminds me, at certain moments, of The Avalanches. I think I listened to this for a week straight before I took a break. The first two tracks alone were enough to win me over.

Artist: Avi Buffalo

Album: Avi Buffalo

Released: 2010

Click here to listen

So teenagers are apparently making sweet albums these days. This California band and newly signed Sub-Pop member released its eponymous debut a few weeks ago. Awesome, mellow indie-rock that shows maturity in youth. I haven't really read up on them, but this is an impressive debut album that at times reminds me of a mellower Strokes. They know how to create melody, use repetition effectively, and vary their song structures.

Artist: Flying Lotus

Album: Cosmogramma

Released: 2010

Click here to listen

After releasing Los Angelas and teaming up with Gonjasufi for another LP, Flying Lotus (aka Steven Ellison) releases his sophomore effort. Thom York guests. Ravi Coltrane guests. Live instruments are melted into sampled genius. And I can't take my earphones out for fear my head will explode in rebellion of depriving it of this record. If Los Angelas didn't win you over, you're an idiot and need to listen to this record and then fall in love with both. Great mixture of samples, live music, beats, and electronic. Awesome warm weather record.

Artist: Bill Evans Trio

Album: Sunday at the Village Vanguard (Featuring Scott La Faro)

Released: 1961

Click here to listen

What can I say, I love the piano. My buddy Jordan introduced me to Bill Evan's when he gave me Green Dolphin Street, and I picked up this record on vinyl on record store day. It's a great live album that's super mellow and spaced out. It's perfect for lazy days around the house, reading, or anytime you want to hear some great piano and bass work. Check out this record or any of Bill Evans' work. Awesome stuff.

Artist: J. Cole

Album: The Warm Up

Released: 2010

Click here to listen

Thank god for people who listen to way more hip-hop than I do. This album made it to me on a folded piece of paper from one of my students at school. He made me a list of four or five albums to check out, and this was the second one on the list. Totally different feel from Fabolous' record. J. Cole isn't afraid to be sentimental, but his lyrics are tight and beats are pretty awesome. This album is a like a window into the urban teenage mind (well, maybe Fabolous is a better example). Nevertheless, I'm happy I asked one of my students to make me a list of his favorite albums. Check it out if you haven't heard any good hip-hop lately.

Artist: Disappears

Album: Lux

Released: 2010

Click here to listen

Reverb Delay Drums Heavy Tremolo Feedback Guitars Repetition. This is what Disappears lists in both the "Influences" and "Sounds Like" section of their MySpace page. This is a great rock record that sounds like it could have been released in the late 70's or early 80's. From Chicago. Check it out.