Good news from the Billboards: The National's recently released follow-up to Boxer, High Violet, is currently at #3 on the charts, likely being inched out by shitty country and rap music. If I had to guess, I'd say we're going to see a spike in per capita visits to the shrink from all the excited fans--that album is depressing. But it is really good. Here's another set of very short reviews.
Artist: Janelle Monae
Album: The ArchAndroid
Year: 2010
Album of the year. Please listen to this. Too awesome for me to explain.
This Baltimore band creates retro, 80's style synth-pop, Cure-ish gems. It's a world of its own and I've been listening to it non-stop for the last two weeks. Standouts are "Walking Through That Door," "An Apology," and "Swept Inside." J. Gerrit Welmers' voice is amazing, and the album art kicks ass.
Label: The Numero Group
Website: http://www.numerogroup.com/
This is not an album but a label dedicated to reissuing anthologies of lost gems from particular geographic areas and times. I've been intrigued by them at the record store but never purchased any. I've just recently been listening to their Eccentric Soul series, and I totally recommend checking them out if you're into underground soul, funk, blues, and rock.
Artist: The Black Keys
Album: Brother
Year: 2010
Yep, they still sound like The Black Keys. And it rocks.
Artist: Various ArtistsAlbum: Si, Para Usted: The Funky Beats of Revolutionary Cuba Vol. 1-2
Label: Waxing Deep Records
This anthology of awesome Cuban tunes is broken up into two volumes, both of which are worth listening to. Check out the label's website for more info.
2 comments:
digging future islands! beautiful album artwork as well, indeed. thanks tone :-) did i tell you what happened to me at the black keys concert...?
Hey, glad you like Future Islands. I'm a sucker for any form of synth-pop. I think it leads me inevitably to the bastion of my '80's roots...
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