8mm
Songs to Love and Die By
Available Sept. 26
Whoever said rock music doesn't have a softer side obviously hasn't heard 8mm. This Los Angeles husband-and-wife musical team's new album is something of a rarity. There is a hard and edgy sound created by the melancholic twang of the guitar, nicely complimented by the sultry and smooth vocals of silver-tongued singer Juliette Beavan. The unique dynamic found on the album is largely due to the relationship between lead singer and producer. There's going to be a certain attitude of sexiness on an album when the band members are married. It creates a calming effect on the music, but not to the extent of becoming lethargic. The Beavans were truly able to find a nice balance.
The only complaint anyone could voice applies to the last track, "Forever and Ever Amen." After the initial song, which is great, there is an awkward four-minute pause until another completely different sounding song randomly starts playing. Why not just make two tracks? This disrupts the whole flow and continuity of the album.
If you like this music, you might also enjoy:
At War with the Mystics - Flaming Lips
It's Never Been Like That - Phoenix
The Garden - Zero 7
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Sparta
Threes
Available Oct. 24
A follow-up to its 2004 release, Porcelain, Sparta's latest endeavor is fresh and fun. The band sounds a little bit like Coldplay but has a somewhat less-polished style, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Threes is raw and emotional, as evidenced by the smart and compelling lyrics. The group seems to tell a story of self-discovery through its songs, alluding to hitting rock bottom and attempting to build back up to the people they once were. This theme is especially prevalent on the tracks "Taking Back Control" and "Unstitch Your Mouth." Even though these songs deal with some pretty heavy issues, Sparta is able to create a more uplifting ambiance by making smooth hooks and catchy beats. With almost two full months of straight touring up and down each coast, Sparta should carry as much charisma and energy on stage as it does on
its albums.
If you like this music, you might also enjoy:
Vaya - At The Drive-In
Frances the Mute - The Mars Volta
Guero - Beck
Bound Stems
Appreciation Night
Available Sept. 19
Sometimes experimental music can be good. It can expand societies' musical range and introduce listeners to different and intriguing sounds. And then, sometimes experimental music is just plain bad. The Bound Stems' latest album, Appreciation Night, gets an A for effort in trying to make a record that breaks the mold, but the sound is so scattered, it unfortunately comes across as disorganized. It's a shame they take themselves so seriously, because their music hardly warrants it.
Perhaps the oddest of the tracks is "Fire, Burglary, Flood." It consists of one of the band members mumbling over a reverberating guitar chord. I've listened to it at least five or six times, and for the life of me, I cannot understand anything he says. Overall, Bound Stems' latest seems to be a little too out of the main stream to strike any popularity outside of its native Chicago. My suggestion: Regroup, reorganize and make an album that is more listenable.
If you like this music, you might also enjoy:
Shut Up I Am Dreaming -
Sunset Rubdown
Apologies to the Queen Mary -
Wolf Parade
You in Reverse - Built To Spill
