Feist
The Reminder
Available Now
Leslie Feist could be considered the Canadian love child of Enya and Bright Eyes. Striking a balance between upbeat and painstakingly slow, The Reminder is a fusion of piano, soft horn and dreamlike vocals. The first single, "My Moon My Man," feels like a mistake when there are clearly stronger and more harmonic tracks. It sounds like a mishmash of electronic effects and electric piano. The first track, "So Sorry," builds upon each successive note, climaxing with a crescendo. Unfortunately, this is where the album peaks. The remainder of The Reminder contains songs that make the album too lethargic to listen to in one sitting. The track "1 2 3 4" attempts to recover and do some damage control with big band horns, but it still falls short when it is coupled with a banjo. Overall, Feist seems unsure of where she wants her music to go artistically. While this album more than borders on the edge of sleepy, it might be just what you need the week before finals.
If you like this music, you might also enjoy:
Alright, Still - Lily Allen
Cassadaga - Bright Eyes
Back to Black - Amy Winehouse
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Arctic Monkeys
Favourite Worst Nightmare
Available Now
There's something about the U.K. that produces great rock bands. Maybe it's the constant yet introspective rain and fog that allows for such creative genius. Or maybe it's the cosmic energies generated by Stonehenge. Or maybe it's simply the fish and chips. No matter what, the queen's own Arctic Monkeys return to the music scene with a sophomore album sure to exceed any and all expectations. Since their breakout 2006 album - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - the band was thrust into the spotlight, largely because of a solid fan base and Internet buzz. This makes it all the more surprising that in only one year, the Arctic Monkeys have created a mature and lyrically progressive album. Tracks such as "Balaclava," "D is for Dangerous" and "If You Were There, Beware" have strong single potential. The album's first single, "Brainstorm," is an intense three minutes of guitar riffs and drumbeats. The final track, "505," will have a double meaning for anyone who has lived in New Mexico - most of us can understand the lyrics, "I'm going back to 505, if it's a seven-hour flight or 45-minute drive."
If you like this music, you might also enjoy:
Because of the Times - Kings of Leon
Yours Truly, Angry Mob - Kaiser Chiefs
Costello Music - Fratellis
Dublin Death Patrol
DDP 4 Life
Available Now
The name Dublin Death Patrol may sound like a rogue faction of the Irish Republican Army, but fans of bands such as Testament and Exodus know the Patrol is a diverse trash metal group from the Bay Area. Formed in 2006 by the singers of the aforementioned bands, Dublin Death Patrol provides fans with all the energy and heavy guitar riffs one would expect from 10 guys with guitars and drums. While the band's sound may be reminiscent of Metallica and other heavy metal bands, Dublin Death Patrol gives a fresh perspective on the genre with its blazing fast drumming and equally speedy bass and electric guitar. The first single, "Cold Sweat," is an extreme conglomeration of stressed vocals and the conventional thrash metal sound. The power on DDP 4 Life is kicked into high-octane levels when each song is as loud and head-bang worthy as the last. An interesting and unexpected end to the album comes in the form of several American-Indian songs, which utilize only simple drumbeats - a nice, calming complement to an album that is literally exhausting to listen to.
If you like this music, you might also enjoy:
Archives and Artifacts - Death Angel
Shovel Headed Kill Machine - Exodus
Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy - Helloween
