Album Review: Beach House – Bloom
With Bloom, Baltimore’s Beach House has achieved the pinnacle of musical accomplishments, issuing what is arguably the finest record of the year so far, and is likely to remain so. However, Bloom is not…
Album Review: Maps & Atlases – Beware and Be Grateful
Maps & Atlases have been a slowly productive quartet throughout the past half-decade, releasing a handful of EPs and only one full-length, Perch Patchwork (2010). Now, the group brings us their sophomore LP…
Album Review: I Break Horses – Hearts
I Break Horses are upfront about their influences. They list My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive and Jesus and Mary Chain on their website and are signed to Cocteau Twins’ Robert Gutherie’s Bella Union label. …
Album Review: Toro Y Moi – June 2009
June 2009 is a retrospective of songs recorded around the same time as Toro Y Moi’s acclaimed debut Causers of This. The assemblage of ten tracks feels like anything but a collection of…
Album Review: Allo Darlin’ – Europe
Following the highly successful release of their debut album in 2010, Allo Darlin’ embarked on a yearlong tour across the US, UK, and Europe. It was during this intense period of time that…
Album Review: Hospitality – Hospitality
Hospitality’s self-titled debut album employs indie-pop sensibilities, infectious hooks, and dynamic rhythms to achieve a well rounded and convincing first effort. Hospitality has been long anticipated in some regards, since the band formed…
Album Review: Shearwater – Animal Joy
Austin based, genre-fusing indie outfit Shearwater has again produced one of the finest albums of the year, or the past few for that matter. Claiming that Shearwater is inaccessible (as some might) is…
Album Review: Tennis – Young and Old
Opener “It All Feels the Same” from Tennis’s new effort, Young and Old, accurately pinpoints the potential dilemma for any band facing the dread of the sophomore slump. The question of how to…
Album Review: Gotye – Making Mirrors
Gotye’s 3rd full-length album, Making Mirrors, gives listeners more reason than ever to proclaim the talents of creative force Wouter “Wally” De Backer. Even so, the Australian waves from the album’s first single, “Eyes…
