ALBUM REVIEW: PYTHONS BY SURFER BLOOD

On their much-anticipated sophomore LP, the Palm Beach quartet works with producer Gil Norton (Pixies, The Smiths). How does his old-school vibe affect their modern surf-rock style? Watch and learn.

SOUNDS LIKE
Poppy beach punk — this time with squeaky-clean production — but beach still infested with sharks and other dark, ominous images
Jimmy Eat World, if Jimmy’s girlfriend ate his heart

KEY TRACKS
Demon Dance, Weird Shapes, Say Yes to Me, Prom Song

BEST LYRICS
“Like a Pentecostal choir on Sunday / I can suck the venom out of your bones” — Demon Dance
“I think we both can see our own gravity / Is keeping our orbits in place” — Gravity

OVERALL RATING

Derek:      Kevin: 

LWA IS EVERYWHERE
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ALBUM REVIEW: THE OLMS BY THE OLMS

The Olms are Pete Yorn and J.D. King. What kind of music happens when a lovesick rocker and a retro weirdo team up? Watch and we’ll tell ya.

SOUNDS LIKE
PY and JDK indulge in some rich, well-structured indie/Americana
Goofy vintage folk that bridges classic American and British pop rock

KEY TRACKS
On the Line, Someone Else’s Girl, A Bottle of Wine, Etc.

BEST LYRICS
“You know it’s useless baby, we can’t say goodbye / We’re gonna be together till one of us dies” — What Can I Do?
“I just want to ring you up and try to mend this fence / I hope I don’t overcharge on calling long distance” — On the Line

OVERALL RATING
Derek:      Kevin: 

LWA IS EVERYWHERE
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ALBUM REVIEW: EVIL FRIENDS BY PORTUGAL. THE MAN

On their seventh LP, the Seattle-based band collaborates with producer Danger Mouse. How does that have anything to do with The Breakfast Club? Watch and learn.

SOUNDS LIKE:
Alt-pop rockers get darker and deeper, yet way dancier
If Tijuana Panthers were well-liked preppy, honor-roll students, then Portugal. The Man definitely sounds like the bullied (and bullying) outcasts

KEY TRACKS:
Creep in a T-shirt, Evil Friends, Atomic Man, Holy Roller [Hallelujah], Purple Yellow Red and Blue

BEST LYRICS:
“Don’t pray for us / We don’t need no modern jesus / To roll with us / The only road we need is never givin’ up / The only faith we have is faith in us” — “Modern Jesus”
“After you, I don’t know what I believe in / After you, hell should be easy” — “Atomic Man”

OVERALL RATING:
Kevin:      Derek: 

LWA IS EVERYWHERE
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ALBUM REVIEW: SEMI-SWEET BY TIJUANA PANTHERS

Let’s talk about the 2nd LP from this Long Beach, CA garage pop trio. How do they straddle the line between 50’s surf rock and modern-day garage pop so well? Watch and learn.

SOUNDS LIKE:
A punk Beach Boys grunge thing all mashed together into a nice ball of rock’n’roll
A 50’s beach party cranked up on cigarettes and cocaine

KEY TRACKS:
Wall Walker, Boardwalk, Father Figure, One Way Ticket, Forbidden Fruit, Juvy Jeans

BEST LYRICS:
“Booze everywhere, it’s gonna be a party / Don’t act too hard, you gotta fit in / Ask everywhere, but I don’t know what to / I don’t know what, I don’t know what to wear” — “Forbidden Fruit”
“You saw me reading a bible / I caught you dead on arrival / I hit the wall with my rifle / I’m just shooting for survival” — “Wall Walker”

OVERALL RATING:
Derek:      Kevin: 

LWA IS EVERYWHERE
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ALBUM REVIEW: JACKLEG DEVOTIONAL TO THE HEART BY THE BAPTIST GENERALS

The longtime-coming sophomore album from this “drunken folk” Denton, TX band is finally here. Was it worth the 10-year wait? Watch us discuss. And agree. Repeatedly.

SOUNDS LIKE:
Langhorne Slim records Neutral Milk Hotel tribute album
A world-weary Langhorne Slim with much less bluegrass influence

KEY TRACKS:
Dog That Bit You, Turnunders and Overpasses, Floating

BEST LYRICS:
“Clitorpus Christi” — “Clitorpus Christi”
“Hold my hand and dream with me / Close your eyes and realize / We are floating, we are floating / In a million pieces on a sea” — “Floating”

OVERALL RATING:
Derek:      Kevin: 

LWA IS EVERYWHERE
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ALBUM REVIEW: MODERN VAMPIRES OF THE CITY BY VAMPIRE WEEKEND

With this, their 3rd LP, the Brooklyn-based indie band says they’re closing the book on a trilogy. What the f*** does that mean? We don’t know, but we’ll tell you how it sounds. 

SOUNDS LIKE:
Vampire Weekend maintains clever lyrical wit and indie-pop sensibilities, though musically swayed away from guitar persuasion of previous albums
A spiritual journey through time, space, and rock’n’roll

KEY TRACKS:
Obvious Bicycle, Step, Diane Young, Everlasting Arms, Ya Hey

BEST LYRICS:
“Wisdom’s a gift but you’d trade it for youth / Age is an honor - it’s still not the truth” — “Step”
“Through the fire, through the flames / You won’t even say your name / Only I am that I am” — “Ya Hey”

OVERALL RATING:
Kevin:      Derek: 

LWA IS EVERYWHERE
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ALBUM REVIEW: HEAD IN THE DIRT BY HANNI EL KHATIB

With the help of producer Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, does Hanni El Khatib crank out more of his signature garage rock or change things up a bit? Watch and learn.

SOUNDS LIKE:
The West Coast Black Keys
Raw garage rocker mellows out and meanders out

KEY TRACKS:
Family, Penny, Nobody Move, Save Me, Low

BEST LYRICS:
“We crashed the car the other day, it really didn’t matter / We fixed it up and rode away” — “Pay No Mind”
“F-A-M-I-L-Y / Till the day we die” — “Family”

OVERALL RATING:
Derek:      Kevin: 

LWA IS EVERYWHERE
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/lastweeksalbum
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ALBUM REVIEW: JUNIP BY JUNIP

Jose Gonzalez’ band Junip drops its sophomore album, named after the band because of its definitive sound. How does the formerly-solo artist do alongside synths and drums? Press play to find out.

SOUNDS LIKE:
The Tallest Man on Earth meets Father John Misty
That little voice in your head — set to beautiful harmonies, atmospheric synths, winding guitars and driving drums

KEY TRACKS:
Suddenly, Your Life Your Call, Villain, Walking Lightly

BEST LYRICS:
“No point in looking / Back over your shoulder / Leave your worries behind for a while / You’ll forget everything as you get older” — “Your Life Your Call”
“Took a trip across the rivers / Sent home a portrait as a villain” — “Villain”

OVERALL RATING:
Derek:      Kevin: 

LWA IS EVERYWHERE
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ALBUM REVIEW: BABA YAGA BY FUTUREBIRDS

Psychedelic country rockers Futurebirds had a tough time getting their 2nd LP made. So does Baba Yaga sound like one step forward or a two-step back? Watch and see. 

SOUNDS LIKE:
Early My Morning Jacket tripping on mushrooms and moonshine
Allman Brothers meet Avett Brothers

KEY TRACKS:
Virginia Slims, Serial Bowls, American Cowboy, Keith and Donna, Heavy Weights

BEST LYRICS:
“Gravity just slows you down” — “Felix Helix”
“‘Can we negotiate? / It’s famous last words you said” — “Heavy Weights”

OVERALL RATING:
Kevin:      Derek: 

LWA IS EVERYWHERE
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/lastweeksalbum
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LastWeeksAlbum
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ALBUM REVIEW: STORIES DON’T END BY DAWES

The members of Laurel-Canyon-throwback band Dawes attempt to update their sound on their 3rd LP. Do they succeed? Watch and we’ll tell ya.

SOUNDS LIKE:
The Eagles met the Beach Boys. As 20-somethings. Like five years ago.
Trampled by Turtles meets Tom Petty

KEY TRACKS:
Just Beneath the Surface, Someone Will, Most People, Hey Lover, Bear Witness

BEST LYRICS:
“Like January Christmas lights / under billion year old stars / She comes up with more of what is lost than what is found” — “Most People”
“Some nights get worse than others, and I start thinking about your mother / And she’s here with me as far as I can tell / As if the world revealed its secret, and it’s asking me to keep it / Like a kid that hears the ocean in a shell” — “Bear Witness”

OVERALL RATING:
Derek:      Kevin: 

LWA IS EVERYWHERE
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/lastweeksalbum
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LastWeeksAlbum
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