May 2012
5 posts
2 tags
Review: Mutt by Cory Branan
Cory Branan is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter who shifts from heart-wrenching ballad to happy-go-lucky ditty without missing a beat. On his third album, Mutt, he sings of hard-luck dreamers, heartless heartbreakers and lonely survivors over acoustic guitars, blaring horns, pulsing drums and brooding strings. It’s an album that wanders through sounds like a stray through the streets, and on it...
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Review: Bloom by Beach House
Baltimore-based dream-pop duo Beach House attempts to exceed lofty expectations following its 2010 hit Teen Dream with their fourth release, Bloom. Written primarily while on tour in support of the former, the latter was recorded at Sonic Ranch in sparsely populated West Texas. The isolated recording space allowed vocalist/keyboardist Victoria Legrand and multi-instrumentalist Alex Scally the...
4 tags
Review: Summer Bodies by Dana Buoy
Last week, Derek reviewed Father John Misty, the moniker-using former Fleet Foxes drummer. Ready for a crazy coincidence? Now I’m reviewing Dana Buoy, another pseudonym-wielding drummer of an indie folk band. Also known as Akron/Family percussionist Dana Janssen, Buoy blends their psychedelia with the softer sounds of the Beach Boys to craft his solo debut. So grab your sunblock, and meet me at...
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Review: Fear Fun by Father John Misty
Father John Misty is the moniker used by former Fleet Foxes drummer Josh Tillman. Though this is Tillman’s eighth solo release, Fear Fun marks his first release under this name and the first following his break from the Northwest indie-folk superstars. Tillman received accolades for his contributions in crafting the Foxes’ sound, so it would be safe to assume that Fear Fun should fall...
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Review: Blunderbuss by Jack White – May 1, 2012
Knower-of-all-things Wikipedia describes a blunderbuss as “a muzzle-loading firearm with a short, large caliber barrel, which is flared at the muzzle…” The gun is also really f-ing loud, and it shoots out in all directions. On Jack White’s first solo record, you could call the Third Man himself a blunderbuss. He fires off his signature thunderous guitar, clever wordplay and throwback style as...
April 2012
4 posts
2 tags
Review: Bound For Glory by Peasant - April 24,...
Peasant is the brainchild of Pennsylvania-native Damien DeRose, who, per the band’s Facebook page, is joined by “Alex C” and “Bruno C.” Bound for Glory is 26-year-old DeRose’s fourth release under this moniker. After touring with acts like Dr. Dog, Horse Feathers, Cursive, and Delta Spirit, Peasant has built some buzz despite their recent arrival on the scene....
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Review: Stars and Satellites by Trampled by...
Trampled by Turtles are known for crushing it. From their fast-paced tracks to their high-energy shows to their last album that topped the Billboard bluegrass charts, these guys step right over success after success. On their sixth release, Stars and Satellites, the five deft musicians from Duluth, Minnesota do it again. But rather than replicating their concert sound as they’ve done before,...
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Review: My Head Is an Animal by Of Monsters and...
Since crushing the competition on its way to winning the 2010 Músiktilraunir, Iceland’s prestigious annual battle of the bands competition, Of Monsters and Men makes its U.S. full-length debut with My Head Is an Animal. Fronted by guitarist and vocalists Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar “Raggi” Þórhallsson, the Icelandic sextet has garnered a following on the band’s strong indie...
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Review: Mirel Wagner by Mirel Wagner - April 3,...
For an Ethiopian-born 24-year-old who grew up in Finland, Mirel Wagner sure can sing some old-school American folk/blues. She credits that skill to the fact that while her friends were rocking out to the Spice Girls, she was in the library listening to Skip James, Son House, Jr. and Robert Johnson. On her self-titled debut, Wagner sings of death, desire and the devil with the simplicity of an...
March 2012
4 posts
2 tags
Review: Port of Morrow by The Shins - March 27,...
Following a five-year absence and new surrounding cast accompanying vocalist and multi-instrumentalist James Mercer, The Shins return with their fourth full-length release on Port of Morrow. Since making waves in the indie scene with 2001’s Oh, Inverted World and 2003’s Chutes Too Narrow, The Shins were the early torchbearers for indie rock. However, anticipation has been building over...
9 tags
SXSW 2012 Recap - 3/20/12
Despite living so close to Austin since 2002, I’m ashamed to admit that this was my first South by Southwest. But now that I’m here, I had no excuse. So I forked over the cash for a wristband, which came in handy, but is by no means necessary – there’s plenty of free/unofficial stuff to keep you busy all weekend. I also learned that your bike is your best friend, you should plan ahead but be...
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Review: Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables by Todd...
Last year, Kevin reviewed Todd Snider’s live album The Storyteller, in which he said “(Todd’s) albums are good and all, but his live shows are heehaw-larious.” Well, on his new release, Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables, Nashville-based Todd Snider lives up to the billing, subtly interjecting laughs into songs that are overly dark and gloomy, heavily inspired by negative...
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Review: Rooms Filled with Light by Fanfarlo -...
Fanfarlo is a European band that’s making the sounds of the 80s relevant again by mixing them up with modern-day chamber pop. Swedish musician Simon Balthazar started the London-based band in 2005, and today he and Amos Memon, Cathy Lucas, Leon Beckenham and Justin Finch make up its members. Their first album, 2009’s Reservoir got plenty of nods from critics and fans alike, and now Rooms Filled...
February 2012
4 posts
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February 28, 2012: Reign of Terror by Sleigh Bells
After delivering a fist to music listeners’ eardrums with 2010’s debut Treats, Sleigh Bells follows up with Reign of Terror. The Brooklyn duo of vocalist Alexis Krauss and guitarist/producer Derek Miller created a unique sound on its debut, combining huge metal guitars with Krauss’s airy, effortless-sounding vocals. Miller pushed the sound to the envelope, building to...
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February 21, 2012: War Dancer by Jesse Thomas
Don’t take Jesse Thomas too seriously, but take her music very seriously. She’s a hilarious girl when it comes to commentary and spoken word. However, she writes mainly emotional, acoustic and ear-catching songs. War Dancer is her debut full-length album, and it sounds like the work of a smoky-voiced siren who cracks jokes when speaking but gets her feelings out when singing. A true creative...
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February 14, 2012: Be the Void by Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog, America’s favorite Philly fivesome not named Dennis, Dee, Charlie, Mac, and Frank, puts forth its sixth full-length release with Be the Void. Dr. Dog is comprised of Toby Leaman (bass/vocals), Scott McMicken (guitars/vocals), Frank McElroy (guitar), Zach Miller (keys), and Erick Slick (drums). The band has built a following over the years based on its energetic performances and...
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February 7, 2012: The Bull EP by The Soldier...
I have no idea why, but The Soldier Thread harbors an obsession with bulls. I do know they’re an Austin-based quintet comprised of keyboardist Justin McHugh, guitarist Todd Abels, singer Patricia Lynn, drummer Drew Vandiver and bassist Chance Gilmore. The Bull EP is the rock/pop band’s 4th release, 2nd EP and latest display of bullish bias. Their recent singles “Matador”...
January 2012
3 posts
2 tags
January 31, 2012: Something by Chairlift
Chairlift is a Brooklyn-based duo comprised of vocalist/songwriter Caroline Polachek and multi-instrumentalist Patrick Wimberly. Something is their sophomore full-length release, the band’s first release following the departure of founding member Aaron Pffening, who left Chairlift after their 2008 debut Does You Impress You and a failed romance with Polachek. Blogosphere buzz and attention...
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January 24, 2012: America Give Up by Howler
There’s only one thing you need to know about Howler: they’re talented beyond their years. Based in Minneapolis, they are Jordan Gatesmith (vocals/guitar), Ian Nygaard (guitar), France Camp (bass), Max Petrek (keyboard) and Brent Mayes (drums), and their ages range from 19 to 24, respectively. While there’s “nothing really serious about his band,” they somehow...
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January 17, 2012: Today Was Another Day by Winfred...
Oakland-based quartet Winfred E. Eye releases its fifth full-length album with Today Was Another Day. Though much of the band’s lineup has been a revolving door of different faces since its debut in 2000, frontman Aaron Calvert and bass guitarist Mikel Garmendia have been at the core throughout.
Sounds Like: Tom Waits, Wilco, Uncle Tupelo
Clean electric guitar strums and airy keys open...
December 2011
2 posts
3 tags
December 13, 2011: El Camino by The Black Keys
In a week dominated by Christmas-related albums, El Camino by The Black Keys stuck out like the last Tickle Me Elmo toy on a K-Mart shelf in late December 1996. Even if it’s not, it’s still a good time to check in on guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney on their seventh full-length release and first since their 2010 hit Brothers.
Sounds Like: Black Keys team up...
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December 6, 2011: Top 10 Albums of 2011
At the end of each year, most people like to reflect on the past 365 days and remember the good times. We at Last Week’s Album are no different. So for our Top 10 Albums of 2011 list, we didn’t just pick all the albums we gave 5 out of 5 lighters. Instead, we selected the ones that haven’t just stood the test of time, but have gotten better with each listen. And just to keep things fair, 5 of them...
November 2011
6 posts
2 tags
November 29, 2011: Let's Say We Did by Let's Say...
Frontman Sebastion Fors leads the Stockholm-based quintet Let’s Say We Did on their self-titled full-length debut. A few Google searches informed me that Fors is a veteran of the Swedish songwriting circuit and this album follows a few singles released by the band. In light of the relatively slow slate of Thanksgiving week releases, I decided to say yes to this album for this week’s...
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November 22, 2011: Both Ways Open Jaws by The Do
Since we’re busy celebrating Thanksgiving this week, you’ll have to settle for a brief recommendation in lieu of a full review. The Dø (pronounced “doe”) are a Finnish/French duo respectively made up of Olivia Merilahti on vocals and Dan Levy on everything from drums to guitars to horns. On Both Ways Open Jaws, their second album, they’ve cranked out an impressive...
3 tags
Help protect blogs like LWA
The Protect IP /SOPA Act could break the Internet and stifle blogs like ours.
Watch this to see how:
And please sign a simple online petition to stop this from happening: http://fightforthefuture.org/pipa/
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November 15, 2011: Fight Less Win More by My Sad...
My Sad Captains release their second full-length album with Fight Less Win More. The Captains are an England-based quartet and have been kicking up some dust around the indie scene on both sides of the Atlantic in recent years. I was suprised to find that many any of the songs for Fight Less Win More were written by frontman Ed Wallis while he was in San Francisco by himself over Thanksgiving....
3 tags
November 8, 2011: Twin Daggers EP by Moving...
Who doesn’t love a scrappy, DIY band who busts their ass to make a record all by themselves? If you answered “Surely not I,” then you’re in for a snarky, sweet treat with Twin Daggers EP by Austin-based Moving Castles. While it undoubtedly look took plenty of energy to write, record, produce and release, somehow Moving Castles still managed to infuse it with powerful...
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November 1, 2011: The Front Bottoms by The Front...
This week’s entry comes from New Jersey-duo The Front Bottoms. Recently, any reference to the Garden State conjures images of buff, orange, often ill-mannered, fist-pumping individuals. Fortunately, none of these images come across on The Front Bottoms, the band’s full-length debut. The duo, comprised of singer/guitarist Brian Sella and drummer/horn player Mathew Uychich, writes music...
October 2011
4 posts
3 tags
October 25, 2011: Nasty, Brutish and Short by...
PUJOL has been hiding on an old record player inside an abandoned garage in Tennessee. The vision of Nashville-based rocker Daniel Pujol, PUJOL has dropped 10 releases in 2 years on 6 labels, most notably Jack White’s Third Man. And Nasty, Brutish and Short is exactly what its title already told you: in-your-face pop-culture criticism delivered via punk, garage, pop, classic rock and doowop....
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October 18, 2011: Creatures of an Hour by Still...
Creatures of an Hour is the full-length debut from England-based Still Corners. Although the band now tours as a quartet, Creatures of an Hour was recorded primarily by American musician Greg Hughes and British singer Tessa Murray. Creatures of an Hour finds Hughes and Murray teaming up to create an intense musical experience softened by Murray’s ethereal vocals. Will this collaboration...
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October 11, 2011: We Are All Where We Belong by...
Quiet Company is an Austin-based quintet comprised of singer/songwriter Taylor Muse, guitarist Tommy Blank, bassist Matt Parmenter, drummer Jeff Weathers and trombonist Cody Ackors. For We Are All Where We Belong (their 4th release), the band comes together as only a band who has released an album a year for the past three years can — connected, cohesive and creative. The record primarily...
3 tags
October 4, 2011: The Whole Love by Wilco
The Whole Love represents Wilco’s eighth full-length release and first on its own record label, dBpm (interestingly enough distributed by punk rock powerhouse label Epitaph). The Chicago-based sextet, fronted by alt-country legend Jeff Tweedy, remains unchanged since 2007’s Sky Blue Sky and 2009’s Wilco (The Album). But throughout Wilco’s long history (relatively speaking...
September 2011
4 posts
3 tags
September 27, 2011: Mikal Cronin by Mikal Cronin
Mikal (pronounced Michael) Cronin is young and restless. He’s been punking with Moonhearts and rocking with Ty Segall off and on for years, and he recently finished up college in L.A. Somehow amidst the bands and the books, he still found time to write and record his own namesake debut. Talk about prolific. Thanks to all his hard work, the rest of us can enjoy the sweet, pop-candy fruits...
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September 20, 2011: American Goldwing by Blitzen...
Portland-based Blitzen Trapper puts forth its sixth full length release with American Goldwing. I was initially introduced to the band via 2008’s Furr, and was admittedly less than enthused with 2010’s Destroyer of the Void. After reading front-man Eric Earley’s blog about American Goldwing on the band’s website, in which he describes Destroyer of the Void as “a...
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August 13, 2011: Don't Act Like You Don't Care by...
Before Luke Temple took on the moniker Here We Go Magic and formed a band under the same name, he made music as himself. He got a record deal based on an EP he created with just a four-track recorder and subsequently released two solo albums. Then he put a band together and simultaneously recorded their debut along with his own third album, inspired by preeminent jazz recording engineer Rudy Van...
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September 6, 2011: The Rip Tide by Beirut
The Rip Tide is Beirut’s third full-length release. The sextet is led by wunderkind Zach Condon. Since their debut in 2006, Condon & Co. have quickly garnered the acclaim of indie rock enthusiasts in all corners of the blogosphere for their unique sound. Despite being late to the apparent bandwagon, I decided to check out what all the fuss was about. My initial thoughts when first...
August 2011
5 posts
2 tags
August 30, 2011: Just a Dream by Moreland &...
Moreland & Arbuckle hail from Kansas, so you’d probably expect them to play the Delta blues. But you might not expect the duo to fuse such a heartland musical tradition with the more urban stylings of garage rock and grunge sludge. Well, too bad – they’re doing it, and they’re doing it well. For the past decade, Moreland has been shredding his unique cigar-box guitar while Arbuckle has...
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August 23, 2011: Bright Lights by Dead Man Winter
Bright Lights (not to be confused with The Bright Lights EP by Gary Clark, Jr. that Kevin reviewed last week) is the full length debut from Dead Man Winter, the brainchild of Minneapolis-based Trampled by Turtles frontman Dave Simonett. In addition to Simonett, Bright Lights also features local musicians, in addition to Timmy Saxhaug and Ryan Young from TBT. Though one might expect a bluegrass...
5 tags
August 16, 2011: The Bright Lights EP by Gary...
Gary Clark, Jr. is the kind of musician that makes you wonder Where has this guy been hiding? Fact is, he hasn’t. He’s been honing his blues guitar virtuoso skills right under everyone’s noses in Austin, Texas, the Live Music Capital of the World. And his resume is just as obvious, reading like a step-by-step instruction manual called How To Be Legit: grow up in Austin, meet...
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August 9, 2011: Tripper by Fruit Bats
Tripper is the fifth full length release from Fruit Bats, the Portland-based quartet, lead by frontman Eric D. Johnson. Despite them being on the scene for some time (the band released its Echolocation debut in 2001), this was my first chance to check out Fruit Bats. I was surprised to learn that this was not my first time hearing Johnson, though, as he worked with The Shins on 2007’s...
2 tags
August 2, 2011: Come Back to Us by Release the...
Release the Sunbird is the brand new side project of Zach Rogue, lead singer and frontman of indie veterans Rogue Wave. It’s too early to tell if Come Back to Us is a one-and-done album or the beginning of a deep discography. And apparently last week was too early for the music blogosphere to give the record a good listen and come up with anything more than cursory reviews calling it...
July 2011
4 posts
2 tags
July 26, 2011: In the Mountain In the Cloud by...
Before I picked up Portugal. The Man’s In the Mountain In the Cloud, I had remembered running across the band’s name around the blogosphere the last couple of years, but had never actually heard any of their music. The name itself always stuck out to me, having lived in Portugal. The Country for two years (well, actually, a small air force base located on a small island of the Azores,...
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July 19, 2011: Field Songs by William Elliott...
To understand William Elliott Whitmore, you must first know where he comes from geographically, formatively and emotionally. He’s lived his entire thirty-three years on this earth on the farm where he was born in Lee County, Iowa. He was raised there by his guitar-strumming father, accordion-squeezing mother and banjo-picking grandfather. And he laid both parents to rest within years of one...
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July 12, 2011: Pleasure by Pure X
Pleasure is the debut full-length release from Austin-based trio Pure X. The band, comprised of Nate Grace (guitar, vocals), Jesse Jenkins (bass), and Austin Youngblood (drums), previously released a handful of EPs under the monicker Pure Ecstasy, but had to abandon the name, as it was already taken by an obscure cover band. Although the band’s name might suggest they play amped-up rave...
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July 5, 2011: The Harrow & The Harvest by Gillian...
Though it’s a bit embarrassing to admit given my penchant for folk music, I must feign my ignorance of Gillian Welch. I’ve heard of her here and there for years, but I just never heard her music. Or so I thought. Come to find out she was all over the soundtrack for O Brother, Where Art Thou?, the album that turned me onto folk, and likely the same one that perked a lot of other...
June 2011
5 posts
2 tags
June 28, 2011: Bon Iver by Bon Iver
As the artwork (painted by Gregory Euclide) would imply, Bon Iver picks up right where For Emma, Forever Ago left, just as spring follows winter. Expectations are high for Justin Vernon (performing under the name Bon Iver, French for “good winter”) on this self-titled sophomore release. Surely, it would be tough to live up the circumstances that surrounded the recording of Bon...
June 21, 2011: V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N
We are on vacation again this week, but check back next Tuesday for our next review!
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June 14, 2011: Nothing Is Wrong by Dawes
Sorry, kids, no full review this week (or next), as Derek and I are on vacation. However, I’m really stoked about Dawes’ second album, Nothing Is Wrong. These guys put themselves on the map with a record of slow, melodic, California country music — no easy feat for an album, much less your debut. So if I were a betting man, I’d say this new release will not succumb to the...
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June 7: Codes and Keys by Death Cab for Cutie
Codes and Keys is the seventh studio album from Death Cab for Cutie, though I trace my history with this band back to 2003’s Transatlanticism and onward. DCFC has certainly been racking up awards and continued acclaim since its rise to fame (memorably aided by The O.C.), but has Ben Gibbard & Co. grown complacent following the band’s long run of successes? Another burning question...
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June 7, 2011: Circuital by My Morning Jacket
On My Morning Jacket’s sixth LP, Circuital, Jim James and crew deliver a record that’s tighter than their previous releases. But while there are fewer tracks and shorter jam-outs than usual, they’re still all over the map. You’ll hear plenty of bouncy, almost reggae keys; slow, mellow steel guitar; blaring horns; girl choirs; and the obligatory reverb and falsetto. Most importantly, you’ll...