Three-Sentence Review: Tom is being compared to such a wide array of different musicians, from Adele to Elton John, from Nick Drake to Bastille, from Bob Dylan to Arcade Fire to Ryan Adams – why are all these comparisons necessary? To me, this is melancholic and raw and wonderful, and though his youth may make his heartbreak seem out of reach, his voice is well beyond its years and well, when is heartbreak more palpable and painful, then when we are young. This album is a stunner.
Initial Favorite Track(s): Sense, Supposed to be and I Think It’s Going to Rain Today (cover)
Rating (1-5 Stars): 4
Sense
Three-Sentence Review: A mixture of psychedelia and shoegaze, with the sensibilities of The Jesus and Mary Chain and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (though this is more of an inspiration, than comparison), this is the kind of album that I cannot help but think “I’d love this more if I could see it performed live“. There is a lost and dreamy quality here that harkens to long drives up the coast or post-coital late night conversations. This is a grower of an album, for me.
Initial Favorite Track(s): Moonrabbit & Scar
Rating (1-5 Stars): 2 1/2 (may grow to more)
Moonrabbit
In Rolling Waves :: Naked & Famous
Three-Sentence Review: A sonic spectacle of grandiose build and fade is how I would describe this album at first blush. Overall, I find the experience of listening mesmerizing and lush. This is one of those albums that I want to throw on repeat while I write and write, losing half the day in words and feelings.
Initial Favorite Track(s): Hearts Like Ours & The Mess
Rating (1-5 Stars): 4
Hearts Like Ours
Wise Up Ghost & Other Songs :: Elvis Costello & The Roots
Three-Sentence Review: Damn this is good. At times it feels like early 80’s ska, at times it feels like a modern take to funk the likes of Jamiriquai and Lenny Kravitz, at times it feels like some kind of magical musical sound. This is an album meant to get down, move and sway to.
Initial Favorite Track(s): REFUSE To Be Saved, Stick Out Your TONGUE & Wise Up Ghost
Rating (1-5 Stars): 4 1/2
REFUSE To Be Saved
Three-Sentence Review: Synth pop meets dark wave while making out with some shoe gaze and lo-fi delights, this is what Blood Tears feels like to me. The album feels like that middle of the night hour, somewhere in that 3am time, and the stillness that exists there, cut through with only the sounds of those rare souls up and awake in those precious hours. It is the music for the loved and for the lonely, it is their middle of the night musical cry.
Initial Favorite Track(s): Counting Stars, Harpoons & Let Go
Rating (1-5 Stars): 4
Harpoons
Spreading Rumours :: Grouplove
Three-Sentence Review: Some of the album is catchy, some of it is forgettable and fades into the haze of television series soundtrack and iTunes commercials, and some of it reminds me so much of Modest Mouse, especially their album Good News for People Who Love Bad New. I am still undecided on how I feel about this album as a whole, maybe its a grower.
Initial Favorite Track(s): Borderlines & Aliens & Shark Attack
Rating (1-5 Stars): 2
Borderlines & Aliens
Saves The Day :: Saves The Day
Three-Sentence Review: Pop punk goodness full of songs that make me want to bounce around completely uninhibited and free. The last of the Summertime feel good music; this one should really have released at the start of June so that it could have been played for the entire Season.This is such a fun listen.
Initial Favorite Track(s): Remember, Beyond All Of Time, Ring Pop & Stand In the Stars
Rating (1-5 Stars): 4 1/2
Remember
Three-Sentence Review: Something about this album reminds me of my 70’s childhood, though I’m not particularly sure why. Some of the songs even bring back some of the movies and television I used to watch as a kid, the music just taking me back in a very visceral and emotive way.
Initial Favorite Track(s): Death Drive, Becoming the Gunship & Sad Middle
Rating (1-5 Stars): 3
Becoming the Gunship
Three-Sentence Review: There is something magical about MGMT’s albums that both fascinate and inspire me. The songs feel like a melodic crow bar that peels back the creative bits of my mind and soul, unleashing them to spin around in a whirl and land somewhere, hopefully becoming stories and my own kind of art. Each album is different, each a surprise, but always something I thoroughly enjoy.
Initial Favorite Track(s): Alien Days, I Love You Too, Death & Plenty of Girls in the Sea
Rating (1-5 Stars): 4
Alien Days
Three-Sentence Review: Summer loving, had me a blast at the start and a bittersweet wave goodbye parting at the end, or so this album might suggest. Breezy, melancholic at times (in the best way) and collaborative (thanks to friends The Watson Twins and lover Jenny Lewis’ contributions, as well as Dawes bassist Wiley Gelber, drummer Jason Boesel and producer Farmer Dave Scher). Another album I wish had come around at the start of Summer, but I am enjoying it so much I will take it now, too.
Initial Favorite Track(s): My Heart Belongs To You & Nowhere at the Speed of Light
Rating (1-5 Stars): 3 1/2
My Heart Belongs To You
