posted by Nick on January 27, 2012
Admittedly, Attack on Memory, the third major release by Cloud Nothings, the Cleveland outfit born from the lo-fi basement mixtapes of Dylan Baldi that straddles the fault line between garage punk and noise rock, putting the city on indie rock’s radar, caught me by surprise. I’d greedily devoured Turning On and Cloud Nothings over the last year that I settled into a music coma.
Attack on Memory draws the curtain back slowly with “No Future/No Past,” as Baldi copes with an aching, Doomsday manifesto that lures you to the next track, because, wait, there’s no way this is Cloud Nothings. It’s uncharacteristic of the band’s previous opening tracks, as well as the rest of the album. At eight tracks and about a half hour, it’s a Wolf Pack of a work that bursts into the second cut, “Wasted Days,” a nearly nine-minute ballad that’s familiar, fist-pumping Cloud Nothings, laden with exultant, Mike McCreadian riffs and Baldi’s roar before curiously losing itself in a mess of drum fills and distortion. It’s longer than any of the band’s prior songs (after a cursory look at my iTunes).
You’ll find a Cloud Nothings that’s making the most of graduating from the basement to the recording studio on “Fall In,” which sheds the lo-fi fuzz and embraces fast, shredding guitar. Much like Turning On’s “Can’t Stay Awake,” Baldi’s petulant, pleading fit, “Stay Useless,” reveals perhaps he’s unsure what trajectory his band, his tempo, his everything is taking: “I need time to stay useless / I need time to start moving.”
Keep up with the all-instrumental “Separation” with its erratic, Thunderbirds Are Now!-like lane-shifting amid Ween-esque waltzing bridges and solos, before taking a dark, slow turn on “No Sentiment,” a ruthless asterisk to the album’s title. “Our Plans” is more forgiving but shivers equally with snare drums and uncertainty: “No one knows our plans for us / We won’t last long.” The last track, “Cut You,” fades out, leaving behind everything but reassurance.
If you’re hungry for the perennial glut of music that drops before summer, endowing you with songs to index moments of the year to remember upon later listens, Memory’s friction and fears will give you the fix you won’t forget.
Cloud Nothings – Fall In (Downloaded 288 times)
Cloud Nothings – Our Plan (Downloaded 255 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Big Sound • Driven • Male vocal • Post-Punk
(7 votes)
Loading ...posted by Jessica on January 9, 2012
In 2011, the best actually was saved for last. I couldn’t tell you how many shows I saw last year, because despite experiencing epic aural moments and multiple all-weekend festivals, all was forgotten in the wake of Alabama Shakes. This time last year the Athens, AL quartet was working day jobs, and by this time next year they’ll be sitting on top of the world, propelled by their exuberant blend of blues, soul, and rock and roll.
Alabama Shakes’ live show is a significant experience. Vigorous, soulful grooving based in Southern rock, their skillful performance is passionate, even yearning. You feel as though they’re leaving nothing behind, and the eruption of front woman Brittany Howard’s earnest and powerful vocals awaken a contemporary Janis Joplin or Otis Redding. The show kicked off with “Hold On,” and included “You Ain’t Alone,” both off of this year’s self-titled EP.
After their show at Chicago’s Hideout (see video below), I expressed my awestruck admiration to Ms. Howard and drummer, Steve Johnson. They reported that Alabama Shakes’ first full-length album is recorded and slated for release this spring, and that the band is excited to showcase a more rock-fueled edge to their sound. Conversation turned to touring, and I discovered that Johnson’s sister attended my alma mater some 10 miles from where he grew up. Familiarity is the thing about Alabama Shakes. There’s no artifice, slickness, or attempt at reinvention, but a genuineness and devotion to a resonant musical heritage we can all get down to.
Alabama Shakes – Hold On (Downloaded 665 times)
Alabama Shakes – You Aint Alone (Downloaded 379 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Americana • Big Sound • Rollicking
(8 votes) Loading ...posted by Matt on November 22, 2011
Portland’s Spy Island recall Apples in Stereo and the New Pornographers, combining exquisite pop arrangements with at times impenetrable lyrics. Occasional head-scratching doesn’t take anything away from the final product, though. Leads Dale Nicholls and Lucy Martin sing together in a perfect non-harmony harmony, and crisp, catchy hooks and ear-catching flourishes abound (there’s some nice organ, piano and slide guitar work here). New Milesian Kings is the band’s third full length, scheduled for release on January 24 — you can find it, along with their (highly recommended) earlier releases, at spyisland.bandcamp.com or spyisland.wantstogiveyou.com
Spy Island – The Punchline (Downloaded 163 times)
Spy Island – Lonely Accomplice (Downloaded 183 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Beautiful Lyrics • Big Sound • Female vocal • Folky • Male vocal
(7 votes) Loading ...posted by Jessica on November 20, 2011
Ceremonials is a fitting name for the sophomore effort by Florence + The Machine, because listening to the album is a rite in itself. If their debut, Lungs, was tinged with whimsy and mysticism, Ceremonials plunges us under the water, into the realm of ghouls, ghosts, demons and devils, and to the heights of ecclesiastical exuberance. It’s alluring, rich, and complicated like the gorgeous excess of a baroque work of art.
This is the kind of record that needs to be enjoyed in small doses, allowing each track to marinate. Florence Welch’s dazzling vocals are a controlled power surge, the way a cannon or firecracker is carefully aimed before exploding into a beautiful din. Accompanying her is an array of thundering organs, singing harps, pounding drums, and passionate choruses.
The first single, “Shake It Out,” is the album’s most accessible track. Introspective and oh-so-catchy, it’s a luminous standout. Midway through the album, “Lover to Lover” leaves behind the otherworldly ballads for soulful R&B evocative of the 60’s, allowing Welch’s voice to shine without bombast. Intricate and impressive, if at times overpowering, Ceremonials elevates Florence + The Machine’s dynamic pop ritual.
Florence + The Machine – Shake It Out (Downloaded 733 times)
Florence + The Machine – Lover to Lover (Downloaded 781 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Amazing Voice • Baroque • Big Sound • Catchy • Female vocal • Orchestral • Soulful
(16 votes) Loading ...[...] the rest of my review and get MP3s at Indieball. GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", "other"); [...]
January 10th, 2012 at 1:54 am
[...] Read the rest of my review and get MP3s at Indieball.com. [...]
January 10th, 2012 at 10:01 am
Great post. Couldn’t agree more. Looking forward to the full release in the spring. And the chance to experience them live once again
January 13th, 2012 at 1:17 am
wow, i just was in nashville so do appreciate the southern vibe and rawness of this band. And the front woman kicks mega derrier too! Really brings back the classics.
March 13th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
[...] For more on Alabama Shakes, check out my review of their December show at The Hideout for Indieball. [...]