Playing the music critic. Yay!

Every now and then we all know it’s great fun to put on our critic pants. I’m certainly no stranger to this phenomenon, and if nothing else, this will be a fun way of putting my thoughts together about some great music that I’ve been listening to lately. And if anyone else happens to discover some new music as a result or share their thoughts it’s a bonus.

Disclaimer: yes, I will be using ridiculous sounding adjectives and other typically pretentious sounding language that is all-too present in all things that have to do with music critiquery.  (including my personal favourite, the hyphenate-weird-sounding-things-together-technique).

So, I’ll start with a band I found while perusing the itunes store, named Hey Rosetta.

There’s something about East Coast alt-rock bands these days that really push the right buttons for me.  ”Into Your Lungs” is Hey Rosetta’s second album, and is a bit of a departure from the sounds of their first record, “Plan Your Escape.”  However, the somewhat folky and whimsical sounds of the first record still manage to inform the higher energy rock tracks of “Into Your Lungs.”  Another very audible influence is the presence of Hawksley Workman, the producer of the record.  

There’s just something very East-Coast about the sound of the album.  From the twangy acoustic arpeggios and banjos of the opening track, “New Goodbye,” which are joined one by one with heavier drums, bass, and mind-scraping electric guitar by the 2/3 mark of the song, to the soft pianos and simplicity of the closing track, “Psalm,” there’s a lot to love, including the incredible production value with no shortage of awesome sounding strings.

3 Standout tracks:
“I’ve Been Asleep for a Long, Long Time” (more of those throaty, beefy guitars and simple catchy melodies)
“Red Heart” (killer drum beat, probably the most memorable tune on the record)
“A Thousand Suns” (I’m a sucker for those songs that build up the intensity then cut everything out except for the bass, drums, and vocals.  This is one of those songs.)

Next up is a band that I’ve been into for quite a while, but only recently picked up there latest album.  They are The Dears.

I have tons of respect for this band because they are legitimately one of the most unique Can-rock bands out there, without being so weird that I can’t stand listening to them.  It’s not math rock or experimental-post-noise-whatever, it’s actually music, and every album they’ve put out has been both fantastic and, as every good album should be, different.  End rant.

When I first came upon this guy in the itunes store and listened to my 30 second previews of all the tracks I was relatively unstoked.  But after seeing it on sale at HMV I decided to pick it up and give it a listen based on my love of the rest of the band’s stuff.  Of course, I was actually really pleased with the album on a whole, and completely understand why the previews on itunes don’t do it justice, a truth that I have discovered many times over with other albums.  But that’s an aside.  If you’ve heard The Dears and liked them, I really think you’ll fall in love with this album like I did.  It’s very heavy on the synth (which should come as no surprise – last time I saw them live they had two keyboards and a keytar all going strong) and lead signer Murray’s deep, almost hypnotic at times vocals make for a deeply… I would say visual listening experience.

There’s no limit in terms of the sounds you hear on this album, be they the jazzy sax sounds of the intro, “Disclaimer,” to the screaming, Led-Zep-messy guitar soloing of “Lights Off,” the vocoder-laden vocals of “Money Babies,” to the pleasant, barely-off-key soul-moving darkness of “Demons,” to the soul-churning  organs and children’s choir of the closer, an 11-minute beauty, “Saviour.”

3 Standout Tracks: 
“Dream Job” (a lilting, playful-yet-relaxed foray into a very dream-like soundscape indeed.)
“Demons” ( the kind of song that sends chills down your spine.  Kind of creepy but you still want to shake your head to the beat.  Dissonance without descent.)
“Saviour” (When I hear this song I don’t want it to end.  A soulful, heartfelt  journey into keyboards, trumpets, children’s choirs, and a man who’s gonna make it right… this time.  One of my favourite ways to spend 11 minutes these days.)
 

These two albums get the Dave seal of approval.  But there’s plenty more awesome music I’m currently into that I just can’t seem to put words to.  For instance, Explosions in the Sky is currently my must-have-playing music for when I am studying or otherwise spending my time academically at home.  Very cool instrumental band that is totally transforming my brain into joy-goo.  Which is actually something I want when I’m studying.  Check them out!!!