Album Reviews – Page 10 – Spinning Platters

Album Review: AM – Future Sons & Daughters

Chances are, if you’re a music aficionado, you’ve already heard of AM. If not directly from a friend or by way of online channels such as Lala and thesixtyone, where he currently enjoys a strong presence, then you’ve most likely been exposed through a more traditional medium.

This is due to the fact that every single track off of his 2006 full-length debut, Troubled Times, has appeared in either a film or TV show. Thus far, the Tulsa-born, New Orleans-bred singer-songwriter has been savvy enough to capitalize on the momentum of such a promising start. AIR has asked him to open for them on their North American tour and when that concludes, he’ll embark on a stint with none other than Charlotte Gainsbourg as she also treks through the U.S. and Canada.

Continue reading “Album Review: AM — Future Sons & Daughters”

Album Review: The White Stripes – Under The Great Northern Lights

Do you like the White Stripes? Forget that…. Do you Love the white stripes? Maybe enough to renew your passport to pay them a visit? If you fall into this category, you may have been present for the most recent release, straight from our Northern neighbors: Under Great White Northern Lights.
Continue reading “Album Review: The White Stripes — Under The Great Northern Lights”

Album Review: Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels

I first heard Marina and The Diamonds’ album The Family Jewels in my usual fashion: in the background while I did something else. It caught enough of my attention that four songs in I turned to YouTube, wanting to know more. What I found there horrified me. This travesty of a video made me spend the next two days telling everyone who would listen about this horrible woman they should never listen to. Now it’s three weeks later and per lastfm I have listened to these songs 186 times. So, what happened? Continue reading “Album Review: Marina & The Diamonds — The Family Jewels”

Album Review: Live From Axis Mundi — Gogol Bordello

The amazing Gogol Bordello are gearing up for a very active 2010. They have a new record coming out on April 27th, called Trans-Contiental Hustle, which will probably be excellent. Around this time, they will be kicking off a world tour, which gives Europe and Northeastern America quite a bit of love, but very little affection toward the rest of the world. (As of yet, of course…) Well, I know all of that can be a long way off, and with all of the Gogol news, it’s hard to be patient for something new. That is, of course, only if you missed the late winter release Live From Axis Mundi.

Continue reading “Album Review: Live From Axis Mundi — Gogol Bordello”

New Release Round Up 3/9/2010 – 38 Instant Album Reviews

Does Pouria think that this guy delivers?

There was a lot of boring crap for most of my listens. A few fun gems in there like Prizzy Prizzy Please and Via Audio’s Animalore. Continue reading “New Release Round Up 3/9/2010 — 38 Instant Album Reviews”

Album Review: Liars – Sisterworld

My first experience with the New York combo Liars is an interesting one. I went on a date with a girl to go see the band Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. The opening acts were two New York bands, one band that was already getting a fair amount of press called The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and the other was Liars. They blew my mind! They played brilliant layered noise that was chaotic and danceable. I was overjoyed to learn about this new band. My date thought that they were absolutely wretched. By the end of the night, I had a new favorite band, and she started making out with some guy that resembled Kim Thayil of Soundgarden. I think I won.

The years have been very kind to Liars, gradually improving upon their sound, while also building a fan base. I was always going to be excited about a new release by these guys, but nothing prepared me for Sisterworld.

Continue reading “Album Review: Liars — Sisterworld”

Album Review: Pavement – Quarantine the Past: The Best of Pavement

I was on a date once, and the date seemed to be going pretty well. We went back to her place and I started flipping through her records. There were a lot of Pavement albums, and I commented on how much she likes Pavement.

“Oh, I used to play bass in a Pavement cover band. They’re my favorite band! You like Pavement?” I never saw this girl again. I don’t like Pavement. Continue reading “Album Review: Pavement — Quarantine the Past: The Best of Pavement”

Album Review: Sunshine Underground – Nobody’s Coming To Save You

What do you get if you cross The Kaiser Chiefs, Kasabian and The Killers? Apart from an excited album reviewer with a weird fascination for the letter “K”, you get Sunshine Underground. At times sounding eerily similar to The Killers (especially the vocals) but also evoking the beat driven rock of the other K-bands mentioned. The Sunshine Underground were formed 2005 and Nobody’s Coming To Save You is their second album, following 2006’s Raise The Alarm. The album was released Feb 1st 2010 in the UK. I could not find a US release date at this point. The last trivia point before I get going is that the band is named after a Chemical Brothers song. Continue reading “Album Review: Sunshine Underground — Nobody’s Coming To Save You”

New Release Round Up 3/2/10 – 39 Instant Album Reviews

Rabbit! — Connect these dots and you get my album pick of the week.

Pouria is taking a week off with the Noise Pop flu. I think he went out one too many nights, so I’m covering for him again. My personal favorites this week are things with exclamation points, so look for those within. Also, a southern rock concept album starring Stephen King. Really. Continue reading “New Release Round Up 3/2/10 — 39 Instant Album Reviews”

Album Review: Ellie Goulding – Lights

Ellie Goulding is the hottest new artist in the UK. Championed by Florence and The Machine, she won the BBC Sound of 2010 award along with the 2010 Brits Critic Choice Award which is given to the artist expected to breakthrough in 2010. She was born in Hereford England, about 10 miles from where I was born, though admittedly it was almost 20 years later. So should we believe the hype on her debut album Lights, which is out in the UK now and will be released in the US on March 16th? Continue reading “Album Review: Ellie Goulding — Lights”