Album Review: Father John Misty - Fear Fun

I have to admit that upon first listening to Father John Misty's debut Fear Fun, I was left unimpressed. It may have been my high expectations. After all, the band was formed by singer J. Tillman, who played drums in Fleet Foxes and left that band to pursue this project. Fear Fun is a classic grower and with repeated spins, it has become one of the year's most rewarding albums. These songs need to be intimately absorbed as a whole. In this manner, you really start to understand this collection of stories telling the trials and tribulations of trying to "make it" and the things one does to survive. These are Tillman's tales of self-deprecation and self-destruction written under the guise of Father John Misty and filtered through the smoke and booze of the thousands of rock 'n' roll icons that came before him.

Album Review: of Montreal - Paralytic Stalks

of Montreal mastermind Kevin Barnes has always been a risk taker. He has released new music every year since of Montreal’s 1997 debut, Cherry Peel, and no two releases have been alike. It’s been an unpredictable journey seeing how the band evolves from release to release. Paralytic Stalks is their 11th studio album and finds Barnes working in a more collaborative environment with Zac Cowell, who performs the woodwinds and the brass instruments on the record, and Kishi Bashi, who created the string arrangements. At the same time, this is his most personal and confessional release to date – almost to a painful degree. Previous albums had him channel feelings through his fictitious persona Georgie Fruit; but on this record, we have him directly confessing feelings of depression, anxiety, and paranoia.

Album Review: Cloud Nothings - Attack on Memory

Having just been Pitchfork’d, I don’t have to tell you too much about the hype surrounding this album. Cloud Nothings have moved away from the hazy, reverb-drenched sound of their past and made a conscious effort to move into a darker, noisier territory that serves them surprisingly well. It greatly separates them from their peers who are all adapting a sound similar to their former selves. With Attack on Memory, I am reminded of great 90s bands like Silkworm. This is appropriate given the production from Steve Albini, known for his work with the aforementioned band as well as Pixies, Nirvana, and The Smashing Pumpkins. His mark is all over this release and his production techniques give the instruments room to breathe while framing their more abrasive qualities.

Album Review: The Big Pink - Future This

The new year has begun and avid music fans have been left in purgatory. With the promise of so many big names and long-awaited albums, the first quarter of the year probably seems duller than it actually is. Some anticipated albums have already hit shelves, and none have fans more split than The Big Pink’s sophomore album, Future This. While not entirely avoiding the sophomore slump, the album shows flashes of brilliance in between some inopportune and lackluster moments. The duo consisting of Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell have crafted a record that relies much heavier on pop structures than their highly lauded debut, A Brief History of Love.

Review: Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver

 

Most are well versed in the back story of Justin Vernon and his musical vehicle Bon Iver. For those who aren’t, it goes like this: A man takes his quite, heartbroken voice to the woods and records an album that the whole world falls in love with. It’s inevitable that Justin Vernon can no longer be that man. After receiving notoriety and the attention of a certain boisterous hip-hop star, Vernon has undergone a metamorphosis of sorts. The question that plagues everyone who still hasn’t listened to Bon Iver, Bon Iver is “How has it affected his music?”

Review: MiniBoone - Big Changes

Below is my take on the debut EP Big Changes by MiniBoone from Decoy Music.  Also, check out the interviews with the band here and here. It gives good insight into the group and presents them as intelligent, stand-up guys; although, I do disagree with their statement about the importance of the album as an art form and it's impending death. Give the EP a listen while reading to gain full effect.

Review: Harvey Milk - Harvey Milk (The Bob Weston Sessions)

My take on the new album Harvey Milk by Harvey Milk from Decoy Music:

Review: Spoon - Transference

My take on the new album Transference by Spoon from Decoy Music:

Review: Future of the Left – Travels with Myself and Another

This week there is a plethora of great albums coming out which will be blogged about endlessly all over the internet including The Mars Volta – Octahedron, Dinosaur Jr. – Farm, Alexisonfire – Old Crows/Young Cardinals, The Dear Hunter – Act III: Life and Death, and Sunset Rubdown – Dragonslayer. However, I am going to put the spotlight on one that has been flying well under the radar: Future of the Left – Travels with Myself and Another.