PeerValidated Byte Size Reviews are short and sweet introductions to albums. A new one almost everyday gives you some basic info, opinions and an mp3 to let you decide what you think. These reviews are compiled into a list for two weeks, then we throw them into the Byte Size Archive and start a new one. Check back often!
Maps & Atlases – Perch Patchwork
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Chicago’s Maps & Atlases is popularly referred to as a math-rock project by blogs. Though the label isn’t necessarily incorrect, it’s a bit outdated. The band may have fit the bill well enough on previous releases, but Perch Patchwork, the 2010 standout album, sacrifices the super-structure of the math-rock genre for an anti-structured, much more experimental folk approach. There are hints of The Dirty Projectors’s precision battling for position within Menomena’s free-form style, along with nodes of Dodos-like aggressive percussion. Again, other blogs aren’t wrong. We just like to be especially right. – Andy (May 27, 2011)
The Weeknd – House of Balloons
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At the end of 2010, a few tracks leaked under the name The Weeknd. The three songs gained immediate attention and praise from two groups in particular – R&B fans and indie-kids. The former makes more sense. Abel Tesfaye’s project is masterful in its use of down-tempo digital beats, deep electro bass lines and sexy, sometimes auto-tuned vocal melodies. The latter is still trending on The Weeknd’s debut, House of Balloons, as indie music has borrowed from and imitated this brand of pop for a few years now. Free full album download here. – Andy (May 26, 2011)
Secret Cities – Strange Hearts
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Want to hear something disgustingly cute? Before there was Secret Cities, there were two 15-year-olds, MJ Parker and Charlie Gokey, who both loved psychedelic pop. They were pen-pals and exchanged four-track tapes via the mail. The duo met up with another pysch-pop loving friend, Alex Abnos, and became Secret Cities. The Fargo trio is two albums into a strong discography of swingy, vintage-sounding, harmony-laden pop-rock in the vein of Grizzly Bear, and now kids can put Secret Cities on mixed-tapes of their own. Yuck, right? – Andy (May 23, 2011)
Rival Schools – Pedals
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The New York supergroup composed of members of influential hardcore bands Quicksand, Gorilla Biscuits, CIV and Youth of Today returns after ten years. Rival Schools’ first LP, United by Fate, is one of the best albums from the early 2000s post-hardcore fad. Pedals has a few solid hits, like “Wring it Out,” and “Big Waves,” but also has some real duds. “Eyes Wide Open,” and “Choose Your Adventure,” are a couple stinkers. Each has guitar parts that could fit right in on a Blur album. If nothing else, Pedals reminds me to re-download United by Fate. – Andy (May 19, 2011)
Austra – Feel It Break
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Toronto’s Austra finds its groove early on in its debut LP and never hesitates on it from there on out. A new wave pulse is the driving force behind the trio’s songs, no doubt taking a page from The Knife’s discography, while lead singer Katie Stelmanis’ background as a trained piano player and violinist, as well as an opera singer, peeks through to give Feel It Break a moody, haunting dynamic. Album opener, “Darken her Horse,” takes a couple minutes to fully unfurl, but finally releases some of Austra’s best melodies. Out now from Domino – Andy (May, 18, 2011)
The People’s Temple – Sons of Stone
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Sons of Stone is a Back to the Future-type experience. The album mimics 60’s and 70’s garage rock sounds of The Who, Rolling Stones and Doors as closely as any we’ve heard in a long time, yet it’s steeped and distilled in modern indie-rock traits. The Michigan-based, Hozac Records band keeps songs tight and hits hooks with unprecedented precision. It’s as if The People’s Temple reverted back to re-attack a genre once thought complete, but this go-around they harness the power of knowing how the music ages and is appreciated over time. – Andy (May 15, 2011)
Four Tet – There Is Love In You
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Kieran Hebden remixes. Aphex Twin, Explosions in the Sky, Radiohead, Manic Street Preachers, Matthew Dear, Tegan and Sara, The Notwist, Bloc Party, Andrew Bird, Kings of Convenience, Battles, The xx, Foals, and Black Sabbath are just a few of the artists he’s worked with. Aside from being a super popular dude, he releases music under the name Four Tet. His latest is called There Is Love In You, and it sounds a whole lot like Massive Attack to me, which is to say it’s gorgeous electronic landscape stuff that’s kind of easy to ignore. Stream here. – Andy (May 15, 2011)
