Nada Surf‘s new album’The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy‘ shows the NYC band haven’t lost any of their melodic charm. Featuring guest appearances by musician Doug Gillard (Guided by Voices) and produced by Chris Shaw (Wilco) the band show an exceptional ability for remaining evergreen.
Take the excellent ‘When I Was Young‘ for example; it builds classically, starting with a simple jangly acoustic intro until it delivers you into a beautiful rock crescendo of crashing drums and striking guitars.
The nostalgic lyrics stay much in sync with the concept presented in the title, sweet listless thoughts concerning previous states of mind are front and center as Matthew Caws sings. As the chorus repeats “what was that world I was dreaming of“, and the music swells it is hard to ignore ones own youthful misgivings. The tones of the rock ensemble are spot on. The track is masterfully mixed, showcasing each instrument appropriately and without bombast.
The band will be beginning there latest national tour March 20th in Los Angeles, CA. The album . ‘The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy‘ is out now.
Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here
2. Adele – 21
Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here
3. Cliff Martinez with various artists – Drive (Original Movie Soundtrack)
Drive the film was bad-ass. Ask all my friends, I was obsessed with it. The soundtrack is very much a reason for the films incredible machismo. The 80s derived pulses are all encompassing. Walking down the street with this soundtrack in your headphones makes you instantly feel indestructible (warning: this can be dangerous is Los Angeles).
4. Bon Iver – Bon Iver
Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here
5. Grouplove – Never Trust a Happy Song
When I first met Hannah Hooper of Grouplove she was describing to me how she envisioned Grouplove’s tshirts (which the company I was working for was creating). We talked about color and I complimented the artwork she brought into the screenprinting shop. Before she and Grouplove’s manager left our office they set down a copy of their EP, which included versions of “Naked Kids” and “Colours“. The EP was brash. I waited close to a year to hear ‘Never Trust a Happy Song‘ and wasn’t disappointed. The album features the energy bands like Arcade Fire seem to have lost (or perhaps matured out of).
6. Black Keys – El Camino
Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here
7. Destroyer – Kaputt
Kaputt was gorgeous. It is a modern headphone album reminiscent of Animal Collective’s ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion‘. Tracks like “Downtown” pair 80s saxophones with distinct harmonies. The music is entrancing and layered deep enough to find new surprises with each play.
8. Tyler, The Creator – Goblin
Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here
9. Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter IV
‘Tha Carter IV‘ for me is a classic hip-hop disc. Lil’ Wayne was by far 2011s boldest rap star. While Kanye and Jay-Z were busy declaring there dominance with world tours and a sub-par album, Lil’ Wayne was reminding us “How to Hate a Bitch”. The album is offensive, honest and on “How to Love” Weezy shocks us with a track that is so sensitive it is hard to believe it is coming from a Young Money Millionaire.
10. Drake – Take Care
Drake’s second full length album was nothing if not grandiose. A-list cameos and production alongside Drake’s smooth (and occasionally morose) rhymes made for 2011’s most accessible disc.
Last year I sat through a blogger and A&R roundtable organized by one of the majors in London. In between talk of “organic artist growth” and “breakout singles” The name of the Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, and more specifically Tyler, The Creator‘s ‘Yonkers‘ video, came up several times as the label people seemed genuinely baffled by the success the collective were enjoying and the way they had gone about it.
Then in May he followed this up with his first non-independently released album ‘Goblin‘ acting as a metaphorical punch to the stomach. In between persistent arguments with his inner voices, tongue-in-cheek suggestions that we ”kill people, burn shit, fuck school” and general disclaimers to his position as hip hops posterchild Tyler spits some of the best venom since Eminem’s debut album.
Cole found himself asking ”Is ‘Goblin’ a comedy album? I still don’t know. Tracks like “Yonkers” are dark, featuring samples that seem to be pulled from horror films. The rhymes constantly reference murder and explicit sex, and flow slowly as if they were first written to be high school poems. The album confuses me to no end, and I can’t stop listening to it“.
Bon Iver‘s much awaited sophomore album did not disappoint warranting a spot on numerous “Best of 2011″ lists including a handful of Cougar Microbes types.
Nicole justified its selection saying “Bon Iver continues to carve out his niche, and the deeper he goes the better. If the listener follows as he continues his subterranean exploration, they will find many heartfelt and triumphant moments; ultimately proving that things don’t have to be conventional, but just the opposite”
Jazmin added “Bon Iver’s self titled second album is one of those records I haven’t been able to stop playing all year. Each song is beautifully crafted, layered in different musical elements and building further on the vocals that made ‘For Emma’ so wonderful. It feels hard to say anything that a hundred positive reviews haven’t already said this year, but it’s a testament to Bon Iver’s emerging brilliance that album so simple and basic can be so unbelievably breathtaking“.
Finally Cole said “‘Bon Iver’ by Bon Iver is very simply a lovely album. It swells and swoons in a dreamscape that never falters. I am personally guilty of repeating “Perth” and “Calgary” exclusively for the complete duration of my commute to work. The album just works from beginning to end“.
Annie Clark‘s return marked the continued metamorphosis of her St. Vincent project. ‘Strange Mercy‘ see’s the Texan mix eerie instrumentation and crystal clear vocals into a delicious concoction.
Cole included the album in his year-end list adding “Annie Clark, performing as St. Vincent, has crafted a spellbinding third album. Perhaps it’s her serene vocals (or are they haunting?). Maybe it is the modern experimentation mixing with her undeniable guitar chops. It could even be her commitment to cerebral lyricism.But somehow…
Somehow, ‘Strange Mercy‘ is an experience. It is an album that was meant to be listened to, alone in a room with the most expensive headphones you can find“.
The Black Keys didn’t keep us waiting long for their new album reuniting with old co-conspirator Danger Mouse in the process. The album oozes retro flair but manages not to sound dated. There’s more than a knowing nod to the past but this isn’t a rehash of a bygone era but rather an exciting interpretation
El Camino‘ is further proof that the duo’s unlikely success is far from a fluke and the band are bound to play larger and larger audiences. The Keys have been working hard and no doubt in 2012 they will once again be cramming their instruments into their van, finding cheap car insurance and travelling to far off towns to export their brand of rock n roll.
Cougar writer Coleadded this to his top 10 explaining “‘El Camino’ is not The Black Keys’ best album. Frankly I don’t know if The Black Keys have a best album. ‘Brothers’ allowed them into mainstream radio but that may not be a good thing.
The reason ‘El Camino’ made this top list is because The Black Keys can always fulfill my rock needs. Dan Auerbach’s voice is real and raw but never obnoxious. The energy is kept high throughout the disc with beat and riffs that are designed to kick your ass and get you past your most recent break up“.
New Cougar recruit Nicoleadded “in terms of coming up indie, making work with integrity and now finally hitting it big; Dan Auerbach‘s giving Ryan Gosling a run for the money. Oh yea, and the sex appeal too“.
Following her impressive debut ‘19‘ expectations were mighty high for Adele‘s comeback. Few could have imagined that the similarly numerically titled ‘21‘, propelled by the incredible single ‘Rolling In The Deep‘, would bring the young singer/songwriter to such dizzying heights.
Still, it would be wrong to attribute the Londoner‘s success solely to this lead single as there are plenty of fantastic moments on display ad demonstrated by the countless Adele tributes that exist on Soundcloud and Youtube.
Cougar writer Emily said “This is the album I’m not ashamed to admit I borrowed from my mum. Although Adele i always in danger of being overplayed, I still am not quite sick of her; for me it is her song writing that stands her apart from all the other ladies with pipes“.
Our boy Cole added ” I love Adele. I love her because she is more engaging with her voice and a piano than Rihanna and Lady Gaga are with million dollar stage productions. Her voice is heartbreaking and ‘21‘ has some of the most sincere young love tracks ever recorded. “Someone Like You”, “Rolling in the Deep”, and “Turning Tables” are all good enough to single-handedly carry a hit record. Whatever heartache (or genius songwriting partners) led to these beautiful songs was well worth it. I will still be listening to this album in 20 years.
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