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(03/25/10 2:54am)
With spring officially here, Lawrence Arabia, the decadent moniker of Auckland’s James Milne, provides pure throwback sunshine on his latest release, Chant Darling, his U.S. debut.Through a combination of beachy undertones, soft and subtle percussion and quirky lyrics, Milne sweeps listeners into a swell of sounds that recall the ’70s. Add a range of guitar and Milne’s sweetly charming voice, and Chant Darling becomes a concoction of dreamy old-fashioned influences that stand out among contemporary music — yet Milne tends to rely too heavily on tricks of notable musicians such as The Beatles and The Beach Boys.The album has a spirited energy that proves just as infectious as the overwhelming number of hooks. “Apple Pie Bed” is nothing but danceable with its varied percussion, ranging from strong hand claps to rattling tambourines. Milne continues by infusing sharp, twangy guitar and peppy horns, further embodying the past entertainers who serve as his obvious influences.
(03/25/10 2:40am)
Sometimes pseudonyms aren’t far from the actual hidden identity. Under her Jacquelyn Lee moniker, UNC student Jacki Huntington uses the most bare acoustic necessities to render personal tunes with quirky folk sound.
(03/25/10 2:39am)
Sometimes pseudonyms aren’t far from the actual hidden identity. Under her Jacquelyn Lee moniker, UNC student Jacki Huntington uses the most bare acoustic necessities to render personal tunes with quirky folk sound.
(03/18/10 2:46am)
It may still be blustery outside, but Toro Y Moi’s debut LP, Causers Of This, breaks winter’s chill with a pace and style that evokes warmer climates and slower times.In a similar vein as fellow artist and good friend Ernest Greene of Washed Out, Columbia, S.C.’s Chaz Bundick lays down complicated beats woven among thick layers of electronic lethargy. However, Toro Y Moi’s music stands out as refreshing and multi-layered instrumentation.As the album launches into opener “Blessa,” a whirlwind of slow-churned pop and dreamy synth dominates the track. Even though lyrics like “come home in the summer, live a life that you miss” clearly allude to the approaching warm season of freedom, Bundick envelops listener in a landscape of floating, reverberating sound.
(03/04/10 4:00am)
Under the moniker Peasant, singer-songwriter Damien DeRose combines poppy piano with elements of folk to make relationship woes appear more upbeat than his lyrics actually suggest. With a style almost too similar to Rocky Votolato, Peasant creates a folk- infused mixture passable for love-sick hearts. The album’s opening songs begin with punchy piano chords and delicate vocals, an effect that’s light and charming as DeRose’s voice shines through the songs. The vocally-centered songs with easy-going tones turn Shady Retreat into a lazily relaxed and ethereal folk album.On “The End,” DeRose’s wavering voice calls out with the desperation of a broken lover. Despondent lyrics like “Are you alone tonight? Are you alone every night?” combine with gentle percussion and forlorn acoustic guitars to drive home the strong emotion DeRose fills the album with.
(02/18/10 3:02am)
As a band that has battled numerous breakups and lineup changes, The Dirty Little Heaters turn these flawed influences into finely tuned rock music.
(02/11/10 4:52am)
Dive Verdict: 4 of 5 Stars
(02/04/10 4:12am)
While recording any kind of music is demanding, it becomes doubly so when you do everything yourself on a record, start to finish. Organos, the solo project of Schooner member Maria Albani, is essentially a one-woman show, a combination of simplistic bass lines and layers of household sounds.
(01/28/10 4:23am)
Dive verdict: 3 of 5 stars
(01/21/10 5:10am)
Dive verdict: 4 of 5 stars
(12/03/09 4:38am)
Animal CollectiveFall Be Kind EPExperimentalAs far as versatility goes, Animal Collective figured out its value a while back. But while the band’s diverse experimental sound has long been established, they still aren’t afraid to push the envelope, as the band does on new EP Fall Be Kind.Following up Merriweather Post Pavilion, one of the best albums of the year, the trio launches into a whimsical, animated sound that whisks the listener far away. To where, it’s not entirely clear.For these heroes of thrashing experimental pop, this mellower venture might not be what fans expect, but coming from a band that’s known for unpredictability, the EP is easy to embrace nonetheless.Throughout Fall Be Kind, the soft, soothing vocals of Dave Portner and Noah Lennox (aka Avey Tare and Panda Bear, respectively) dominate the music, slicing through the layers of music like a knife.“What Would I Want? Sky?” is a clear standout. The combination of a clever sample of Grateful Dead’s “Unbroken Chain” with an immense amount of cheery, repetitive synths creates a relaxing and optimistic mood and makes “Sky?” one of Animal Collective’s catchiest tracks.Ultimately, the dichotomic fusion of familiar musical elements with warm and freshly melodic ones render an album that is exceptionally easy to listen to, again and again.With Fall Be Kind, Animal Collective remains predictably unpredictable. And while change might be hard to appreciate, the band doesn’t mind. It’s this element of surprise that keeps the listener hooked and full of anticipation for its next musical move.
(11/19/09 4:40am)
On Midnight Soul Serenade, Heavy Trash combines just the right amount of garage rock, rockabilly and blues to create an album that is anything but junk.The New York-based duo creates an unpolished and Elvis-like sound that traverses multiple genres. With its quality storytelling and Jon Spencer’s raw, bluesy vocals, Midnight Soul Serenade becomes an album that hits the listener right at his or her emotional core. The album’s opener “Gee, I Really Love You” epitomizes Heavy Trash’s ability to meld influences. With its rock ‘n’ roll intro, the addition of Spencer’s twangy vocals creates a song that straddles the line between rock and country. Right away, it demonstrates the honky-tonk fun that the duo is fond of engaging in.Boogie bass lines and funky guitars meld with fast, garage drums to mold Serenade. Toward the end of the album, Spencer and partner Matt Verta-Ray slow things down. With the inclusion of a few brooding songs, Heavy Trash throws some darker twists into their generally playful music.But the band’s refusal to stray from its musical roots is commendable. Heavy Trash’s tendency toward textured songs and storytelling allows Serenade to be an exemplary piece from the rockabilly revival. In a genre that is fading fast, the duo remains true to its form — generally lighthearted and always fun.
(11/12/09 4:44am)
As a band that got its start at a handful of UNC house parties, Lake Inferior knows how to make people dance. With an infectious mix of pop and electronic music, the band has crafted an EP that far outshines its humble beginnings.A flagship band for the University’s own Vinyl Records, Lake Inferior blends synthesized sounds with whimsical lyrics. Pegasaur confidently delves into a dance-happy journey sure to please anyone looking for rhythmic, youthful fun.From funky synths to dreamy melodies, Lake Inferior sports a multifaceted mix that falls somewhere between Arcade Fire and Animal Collective. Although these influences and others are noticeable, the band’s willingness to explore makes its music stand out as a local version of pop trends.With a mix of sounds that ranges from clapping to racing drums and poppy guitars, Lake Inferior has created an album with layers that unfold after multiple listens.“Gepeddo,” with its infectious hand claps and upbeat synthesizers, unfolds in a vein almost identical to Vampire Weekend. The feel-good quality of the song is only amplified by its foolish lyrics that recount a twisted reference to Pinocchio.Though the band often resembles identifiable artists, it still displays a unique sound. The tendency to create complex songs showcases its fondness for experimentation.Pegasaur may not make a sweeping statement, but it ensures a good time. After all, it’s the combination of experimentation, youthfulness and energy that makes Lake Inferior a band you can’t help but dance to.
(11/05/09 6:32am)
There isn’t really anything obscured by Canadian band The Hidden Cameras, who are known for their elaborate stage antics and catchy symphonic pop songs that pour on the eccentricity. But on the latest record, Origin: Orphan, the band taints their generally silly music with a touch of darkness, in an attempt to break away from the immaturity they are known for.