The Week in music #2

Yes, I know I missed one last week but there was no point reporting on just a couple of albums I heard. It's been a bit of a slow start to the year...up until this week that is. I've been off ill so it gave me a fair few chances to relax, listen to some classics and new albums.

Starting with the big leaks, Lana Del Rey's Born To Die is out there if anyone wants to have a listen since she's seemingly everywhere at the moment. I quite like the album, it trails off at the end, but if you want some nice Pop to listen to (in a similar vein to Gwen Stefani, I miss her) then give this a go. The hype around her is ridiculous, but to be fair she seems to be handling it pretty well. Good for her!

Another album to cause a few mini-excitements is Grimes' Visions, but it's a very divisive album. Similar to Gang Gang Dance's Eye Contact last year, squeaky vocals, synth-pop and a few J-Pop influences; I like it, and I honestly don't know why, because the first time I heard it it gave me an even worse headache than what I already had, but repeated listens later and it's something I can find myself listening to when hyped-up on sugar, or just a very immature and light listen.

Finally gave the new Guided By Voices album a go...not really that impressed. Feels half-finished and hit-and miss, and Tennis have a new album out too! They're probably the most inoffensive band ever, and it's a minor step up from their debut...but honestly, I have no idea where their 3rd LP will take them, they haven't really evolved their sound, so they might be the Pitchfork Oasis or something.

Of Montreal have exceeded themselves in pretentiousness too in Paralytic Stalks. They make Arcade Fire sound like The Vaccines; it's just a little bit too crazy for my liking, but I'm not giving up on it that easily.

That's about it! Next week I'll have an update on Perfume Genius (yay), Gonjasufi (hmm), Crippled Black Phoenix (ooooooh!), and perhaps Lambchop and Xiu Xiu...there's a fair bit of stuff coming out.

The Week in Music #1

A new year brings new music, and at the moment things have started a bit slowly in terms of big names. There's still a few months before my favourite artists start releasing new material, but at the moment I'm just continuing to check out new stuff.

The best album I've heard so far this year (hah, only been 13 days...) is Cloud Nothings' 3rd album, where they've changed their sound from the Lo-Fi Punk to something a little more moodier. Quite a surprisingly good album and definitely a step up from last year's effort.

As for the best compilation, Pinch's Fabriclive is a good mix of Dubstep and Techno, and definitely something I can see myself listening to when I'm in the party mood. Lindstrom's latest album Six Cups of Rebel is a bit of a disappointment, it's a never-goes-anywhere kind of listen, and a very frustrating one at that. I really wanted to like it, but I can't bring myself to get enthusiastic about it.

The earliest contender for worst album of 2012 is almost definitely The Big Pink's Future This. Even though I thought their debut was alright, the 2nd album is an uninspiring and bland listen, and it just sounds like their repeated Dominoes 13 times.

Currently I still have to listen to Of Montreal's new album, I just hope it's much better than their last release, and a Dubstep offering from Goth-Trad (awful name, but it's a pretty solid album (needs more listens))

Interesting start to 2012 indeed.