Sweet music to your ears. LP’s, EP’s and everything in between this is the place you will find out about the latest music and maybe even some oldies but goodies.
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My Bloody Valentine: Loveless (reissue)
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Pseudo Kids: Stay Glad EP
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B.O.B: Strange Clouds
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Beach House: Bloom
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mewithoutYou: Ten Stories
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Silversun Pickups: Neck of the Woods
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Off!: Off!
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Father John Misty: Fear Fun
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Death Grips: The Money Store
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Jack White: Blunderbuss
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Reptar: Body Faucet
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Spiritualized: Sweet Heart Sweet Light
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Miike Snow: Happy to You
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Battles: Dross Glop
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Rusko: Songs
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High on Fire: De Vermis Mysteriis
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Bear In Heaven: I Love You, It's Cool
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Tanlines: Mixed Emotions
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Ear Dropps Come Lately
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Odd Future: The OF Tape Vol. 2
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Drudkh: Eternal Turn of the Wheel
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The Shins: Port of Morrow
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The Men: Open Your Heart
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The Decemberists: We All Raise Our Voices to the Air
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Andrew Bird: Break It Yourself
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Damien Jurado: Maraqopa
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Mark Lanegan Band: Blues Funeral
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Earth: Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II
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Fionn Regan: 100 Acres of Sycamore
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Loma Prieta: I.V.
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Schoolboy Q: Habits & Contradictions
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Leonard Cohen: Old Ideas
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Howler:America Give Up
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Nada Surf:The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy
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Lana Del Rey:Born to Die
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Cloud Nothings:Attack on Memory
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First Aid Kit:The Lion's Roar
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Chairlift: Something
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Anthony Green:Beautiful Things
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The Big Pink:Future This
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Gates of Mourning:Nightfall Blooms and Golden Horns
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Nicole Miglis:EP
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Kathleen Edwards:Voyageur
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James Blake:Love What Happened Here
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Alcest: Les Voyages de l'Ame
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The Weeknd: Echoes of Silence
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Best Albums of 2011
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Best Songs 2011
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M83:Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
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Feist: Metals
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Wilco:The Whole Love
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Tom Waits:Bad As Me
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Wolves in the Throne Room:Celestial Lineage
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A.A. Bondy: Believers
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Slow Club:Paradise
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Mates of State:Mountaintops
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Gotye: Making Mirrors
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St. Vincent:Strange Mercy
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Mister Heavenly:Out of Love
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The War On Drugs:Slave Ambient
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Blood Orange:Coastal Grooves
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Active Child:You Are All I See
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Yip-Yip:Bone Up
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Maximino:Not So Cold, Cave
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Thee Oh Sees:Castlemania
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Timber Timbre:Creep On Creepin' On
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Watch The Throne
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Little Dragon:Ritual Union
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Liturgy:Aesthethica
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The Cool Kids:When Fish Ride Bicycles
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Gang Gang Dance:Eye Contact
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Bon Iver: Bon Iver
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John Maus:We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves
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TOKiMONSTA:Creature Dreams EP
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The Wooden Birds:Two Matchsticks
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Jamie XX:Far Nearer/Beat For
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The Antlers:Burst Apart
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Death Cab for Cutie:Codes and Keys
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Dangermouse & Daniele Luppi:Rome
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David Bazan: Strange Negotiations [Barsuk]
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Thurston Moore:Demolished Thoughts
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Foster The People:Torches
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Explosions in the Sky:Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
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My Morning Jacket:Circuital
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Man Man:Life Fantastic
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Okkervil River:I Am Very Far
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Pygmy Lush:Old Friends
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Elzhi:Elmatic
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Beastie Boys:Hot Sauce Committee Part 2
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Fleet Foxes:Helplessness Blues
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Young Widows:In And Out Of Youth And Lightness
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Gil Scott-Heron/Jamie XX:We're New Here
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J-Rocc:Some Cold Rock Stuf
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Little Scream:The Golden Record
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Cut Copy:Zonoscope
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Panda Bear:Tomboy
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Pains of Being Pure At Heart:Belong
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Acid House Kings:Music Sounds Better With You
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Bibio:Mind Bokeh
The War On Drugs:Slave Ambient
Tags: Experimental, folk rock, granduciel, Secretly Canadian, slave ambient, the war on drugs
8.0/10 dropps
Secretly Canadian; 2011
Philadelphia has produced a number of successful indie/alternative rock bands (think Dr. Dog and Free Energy) and among them is Adam Granduciel’s The War on Drugs, which has been releasing notable experimental-folk rock albums since Wagonwheel Blues dropped in 2008. Like their previous albums, Slave Ambient stays true to the ambient, pseudo-psychedelic sound that characterizes the band. The tracks move in and out of dreamy, far-away intros infused with Granduciel’s Bob Dylan-esque vocals, and more upbeat tempos reminiscent of early Springsteen. Those may be two big names to be compared to, but The War on Drugs successfully combines elements of both, adding to that already stellar mix a distinctly modern sound with waves of saxophone and shimmering synth.
The effect is compelling. Their music is rich and layered, occasionally drifting into the realm of cloudy, dense guitar riffs, but Granduciel brings a warmth and soulfulness to the band which keeps it from becoming the monotonous kitsch that frequently emerges on the dreamy alt scene. The movement of this album is seamless – it includes three hypnotic transitional tracks that pull the listener even further into ambient bliss. Slave Ambient is something you want to have flowing out of your speakers on a long drive or at the end of the night.
Ultimately, The War on Drugs’ comforting and steady sound maintains a mellow vibe while somehow never becoming stale or repetitive. Opening with “Best Night,” the band seems to recall their earlier music by continuing the swirling, folkish melodies reminiscent of their first EPs. As you progress deeper into the album, it transitions to a more experimental sound with transfixing synth and less of a focus on Granduciel’s vocals. The outcome is refreshing; The War on Drugs blends a retrospective vibe with one that is modern and radiant. The album closes with one of my personal favorites, a track called “Blackwater”, in which Granduciel croons over a strumming guitar and sparkly percussions.
The listener is drawn into the dreamy world that Granduciel seeks to create and guided through a story even Dylan himself would admire. For those wary of the lo-fi, far-away sound, I highly encourage you to still give this band a try. Their spin on a popular trend is far from a disappointment.
-Anna Kimura
Mon Sep 5
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