Lea Michele’s “Louder”: loud, but not much else
With “Louder,” Lea Michele has released her very first album with Columbia Records as a solo recording artist. Most of her work has been on Broadway and “Glee,” where she was constantly singing covers...
Real Estate’s “Atlas” is stand-out surf-rock
Real Estate has never been a band to step beyond its self-imposed borders. Since its debut, the band has had its feet pressed firmly into the sand of the chill, psychedelic and carefree surf-rock...
Powerful hooks, emotive lyrics define the Fray’s “Helios”
From desperately attempting to save the soul of a person struggling with drug addiction to doubting the benevolence of a supposedly kind and nurturing God, the Fray have taken us through some of life’s...
The eccentric beauty of “St. Vincent”
“I think I’ve always tried to live at the intersection between accessibility and lunatic-fringe,” says Annie Clark, otherwise known as St. Vincent, on a recent interview on the Colbert Report. On her fourth album,...
Schoolboy Q’s “Oxymoron” sheds light on drugs, fatherhood
Expected to be dropped in early to mid-2013, Schoolboy Q officially released “Oxymoron” on Feb. 25 to eager ears. Many expectations weighed on this project: a growing career, a high bar set by “Habits...
NO “El Prado” Review
I first heard NO about two years ago — roughly late 2011 or early 2012 — on a car ride home late at night listening to a KROQ local music show. It had been...
The Fleshtones “Wheel of Talent” Review
For all you punk and garage rock junkies out there living in an age dominated by pop, rap and hip-hop music, there is still hope for getting your garage rock fix from new releases....
Crosses “Crosses” Album Review
After two EPs and a ton of anticipation from fans of Chino Moreno — lead singer of the immensely popular nu-metal band, Deftones — Crosses’ dark and atmospheric full-length album is a hit. Combining...
Katy B “Little Red” Review
I initially felt pretty relaxed as I sat down to listen to Katy B’s sophomore album “Little Red,” but halfway through, I was energized and feeling the groove. The British-born, Mercury Prize-nominated artist brought...
Broken Bells “After the Disco” Review
In 2010, James Mercer of the Shins and acclaimed producer Danger Mouse (aka Brian Burton, who has produced albums for the likes of the Black Keys, Gorillaz, Beck and Portugal. The Man) put out...