For the past few years that I’ve been doing this list, I’d been able to identify a certain theme that had permeated the particular year’s music. When taking a look back at music in 2012, the most dominant motif was not necessarily a result of the music recorded, but music played live. Now, I understand that this assessment may...
Chaz Bundick’s—the mastermind behind Toro Y Moi—musical output can be described as amorphic; he helped pioneer the chillwave genre in “Causers of This,” while channeling his inner dance music enthusiast through the side project Les Sins. In a recent interview with Pitchfork, at his album pre-release event, Bundick stated that he “wanted to make a pop album…because really...
Potential. It’s what a lot of your favorite indie bands show glimpses of, but never quite realize. This is the gist of The Winter Sound’s third album “Runner.” It never quite puts you over the top, but it definitely gets you excited for what this band can do in the future. Their musical style might best be described as...
In Latin, the word “forma” means shape or figure, and in a more figurative sense it is also used to describe beauty. This implication suggests that the simplicity of the form and structure in things captures the spirit of elegance. Forma’s 2011 self-titled debut album was a dream pop record that embraced the modern world’s fascination with experimentalism and...
A year after the release of her album “Bionic” in 2010, Christina Aguilera returned to the spotlight as a judge on “The Voice,” and made a visual statement by showcasing her glowing fake tan and some new “hardware.” Apparently a couple of years and a revamped look is all it took for Aguilera to emerge—as literally seen on the...
So let me set something straight—I consider myself a pretty big Green Day fan. I’ve defended the band when people said they sucked, and I still think that their lyrical themes are far more honest than those of many other artists out there; a lot of their previous work is underrated. That being said, their latest installment “¡Dos!,” the...
A long 11 years passed since Aerosmith last released original music, 2001’s “Just Push Play.” After a near break-up of the Boston’s Bad Boys in 2009, the band reached its end of Sony/Columbia Records contract with their 15th and latest album, “Music from Another Dimension!”
Aerosmith returned to their roots of bluesy rock in “Music from Another Dimension!” that transports...
Less than 55 days until the beloved season of Christmas and CeeLo Green releases an album loaded with 14 holiday classics. Besides his appearance as a coach on “The Voice,” CeeLo’s last work was “Lady Killer” with the hit “Forget You.” This surprising Christmas album, “CeeLo’s Magic Moment,” with horses pulling a red Cadillac sleigh on the cover,...
Shining in authentic old-school blues fashion, guitar virtuoso Gary Clark Jr.’s major-label debut, “Blak and Blu,” brings true soul and pain back to an R&B realm that has been wallowing in overproduced hip-hop. Clark’s earnest tone and masterful guitar playing should definitely earn this album a spot as one of the year’s best.
Opening up with the brass filled “Ain’t...
Taking poetic lyrics full of imagery seems to be a Death Cab for Cutie hallmark. On his first solo venture since 2009, lyricist and lead singer Ben Gibbard continues these motifs exceedingly and although many of the songs have pleasant sounds, “Former Lives” is oozing with dark bitterness. Gibbard, who recently divorced actress Zooey Deschanel, said in an interview...