The Rosebuds-Life Like

Kelly Crisp and Ivan Howard-the Rosebuds- met in college in NC, got married and released their first record Make Out in 2003. It is the chemistry between these two that construct the exclusive sound of their new album Life Like. They are able to capture undeniable energy and sprit in their music all the while interlacing shoe gaze, upbeat and acoustic all in one.

Opening track Life Like starts out with dragging guitars and an elementary drum beat. Howards relentlessly croons out words of being a beast that’s held captive in his own life and feeling like an outsider “Well oh well, the pines are getting to me/ consider my life/I'm wild but I'm not free’.

Crisp takes stage in the following track Cape Fear and conjures the signature early 90’s sound. She sings kooky lyrics like ‘Heard another catfish ate a man/They got a search team going in/Shaky shaky shake all right’.

The desperation in Border Guards is engrained in every note of Howard’s voice. Filled with a quick tempo and plenty of synth, this beautifully sad and relives a love story between a man and an immigrant worker who was whisked away to a find a better life. The desperation in Border Guard is engrained in every note of Howard’s voice where he sings ‘I hear the stars talking from the tin roof of my home/ I wonder where you are, are you out there all alone?/ Goddamn the border guards’.

Radio released track Bow To The Middle is guaranteed to get you going. Crisp begins the song by belting out the chorus and poppy beat followed by a lazily sung 2 line verse by Howard about how the devils can fool you..‘When the devil came down here, he sang so good/And his voice was too sincere to be untrue’.

The album slows down a bit towards the end but not for a second loses the listeners interest. Life Like is timeless and The Rosebuds are bound to keep building their fan base.

A

Little Joy;Self-Titled

The Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti has the perfect recipe for one of this year’s most enjoyable albums. Rocker Moretti teamed up with Rodrigo Amarante of Brazillian indie-rock band Los Hermanos and instrumentalist Binki Shapiro. Little Joy’s self titled album is sweetly innocent and perfect. There is an island-esqu, 50’s style sound that is consistently evident in every song and each track blending into the next with ease. Brand New Start is a sweet up tempo love song that embraces and encourages a second chance at love “All this time they had me thinking/Love's a boat that's slowly sinking/; Ain't no lover like the one I've got/She and I have a brand new start”. No Ones Better Sake is sunny and laced with background organs that provide a fuller element; you’d never think this would be a break up song; ‘So is this how it ends/Oh with a whimper instead of bang/I can't defend you truly/When I worry about smoke instead of putting out the fire’. In How To Hang A Warhol, Moretti sings stories of telling mom and dad dreams of being an artist or orchestra conductor and when that all fails he’ll still be singing and playing in a band; “But as long as I can't get into Carnagie Hall/I'll keep writing them songs/That are all mine/Very simple and dumb/Like I've always have done. Little Joy delivers something unique that can be listened to anywhere at anytime with anyone.

A

Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band: Conor Oberst

Oberst has a sound on a much more positive and happy note with The Mystic Valley Band than compared to his albums released with his previous band Bright Eyes. This 12 track self titled album was recorded during a month long stint in Mexico last winter. While Oberst’s unique atypical voice is either one that you love or hate, there is no doubt his lyrics are crafted with intricate care. Cape Canaveral starts off the journey with a smooth lullaby acoustics where he admits “Victory is sweet even deep in the cheap seats”. Moab is an upbeat electric tune about a man’s travels and how being on the road is able to fix anything, “See those headlights coming towards us?/That’s someone going back to a town/They said they’d never/Thy swore it on their lives/’ ‘There’s nothing that the road cannot heal”. Sausalito is an automatic mood lifter with a poppy beat and breezy melodies and lyrics ‘We should move to Sausalito/Livings easy on a houseboat/Let the ocean rock us back and forth to sleep”. This album is refreshing and delicately eye opening.

B

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals: Cardinlology

Tantrums, drugs and alcohol fueled Ryan Adams previous albums, no doubt. The cleaned up Adams is clearly evident throughout Cardinology. The common sounding theme in every track is country rock meets classic rock.

Adams kicks off the album with “Born into a Light”, a mid-tempo, yet, catchy tune where he prays for friends and himself to get through tough times and” For everyone alone I wish you faith and hope/ And all the strength to cope/ To be your own best friend have confidence and keep the faith”. Next in line is “Go Easy” is a heartfelt love song littered with southern-rock hooks. “Magick” picks up the pace with a familiar ‘raw garage rock out session’ feel; with lyrics like “You’re like a missile strike/Government goes underground/Warhead on legs/What goes around comes around”.

The last half of the album slows down and eventually closes down and almost brings you to tears with “Stop”, a solo piano and Adam’s fragile voice weeping through lyrics about his battles in rehab “I know a sickness/So ancient and cross/ No crucifix/ Could ever fix enough”

The album keeps relaxed vibe but Adams has never sounded so rational. Blame it on sobriety or blame it on growing up. Ryan Adams has brought new light to his one of a kind sound.

C

Of Montreal: Skeletal Lamping

Wow. All bets are off. It’s hard to believe lead singer and songwriter Kevin Barnes has been fighting depression. Skeletal Lamping is another level of creativity. Every element is endearing and just plain weird. With a voice that combines the stylings of Freddie Mercury and Prince to unfold 15 tracks of funk, disco and indie rock. Yes, it’s possible. Opening track Non Perils of Favor begins with delicate strings before erupting into a punchy confession of truly needing the person he loves “You were always there on the tip of my tongue/ and I needed you to happen/And now you happened” before going on to profusely thank the lucky girl (or guy). Barnes is known for his sexual antics and gender confusion but with For Our Elegant Caste he seems to proudly own every last bit of it as he bluntly sings “We can do it soft core/But you should know that I go both ways” he says. There are new discoveries in every song, new sounds and lots of ‘ooh ooh ooh’s’. Gallery Piece is painfully aware of the contradictions of being in a love hate relationship the need for couple’s therapy. With the intoxicating rhythm and Barnes shoves lyrics like “I want to be your love/I want to make you cry and sweep you off your feet/I want to hurt your pride” in your jaw dropped face. Touched Somethings Hollow begins with piano and the similar treading light voice of Devandra Banhart where he sounds sadly broken and asks “Why am I so damaged girl/Why am I such poison girl/I don’t know how long I can hold on/If it’s gonna be like this forever”. This record is chock full of sexuality, soul, psychedelics and lyrics so descriptive they would have made even George Carlin blush. What else would expect from a Detroit born rock star whose alter ego is a black transvestite?

B

Cold War Kids: Loyalty To Loyalty

Imagine you’re slumped in some crushed velvet covered booth in a dark smoke filled jazz lounge. In walk four scruffy, bed headed guys heading straight to the stage and effortlessly rock out a smooth set. This is what the Kids sophomore release Loyalty to Loyalty delivers. The hooks and melodies are instantly addictive. Singer Nathan Willet exudes a raw conviction in every word and line that leaves you anxiously waiting to hear what he’ll say next. These California boys shamelessly mean what they say and say what they mean. Key track Relief has a certain sexiness and taunting rhythm; the chorus rolls out of Nathan’s mouth as he relays ‘You never really know what you cant really see/I’ll be fair I’ll be fair/You made it out alive oh what a relief’. Golden Gate Jumpers is a narrative of a suicidal woman on the verge of jumping off the historic bridge but The Kids bring an uplifting and soothing piano element that softens the blow of the otherwise morbid verse ‘Bodies float to the shore/Bloated purple and blue/If the sharks don’t get to you first/The crabs will have their way with you’. The lazy sounding Every Man I fall For should be dedicated to all the chicks out there who have bad taste in men with ‘Love hate tattooed on his knuckles’,’ Keeps his anger on a string and holds it tight’ that leaves a poor girl restless. The entire album is loaded with catchy beats and vivid stories. The songs are perfectly under produced and organic, yet infused with absolute rock ability. This album gets better with every listen.

B+

Oasis: Dig Out Your Soul

The once alcohol infused, disturbingly arrogant, fist fighting and F-bomb dropping Brit boys called Oasis, have put out their seventh album. Dig Out Your Soul has exactly the sound of a seventh album. It’ll never live up to the previous six. Bag It Up starts the party off right with typical electric guitar keeping a mediocre rhythm and the melody is somewhat catchy but the disheveled outro is messily irksome. Keyboards are peppered throughout the album perhaps in hope of adding substance. Im Outta Time strangely resembles a dreamy Lennon ditty asking ‘If I were to fall would you be there to applaud/ Or would you hide behind them all/Because I’m outta time’. Radio friendly Be Where There’s Life displays a catchy beat and Liam Gallagher’s proposal of taking you “Over the light/Under the signs/In through locked doors to secret floors”. By the end of the album the foursomes take a bluesy route. The Nature of Reality starts off with the sound of disappointment but an elementary drum beat and bluesy electric guitar are hurdled in to catch you before you decide to jump. Wrapping up the eleven track collection is Soldier On; a solid, drawn out tune with relaxed vocals. Only, you won’t have Oasis’s closing track replaying in your head, rather, Nirvana’s cover ‘Where Did You Sleep Last Night’. Oasis has attempted squeeze the last few drops of pure rock n’ roll bad ass out themselves but that may not be enough to ensure this album a memorable place in music’s heart or score any new fans.

D+