Music from the Isles

Since I finally got Rhapsody working for me. how about a run-down of new music?  Why, of course!  It looks like it's going to be an all British session this time around, so bear with me. By the way, two of these three bands will be at Coachella.  Still up for debate whether I'll be going this year, but these records make it seem more likely.

Starting off with The Subways album, "Young for Eternity", we find ourselves knee deep in what is the "now" sound of most independent or modern rock bands, the retro-rocket pastiche of punk and classic buzz rock of recent history.  The sound really serves them well in this case, since they don't linger too much on how fashionable they are.  What sets them apart, aside from the male and female vocals, are the smooth melodies, carefully constructed around clean guitar lines and a solid rhythm.  Although some might criticize them for the well-trodden path of typical British-rock, I find them to be unique with their vocals to be interesting.  Although it's not my favorite of recent purchases, I give them a thumbs up.

Next up is the ridiculously hyped debut of the Arctic Monkeys.  Maintaining a superfluous amount of Internet word of mouth, their LP "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" delivers on the promise of a rip-roaring smash-mouth record of the year thus far.  From track 1 to 14, they've compiled a record to remember.  The lyrics are very British in their sensibility and the music itself while very much in the vein of the popular sound explores different territory.  While there's a definite need to be clever, the Arctic Monkeys achieve irony without winking.  While there's an itch for most bands to appear tough, this album makes no attempt to display a black eye.  While one may compare them with an earlier version of The Libertines, it's safe for me to say that the Arctic Monkeys are a much better version of the coked-up creation of Pete Doherty.

Finally, there's a band some may have heard on the radio lately, Hard-Fi and their new release, "Stars of CCTV."  Subtle indications of underground success in the title really belies the expressiveness of the songs. Off the bat, you may be expecting more of the same guitar thrashing and microphone drenching of the previous two bands, but instead you end up with something akin to the Police, Duran Duran and other pre-eminent British bands of the '80s.  There is a lot less glam, but the same dedication to melody really shines on this record.  Neck and neck one of my favorites of the new year, they're going to be a band to catch at Coachella and I look forward to hearing more.  

Still up on deck, Mylo, DJ Shadow, We Are Scientists, and the Air-ishness that is M83.