Drab Majesty - Careless
This would probably make album of the week. I was hooked instantly. This sounds like a band that would have opened for the Cure back in the mid 80s, but it's actually a brand new band. I don't know much about who's in it or anything else - but they're really fucking good. Usually when a modern band tries to go back in time genre wise, they always stay current with production. Now obviously depending on the genre and where in time the band is traveling to - a crisp high end and a deep low end mix can ruin that retro feel. These guys had that in mind and killed it.
Anne - Dream Punx
Another perfect example of a brand new band taking you down memory lane in just the right way. It's not as atmospheric to be clumped in with My Bloody Valentine, but I hear them get compared to them a lot. I honestly think this sounds very similar to the first Cure album, Pornography. The big difference to me is as "airy" as this record sounds, it doesn't quiet overlap itself sonically as much as early shoe-gaze music does. The delays aren't as long, the reverbs aren't as big. It gives it a bit more focused, almost poppier feel to it. It's certainly not a bad thing what so ever.
I'm glad this kind of style seems to be getting bigger these days. There are a lot of new bands referencing 90's bands and it's fucking awesome.
I'm glad this kind of style seems to be getting bigger these days. There are a lot of new bands referencing 90's bands and it's fucking awesome.
The Bad Plus - Never Stop
This band and album is unlike any band in this post, as well as anything else I've posted on this blog. Back around 2010 when I first started playing music with a friend who highly recommended these guys to me. He said my drumming style reminding him of this band. It was the best compliment I've ever received, because the drummer of this band, David King, is absolutely fucking mind blowing. I'm not a big jazz guy, at all - but these guys are stimulating from start to finish. It gets a little self indulgent, but as a musician I can appreciate it.
There are grooves on this album that are so fucking tasteful. It's catchy, but you can't necessarily tap your feet to it. This is also their first album introducing some electronic elements. David had a drum pad to the right of his kit for some cheesy electronic fills and pianist Ethan Iverson added a few synthesizer layers underneath his piano parts. Not everyone is going to be into jazz or this band, but this is the album I would choose for a first time Bad Plus listener.
-Novak
There are grooves on this album that are so fucking tasteful. It's catchy, but you can't necessarily tap your feet to it. This is also their first album introducing some electronic elements. David had a drum pad to the right of his kit for some cheesy electronic fills and pianist Ethan Iverson added a few synthesizer layers underneath his piano parts. Not everyone is going to be into jazz or this band, but this is the album I would choose for a first time Bad Plus listener.
-Novak