Be Here Now: Snapshot Reviews Of New Album Releases 1-28-14
If you knew Peggy Sue you’d know why they are the album of the week
Choir Of Echoes – Peggy Sue – The difference between this English new folk bands third album and their last one, is the steady build of sound, like a choir of indie children, seems to go further. But the problem is that it can feel all of a piece which makes it hard to concentrate on particular songs; they become particular tracks – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – B+
Too True – Dum Dum Girls – Don’t let the leather jackets fool ya, this is the sort of band that names songs after Arthur Rimbaud -overkill on a pleasant though bland chick flick album – B-
Croz – David Crosby – There is something jazzy in Crosby’s arrangements and I never bought him as a melodic equal to Nash and Stills, but this isn’t his worst work because his voice is so sweet, that haunted tenor, and the songs take awhile but arrive eventually. Made with his son James Raymond – B+
Drowners – Drowners – I quite liked the nyc rockers when I saw em at CMJ last year, and I quite like this melodic punchy album. But man, does it need more energy – B+
Thrive – Thrive – Christian rockers to the hugely successful Come To The Well, are more instant anthems in praise of God – C+
Held In Splendor – Quilt – On stage Quilt are psychedelic folkies, on record they are indie folkies and pretty good ones though not over the length of an album – B-
Restoring Force – Of Mice And Men – At their best here, say “Public Service Announcement” they are the popular face of metalcore -catchy and smart. But when they are metal popping, not so much – B-
Trouble – Hospitality – I am not a fan of indie pop at the best of time, but for some reason this is the fourth album that belongs to the genre this week, leaving me quite bored with it. “It’s Not Serious” is so good, it floats above the water – B-
Clear – Periphery – Prog rock 2014, doesn’t prog quite enough – B
The B-Sides – The Gaslight Anthem – Listen to their cover of “Tumbling Dice” and get back to me – D+
Painting By Numbers – Mary Hopkin – Beautifully sung mediocre folk songs from the former (as in 1967) McCartney protegee – B-
