Deerhunter – Microcastle

This album isn’t technically supposed to be out until October but whatever. I’ve have this bad boy for about two months and let me tell you – amazing. I’ve always liked Deerhunter (maybe not so much the loud, screaming phase) and I really dug Cryptograms, so when I heard they were coming out with a new album, I was excited. Microcastle sees Deerhunter toned down and more focused on melody than on making loud sounds. It’s beautiful and weird and a little creepy. And that’s how I like Deerhunter.

Track: “Little Kids” – Deerhunter Why: Deerhunter has grown out of songs about things dying and on to songs about just growing up. They have the fine talent of being able to say a lot with just their music. Think of this as an ode to being a happy kid and having to give it up later.

Atlas Sound – Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel

Speaking of Deerhunter! Bradford Cox (lead singer of Deerhunter) came out with this little solo project. After hearing this, the change in Deerhunter’s music makes a lot more sense. It’s like Deerhunter in their MORE spaced out moments. If that is even possible. It’s shoegazer meets psychodelic indie rock with a whole shitload of drugs thrown in. Turn on and tune out indeed.

Track: “Recent Bedroom” – Atlas Sound Why: Only Bradford Cox could stretch three lines out into an almost 4 minute piece of blissed out post-rock.

Uzi & Ari – It Is Freezing Out

I have been ranting and raving about Uzi & Ari for over a year now and I still contend that they have one of the most underrated indie rock albums of 2006. Thankfully the Salt Lake City band is coming out with a new CD called Headworms and if the first track off it (“Wolf Eggs”) is any indication, we can expect more girl/boy harmonies over dreamy synth pop. Watch out, Postal Service.

Track: “Tiny House” – Uzi & Ari Why: Postal Service wishes they could write this well. Ben Shepard is never whiny (Ben Gibbard, come on) and the acoustic guitar over the minimal electronic beats makes you want to sit in a sunny park and just chill.

Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago

I don’t like buying into hype, especially when it comes to indie singer-songwriters whose songs make me want to fall into a coma. However, I must admit I was wrong about Bon Iver. (But am I the only one who thinks Justin Vernon sounds like the lead singer from TV on the Radio?) For all my misgivings, Bon Iver delivered one of the most sparse and beautiful albums of the year.

Track: “The Wolves (Act I and II)” – Bon Iver Why: Ridiculously beautiful cresendo at the end of the song. Don’t tell me you didn’t want to sing along to that.

Hrsta – Ghosts Will Come And Kiss Our Eyes

Where was I when this came out? How did I live without this? I think we can all agree that I like music that’s the aural companion to dropping acid. Just saying. So while Godspeed You Black Emperor is dormant, Hrsta has picked up the eerie post-rock torch. It’s like GYBE meets Sonic Youth meets Folk Implosion on the song “Jenny’s Theme.” If you like creaky music for dark nights and ghostly vocals softly singing about things that’ll give you nightmares, then I strongly suggest Hrsta.

Track: “Entre La Mer et l’Eau Douce” – Hrsta Why: Think of a black mass with the Devil himself playing the organ.

Ra Ra Riot – The Rhumb Line

I’ve been a huge supporter of Ra Ra Riot since they played one of their first big shows in Boston with Stellastarr and Illinois. After working with them through BU Central, I got to know them as people and of all the indie bands that I have met, I think they have what it takes to make it big. Their first full length album comes over a year after the death of their drummer and best friend John Pike. His absence is clearly felt but the band pays tribute to him in songs like “St. Peter’s Day Festival” (which he wrote) and “Winter ’05.” Many of the songs on the album were on their self-titled EP but with additions of “Oh La” and others, this album is tightly constructed and a great debut for a phenomenal band.

Track: “Run My Mouth” – Ra Ra Riot Why: Alexandra and Rebecca on strings rule this song. And of course there is Wesley who can sing “What is it that gets you through another day when I’m not there” with honesty and real feeling.

M.I.A.
Peaches
Justice
MGMT
Crystal Castles (their CD is okay but not good enough to merit all that hype)
Santogold
Girl Talk (and I LIKE GT but this is getting absurd)

Can I just talk briefly about MGMT? Because they suck. They suck and I feel like I am in some alternate reality where everyone loves them and think I am just being difficult because I don’t. No, I hate them because they have songs that sound like Flight of the Conchords. But they aren’t joking. I’ll admit, “Time to Pretend” is a really catchy song with some witty lyrics but that’s it. The charm ends there.
“Electric Feel”? Seriously? There is only one good version of that song and it’s (shockingly) remixed by Justice. It’s like what happens when two crappy things unite, they make something that’s a million times better than what any of the groups can do alone. Sad. Someone tell all the above artists to get together. Maybe they can make a decent album.
Maybe I just don’t get “IT” but if “IT” is cool then I sure as hell don’t want to be a part of that. I’d rather be uncool with my fine sense of music in tact rather than jump on some BS.

If you agree, go to: www.hipsterrunoff.com

There’s a war being waged on the dancefloor and it’s between the electro banger spinners and those trying to bring back disco. You know who I blame? Justice.

It’s not that I dislike Justice, I just think that they are overrated for what they are. Their album Cross is mediocre at best, populated by songs that when left in the hands of competent DJs are amazing but are flat and repetitive on their own. Take “Stress” for instance. Kind of pretty boring in structure but the sound is very interesting. Now, listen to “Stress (Auto Remix).” Badass? VERY. Nice menacing strings that build to one of the most hard beats these ears have ever heard. Legit, this song could tear up any club.

And this is kind of the issue at hand. The electro world is splintering into even more factions. There’s chick rap (Yelle, Uffie, Peaches, MIA), there’s bangers, there’s disco, and there’s downtempo and accessible electro. Not that there’s any issue to that, lord knows how many variations of rock we have. The issue is that groups are battling over the resurgence of disco beats in the clubs.

Personally, I dislike the new electro-disco. It’s too safe, too cute, and not nearly as raw as club music needs to be. Disco certainly has taken off in Europe but I’d be a little disappointed to see bangers take a backseat to disco here in the States. Bangers are club mainstays, sort of an offshoot of the harder trance music of the late 90s/early 2000s (Ricky Fobis’ “No Regular”). Bangers are dirty, loud, and are the badass floor stomping anthems that the electro scene is known for. The heavy bass, insane break beats, and the distorted effects of MSTRKRFT’s “Bounce” are so much better than the sweetness and light of, let’s say, Justice’s “D.A.N.C.E.” But tell that to the millions of bandwagoners who jumped on that song as soon as the video came out. Thanks again, MTV! Where would we be without you telling us what’s cool?

2008-2009 = The Comeback of Disco? I hope not.

Side A: 1. “D.A.N.C.E. (Justice Cover)” – Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. 2. “Boy from School (Hot Chip Cover)” – Maritime 3. “Ready for the Floor (Hot Chip Cover)” – Duffy 4. “Foundations (Kate Nash Cover)” – Banjo Or Freakout 5. “Well Well Well (John Lennon Cover)” – Cold War Kids 6. “Toxic (Britney Spears Cover)” – Portland Cello Project 7. “Gimme More (Britney Spears Cover)” – Sia 8. “Crown of Love (Arcade Fire Cover)” – This Is Ivy League 9. “No Cars Go (Arcade Fire Cover)” – Final Fantasy 10. “Mexico (Cake Cover)” – Kim Richey

Side B: 1. “Into Dust (Mazzy Star Cover)” – Ashtar Command 2. “Hyperballad (Bjork Cover)” – Big Heavy Stuff 3. “Nights in White Satin (The Moody Blues Cover)” – Midnight Movies 4. “The Pioneers (Bloc Party Cover)” – Mystery Jets 5. “Say It Right (Nelly Furtado Cover)” – Bloc Party 6. “Popular (Nada Surf Cover)” – Scary Mansion 7. “Playground Love (Air Cover)” – Phoenix 8. “Go (Daniel Johnston Cover)” – Sparklehorse & The Flaming Lips 9. “What You Want (My Bloody Valentine Cover)” – readymade 10. “Iron Man (Black Sabbath Cover)” – The Cardigans