Yes, music is subjective. No, I am not an expert on music by any stretch of the imagination. I do, however, feel compelled to write about the five albums of the summer that you should 1) have already listened to, and 2) still be listening to. Hopefully I can persuade a few others out there to check them out as well.
Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Suburban life is not particularly interesting, but somehow these anthem rockers managed to portray the suburbs in a rather epic way.
The album begins with a honky tonk piano and Win Butler crooning his remembrance of the subtle things in life in the album’s title track. “Grab your mother’s keys, we’re leaving” rings true for anyone who sought to escape the boredom of their clean-cut cul-de-sac.
“Rococo” continues with this theme but also manages to poke fun at the very audience they’re looking to draw: “modern kids” acting as a synonym for “hipster.” Only Arcade Fire could get away with such an obvious jab without losing credibility or fans; if anything, they’re more acclaimed now than when they first started playing “Wake Up.”
“We Used to Wait” hits the most at home for anyone who can remember a time when cell phones and technology were not the focal point of our society with “I used to sleep at night/Before the flashing lights settled deep in my brain.”
The album ends where it began, offering the final word on the suburban experience; “If I could have it back/All the time that we wasted/I’d only waste it again.” After all, who wouldn’t want to be a kid again?
Best Coast – Crazy For You
This album is the epitome of dreamy surf rock. The songs utilize a Spector-esque fuzz that makes the music sound as if it escaped a vault from the 1960s, the track “Our Deal,” in particular, sounds like a B-side of The Supremes.
While the topics of the songs aren’t exactly diverse – ranging sporadically from boys, weed and both – frontwoman Bethany Cosentino delivers with a Courtney Love style bite that doesn’t stop at the vocals; the girl can play guitar. But there’s no flashy sense of superiority here, as Cosentino chooses to take a subdued, cheeky approach as opposed to an ultra serious one.
It’s doubtful that we’ll ever hear the lyrics “I wish my cat could talk” anytime soon, but that’s the draw of the album, as it manages to act as the soundtrack to any trip that calls for some fun, upbeat music.
As a side note, Bill Murray is said to be a fan of the group, and you don’t want to upset Bill Murray.
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles II
This album was supposed to be released in June, but a leak forced the group to move the date up to April. Off-putting to some, those who can push through the rough exterior will find an electronic gem.
Furthering the darker feel of their debut, the album sounds like its album cover looks – a walk through a cemetery.
The first and last tracks serve as abrasive bookmarks, using shrill yet melodic noises to grate the ears of the listener. The last track on it’s own sounds like assorted sound-clips from the movie Gremlins after significant sound degradation. Intriguing, right?
If that doesn’t sound particularly appealing, there are a multitude of pop-influenced tracks, ranging from “Celestica” to “Suffocation.” In the latter, singer Alice Glass reveals her spotty past with volatile relationships with “I’m wasting my days as I’ve wasted my nights and I’ve wasted my youth/you’re waiting for something you’ve waited in vain because there’s nothing for you.”
While the lyrics themselves are not particularly outstanding, her delivery is what makes the group unique; much like Karin Andersson of The Knife and Fever Ray, Alice drastically warps her voice to such an extent where it is barely recognizable. “Violent Dreams” exercises this skill thoroughly, in which her voice sounds like it’s wallowing in a layer of mud.
Kylie Minogue – Aphrodite
As David Bowie and Lady Gaga can both attest, sometimes it’s just plain fun to dance, and Kylie Minogue shares these sentiments on her new powerhouse pop album. Rarely offering a dull moment apart from the sleep-inducing first track “All the Lovers”, the album is packed with songs you would expect to find in any night club worth a damn.
Lazor-like synths, reverb, and thumping bass all add to Kylie’s pristine vocal work while focusing your attention to everything except the cookie-cutter love-drunk lyrics (“And all resistance is illogical, when your love’s nice.” Is it really?) Then again, you very rarely buy a pop album for the lyrical content.
Wavves – King of the Beach
A surprise to anyone who listened to the band before, this album chooses to ditch the lo-fi (a.k.a. shitty) production value of the last two albums to make a punk rock hit that’s fitting for any dorm room or, as indicated, beach.
Front-man Nathan Williams calls out to all his haters on the title track, gleefully singing, “You’re never gonna stop me.” He’s not overtly an egomaniac though, as indicated by tracks “Idiot” and “Green Eyes.” Both contain lyrics that highlight his self-deprecating manner, blasting both himself and his network of friends. But, as he says himself in “Green Eyes,” “Who cares?”
The guitar work is spot on, the late Jay Reatard’s backing band add a level of punk sophistication to the songs, and most importantly the sound is relatively accessible. If their comparisons to Nirvana are any indication, this is a band to keep your eyes (and ears) on.
