7/24 New Music Roundup
Albums
Between their two EPs released last year, Antarctigo Vespucci put out the best set of 11 songs in 2014. Now they’re back with 10 more songs, and the project that we all assumed was a one-time thing at first is now a legitimate band. This album is less immediate than their first two EPs, and it may take you a few listens to fall in love. More well thought-out and deliberate than before (and less Weezer-y), this almost sounds like (dare I say it?) a grown-up version of the band.
The manic energy of those EPs has been replaced by a more subdued, even jaded tone, with Chris Farren’s lyrics transitioning from jokingly self-deprecating to downright depressing at times. The music is still undeniably upbeat and breezy, but the lyrics portray the singer in a darker mood, unsure of the choices he’s made in life and unsure if he’s happy with how things have turned out. This provides an interesting dichotomy to the record and gives the beach pop sounds an added depth. The album still has some of the best hooks you’ll hear all year, but the lyrics might make you worry about the guy a little bit.
This album is obviously a collaboration between both Farren and Jeff Rosenstock, but Rosenstock’s influence can be felt much less than on the band’s previous two EPs. Although Jeff sings more on track one than he did on the band’s first 11 songs combined, there are barely any weird instruments, drum loops, and what-in-the-world-made-that-sound moments on this album. The production is strong but straightforward, making this sound more like a Chris Farren solo record than a collaboration between the two singers. Still, everything either of these guys touches is gold, and that trend continues here. Oh, and you can download it for free.
Listen: Full album (non-Spotify), “Impossible to Place”
Elway is a band never content with its sound. The changes are never drastic, but always significant in shaping the overall feel of a record. The pop/punkiness of their debut was replaced by a darker, moodier tone on Leavetaking, and Better Whenever gives us something entirely new from the band. Although there has always been a hint of twanginess and good ol’ rock’n’roll present in their music, that dial is turned up quite a bit here. These songs are noticeably riffier and groovier, making the band’s Colorado roots less of a trivia point and more of a fundamental characteristic of the band’s sound.
Luckily, the emotions that made the last record so good are still here, with Tim Browne’s weathered voice making every line feel earnest and heartfelt, most notably on the title track. These songs are less anthemic than the highs of Leavetaking, but the lows are less depressing and more hopeful. If Elway’s songs were a person, Leavetaking would be the story of that person’s struggle to keep going through adversity during a long winter. Better Whenever would be the morning after getting the first good news in months, walking outside into the bright sunshine, seeing a little bit of green on the trees, taking off one’s jacket to feel the balmy breeze, and knowing that things just might be alright someday.
(Sorry for that metaphor.)
Listen: Full album (Spotify, non-Spotify), “Albuquerque Low”
In my struggle to find increasingly more obscure bands, I found toe, a band who does not capitalize their name, hails from Japan, and doesn’t sing on most of their tracks. Actually, I found them thanks to NPR, which is about as mainstream and unhip as it gets, but still. The song debuted by NPR sounded like a mathy, twinkly emo song without the vocals, and I was intrigued. Unfortunately, this album just does not do it for me. The tracks with vocals are relatively off-putting, and, despite being performed by talented musicians, this album is just sort of weird and boring. It was fine background music at work, but I will honestly probably never listen to it again beyond “My Little Wish.” That’s a good track though.
Listen: Full album (Spotify, non-Spotify), “My Little Wish”
The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die is doing all they can to up my wordcount, but luckily, they are taking it easy on my bandwidth. I’ve always found this band to be stellar in short bursts but taxing over the course of a full-length, and this trend continues with this two-song EP. These songs are more focused and direct, the ideas condensed to a more refined purpose than the expansive works they are known for. Don’t get me wrong, these two songs still take up more than 10 minutes of runtime, but they are much more palatable and digestible. That’s a good look for this band, and one I hope they decide to stick to it.
Listen: Full EP (Spotify, non-Spotify)
Singles
So, Wavves apparently released “Way Too Much” way too early, because they (or at least their singer) got in a public feud with their record label. Either way, this Wavves song sounds like a Wavves song, which means Wavves fans can safely get excited about the new Wavves album, which comes out on my birthday later this year. I’m not a huge Wavves fan, so I’m only a little excited, but it’s still nice of them to give me such a personal birthday present.
It’s a heavily Ramones-inspired band playing a classic Bad Religion ripper. Not quite as good as the original, but still pretty cool. Don’t be a henchman, ladies and gents.
