Word: albums
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Impossible,” the second track from his debut album “Love & War,” Daniel Merriweather sings, “I know I said some corny lines / That you probably heard a thousand times.” Agreed. But it’s no surprise that producer Mark Ronson’s R&B protégé isn’t exactly unpredictable. Much like Ronson’s previous collaborator, Amy Winehouse, Merriweather makes music that’s all about immediacy. Every song on “Love & War” feels...
...opening track, “For Your Money,” suggests a different direction from what the album actually ends up taking. The Bowie-esque piano intro, relatively abstract lyricism, and Sean Lennon’s fuzzy electric guitar suggest a rock edge the rest of the album simply doesn’t deliver. However, it is certainly an excellent opener, and while the tracks to come are different, they do not necessarily disappoint...
...meanwhile, has a chorus that references “My Girl,” but its bluesy guitar work and “doo-bee” falsetto bridge separate it from The Temptations’ original. The success of this bridge section is characteristic of an album whose best lyrical moments are impassioned, wordless cries...
...album opener, “Wide Eyes,” Local Natives present a clear mission statement. The driving drums pulse under electronica-influenced rim clicks and the determined picking of the guitar line. This drum track is instantly reminiscent of the Dodos and the National, bands that have pioneered the now-popular “big drum” sound pervasive throughout much of indie rock. The bass is melodic, driving the song as much as the guitar. Due to their spaced-out reverb and ethereal interval, the constantly harmonized vocals are reminiscent of Fleet Foxes. The song...
...album reaches a pinnacle on the stunning “Who Knows Who Cares.” A reticent, finger-picked guitar figure plays alone, punctuated only by extraneous string noise, before the wide-open piano chords punch in, bouncing off the uninterrupted guitar. One of the vocalists begins singing the melody before the other drapes a gauzy harmony on top. The opening is enchanting enough to repeat for another three minutes, but Local Natives refuse to rest on their laurels. Instead, the song swings into a taut rock groove with punchy electric guitars and a gurgling bass. The drums...