Culture

ALBUM REVIEW: BLINK-182 | NEIGHBORHOODS

Blink-182′s post break up album ‘Neighborhoods’ may read dysfunctional as synth and punk-rock guitars are combined under hip-hop influenced percussions. Yet this combination, as conflicting as it may seem leads to a compilation of the finest work this band has achieved in its long career including that of its related side projects. The west-coast trio have replicated some of their earlier sounds, while successfully pulling together elements from each of their individual side projects elsewhere to produce a much darker sounding, and lyrically maturer record to the likes of ‘Enema of the State’ and ‘Take Off Your Pants And Jacket’

Download: After Midnight / Ghost on the Dance Floor / Snake Charmer

Watch the Video for ‘Up All Night’ via Youtube

**** 4/5

ALBUM REVIEW: STORNOWAY | BEACHCOMBER’S WINDOWSILL

Stornoway are a band that are focused on creating folk-driven indie rock without the glamour. So it’s difficult to imagine how appearing on BBC’s ‘Later… with Jools Holland’ with Sting, Jay-Z and the Foo Fighter’s must have been like for a young band from Oxford – but then again Jools Holland must have realised the potential to take the risk on them, this is a theory but it is backed up with ‘Beachcomber’s Windowsill’ as it is a beautiful and soulfully compelling debut.

Download: Fuel Up / Watching Birds / I Saw You Blink

Watch the Video for ‘Watching Birds’ via Youtube

*** 3.5/5

ALBUM REVIEW: LCD SOUNDSYSTEM | THIS IS HAPPENING

From compelling beginnings that flow with energy to empathic realisations - ‘This is Happening’, LCD Soundsystem’s third studio album explores a self adaption to nostalgia. Murphy’s emotionally attached lyrics convey a stream of meditation lit under a spectrum of a flourished dance-floor setting. Indulging in atmospheric and euphoric melodies that are enriched with twitching percussions, the album is fuelled with patterns that are created to rise and to fall.

Download: Home / Pow Pow / Drunk Girls

Watch the Video for ‘Drunk Girls’ via Youtube

**** 4/5

ALBUM REVIEW: DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE | CODES AND KEYS

Death Cab for Cutie’s seventh release ‘Codes and Keys’ is composed of a controlled tone. Throughout, cellos, pianos and violins compliment each other below the magnificent songwriter Ben Gibbard’s voice. This is truly alternative music at its best. Their first single from the album - ‘You Are A Tourist’ was given comparisons by critics to the sound of the ‘Stone Roses’, now that’s saying something. It may not be as bold as their career changing ‘Narrow Stairs’ that gained them phenomenal mainstream success, but this isn’t a band that attempts to compliment mainstream listeners as they realise their duty is to write music that is atmospheric yet almost still.

Download: You Are a Tourist / Codes and Keys

Watch the Video for ‘You Are a Tourist’ via Youtube

*** 3/5

ALBUM REVIEW: TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB | TOURIST HISTORY

Last year there was nothing as exciting and as fashionable as Two Door Cinema Club’s ‘Tourist History’. The irish trio provided a record that was catchy yet simplistic. It was an optimistic debut that compliments youth culture and there was definitely a lot of singing along to have as pop and punk influences conflict under Trimble’s vocals.

Sounds Like: Vampire Weekend / General Fiasco / The Wombats

Download: I Can Talk / Something Good Can Work / What You Know

Watch the Video for ‘What You Know’ via Youtube

*** 3.5/5

ALBUM REVIEW: FOSTER THE PEOPLE | TORCHES

‘Foster The People’ originating from Los Angeles, CA have successfully brought together a debut album – ‘Torches’ that pulls together curiously catchy guitars that harmonise under the vocally appealing Mark Foster. Add synths with percussion elements that range from drums to simple chimes and you’ve got a charismatic compilation of feel good tracks.

Sounds Like: The Naked And Famous / MGMT / Iglu & Hartly / Miami Horror

Download: Helena Beat / Houdini / Pumped Up Kucks

Watch the Video for ‘Helena Beat’ via Youtube