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Destroyer - Trouble in Dreams
 Destroyer’s “Trouble in Dreams” is a soup of Bob Dylan, The Beatles; a little Skynard mixed with pinches of Bowie and Stephen Malkmus. Dan Bejar, from The New Pornographers, uses Destroyer as a side project and “Trouble in Dreams” is Bejar’s eighth album with his side group. The album features rainy day piano, melancholy strings, and breezy guitars that create a unique but accessible sound. Continued...
Be Your Own Pet - Get Awkward
 Do yourself a favor and turn your speakers up and give Be Your Own Pet's latest album a spin. Jemina Pearl the lead singer of BYOP will knock you down as she spits, sings, and screams the band's lyrics from their second album Get Awkward. They are an extremely raw garage style punk band, which embodies a similar spirit that the Yeah Yeah Yeahs possessed in thir younger days. Continued...
The Black Keys - Attack & Release
 The Black Keys seemed to be in the shadow of the White Stripes for years but never deserved this classification. They have instead created their own unique brand of crossroads blues infused rock that really can’t be categorized because of its numerous influences, and that’s what makes them so special. After perfecting their sound on four previous albums, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney seemed to hit a creative roadblock and needed to find new creative paths. Continued...
Man Man - Rabbit Habits
 It seems to me like music is getting weirder and weirder all the time. In most cases I would say this is a good thing, in the case of Man Man I would say this is a great thing. Man Man first graced my ears as the opener for Modest Mouse, on their most recent tour. This new and mysterious band, clad all in white as they were, delivered an outrageous, energetic, and totally captivating live performance. Most of the show found me craning my neck to try and see what random thing would be used as an instrument next. Continued...
The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely
 The second album from Jack White’s new band The Raconteurs or as he calls it his family of “troubadours and storytellers” is called Consolers of the Lonely. The Raconteurs consist of Brendan Benson singer-songwriter, guitar and vocals Jack White, bassist Jack Lawrence and drummer Patrick Keeler. It seems that White has found a home with The Raconteurs and the Consolers of the Lonely. The album comes out as five guys in a studio jamming and having some good old-fashioned fun. Continued...
Beach House - Devotion
 Describing the band Beach House might seem easy, but it is hard to sum up all of their talent in just a few words. Beach House embodies something like the low sound of wind blowing through a mountain valley. This album is very earthy and melodic. Victoria Legrand's voice echoes through the air as she sings. Continued...
She & Him - Volume One
 She & Him’s Volume One is the coming together of two great talents, Zooey Deschanel and Matt Ward (known as M. Ward). Deschanel pairs her lyrics and vocal harmonies with M. Ward’s guitar-work and arrangements to create an album that has rich soulness of groups like The Ronettes and The Crystals and singers like Patsy Cline and Nina Simone. The records polished ‘Wall of Sound’ production makes this album almost glow.Continued...
Xiu Xiu - Women as Lovers
 Xiu Xiu is something like a late night on a dirty street, where the heavy traffic causes the air to vibrate and in the distance street musicians play very bizarre and enticing music. This being their eighth release since their start in 2002, Xiu Xiu has definitely hit their stride. This San Jose bred band delivers catchy beats, while remaining raw and undisciplined at their core. Continued...
Sea Wolf - Leaves in the River
 Sea Wolf's second album “Leaves in the River,” came out this past September and is fantastic. The lead singer and founder of Sea Wolf, Alex Church, can be comparable to many other indie/folk bands including Sam Beam from Iron and Wine, or even an early Conor Oberst from Bright Eyes. I only say this because both men contain a certain sadness that Church also hits upon as they sing about lost love and loneliness. Continued...
The Whigs - Mission Control
 The Whigs waste no time opening the album with the sudden and jarringly overdriven guitar of “Like a Vibration,” which does an excellent job of hooking the listener straight into the album. From the thrashy opening Mission Control continues with the peppy and catchy “Production City.” The two opening tracks together make for an impressive beginning to the album, which rips its way through a strange mixture of punk, country, and indie-rock. Continued...
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