White Hills "Stop Mute Defeat (Thrill Jockey)"
White Hills have never been a band to rest on their laurels. Every album tends to reinvent their sound, but never have then gone as sound-redefining as on their latest release, Stop Mute Defeat (Thrill Jockey). They decided to borrow William Burroughs “cut-up” technique, only apply it to music. So instead of dadaist text, we are left with a decidedly industrial sounding White Hills. Sounding at times like a post-rock Primal Scream, these are abstract, art-rock burners. But they retain White Hills’ sense of song somehow, leaving the listener bewildered, yet nodding along. Hey, the punks went to art school! Check out the scream-free version of Ministry’s sound with “Importance 101.”
Little Reader "The Big Score"
Ross Flournoy (of The Broken West and Apex Manor) teamed up with Kate Tucker of Kate Tucker and the Sons Of Sweden to write one song. They did. Then they wrote another song. And another. And now here we are, they have a band name of their own, Little Reader, as well as a debut album. The Big Score is a beguiling combination of late ‘80s FM rock, nashville roots rock, and modern War On Drugs-esque synth lushness. It’s a little bit dancable, a little bit rockable, and a lot enjoyable (unlike the english in that last sentence). Check out the downtown vibes of “Speed of Light.”
Sunshine & the Rain "In The Darkness Of My Night (Ernest Jenning Record Co.)"
Oh yeah, Jersey City in the house for the full-length debut of Sunshine and the Rain. This new duo features the lovely and talented Justin Angelo Morey from the Black Hollies on guitar and his wife Ashley Anderson Morey on bass. The band locked themselves in a studio with Jon Spencer and have come out alive with In The Darkness Of My Night (Ernest Jenning Record Co.). If you ever wanted to hear what The Jesus and Mary Chain mixed with Suicide being sung by Susanna Hoffs sounded like (how could you not?), have I got the record for you. So turn that drum machine up and bring on the hits! Dig into “I’m Not Your Girl.”
ALA.NI "You & I"
Somewhere between the jazzy pop music of the 30s and 40s, and the music of early Disney animated films, we have the deceptively simple sounds of ALA.NI. Having done some work as a backup singer for Mary J. Blige and Damon Albran, You And I is the record that cements her as a fresh voice in a musical world that is sparsely populated. Her sultry vocals-often accompanied by an Andrews Sister-esque choir of herself-is often paired with only one or two instruments. But that’s all she needs. This record is all about her vocals and her songwriting skills. Plenty of revivalistic coos and throwback-y touches, but with a modern sheen makes this record timeless and timely simultaneously. I know, that sounds like some magic. Well, that’s because it is. Check out the “Dream A Little Dream Of Me”-esque “Cherry Blossom.”