Known for his bold and soulful music, singer-songwriter Beck offers yet another marvelous take of music in his latest album titled Morning Phase. The album is full of laid-back and relaxing tones that make for a wonderful collection of songs. Described by the singer himself, the album is an “acoustic” album which is meant to be a “companion piece” to his eighth album Sea Change. Morning Phase certainly shares a bond with Sea Change in that the two albums both express dream-like trances and soulful sequences.
With the album’s first single “Blue Moon”, there are a few different sounds throughout the duration of the song. There is certainly an alternative vibe but there is also a hint of folk and soul. The song starts off with some drums and then softly implements the folk sounding guitar. Soon after, Beck’s voice carries over the sound with a soaring passion and the combination of the instruments with Beck’s lyrics creates a soulful and graceful experience.
According to a press release back in June of 2013, Beck stated that he will be releasing two albums in 2014 with the first, Morning Phase, being an acoustic album. As of now, Beck has not released a statement pertaining to the release date for the second album. With a brand new album in Morning Phase though, fans will surely keep themselves happy until the eventual release of the second album.
Singles: “Blue Moon“
“Waking Light“
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Helios |
After the Disco Broken Bells Columbia Records Released: February 4, 2014 iTunes | Amazon Learn More… |
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After finding international success in their first single “Over My Head (Cable Car)” nearly a decade ago, The Fray have produced some outstanding alternative music. The band experienced a slight drought after the release of their debut album How to Save a Life that spanned for four years until the release of their second self-titled album, which featured the singles “You Found Me” and “Never Say Never”. That second album gave a new light to the band and represented itself as a symbol of reemergence for them. Soon after, the band released their third album titled Scars & Stories. Now with a new album out titled Helios, The Fray have truly produced an exciting collection of music. It seems as though the band are out to prove their critics wrong through their music. The band’s music has a particular rock anthem feel to it on this album that compares them to the band Coldplay. Not only is their music comparable to Coldplay’s through tempo but also through lyrical themes such as love and suffering. The first song from Helios titled “Hold My Hand” sets the tempo of the album and provides the listener a taste of the rock anthem feeling that the album offers. The album’s first single “Love Don’t Die” sounds more like a hard rock song that listeners can stomp their feet and clap their hands to, whereas songs such as “Hurricane”, “Keep On Wanting”, and “Our Last Days” possess the rock anthem vibe. Nevertheless, all of the songs that make up Helios have their own unique sound that provides listeners an enjoyable collection of music. Singles: “Love Don’t Die“ Editorial by: Calvin Lewis |
Indie and alternative roots with just a dash of R&B and what you have before you is After the Disco, the second album from musical duo Broken Bells. The musical project that is Broken Bells consists of artist-producer Brian Burton, also known by his producer name Danger Mouse, and James Mercer, lead singer and guitarist of indie rock band The Shins. Broken Bells do not venture too far off from their recognizable sound and maintain the same experimental sound that they approached with on their self-titled debut album. After the Disco was produced by band member Danger Mouse who, under the same name, has produced many albums and songs for well-known artists today such as Gorillaz, The Black Keys, and Norah Jones. The album exhibits a few aspects of disco music that can be heard in the single “Holding On for Life”, which has a growling bass line, steady drumming, and a melody that is identified by high-pitched vocals. With the added sound, Broken Bells create a nice blend of indie and disco influence. Singles: “Holding On for Life“ “Perfect World“ “After the Disco“ “Leave It Alone“ Editorial by: Calvin Lewis |
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So Long, See You Tomorrow |
Mind Over Matter Young the Giant Fueled by Ramen Released: January 21, 2014 iTunes | Amazon Learn More… |
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It seems as though with each album release, Bombay Bicycle Club are discovering something new and critical to their sound. In their first album I Had the Blues But I Shook Them Loose, the band were fresh to the scene and experimenting their sound with catchy guitar loops and folk sounding lyrics. The band expanded on the folk lyrics and took an acoustic style approach for the sound in their second album titled Flaws. A Different Kind of Fix, just as its name implies, presented itself as a newfound piece of art as the band’s third album by mixing alternative drumming with acoustic guitar. By mixing their newly discovered sound with influences from world music, Bombay Bicycle Club’s fourth album So Long, See You Tomorrow is sure to be a success with fans. English singer and songwriter Lucy Rose offers additional vocals in a few tracks from the album, including “It’s Alright Now”, “Carry Me”, “Home By Now”, “Eyes Off You”, “Feel”, and “Come To”. All of the songs on the album were written by lead vocalist and front man Jack Steadman during his travels to India, Turkey, and Japan. Certainly, there are sounds from the album that indicate the locations Steadman visited had an influence on him while writing songs. A tanpura, which is a stringed musical instrument popular in Indian music culture, can be heard at the beginning of the track “Feel”. Throughout the album there is a wide range of instruments, such as the tanpura and bongo drums, that diverts the listener’s attention away from the use of the guitar, which was used greatly on the band’s first album. The mix of instruments provides a nice change from the guitar and offers a beautiful sound that Bombay Bicycle Club seem to have mastered. Singles: “Carry Me“ “Luna“ Editorial by: Calvin Lewis |
When a band signs with a new label and releases a new album, do fans generally expect the band to go off in a different direction when it comes to their sound? If they do, then such is not the case when it comes to alternative rock band Young the Giant and their second album Mind Over Matter. It has been four years since Young the Giant’s self-titled debut album was released and the band have done well with their second album in maintaining the same sound that made music listeners attracted to them. Mind Over Matter has received generally favorable reviews, with AllMusic giving the album three out of five stars and The Montreal Gazette giving four out of five stars. While some reviews may be different over the band’s new album, one thing remains certain; Young the Giant certainly have the musical talent and likability with fans that their presence in the music world will be appreciated and cherished. Also, they are relatively young musicians so the band will not subside anytime soon; unless they decide to take their separate routes, of course. One should not be thinking of such things when listening to Young the Giant’s music anyway, but instead of how one becomes enchanted and captivated all the while listening to their songs. Singles: “It’s About Time“ “Crystallized“ Editorial by: Calvin Lewis |
Well everyone, it appears The Boss is back with a brand new album. High Hopes marks Bruce Springsteen‘s 18th studio album and features recordings with members of the E Street Band, along with Rage Against the Machine’s lead guitarist Tom Morello.
Recorded in Australia, Atalanta, Los Angeles, New Jersey and New York City, the album consists of numerous songs that Springsteen calls “some of our best unreleased material from the past decade.”
Sharing the same name as the album, “High Hopes” is the first single and track of the album.
Singles: “High Hopes“
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| Fading West Switchfoot Atlantic Records Released: January 14, 2014 iTunes | Amazon Learn More… |
All This Bad Blood Bastille Virgin Records Released: November 25, 2013 iTunes | Amazon Learn More… |
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Who would have thought that Switchfoot would be releasing their ninth studio album so soon? Fading West marks the ninth studio album for the alternative rock band. The new album certainly has an interesting feel about it, sounding as though the band is heading in a new direction. When asked about the new sound and direction that the band are taking, drummer Chad Butler said, “It’s been interesting you know— typically a Switchfoot record will start with Jon (Foreman) and a guitar, then we’ll build the framework of a song around that. But this time there’s been a lot more space to have new experimentation, finding instruments in the locations we go — for instance, Drew (Shirley) finding a guitar on the side of the road in Africa made out of a gas can, being inspired by the unique sounds that it had.” There is a documentary film that Switchfoot shot while they were touring in 2012. The film follows the band as they make their tour in such locations as South Africa, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. Singles: “Who We Are“ “Love Alone Is Worth the Fight“ Editorial by: Calvin Lewis
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Taking the world by storm with their hit single “Pompeii“, Bastille have certainly kick started a promising career. With the release of their debut album titled Bad Blood, they have had success in the album debuting at number one on the UK Albums Chart and receiving platinum status in the UK as well. All This Bad Blood is a reissue of the band’s debut album Bad Blood and offers two additional discs of new music. The single “Of the Night” is featured on the extended album and is actually a mash-up of two ’90s dance songs; the 1993 hit “The Rhythm of the Night” by Corona and the 1992 hit “Rhythm Is a Dancer” by Snap!. Bastille have a very interesting sound about them that is comparable to English indie rock band Foals. Be sure to keep a keen ear and close eye out for Bastille, their airtime on the radio has only just started. Singles: “Pompeii“ “Things We Lost In the Fire“ “Of the Night“ “Bad Blood“ Editorial by: Calvin Lewis
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| AM Arctic Monkeys Domino Released: September 6, 2013 iTunes | Amazon Learn More… |
BEYONCÉ Beyoncé Columbia Records Released: December 13, 2013 iTunes | Amazon Learn More… |
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Maintaining the same sound they discovered in their previous album, Arctic Monkeys‘ fifth album titled AM has some psychedelic rock grooves that are pleasing to the ears. Songs from the album offer catchy guitar riffs, growling bass lines, and crystal clear percussion. After touring with the Black Keys in 2012, it seems that the Arctic Monkeys adopted a similar sound to the blues and rock band. One of the album’s singles, “Do I Wanna Know?” possesses the same psychedelic essence and slow-jam characteristics that are present in many of the Black Keys’ songs. Do not let the similarities draw you away from the Arctic Monkeys’ sound though. The music that the group produces is so unique and irreplaceable, the twelve tracks that make up AM will surely not be enough to listen to. Singles: “R U Mine?“ “Do I Wanna Know?“ “One for the Road“ Editorial by: Calvin Lewis
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Hip-hop beats, an R&B sway, and lyrics about self-empowerment. This is generally the formula that Beyoncé follows when recording an album, however that formula is twisted with Knowles’ self-titled fifth album BEYONCÉ. The album certainly follows a darker approach to what Knowles generally releases. Such said approach can be heard in the song “Drunk in Love” which features Knowles’ husband Jay-Z. It has a heavy hip-hop beat that blends into synthesizers from time to time and has seemingly been influenced by Jay-Z, who is known for using heavy beats in tracks. BEYONCÉ consists of fourteen tracks, each having an accompanying short film. Musically, the album explores electro-R&B and pop elements, combining loose song structure and emotive vocals. The album was described by Knowles herself as a “visual album” for exploring new foundations. Singles: “Drunk in Love“ “XO“ Editorial by: Calvin Lewis
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Despite being regarded as a drum and bass group, there is a certain air of soul and coolness to Rudimental and the music they produce. The group is fresh to the scene and offers a debut album Home that is packed with featured artists such as Emeli Sandé and John Newman.
Their music creates numerous emotions that blend tremendously well. At the beginning of the song “Waiting All Night (featuring John Newman)”, you feel the slow build-up of passion that Ella Eyre is expressing. As the build-up progresses over a steady drum beat and synthesizers, the chorus ruptures and forms a matchless sound.
The aforementioned air of soul and coolness that is branded into Rudimental can be witnessed when listening to the song “More Than Anything” which features R&B singer Emeli Sandé. With the combination of Rudimental’s tricky drum and bass lines and Sandé’s intimate voice, the creation is a powerful track with a superb melody.
With the success of their major singles “Feel the Love (featuring John Newman)” and “Waiting All Night (featuring Ella Eyre)”, Rudimental are surely on their way to future achievements. The combination of soulful singing and catchy drum and bass is sure to leave listeners demanding for more.
Singles: “Feel the Love (featuring John Newman)“
“Waiting All Night (featuring Ella Eyre)“
“Free (featuring Emeli Sandé)“
