Antlers - 2607 Space Godz (antlers.bandcamp.com)
Since starting four years ago as an instrumental indie/math-rock act, this quartet has undergone a significant shift in mindset. 2607 Space Godz is far more psychedelic than their earlier work, resulting in a blissful, stoned-out alternate universe version of their original sound. Very different, but just as awesome. (AN)
The rest of the record reviews from the new issue (all 23 of them!) are after the jump.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE NEW ISSUE OF RVA MAGAZINE!
Cata9Tales - A Chameleon’s Dream (cata9tales.com)
A Chameleon’s Dream is interesting, to say the least. This South Boston duo manages to meld many different musical influences together to create an excited sound that backs unique hip hop lyrical themes. Much different from what you’re used to, but if you’re searching for something new, you may enjoy this record. (DA)
Conrizzle- CranGrape & More Whitegirls (iknowrizzle.com)
I was sure of what to expect from this ten-track mixtape--and I was right, kind of. It’s exactly the same overworked, exhausted concepts that are constantly revisited over and over in hip hop. But something about this album is immensely refreshing. The combination of beats, cameos and Rizzle’s delivery make the old seem new. (DA)
The Cory Smoot Experiment - When Worlds Collide (Metal Blade)
Originally intended as a project featuring local metal vocalists like Dave Brockie and Randy Blythe, When Worlds Collide ended up being a true solo project. Cory laid down all vocal and instrumental tracks on this album, which shows just how talented he truly was. All proceeds from this record benefit the Smoot Family Fund. (DA)
The Cribs - In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull (Wichita)
The Cribs--a ridiculously underrated trio of English brothers--combine melodic punk, power-pop, indie, alt-rock, and grunge into a winning combination of guitar-driven uptempo rock n' roll. Their latest LP is a lot like their last few--fun, catchy, but with surprising depth. Don't sleep on this band. (AN)
Dead Dog - Dead Dog (This Will Be Our Summer)
This self-titled debut album is a rerelease that includes three bonus songs. Filled with garage quality, lo-fi, traditional punk rock recordings, this record is quite fun initially, but appears to lose its focus and drive by the time it reaches the bonus tracks. However, it retains it’s naive innocence throughout. (DA)
Emily Wells - Mama (Partisan)
There’s something uniquely dynamic and intriguing about Mama. These ten tracks were seven years in the making and are as meticulous and complex as a woman is, generally. If you’ve ever been accused of being a hipster, you’ll love this one. If you’re a guy, give it to a hipster chick and score cool points. (DA)
Eternal Summers - Correct Behavior (Kanine)
This Roanoke trio has been making waves on the indie scene with their female-fronted alt-rock, which focuses on loud guitars and excellent melodic choruses. Other than a one-song detour to Joy Division-land, this is an uplifting slab of pure pop magic. You'll have songs from this album stuck in your head all summer. (AN)
The Flaming Lips - ...and Heady Fwends (Warner Bros)
This double LP compiles various collaborations between the Lips and other musicians--some unsurprising (Neon Indian, Yoko Ono), some totally random (Ke$ha, Coldplay). The album changes significantly from song to song, but all of it works, and all but the most straight-laced of Flaming Lips fans will enjoy it thoroughly. (AN)
Glass Cloud - The Royal Thousand (Equal Vision)
This VA Beach-based band writes complex, heavy music, but with a fundamental grounding in melody and emotion. The clean vocals and emotionally-driven choruses give this album much of its power, adding depth to the plethora of technical metal riffs on display. A solid release that works on multiple levels. (AN)
Graphic Melee - Unlimited (graphicmelee.bandcamp.com)
From beneath the production-related moniker of Graphic Melee, DJ Phil layers it on thick with his second record. Fourteen tracks of asymmetric ambiance, Unlimited is the world as seen through the eyes of a full time bike shop mechanic. Phil’s an introvert with a sick sound fixation, and Unlimited is pleasantly obnoxious. (DA)
Hot Water Music - Exister (Rise)
HWM returns with their eighth album, and first in eight years. They still sound like themselves, though evolution has occurred--there's less melodramatic emoting and more punkish uptempo riffing than on previous albums. But if you've always liked Hot Water Music, Exister won't change that. (AN)
Jack White - Blunderbuss (Third Man)
With such a long resume, it’s hard to believe that Blunderbuss is only Jack White’s first solo album. Jack’s been using Nashville as his musical toolbox. This record asserts itself like the beating he put on Jason Stollsteimer, more than anything he’s worked on before. Blunderbuss gets my vote for album of the year, so far. (DA)
Laetitia Sadier - Silencio (Drag City)
The second solo effort from Stereolab's lead singer will surely appeal to fans of her band. There's more of a retro French pop sound mixed into the psychedelic/electronic feel of the music here than in Stereolab, but on the whole Silencio is very much of a piece with the best Stereolab work. (AN)
Lita Ford - Living Like A Runaway (Steamhammer)
I used to have a Lita Ford poster on my bedroom wall. She looked great, but I can’t recall much of her music, and this record is as unmemorable as ever. Living Like A Runaway’s about ten songs too long, and would be considered hokey even by mid-80s hair metal standards. Her use of autotune is uncomfortably obvious. (DA)
Lorem Ipsum - EeeeeePeeeee (loremipsummusic.bandcamp.com)
This relatively new group, made up of RVA music scene veterans, continues to impress with their second extended play release. The post-hardcore vibe continues to dominate, though there's a good bit of alt-rock influence incorporated as well. People who miss bands like Fugazi and Bluetip will love this. (AN)
Lost Sounds - The Lost Lost (Goner)
Lost Sounds was the late, great Jay Reatard's synth punk band, a dark, gloomy quartet that mingled garage rock with postpunk. Breaking up at their creative peak, they left behind a wealth of top-quality unreleased material, and The Lost Lost collects those recordings into an excellent posthumous compilation. (AN)
Meshuggah - Koloss (Nuclear Blast)
Complex, technically-inclined midtempo metal from these Swedish metal innovators. Often too complicated to have an organic groove, these songs nonetheless derive intensity from heavy, pounding repetition. Hypnotic rather than monotonous, Koloss is a solid demonstration of the reasons Meshuggah are so highly regarded. (AN)
Redd Kross - Researching The Blues (Merge)
This long-running punk-rock/power-pop outfit has picked up where they left off before their 15-year hiatus with this excellent collection. The McDonald brothers still know how to deliver irresistible pop hooks with toughness and panache. All the hardcore kids who grew up to love Cheap Trick and Big Star need this album. (AN)
ROMA - Ursa Minor (soundcloud.com/romabandrva)
This is one of the best records I’ve heard all year. Pirate circus music. Matt and Charlie’s vocals mix together into a trance-y potion. These fourteen tracks are tight and playfully arrogant. You can tell Dan-o enjoyed working extensively on this one. Downside – “Sister Angeline.” Upside – Everything else. (DA)
Russell Lacy- Charlestown (russelllacy.bandcamp.com)
Recorded and mixed at Buffle Bear Studios in the town surrounding The Berklee College Of Music, Charlestown is eleven songs in length. Russell Lacy brings us a well written and passionate solo effort, exhibiting exceptional vocal control. Fans of GreaseTrigger will find in Charlestown something different, but profound. (DA)
Spider Rockets - Bitten (P-Dog)
Nothing extraordinary about these eleven songs, but there’s something intriguingly Joan Jett-esque about front woman Helena Cos’s contribution to Spider Rockets. Remove her from the equation and this album falls totally flat. The instrumentation is stiff and predictable. (DA)
Twin Steps - Serial Parade (Cola Bruin)
This four-song lo-fi modern postpunk record has a Joy Division vs. Ween vs. a giant fire breathing lizard-bird driving an old Cadillac into the mouth of a volcano while Dick Dale plays on the radio feel to it. This record is far too short. I look forward to hearing more from this Oakland, CA-based concoction. (DA)
Whitechapel - Whitechapel (Metal Blade)
The fourth LP from this deathcore ensemble certainly does not lack in the heaviness department. Chunky midtempo riffs produced with the goal of maximum head-smashing power. At times reminiscent of a beefed-up Slipknot (which is not a bad thing), this album gets monotonous after a while (which is a bad thing). (AN)