Anoraak: Nightdrive With You

I'm going to start this off with a bang: I haven't heard such an addicting album in quite some time. It started after I got Neon Indian's remixes album, containing a plethora of various well renowned electronic artists. The last song of the remix album, "Psychic Chasms (Anoraak Remix)", immediately struck a chord with me in harmonic unison, just as rhetoric would in a well constructed essay. I lucked out. I got this album, placed it it on shuffle and began on the ride through all the adventures it would take me through (don't worry, I wasn't on anything). Now, I feel it's time to properly give this a proper rating after listening to it numerous times. After getting to "Nightdrive With You (Adeyhawke remix)", my mind blew wide open. Current plays: 1235. Yeah, it's that good. Sleeping song, commuting song, whatever; it's spectacular for all of them. Then came "Midnight Fever", and the rest soon ensued; all with their own special time of me going "Shit, this guy was talent."


All in all, Anoraak is a man with endless opportunities. Nightdrive With You gets a 9.8 out of 10. Que estas esperando, oyelo. (What are you waiting for, listen to it.)

P.S. Get Wherever the Sun Sets afterward. Disappointment will not be an option.

Run Forrest, Run!

Alvin Band: Mantis Preying

Honestly, who has ever heard of Alvin Band? The only reason I figured them out is because a girl in my PreCalculus class told me to listen to them after we raved about Animal Collective. All I can say is, thank you Kathleen, and where has this band been all my life? Alvin Band is said to be an artist who sings in a "stream of consciousness". This means, in lay man's terms, that he sings whatever comes to mind, or so I think. His intro to the album begins with a heavy bang, sounding like a monster coming down a hall. When the first words hit Alvin Band's mouth, feelings of hearing his before occur. This is mistaken, however. The mistaken artist is Animal Collective. I couldn't believe the similarity to them after I heard the first song, and so forth. "Cyberspace 2008" really stands out as a song to not miss. The slurping, the bopping, the mood. All coexist with AC perfectly. "With the kangaroo at the local zoo" are just a few lyrics in this song, showing the stream of consciousness mode. This is not a bad thing at all.  Unto the rating.



Mantis Preying gets an 8.6 out of 10. They aren't exactly AC, but they sure are close.

This looks like it was drawn on LSD.

Passion Pit: Manners

I cannot wait to see these guys live. That being said, I think it is time I reviewed Passion Pit's only album to this day, Manners. What an awesome album. How do you find a way for everyone to have a liking for electro-pop? You get Passion Pit. Passion Pit are a bunch of young, fun, and outgoing guys, T toy that has gotten the most attention is the kiddie choir that pops up on two of the first four songs. Call them behind-the-curve as they double up the "higher and higher" part of the chorus from "Little Secrets", but it's more over-the-top, and that's kind of the point-- in a weird way, it's heartening how little Passion Pit concerns themselves with a fun sounding song. Manners does go for the quick knockout, pulling a similar trick five minutes later on the Hissing Fauna branch-off "The Reeling". Manners is consistent even beyond its singles-- if you like one Passion Pit song, you'll probably like them all. Or you might not like any at all.


The Reeling


Manners gets a 9.0 out of 10. Get the deluxe edition now that it's readily available.

Have some manners, will you?

Washed Out: Life of Leisure

Ernest Greene's Washed Out has made a name for himself with his critically acclaimed EP, Life of Leisure. Categorized as a man of the "chillwave" genre, Washed Out is sometimes portrayed as one of the founders of the rapidly becoming popular genre of "chillwave". The EP, from start to finish, includes various euphoric sounds that almost warp the listener inside the music, to another place in time. Mixtures of catchy beats and rhythms pave the way for the entire EP. Feelings of nostalgia continuously bombard the listener's mind, hence the name Washed Out. Ernest Greene states that he one day started posting up songs on his MySpace page, hoping to get a few likes and approvals. Instead, a music producer one day stumbled upon on Washed Out's premature tracks and was amazed at his findings. Wanting to listen to more, Ernest Greene was asked to produce more tracks. Ernest Greene got to work. This EP and his other work, a cassette released tape, High Times, are the fruits of his labor. The catchy beat to the first song on the EP, "Get Up", continues on throughout, all the way to the very last song, "You'll See It". By far the most popular (and for good reason) song on the EP is "Feel It All Around". The simple, yet elegant lyrics tell of a troubling past and according to Greene himself, he says "I was going through a rough time in my life." The feelings of sorrow when the song was made definitely help change the mood of the song, giving it an incredible boost in a tad ironic way. By the time you are done listening to the EP fully, the reader will be left asking themselves, "where can I get more?" I guarantee it.

Washed Out's Life of Leisure EP gets an astounding 9.4 out of 10.

Sexy time.