Tweet Review

Teen Daze "Four More Years" (Arcade Sound Ltd, July 23rd)

If I could only dub one album the perfect summer of 2010 album it would be the debut from Teen Daze called Four More Years. Here is my "Tweet" Review of their eight track gem.

"Four More Years": Hazy instrumental opening, a more rock based version of BMSR.
"Gone For The Summer": Roll down the window and let the warmth fill your car. This one ends suddenly, but so does summer.
"Neon": Nearly full-blown electro-rock with almost non-existent vocals float throughout.
"Around": Is that a vocoder? The gentle, but pulsing electronics will carry you to the beach and then out to the night club.
"No Regrets": I was hoping for a New Order cover, but this still maintains a blistful mood.
"Shine On, You Crazy White Cap" (mp3): This one opens like a sun rise and then drifts into the spacey atmosphere. It's a dance track with extra warmth.

A Weather "Everyday Ballons" (Team Love, March 2nd)

"Third of Life" It's a story about sleeping... in lack or abundance, sleeping is a disruption.

"Winded" The piano backing is fun and refreshing. We all feel winded at times, but this is a song about continuing to breathe.

"Ducks" The interplay between Aaron Gerber's smooth and rich vocals and Sarah Winchester's light and angelic vocal is mesmerizing.

"Seven Blankets" A chilling feel, but wrapped in the comfort of blankets and in turn filled warmly.

"Midday Moon" I rarely see the moon during the day, but then I am rarely outdoors during the day.

"Newfallen" This is the second album from A Weather, and so far is a beautiful spring day listen.

"No Big Hope" This song is surprisingly hopeful for a song called "No Big Hope".

"Fond" "No one can hold you down"... It the dedication to survival and the strength to achieve.

"Happiness" "It's not the weight that brings you down, it's how you carry it" This is a guide to happiness from the pov of saddness.

We Are Wolves "Invisible Violence" (Dare To Care, Feb 2nd)

"Paloma" An interesting mix of rock, electro, and world music.
"Holding Hands" This track has a classic punk-pop feel.

"Walking Commotion" A Joy Division feel on this track.
"Dreams" "The world is spectre of light and I am waiting here in the void"
"Vague" There is a little Ozzy/Black Sabbath meets modern electro-pop through out this album.
"Reaching For The Sky" Spinning '80's synths convulse around this track.

Nedry "Condors" (Monotreme Records, April 20th)

"A42" If the only knock folks can throw at Nedry is that they sound too much like late '90's trip-hop... than there really isn't a downside.

"Apples & Pears" Ayu Okakita has the voice of angel that has fallen from grace and landed in a smoky London nightclub.

"Four Layers of Pink" Matt Parker and Chris Amblin bring the atmospherics on this 90 second track with many more than four layers.

Drew Danburry "Goodight Gary" (Emergency Umbrella, Feb. 9th)

"Religion of Me" I respect Drew because he keeps pushing forward with what he loves. He is extremely proud of this album and now I know why.

"Edited" A lo-fi intro breaking into a sing-along near rock anthem.

"For My Friends" Drew is a masterful story teller.

"Gas Masks At The Barbeque Beach Party Make Out Session" This is the perfect bittersweet summer breakup track.

"Dinwiddie Is A Great Name For a City" A campfire tune that slowly burns it way across your mind.

"The Joy of Yesterday Seems So Far Away" This reminds me of a quite folk tune E from Eels might whisper.

"These Windy Days Make For Winded Nights" Drew really put a lot of effort into crafting this alum and it is shows on each track.

"You're Blocking The Doorway" A song of regret that slowly shows the change Drew is experiencing.

Shaw "Pretending We're Not Animals EP" (Feb. 1st, Swordfish)

"Pretending We're Not Animals" (mp3) 'This ship can't sink forever'... An anthem for the touring and struggling musician.

"Lion In A Cage" A troubadour mentality mixed with a good dose of electronics.

"Hey, Mama Wolf" Banhart cover that explodes with a sense of urgency. You can tell shaw has been affected by the current state of the economy and this is his outlet.

"After The Flood" Creative DIY art-pop and a beautifully unexpected gem. A sign of the musical brilliance we can expect from musicians tried of the struggle in 2010.

"Sometimes" A little Ben Gibbard influence but Shaw is a distinct talent and someone to watch this year.

Ernest Gonzales Been Meaning to Tell You (Friend of Friends, Feb. 2010)

"Dancing in the Snow" Anyone searching for a peaceful melody that still challenges and explores new spaces... check out Ernest Gonzales.

"Falling Asleep to the Glow of the Television" A master of blending electronic music and instrumental rock, this is Ernest at his best!

"Self Awakening" Sometimes the only way to be awaken from your funk or your ignorance is through yourself.

"We Can Live in the Forest" It's hard to believe a DJ can create an instrumental rock track as solid as this one.

"Opening a Lost Sacred Door" Where is that door and who holds the key?

"Psychedlic Bellhop" A near cheesy intro gives way a funk and deep disco track.

"Etchasketch Trees" There is a thickness to Ernest's beats that you don't hear too often. They meld perfectly with the gently played guitar.

Jason Boesel Hustler's Son (Team Love Records, Jan. 12, 2010)

"Black Waves" "Only the foolish wave around with their medicine"... it's a dark back alley start to what promises to be an Americana classic.

"Hand of God" (mp3) A song about recovery and strength through thoughts and conversation. Boesel has such a smooth delivery.

"French Kissing" (mp3) The freedom of french kissing... a little Tom petty feel on this track.

"Burned Out and Busted" Is love really about being burned out and busted. Do tattoos affect love? It's an important question.

"New World Mama" It really is new world, but Boesel sings of this world in an old world style... compelling.

"Miracles" "I was an empty can on a tailgate" Women really do drain the energy sometimes.

"Hustler's Son" A real old fashion ditty. This is almost faux-country.

Eels "End Times" (Vagrant, 1/19/10)

"In The Beginning": A long time fan of E and what he has done with Eels... excited to hear this his 10th studio album.

"Gone Man": Pure 60's groove, a song of lost love with a funky rhythm.

"In My Younger Days": How old is E? Atmospherics as he yearns for youth.

"Mansions of Los Feliz": So far the album is much more stripped down then many Eels albums. A reference to burning flesh...

"A Line in the Dirt": Returning to a gentler sound. This album is really return to a per Eels sound (i.e. Broken Toy Shop.

Minor Kingdom "My Back Will bend" (Grain Belt Records, Oct. 2009)

"My Back Will Bend" There is something about the woods, the trees, the chill of Minnesota and WI that creates somber and seaching folk music.

"Choir Of The Lillies" Kristian Melom recruits the beautiful Haley Bonar on the soulful track.

"Brita's Song" This is a traveling song, but honest and simple. "It's easy to lose, starting saving now." It's a call to care and care deeply.

"Perfect" (mp3) A slight bend and gentle electronic and contrast to the abundant acoustic guitar on this album.

"Sweet Death" The idea of death as sweet or as a release is perhaps the most alarming and comforting idea I've heard in a long time.

"Holy" You don't hear as many song about religious struggles as you used to. Kristian clearly has many complex struggles in his life.