CSS - Donkey
Artist: CSS
Album: Donkey
Label: Sub Pop
This is my first post since I changed up the design of this blog. I wanted something simple and light and colorful and cool, and CSS is a perfect complement to this development. I can’t think of many current bands that have CSS’s edge: polished and hip but still amateurish and silly. I think they may come under a bit of heat from the burgeoning anti-hipster crowd (who are increasingly indistinguishable from the hipster crowd, aren’t they?), but I do enjoy their songs. This album definitely satisfies my taste for simple, upbeat pop songs, and it will be a good addition to both my internet-cruising mix and my dance-party-I’ll-never-have-because-I’m-out-of-shape-and-lazy mix. Even though there aren’t any blow-your-mind singles, I nonetheless feel a more consistent songwriting base on this album, and I’m pleased to hear strong, layered guitar riffs that often remind me of Sleater-Kinney. What a nice surprise. I wouldn’t listen to the lyrics too hard, though; hear the tone, catch a word here or there, and let the rest go. This is a pop album, and you should have toe-tapping fun with it and not too much more.
CSS – Give Up
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Catchy, layered guitars, handclaps, a steady snare, and a light vocoder: If I could write fun songs for myself, I think they would sound like this.
CSS – Beautiful Song
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Similar formula as above, with even more pronounced backing vocals by the band’s drummer and founding member Adriano Cintra.
For for information on CSS, check out the band’s site or their myspace. And of course, buy the album.
Filed under easy pop, new album, party, too cool | Comment (0)Crystal Castles
Artist: Crystal Castles
Title: Crystal Castles
Label: Last Gang
Yeah, I know. I’m way late. I couldn’t possibly add to the hype and fervor already placidly bobbing around this band. It’s catchy as shit, though, and I don’t care. I’ll even ignore the bad parts. It’s like your video game-obsessed friend went all flowers-for-Algernon one week and made this album. The vocal gibber is a little much at times, but I like that it is purely decorative against the bubbling, electronic background.
Crystal Castles - “Magic Spells”
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When I listen to this song, I think of Imogen Heap crying in the corner. The light, synth cooing on this song is every electro-crooner’s dream. No worries, Imogen; the singularity is coming. You’ll have your robot voice yet.
Crystal Castles - “Knights
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Though this song is more clubby than the above song, it still has that that simple synth buzz that makes it your most badass I’m-in-a-shirt-and-tie-but-still-cool commute song.
Oh, also. I know it is only coincidental that I am watching The Legend of Billy King while listening to this album, but it is the perfect cool 80’s teen drama soundtrack ever. Buy the album, yo.
Filed under electronic, new album, too cool | Comments (3)