We the Kings – Smile Kid

Florida rockers We the Kings invaded the hearts of teenagers everywhere in 2007 with their S/T release and they’re back at it again with Smile Kid.  Sticking with the same fast-paced, upbeat formula that let them make waves on the Billboard Charts; We the Kings songs about teenage romance and the excitement of growing up will get you tapping your feet non-stop.

Their first single off the release “Heaven Can Wait” will put your right where “Skyway Avenue” and “Check Yes Juliet” left off.  The ooohhhs and aaaaahhhs that fill the harmonies are catchy and the light pianos are a little touch of gold.

Other outstanding tracks “She Takes Me High”, “The Story of Your Life”, and “Spin” are ones I’ve had on repeat since I put the album in.  As always, We the Kings doesn’t leave out the light ballads…”We’ll Be a Dream” features Demi Lovato and “Rain Falls Down” is another slow jam.

While this album doesn’t really do anything different from the first, that might not be a bad thing for We the Kings fans.  You know what you’re getting from the get go.  If you’re a We the King faithful, you’ll be all about the simplicity!

Owl City – Ocean Eyes

It’s hard to turn on the radio without hearing the voice of Adam Young, the mastermind behind the catchy-synthpop of Owl Eyes.  ”Fireflies” has been taking over the radio for weeks now and with shows sold out all over the country, Young is having tons of success.

Signed to Universal Records, Ocean Eyes is Young’s second studio album.  Maybe I’m Dreaming is his first which has a similar sound to his most recent.

Boasting a sound similar to the Postal Service, Owl City is packed with simple synths that compliment Young’s eccentric lyrics.  The album is a phenomenal example of what one guy can do to create a popular sound.

Other than the hit single, “Fireflies”, the album includes other downtempo and fast-paced songs giving the album a bit of variety.  ”Hello Seattle”, “On the Wing”, and “Tip of an Iceberg” are my personal faves due to their flow and harmonies.  At the same time, Relient K lead-singed Matthew Thiesen appears on other tracks adding variety as well.

If you like the single, this album is for you.  You’ll be humming and singing along in minutes.  With his nationwide tour just getting underway, get your tickets early to catch a piece of Owl City.

Taking Back Sunday – New Again

Known for their catchy hooks yet rough exterior, Taking Back Sunday is one of those acts that never disappoints.  With some band member changes over the course of the last year, many were curious to see how their newest release New Again would drop.

Every album’s mainstay is it’s single.  ”Sink Into Me” is an absolute repetition inducing chorus line of awesome.  Vocalist Adam Lazzara hooks you, seduces you, and never lets up in the least.  These are the songs I love most from TBS.  A mix of emotion and energy set off with a touch of unbridled screaming.

The rest of the album, while not their best, still brings the heat and seduction.  Other great repetitious numbers include “Lonely, Lonely”, “Summer Man”, and “Catholic Knees”.  More than anything, the album as a whole really builds and climbs so well.  The grabbing guitar riffs and juicy basslines will get you twisting and spinning with desire.

To close of the album, don’t rush through “Everything Must Go”…one of those slow ballads that ends in pure noise-packed energy!

All Time Low – Nothing Personal

Ever since the Put Up or Shut Up EP and The Party Scene, Maryland power-pop rockers All Time Low have been creating catchy-punchy music.  Their recent release Nothing Personal picks up right where So Wrong, It’s Right. Just in time for summer, this one is gonna stay in your car or mp3 player until you know all the lyrics by heart…then, you’re gonna play it and sing along until you put one of their older albums back in.

With stories of growing older and dealing with the every-popular girl stories, Nothing Personal is a mix of fast-paced fun and repitive lyrics that never seem to get old.  The album kicks off with “Weightless” and never looks back.  With choruses like “maybe it’s not my weekend, but it’s gonna be my year” the band creates tunes that resonate.

The other single “Damned if I Do, Damned if I Don’t” is just as catchy.  At the same time, other tracks fill out the disc perfectly.  ”Break Your Little Heart”, “Lost in Stereo”, “Hello Brooklyn”, and “Keep the Change You Filthy Animal” are more of the same, yet you won’t want to stop.

This is one of those reviews that writes itself.  All Time Low is blessed with one simple formula: simple poppy music that you won’t be able to stop playing!

Regina Spektor – Far

Russian-born singer-songwriter and master pianist Regina Spektor, as her latest album “Far” testifies to, has to be one of the most talented and creative musicians working today. Take for example “Folding Chair”, in which Regina squeaks part of its chorus like a dolphin, or “Machine”, which effectively incorporates sounds from David Byrne’s “Playing The Building” project into a song that, as Regina describes it, sounds like “robots walking in the snow.” Or you could point to the detail-oriented “Wallet”, where Regina sings about discovering a man’s wallet that she then describes the contents of in a heartfelt and heartbreaking ballad.

Clearly, as introduced in her first album “Begin To Hope” and strengthened in “Far”, quirkiness comes easily to Spektor. What’s amazing about Spektor, however, is her ability to transform her oddity into songs that are uplifting and deep. Never before has a pianist made simplicity so intriguing.

Working with four producers on “Far”, including Jeff Lynne, the mastermind behind the Electric Light Orchestra, Spektor has produced an album that feels fresh, yet worn-in like an old baseball mitt. It will take you about one listen to start humming the songs on “Far”, but more than a few to understand their complexity.

Here’s her latest video for the song “Eet”.

Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D.

While their fifth studio album might be titled The E.N.D., LA’s the Black Eyed Peas shouldn’t be stopping anytime soon.  Comprised of members Fergie, will.i.am, Apl.De.Ap, and Taboo; the group has been riding strong with hits such as “Where is the Love”, “Let’s Get it Started”, and “My Humps” with plenty other gems in between.

Standing for The Energy Never Dies, the album dropping tomorrow has plenty of the party vibe the group has been known for.  Addictive vocal hooks and poppin’ beats are their forte.   The first single, Boom Boom Pow, has been rocking dancefloors for months.

This record fits right in with the sound thats been sweeping pop music…house beats, glimmers of autotune, and plenty of repetitive choruses that create a sound that’s becoming typical; yet BEP does it as good as anybody.

Outside of “Boom Boom Pow”, other gems on this disc include “I’ve Gotta Feeling” and “Rock That Body” which samples the great Rob Base.  ”Missing You” and “Rockin to the Beat” are solid picks as well, with many of these non-singles havinga taste of the progressive-electro sound.

If you’re a BEP fan, you know what to expect, and this album doesn’t disappoint.  It’s simplicity should bring about repetitive listens and that’s what BEP is all about…

The Crystal Method – Divided by Night

Released May 12th, The Crystal Method’s  4th studio album Divided by Night showcases a whole new style in the TCM sound bank.  Most known for their first release Vegas, TCM prides itself on heavy, breakbeat drumming and intensity electronic leads that pump the listener into a frenzy.  

While Divided by Night certainly has those elements, it also features loads of collaboration like artists such as Matisyahu, Justin Wakefield of She Wants Revenge, Meiko, electro-rappers LMFAO, and Emily Haines of Metric.  The album could quickly be classified as breakbeat-electro, yet the vocalists really make this album most recognizable.

The singles “Drown in the Now” and “Double Down Under” are the definite winners off this release.  Both offer the grimey breaks-rock sound that TCM fans will adore.  From there, the album is up in the air.  I argue the album is a new concept for TCM with formulaic qualities focused on producing more modern songs than in the past.  This concept certainly put out the ability to attract new listeners.   On the other hand, if you’re looking for an album like Vegas or Tweekend, you might be left longing for more.

Overall, the album has its real damagers like “Blunts and Robots” featuring Peter Hook of New Order and the LMFAO electro-bomb “Sine Language”.  At the same time, look for the chill-out tracks like “Falling Hard” (Meiko) and “Black Rainbows” (Stefanie King Warfield) which continue the electro-heavy album.

Snob Scrilla – Day One

Aussie / American MC Snob Scrilla certainly knows how to throw down…that’s one of the themes in his newest release Day One.  With outer space ideas running rampant through the release, Scrilla throws plenty of killer verses at the listener.

Snob Scrilla is one of those artists that blends so many genres into one, yet he keeps it so groovy and upbeat.  Never clashing, always pumping.  Not explicit, yet making a statement.  With styles similar to The Roots, Outkast, and Jurassic 5 touched off with glimpses of electro vibes, this is an album for anyone looking to “get down”.

The single “There You Go Again” has been floating all over the net for months now and it has that rolling rhythm that’s all over the rest of the album.  Other faves include “Alienation”, “It’s on You”, and “Spaceship”.  Regardless of your pick, this album blows the roof off and will get you moving in no time.

Is it an album setting the world ablaze, no…but nonetheless, you’ll be hearing these tracks on the dancefloor and movin’ it nonstop!

Ace Enders & A Million Different People – When I Hit the Ground

Early November frontman Arthur “Ace” Enders has always been impressive.  From his work with the Early Novermber to his first side-project I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody’s Business, Enders has that ability to pick up the tempo when he has to and then slow it back down when the time is necessary.

When I Hit the Ground, produced under the name Ace Enders & A Million Different People, guides the listener through a variety of upbeat hits and has them begging for more with Enders’ melodic ballads.  The guitars are catchy.  The lyrics build you up and take you on a journey.

For fans of Mae, The Morning Of, Death Cab for Cutie, or Relient K, Enders plays with the best of ‘em.  Tracks like “Reaction”, “Take the Money and Run”, and “Leader” let Enders’ vocal range shine.  If you decide to pick up this album, get ready to tap your toes and sing along…it’s inevitable.

The sound Enders developed with The Early November and his first side-project are still present…more refined than ever.

Static-X – Cult of Static

Every year and a half or so we are  forced to bow down to the musical savagery of Static-X, who never fail to produce a solid album that has just enough variation to keep us invested. Happily, their latest album “Cult of Static” warrants more attention than usual. The band’s sixth studio album, it is a crushing and brutal demonstration of industro-thrashing side-show circus rock that pays tribute to their loyal cult following.

The album’s first track, “Lunatic”, features a musical cameo from rock-idol Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, who rips his way through a menacing guitar solo that goes perfectly with the song’s initial assault.

Other notable tracks include “Skinned”, a surprisingly epic and surreal foray into apocalyptic soundscapes, and “Hypure”, which is a rhythmic and daring turn for the band.

Even darker and moodier than their last effort “Cannibal”, “Cult of Static” is Static-X at their most sinister. Its songs are longer, full of synths and techno arrangements, and more complex than any album they’ve released.

Thank the heavens we won’t have to wait long for their next album to drop.

 

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