In No Particular Order: 6 Albums For Your Radar (Mar 26, 2021)
NEW PLAYLIST!
That’s right – another fantastic weekly playlist for your library.
Just like From The Inbox, I’ve created a In No Particular Order Spotify playlist to match my weekly album picks! Featuring the three ‘notable tracks’ from each release, check by every Friday to find something new in your music library.
As always, you can find Dusty Organ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify to stay up to date on new releases. Also, you can find tracks from these albums and more on our Monthly Spotify playlist.
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Ben Howard – Collections From the Whiteout
Republic Records
Singer-songwriter/Indie folk
6.5/10
On his fourth studio album, Ben Howard found inspiration for his music from scrolling through headlines and news stories. As a collage of sorts, Collections From the Whiteout makes its way through different stories, from mysterious circumnavigator Donald Crowhurst (“Crowhurst’s Meme), to faux-billionaire Anna Sorokin (“Sorry Kid”), and the tragic Richard Russell airplane incident on “The Strange Last Flight Of Richard Russell”.
But what keeps this from being a history lesson or newsflash is Howard’s openness to collaboration and experimentation. Aaron Dessner co-produced the record, and Howard brought on a new team of musicians, including British drummer/producer Yussef Dayes. You can hear their influences, as repetitive percussion and lush textures add a familiar ambience to the songs.
Unfortunately, aside from Howard’s strength as a lyricist, the overall sound of Collections feels muted and droning, with only a few tracks standing out from the rest of the record.
Notable tracks: “What A Day” // “Crowhurt’s Meme” // “Sorry Kid”
Death From Above 1979 – Is 4 Lovers
Universal
Alternative rock
8/10
Toronto-based duo Death From Above 1979 have been both ahead of their time and perfectly placed with their music. Their futuristic dance-punk style featuring effect-laden bass parts and waspy synthesizers have been providing an energizing substitute for alt-dance soundtracks since their 2004 debut. Despite a falling out and five year hiatus halfway through their career, bassist Jesse F. Keeler and drummer/vocalist Sebastien Grainger are a well-oiled machine, and their latest album Is 4 Lovers is a colossal addition to their discography.
DFAhave some fun with thematic substance, as they turn romantic love into a hit with lead single “One + One”, and ignite a fuse of deprecation on “Modern Guy”, “NYC Power Elite”, and “Totally Wiped Out”. It’s scrappy, crunchy, and finely-tuned, and if melody is king, distortion and groove are his polyamorous lovers.
Notable tracks: “One + One” // “Totally Wiped Out” // “NYC Power Elite I & II”
Citizen – Life In Your Glass World
Run For Cover Records
Indie rock/Alternative
7.5/10
On their fourth studio full-length, Toledo-based alt rock group Citizen actively made sure to keep things fresh and invigorating. While some bands often get comfortable and limit their sound, Citizen feel revitalized and alive on Life In Your Glass World.
It all kicks off with a fiery start, with back-to-back hits “Death Dance Approximately” and “I Want To Kill You” (the latter sharing a familiar resemblance to the chorus of Tegan & Sara’s “Closer”). Eventually, the group begin to play with rhythm and tone, mixing in a handful of genres and varying levels of energy into the remainder of the album.
It hits a few slumps, but overall, Citizen have done a fantastic job at staying lively, interesting, and catchy.
Notable tracks: “Death Dance Approximately” // “I Want To Kill You” // “Black and Red”
For Those I Love – For Those I Love
September Recordings
Experimental/Spoken Word
9/10
As far as debut albums go, few manage to create such a unique and strong first impression as David Balfe’s For Those I Love. The Dublin-born and raised artist combines his visual and sonic artistic abilities for a compelling and downright spiritual journey into his psyche and experiences. Following the tragic death of his best friend and former bandmate Paul Curran, Balfe locked himself away to compose more than 76 songs.
His signature style of accent-heavy spoken word narratives thrown against a wall of underground beats is strangely captivating and alluring, in both texture and structure. ’90s UK icon The Streets (Mike Skinner) is a clear influence, with his honest and personal lyricism shining overtop UK garage-inspired beats, but Balfe manages to stay in the future with his production.
His songs speak for themselves, with his clear-cut words painting vivid pictures into his past and tragedy-ridden introspection.
Notable tracks: “I Have A Love” // “Top Scheme” // “
Skegss – Rehearsal
Loma Vista Recordings
Indie rock/Garage rock
8/10
Aussie trio Skegss let their personalities shine on their latest album Rehearsal. From the countryside near Byron Bay, the three friends keep things simple and beaming with their music. There’s a sunny, perma-summer vibe to their music, as they inspire an air of youthfulness, nostalgia, and friendship.
The rugged DIY style adds to the album’s charm, with stand out tracks “Bush TV”, “Picturesque Moment”, and “Under The Thunder” brushing off the worry and stress of everyday life. Regardless of where the needle drops, Rehearsal has a welcomed sense of organic, homegrown vibrancy.
Notable tracks: “Valhalla” // “Bush TV” // “Picturesque Moment”
Frankie & His Fingers – Universal Hurt
Subfamily Records
Alternative/Post-emo
8/10
Following their dissolve as a band in 2010, NYC outfit Frankie & His Fingers slowly crawled their way back to being a solid contribution to the American indie rock universe. As their first release in over ten years, Frank McGinns and his fingers, drummer Sammi Niss, and bassist Adam Stoutenburgh, reunited, bringing along Adam’s brother Ryan on guitar.
The melancholic tone of McGinnis’ voice instantly pulls the record into an emo-folk direction, with Andrew McMahon, Justin Pierre (of Motion City Soundtrack) and Ben Folds coming to mind. In the best way possible, Universal Hurt is trapped in the late ’00s, reminding listeners why they’ve returned and about their position of influence with their earlier work (they even have the long-form song titles to boot). The soaring vocals and nostalgia-driven power-pop riffs work their way into your mind, without any desire to leave anytime soon, letting it all out on the 9-minute synth/prog-emo closer “There’s A Dragon in That Cave”.
Notable tracks: “Celebrate” // “The Greatest Hometown Song Ever Written” // “To Die Would Be A Great Adventure”
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