ALBUMS: Easy listening, charitable collections

Beach House - “Teen Dream”

The whimsical, gloomy, soft and soothing dreamlike sounds of Beach House are both comforting and depressing like a lost forgotten memory you can only look back and reflect on, but never have again. Their psychedelic sounds feel like a long gentle drift into a sea of sadness, like priceless paintings splattered across the ocean water slowly sinking down into the sand.

Residing in Baltimore, Maryland, Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand formed the duo in 2005.  Niece of French composer Michel Legrand, singer Legrand has a soulful, alluring, androgynous voice, reminiscent of Nico of The Velvet Underground, masculine but still delicate and pretty.

Delving into the bitterness of failed love, but still enforcing the belief of hope and wishful thinking, their songs range and revel in truth. The grandeur of sound is as evident as the custom church they recorded it in with producer/engineer Chris Coady, who has worked with Blonde Redhead and TV on the Radio. Singer Julian Casablancas of The Strokes praised Beach House for being part of the bands out nowadays that he admires and listens to.

In “Norway,” she laments with wounded regret and delicacy, as Scally backs her up with his amazing instrumentation, “The beast, he comes to you/ He’s a hunter for a lonely heart/ In the season of the sun.” “10 Mile Stereo” is a fanciful song of sorrow as she echoes sounds of yearning and desire. Their third album of 12 lovely ballads carries a great weight of duality, a soundtrack for wrist-cutters and sorrow or an ode to making pain and losing sound beautiful.

With a plethora of artists supporting the crisis in Haiti, the album varies in genres and is a melting pot of music with 20 songs of hope.

Alicia Keys kicks it off with her delicate piano ballad “Send Me an Angel,” followed by Coldplay’s encouraging rhythmic tune, “A Message 2010.” Bruce Springsteen always sprucing it up with hope on “We Shall Overcome,” along with Shakira’s unique version of “I’ll Stand By You,” featuring her yelping and crooning.

Other artist’s adding to the albums variety with the legendary Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Taylor Swift, the provocative and caring Christina Aguilera, Sting, Beyonce, Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, the everlasting Madonna, the ever-so-handsome Justin Timberlake, Dave Matthews, Neil Young and Wyclef Jean. There’s even a song with Jay-Z, Bono, The Edge and Rihanna.

This eclectic mix is for a good cause and for the musical ear that enjoys an assortment of music. Go spend $7.99 on iTunes and help the Haitians.

“Fantasia” acid trip, Caribbean holiday in new albums

Final Fantasy - “Heartland”

Owen Pallett, most notably known for his violin work for Arcade Fire, released his third album with Final Fantasy.

At 30, his résumé reads like a fine-tuned genius, singer-songwriter, composer and violinist.  Accompanied by The Czech Symphony Strings and The St. Kitts’ Winds, Pallett impressively wrote, arranged and produced the album.

Past collaborations include Andrew Bird, Grizzly Bear, Beirut, Picastro, Les Mouches, The Last Shadow Puppets, Enter the Haggis, Hidden Cameras and Patrick Wolf, along with borrowing video game music from “Super Mario Bros.”

The intro, “Midnight Directives,” sounds like heavenly church music, then merges into a fully orchestrated psychedelic drug trip that takes place in a huge mahogany auditorium with dancing elephants prancing around as bubbles flutter the air.  The chaos is lead and directed by a conductor swiveling his wand around like Mickey Mouse in “Fantasia.”

No coincidence, Pallett’s father was a church organist, leading him on an early road of classical music appreciation that hasn’t receded.  Pallett leads on vocals, violin, Nord, harmonium, Eventide pizzicato, electric bass and is backed with Jeremy Gara on kit and percussion, and Ed Reifel on percussion on this number.

Ironically, it’s great music for escapism or concentration and focus, as singer Pallett melodically chants his rhythms and rhymes to splashes of color and cartoons, painting his music in sounds.  “Heartland” is a multifaceted soundtrack that could suitably be used for Tim Leary inducing an enticing acid trip, a haunted forest chase, lions thrashing a gazelle to pieces or a serene bicycle ride.

Vampire Weekend - “Contra”

New York City’s quartet released their sophomore album with the same upbeat and happy tunes they were previously known for.

Singer Ezra Koenig yaps out his quirky falsetto lyrics with danceable harmonies.  Piping out these incredibly chipper uplifting catchy songs filled with tropical, melodic and afro-pop influence that are undeniably likeable, unless of course you hate fun, laughing, happiness and great music.

In “Cousins,” they delve into this crazy neurotic surfer rock with rapid fire guitar licks with fingers as fast as lightening, comparable to Chucky Berry’s electrifying “Johnny B. Goode” in awesomeness and guitar-conquering precision.  Their video suitably matches the party music vibe with fast paced treadmill dance tempo.

They even have a song for every Roberto’s eating, Mexican drinking, vacationing lover’s dream drink, “Horchata.”  Accompanied by a symphony of violins, this breezy Bahamas beat should come intact with a poncho and sandals.

Delicately tickling the piano on the sweet “Taxi Cab,” He whimpers, “In the shadow of your first attack, I was questioning looking back.  You said baby we don’t speak of that, like a real aristocrat.”

Cleverly rhyming and blowing songs out with energy and splendid cadence, the album has a sweet and savory delectable Caribbean sound.

Surfer Blood - “Astro Coast”

Tropical surf music meets indie rock. The Florida-based youngsters with the appropriately titled aquatic band name, have hit the ground running.

Meeting in high school and forming in 2009, they have been compared to Beach Boys garage rock, Pavement, Animal Collective and Weezer.

Their sunny beach tunes immediately cause shoulders to shake and worries to drift away with optimistic tracks like, “Swim,” encouraging listeners to “Swim, to reach the end,” and “Floating Vibes” that rumbles on like something you’ve heard before and want to rest your head on, like a comfy lap or pillow.  It transports and takes you back to simpler times, to carefree moments in life.

“Harmonix” is a melancholic yet beautiful tune touching upon regret and finality with delicate, tasty pings of sound that massage the brain.

“Take it Easy,” is an upbeat favorite filled with cowbells and suave beats and cranky enjoyable guitar riffs, while “Slow Jabroni” has a hauntingly beautiful drone that dwells on cranky, rough, jagged guitar sounds rippling like old Sonic Youth.

Take a ride on their surf board to a place you’ll enjoy as you dive into the pleasant waters of nostalgia and bittersweet bliss.

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Rammstein – “Liebe ist fur alle da”
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Dream Theater draws in new fans with latest

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Marilyn Manson’s latest effort disappointing, lacks focus

New album adds little to shock rocker’s impressive discography Read more

No Age returns with no frills, ‘Cult of Static’ worships itself in new albums

“Nouns” by No Age

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Old bands learn new tricks in recent albums

Lamb of God – Wrath

Belying their biblical sounding name, Lamb of God has always set to unleash their fury unto an unsuspecting world. Read more

Stuff this in your turkey and eat it

 

Whether it’s dance or haunting melodies, here’s two albums that will keep the party going through Turkey Day Read more

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