Date Posted: April 15, 2011
Print Edition: April 8, 2011
Vivian Girls – Share the Joy
Vivian Girls’ third full length release, Share the Joy, is also the first with their new drummer, Fiona Campbell, who joined when Ali Koehler left for Best Coast. Their Jangly girl-pop sound remains intact from their first two albums though, complete with a “dance if you wanna” attitude (the album’s third track gives that exact advice). The level of complexity of the songs on Joy is noticeably deeper – and the tracks typically longer – than in previous outings. Sometimes this is a joy, like on the raucous “Lake House,” the rollicking modern western sound of “Trying to Pretend,” or any time the girls hit a surf rock vein. Yet, at times, the slicker songs come across as just that and production walls create monotone noise, even when there’s a lot more going on. Still, this is an album that takes Vivian Girls another step forward, and should make an enjoyable soundtrack for many parties to come.
– Paul Falardeau
Diego Garcia – Laura
On a song to song basis, Diego Garcia has an interesting Latin indie vibe with his quick finger picking and flamenco guitar playing mixed with a mellow rock sound. Laura is a very easy going album, at times quite melancholy. Garcia sings with a wonderfully enchanting voice and there is a lot of emotion attached to the lyrics. The best part of his music is that he is accompanied by a beautiful violin player who compliments his sound very well. Unfortunately, after the first three tracks, there isn’t much change and it becomes dull. The album starts to all sound the same and there aren’t any upbeat songs to keep you from being lulled to sleep. As a whole, it’s sub-par, but it has some strikingly unique elements to it that are definitely worth a listen.
– Joel Colbourne
Funeral Party – The Golden Age of Knowhere
You’ll get your kicks from the first track on Funeral Party’s debut album The Golden Age of Knowhere, which hit shelves on March 29. “New York City Moves to the Sound of LA” is the opening track and it certainly delivers a catchy, toe tapping, high powered rock n’ roll sound. The rest of the album, laden with indie rock tropes and conventions, feels like it’s already been done: “Finale” features requisite hand clapping and chanting, and lead singer Chad Elliot sounds like he could be the lovechild of Brandon Flowers and Julian Casablancas. If this is a recipe for mainstream adult alternative radio play, then only time will tell if there’s life after death for Funeral Party, or if yet another garage band will rot six feet underground. It’s up to the listener to decide: is dullness equivalent to offensiveness?
– Sophie Isbister
Bibio – Mind Bokeh
Fans of Bibio’s early work will find Mind Bokeh, the techno artist’s 6th release (and his third on UK’s Warp Records) lacking in a certain “Bibio-ness.” The electronica master made a name for himself in the scene with fi, released in 2005 on Mush records, which was characterized by its ambient drone and found sounds borrowed from nature. The freshness that made Bibio stand out from the crowd of nerds with computers is missing on his newest release, in favour of popular glitchy sounds and vocal samples which were not found on his early work. Die hard electronica fans will love this album though, despite it sounding like a mixed bag. Songs like the funked-out “Light Sleep,” the ambient “Artist’s Valley,” and the all-over-the-place “Excuses” will keep this album on my iPod. And don’t despair, fans of the early work: title track “Mind Bokeh” retains a maximum of original Bibio acoustic ooze flavour.
– Sophie Isbister
