Sarah Cripps – Practice
Although her first EP is titled Practice, Sarah Cripps sounds far from rough around the edges. She has practice enough; see her covers of “For the Turnstiles” and “Hallelujah” online. The entire extended play has a slick country tinge, complete with lilting guitar and banjo between splashes of cymbal. Still, after “Getaway Car” starts the album off in a good and nasty fashion, things get a bit too nice. Tunes that should sound like they’ve been dragged through the mud come through a little too clean. This would be a bigger problem if Cripps’ vocals weren’t on point. With bright red hair, beautiful eyes, and a sensual look, her album’s cover pairs rightly to Cripps’ voice. Lyrically, the songs on the five-track disc run from self-affirmation to first love; there’s nothing ground-breaking or new there, but each song is a veritable playground for Cripps’ pipes. After all is said and done, that’s what people will take home from Practice.
– Paul Falardeau
R.E.M – Collapse into Now
One great thing about faded-out rock stars is that they constantly come back for more. Whether they need more money, have more to ‘say’ artistically, or need somewhere else to channel their Viagra-energy, comeback albums are commonplace. Such is R.E.M.’s latest title, Collapse into Now. The group was good the first time around – before listening to the album, I would have told them to leave well enough alone. Amazingly, though, the band still has some juice left in it. Their guitar riffs and hooks are just as solid as they were twenty years ago; lead singer Michael Stipe’s voice is just as resonating as it once was. But a double-edged sword cuts both ways: they’re just like they used to be. In all honesty, I’m not sure I could listen to a song and attribute it to their new album or 1991’s Out of Time; they’re just too similar. Nothing is new or fresh. Despite that, reminiscing is good fun – so if you liked the 90’s and are looking to relive them, this album is for you. Oh, and icing for your grunge-coloured cake: Eddie Vedder does some guest vocals on “It Happened Today.” 90’s-tastic.
– Karen Aney
The Dodos – No Color
Given that No Color is their fourth full-length album, it is no surprise that the Dodos sound right at home on it. The new release, due March 15, is a fun and upbeat version of The National that is primed and ready for a summer night filled with good times and debauchery. However, comparisons aside, The Dodos do have quite a unique sound, which is evident right from the first seconds of the album. “Black Night” bursts into eardrums with a flash of snare drum. This sets the pace for the entire percussion-fuelled album. A two-piece, drummer Logan Kroeber plays a modified kit that has no bass drum and instead relies on the use of rim shots and a shoe-adhered tambourine. Meric Long, contributes timely acoustic guitar and vocals, but it is the percussion that drives the music and that gives it the sound that the Dodos have become known for. No Color is an exciting and cheerful listen that demands ample use of the replay button.
– Paul Falardeau
The Joy Formidable – The Big Roar
The first full-length release by this Welsh trio has been as highly anticipated as the Arctic Monkey’s first effort. Being called The Big Roar one might expect an Iggy Pop circa “T. V. Eye” scream to open the album. That is not the case. Instead, “The Ever Changing Spectrum of a Lie” starts with a sputtering fumble of drums, before layer after layer of sound builds to a climax. The band’s press picture finds them standing nonchalantly in front of a Joshua tree and the U2 connection is not lost in the music. However, the progression of sound on “Lie” sounds more fitting on a Yes album. Still, there is a lot of arena rock sensibility left to play; in fact, there’s also a lot of Metric in there too. Really, The Joy Formidable make their mark by being rock and roll chameleons and, importantly, mastering each changing style they adopt. The real reason that The Big Roar is so wonderful to listen to is that The Joy take all of their influences and return them to the listener in a unique and mesmerizing package all their own. Look for them in an arena near you.
– Paul Falardeau
