Review: Tegan and Sara, Heartthrob

The 80s are making a bit of a comeback, it seems. While they might not be the first to do it in the past few years, Tegan and Sara's newest release Heartthrob showcases some distinct disco-rock flavors, and it works for them. The duo has never been one to stick to what works, nor what is socially acceptable, but Heartthrob focuses on the dance element, and these two ladies have it down pretty well. For their seventh album, there's more electronic elements than ever before, but the Quin sisters have used it to their advantage.

Review: The Lone Bellow, self-titled

Folk-tinged indie groups have been popping up like weeds in the past three years or so. It's likely that 2013 will be no different. We can thank the immense success of Mumford and Sons, along with Arcade Fire winning album of the year at the Grammys for this. The rise of the independent band is growing exponentially. The Lone Bellow is the next group to join these ranks, but I'll admit I'm more excited about this three-piece group than some of the others coming around. Here's why.

Review: Yo La Tengo, Fade

So I'll admit: I’ve never listened to Yo La Tengo. Fade is the first album I’ve ever heard from the band. And maybe that doesn’t make me qualified to review it. But by golly, I’m going to do it. Because this is a great album. According to Wikipedia, this is their 13th full length album, and on Spotify they’ve got even more than that. I couldn’t spend enough time with all their older music to make an informed decision on whether this album is good or not. So go ahead and put an asterisk next to my review if you like. But as a new fan, I’m loving this album.

Review: Twenty One Pilots, Vessel

Twenty One Pilots has been on my radar for about a year now. Close friends have been digging them for about that same amount of time, and they each have their own reasons why they’re into the band. Their unique blend of rap and pop provides a new way to enjoy the various styles, and the band’s garnished a pretty decent little following since 2010, when their first album debuted. Vessel is their first release on a major label, and some of the songs are old favorites to longtime fans.

Biggest Disappointments of 2012

So now that I’ve released my final lists for the year, you might notice two albums that are suspiciously left off. If you were involved in the music industry at all this year, you know that the top two albums of the year were Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange and Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.a.a.d. city. Normally, I tend to agree with some of the top albums of the year. This year is a stark contrast. These two albums are highly overrated, and that’s my humble opinion. Allow me to explain.