MIKE POSNER - 31 Minutes To Takeoff

I like how it's called 31 Minutes To Takeoff when the album is actually around 37 minutes long. Perhaps Mike is referencing something else with the title? Who knows.

This is his debut album. His popularity has been buoyed by singles like "Cooler Than Me", "Please Don't Go", and, most recently, "Bow Chicka Wow Wow". Though the radio version of "Bow Chicka Wow Wow" features a guest spot by Lil Wayne, the album version doesn't. Sadness.

Anyway, Mike Posner has never (at least to the best of my knowledge) professed to be a maker of "deep" or "intellectual" music. If he did, then he's a liar. He makes pop music: fluffy, candy-coated pop music. It's sexy pop music though; it grooves, thanks no doubt to his hip-hop influences. This album would be best listened to by people who won't be offended by the dropping of the word "shit" in several of the songs, or the fact that Posner often is either singing about being ignored by girls, picking up girls, having sex with girls, being cheated on by girls, or cheating on girls. We get it, Mike, you like girls. Despite the fact that most of the lyrics are throwaway and even cheesy at times, I like this guy's stuff. Mike's got a unique voice that isn't great but he uses it the best he can. He's got a smooth delivery and exudes charm. I love the horns on "Do You Wanna" which really add some soul to his sound. "Gone in September" is such a sweet little song (it even has finger snaps!), that you almost want to side with this guy who's cheating on his girlfriend. Almost: Mike hits the nail on the head when he sings, "I thought I wasn't like the others...Guess I'm an asshole after all." At least he knows it. We do have "Delta 1406" on here which seems to be about the unintended consequences and worries of becoming famous very quickly.

Overall, I do like this album a lot. I think it will make for good summer jam music: not too deep but it's catchy and polished to a shine.

3OH3 - Streets Of Gold

One of my favorite albums of 2010. I listen to this when I'm at the gym because it really gets me pumped up. I listen to it when I'm just hanging out at home. I listen to it when I'm thinking about partying that night. I listen to it after a night of partying. I listen to it when I'm doing homework. To be honest, it's scary how many times I've played this album. They've definitely gotten better since 2008's Want. Most of the songs are still about girls, sex, and partying, but we also get some "heavier" material (well, heavy by 3OH!3 standards) like the breakup song "R.I.P.". Obviously this album isn't a "huge artistic achievement" but you better believe that it's fun and it's stocked with catchy songs. And isn't that the point of pop music?

www.myspace.com/3oh3
www.3oh3music.com

SOMEONE STILL LOVES YOU BORIS YELTSIN - Let It Sway

The third album for the group from Springfield, Missouri. Let It Sway was produced by Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla. I've never listened to them before this album because somehow I thought they were wimpy twee pop (OK, so I know why I thought that but I'm not revealing it on here). As it turns out, they play something closer to fun indie pop. I suppose it is kind of wimpy, but it's not any wimpier than Death Cab (probably why Chris Walla was a good choice to work on this album). So it's not bad, really. I'm glad I gave it a chance, it's pretty alright. Makes me wish I was out in the sun somewhere soaking up the rays.

www.myspace.com/boris
www.sslyby.com

ELI "PAPERBOY" REED - Come and Get It

This is Eli's third full-length album and his first for the Capitol label. He's from the Boston area, but you probably wouldn't know it from listening to his music. His style is soul music and he'll have you wondering if Come and Get It isn't really a forgotten Stax/Motown record. At the same time, it sounds fresh and new. This is a fantastic album. Kick out the jams with "Explosion", take some advice with "Come and Get It", enjoy the horns and harmonies on "Tell Me What I Want To Hear". Whatever you do, you should enjoy this album.

www.myspace.com/elipaperboyreed
www.elipaperboyreed.com

TRAVIE MCCOY - Lazarus

Travis "Travie" McCoy is famous for being the frontman of Gym Class Heroes. He released his first solo album, Lazarus, in June of 2010. I really like the album's first two singles, "Billionaire" (which also features Bruno Mars, who is riding high on the charts right now with a song I cannot stand) and "Need You" so I decided to check out the rest. I've been looking for fresh new jams anyway. The album is a mishmash of pop, hip-hop, and rock elements. The singles are fantastic, as are some of the other songs (though a few are just so-so). I understand that "We'll Be Alright" is going to be Travie's third single, and there's no doubt why: it borrows from Supertramp's "Alright", and it's got hooks, it's catchy, and it's upbeat. "After Midnight" will probably be a single, too. A bunch of songs feature other famous artists so who knows, those could probably be singles too. Say what you will about these songs being overprocessed and manufactured, they're still catchy. The album is just a fun ride that you can get your swagger on to. Or something like that.

www.myspace.com/traviemccoy
www.traviemccoy.com

JEREMY JAY - Splash

This is Jeremy's third full-length album in as many years. You can find him on the K Records label. This dude is stuck in a time-warp. He sounds a lot like Morrissey on this album. The music is throwback indie-pop/rock. The entire album of nine songs clocks in at under 27 minutes long. A lot of the songs seem like they could use more fleshing out, but if you've enjoyed his other releases you'll probably like this one too. Though I still think his sophomore album, Slow Dance, is his best.

www.myspace.com/jeremyjay
www.www.krecs.com/html/artists/artistbio.php?interest=101

TELEKINESIS - Parallel Seismic Conspiracies EP

Telekinesis is the moniker of Seattle's Michael Benjamin Lerner. This is a quick little EP of five songs to tide fans over until the scheduled 2011 release of Telekinesis' sophomore album. There is a full-band version of "Calling All Doctors" and two new songs, "Dirty Thing" and "Non-Toxic". We get a faithful cover of Guided By Voices' "Game of Pricks" as well a cover of (pre-Joy Division) Warsaw's "The Drawback". Fun breezy indie pop.

www.myspace.com/telekinesismusic
www.telekinesismusic.com

HANK AND CUPCAKES - Hank and Cupcakes EP

From Brooklyn by way of Israel (not something I get to type everyday), Hank & Cupcakes are here to entertain you/rock you/move you. Cupcakes sings and plays drums while Hank lays down the bass. The EP kicks off with two songs sure to get you out on the dance floor, "Ain't No Love" and "Pleasure Town". Cupcakes is cool and confident as she delivers her lyrics. The third track, "Roses", shows her as more emotional and vulnerable and is more the type of song where people will wave their lighters (or cell phones these days) than shake their booty. The album closes with a cover of Joy Division's "She's Lost Control". I've heard a number of bands try this cover, often with disastrous results. H&C keep it together, though, and manage to deliver an interesting take on the song. The EP is just a brief introduction to the band but shows them in fine form.

From what I've heard, the duo are a great live act and they will be embarking on a Fall 2010 tour this November, with dates along the East Coast. Check their Myspace for more details and shows near you.

www.myspace.com/hankandcupcakes
www.hankandcupcakes.com

THE WAVES - Shock Horror!

The Waves were the predecessors to Katrina and the Waves. Shock Horror, their 1983 debut EP, was recently re-released to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the hit single "Walking On Sunshine" which was found on 1985's Katrina and the Waves. Shock Horror is chock-full of guitar-driven pop and New Wave music. I like it a lot. It has a "We recorded this in our garage and it still sounds awesome" vibe to it and it just seems really badass. I also have to mention the fact that there is a song on here called "Strolling On Air" - I guess it just didn't have the right ring to it to be a hit song but at least they tried again.

www.katrinaandthewaves.com/

TEEN INC. - Fountains / Friend Of The Night

From Los Angeles, Teen Inc. was formed by the sibling duo of Daniel and Andrew Aged. They were both studio musicians (apparently for big-name artists like Pharell and Raphael Saadiq) so we know right off the bat that they've got the playing chops, but can they write their own stuff? I decided to give this single a listen after hearing it being compared to Prince. I suppose the vocals do have a Prince-like feel, but they're buried so far in the mix that they don't have the same confidence attached to them that Prince puts on his. The music does have a funk appeal to it but I'm not impressed yet. I could see myself giving a Teen Inc. full-length album a spin to see what happens to them, but it's not going to be on the top of my list.

www.myspace.com/teenincstuff
www.teen-inc.net

DEVO - Something For Everybody

DEVO!!! How could you not be excited? This is their ninth studio album and first since 1990. It's fantastic, ridiculous new-wave pop music. Great lyrics. Catchy stuff. It's DEVO! How could you not like it?

www.myspace.com/devo
www.clubdevo.com

THE GET UP KIDS - Simple Science EP

The Get Up Kids were formed in Kansas City, Missouri, in the mid-1990s and released their debut album, Four Minute Mile, in 1997. They went on to become one of the torchbearers of the late '90s "emo" movement. But unlike Jimmy Eat World, who broke out in a big way in 2002, GUK never really achieved what I would consider mainstream success outside of the emo realm. The band broke up in 2005 with the members going on to pursue other projects (The New Amsterdams, Koufax, Blackpool Lights, Reggie and the Full Effect) but they got back together in 2009. Simple Science is their first new studio recording in six years (the last being 2005's The Guilt Show). With four songs clocking in at just over 16 minutes, it almost feels like they are testing the waters first before jumping in and releasing a new album. The music also feels like it's testing the waters. Not enough energy to really get into and not enough emotion to actually sit back and listen. Sounds very middle-of-the-road to me.

www.myspace.com/thegetupkids
www.thegetupkids.com

SURFER BLOOD - Astro Coast

The debut from the West Palm Beach, Florida band. I got this album to review a few weeks ago but was delayed by other projects so I haven't been able to listen until now. In those short few weeks, it seems to me that the band has been labeled as the next big thing and have gotten a lot more popular.

I finally found the time to listen to Astro Coast and I hear a blend of garage pop/psychedelia/shoegaze/rock. I understand that "Swim" is the album's single and that isn't shocking; it's catchy and has a simple chorus that you'll be able to sing along to before the end of the song. I can see the big appeal to this album: it combines the pop sensibilities of a band like Vampire Weekend with the fuzz of The Jesus and Mary Chain. While so many bands are choosing to go one way (indie pop) or the other (shoegaze/experimental), Surfer Blood choose to straddle the line.

Final impression: I think some of the songs are great (album opener "Floating Vibes" and the aforementioned "Swim" make for a fine 1-2 punch) but by the end of the album the songs all seem to blend into one. I wish there was a bit more variety, is what I'm alluding to. Even so, decent.

www.myspace.com/surferblood
www.surferblood.blogspot.com

PANTS YELL - Received Pronunciation

Pants Yell! are from Cambridge, near Boston, and they formed in 2003. In the past they had a girl drummer but it seems the trio is now comprised of all dudes. If I understand correctly, Received Pronunciation is their fourth full-length and their first release for Slumberland Records. I saw this band perform in Rochester in 2006 and while I was most impressed with their bass player's good looks, I also recall them having a very poppy, "twee" sound. That sound is present on this album so I must remember their gig well enough. The nine-song album clocks in at just over 26 minutes but nonetheless is packed chock full of upbeat indie pop. The last song on this album, "To Take", is probably my favorite as it has a very nice instrumental ending. The vocalist is kind of wimpy but I suppose that is to be expected with this type of music. If you like wussy pop music you'd probably like this, it's good.

www.myspace.com/pantsyellmusic

SPOON - Transference

Let me preface this post by saying that I love Spoon. They are the band that I hear whenever I think of my freshman year of college. I fell in love with them that year and I was constantly listening to them. During my junior year of college I got to see them play in Austin, their hometown, at SXSW 2008. The crowd was huge, perhaps because it was a free show, but also no doubt because more and more people were discovering just how good Spoon is. And damn they are good.

Transference is the seventh studio full-length from Spoon. Spoon have been hailed as the kings of minimal rock 'n' roll, and this album has them maintaining that stance. The music isn't minimal like lo-fi music is often said to be; it is minimal because they don't heap on layers of unnecessary sounds. This results in more stripped down songs than you might normally hear from a 'rock band', but that doesn't mean it's not rock and roll. I don't see any of the songs on here being a breakout hit like "The Underdog" off of their last album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, was, but the 11 songs on here are still satisfying and show a band who is known for its consistency continue that trend. While I'm pleased with this release, after only a few listens, it doesn't knock things out of the park for me just yet.

www.myspace.com/spoon
www.spoontheband.com

VAMPIRE WEEKEND - Contra

I'm sure there's already a million blog posts out there about this album, so I may as well throw in my two cents. I have somehow managed to avoid all reviews regarding this album, perhaps by unintentionally avoiding all music sites lately, so my opinion remains untarnished.

Contra is the sophomore album from everyone's favorite Ivy-League indie popsters, Vampire Weekend. It is very sonically similar to their self-titled debut album, though this release has them experimenting with new effects and faster tempos. The album shows a slightly more mature sound but it is not as instantly hummable as their first. I think that with time, however, it will be appreciated more than their first. It's pretty great. Overall I like this album and it will be a good way to keep warm during this cold winter we are having - it is sweet, summery pop music, with just enough complexity to make sure you're not bored but aren't overwhelmed either.

www.myspace.com/vampireweekend
www.vampireweekend.com

BLINK 182 - Blink 182

Yes, I know that this album was released in 2003. However, recently, it's been playing a lot while I'm at home so I figured I might as well write about it. I don't know what it is about Blink 182 that makes me like this album so much, but I love it. It might be that Travis Barker, whether you love him or hate him, is one of the best drummers in recent years. His drumming is intricate, adding a whole new layer to the music and fleshing out the sound for the trio. It might be that they have two different vocalists, Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge, who can alternate between sounding heartbroken, angry, giddy, and a wide range of other emotions. It might be that the simple lyrical content actually makes the songs stronger; they are easy to relate to and won't make you scratch your head wondering what they really mean. You just listen and bob your head and hope that the energy in these songs is transferred to you by some sort of cosmic intervention. Or it might be that these three guys write some very catchy pop songs which I just can't stop listening to. Yeah, that might be it.


www.myspace.com/blink182
www.blink182.com

CHROMEO - Night By Night (Single)

The first new Chromeo song since the 2007 release of their sophomore album, Fancy Footwork! The sound of "Night By Night" is instantly recognizable as Chromeo: upbeat, synth-driven pop/electrorock with Dave One's smooth vocals and Pee Thug contributing vocals through his vocoder. Lots of fun; you will surely want to put this on at your next dance party. If this song is any indication, their next album is going to be even more awesome than their past two (even if you didn't think that could be possible).

www.myspace.com/chromeo
www.chromeo.net

ANDY WERTH - Burn The Maps And Bury The Compass

From Seattle, this is the debut album for Andy Werth and his band. The sound is pop rock/power-pop/rock with male vocals that are reminiscent of the sound of Aqueduct's. I heard Andy's Seeing Stars EP in 2008 and really liked that and I like this album, too. Fun, carefree tunes and many of the tracks have horns. Recommended if you like Aqueduct, Sloan, the New Pornographers.

www.myspace.com/andywerth
www.andywerth.com

THE FRESH AND ONLYS - The Fresh and Onlys

San Francisco band's debut. Reverby 60's influenced pop/garage rock/pscyh with male vocals and female backing vox. Overall really cool. Recommended if you like Thee Oh Sees, Raveonettes, and similar bands.

www.myspace.com/thefreshonlys
thefreshandonlys.com