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5
Score
The Rockometer: Trouble Will Find Me by The National
The National High VioletTrouble Will Find Me 4AD The National’s High Violet Trouble Will Find Me is a patient album requiring a patient listener. The pay-offs don’t occur as they did in the past when vocalist Matt Beringer is at his most agitated. Rather, they happen when he and the band are at their most somber and most subdued; When the hor...READ MORE
9
Score
The Rockometer: MCII by Mikal Cronin
Mikal Cronin MC II Merge Records Should the career arc of Mikal Cronin follow that of his frequent collaborator, the San Francisco, garage rock wunderkind, Ty Segall, his early 45s could start paying down your mortgage and get the kids off to college. I exaggerate, but MCII is such a leap in quality, similar to the one Segall made on his Drag Cit...READ MORE
7
Score
The Rockometer: Monomania by Deerhunter
Deerhunter Monomania 4AD Monomania Deerhunter's fifth album, Monomania, was announced with what was either the greatest press release ever or the most bullshit ridden piece of bullshit put out by an industry of bullshitters. How else does one interpret something like this? Mystery disc of NOCTURNAL GARAGE. rat tapes / NEW FORMAT is avant gar...READ MORE
10
Score
The Rockometer: Modern Vampires of the City by Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the City XL Recordings Those nerds in Vampire Weekend, with their expensive educations and fancy words, J Crew oxford shirts and indifference to our indie rock insecurities, have gone and done it again. With Modern Vampires of the City they now have a second pop masterpiece on their hands and this one may be eve...READ MORE
8
Score
The Rockometer: Calendar Days by Dick Diver
Dick Diver Calendar Days Chapter Music Listening to the album Calendar Days by the Melbourne quartet, Dick Diver, is like eavesdropping on conversation between two close friends at a cafe as the pair go over life's curious demands. During its course, they cover both the big issues, dreams and aspirations, regrets and failures, and the little th...READ MORE
7
Score
The Rockometer: Paper Moon by Georgiana Starlington
Georgiana Starlington Paper Moon Hozac Records One can file Georgiana Starlington's Paper Moon along side other low-key folk albums by Mazzy Star, The Dutchess and The Duke, or Mark Lanegan and Isobel Campbell. One can also file Paper Moon under pleasant surprise. Nothing in the recorded history of the brother-sister duo, Jack and Julie Hines,...READ MORE
10
Score
The Rockometer: Silence Yourself by Savages
Savages Silence Yourself Matador This record is so fucking intense, and so fucking intense is an uncommon way to describe a post-punk record of any era, especially one released in 2013. Yet, Silence Yourself, by British newcomers Savages is all those things usually associated with post-punk records, like precise, moody and introspective, tense,...READ MORE
8
Score
The Rockometer: English Little League by Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices English Little League Rockathon Records Nostalgia has its limits. While the past ten years has seen practically every big name alternative rock and indie rock band round up the mates for another go at it, there has been a gathering sense of late that '90s nostalgia rock is nearing its end. Everyone seems to have a tenth or twentieth anniversary to celebrate. Or, in the case of the Dan...READ MORE
9
Score
The Rockometer: Floating Coffin by Thee Oh Sees
Thee Oh Sees Floating Coffin Castle Face Records Did you find The Flaming Lips' latest album, The Terror, lacking the the kind of wonderfully weird vibes Wayne Coyne and company had built their career upon? Yes? Well read on, because the San Francisco garage rock outfit, Thee Oh Sees have a dandy of a record for you. Featuring the same over-sized...READ MORE
9
Score
The Rockometer: Cruise Your Illusion by Milk Music
Milk Music Cruise Your Illusion Fat Possum The album title, Cruise Your Illusion, a slight play on the Guns 'N' Roses double album set, Use Your Illusion, should have been your hint. The Olympia, Washington quartet, Milk Music aren't your average band of long-haired, riff rockers from the Pacific, Northwest who were raised on grunge and worship a...READ MORE
8
Score
The Rockometer: Wakin’ on a Pretty Daze by Kurt Vile
Kurt Vile Wakin' on a Pretty Daze Matador Kurt Vile has little use for a diagram of the western pop song. Forget verse, chorus, verse, bridge and coda. There's the ramble part and the tamble particle and the solo. His voice rises where most would descend, and descends when most vocal melodies would tend to rise. Words are mumbled like Dylan...READ MORE
6
Score
