Left Standing

Civilian - Wye Oak

The Indie-Folk/ Folk-Rock genre is full of bands with identical sounds and a shallow idea of what the genre is actually all about. Wye Oak have managed to distinguish themselves, along with a few others, in the eyes of all Folk-Rock lovers. Civilian is an elegant blend of dreamy vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, glorious drums and an always deliberate pacing that speak volumes for the quality of each song and create an environment you wouldn't mind getting lost in. The title track, "Civilian" is probably the overall best song on the album but unlike several other albums, it is not the only track with any kind of real value. "Dog's Eyes" is not filler to round the track list up to ten; with it's quick pace and amazing build-up from the acoustic to the electric guitar, it is one fun musical experience. "Fish" may start off a little slower, it pays off with fantastic vocals and a deep atmosphere. "Hot As Day" great name for a great track, loud, powerful instrumentals, superb vocals with that dreamy tone, hot indeed. Altogether, this is an album built from the bottom up with heart and passion and you can hear it in each cord and in every word; the best Indie-Folk album so far this year.

1.- Civilian 

2.- Dog's Eyes

3.- Doubt

4.- Fish

5.- Holy Holy

6.- Hot As Day

7.- Plains

8.- The Alter

9.- Two Small Deaths

10.- We Were Wealth

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Worth It's Weight

Golden Arrows - Dynasty Electric

This album was my very first taste of Dynasty Electric and I was pleasantly surprised by the content of their third release. One word comes to mind when listening to the album as whole: eclectic. It seems as though the tracks are bouncing from one genre of music to the other, from Pop to Electronic, from Soul to a modern type of Disco; overall is a rather unique musical experience that truly grows on you as you realize the talent and heart poured into each song. "Electro Retro" seems like it's from a completely different time yet feels so familiar, the title track, "Golden Arrows", is in my humble opinion the best song on the album if just for the range of sounds. "Box Of Light" would be the electric in the band name along with "And The Sky" and "Reality Check"  is simply entrancing. There is in truth very little I could say that would do this album justice, I'll let the music speak for itself but I will encourage you to let the songs play in their entirety to really appreciate the quality of each. Until next time, enjoy.

1.- And The Sky

2.- Bird Song

3.- Box Of Light

4.- Electro Retro

5.- Friends

6.- Golden Arrows

7.- Infectious

8.- Mountain Song

9.- Radiation

10.- Reality Check

11.- Spell Check

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

A Week In The Life...

7 Days - Cook Norman Blaze

Hip-Hop is a generation defining genre in music, so much so that it isn't simply a style of music, it's an entire culture, a way of life. "7 Days" taps into that 80's style of Hip-Hop when telling your story and getting your message through in a way that would be enjoyable to anyone who listened was the main goal. As the mixtape's title would lead you to believe, the tracks are set in the context of one week starting on a Wednesday I like to think; though there isn't one stream of thought., there is a coherence from "Day 1- The Show" to "Day 7 - Over". Being a mixtape, it does sound a bit raw while still being well mixed, but there is a lot of potential in CNB especially lyrically; nothing overly superficial or just put together right before recording, these are well put together and deliberate lyrics with their own meaning and value. I've always supported talented up-and-coming artists and I think Cook Norman Blaze is an artist worth listening to especially if you've been looking for a different sound without completely going off the tracks.

1.- Day 1 - The Show

2.- Day 2 - Thinking Out Loud

3.- Day 3 - Far From Kind

4.- Day 4 - Tonight (Ft. Lelelhe)

5.- Day 5 - Sunday Morning (Ft. Gigi)

6.- Day 6 - Lights Out

7.- Day 7 - Over

Xero & The Boombox Theory

Monsters Of Iceland

Of Monsters And Men EP - 
Of Monsters And Men

If we had a Song Of The Month category this would be on the top of my list. Of Monsters And Men, an up-and-coming Icelandic group, have been signed since December and I am now eagerly awaiting their debut album, certainly if it sounds anything like this fun and upbeat track. It just seems to hit all the right buttons, "Little Talks" just grabs you right from the beginning with that amazing instrumental and awesome vocals by the two singers who sound just as good live as they do on the track itself as the video will prove. I will be keeping my ear to the ground for whatever these guys release next because I feel it will be worth it.

1.- Little Talks -Of Monsters And Men

Discovered this band through this very video

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Old Soul

Kaputt - Destroyer

Destroyer's ninth studio album is a blast from the past as it seems to jump straight from the 1980's Jazz scene and into 2011. Having said that, the album never sounds dated or out of place. I have to point out that some of the lyrics can be confusing and obscure and are often drowned out or near inaudible but that is due more to the singing style rather than the loudness of the instruments. Speaking of, the instrumental aspect of "Kaputt" is simply magnificent, "Bay Of Pigs" does a great job of showcasing many of the variations common to the Jazz genre and more specific to this band. "Chinatown" is an instant classic: the cool vibe, the pitch perfect vocals, and a run-time that's just right. Destroyer is relatively new band to me even though they have been making music since '96; my first impression of them was overwhelmingly positive as I found very little wrong with the overall package except that "Bay Of Pigs" and "Suicide Demo For Kara Walker" ran a little too long and can't be fully appreciated. If you're looking to get lost in some smooth trumpets and dreamy vocals, this was made for you.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Tomorrow's Youth

Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow... - 
Youth Sounds

Continuing the trend of great second albums, Youth Sounds' eagerly anticipated sophomore album delivers on all the promises of "The Bit Parts EP". Their ever-present laid-back and overall smooth approach to making music bridges the gap between the two ensembles and creates a certain coherence between the tracks; and it doesn't hurt that they can make a pretty catchy tune that makes you want to sing along even on your first listen. The best first impression has got to be "It's Hell" followed by "We're No One", which takes nothing away from the rest of the album, I just cracked a smile as soon as "It's Hell" started playing. The ear-worm prize would have to go to "Whatever Works" but this is just a perk of the song, what makes this album special is the heart and soul that clearly shines through each of the five tracks; each song is so well put together and executed and everything from the pacing to the vocals seems chosen with care and never feels like a rush job which only cements my admiration for this still-up-and-coming band. In short, this is an amazing follow-up to the "The Bit Parts" and is worth a listen for anybody looking for a unique sound.

1.- It's Hell

2.- Whatever Works

3.- Foolish Love

4.-You'll Be The Death Of Me

5.- We're No One

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Innocent

Ritual - White Lies

White Lies' sophomore album "Ritual" is a short departure from their previous work "To Lose My Life..." yet is not more of the same. The balance on the album is a point worth noting: tracks such as "Bad Love", "Strangers" and "Bigger Than Us" tend to be faster paced and energetic, others like "Come Down" and "Turn The Bells" go for a slower vibe while not altogether crawling. One aspect which is constant is the dark lyrics and powerful vocals, both reasons why I was drawn to this band; think Alternative-Rock shell with a Punk-Rock and Grunge core. "To Lose My Life..." was an utterly satisfying musical experience and a real triumph for a debut album but "Ritual" is far from a simple after-taste of their previous oeuvre, it stands alone and  proves that this band still has room to grow and develop their sound while not straying too far from their roots. "Ritual" is not perfect, but after listening to it in it's entirety, it remains a well crafted ensemble, flat-lining in certain sections but picking itself up quickly. If you had the pleasure of listening to any track on "To Lose My Life..." you will enjoy this one as well and may even grow to appreciate White Lies even more.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Something Different

Marker - TimPermanent

Let me just start off by saying that the hiatus is now over and we will be doubling our efforts to post in a more timely fashion. I've been sitting on this album for much longer than I would have liked and that's just not right; my first impression of TimPermanent was "I've heard this before", now this can be either a good thing or quite the opposite, in my opinion that familiarity makes it easier to listen to the songs in their entirety and truly appreciate how this artist can stand out from all the others in and around the Pop scene. The ear-worm factor alone was enough to convince me that this was worth posting; I found myself humming the catchier tracks like "Alkaline", "Asymmetrical" and "Extraordinary". Keep in mind though that TimPermanent (love the name) doesn't just make Pop music but is part of the Avant-Pop movement,  which is just a shorter way of saying he mixes his personal style with current culture references and tendencies, making them easier to relate with. As always with my humble suggestions, tuning your ears is a must for this album and very little to ask for when it sounds like this. 

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Bang Bang !

Air Swell - Chiddy Bang

My very first impression of this Hip-Hop duo was simple: these guys are amazing. The talent and potential of these guys would make other artists extremely envious. Their sound is a mix of Alternative-Rock, Pop and Hip-Hop while using some outstanding sampling from Electronica and House songs. From The Intro to "Shooter", if this mixtape is a sign of things to come I am eagerly awaiting their very first studio album and I will bring it to you in due time.

The Swelly Express - Chiddy Bang

If "Air Swell" was good, this proves these guys can get better. Stuffed to the seams with thirteen tracks of Hip-Hop and Rap that I wish more artists would get behind. I am not the only one who believes that the rap game is thinning in talent and if anybody can make music as genuinely as these guys they have a bright future. Having said that, Chiddy Bang is not perfect but when you have songs like "Opposite Of Adults" , "Truth", "Never", "All Things Go", "Dream Chasin'" and I could go on, mistakes are quickly forgiven. I am not exaggerating when I say that if you love Hip-Hop you HAVE to give this a listen.

Air Swell

The Swelly Express

Xero & The Boombox Theory

Bloody Odd

Odd Blood - Yeasayer

Released in early 2010 Yeasayer's sophomore album is arguably the best Experimental Rock/Pop album of the year. Odd Blood is clearly influenced by a more Pop style than their previous album right down to the lyrics yet can still be classified as an Experimental Rock piece. The incredible instrumentals seem like they could fill a room with their cool ambient vibes and energetic sections and they will certainly keep you listening just to hear what variations and distinct sounds will creep up in each track. Tracks like "O.N.E", "Madder Red", "Mondegreen" and "Ambling Alp" are just catchy and that counts for a lot in this certainly unique album; granted certain tracks such as "The Children" and "Rome" can be quite odd and honestly surprising if you keep listening but they do strangely tie in with the experimental nature of the album. In this budding genre of music Yeasayer can claim the top spot even having some of their songs hit the mainstream to general acclaim.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Sweets At The Theater

Suite(s) - Ex Libras

It's kind of hard to put in words why I like this album; I certainly love Ex Libras' way of mixing several elements of Rock with more classic instrumentals, various Hip-Hop beats and altogether random sounds; and in many ways their style is eerily similar to Radiohead's. Some tracks can be plain quirky, such is the case of "Sum Numbers", it's a mix of beautiful piano work, blazing guitar riffs and haunting vocals that tend to cut into each other more than smoothly transition; it is the most enigmatic piece in this album for me and it stands as a hate-it-or-love-it track often leaving you asking "why?" yet still worth a listen. The length of the album is pretty surprising: it's only comprised of 8 tracks but lasts 46 minutes; with songs like "Phat Nickers", "Audio Video Disco" and "19:04" spanning more than 8 minutes and others such as "Issues" and "Discharge" lasting less than a minute and a half, you get quite a full range of sounds from this one. "Radar" is the all out winner of the album with a perfect run time of 3:23 followed closely, if not tied, with "Underachiever". "Phat Nickers" is the only track that feels sadly out of place in the overall experience. "Slow burn" is a fairly adequate way of describing the album; songs ebb and flow before getting to the vocals and end with for the most part with a boom. All in all this is a great debut album for a band with much promise; still pretty good for something that was entirely recorded in a garden shed.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Fascinating

Fine Fascination - Red Light Company

U.K. band Red Light Company released their debut Alternative Rock album back in 2009 to popular acclaim. "With Lights Out " was their debut single released in late 2008 and my first taste of R.L.C., from that point I was eagerly anticipating their follow-up singles. "Meccano" was pretty good but not better than "Scheme Eugene" and it only got better with "Arts & Crafts". I've had the album since it's release and I realized that the entire album was fantastic, especially "Bahnhof Zoo" that instantly became my favorite song in the collection. Their sound is not revolutionary but it certainly doesn't hurt the experience.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Hallowin

So I'm going to post a list that has nothing to do with Halloween - I don't care for the holiday - I just put it together coincidentally.

  1. Bahnhof Zoo - Red Light Company - Fine Fascination

  2. Black River Killer - Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer

  3. Education - Mirah - (a)spera

  4. Feel Good Together - Drummer - Feel Good Together

Honestly the whole song for me is about that killer guitar that permeates the chorus and the end of the song but I enjoyed the Spy Vs. Spy Vs. Spy vibe they got going on in the video.

  5. Fire - Kasabian - The West Rider Pauper Lunatic Asylum This song is nothing new but I've always loved the video -those who've seen FLCL will be familiar with their "special" guitars- not to mention the song is fantastic.

  6. Harder Hit - Loquat - Secrets Of The Sea

  7. Higher Than The Stars - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Higher Than The Stars

  8. My Delirium - Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke

  9. My Girlfriend's Boyfriend - Her Space Holiday - The Young Machines

10. Sleepwalking - The Jaguar Club - And We Woke Up Slow

11. Sunlight - Harlem Skakes - Technicolor Health

12. To Feel Love - Butterfly Boucher - Scary Fragile

13. Underdog - Kasabian - West Rider Pauper Lunatic Asylum

14. We Own The Sky - M83 - Saturdays = Youth Picnic on a nice day, he meets a girl he likes, she finds a boy she might want to be with; but wait... what's in the sky ?! It's Cubes !!!

15. Whoa Is Me - Down With Webster - Time To Win

16. *Complete List*

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Once In A While

Strict Joy - The Swell Season

I got my first taste of The Swell Season in the brilliant musical movie "Once" and was quite taken by the charm and genuine tone of the film and the soundtrack. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová have the greatest of chemistry and it really comes through in there music; their debut self-titled album was a delight to my ears but this recent installment puts them on another level in my opinion. Though never wandering too far from their Folk style of play, no two songs are alike yet the album manages to keep a coherent message: the real side of love. I would highly recommend checking out their film, you could get a good idea of what the swell season are all about and be entertained at the same time. I've fawned over this long enough; so until next time.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Down Under

Treasures EP - Antonio Paul

So I finally got around to listening to the latest EP released by Australian band Antonio Paul and my first impression of the Indie-Pop duo is quite positive. I didn't what to make of the sound that they make their own, not revolutionary but seldom ventured, they certainly have a laid-back attitude when it comes to music making. If you like a little quirk in your lyrics and a dash of weird to your instruments, you should give this one a try; chances are "City Dreams" will be your favorite. Plan on following these guys future releases.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Danish Delight

No More Stories Are Told Today, I'm Sorry They Washed Away // No More Stories, The World Is Grey, I'm Tired, Let's Wash Away - Mew

Danish band Mew's fifth studio release is one that caught my interest after listening to their first single "Cartoons And Macramé Wounds" and then following that up with my personal favorite "Repeaterbeater". And what you have read is actually the album's title commonly known by "No More Stories..." ; that plus the wacky artwork could give you an idea of what you might discover in this ensemble. These guys are the poster-boys in my opinion of the Progressive-Rock scene and it shows in the way they put together each individual track, the way sounds drift in and out, the many variations in a single song and the general ambiance that the fourteen tracks - even the interludes - can create are really brilliant. I must stress that if you are not willing or open to this genre, this will not change your mind, but I can't speak for everyone. If you think you can give it a shot, you will have no regrets.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Heart & Folk

Sigh No More - Mumford & Sons

The genre that is Folk has gifted us with many gems that simply ooze of the feel of a subway guitarist pouring his soul out to a crowd of indifferent passersby, but never before have I heard an entire ensemble collection that has tickled my fancy as much as the debut album of Mumford & Sons. The band name alone tells you where this is going but it is definitely worth taking that trip. Now Folk music entails many different things if you are not aware, those being: each song tells a story, not in pieces but as a whole, and at the end there is a moral or learned experience to a varying degree (this not being the case here); most if not all the tracks are played with acoustic instruments, and these guys bring it: guitar, drums, mandolin, banjo, dobro, accordion, double bass and some sounds I can't make out. The overall package is absolutely enchanting, very down-to-Earth lyrics, great vocals by Mr. Marcus Mumford himself, an engrossing sense of laying back while you are being told a story accompanied by some fantastic instrumentals.

The Cave

This is the track that started it all and I've only seen the video up until recently.

Little Lion Man

Heavy hitter back in Australia. That is a good looking banjo.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Tet Vav Semiprime

Got another list ready so here it is. I do not own any of the videos.

1.- Backfire - MuteMath - Armistice
2.- Belong In - Beerjacket - A Boy Of Action
3.- Borderline (Madonna) - Flaming Lips - Embryonic

Borderline - Flaming Lips

- This vid is long but the song makes it worth the length.

4.- Circles - As Tall As Lions - You Can't Take It With You
5.- Cloudbusting - Anthem In - The Cloudbusting
6.- Hostage Of Love - Razorlight - Slipway Fires
7.- Juno - Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell
8.- Mel's Song - Cosmo Jarvis - Hum As You Hitch/ Son Of A Bitch
9.- Repeaterbeater - Mew - No More Stories Are Told Today Sorry...

Repeaterbeater - Mew

- They sing in English but they speak something that sounds like Danish. Doesn't take away from the weirdness of this one.

10.- Return Of White Rabbit - Ash - Vol.1 A-Z

Return Of White Rabbit - Ash

- Animated vid about a man who has been tormented since he was a child by a another guy. The lesson to take away here is if you push somebody too hard he'll push back and probably succumb to a crazy-looking alter-ego.

11.- Riverside - Kid Harpoon - Once
12.- Stagger Gently Home - The Holy Roman Army - How The Light Gets In
13.- The Stone - Canoe - Places
14.- Watch As They Go - American Princes - Other People
15.- Work Day - It Hugs Back - Inside Your Guitar

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Burnt Or Crossed

Crossing The Rubicon - The Sounds

The Sounds released their third album on June of last year and I must admit it took me time to actually get this album seeing as how I had already gotten three great tracks. Right off the bat, this album is great from top to bottom, a dozen jewels in this release. The songs would be labeled as New Wave but to really get an idea of how this sounds, I believe it toes the line between Alternative Rock & Electro-Pop. Fantastic harmonies, superior mixing, superb vocals, provided by lead singer Maja, high energy sounds and all around genuine desire to make good music are what make this a must-have for lovers of the genre. I had recently learned that this album was self-produced and released by the label founded by The Sounds themselves and seemingly funded by their world tour; at least they had a say on what exactly is going to be on their album and I'm glad they did so because this was an experience for me, and it might be for you as well.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

The Diva Is Back

Hey Minus here. I've been really busy getting ready for schoolin' & such so i present my excuses. Hopefully when I'm all settled this can change. TRUST, I have quite the collection of oldies & even some new stuff you might enjoy & if you don't... well I do.

while I have you wait Amanda Diva shows us all that she hasn't forgotten her lyrical roots. Until the project drops here's a preview...

Brand New- Amanda Diva

Quite nice if i say so myself... which I do.

& I'm off again,

-Minus & The Theorists