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

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

Corner Rap

TSOL - Shad

This is the first rap album I have ever posted and this is with good reason. Listening to rap these days is really hard for me, is it just me or are rappers less creative ? Regardless, I had the great fortune of stumbling onto this nugget brought to you by the Canadian rapper who goes by the name of Shad. This is his third album and having listened to his previous work, this is an overall improvement to his sound but his lyrics are still as potent and grounded as they were since he picked up the mic. The origin of his name is colorfully explained in "A Good Name", "Keep Shining" seems like it revolves around the standard rap brag yet it stands out as a polar opposite and the fantastic vibe surely does not hurt. "We, Myself & I" is by far the high energy track of the album and the use of the letter "I" in the first verse is the kind of creativity I was talking about. "At The Same Time" has a darker tone but the underlying message is meant to uplift and educate, the resulting sound is haunting yet beautiful; hard to get in a rap song. "Listen" has an oddly old-school vibe about it while still sounding very fresh and relevant, this track voices some of the concerns many of us have about the road rap is going down and the need for it to go back to the representation of the people. I have gone on long enough, so until the next post...

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Galactic Fruit

Fruit - The Asteroids Galaxy Tour

All the way from Denmark, The Asteroids' first album is really out of this world. "Different" is a word that can very well define the majority of the tracks featured in this album. Mette's vocals have a rather rare tone to them that does a great job of complimenting the jazzy instrumentals and make for a unique overall sound. These songs take some getting used to because of their strange sound and unusual vocals and more than one track need a few listens before really enjoying it. "Around The Bend" would be the most recognizable since it was used in the iPod touch commercials when it was released, but it holds it's own regardless. "The Sun Ain't Shining No More" is a little more tamed than the rest of the tracks yet is a memorable addition to my playlist. "Sunshine Coolin'" is more Indie-Pop than Jazz/Alternative even though it manages to stay true to the formula and takes full advantage of Mette's fantastic voice. "Hero" is a laid back type of track with some great trumpets and a somewhat Jazz club ambiance about it. All in all, if you're open to hearing something new and different, give this album a chance and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Xero & The Boombox Theory

Breathe Deep

Lungs- Florence + The Machine

Released in April 2009, Florence + The Machine's debut album is a sign of great things to come. Florence's voice is truly something special; with talent abound, she can hit those epic notes and the melodic even soul-like tone of her voice offer a soothing yet powerful sensation. Let's not forget about the "Machine" part of the band which is comprised of various bands who add there vocals and instruments to the musical atmosphere. This album is near flawless although certain tracks stand out more than others; such as: "Howl", an angelic blend of vocals and ambient sound that result in something truly beautiful. "You've Got The Love", the title speaks for itself and the lyrics go where you would expect, but the way it gets there is the most enjoyable part. "Blinding" really shows off her vocal range in spades. "Drumming Song" the chorus best describes the album as a whole in my opinion: " Louder than sirens, louder than bells, sweeter than Heaven and hotter than Hell". "Rabbit Heart" is the song that grabbed me since the first listen and cemented my love for this band, fantastic lyrics, grandiose instrumental and just the right length, in short, perfect. If you enjoy Indie/Soul, you'll truly be enchanted with this album.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists

Firing Squad & Toy Soldiers

Pins & Panzers - Plushgun

I've been following Plushgun since the demos were released in 2007, and in 2009 their first album dropped. I can honestly say this one is a top-to-bottom fantastic album for any Synth-Pop/Indie Rock lover or even those who are still new and reluctant to the genre. Overall, the tracks tend to be easy-going, never too loud but still energetic and often found myself surprised at how smoothly one song can blend into the next while still maintaining their individual identities. "Just Impolite" is their better known single and also the best way to get introduced to this band; "The Dark In You" has a little more energy but manages to never get carried away; "How We Roll" speaks to all the teens in high-school who feel different and like it; "14 Candles" is a definite sing-along type song if you're a romantic at heart. All together you'll notice the wide range of instruments, most notably the piano and several synthesizers, but also ukuleles, dashes of violins and various strings, that will effectively put you in the right mood. Ultimately this album is not for everybody, yet it remains a New Wave gold nugget if you have the taste for it and hopefully I have done enough to sell you on it. If you like it, go get it, I know I did (No pressure).

P.S.- Sorry for the couple of months without posts, been going through a lot lately, I'll try harder to do this more often.

Xero & The Boombox Theorists