Tomi Milos
The Silhouette
Single: "Do I Wanna Know"
Artist: Arctic Monkeys
Album: AM
One listen to their new lead single, ‘Do I Wanna Know’, will have you ready to forgive Arctic Monkey’s for the slop-show that was Suck It & See. With their newest record, AM, Alex Turner & Co. are back like they never left. Yes, Turner is still a massive prick (he’s refused to play guitar on their current tour and brought in a touring member whose responsibilities include: “rubbing his belly, patting his head, playing the lead, checking his emails and fucking shredding it on the B-3 organ!" But I can turn a blind eye when his songs are this good. When told that the song reminded a critic of ‘Marvin’s Room’, Turner crassly replied that he surely wasn’t the first to write a tune about “getting drunk and calling his old bird”. Please don’t follow their lead and call your ex while in an inebriated state; it’ll be annoying instead of artistic.
Single: "Team"
Artist: Lorde
Album: Pure Heroine
If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past 6 months, you’ve probably heard Lorde’s smash ‘Royals’. The 17 year-old New Zealand native has steadily been gaining deserved buzz and is fresh off the September 27th release of her excellent debut, Pure Heroine, which closely follows Katy Perry and Robin Thicke on the US Billboard charts. Unlike many American pop stars, she’s self-aware and not privy to the trappings of her fame. Maybe that’s just because Universal hasn’t paid her anything yet (her credit card recently got declined at Subway), but this Kiwi’s wise beyond her years. If you’re the type who prefers moaning about failed relationships, stay away from Lorde. She says it herself, “You can go to Taylor Swift to hear that”.
Single: "Kathy Lee"
Artist: Jessy Lanza
Album: Pull My Hair Back
Jessy Lanza is a native of Hamilton, but it’s hard to believe that the ultra smooth brand of electro-R&B she’s crafted with producer Jeremy Greenspan of Junior Boys fame was created in such a gritty atmosphere. Out now on UK label Hyperdub, her debut record Pull My Hair Back is a minimalistic masterpiece. Of the nine stellar tracks, ‘Kathy Lee’ is a standout. Backed by scanty percussion and synths, Lanza’s breathy vocals float in space with a beautifully ethereal quality to them. She’s referred to her music as ‘post-dance’, but you’ll want to check out the video for this one where Steel City-fixture Jed the Dancing Guy cavorts his way through the downtown core.
Tomi Milos
The Silhouette
Single: “Will Calls”
Artist: Grizzly Bear
Album Shields: B-Sides
I’ve seen Grizzly Bear perform in support of 2012’s excellent Shields twice since its release and after hearing their latest offering I’d gladly go again. On the most recent occasion, I had the pleasure of meeting Ed Droste, Dan Rossen, and Chris Taylor (Chris Bear remained on the bus), but none of them hinted at new material — they all seemed to be looking forward to having time off. Last week the band announced the imminent Nov. 12 release of B-sides that didn’t make the album and made one available for our listening pleasure. ‘Will Calls’ is a sprawling gem that’ll have you clutching your palpitating heart upon its cathartic conclusion.
Single: ‘Over Your Shoulder’
Artist: Chromeo
Album: White Women
No, Chromeo’s new single isn’t about those peeks you sneak at the gorgeous girl who always sits behind you in lecture. Dave Malkovich and Patrick Gemayel have never been shy of confronting sexual themes in their nuanced take on electro-funk and they appear to be set to do more of the same on their upcoming record, White Women, which takes it name from Helmut Newton’s provocative first book of photography. With ‘Over Your Shoulder’, they take a stagnant motif in the form of female insecurity and give it a debonair twist that eluded Bruno Mars on his eternally annoying ‘Just The Way You Are’. Listen to it before you attempt to chat up that aforementioned honey for a dash of courage. (Disclaimer: It won’t make you as suave as Dave, so proceed with extreme caution.)
Single: ‘Reflektor’
Artist: Arcade Fire’
Album: Reflektor
When a band that’s been off the grid for as long as Arcade Fire announces new music, people pay attention. The Montreal super-group set themselves up for their comeback in a big way with the release of the title track from their new record, Reflektor. Though the album isn’t out until October 29th, it’s doubtful the wait will seem long as most people (read: me) will be content to while away their time listening to the first new music from the band since The Suburbs. Clocking in near the 8-minute mark, the song is a splendid return to form. Enlisting the production talents of James Murphy and David Bowie’s backup vocals (!!!!), the Canadian Grammy-winners have succeeding in creating yet another infinitely dance-worthy opus.
