Random Access Memories by Daft Punk

 6/10 
Rated:(I can't get no) Satisfaction 

If You have heard 'Get Lucky' you have heard a big part of  the album. The Pharrel effect is all over and the moments where Daft Punk techno-style stands out are few ones but are the must beloved ones and the ones who cut the monotony.

As always Daft Punk is demonstrating versatility and quality in which ,for me, is their most consistent album yet, every song flows easy and is good from start to end. The problem is that at some point it gets tedious, even though the band has accustomed us to repetition and to put charm on that to not be boring with this album I am not sure if this is working.There's a huge range of sounds but all are given at once, all is condensed in one song and it slightly variates to create another.'Get Lucky' is the lead song, which is a nice song, but when you hear it as many times as this album attempts to not repeat it, is boring and make you feel indifferent.The mix is wonderful and a bit different from past albums is the amount of time the perfect blend is used and that there's not much change from each song, but there's hope at the end.

The sound of the album is pretty much funk,disco, R&B,synth-pop which is what the Pharrel influence already have done to Madonna's Hard Candy back in 2008, which was very criticized by the way, so the sound is not actually futuristic and there's a lack of something spicy because it is very stalled in the 00's, although at the end of the album there are a few fascinating songs.'Touch ', 'Motherboard' and 'Fragments of Time' are those tracks that are transporting and thats why we love Daft Punk because sound not human, which is what the should have more and less of the "Daft Punk remixing the track of " . ' Contact' is also that very Daft Punk but more like the old times with a punk-rock futuristic vibe, this song is very explosive and should be the center of attention, although it is a lot like from previous records, would been so good to listen that edgy sound more often.

The  good thing is the repetitive songs are short and kind of fun, the bad is the repetition of the mix of one song is boring. The 1970's-80's funky/Miami with 00's twist is so last decade and there's no very much of the band on this album but when it is the band really shine and is so good that makes you forget the "meh" things. And the way it is presented is divine.It's not entirely boring because it has its highs and lows.  

To Listen: The Game Of Love, Within,Lose Yourself To Dance, Beyond,  Motherboard, Contact

Modern Vampires of the City by Vampire Weekend

8.5/10 
Rated:Music is my Radar

Mature enough to make it more serious than previous albums, young enough to have fun and experiment new sounds. Modern Vampires of the City is a great step for the band and a great relief for overworked music that tends to bore and that, in these days,there's plenty .

The third album of Vampire Weekend is more than expected, has all the joy of previous albums but with more elaborated sounds that still sounding effortless and in their very own style. The result is a blend of , believe it or not, swing, jazz, rhythm and blues, gospel, folk,and all things that ended up doing rock and roll but in not an obvious way but digging you will listen to that vintage touch it has ( Unbelievers,Everlasting Arms,Young Lion). And this pass through many stages that take punk directions (Diane Young) or more beach-y ( Step) and to all those lovely sounds have been touched up slightly with 1980's synth-pop.This mix is what makes the album so interesting and delightful.    

The album may contain many new vibes that are not usually from the band but every song maintain that thing that make Vampire Weekend  so unique and entertaining. The 'Baroque' Pop and Alternative Rock are there and strengthened (Hudson,Don’t Lie) and that reminiscent the 1990's lovely rock/pop scene.The Mexican Frontier influence is also there (Ya Hey) but fewer than in past records. What is lacking on the album is a bit of more looseness,there's some craziness (Finger Back) but everything is so demure and there's almost a shy feeling with having all so neat and polished but that probably gives a certain like for it. Where the  band failed is in the bits where it resembles too much the first album combined with a country dance thing  (Worship You) but once again it is an interesting sound and concept, it is what album is about: experimentation.

This album is almost perfect,it is so worked that sound like it was given spontaneously. Despite all the vintage feeling and sound it manages to have trendy tracks (Hannah Hunt) and the mix of every song is sort of new so it gives modernity. The simplicity given is something cool as well because everything flows and it is not trying to highlight something in particular so instruments and voice make good harmony creating sweet music and not showing off or being enthusiastic about it. The album is not a repetition but also is not far from previous albums, and is so entertaining for being so eclectic and for how great it is blended.

Recommended:  Obvious Bicycle,Diane Young, Hannah Hunt, Everlasting Arms,Hudson,Young Lion
Not:Worship You

More Light by Primal Scream

 7.5/10 
Rated: A Kind of Magic

The 10th album of the band still keeping all the charm of Primal Scream, now mixed with few new things, but does not have a wild card or something that will make this album stand out in the future.It is a nice follow up to last two albums but for their career it could be a bit better.

More Light is an almost complete/perfect album, it has a bit of everything, all sound at the right  time, the way it flows is beautiful, there's that intriguing touch  and it is very entertaining but theres a lack of that edgy fact that makes you completely  fall in love of  the album or hate it. Surprising things finally happen,unfortunately, at the end of the album and in the shorter songs. 'Relativity' ,'Walking with the Beast', and 'It's Alright, It's OK' are the three last songs and really beautiful and sort of the relaxed ones and powerful,those that most resemble 'Screamadelica' in a modern way. The length of the songs is a bit of a problem as well, because songs tend to be repetitive and the point of "why is so long" is lost, and in the shorter ones happen to be the opposite,could been better because they are progressive and would be nice to listen what else the song could have offered.

The sound of the album is great a combination of all what the band have done with a refreshing but not so modern twist that brings the style of the band to date. From the start of the album (2013) you can hear a different sound that is not massive but is transitory. Instruments play sweet music that not always are in good harmony with the voice but still being a good composition because they don't crash and is very gentle to the ear. Many genres and sounds make a magnificent album that ,from my point of view, have been very influenced by the 90's and not just from britpop but from a scene that was more late 1990's and early 00's[maybe] that used to mix rock-pop with latin music 'Goodbye Johnny' and 'Invisible City' highlight this very well. There's too much good music on this album and load of joy but you get used to it fast and that's the curse of it that could be a certain monotony that doesn't have something to put on the spotlight.

It is admirable that after more than 25 years the band still sounding fresh and hip without falling into the consumerists clinches or doing collaborations with younger musicians to try to resurrect them. Primal Scream sounds a lot better than many new bands and as good as any great young band and is probably because they still experimenting and looking for new sounds.The album is not an attempt to recreate a hit so that's a good thing and is really good but with something that were really astonishing the album would get a lot better.

Recommend:2013,Culturecide,Hit Void, Invisible City,Sideman,Walking with the Beast,It's Alright

Tape Deck Heart by Frank Turner

8.3/10 

Rated: A Kind of Magic 

With the first single of the album i thought  that it could be a repetition of old tracks and albums but I was wrong.  This album has two very marked sides: the one influenced by Pop and one that is influenced by Punk but those two genres are very well merged by the intermediary Rock And Roll. 

A slightly different sound from Frank Turner (solo) previous album this is less acoustic and folky and so much more influenced and closely to his other works/bands like Million Dead and Möngöl Hörde but with a little pop beat. Many songs have a very Pop-y style revealing also a new side of Mr. Turner (Losing Days,The Way I Tend To Be,Polaroid Picture,Time Machine) that have little twists that joint them with the most punk side of the album (Plain Sailing Weather,Four Simple Words) and it's rock and roll what pulls them together. Also there are many new sounds mixed to Frank Turner's allure like more piano that gives a lot like a saloon sensation, very charming (Oh Brother,Good & Gone); there's  more electric guitars, guitars and drums glisten more than in past works where voice was more relevant,in the way that drive you through the song, and sound a lot more modern (The Fisher King Blue) and much harder. 

The album is a bit to long so as for the songs but with the time it gets interesting and more likely to the style of previous records . At the beginning the English vibe is putted away and sounds more international, also is a little weak because songs tend to extend far too much, another new thing, and the magic gets a bit lost. As time passes the album turns more heavier as for music and feelings,more melancholia (Cowboy Chords) and cheerfulness that could be labeled as Brit-pop , there's a more personal sensation and more polished sound which are also an improvement,no that old stuff wasn't but is good to put  little more details.At moments it could resembles Weezer or Blue October trying to play folk because of the atmosphere but it's a lot better . 

The album is pretty well built,it is alternating tranquility and sweetness ( Tell Tale Signs ,Anymore,Wherefore Art Thou Gene Simmons) with fun and craziness (Recovery,We Shall Not Overcome). All have a nice little quirks (Undeveloped Film) of rock and roll and "darkness"/mischievousness/playfulness in the most Frank Turner way so the record is so powerful and encouraging, classic from FT, but now with a few more things. The only problem is that is too long that playing back to back with the previous records it would take the charm off. 

Recommend:The Way I Tend  Tell Tale Signs, Four Simple Words, Polaroid Picture, Anymore, Oh Brother,Broken Piano, Undeveloped Film,Cowboy Chords

Bankrupt! by Phoenix

 8/10 
Rated:Lucy in the Sky  

Bankrupt! is a new typical album from Phoenix but with many stronger sounds and transporting music.

It is , and will be, hard to determinate from what decade  this great album comes from and is inspired  because sound so timeless,it is  from 2010's,I know,but doesn't boast it . It is, obliviously, carrying a 00's vibe (S.O.S. in Bel Air) but goes beyond to capture the modern wave but with vintage bits(Entertainment), so it is very interesting,somehow trippy, balmy  and entertaining. With beats that can have a disco/jazzy sensation and that resemble too much to Jamiroquai (Trying to Be Cool) the record have a lot of diversity to offer,it also have rock and roll (Don't) ,a little dose of "Neo Soul"  in 'Chloroform', and the greatest surprise is the scifi style that puts all together, that comes out specially in songs like 'Bankrupt !' which is a track that has a sound like from a futuristic flute and beautiful notes that are also spread in every song of the album.

Even tough there are many joyful sounds there is a strong presence of Pheonix's essence that is trying and playing with new beats that are powerful, encouraging and sweet. There is plenty of fun in the album from the beginning to the very end ,'Oblique City' , which is a song that is a gentle reminder of band's style [in case you didn't heard in previous 9 songs] , the album goes alternating fast tracks (Drakkar Noir) with modernity (The Real Thing) and more tranquil but edgy songs (Bourgeois).

In conclusion Bankrupt! is a very complete album in their very own band style that will make you have fun and have the ability to transport you to an enigmatic magical place. The right amount of synths and everything is so well placed, that in my opinion is the most solid album of the band and is eclectic but yet with band's unique sound.

Recommended: The Real Thing,Bankrupt!,Chloroform,Bourgeois,Trying to Be Cool

Save Rock And Roll by Fall Out Boy

 6/10 
Rated:We're Not Gonna Take it 

Like a time machine this album take us back to circa 2004-2007 where this band has its heyday.It is good in the way that they can still do the same they did almost 10 years ago but in many ways more it is boring.

The album stars sampling Peter Fox's 'Alles Neu', which is already a song that samples [but does in the way that Plan B did it in iLL Manors] the song  'The Phoenix' is a nice introduction to the album and a proper presentation of what the album has to offer. The album has plenty of Pop mixed with some Punk-y vibe which actually makes the album sound a lot like Miley Cyrus beginnings or Avril Lavingne. The sound of the album also resembles the cover they did of Michael Jackson's 'Beat it' , by the way the album is too much influence of MJ (listen: The Mighty Fall). Another sound that they are "borrowing" is from the band FUN.  the style is in almost every song ( Young Volcanoes, Alone Together,Save Rock and Roll), so all these sounds make the album sound to be for the youth, with many attempts to create anthems but doesn't sound modern or reach the goal, it is just pretentious.

This record is trapped in 2007 and songs seems to be for that generation of teenagers, has moments where sounds a hard attempt to make it a sing-along tunes (Where Did The Party Go,My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark). Fall Out Boy are trying to repeat old tracks and instead of keeping the fans they put in hiatus for a while they're trying to capture the same generation they did in mid 00's but unfortunately that generation has grown up and the band haven't even they're trying to add modernity and electronic beats to the songs they sound old and repetitive.

The idea of the album is alright but it didn't achieved its goal,among the other issues, at some points voice is very weak and instruments playing out of time, is too much of the same over and over the only interesting bit is the duet with Cortney Love, even though it is amateur and off-key, but that is what it lacks in the album more playful and experimentation tracks, band took the easy ride and failed to be innovative because they are just doing exactly the same album that they could have done years ago.

Recommend: Just One Yesterday
No So: My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark,Miss Missing You, Save Rock and Roll,Where Did The Party Go

Mosquito by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

8.5/10 
Rated: Music is my Radar 

New YYY's album is a exactly what a 'follow-up' should be. Nothing in particular that is so new but doesn't sound old or repetitive.The band keep their essence and has grown up and did some amazing tracks that will entertain for long time.

Although there a tiny problems, like that Karen O's voice sometimes get lost (Slave, Sacrilege) because music is harder and louder than previous albums,the record is a success because there is the remembrance of Yeah Yeah Yeahs past records and with their always dark but rogue style and now is mixed with little doses of ska (Under the Earth),new-wave,electronic-pop and psycho (These Paths)  and all is without being too obvious nor forced, are just little details that embellish already good tracks.At some moments we can hear like sequels of Fever To Tell and Show your Bones in the less polished tracks like 'Area 52' and 'Buried Alive' and sometimes there are more stylized beats that could have been part of previous band's album It's Blitz like songs 'Despair' or ' Subway', but all this sounds have been reinvented to create an album with many new sounds that still sound a lot like the band.

There is a great vibe of the 80's, that has also been in every YYY's Album, but managed to be very contemporaneous and wilder. The album has its moments of craziness that might sound a bit controlled but could aspire to be complete bonkers as live tracks. The song that names the record 'Mosquito' has elements taken from new wave, that almost sound like Talking Heads but in a more party mode à la YYY's , in my opinion could been more explosive. All the power and energy variates during the album to make it entertaining and there are moments which you will want to get up and dance and in others you will feel overwhelmed,heavy, and haunted.

With their classic but updated style Yeah Yeah Yeahs scored another album that will keep  surprising whenever is played. Perhaps it is not a big highlight but is a great addition to all the nice work the band has done and the last song of the album , 'Wedding Song', is a good fusion of all what the band was, is and hopefully will be. Experimentation has made the album and the band be interesting and fresh,not a doing the same over again but not going out of their line, their essence, always edgy, mysterious and fun.

Recommend: Despair,Wedding Song, Sacrilege,Under the Earth, These Paths,Area 52