MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

Not the hype nor the popular success of MGMT made me like Oracular Spectacular.
I think it’s a personal issue. I particularly don’t like some vocals or synths or melodies.
Electric Feel is a good hit, though.

Einstürzende Neubauten - The Jewels

Heavy and tense experimentalism. Einstürzende Neubauten is one of the most successful avant-garde acts ever.
The Jewels is one more mastepiece of psychotic rythms produced by all kinds of sources, and the harsh voice of Blixa Bargeld.
Very nice.

O Fracas - Fits and Starts

I’d love somebody related to O Fracas tell them to STICK TO THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR!!!

O Fracas is a band from Leeds. (it’s good if you like british accent as I do).
They’re good at their instruments, the vocal sounds great. Everythings seems right.
The album starts with some elaborated indie rock songs, they remind me of Foals, but somehow not ready yet.
Then they suddenly put in an acoustic track and it’s totally OMG. They rock on the acoustic tracks.
All of them sound creative and mature.
Seriously, if the whole album was as good as the acoustic tracks Fits and Starts would be a major happening.
Good album still. Nice band to keep one eye on.

Joan of Arc - Boo Human

Nice music. Good sounding alternative rock with a lot of string arrangements.
There are songs with a hot grooving like Just Pack or Unpack. But in the other hand the vocalist ruins some songs with his crying-like vocals.

Zombie Zombie - A Land for Renegades

It’s hard to classify Zombie Zombie. They sound like a mixture of 80’s thriller soundtrack with a breath of fresh psychedelic air. Obviously due to the retro-mania we’re into these days.
Very nice music anyway, although it’s not agressive enough for a hit I love the homonymous track.

Scarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My Head

Forgive me, Scarlett Johansson fans, but Anywhere I Lay My Head sounds to me like a rich child whim.
She has everything, what else could she want?
Well, she loves Tom waits and want to record an album with her favourite songs. She likes Cocteau Twins and shoegaze and everything must sound like that.
So that’s it.
I can sound harsh but nothing here sounds authentic or spontaneous. The production is good but it’s clear that Scarlett is not a singer.
The best moment, in my humble opinion, is I don’t wanna Grow Up.

The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing

The Ting Tings are an english duo blending indie rock with dance pop beats.
We Started Nothing kicks off with a sequence of good energetic dance songs.
From Britney Spears + The Hush Sound they slowly go to a more indie rock oriented sound, getting rid of a few american rock cliches, reminding me that they’re english still.
Unfortunately I like their pop dance side better.

The obvious highlights are Great DJ, That’s Not My Name, Fruit Machines, Shut Up and Let Me Go and We Walk.

Cajun Dance Party - The Colourful Life

Indie Rock cliché with a good guitar work.
Amylase is the best thing here, reminds a little of The Go! Team sometimes.

Kayo Dot - Blue Lambency Downward

I can’t say in any moment that Blue Lambecy Downward is not an interesting album. In fact it starts concentrate and goes on solving in abstract music. It requires some experimental background to enjoy, of course.

Howlin Rain - Magnificent Fiend

A nice psychedelic rock outfit with a bluesy spirit. Clearly influenced by Grateful Dead, Magnificent Fiend (could the name has a relation with GD?) sounds fresh and concise.