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(11/07/13 12:10am)
M.I.A. – Matangi
“Matangi,” M.I.A.’s fourth studio album, is one that’s almost impossible to view without the context of M.I.A.’s past career, her host of contentious public interactions and outspoken attitude. The album is just about as sporadic and bumpy as the past few years of her career, but somehow still impossibly cool.
“Matangi” is rife with dance tracks that changes gears without warning, going from trap to reggae and from sitar-based to electronic, percussion-heavy rhythms. M.I.A. drops spitfire verses, some that make you wonder why she is so revered, and others that remind you exactly why she is. One song that encapsulates this attitude is “Lights,” which definitely has elements of pop genius, but changes, and has you pulling a disbelieving brows-furrowed, headshake.
Undoubtedly, “Matangi” is the best stuff M.I.A. has released in years. Much like the artist, the album is irritating and awesome, confusing and unique, and fans will be relieved and stoked to throw this on at the first chance possible.
RIYL: Dizzee Rascal, The Weeknd, Major Lazer
-Clare Teeling, WVAU staff
(10/23/13 10:39pm)
Kings of Leon – Mechanical Bull
I spent the better part of 2008 to 2011 telling everyone who would listen how Kings of Leon sold out by cutting their hair, shaving their beards and adopting a more mainstream sound, abandoning their Southern Strokes identity. I’ve mostly made peace with that era, regarding it as stylistic experimentation that just wasn’t for me (except for “Use Somebody,” seriously, screw that song), and I still hold out hope that Kings of Leon will return to form. They haven’t quite done that on “Mechanical Bull,” but it’s at least better than their previous album. The lead single, “Supersoaker,” isn’t all that bad, in fact, it’s probably one of the album highlights. On songs like “Rock City” and “Don’t Matter,” the Followills return to some of the hyped-up Southern rock they started out writing. Unfortunately, for every exciting flash of the past, there’s a “Beautiful War” or “Comeback Story,” pop-pandering ballads that contain such Shakespearean gems as “I walked a mile in your shoes/ Now I’m a mile away and I have your shoes.” “Mechanical Bull” isn’t the album KOL purists want, but it’s hard to imagine anything being much better, and it could be a lot worse.
RIYL: The Strokes, The National, Neon Trees
-Michael Lovito, Truth, Justice and the American Way on Wednesday 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
(10/02/13 2:57pm)
London Grammar – If You Wait
With a deep whisper and ice-cold falsetto, London Grammar’s Hannah Reid guides us on a magic carpet ride through bottomless oceans and dark caverns. The band’s debut album “If You Wait” is gravity-defying, epiphany-inducing and reality-resisting, leaving little to be desired. The British trio specializes in atmospheric and reflective tracks, creating an ambiance that is punctuated by the lead singer’s unique voice and the band’s attention to its craft. Most songs are slow and moody, but their pulses separate them from one another. “Metal and Dust” and “Strong” shine as representative tunes, but “Wasting My Young Years” paints a different, lighter picture when optimism rears its head. With a soulful and synthetic authenticity, London Grammar is making waves.
*Recommended If You Like: Florence Welch, Haim, BANKS
*
– Mandi Ray, WVAU music staffer
(09/25/13 4:09pm)
WVAU’s DJs weigh in on the music industry’s newest releases.
(09/18/13 8:01pm)
The excitement was palpable at the 9:30 club on Sept. 15 as an anxious crowd awaited indie rockers Pinback.
(09/13/11 6:10am)
Looking for new music? DJs at student-run radio station WVAU share their thoughts on a range of recent releases.