Eye on New Releases: May 15th, 2012

Climb to the top of the Holy Mountain, and you can see the entire Metro Area with these new releases.

Label: Chemikal Underground
Album: Earth Measures EP
Artist: Holy Mountain
Genre: Alternative

Holy Mountain erupts onto the scene with their new Earth Measures LP.  Guitarist Andy McGlone, drummer Pete Flett, and bassist Allan Stewart shake the earth with their incredibly loud and powerful brand of rock and roll.  Earth Measures evokes the sound of Black Sabbath and Lightning Bolt, but with occasional 

psychedelic breakdowns a la MC5.  “Great Monkey,” the fourth track on the album, shows off the variety within their style the best.  Starting off heavy and deliberate, it breaks out into an airtight rollercoaster of tempo changes, all the while showing off the groups’ intuition for complex musical composition.  Indeed, the haphazard and maniacal sound of their track “Swifty” nearly belies Holy Mountain’s apparent musicality as otherwise exhibited in “Bolting” and “Kegs.”  Earth Measures LP is a studio-recorded release that almost sounds raw enough to be live.

Label: Environ
Album: Metro Area 5 & 6
Artist: Metro Area
Genre: Electronic, Dance

Do you prefer your electronic music smooth or funky? Well, as luck may have it, Metro Area’s latest release through Environ has both.  Metro Area 5 & 6 is a remastered, combined release of Metro Areas’s 2004 and 2005 releases, Metro Area 5 and Metro Area 6, respectively.  “Nerves,” gets us off to a smooth start with a focus on rhythmic side percussion, and ends with sultry strings, punchy horns, and glistening piano runs.  “Proton Candy,” mixes things up a bit with vibrating electric leads, vocoder-esque mumbling, and a flanging bass line that really cranks up the funky feel.  Metro Area’s “Honey Circuit,” lives up to its name; thick and rich bass synths underscore sweet female vocal samples, making this track digital honey to the ears.  Whether you’re a vintage roller rink skater or a earbud clad head nodder, Metro Area 5 & 6’s got something to groove to.

Eye on New Releases: October 18th

 

Label: Infinita Records
Release: Elevation

Artist: Lawson Rollins
Genre: World

The title of this album definitely describes what you feel…Elevation. The latest album from the talented guitarist, Lawson Rollins, Elevation is sensational with a mixture of Latin jazz, samba and salsa rhythms, and a harmonic blues melody that calms and soothes your mood and the atmosphere around you. The first track, “Elevation” delivers a warm sound that makes you want to be outside relaxing in the sun or be cozied up in a beach home. The third track, “Persian Night,” is sensual, starting off with Spanish guitar and then a flamenco flare that’s undeniably hot. The fourth track, “Parisian Rhapsody,” is a good-morning feeling song that gets you right up to start your day, and the sixth track, “Daybreak,” is one song you will definitely have playing while cooking Sunday breakfast. Honestly, this album is amazingly good, because now… I want Sunday breakfast.

Label: Galapagos4
Release: Dreastronaut
Artist: Dreas
Genre: Hip Hop

Three letters to describe the album Dreastronaut is WTF?! Because if you are not listening to this album, you'd be asking yourself, “WTF?! Why am I not listening to this?” First, just to put it out there, this album is… realistic, but surreal in so many ways. Dreastronaut by Dreas, the founder of Heardrums Records, makes you feel like you are moving in slow motion…as if you are an astronaut…in space…on the moon (crazy, right?). Some tracks really standout from this album like “Floating,” which gives the feeling of one being both consciously aware of their surroundings. “Michiana Noise,” gives a feeling of being in the woods around a campfire, but with beautiful violin and orchestral sounds. Even “ Solo Capacity” brings you a jazz hip hop flare that could easily remind you of the song “All I Need” by Method Man featuring Mary J Blige. This is really good album that you’d for sure want to sit down and listen.

Label: Environ
Release: I'm Not What You Want
Artist: Kelley Polar
Genre: Electronic, Alternative

Imagine traveling through time and you come across leg warmers, members-only jackets, shoulder pads, acid wash jeans, crazy hair, cool Ray-Bans sunglasses, and music that is undeniably “bangin'.” Yes, that’s right. I’m talking about the 80s! (Totally wearing an “I Love the 80’s t-shirt right now). And it turns out, this brand new album I’m Not What You Want by Kelley Polar, is screaming 80s! You’d want to go back to this era after listening to this album (sorry 90s babies, you can come too.) The first track “I'm Not What You Want” has a cool upbeat tempo that brings you back to Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go For That.” With the second track “Nocturne,” this single release will bring you back. Definitely take a listen, especially, if you’re going for the 80s look this Halloween.