meltreviewsblog

Album Review: Cherry Glazerr – Stuffed & Ready

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Artist: Cherry Glazerr

Album: Stuffed & Ready

Genre: Indie Rock/Alternative Rock/Indie Pop

Rating: 7/10

Clementine Creevy is pretty much the sole member of “Cherry Glazerr,” a band that formed in Los Angeles, California back in 2013, and the rotating lineup has allowed the band to reinvent themselves with each listen. Starting off as a lo-fi “Indie Rock” project, and then moving into a “Garage Rock” direction filled with youthful fervor, “Cherry Glazerr” has always emphasized instrumentation, knowing the importance of musicianship, and that strong focus on instrumentation has never been more apparent than on the band’s fourth album Stuffed & Ready. The production is polished and the instrumentation is immaculate trading in the raucous delivery of their previous work for lush layers of jangly “Dream Pop” reminiscent guitars that go from gentle and dreamy to loud and distortingly ear-splitting very often throughout the album. Lead singer and guitarist Clementine Creevy’s subtle vocals may not always match the intensity of the instrumentation, but her introspective lyricism that often focuses inward is intriguing and admirable. The lyrical content delves into themes such as uneasiness, uncertainty, and these themes are at times delivered in a self-deprecative tone. “My isolation is simple and stupid as me,” sings Creevy on the unsparingly honest track “Isolation.” The theme of solitude is often explored, and it’s faced head-on on the track “Self Explained,” where Creevy details the unfair pressure she puts on her self to go out and Socialize simply because she’s afraid of being alone. “I don’t want people to know how much time I spend alone” sings Creevy, and that brutal honesty and the sound of embarrassment in her voice leads to a heartbreaking listen. The track “Daddi” features a desperate need for guidance, and the lyrics are quite discomforting at times, but these songs are never self-deprecating or brutally melancholy for shock value. You can hear it in her voice that she’s taking herself to therapy by realizing and tackling the negatives to overcome them in an attempt to find her own personal liberty, and though the lush instrumentation can distract you from the words that are being said, it’s definitely worth it to delve into the lyrics, because they completely add new context to the songs when reading them. Compared to other artists within the genre who may deliver this style better, this album can seem inessential, but there’s no denying that this album is emotionally effective, and that maturity is captivating.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Date:02/05/19

Album Review: Le Butcherettes – bi/MENTAL

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Artist: Le Butcherettes

Album: bi/MENTAL

Genre: Alternative Rock/Post-Punk/Garage Rock/Art Rock

Rating: 8/10

Some musicians are just completely captivating, whether it be on record, or during a confrontational live show, some musicians just demand your attention. Teresa Suárez Cosío A.K.A. Terri Gender Bender is without a doubt one of those enthralling musicians. The Denver, Colorado born artist started playing guitar and writing songs at a very young age when her and her family moved to Mexico. She has embarked on countless music endeavors since she was fully established in the music business, everything from her “Bosnian Rainbows” project with frequent collaborator Omar Rodríguez-López, to her star-studded supergroup “Crystal Fairy,” you can bet she puts her blood, sweat, and tears into everything she does, but her main project, the one that has her full heart is “Le Butcherettes.” Starting out as a “Garage Rock” duo that drew a lot of influence from feminism, “Le Butcherettes” have had a rotating lineup throughout the years, which has lead the project to vastly shapeshift on each album. Their 2011 debut Sin Sin Sin was a minimalist howl that spoke on gender politics, their following album Cry Is For The Flies was a lot darker and sinister in nature without losing it’s thought provoking and immensely poetic lyricism, and the band’s third album A Raw Youth contained synth-heavy Glam with a grandiose presentation. One thing has remained among these style changes though, and that’s sole member Terri Gender Bender’s personality and distinct style. Her artistic style of deep cutting and sometimes zany vocals, raw and grungy guitar riffs, and her signature organ that sounds like a circus from Hell are all what makes her style so incredibly unique and intriguing, and on her new album with a new live band bi/MENTAL features all of these things and then some. Everything that has made the band so musically compelling is perfectly incorporated into the mix, but the melodic and lush delivery with an underlying sense of melancholy but strong self-aware ethos are all balanced out perfectly on this album, making this the band’s best work to date. bi/MENTAL is largely ambitious with artistic instrumentation filled with Proggy synths, “Post-Punk” ridden guitars, groovy basslines, and some of the best sounding drum work there has ever been on a “Le Butcherettes” record, but of course, the main thing that sticks out and immediately grabs the listeners attention is Terri Gender Bender’s impactful vocals and meaningful lyrics. There are recurring themes of mental illness and bipolar disorder on these songs, and how these things can be hereditary and run through a family’s bloodline. These subjects are poetically delivered and the myriad of changing emotions conveyed on these songs reflect the theme of bipolar disorder. One song can be about self-empowerment and conjuring up the courage to rid yourself of a toxic relationship like the track “strong/ENOUGH,” but then the emotion can completely change like on the track “in/THE END” where Terri sings “In the end we’re faithless. We’re just in search for guidance” speaking on the frantic and confused human condition. The ever-changing sentiments on these songs beautifully represent the mindset of most humans who can’t help but get lost in introspective thought, and Terri fearlessly delivers these themes, forcing you to hang on to every word that is said. Some of these tracks are largely collaborative. Jello Biafra of “Dead Kennedys” provides a spoken word outro on the opening track “spider/WAVES,” artist and activist Alice Bag provides vocals on the sinister sounding “mother/HOLDS,” and all of these songs are cleanly produced by Jerry Harrison of “Talking Heads” and “The Modern Lovers,” but as effective as these features are, none of them overshadow Terri Gender Bender. They probably couldn’t if they tried, because her artistry is completely captivating and it’s very evident that she is an important figure in modern “Rock.” There’s no doubt that she’ll continue to push the boundaries and provoke thought, and that is the kind of ambition we need in the music world today.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Date: 02/04/19

Album Review: Ossuarium – Living Tomb

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Artist: Ossuarium

Album: Living Tomb

Genre: Death Metal/Doom Metal/Black Metal

Rating: 8/10

Upon hearing Portland’s own “Ossuarium’s” new album Living Tomb, one can make the assumption that there were preceding albums before it given the attention to detail and technical skill Living Tomb has, but this is impressively the band’s debut album. This album gives off a vibe that the band have been doing this for years and that there has to be a lo-fi debut album littered with kinks in their discography, but that is definitely not the case here. Living Tomb couldn’t be a more polished, unique, and frightfully focused debut album. It is a heavy odyssey that uses “Death Metal” with it’s low growls, wicked guitar riffs, and fast as Hell drumming as a backdrop for immense experimentation in atmosphere, gloom, and of course doom. These tracks often start off with a fist to the face heaviness that will make you head bang to the point where you may need to see a chiropractor afterwards, but they often stray into a territory that incorporates elements of “Doom Metal” with dark drop-tuned guitar melodies, and even “Post-Rock” with reverbed out chorus effects, and atmospheres that are beautifully dark and even dreamy, well… more nightmarish than dreamy, because this is as dark as it gets, it’s an unrelenting odyssey, and I do mean odyssey because this whole album is a journey down the rabbit hole of chaos. There’s even an intro at the beginning of the record that kind of echoes the frightening pre-opening scene in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey where the screen is pitch black but backed by disturbingly eerie music. If the band is already this good on their debut album, there’s no telling what they’re capable of doing in the future.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Date: 02/04/19

Album Review: Boy Harsher – Careful

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Artist: Boy Harsher

Album: Careful

Genre: Electronic/Industrial/EBM/Synth-Pop

Rating: 8/10

Creating eerie atmospheres with very dark synth-driven “Electronica,” Western Massachusetts based duo “Boy Harsher” have been at it for awhile now making a name for themselves in the underground of “Electronic” music. After two EPs and one full-length album, releases that found the two exploring dark atmospherics that evoke David Lynch-esque surrealism, and combining these explorations with very dark Gothic-tinged “Synth-Pop,” the two have nearly perfected this sound on their new second full-length album Careful. This music is dance floor ready, but also very gloomy with it’s foggy and anachronistic style that sounds like 80’s “Synth-Pop” from an alternate universe. The production provided by member Gus Muller recalls the danceable side of “Industrial” or “EBM,” perfect for those who favor Twitch Ministry over The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste Ministry. On top of that Jae Matthews’ vocals exude sensuality and are often ethereal. Her almost whispered delivery adds a fragile yet impactful element that impressively blends into the instrumentation to the point where her vocals become an instrument. This album overall projects images of foggy nights or cloudy days upon hearing it, but with enough danceable beats, this juxtaposes the dark minimalism very well, offering an undeniably enticing listen.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Date: 02/02/19

Album Review: Judiciary – Surface Noise

Artist: Judiciary

Album: Surface Noise

Genre: Hardcore/Metalcore

Rating: 7/10

With tumultuous vigor West Texas based band “Judiciary” have unleashed their monster of a debut album Surface Noise on the “Closed Casket Activities” label, and this thing is a thunderous crash course in all things hardcore. The heavy drop-tuned guitar riffs, the intense breakdowns, the ear splitting drums, and the rage-filled vocals are all common traits in the genre of “Hardcore” that the band have perfected, and the album has the right amount of thrashing tempos that evoke the high energy spirit of “Hardcore Punk.” Just 27 minutes in length, the album never overstays it’s welcome. It’s short and sweet. Well, maybe not so sweet, because this is pure rage, but this music is infectious, and I challenge any fan of “Metal” to not want to break everything in their room when listening to this record. With clean clean clean production to the highest quality, Surfae Noise is a solid starting point for the band, and hopefully they expand their sound even further in the future.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Date: 01/26/19

Track Review: WYVZ – Rescue Annie

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Artist: WYVZ

Song: Rescue Annie

Genre: Electronic/Experimental/IDM

“Everything sounds the same.” This statement couldn’t be more true when describing the current landscape of most genre music. Especially in the world of “Electronic” music. Though we do have our imaginative visionaries who push the boundaries and offer more than the four to the floor predictability, most casual listeners are accustomed to the idea that “Electronic” music is one-dimensional, and that’s unfortunate, but “Electronic” group “WYVZ” are here to break that monotony. The aforementioned quote comes from the group’s new single “Rescue Annie,” where vocalist Devon Travis sings with melancholy fervor, and though the vocals evoke sadness, there’s also a hint of hope in his tone, and that contrast is beautifully executed. The instrumentation provided by member Georgia McEwen-Hall is what powerfully pushes the boundaries and displays the vast possibilities of “Electronic” experimentation. “WYVZ” is her brainchild, and her creation is truly captivating. Her previous E.P. Triangle showcased her innovative style, and now with “Rescue Annie” she has moved to the next level. With subtle atmospherics that have a meditative nature, the track builds and builds without being too overblown. The track carries a consistent tone that never bombards the listener with an obnoxious climax, but the attention to detail and the subtle progression keeps that track away from repetition. Everything from the arpeggiated bass in the beginning, to the Sci-Fi laden synths, to the eruption of clean percussion, this track is immaculately produced. Georgia McEwen-Hall is a producer to pay attention to, and now that “WYVZ” is a collaborative effort with fellow talented artists Devon Travis and Okee Brand who handles the technical side of things, this is an exciting moment for “Electronic” and “Experimental” music. A new full-length album is on the horizon, and hopefully the band doesn’t make us wait too long for it.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Date: 01/24/19

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Album Review: James Blake – Assume Form

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Artist: James Blake

Album: Assume Form

Genre: Alternative R&B/Electronic

Rating: 8/10

James Blake has proven himself to be an intriguing shapeshifter in the modern music world over the years. Everything from his early days of Electronic-tinged flirtation with “Post-Dubstep,” to his moody atmospherics on an album like Overgrown, predicting what a James Blake project will sound like has always been nearly impossible, but one thing is certain, he isn’t afraid to sing his sorrow and vulnerability, and his ambition to push the boundaries in “Electronic” music and to innovate is undeniably enticing. However, that desire to experiment was a detriment on his last album The Colour In Anything. With immense incohesion, the album felt like a compilation of short lived vignettes that didn’t reach their full potential, and that scatterbrained style is something that did not work in his favor. Following that album, Blake has worked with a myriad of artists, primarily in the “Hip Hop” genre, lending his talented hand and pushing his name into the masses while doing so. On his new album Assume Form, it’s evident that his work with other artists have given him a new sense of inspiration and rejuvenation. Just listen to the track “Mile High” featuring Travis Scott and Metro Boomin and you’ll know what I mean. The track is a head on exploration in the moody Pop Rap that has become dominant in the music world, but that isn’t to say Blake has completely adopted this style, because though he works with an artist like Metro Boomin who delivers that moody “Trap” flavor on a few tracks, Blake still delves into atmospheric sound and blesses us with gorgeous piano, strings, and sound textures that paint an ominous picture. However, the instrumentation is never overbearing, and it enhances the vocals and lyrics. Here we are hearing a love stricken James Blake. The album’s overall theme is love and it’s complex nature. The myriad of emotions that are associated with love, positive and negative are soothingly displayed. The negatives being the reluctance to get close to someone out of fear of being hurt like on the track “Tell Them,” or that pessimistic feeling that there has to be a catch or that something will go wrong when everything is going right in a relationship like on the track “Where’s The Catch” which features an impeccable verse from André 3000, but the positives far outweigh the negatives, because on the bulk of these tracks James Blake happily accepts the fact that he is very much in love, and that though no love or relationship is flawless, the feeling of loving and being loved is one of life’s greatest privileges. It’s that realistic detailing of love and learning as you go as a relationship progresses that truly flourishes on this album, and that optimistic encouragement to recognize that love is a worthy learning experience is something that will resonate with anyone. A realistic love record. It’s rare when we get those, and who better to give us one than an undeniably talented songwriter who wears his heart on his sleeve like James Blake?

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Date: 01/19/19

Bikini Kill Reunite for 2019 Tour

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Legendary “Riot Grrrl” band “Bikini Kill” will reunite for a few shows in New York and L.A. this year, and it will be their first time performing since the band broke up in 1997. Original members Kathleen Hanna, Kathi Wilcox, and Tobi Vail will be joined by Erica Dawn Lyle, who will be replacing guitarist Billy Karren. The dates and venues for the three shows have been announced, but there’s no word on whether or not the band will play even more shows after the upcoming tour dates. You can check out the tour dates below:

Bikini Kill Tour Dates:

04-25 Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium

05-31 Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel

06-01 New York, NY – Terminal 5

Karen O & Danger Mouse Announce New Album “Lux Prima”

Karen O and Danger Mouse released their epic 9 minute collaborative track “Lux Prima” back in November, and it turns out this is the title track of their upcoming collaborative LP. The duo unveiled the album’s release date, album cover, and tracklist this morning, and they have also released another new track off the album titled “Woman.” The album will be released on March 15th. You can listen to “Woman,” as well as check out the album artwork and tracklist below:

Lux Prima Artwork:

Lux Prima Tracklist:

1. Lux Prima
2. Ministry
3. Turn The Light
4. Woman
5. Redeemer
6. Drown
7. Leopard’s Tongue
8. Reveries
9. Nox Lumina

James Blake Announces New Album “Assume Form”

James Blake will return next week with a new album titled Assume Form. The album will be released on January 18th, and it will follow his 2016 album The Colour In Anything. You can check out the tracklist below:

Assume Form Tracklist:

1. Assume Form
2. Mile High [ft. Travis Scott and Metro Boomin]
3. Tell Them [ft. Moses Sumney and Metro Boomin]
4. Into the Red
5. Barefoot in the Park [ft. Rosalía]
6. Can’t Believe the Way We Flow
7. Are You in Love?
8. Where’s the Catch? [ft. André 3000]
9. I’ll Come Too
10. Power On
11. Don’t Miss It
12. Lullaby for My Insomniac