Spoon’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (July 10, Merge)-Most listeners will pick up on the standard “Spoon sound” after a few songs as the Austin, Texas, band continues to build off of its traditional formula of groove-centric, up-tempo indie rock beneath front-man Britt Daniel’s universal, poetic musings about vague subjects, illuminated by the occasional novelistic touch of detail. This release may be their most accessible yet, full of infectious musical touches and soaring choruses that draw the listener in without revealing everything right away. “The Underdog” is the standout song on the record, but repeated listens reveal the merits of almost every track. Check this one out.
Art Brut’s It’s a Bit Complicated (June 19, Downtown)-Following a debut that established them as legitimate contenders for the title of “Funniest Band Recording” (check out the riotous singles “”Formed a Band” “Good Weekend” and “Emily Kane” from their debut Bang Bang Rock and Roll), Art Brut sounds even better on their second album. Most of their musical improvement is due to the addition of guitarist Jasper Future, a Joe Walsh figure who encourages bandmates to rock out, so much so that the band sounds more than a bit like AC/DC in its prime. Lyrically, front-man Eddie Argos continues his winning ways with words, rattling off goofy, heart-felt lyrics all over the album. Although nothing here is as immediate as the aforementioned singles from the previous album, Art Brut has managed to establish itself as a legitimate band that rocks enough to make even the less lyrically stunning songs interesting.
Justice’s Cross (June 11, Ed Banger/Vice)-Another summer, another crossover-electronica/dance album. Ho-hum right? Wrong. Gaspard Aug? and Xavier de Rosnay, the two Frenchmen behind Justice, (pronounce it with a French accent, if you must) manage to inject some life into dance music by chopping up a variety of sounds. How much interest you’ll pay to this release depends on how you feel about groovy beats with a minimum of vocals. Rest assured, there’s never a dull moment on this release, but the lack of vocal support can deter people with limited tolerance toward dance music that isn’t hip-hop. If you’ve got the patience, this album is more than worth the time. The standout single “D.A.N.C.E.” is definitely worth a look. It’s the poppiest cut from the album and the video, which you can catch on YouTube, is pretty amazing.
Maroon 5’s It Won’t Be Soon Before Long (May 22, A&M/Octone)-Scoff if you must, but your kids will probably dig Maroon 5’s songs. They craft a sort of funky pop that’s accessible and timeless, even if lead singer Adam Levine spends more time in the gossip pages than in the recording studio. Lyrically, Levine manages to cram 24 hours worth of Soap Channel romantic angst into a three-minute song, though his subject matter never really seems to change. The album loses its footing a bit after starting off with the killer one, two punch of “If I Never See Your Face Again” and hit single “Makes Me Wonder.” Through the rest of the album, the band struggles to make the killer hooks and funky instrumentals mesh into something more, a feat they accomplish effortlessly on the first few tracks. However, there are enough highlights sprinkled throughout to warrant a purchase, even if the album is a bit of an uneven listen.
Pharoahe Monch’s Desire (June 26, SRC/Universal/Motown)-Everyone’s favorite underground rapper returns after an extended hiatus to drop his sophomore LP. This time around, Monch plays for keeps, balancing out driving, insightful tracks full of paranoia and smack talk with uplifting material. Monch makes his lyrics and worldview the main attraction, by avoiding superstar cameos in favor of a small army of guest singers, each of whom enhance the album’s various cuts with distinct and memorable hooks. Monch manages to avoid the clich?d pitfalls common to both underground and commercial rappers, expressing himself as he sees fit. Check out album highlights “Desire” and “Triology” to sample some vintage Pharoahe.
