Making : Come To Me
Initially creeping with a Shellac (or My Disco) monotone repetition, Come To Me explodes into a rock salt blast with little warning. It then retreats back to its under-bubbling menace, then, back to the firestorm. It’s nothing revelatory (I mean, it’s no Korn remix of Rihanna), but the loud bits feel good.
Julia Holter : Feel You
A garnish of harpsichord emboldens this splendid chamber pop sojourn, giving way to orchestral flourish at the close. Holter’s punchy vocal delivery brings a higher level of vibrancy, making each melodic turn feel as vital as the last.
Gold Class : Life As A Gun
Gold Class exhibit a fair tank of stamina on Life As A Gun. It’s a bounding post-punk exercise, building crescendo on crescendo anchored by singer Adam Curley’s resolute croon. It’s frenetic, but never out of control, leading to a breathless end. Having just signed to Spunk, Gold Class’ debut album is due out later in 2015.
The Ocean Party : Guess Work
I’m a sucker for that sparing tinkle of the ivories, and Guess Work pulls it off masterfully, elevating a decent little guitar-pop jaunt to another level as it launches into the chorus. The joyous cry of, “I want to exist outside it all,” is an enticing little sing-along.
Rihanna : Bitch Better Have My Money (Korn Remix)
It’s 2015 baby, anything goes. This remix is good/ Each and every waking day is a trial in which I struggle to discern meaning/ Nu-metal rules/ RiRi rocks/ I don’t even know anymore/ Got the life.
High Tension : Bully
A brooding, sludgy monster, Bully is a destructive force not to be fucked with. It’s relentless in its destructive urge and the dynamic between restraint and unleash is incredible. Bully is the title track from the just-released album by perhaps the best rock band in the country right now. Believe it.
Single Of The Week:
Crayon Fields : She’s My Hero
The way Geoffrey O’Connor rests on the echoed titular refrain is nothing short of immaculate bliss. “She’s my hero”. It’s a simple sentiment, but it’s loaded with so much power. “She’s my hero”. Let it carry your mind to your own personal heroes. It’s transcendent pop, not beholden to trend nor aesthetic.
