The Six Parts Seven & Goodmorning Valentine ‘Kissing Distance’ (5/5)
The Six Parts Seven collaborated with Goodmorning Valentine in 2007, which was one of the greatest years in music history, and their album ‘Kissing Distance’ is finally released to the world at large. The instrumentals 1 and 2 are incredible in their own right, especially 2 which is the last Six Parts Seven song ever. You can hear the sadness and emotional energy expressed within. “Meditation in D” is a gorgeous folk-rock tune and their first song they worked on together. “Red Lights” carries the weight of the album as it encompasses much of what is expressed within the full length including gorgeous acoustic-rock and heart-on-sleeve songwriting. Two songs that resonate with me the most are the perfectly crafted “12 Hours”, which is wonderfully pure and beautifully melancholic. The other is, “Lonely Daughter” which has grown on me the most since the release of this incredible album in February. The incredible one take, one mix set up for “Loney Daughter” really allows for direct intimacy as The Six Parts Seven has a penchant for uncovering a bare bones emotional response.
Devon Welsh ‘Come With Me If You Want To Live’ (5/5)
Devon Welsh made a name for himself in indie circles due to the compelling music his band Majical Cloudz put out. Devon Welsh has been putting out incredible solo albums since 2018 and his latest effort is the captivating ‘Come With Me If You Want To Live’ which opens with the shocking “You Can Do Anything”. The synths smack as the percussion crumbles and the vocals declare “This is the burning wreck of something that I wrote” which encompasses the music within this work of art. “Stranger” is the standout here and an absolute instant classic track due to the bewildering performance by Devon. “That’s What We Needed” opens with shuttering beats and apocalyptic production value. “I want to trust the world, but right now I just doubt it” is the message here. The beautiful symmetry of “Heaven Deserves You” allows the listener to look within and maintain a symbolic connection with the lyrical value, and this is truly one of the best moments on the album. Track 7, “Brother”, opens with a guitar that gratifies the ear and the knuckles on textbook pounding percussion brings out a simpler sound than what we have heard from Welsh until the synths sound like bugs in the night and then dissipate. “Twenty Seven” is about how we think we’ll accomplish things when we’re young by a certain age and then reality strikes us down. “Sister” is a call to arms that explores how the state has eyes on us at all times, and it acknowledges the importance of facts over feelings.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds ‘Wild God’ (5/5)
Nick Cave is one of the greatest songwriters the world has ever heard, and his latest full-length album, ‘Wild God’, includes his wonderful backing band, The Bad Seeds. Opening with the extravagant, “The Song of the Lake” he starts to recite the children’s Humpty Dumpty tale and then says “nevermind” which feels very artistic even in its simplicity. “Frogs” is one of the best songs on this highly gifted album, with its cascading guitar and poetic lyrics. “I woke up this morning with the blues all around my head, I felt like someone in my family was dead” is a deeply personal lyric since Nick Cave tragically lost his son, “Joy” is a mysteriously broken but beloved song that is one of my personal favorites of the year. Nick Cave states “We’ve all had too much sorrow, now is the time for joy” which is very well put and allows for the listener to find courage to seek happiness. “Cinnamon Horses” opens with an arrangement that sounds like it could be the backing music to an epic Hollywood film and then the introspective lyrics take stage. “Long Dark Night” is the highlight here, and one of the best songs I’ve heard in years, with its perfect chorus and gospel influenced sound. “As the Waters Cover the Sea” finalizes this spectacular record with a Christian view, “peace and good tidings to the land” is sang by a church choir as the gospel truly becomes the theme and God is glorified. The media downplays the importance of a masterpiece like this due to the gospel influence, but in this dark world we live in, an extraordinary work of art like this is truly essential.
Snow Patrol ‘The Forest Is The Path’ (4.5/5)
Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody is a living legend and he himself has said ‘The Forest Is The Path’ is his personal favorite album he’s created. After penning masterpieces such as ‘Final Straw’ and ‘Eyes Open’ this May come as a surprise but once you hear the opener “All” you start to understand his sentiments. “The Beginning” features intimately familiar vocals from Lightbody and then opens up wonderfully into the breathtaking chorus. “Everything’s Here And Nothing’s Lost” plays like a singular pop tune but fits perfectly within the mix of the rock record. “Your Heart Home” sounds like an Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness song, which is a big compliment. The emotional landscape that “This Is The Sound Of Your Voice” covers is wildly beautiful, especially when he sings “congratulations sir, it is a girl”. “Never Really Tire” is arguably the highest high on the record, the low beat and deeper vocals that Lightbody utilizes to make a brilliant performance carry the track to new heights. The final leg of the album is comforted by the minimal “These Lies” opening that could break even the toughest men. “What if nothing breaks, what were you bracing for” is sang in such a delicate way during the peak of “What If Nothing Breaks?”. The title track finalizes this beautiful record in a perfect way, with its glittery production techniques and heavily edited vocals. This album is truly a wrecking ball of emotion and a magnificent album from a band that has making strong records for over 20 years.
Loney Dear ‘ALL THINGS GO’ (4.5/5)
Loney Dear is back with another incredible album with the release of ‘ALL THINGS GO’. “ALL THINGS GO” and “ALL THINGS GONE” are two versions of essentially the same tune and both are gorgeous but wholly different in their production style and technique. “…GO” is more accessible than “…GONE” yet both are very strong indie/pop tracks. “PLUME” features s style reminiscent of Loney Dear’s former albums with the marching band style percussion and gorgeous backing vocal patterns. “BATTLE” opens with a beautiful guitar and strong lyrical passages, and it’s by far the longest track on the album and grows on the listener. “BYGONES” is simple beauty with the piano barely being played in the opening and the track opens into a melancholic rhythm. “ANIMAL” is the most electronically satisfying song due to the experimental style it contains, with the percussion being expressive and almost theatrical and the bass driving the song forward. Loney Dear is one of the greatest indie-pop songwriters of our generation and his consistent production is a testament to his greatness.
Army of Sound 