Symmetry - Themes for an Imaginary Film

 Nic Newby likes this.  This is perfect rainy-day music.  Mellow and somber and introspection-inducing.  I should know; it's a rainy day right now as i review it.

David Byrne & St. Vincent - Love This Giant

 Nic Newby likes this.  At the same time whimsical, symphonic, and dark.  Just like David Byrne and St. Vincent!

d'Eon - LP

 Nic Newby likes this.  There wasn't as much Céline as I expected.  But a great rainy afternoon sit-in-a-dark-house-and-think-about-what-you've-done album.  Also recommended if you like Seal (1994).

Chairlift - Something

 Nic Newby likes this.  This album falls somewhere between Ladytron, Florence + The Machine, and Air. How does one fall "between" three different bands?  Listen to find out.

Titus Andronicus - Local Business

 Nic Newby likes this.  Well, that was fun!  It reminded me of so many smoky, sweaty, muggy-as-heck basement shows from my youth a year or two ago.  But of course all the best parts of those shows.  It was raw AND peppy AND scratchy.

The Caretaker - Patience (After Sebald)

 Nic Newby likes this.  I was afraid from the track titles that this album was going to be a little pretentious.  However, it turned out to be perfect music for listening to a typhoon blow in on a muggy-as-hell summer night.  Some parts are even too scary to listen to alone!

Blithe Field - Warm Blood

 Nic Newby likes this.  I judged this album by its cover.  But in this case, that was a good thing.  it's one of those melancholy-background-music-over-nostalgic-samples types of albums, but it's so well done that a tear may come to your eye, one tear to each eye alternating for each song.

Lushlife - Plateau Vision

 Nic Newby likes this.  The opening tune reminded me of M-Flo, who you probably haven't heard of yet but by the time you do they'll be passé.  But it's a good style and is kept up well throughout the rest of the album - a little bit of Hot Chip, a little bit of Enigma, and a lot of Missy Elliot.

Bebetune$ - Inhale C-4 $$$$$

 Nic Newby likes this.  This album had a lot less Justin Bieber than I thought it would.  Nonetheless, it was great.  It was like living in an 80's video game but with cheerleaders.

Bat for Lashes - The Haunted Man

 Nic Newby likes this.  The singer has an airy but firm voice, like Florence Welch, and the music has a pop-like drive.  Do I detect a hint of Mariah Carey in there?

Trust - TRST

 Nic Newby likes this.  Very synth-pop and melancholic.  It reminds me of that Echo and the Bunnymen song from Donnie Darko.  Actually, in general it reminds me of Donnie Darko.  (sidenote: yes I do realize that song wasn't very synth-poppy)

Arrange - New Memory

 Nic Newby likes this.  So solemn.  So somber.  So good.

Julia Holter - Ekstasis

 Nic Newby likes this.  This is a great dark atmosphere album.  It combines some of the best elements of Enya, Enigma, and the X-Files (end of track 4).  I could listen to Julia sing the word "follow" forever.

Angel Haze - Reservation

 Nic Newby likes this.  This album has all of the things I like in a rap/hip-hop album: a girl singer. I like it. There are elements of Missy Elliot, M.I.A., and Eminem, with a hint of Colt 45 (the beverage, not the song).

Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city

 Nic Newby likes this.  A very laid-back, sultry and sexy (read: dirty) r&B (?) album.  It would be a great album to hear while sitting at your private table at a dark club you might as well own, sipping on Hennessy.

Angel Olsen - Half Way Home

 Nic Newby likes this.  This album was great.  It's got the sound of an angsty singer-songwriter album, and with the lyrics and vibe of a sophomore or later album--complex but not cheezy.  I'll listen again.  And again.  And again.

Andy Stott - Luxury Problems

 Nic Newby likes this.  This album has the right mix of atmosphere, eeriness, and melancholy.  An excellent album to accompany a lonely, cold, dark evening at home alone.

Laurel Halo - Quarantine

It's got creepy parts, intense parts, and trippy parts, all at the same time as having melancholy parts and happy parts. Unfortunately it was a little too "experimental" for my current mood.  If you know what I mean.

Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself/Hands of Glory

 Nic Newby likes this.  Andrew Bird at his finest, as usual.  I find myself trying to figure out whether to be happy or sad during pretty much every song.

John Talabot - ƒIN

 Nic Newby likes this.  The album started with an eerie yet Knight Ridery vibe.  The vocals and melody are all haunting while still maintaining an underlying drive that makes you want to dance in the dark with someone you don't know that well but want to get to know a lot better.

Clams Casino - Instramental Mixtape 2

 Nic Newby likes this.  This album has an epic yet atmospherey feel, like I should be hanging over the front of a ship crossing the ocean.

Beat Connection - The Palace Garden

 Nic Newby likes this.  This is a great sunny weekend daytime energy-inspiring gettin'-chores-done album.  It's atmospheric and rhythmic at the same time, and the vocals are cheery but not too perky, if you know what I mean.

Madegg - Tempera

 Nic Newby likes this.  A lot of this album reminded me in so many good ways of Boards of Canada, who I miss dearly (they are dead, right?).  And despite my current locale, my favorite track title was "How Far Can This Boat Go out to Sea in Miles".

Gangrene - Vodka & Ayahuasca

 Nic Newby likes this.  About 2/3 of the songs made me feel like I had had either vodka or ayahuasca or both before listening, and the other 1/3 made me want to have it/them.  But all in all, a good power-up album.

Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls

 Nic Newby likes this.  There was a lot of soul in this music, not just in the vocals but in the rhythm and the music itself, and the production style chosen was really fitting.  Choose this album for times you want to hear the soul of Amy Winehouse but less pop and more mature.

Crystal Castles - (III)

 Nic Newby likes this.  It seems almost like a darker, twisteder t.A.T.u., who I love.  It's got a driving beat and ethereal vocals that make it fitting for almost any mood.

Ab-Soul - Control System

While listening I found myself asking "if this man's songs are all about having sex, money, and drugs, why is he so angry?"  Beyond the opening track, I couldn't get into it, sadly.  I tried, all the way up through the end, but it just wasn't my thing.

Heather French Henry - Ditchlore

Points for this being a local (Bloomington, that is) band. I like some of the Coldplay-y things they're doing.  However, the disparity in production quality between some of the songs makes the album overall a little difficult to take as a whole album.  Not that any one production style in the album is better than the other, it's just that it's discontinuous.  I'd like to hear their next album.

How To Dress Well - Total Loss

 Nic Newby likes this.  It's an emotional roller-coaster because the music itself is sappy but uplifting (and R&B in spots) but once you start really listening to the lyrics it makes you want to cry because you're like "yes, How To Dress Well, you get me."

Melody's Echo Chamber - Melody's Echo Chamber

 Nic Newby likes this.  For some reason I'm a sucker for someone singing in French.  Plus, the last song sounds like there are Asian kids.  Plus, there's a whole early-80's-movie-upbeat-but-still-melancholy-montage vibe about the whole thing.  Like maybe something out of Donnie Darko.

Perfume Genius - Put Your Back N 2 It

 Nic Newby likes this.  Naturally I assumed I was going to hear something new by Ice Cube.  Instead, it sounds like there's a lot of Counting Crows influence, especially "Colorblind".  In the very best ways, of course.  A very melancholy album overall.  Even the "uplifting" or "inspiring" sounding songs are pretty melancholic.  But it feels so good.

Lower Dens - Nootropics

 Nic Newby likes this.  The lead singer sounds surprisingly like the lead singer of Brazil, in a way. It's all very ghost-like (read: eerie) and simplistic, but with a steady, continuous beat to keep the party alive.  And suddenly starting around track 9 it's VERY Sigur Róssy (maybe a little too much?).  But it was still good.

Purity Ring - Shrines

 Nic Newby likes this.  I heard a lot of M.I.A.-esque beats, melodies, and vocal rhythms, but all overlaid on a more ethereal base sound.  It's like coming down after listening to Kala.

Hundred Waters - Hundred Waters LP

 Nic Newby likes this.  This album had so many Florence + the Machinesque things, Björky things, and original things going on it was incredible.  Unfortunately, they haven't yet melded those things into one cohesive sound.  If they do, they  might end up being my favorite band ever.  I will keep my ear on this one.

Sigur Rós - Valtari

 Nic Newby likes this.  It's strange to say that I had lost interest in Sigur Rós after Takk... because I didn't think it was as good as their previous stuff.  Their style of music is such that it's difficult to say when they're doing something really amazing and when they're not.  That being said, I regained faith in them with Valtari.  I will listen to it over and over.

YYU - TIMETIMETIME&TIME

I like the vibe they're going for here, but a little too much of the album was too arrhythmic for me to get into.  I just couldn't settle into a groove, which is usually what I want the most out of music.

CFCF - Exercises

 Nic Newby likes this.  Absolutely perfect rainy night music.  Melodic and atmospheric at the same time, like a throwback to the Virgin Suicides soundtrack by Air.  I'm only sad that it's so short.

Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel

 Nic Newby likes this.  I think Fiona Apple has really come a long way since "Criminal,"  while still keeping her characteristic vocal stylings.  If you liked her in the past, then you'll like her even more now, and if you like En Vogue you'll like the song "Hot Knife."

Holy Other - Held

 Nic Newby likes this.  Lots of good, weird, creepy-yet-relaxing dark music going on in this album.  It was kind of like James Blake, who I also really liked (from last year's reviews).

Chromatics - Kill for Love

 Nic Newby likes this.  I don't even know what to say.  A little Echo and the Bunnymen, a little dance, a little atmosphere.  I really liked this one.

Dirty Projectors - Swing Lo Magellan

I cannot tell a lie; I thought this album was a little lackluster.  Oh sure, there were some good parts, very TV-On-The-Radio-esque in places, but it just din't have enough originality or edge for me.

Actress - R.I.P.

 Nic Newby likes this.  So many parts of this sounded like Boards of Canada, but not as creepy and dark.  Good atmospheric music, with just enough pizzazz to keep you listening rather than let it completely fade into your subconscious.

beach house - bloom

 Nic Newby likes this.  I didn't think with a name like Beach House they'd be so melancholy.  Great "I got off work after the sun went down so I don't feel like getting out of the house, maybe I'll just take a bath and listen to music" music.  Sounds a little like Joy Electric only less video games and more on-key singing.