Five Albums You Should Be Listening To Right Now
Every two weeks, titans of the mediasphere give Hooksexup their music recommendations. This week: Sal Cinquemani, co-founder and music editor of Slant Magazine.
1. Young Galaxy, Shapeshifting
Young galaxies are volatile places, swallowing the ingredients needed to make stars and producing them from scratch, which is an apt metaphor for Young Galaxy's third album. The Canadian band worked with Dan Lissvik of Swedish duo Studio via Skype to concoct a collection of electronic-infused synth-pop songs, including the heavenly "We Have Everything."
Listen: We Have Everything
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2. PJ Harvey, Let England Shake
Polly Jean Harvey has been in the business for almost two decades now and I don't think she's ever put out two albums that sound alike. My favorite is 1998's Is This Desire?, but her latest album could very well be a close second. The songs draw on many of her past themes and sounds, but also find her experimenting with new ones, like brass arrangements and male choirs.
Listen: "On Battleship Hill"
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3. Lindstrøm & Christabelle, Real Life Is No Cool
This album is from last year, and it's worth seeking out. It's a pop-funk odyssey that draws on early Massive Attack, Prince, and especially the space-disco of Giorgio Moroder. It's easily Hans-Peter Lindstrøm's most accessible work to date. The track "Lovesick" even appeared in a car commercial.
Listen: "Lovesick"
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4. Vanessa Daou, Zipless
We recently posted our long-awaited list of the Best Albums of the '90s, and this is one of our lesser known picks. It's a collection of jazz-house interpretations of writer Erica Jong's poems. The lyrical and musical centerpiece of the album is the entirely spoken-word "Alcestis on the Poetry Circuit," which explores women's self-imposed restraint, both literal and figurative. Also, it's got a kick-ass keyboard solo.
Listen: "Alcestis on the Poetry Circuit"
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5. Belly, Star
A personal favorite of mine that didn't make our list of '90s albums is Belly's debut. Like Kurt Cobain, lead singer Tanya Donelly (who was also a co-founder of Throwing Muses and the Breeders) set out to marry pop with punk, but there's a distinctly feminine quality to the songs. It's truly a forgotten treasure from the alt-rock boom.
Listen: "Low Red Moon"
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Commentarium (10 Comments)
Young Galaxy is quite something. As is PJ Harvey even though I don't like her music, it is pretty powerful and I can understand why critics are loving her music.
AH! I love Belly's Star. Totally changed my life. Still will never forgive the chick who bailed on me for Tanya Donelly's solo show - b*tch was my ride and I'd already paid for all the tix. Belly, when will you reunite? Too many bands are copping your style without paying their respects.
set out to marry pop with punk, but there's a distinctly feminine quality to the songs. It's truly a forgotten treasure from the alt-rock boom.
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Lindstrom sound interesting. i'll check that record out. hopefully there's some non-spoken more melodic vocals too or it could get same-y.
I you tubed these songs and they were all terrible!
Don't get me wrong, I love all types of music- country, rock, classical, and some pop. This crap was hipster "I'm cool cause I'm uncommon" wannabe crap.
None of the melody sounded interesting, complicated or even well thought out.
I wish I had more hands so I could give this post 10 thumbs down
Awful, just plain awful. All of it.
My ears threw up
R U FU**ING SEROUS? ELEVATOR MUSIC? WTF IS WRONG WITH ALL OF YOU PEOPLE?
weak. being a musician myself this makes me pissed that i dont get shitt for recognition but these clowns do
Yea throw out all your albums that aren't about satan. Sepultura, Slayer, etc = acceptable.