Monday, October 6, 2008


Poni Hoax - Images of Sigrid
Rating: 80
Dance parties beware! Best known for their single "Antibodies" this French-based electro-pop group combines baritone vocal lines, a female back-up singer and driving beats. Don't go looking for this in record stores just yet -- it is merely a french import. It is hard to draw references from this album, where as the mood, musical styles and vocals drift in and out of genre classifications. Punk guitar rifts here, energized beats and group choral singalongs there. Overall, an auspicious and powerful record.

Ezra Furman & The Harpoons - Inside the Human Body
Rating: 75
Furman relies heavily on his band of college buddies, which might have been a mistake. The Harpoons lack tight musical skills making the more prominent instrumental backing on this album hit-or-miss. We are here for Furman and there is not enough of him. While the more punk/rock n' roll-infused tracks show an exciting new side of Furman, they lack the intimacy of Furman past -- to-date, this album is the biggest departure from previous records.

Chairlift - Does You Inspire You
Rating: 73
Another band made famous by Apple. This record, however, is balanced nicely. Chairlift's ominous and sprawling musical techniques work from song-to-song. IPod tune "Bruises" is more fun than the lyrics may suggest. The song bounces along as Caroline Polachek's vocals bring to mind other indie-popsters such as Feist, Laura Marling, and Camera Obscura. The album ebbs and flows through angelic vocal harmonies, electronic beats and vamped guitar lines.

After the jump.

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