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The Color Fred - Bend to Break - Equal Vision
Recording under The Color Fred, co-vocalist/lead guitarist Fred Mascherino of Taking Back Sunday has embarked on his first solo project with the assistance of Sugar/Paul Westerberg producer Lou Giordano - and whatever formula he’s working to mix up that particular color, it’s definitely working. “Get Out” crafts the hook of all hooks with its repetitive yet catchy chorus over strummy guitar; “If I Surrender” is easy to sing along with right from halfway through the first listen; and “I Didn’t See” makes the drumbeat the hook, an interesting approach that also works well. In addition to the great songs, Bend to Break also makes a great environmental statement, as the packaging is made of 100% recycled materials and the album is carbon-neutral.


Kent - Tillbaka Till Samtiden - Sony Europe
This set - whose title translates as “back to the contemporary” - is Kent’s first album since guitarist Harri Manty left. Most of it is in Swedish, but the language really isn’t a barrier, as the melodies carry the tracks perfectly well. They’ve added a more electronic sound this time around, with Swede-chilly synthesizers, crisp guitar work, and at times hypnotic vocal lines, all of which work to best effect on peppy songs “Generation Ex” and “Berlin,” and more downtempo, mellow numbers “Ensammast i Sverige” (“Loneliest in Sweden”) and “Columbus.” It’s intriguing from the get-go, and upon repeated spins, each song seems to reveal more details. It’s not the classic Kent sound we’re used to, but seems to actually be an improvement.


Two Gallants - Two Gallants - Saddle Creek
Blending folk, the blues, and punk rock, Adam Stephens and Tyson Vogel bring their own individual strengths to Two Gallants. Stephens contributes melodies and raw-edged vocals, while Vogel sets down beats and counterbalances Stephens’ voice with his harmonies. Although this is actually the duo’s third full-length album, it’s getting more notice than before, perhaps because these songs are slightly more refined and catchy in their arrangements. “The Dreader” sings of a returning sailor who loses his love; “Trembling of the Rose” adds in a fiddle to make for a mournful folk sound; and “Fly Low Carrion Crow” throws in scratchy feedback that’s fitting alongside the painful images evoked by the lyrics. It’s a challenging and interesting listen.



Charlemagne - We Can Build an Island - Sidecho
Charlemagne - aka Carl Johns - has graduated from his Wisconsin home studio to the Brooklyn, NY music scene, and recorded this set primarily live, complete with new bandmates. A few listens through and you’ll be hearing a wide range of influences - everything from The Kinks and The Pixies to Lou Reed - but Johns blends it all into psychedelic-seasoned pop songs that sometimes have a little more edge than might be called for. That said, standouts here include “Crushes,” which throws a little garage-rock into the mix, and “Until We Are Called,” which maximizes those psychedelic guitars. The primarily mid-tempo songs make for a slight monotony at times, but if you’re looking for something more low-key than usual, this definitely works.



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