4Play

March 28, 2007

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible - Merge

One of the most anticipated indie-pop discs of this still-relatively-new year, Arcade Fire’s latest blends punk rock with strings to construct a set of 11 songs that will likely be more complex than what their fans expected. Throwing in a few more political references than before, Arcade Fire seems to be amping up their collective consciousness about the world at large, and are seasoning those wider-ranging thoughts with more focused singular musical touches, such as mandolins (on “Keep the Car Running”), the organ washes on “Intervention,” the Mediterranean brass on “Ocean of Noise,” the peace call of the title track, and finally closing the album with the uber-Floydian “My Body is a Cage.”

Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly, Angry Mob - Universal

Produced by Smiths/Blur producer Stephen Street, Kaiser Chiefs’ eagerly-awaited latest has big shoes to fill, being as that their debut disc, Employment, managed to gain them both a large legion of fans and a coveted Brit Award. Prefaced by the first uber-catchy single “Ruby” (and its near-equally earwormy B-side, “Admire You”), the rest of the album definitely stands up to the hype, as Kaiser Chiefs haven’t lost their ability to crank out the Britpop jams. That said, the set also shows that the songs are the thing this time around - there’s a lot less of the kitschy backing vox and a lot more in the structures, from “Love is Not a Competition (But I’m Winning),” to “Try Your Best,” and the great sub-title track, “The Angry Mob.”

Air - Pocket Symphony - Astralwerks

Looking once again to the sounds of Japan to enhance their chilly electronica compositions, Air opens this set with “Spacemaker,” and moves forward veeeery slowly, gently unfolding a melancholy, drawling list of tracks that never quite get enough energy to do much more than yawn and reach for another latte. It’s the perfect disc for an afternoon of solitary reflection, as the pianos track in circles while the synths flow seamlessly along; there’s not a whole lot of rhythmic difference between the likes of “Lost Message” or “Once Upon a Time,” but you’ll be so mellowed out you won’t really care; and with repeated listens, the subtleties that are skillfully hidden in each tune will reveal themselves in just enough time.

Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future - Universal/Polydor

Buzz band Klaxons are just releasing their debut disc (yes, this one), and they’ve already been pushed towards the top of the so-called new Rave Scene for their take on indie-club pop. Energetic and, at times, almost comical, it’s not really Rave as much as it’s a new angle to attack the pop charts from - sure, they’ve got the disposable lyrics, the driving bass beat (although it’s more early 2000s than current), the cosmic references, the echo-tunnel vocals, but Rave? Nah. It’s more sassed-up club rock - kind of like Jet Lite, which you’ll find out for yourself once you take a listen to singles “Magick,” “Totem on the Timeline,” and “As Above So Below.” Klaxons are good in their own way, but time will tell if they’re really the Next Big Thing... or not.