4Play: Coldplay, Hockey, Golden Silvers, Josiah Leming

July 12, 2009

4Play: Coldplay, Hockey, Golden Silvers, Josiah Leming
Kristi Kates 7/13/09

Coldplay - LeftRightLeftRightLeft - Capitol
Coldplay gave away this album for free during their North American Viva La
Vida tour, and it was also downloadable from the band’s official website;
so the only way to get this set is to either find a download source
online, or snag it from someone who attended a show. That said, it’s a
great capsule version of a Coldplay concerts, as it includes live versions
of such top-notch Coldplay compositions as “Strawberry Swing,” “Glass of
Water,” “The Hardest Part,” and “Death and All His Friends,” and “Clocks,”
recorded at concert locations across the world. Cool, and free too.




Hockey - Mind Chaos - EMI
One of the hottest buzz bands of this summer, Portland’s Hockey - who say
they named their band on a whim “before they realized people were going to
be trying to find them on the internet” - meld snappy new wave and the
sounds of post-city-punk bands like The Strokes and a more poppy Talking
Heads into foot-moving, fresh, memorable pop. Notable tracks include lead
single “Too Fake,” the backbeat earworm of “Learn to Lose,” the deft,
witty lyrics of “Everyone’s the Same Age,” and the soulful “Curse This
City”; It’s sharp, smart pop that you can even dance to.





Golden Silvers - True Romance - XL
Golden Silvers frontman Gwilym Gold says he doesn’t like to “dwell on the
boring basics,” and that he doesn’t - thankfully. The band’s wistful,
lovelorn tracks bring in fantastical elements from gypsies to wishing
wells to Cupid himself, a refreshing lyrical mix amidst melodies that are
upbeat and that blend the best of ‘60s pop with romantic new wave. First
single “Arrows of Eros” immediately endears, while follow-up tracks “Here
Comes the King,” “Fade to Black,” and “True No. 9 Blues” showcase the
band’s ability to blend cheerfulness and smarts into great songs.




Josiah Leming - Angels Under Cover - Reprise
Ah, the blessing and curse that is American Idol. Although a few credible
success stories have surfaced through the show, far more singers are
squashed underneath AI’s formulaic-pop steamroller. Not so for Idol reject
Leming. Thrown from the show early on - guesstimates being that he was
“too original” - Leming returns with a debut EP full of smart, Euro-pop
influenced, piano-based songs that thrive through his carefully scribed
lyrics and melodies that you’d swear you’ve heard before, even though
tunes like “They Say,” “Arctic Outcry Wind,” and “To Run” are all his.