4Play

Jan. 4, 2009

Andy Yorke - Simple - Chocolate Lab
The Unbelieveable Truth’s former frontman Andy Yorke takes the simple route on his debut solo disc. But fear not, indie listener; simple certainly doesn’t mean simplistic. These are smart compositions that Yorke presents with plenty of feeling; and the singer-songwriter has a deft way with the acoustic arrangements that serves the songs perfectly. Highlights include “Diamant” with its droning, mesmerizing beat and isolated tune; “Ode to a Friend,” which is as close to an epic as Yorke gets with its ever-increasing emotions and perfectly-phrased piano parts; and “Simple” itself, which lives up to its name as title track as it sets the terrific tone for the whole set.


The Sea and Cake - Car Alarm - Thrill Jockey
Arriving sooner than expected, The Sea and Cake’s latest (and eighth) shuffles cheerfully in with sharply tuned drums and a solid reliance on the sound that they’ve spent the past 10 years honing to indie perfection. It’s not repetitive, though - this isn’t a repeat of the last Sea and Cake album - it’s just the sound of a band at ease, doing what they know best. The rhythm section holds everything still while the hooky guitars and vocals dance across the top of tracks like the dynamic “The Staircase,” the busy title track, and standout “Weekend” with its meandering vocals and synthesized trimmings.


The Dears - Missiles - Dangerbird
Montreal band The Dears have one-upped their own last album, Gang of Losers, with this set, which showcases a more detailed sound than previous efforts and ventures into a more delicately-crafted state that they have yet to showcase to date. It all gets terribly emotional at times, but it comes across as heartfelt, which makes it effective instead of maudlin; this sensibility ranges from the thoughtful yet hooky “Dream Job” to the beautifully-arranged “Meltdown in A Major” and the organ-rich “Lights Off,” while the album opener remains a highlight throughout its 6-minute-something length and quirky harmonies.


The Libertines - Time for Heroes - The Best Of The Libertines - Phantom
Bringing together a plethora of radio and bonus tracks, this set showcases the work of tabloid favorite Pete Doherty in his earliest band incarnation, although that shouldn’t shadow the work of his bandmates on these catchy songs. This punky, haphazard tracklist includes the singles from both of the Libertines’ full-length albums, plus standout EP and foreign-release tunes (“The Delaney,” “Don’t Look Into the Sun,” “Mayday”) - it’s a fun listen, but you’ll still have to snag the actual albums to get the more complex tunes, although the Japanese version of this set arrives with a couple of additional tracks.