Ahhh. Here we are in the wonderful year of 2013. The Mayans didn't kill us, and now we can get back to caring about the things that really matter: new album releases. With ACRN now up and running for the spring semester at Ohio University, we're back to actively seeking out albums to listen to each and every week.
Let's start with Ra Ra Riot, a band that I have a couple of gripes with. The Syracuse-based group's first album, The Rhumb Line, was incredible. There were fantastic string arrangements from Alexandra Lawn and cello and violinist Rebecca Zeller. It came out around the same time Vampire Weekend released its first effort, and honestly, I liked Ra Ra Riot's better. Now, with its third album, I've given up hope. Beta Love largely ignores the gorgeous strings that made me love the band in the first place (in part because of Lawn's departure last year). Still, Ra Ra Riot has shifted to more of a synth-driven band, and it's just not working out.
The Joy Formidable is releasing its second album this week, a follow-up to 2011's The Big Roar. The alt-rock band has returned for more guitar-driven rock, with lead singer Ritzy Bryan's voice sounding both delicate and badass. She's really good at that. I have yet to hear the entire album, but from the few songs I have heard, I'd say that The Joy Formidable is continuing to do what it does best. Though I don't know if the group will ever write a song as great as "Whirring."
There's also the release of Hilly Eye's debut, Reasons to Live. The psychedelic noise pop duo includes Amy Klein, the former guitarist for Titus Andronicus on its tour for The Monitor. I have to admit, Klein was one of the best parts of a Titus live show. She jumped up and down for the concert's entirety, a feat that required great physical endurance. Endurance that I sure don't have. Regardless, it will be exciting to see what she and drummer Katherine Tung have done with their first record. Check out my review on ACRN later this week!
Other records coming out this week include Esben and the Witch's Wash the Sins Not Only the Face, Bad Religion's True North and Hung at Heart by The Growlers. It seems to me that this is a week to try something new. So go out, pick up something you've never heard of before and see if it can capture you. If not, well, we'll just have to try again next week won't we?
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