A Deadly 1-2-3 Combo

Of Montreal
Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?

Of Montreal, what has gotten into you? Oh yeah, divorce. I have never been a huge fan of these shiny indie-pop veterans, but this album blew my proverbial load. I won't lie to you, I haven't listened to much of anything else in the past few weeks since acquiring this album. The lengthy, buzzing, prog-rock anthem "The Past Is A Grotesque Animal," is an infectious masterpiece in the vein of TVOTR's "Wolf Like Me." Of Montreal's new-found cynicism transpires in the form of icy drones, odd transitions, and jaded lyrics, but none of these new dimensions sacrifice the band's pristine melodies or infectious hooks.

"Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse"

Of Montreal's website
Of Montreal's myspace

Stream loads of tracks here

Arcade Fire Neon Bible

Pack your bags and go home 2007, it's over. We have the album of the year, a winner is you, Arcade Fire. Neon Bible is the album of the year because it rocks to heights previously believed to be unattainable, and it also deals with pressing social issues and current events; war, religious extremism, government, death, capitalism, and hysteria are deftly and poignantly addressed. Gothic undercurrents, melodramatic organs and ghostly choruses resonate with an emotional gravitas that most "emo" bands can only dream to achieve. I wasn't sure how Arcade Fire could live up to the 2004 phenomenal work, Funeral, but they may have topped it with Neon Bible. This CD drops on March 6th, until then my low quality bootleg will have to do.

Arcade Fire's website
Arcade fire's myspace

Stream tracks here

Menomena
Friend and Foe

Menomena create lush, full-bodied, crashing rock anthems with a tbsp of innovation, dash of weirdness, and pinch of genius. With sauntering hooks and soaring vocals that sound like a sublime hybrid of Ozzy and Tunde Adebimpe (TVOTR) Menomena produce one immediately accessible and affecting but robust and intricate ballad after another. Any fan of rock will due no wrong in picking up this album. Wikipedia sheds some light on the group's unique approach to songwriting,

The band uses a computer program called the Digital Looping Recorder, or Deeler for short, in the song writing process - it was programmed by band member Brent Knopf. Drummer Danny Seim explains the process, "First, we set the tempo of the click, which is played through a pair of headphones. We then take turns passing a single mic around the room. One of us will hold the mic in front of an instrument, while another one of us will lay down a short improvised riff over the click track. We usually start with the drums. Once the drums begin looping, we throw on some bass, piano, guitar, bells, sax, or whatever other sort of noisemaker happens to be in the room. Deeler keeps the process democratic, which is the only way we can operate"

Turn it up to eleven.

Menomena's website
Menomena's myspace

Stream tracks here