27fm Album Jukebox – August 2018
The Beths – Future Me Hates Me
Honestly, this might be the best kiwi rock album dropped in ages. Liz Stokes and the band have outdone themselves here, it’s jam after jam after jam on this one. Glimmering with effervescence. Pulsating drumming, toe-tapping hooks, floods of guitar and some icing-on-the-cake harmonies. Special shout out to the one-two punch in the middle of Not Running and Little Death, the relistenability of both tends to drag this thing well beyond its standard 40 minute duration.
Oh Sees – Smote Reverser
When John Dwyer shook up his Oh Sees lineup for the umpteenth time a few years ago, he added a second drummer. That two-drum formula has been a revelation. Since then the band’s changed its name a couple times, had a few more folks pop in and out, but consistently dropped incredible albums at Dwyer’s usual rapid pace and with Smote Reverser you get the feeling this was what they were building towards that whole time. This one is furious. It is raucous. It is undeniable. Play it loud. Play it very, very loud.
Travis Scott – ASTROWORLD
After several years of top tier endorsement and inconsistent projects, Travis Scott’s officially gone big time with ASTROWORLD. Scott’s an introspective fella in an extroverted world and that’s a valuable perspective to have. Not the best writer, to be fair, but an impeccable contributor who’s happy to bring in the best talents around and play conductor. Stop Trying to Be God and Stargazing are proper earworms. ASTROWORLD is trippy, it’s confident, it’s cohesive and it bangs.
Underworld & Iggy Pop – Teatime Dub Encounters
Fancy the idea of Iggy Pop doing his spoken word renditions over the music beds of electronic icons Underworld? Because that’s literally what this is. Four extended tracks allowing Iggy The Great to pretty much just speak his mind and it’s exactly as wonderful as you’d expect.
Mitski – Be The Cowboy
Fast becoming the queen of indie rock, Be The Cowboy ups the stakes again with some really sparkling and intelligent compositions, going all in on the emotional endowment. Perhaps not as many standout singles her as on Puberty 2, her last record, and it’s pretty bloody short to be honest. But this is a dense half-hour and a riveting listen. If Two Slow Dancers doesn’t get you then nothing will.
Mac Miller – Swimming
Chronicling his own trials and tribulations, Mac’s latest has him comfortable in his restraint, comfortable in his own creativity, letting his voice mould all over each track. There’s darkness here but there’s also resolution… and plenty of funky moments. Just like Travis Scott, whose album came out about the same time, it’s a big step forward artistically.
Odetta Hartman – Old Rockhounds Never Die
Folk music for the future. Hartman combines her distinctive vocal stylings and a DIY troubadour aesthetic with a few 808s and some scavenger worthy sounds. There’s banjo and there’s guitar but there are also the noises of birds and thunderstorms and she’s literally used kitchen instruments for some of the percussion. Results ain’t half bad either, tell you what.
Wild Pink – Yolk in the Fur
Like the low hum of a car engine down an empty road at night. Like the pulsing painted street markings that fade away in the distance left behind. Like the muffled roar of a guitar in a beer-stained roadhouse bar. Like the shimmering hum of a keyboard and the melancholic tones of voice atop an epic base of churning rock and roll.
Tom Scott – Avantdale Bowling Club
Jazz and hip hop go together like a dream. Kendrick knows it. Tribe Called Quest know it. Flying Lotus knows it. Home Brew’s Tom Scott knows it. Over a damn fine live band of local jazz musicians Tommy lays it down with spectacular verbosity. It’s deeply honest extremely easy to get swept away by. High concept and high reward. By the time you get to Tea Time, the stunning closer, you’ll know it in your bones.