Sacred Hearts Club: Album Review

July 21st was a big day. I worked Check-In for travel packages for a Phish show and two of my favorite music artists released their new albums. I didn’t have much of a chance to listen to both because of work, but I got on it this morning. I figured I’d start with a review of Foster the People’s latest work Sacred Hearts Club because I’ll be seeing them in two weeks when I head to Chicago for my second Lollapalooza. At this point, binging on their new album is necessary.

Stylistically, their new album has a much different feel than their last two. There are songs that have the classic Foster the People sound like “Doing It For the Money” and “SHC”, which were both released in April as part of their 3 song EP entitled III and others that add elements from other styles of music. “III” sounds like a deep house track. If it wasn’t for Mark Foster’s signature vocals, I’d think I was listening to a Flume song. There’s more electronic influence in songs like “Loyal Like Sid & Nancy” and “Harden” too. Foster the People has always used synth in their music but these songs just sound more electronic. Maybe it’s me and how my listening style has developed, but I’d argue regardless. I even feel like there’s a jazz influence in some of their songs, particularly in “Static Space Lover”.

As I said before, I believe this album sounds different to me, but Foster the People has been blending genres since their first record. There’s dance, punk, and hip-hop blended into their previous albums. There’s just something about this one that stands out though. The band wanted this record to be a uniting voice amongst a world filled with negativity too. I think it has the potential to be just that as many songs express camaraderie lyrically. I believe listeners will be able to relate and use this music to rise above the hate in the world.

If you asked me who my top 5 favorite bands are at this point in my life, the first band I’d name would be Foster the People. Torches is still one of my favorite albums of all time. So for me, buying this album was a no-brainer. I would have even bought it blindly. Therefore, it might be hard to believe my opinion is unbiased when I say that I think this album would appeal to more than just Foster the People fans because of the development of their music style. I promise it’s worth checking out though so do yourself a favor and pick-up a copy.

Ultralife: Album Review

Another week. Another new album. This time it’s alt-pop duo Oh Wonder. Yesterday they released the follow-up to their debut self-titled album entitled Ultralife. Unlike the year long, monthly song release project that culminated in their first album, the band released a few singles from their sophomore record over the past few months.

After getting into Oh Wonder over the past year and even more-so after Coachella, I was highly anticipating this new album. “Ultralife”, the first single from the album with the same name, which debuted in March, was a fun and instant hit in my book. The new album offers much of what their first album did, which is catchy, melodic alternative pop jams. The album fluctuates from soft, slower tunes like “My Friends”, “Bigger Than Love”, and “All About You” to songs that will make you want to get up and dance like “Ultralife” and “High on Humans”. If I had to name any difference in sound between the first two albums, it’s that I think the first album had more of an R&B feel versus the electronic/digital type of sound heard more prominently in the second album. Even so, I think my opinion might be a bit of a stretch.

I have a feeling that once I purchase this album and listen to it on repeat in my car, I’ll have a few undeniable favorites. “Overgrown” is already taking a commanding lead in that category. I give this album another high purchasing recommendation, especially if you already know and like Oh Wonder. You’ll easily be hooked on Ultralife after listening a few times. In addition to the release of their new album, Oh Wonder will be embarking on a world tour in support of the album. They’ll be in North America beginning in September so it might be worth it to catch them live too. I know I’ll be headed to a show after missing them at Coachella. In the mean time though, pick up a copy of the new album and “live ultralife.”

Something To Tell You: Album Review

I have some amazing news! Haim released their new album today! Can I get a hell yeah?! (Hell YEAH!) Something To Tell You, Haim’s latest release, is their second full length album and first in 3 years since 2014’s Days Are Gone. In the months leading up to the release, the sister trio debuted a few singles from the album with “Want You Back”, “Right Now”, and “Little of Your Love”.

Based on my first listen to the album, it seems like a quality follow-up to Days. The thing I love about Something To Tell You is that it incorporates sound from different genres and decades of music. To me, Haim’s vocals have given their music an 80’s type of sound, but on this new record I feel like their vocals create a 90’s to modern day feel along with that go-to 80’s vibe. The music itself takes pieces from different genres to give the band a unique sound on each track too. There were moments where I thought to myself, “this song sounds like an 80’s song (“Nothing’s Wrong”) to this song has a rockabilly thing going on (“Little of Your Love”), or this one has a sort of R&B/deep house/electronic feel (“Walking Away”).” There are many instances of this on the album and if you sit down and really listen to the songs, you’ll hear them. Their songs are just as catchy as the ones on Days too. It’s only a matter of time and repetition before I’m singing along to this album.

I will say a noticeable difference between Something To Tell You and Days Are Gone is that I think there are more songs that are more mellow and chill on the new album, which I feel like is a natural progression. The debut album was full of some great jams. The new one is too but also calms it down a bit. It seems fitting as well since the band has said this album’s lyrical content is full of highs and lows.

For all the Haim fans out there, you’re definitely gonna want to hit up a record store this weekend to pick-up the new album (or online store, or iTunes, or whatever you use). I’ll probably do the same. Haim has already started to post a few tour dates in support of this new record, but I’ll be damned if they don’t add more in the coming days, weeks, or months. Until then, listen to Something To Tell You on repeat! The Haim sisters created some incredible combinations of sound and it’s worthy of your ears.