indie pop band

Crybaby: Album Review

My blog has solely become album reviews and Coachella previews, but I’m kind of okay with it. Even though I might not keep up with this as much as I used to, I’m still writing posts 8 years later. I like writing occasionally, so its nice. This album review is very overdue though as Tegan and Sara’s tenth studio album, Crybaby, was released almost 2 months ago. I’ve been meaning to write it sooner, but life, friends, fun, and the rare work day have taken over and that’s not to mention other album releases that needed to be reviewed too. Several singles from this new album were released throughout 2022 culminating in the October 21st album release.

Tegan and Sara have been around for almost the last 25 years and in that time their indie pop sound has carried through the decades. They’ve had huge successes with albums like The Con and Heartthrob, but their latest is definitely on a similar level musically to The Con. I have a feeling this new album won’t reach the hype it deserves so I’ll just have to hype it up as much as I can. One of my favorite songs from the album is “Yellow”. The melody is ultimately so catchy. There’s several other indie pop bops as well like “Fucking Up What Matters,” “I Can’t Grow Up,” and “Smoking Weed Alone.” There’s also a few ballads on the album like “Faded Like a Feeling,” “Sometimes I See Stars,” and “Whatever That Was.”

The twin sister duo has also said they weren’t even sure if they would be releasing another album, which makes Crybaby special in its own right. I think this isn’t an album that hits as a whole right away. It’s one you have to keep listening to for it to stick, but once it does you realize just how good it is. Tegan and Sara embarked on a fall tour in support of the album and I was lucky enough to be able to catch the first show. It was great to see them perform again. They’re such fun live performers. If you’re looking for a new album to get into this winter, I would definitely recommend Crybaby. It’s a quality record from this well established Canadian indie pop twin sister group.

Coachella Band Preview: Jamie xx

Two things: it’s almost March and I’m almost home from my winter in Mexico! This means one thing: Coachella is a little over a month away after almost 1,100 days. Simple math. It makes my Coachella motto all that morning meaningful. I’ve always said to live every Coachella like your first Coachella. This time live every Coachella like your first Coachella and your last Coachella. Live it up hard. You never know. It just might be a while before your next one. Safe to say it’s been that way for this week’s preview artist. He last performed solo at the event in 2015 and performed with his band The xx in 2017. He goes by the name Jamie xx.

James Thomas Smith, or Jamie xx, is an English DJ/record producer. As I mentioned, he’s a member of indie pop band The xx, but it was shortly after the band’s formation that he began remixing tracks leading to his solo work. Along with remixing tracks by The xx, he began remixing music of several artists such as Florence + the Machine, Adele, and Glasser. His first album, We’re New Here, was entirely remixes. It came out in February 2011. His second and first original album, In Colour, was released in May 2015. He hasn’t really released much new music since then, aside from a single in 2020. The xx, however, last put out an album in 2017.

It’s definitely been a while since the last polo fields visit for the electronic artist who specializes in a style that incorporates future garage, post-dubstep, and house. He takes to the stage on Sunday in the desert. I’d imagine he would play the Sahara tent, but I could very well be wrong. He may be on the Coachella main stage or behind the booth at Outdoor. I would love a Jamie xx sunset set, and I feel like I’m not alone in this so I’ll be crossing my fingers that it happens. I’m also hoping that there may even be an appearance from Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim, the other two members of The xx. It would be so sick to get the band back together for their first appearance in several years. To get ready for whatever the Jamie xx set brings, I’ll be listening to:

  1. Loud Places
  2. I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)
  3. Gosh
  4. See Saw
  5. Idontknow
  6. Obvs
  7. Girl
  8. On hold (Jamie xx remix)
  9. You’ve Got the Love (Jamie xx remix)
  10. Stranger in a Room