WVAU Top Music 2013: #5

Teta Alim, Drew Sher

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#5 ALBUM:

 

Haim, Days Are Gone

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The coolest sisters from L.A. have dominated this year with their EPs and multiple festival appearances, quickly building up their reputation in time for their debut album Days Are Gone released at the end of September. It‰’s no surprise that their DC show in May is already sold out along with most of the venues on their North American tour.

What makes this album so stellar ‰ÛÒ and definitely sets the bar for their following albums ‰ÛÒ is the infectious enthusiasm for music; no song is a filler or throwaway and each song is performed with a passion that grabs listeners through the speakers. Paired with the intricate instrumentation are well thought-out lyrics that are personal and relatable, making this album an essential coming-of-age soundtrack for all 20-somethings out there. It‰’s an album that can be listened from start to finish with each track smoothly transitioning to the next. “Falling‰” sets the mood with moving percussion and a driving, echoing hook. “My Song 5‰” and “Days Are Gone‰” have an R&B flavor to them that adds to the angst, heavy drums and powerful singing adding to the growth shown in the lyrics. “The Wire‰” is insanely catchy with the lively guitars and the sisters‰’ bright harmonies. Days Are Gone is an album that should not be missed because of its seamless, creative production; the Haim sisters have a great year ahead of them.

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By Teta Alim

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#5 SONG:

 

Iceage, “Morals”

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“Morals‰” starts right off with the sludgiest, fuzziest, growling bass guitar, played along with a militaristic type snare beat, repeating for the whole verse. Then add piano and vocals. Then the tempo skyrockets for the chorus were vocalist RÌünnenfelt screams “Where‰’s your morals?‰Û. It has a very dark vibe to it, especially the trance like repetition of the rhythm in the verses, and the vocals sung in true punk rock fashion, passionately but far from perfect. “Morals‰” is one of the slower, more somber tracks on You‰’re Nothing, and the addition of piano really gives it that eerie kind of sound since it‰’s soft sound is contrasted by guitars that couldn‰’t be distorted any more. It‰’s a total feels kind of track, with lines like, “If I could/Leave my body then I would/Bleed into a lake/Dashing away/Disappear.‰” It is beautiful, and it is that track on the album that drifts away from their usual rough sound to a more romantic place, which is why it deserves a spot on this list.

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By Drew Sher