Weekly Album Roundup: Jan – Feb. 23

Weekly+Album+Roundup%3A+Jan+-+Feb.+23

WVAU Music Staff

A new segment from us! WVAU Music Staff reviews new albums each week – here‰’s what the group has reviewed from the start of January to now, February 23. From now on, we’ll be publishing their weekly reviews, weekly. Enjoy!

Pop/ish

Danielle Duval ‰ÛÒ Lose It (PeoplePlay Records) [pop] // 70s/80s inspired indie dance pop // RIYL: Arcade Fire, Phoenix, Say Lou Lou // Recommended Tracks: 8, 2, 4, 5

Joan as Police WomanDamned Devotion (PIAS) [indie rock-ish] // brooding broody tunes // RIYL: Cat Power, Martha Wainwright // Recommended Tracks: 1,3,12

Milk & BoneDeception Bay (Bonsound) [Wispy dancey pop music] // Fun pop that works both for studying and for lightly dancing // RIYL: Tei Shi, Sylvan Esso, Anna of the North // Recommended Tracks: 1, 2, 13

Mimicking BirdsLayers of Us (Glacial Pace) [dreamy yet sinister rock] // spacey rock to space out to // RIYL: Band of Horses // Recommended Tracks: 1, 6, 10

Wendy Rae FowlerRun (Round Trip Records) [pop] // Imagine a smoke-filled jazz bar but instead of jazz you have jazz infused pop // RIYL: Chelsea Wolfe, PJ Harvey, Zola Jesus // Recommended Tracks: 1,2

RPM (Electronic)

Wing VilmaSafe By Night (Young Heavy Souls) [electronic] / Electronic lo-fi jazz aka absolutely amazing // RIYL: In Love with a Ghost, Joji, nohidea // Recommended Tracks: 1, 3, 6, 7

Hip hop

Abhi the NomadMarbled (Tommy Boy) [alt hip-hop] // A brilliant combination of indie-rock with hip-hop that blows my mind countless times over // RIYL: Chance the Rapper, Kweku Collins, Rex Orange County // Recommended Tracks: 4, 6, 8, 19

AAA (Guitars and such)

Anna BurchQuit The Curse (Polyvinyl) [indie rock] // Indie chick; relatable content with a calming voice that puts things into perspective // RIYL: Stef Chura, Amy O, Ratboys, Jay Som // Recommended Tracks: 1, 2, 3, 4

Born Ruffians ‰ÛÒ Uncle, Duke & The Chief (Yep Roc) [indie rock] // Melodic, upbeat summery rock to remind you of happier, warmer days // RIYL: The Shins, Wolf Parade, Twin Peaks // Recommended Tracks: 1, 2, 4, 9

Cecil FrenaThe Gridlock – (Hovercraft Records) [garage rock] // Garage band rock and roll with a Killers indie vibe // RIYL: HEALTH, Jeff Rosenstock, Sleigh Bells, Converge, Born Gold // Recommended Tracks: All Of My Heroes, Die Old, Hyphen, Unknown Yourself

CheemDownhill (Whelmed Records) // Post-pop punk // RIYL: LVL UP, Alex G, Car Seat Headrest, Pinegrove // Recommended Tracks: 1, 2

Crystal CitiesWho’s Gonna Save Us Now (self-released) [dream pop] // Smooth, easy going indie rock – you can practically feel the sun on your face // RIYL: SALES, Fox Academy, Spencer Radcliffe // Recommended: 1, 2, 3, 6

Franz FerdinandAlways Ascending (Domino) [indie rock] // Once amazing indie rock band makes just ok album – catchy and glitzy for sure, but not the same production quality like their first album // RIYL: the Strokes, Kaiser Chiefs, the Killers, Kasabian // Recommended Tracks: 1, 2, 8, 9

His & Her VanitiesParts on Display (Science of Sound) [garage] // Grouplove by way of Led Zeppelin and the Raincoats // RIYL: Twin Peaks, The Strokes, Parquet Courts // Recommended Tracks: 7, 1, 2, 5

Hovvdy Cranberry (Double Double Whammy) // Quiet, melancholy sadboys // RIYL: Alex G, Elvis Depressedly, Pinegrove // Recommended: 2, 6, 7

Insecure MenInsecure Men – (Fat Possum) [indie electronic pop] // Lots of Magical Mystery Tour vibes in this pretty yet dark album // RIYL: Fat White Family, Ariel Pink, The Moonlandingz, of Montreal, The Memories // Recommended: 1, 2, 4, 6

Marmozets ‰ÛÒ Knowing What You Know Now (Roadrunner) [rock] // Fusion of emo-pop-punk with some electronic and pop. Good vocals! //  RIYL: early Paramore, The Distillers, Bully // Recommended Tracks: 1, 2, 5

Pearl CharlesSleepless Dreamer (Kanine) // Alternative country done right, sultry rock and roll // RIYL: 1, 2, 4, 6 // Recommended Tracks: Phoebe Bridgers, Angel Olsen, Mitski, Lucy Dacus

Quiet HoundsCharacteristics of Living Things (self-released) [indie rock] // feel-good acoustic pop // RIYL: Band of Horses, The Killers, Fleet Foxes // Recommended Tracks: 7, 1, 4, 6

TyphoonOfferings (Roll Call Records) [indie rock] // Eerie and cinematic + great lyrics!! // RIYL: The Districts, Arcade Fire, Snow Patrol, Rostam // Recommended: 3, 7, 2, 5