Lav's Music Corner

alt-j are a British indie rock trio who first began to attract attention with their 2012 debut album and breakout hit song Breezeblocks . They garnered attention for a very unique sound and the defining lead vocals which helped their songs stand-out. While they declined in critical success over their next two albums the band has still maintained a devoted fanbase. The Dream  is their 4th album following 2017's Relaxer . Review By Lav: I've always had a soft spot for alt-j. Their quirky British charm worked on me better than I'd like to admit and when it's paired with great songwriting I think they're capable of doing really great things. Even though the quality of the band's albums have gone down with each new release I've always been slightly more positive than the critical consensus. With The Dream  alt-j deliver their most inconsistent bunch of tracks to date and to make it easy on me, they basically split it right down the middle.  Two of my favorite son...

Happy New Year babes. For the first time in 2022 we are looking at all the new singles dropped this week and highlight the best of the bunch. Normally this time of year its pretty slow all around but there are some great albums coming out in the next few weeks and the singles aren't lacking behind. Here are the five best new tracks this week: 5.  Hard Drive Gold  - alt-j The alt-j renaissance marches on with their most upbeat single of this new era. With a deep selection of wonky instrumentation and the charming vocal gymnastics we've come to expect from the band the track builds up to a rewarding chorus. It's all done in the kooky way that only alt-j can. 4.  Respirate  - Pinegrove If you know Pinegrove you pretty much know this song. The anxious observational lyricism with a boyish lo-fi charm and the simple indie instrumental which erupts into a detailed arrangement of backing drums and horns. This is exactly what the band does well.  3.  Titanic  -...

This weekend absolutely fucking ruled. I ended up with more then 15 songs just on the list for consideration for the best tracks of this week so please do yourself a favor and look around for all the great stuff that came out this weekend. The best new tracks of the week are below: 5.  Smokin Out The Window  - Silk Sonic This track relies on the one thing that Anderson Paak and Bruno Mars have in spades, charisma. On the surface it's a male music classic story of female money chasing and betrayal that comes from exactly as shallow a perspective as you'd expect. What makes it work is both their voices which can deliver narrative hooks and team up for beautiful harmonies on the hooks. If you can ignore the icky premise that the entire track is built on it's buttery smooth.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG7fLOmlhYg 4.  This Side Of The Sun  - Shame Shame have never been a gentle band but on This Side Of The Sun  they dig in on some of the best lyricism yet....

The five best new tracks released this weekend below: 5.  Big Energy  - Latto Latto's most recent banger is built around a feature of Tom Tom Club's Genius Of Love , yes you heard that right. It uses the songs indelible key phrase as the base for an impressively sung hook while Latto attaches her trademark charisma to the verses all themed around the title concept. It's like a more mainstream and more danceable version of Shygirl's BDE  from earlier this year.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8GpG8C0YzA 4.  Nightfall  - Explosions In The Sky The best track so far from post-rock outfit Explosions In The Sky's new PBS affiliated soundtrack album is a short dreamy cut. It kicks off like a lullaby before driving into a wonderfully slinky and atmospheric conclusion, all in under two minutes.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FghKzKLgBlU 3.  U+Me  - alt-j Despite their extended break alt-j still sound just like themselves with an exciting and instr...

Six albums that you should be excited for this week. Singles are coming from Lorde, The War On Drugs, Radiohead and Arcade Fire so don't let these projects slip past you. 1. Alt-J - Relaxer Alt-J have two good albums under their belt and after three different sounding singles there's no way to tell how this thing will sound. But there's one thing thats to be expected, it'll sound good. And it'll be the first album I'm playing at midnight this friday. 2. Roger Waters - Is This The Life We Really Want Waters Pink Floyd legacy or past solo work didn't get him to this position. I'm surprised anyone is talking about it excited for a Roger Waters album in 2017 but here we are. Singles "The Last Refugee", "Deja Vu" and "Smell The Roses" are where all the excitement comes from. They're a varied and interesting trilogy of political and passionate songs. If the rest of the album can maintain this quality then we're i...

5. "Ti Amo" - Phoenix After a disappointing first single with J-Boy, Phoenix impresses with their second single for the upcoming album. They channel 2009 with a dancy beat complimented by characteristic and self aware vocals with a surprisingly non annoying vocal effect layered chorus. If you weren't excited for the new Phoenix album before, it's time to be. 4. "Hook, Line & Sinker" - Royal Blood If there is one thing you can give Royal Blood's eponymous 2014 debut album, it's that the singles were all fantastic, they look to keep this trend up. Hook Line & Sinker doesn't change up the bands formula or bring anything drastically new, but it doesn't have to. The formula has at least an album more before the staleness sets in and they know it. The song jams like it's 2017 (when rock music is going out of style). 3. "Adeline" - Alt-J Alt-J now have a trifecta of fantastic singles previewing a 3rd studio alb...