Lav's Music Corner

Review by Lav:  I've been a Future Islands fan for a long time. The band has crafted a distinct sound in the world of blissful dramatic synth-pop that nobody else can do better. Despite that, they have also developed a reputation for dropping incredible singles that fail to translate into truly great albums. Though I think the band has come close in the past, it still felt like going into their seventh album we still didn't have a definitive release from Future Islands. While People Who Aren't There Anymore  may suffer from some long-standing issues with Future Islands records occasionally, it's not THAT far from what a definitive album from the band might sound like.  In terms of those common Future Islands issues there are some songs here that really just feel like middling imitations of others. Give Me The Ghost Back  is the first example. Even though it does try and introduce some wiry guitar into the mix on the bridge it doesn't really do much for me. I feel si...

5.  Petroleum  - Yard Act While I came away from the first Yard Act album pretty mixed something tells me I'm going to like the follow-up a lot more. The singles have seen the band leaning into their grooviest eccentricities and the results are post-punk that fringes on danceability in the way very few bands can achieve. This may not be the most bombastic or infectious of the songs but I still like it quite a bit.  Listen 4.  Tunnel Lights  - Chelsea Wolfe While this track may not blow me away in quite the same way Chelsea's past two tracks have it still has everything I would want in one of her songs. From the spacious percussion marked by booming distorted drums to her haunting voice wrapping itself around mystical fairy tale refrains it's all still so compelling.  Listen 3.  The Fight  - Future Islands The most reserved single from Future Islands' new era might be its best moment yet. It has the patience to squeeze every moment of somber drama ...

MWAH <3 5.  And Still  - Peter Gabriel In total the collection of new material Peter Gabriel has released hasn't exactly been consistently satisfying. But he's managed to shine through a handful of times and this song sounded better and better to me every time. I love the sweeping compositional style and consistently catchy refrains throughout. I still have no idea what to make of his upcoming new album though.  Listen 4.  Brick By Brick  - Conway The Machine & Wun Two Okay, consider me surprised. My expectations were not high for Conway crossing over with lo-fi hip-hop beats artist Wun Two. What seemed like nothing more than a reason to release new material is actually off to a great start with Conway delivering some of his characteristically hard-hitting lines in appropriately lethal fashion. They pair great with a vintage-sounding instrumental highlighted by fluttering keys.  Listen 3.  Why? - Matmos Leave it to Matmos to show up on this list...

So I was sort of on vacation this week which is why this list is one day late, sorry. Reviews will be back in line tomorrow with either a rapid fire or maybe the new Beach House. <3 5.  Magic  - Vince Staples This new Mustard produced single from Vince Staples does feature some uncharacteristic singing but it actually goes over surprisingly well. He also does some of what you'd expect him to spinning confrontational gangster tales over a sparse instrumental. It isn't redefining his sound necessarily but it does take it in a new direction while holding on to what makes him so good in the first place.  Listen 4.  I Love You  - Fontaines D.C It wasn't that long ago that I hadn't really been that impressed by anything Fontaines D.C had done, but earlier this year when they dropped Jackie Down The Line that changed. Thankfully I actually kind of like this new song too even though it can start to feel like its wandering in the middle section the distant crashing dr...

Future Islands is a Baltimore based synth pop and indie pop act fronted by Sam Herring who emerged in the early 2010's as one of indie music premiere summer songwriters. The band found mainstream success after a viral performance of their most well known track Seasons  in 2014 and while they have failed to replicate that commercial success since then they still have a dedicated following among indie fans.  Review By Lavender: Future Islands have a discography of singles that can stand up to any of their indie contemporaries. Tracks like Vireo's Eye , Balance , Seasons , Ran  and the newest entry For Sure  are all incredible examples of their sound done to absolute perfection. The issue is that since their 2010 record In Evening Air  the band has failed to put an entire album of great songs together, and the limitations of their sound are just as apparent on As Long As You Are .  For the most part the singles here are once again great tracks with only one ex...

Hemlock Ernst is the rapper pseudonym for Sam Herring, who is most commonly known as the front man of contemporary synth pop and indie pop band Future Islands. After a full decade of releasing records with the band and featuring across a number of different records from his indie and hip hop contemporaries Sam saw fit to finally release a full length Hemlock Ernst solo record. On Back At The House  Sam teams up with producer Kenny Segal, a regular in underground hip hop, to see Sam craft an experimental rap record. Review By Lavender: I've dished out some praise to Future Islands over the years and I've even enjoyed the few moments Hemlock Ernst has popped up on records like Open Mike Eagle and Paul White's Hella Personal FIlm Festival . After a pair of intriguing singles I was really excited for this record, and while I don't think it will turn many heads in the underground hip hop world it is proof that Sam is a true multi-talented artist. The lead-up to this...

1. Rushing Back  - Flume (Feat. Vera Blue) Flume takes the #1 spot on a light week with yet another single in a line of collaborations he has been dropping sporadically this year with varied results. His namesake is more than enough to get ears onto his songs, especially if a new project is in the works. 2. Down  - Hemlock Ernst and Kenny Segal Sam T. Herring, most commonly known as the frontman of indie pop band Future Islands is finally taking his underground rap moniker Hemlock Ernst to the next level and releasing a full length album that should be one of the most high profile indie and hip hop crossovers this year, 3. Into The Surf  - Foals Foals' second part of the album they released earlier this year is rapidly approaching and they have dropped a run of very solid singles leading up to it likely to release yet another indie favorite of 2019. 4. Good Luck  - Broken Bells The two time collaboration between James Mercer, frontman of The Shins and super...