By Jordan Baker and Tonaya Marr
He said
There are a number of things people look for in music, and the seasons can affect what we want from these melodic tunes.
In the summer, music is a lot like books for me. I don't want to read anything too heavy. Crime and Punishment is more of a February read, whereas Freaky Deaky is definitely something I can flip through in the summer.
The two-person band Cults provided just such an experience in their self-titled debut album, released in June. The 11 hipster tracks are really everything you could want for a sunny, summery listen. For starters, it's a very nostalgic album. All the songs are very reminiscent of 1960's pop. It sounds like it's from the '60s, while still being fresh and modern. It certainly doesn't come off as a series of rehashed pop classics.
Madeline Follin has a great voice to accompany the simple lyrics, and the percussion is united with a host of other instruments to give each song a very full sound. The music strays far from a simple set up of an electric guitar, bass and drums.
For an album that deals a lot with a relationship that's been terminated, it's really fun. From the opening track, Abducted to You Know What I Mean and Oh My God, the songs are really catchy, almost addictive.
Lastly, the songs are short. In the sticky heat, my attention span and ability to listen go down like that stock my dad convinced me to invest in. These songs are like Ramones' songs. They're fun, catchy and over in three minutes, leaving me wanting more. That's another nod to 60s pop, before prog rock stretched songs into epic Pink Floyd marathons.
And it's got a great album cover. After hearing a little bit about the band, it was absolutely the album cover that made me check it out. I love messy, party hair. It's a fun cover that perfectly shows how much for there is to be had listening to the songs inside.
For how impressed I was by the Cults' summer debut, I was equally disappointed by the Red Hot Chili Peppers' end of summer song machine. These are two perfect examples of a band on their way up and one on their way down.
She said
Do you like The Rolling Stones? The Tragically Hip? Queen?
OK cool, neither do I.
But I really like The Cab, a band from Las Vegas that dropped their sophomore album, Symphony Soldier, a couple weeks ago. Easily the best new CD I listened to all summer.
I first heard The Cab three years ago when I purchased their debut, Whisper War, on iTunes on a whim (which is how I buy most of my music). Whisper War remains one of my favourite CDs, and Symphony Soldier did not disappoint.
The Cab has had a bit of a staffing change, but thankfully still features the lead vocals of Alexander DeLeon, which is something I am so ridiculously thankful for. DeLeon could sing me Estevan street names and I'd happily listen.
Did I mention that Symphony Soldier was paid for entirely by the band and was released without a label? The guys' hard work is evident in every (well, almost) song on the album. It's nice to finally have bought a CD where it isn't just 10 filler songs surrounding four singles. Jordan is likely going to write something about how lyrics are way more important than vocals, and I completely disagree. If I want to hear someone choke out a depressing poem, I will hang out in a Grade 9 English class during the poetry section. With my music, I love to have something I can listen to for both its sound and what is being said.
That being said, it's still the band's song lyrics that make them my favourite. I wouldn't say the lyrics are mystifyingly deep or anything, but they express feeling in a way that is so lovely and poetic it makes me seriously envious. Another fun fact: Bruno Mars, Adam Levine, and Pete Wenz each also had a hand in penning some of the tunes on the CD. Which is kind of cool.
Best overall song on the album is probably their first single, Bad. It's been on the radio since mid-July and there's a decent chance you've heard it. My other favourites are Angel with a Shotgun, Animal, La La, and Living Louder. Seriously, go buy this CD.
Just a side note: I'm seriously pumped for music this fall and winter. Yay for Hedley and Marianas Trench likely releasing new albums before the New Year! I'm predicting that the Marianas Trench CD will be better, if their first single Haven't Had Enough is anything to go by. Cannot wait!
