The Paper Chase - Someday This Could All Be Yours Vol.1

Third album, first of two conceptual albums that have planned from this cult's band, makers of impossible melodies, in which they play 10 songs, each with the name of a catastrophe, ranging from conventional indie rock to avant-garde ballads. Capricious music that from chord to chord moves from anxiety to sweetness, from dissonance to catchy ditties, and from tenebrous to innocence. Although at first listen "Someday All This Could Be Yours Vol.1" may sound a little bit dispersed, in the end the Texan quartet manages to make the combination of wandering pianos, incidental noise, changing rhythms and strange but strongly melodic lines, becomes in some kind of indie/noise-pop with a little touch of experimental music. Captivating and slightly freaky. -CORANNIEIT-

The Paper Chase, Someday This Could All Be Yours Vol.1

Kill Rock Stars Records, 2009

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site

The Woodlands - Self Titled

Another record to the American indie folk inventory courtesy of the Portland (where else?) based husband-wife duo The Woodlands, who debuted with this self-titled album produced and published by themselves, making 10 pieces of bucolic and austere folk/pop. While Samuel is in charge of music, unplugged, and lyrics, almost poetics, Hanna contributes with her so sweet (i mean really sweet) voice, sometimes barely whispering, creating songs that moves between oppressive melancholy and levity moments in which the couple allow themselves a little joy. Despite the limited instrumentation and extremely honeyed Hanna interpretations may cause after some tracks the album falls into monotony and cloying sweetness, this is not a bad record; it is saved by a few "bon iverean" touches and good moments on tracks like "We Can Stay", "Anymore" or "In The Dark Of Monday" that, at the end, makes of "The Woodlands" a pretty record. Ideal for "Grey's Anatomy" soundtrack. -CORANNIEIT-

The Woodlands, Self-Titled
The Woodlands-Indie, 2009

Links:
My Space Site

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Summer Of Fear

Miles Anthony Benjamin Robinson debuted a couple of years ago with a magnificent album that in someway was overshadowed by the legend that accompanied him (homeless, junkie and dealer in New York, later discovered by Chris Taylor from Grizzly Bear and Kyp Malone from TV On The Radio). Leaving behind the morbid about this period of his life, Robinson delivers his second album "Summer Of Fear", an album honest, sober, in every meaning of the word, free of any indie smugness, in which he makes warm, refined rock/pop that's flows smoothly, as he sings lyrics trying to revive the lost innocence by recalling "I remember seventeen / I remember being honest, horny, healthy, and clean / I remember briefly believing / That I 'd been born to be the one" ("Always An Anchor"), though ultimately there's no illusions and he knows that nothing is easy "And it's not that bad / to be bored and sad / When the dreams you've had / are just bets gone bad" ("Hard Row"). Despite the stormy and dark his inspiration can be, Robinson makes of "Summer Of Fear" a nitid and shiny record. A true gem. -CORANNIEIT-

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Summer Of Fear
Saddle Creek Records, 2009

Links:
My Space Site

Peter Gabriel - Scratch My Back

On the premise of "no guitars, no drums," the maestro Peter Gabriel introduced his new album "Scratch My Back", a covers album which, however, is so interesting for two reasons: the first one is the spectrum of artists and bands of which Gabriel select songs, ranging from contemporaries, such as David Bowie or Lou Reed, to "new values" such as The Arcade Fire or Bon Iver, without missing consolidated bands that are right in the generational middle, as Radiohead or Elbow. The second reason is that Gabriel, accompanied only by piano and classical orchestra, practically re-invented each song through versions in which an introspective and serene tone predominates, even dark sometimes, making each piece barely recognizable. Maybe "Scratch My Back" is not the most exciting or innovative album from Peter Gabriel, at least not in the usual sense, but it is certainly an album worth to listening enjoyment. -CORANNIEIT-

Links:
Official Site
My Space Site