Album Haiku Review| No Doubt “Push and Shove”

Rating| 2/5

Song’s I Can’t Take Off Repeat| “Push and Shove,” “Undone,” & “Dreaming The Same Dream.”

After a long wait,

Eleven years actually,

No Doubt has done it.

Some fans say they took a hiatus, others feared they were on a break for good, but eleven years after their last studio-released album No Doubt is back. The new album definitely falls into the pop genre, with multiple tracks filled with electric beats and digitized vocals. In their single “Push and Shove,” No Doubt collaborates with Busy Signal and Major Lazer in a pop, Reggie fusion and dancehall mixed track. “Dreaming The Same” has an 80’s inspired intro with an electronic synthesizer drumbeat and heavy muffled electric guitar. “Undone” is the most unique track on the album, with a sound similar to contemporary country music; the vocals in the song are clearer than the rest; it reminds me of The Wreckers. This album wasn’t my favorite but it isn’t a horrible album. I still prefer No Doubt’s older tunes.

- Bree Anderson

Album Haiku Review| Carly Rae Jepsen “Kiss”

Rating | 3/5

Song’s I Can’t Take Off Repeat | “Turn Me Up,” “Beautiful,” & “Tonight I’m Getting Over You.”

So Call Me Maybe

Carley Rae Jepsen’s hit single

Bubbly Pop Album

“Call Me Maybe,” the song on many summer playlists this year, became somewhat of a YouTube fad when fans made tribute videos to the hit single by filming themselves dancing and lip-syncing the lyrics. Carly Rae Jepsen’s newest album “Kiss,” could be described in two words: bubbly pop. Tracks such as “Turn Me Up” would make a good soundtrack for dance Kinect games, with an electric beat and repetitive chorus. Jepsen’s vocals are heavily synthesized throughout the album, especially in “Tonight I’m Getting Over You.” However the melody in “Beautiful,” written by Justin Bieber and Toby Gad, is simpler allowing listeners to hear Jepsen’s true vocal range in combination with Bieber’s.

- Bree Anderson

Album Haiku Review | Mumford and Sons “Babel”

Rating | 5/5

Song’s I Can’t Take Off Repeat | “I Will Wait,” “Ghosts That We Knew,” & “Lovers’ Eyes.”

You will like Babel

Mumford and Sons new album

Lover of the light

Three years after the success of their platinum selling record “Sigh No More,” which sold over a million copies in both the UK and the US, Mumford and Sons has done it again with their wonderfully mastered album “Babel.” The track “I Will Wait,” has an upbeat guitar melody, distinct banjo riffs, tight harmonies, and a stomp-your-boots kind of beat. “Ghosts that we knew” is an achingly beautiful ballad with an emotional instrumental bridge, the soft guitar and banjo picking escalates with added strings, the tempo quickens and the vocals get louder and more intense as the singer cries out: “I will hold on with all of my might, just promise me that we'll be alright.” The track “Lovers’ Eyes” reminds me of something you would hear in a pub, people lamenting over a drink about the curses love sometimes brings. If you are a Mumford and Sons fan like myself, this new album will not disappoint you.

- Bree Anderson

Album Review | Norah Jones “Little Broken Hearts”

Rating | 4/5

Song’s I Can’t Take Off Repeat | “She’s 22,” “4 Broken Hearts,” & “Happy Pills.”

Collaborations

Ballads and relationships

Little Broken Hearts

New albums create new musical relationships. Norah Jones’ album "Little Broken Hearts" is the product of collaboration with Brian Burton from "Danger Mouse." Jones’ smokey vocals are back for memorable ballads such as "4 Broken Hearts," and "She’s 22." The track “4 Broken Hearts” has an old country western feel with a distinctive beat and muffled guitar whammy strum echoing in the background.The track "Happy Pills" is more upbeat and uncharacteristic of Jones’ more known bluesy style. Add this album to your Starbucks and coffee dates playlist.

- Bree Anderson

Album Haiku Review | Imagine Dragons “Night Visions”

Rating | 5/5

Song’s I Can’t Take Off Repeat | “Radioactive,” “Demons,” & “Hear Me.”

Imagine Dragons

An electrifying beat

Radioactive

Imagine Dragon’s new album “Night Visions” kicks off with the song “Radioactive;” it is a great start to any morning playlist with an electrifying beat and catchy chorus. The track “Demons” starts with main singer Dan Reynolds singing solo as a soft keyboard melody builds in the background, the electric guitar gently comes in adding to the existing melody when suddenly the drums kick in for dramatic emphasis on the lyrics, cuing the chorus. “Hear Me” is an emotional song about the inner voice inside ourselves that is crying out. Imagine dragons are innovative and ahead of their time. Their EP was the soundtrack of my summer but their new album will be the mantra of my year.

- Bree Anderson

Album Haiku Review | Michael Kiwanuka “Home Again”

Rating | 4/5

Song’s I Can’t Take Off Repeat | “Getting Ready,” “I’ll Get Along,” & “Home Again.”

Adheres To Folk Roots

Funky-Like Soulful Stylings

Great Sing-Along Tunes

“Home Again” has a vintage soulful sound. Kiwanuka implements funky rhythm stylings into his music, similar to classic soul genre from the late 1960s and 70s. However the album is unique in that it is both soulful but also adheres to folk roots, heard most evidently in the track “Getting Ready.” The combination of flute, trumpets and Rhodes Piano (a vintage model of an electric keyboard) make up a retro tune in “I’ll Get Along.” This is my rainy day music, smooth and peaceful feel throughout the album.

- Bree Anderson

Album Haiku Review | The Lumineers “The Lumineers”

Rating | 5/5

Song’s I Can’t Take Off Repeat | “Classy Girls,” “Ho Hey,” &“Charlie Boy.”

Quality Vocals

Lumineers’ Debut Album

Coffee Shop Soundtrack

The Lumineers, like an undoctored photo, have a pure quality captured in the moment of recording. The vocal tracks are pure and have a live quality, especially in “Slow it Down.” The track “Classy Girls” sounds as if it was recorded in a restaurant, with the audience voices sounding in the background. The instrumentation throughout the album is simple with repetitive guitar and/or banjo rifts and punchy piano accompaniments. The drums, strings, and audience participation by clapping along, combined create a rich folk sound. This album is perfect for studying in a coffee shop or listening to on a road trip with friends.

- Bree Anderson

Album Haiku Review | Best Coast “The Only Place”

Rating|5/5

Song’s I Can’t Take Off Repeat| “The Only Place,” “Do You Love Me Like You Used Too,” “Why I Cry,” & “My Life”

Goodbye Low-Fi Sound

Perfectly Dreamy Pop Sound

Soundtrack For Summer

I have listened to the Best Coast album “Crazy For You” hundreds of times. I love to rock out and sing with Bethany Cosentino. However “The Only Place” sounds more mature with no lo-fi, it’s a glossy sounding Bethany. The production is slick. I already have my favorite songs picked out and am already listening to my jams on repeat. This album makes me want to pack my bags and move to California! With titles and lyrics as so, it’s a perfect girl sing-a-long album. The songs float from start to finish without a single flaw, they are perfect pop ditties. This will be the soundtrack for my summer! 

- Andrea Williams 

Album Haiku Review | The Shins “Port Of Morrow”

Rating|3.5/5

Song’s I Can’t Take Off Repeat| “Simple Song,” “The Rifle’s Spiral,” “September”

James Starts Off Rockin

With A Brand New Support Cast

Fizzles At The End.

First off I would like to say James Mercer is The Shins.With a lot of talk about former band members; this is his band. Side note I love Jessica Dobson and her other band from Seattle “Deep Sea Diver.” You need to give them a listen too!

Port of Morrow is a really good album; the first few songs are a kick in the pants. Still can't get enough of "Simple Song" when I hear it on the radio or it comes up on my iPhone I instantly turn it up.

Some of the songs on the album I just don’t get. The title track is just not my cup of tea. The first six songs are fun. The upbeat track on “No Way Down” has my head bopping but still carries Mercer’s distinct “SHINS” style. “September” is a straight up, on the rocks, Shins song. It has everything I love about the Shins; that floaty indie rock sound and Mercer’s vocals.

Like I mentioned the album starts off great and looses me at the 7th song. However I still want to give it a 3.5 out of 5 because it’s a good album. I am going to keep most of it in my iPhone.

I am really excited to hear songs off this album (and hopefully) songs off their other albums at 2012 Sasquatch Music Festival this May!

- Matt Auclair