From “The 23 Upcoming Albums that Matter Most“
SPOON Transference
Release Date: Jan. 19
The Skinny: Although a horn section made “The Underdog” one of the most irresistible singles in recent memory, Britt Daniel and Co.’s decision to pare back down feels like a brilliant move; for fans who just climbed on board circa Gimme Fiction and Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, it’s a chance to hear the band in their sneering Girls Can Tell glory, but with the wisdom of nearly a decade’s worth of songwriting growth added in for good measure.
From “10 Best Albums You May Have Missed“
WYE OAK – The Knot
For this Baltimore couple, love is a hazy tornado of sound. Singer/guitarist Jenn Wasner’s hpnotic songwriting has obvious Americana roots, but on the duo’s sophomore full-length, her dreamy vocals artfully join ragged riffs to drummer/keyboardist Andy Stack’s layers of thunderstorm drums and surging keyboard drones. “Mary Is Mary” builds a wall of gorgeous chaos that surrounds Wasner’s calm center. W.G.
From “10 Best Albums You May Have Missed“
TELEKINESIS – Telekinesis!
If there was a Now! That’s What I Call Music for indie power pop, “Coast of Carolina” by 22-year-old Seattle native Michael Benjamin Lerner would definitely make the cut. Distorted, Big Star-style guitar chords give way to one of the year’s catchiest choruses, complete with a melodic build that would have Maria Von Trapp whistlin’ along. If you don’t like Telekinesis, your ears don’t work. W.G.
