Review Session: New Artists

Here are some new artists that have been making waves in the music world. A couple of these albums may crack my Top 10 at the end of the year.

The Weeknd - House of Balloons

The Weeknd is the stage name of Toronto- based R&B singer Abel Tesfaye. To get his music out he created 3 mix tapes: House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence. So far, the first two have been released to wild success, but House of Balloons is of up most importance because it may be the greatest R&B record of all time! Not even kidding with that statement. I am not an R&B aficionado, but can you name three great albums of the genre? Didn’t think so, but now you can name House of Balloons!

 P.S. – This is BABY-MAKING MUSIC!!!

Rating - 8.9

EMA - Past Life Martyred Saints

-       The debut album from Erika M. Anderson, EMA, comes after she to California and lived in the Oakland Ghetto. She is a skinny white girl from South Dakota. I have to be honest. I don’t see the logic there. But hell, it worked well. She found herself and her sound. She sounds like Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth and creates these intricate post grunge-rock tracks that are introspective and profound. A helluva an album here!

Rating - 8.3

Iceage - New Brigade

-       Stereogum has made the profound statement that Iceage are the saviors of punk rock. Well, Ladies and Gents they may be right. New Brigade rips holes in your ear drums, kick starts your adrenaline rush, and will start many a mosh pit. It is exciting to here a punk rock album that people from all walks of music can like and relate to. Rock out with your Cock out to Iceage's New Brigade!

Rating - 8.4 

Cults - Cults

-       Of all the artists on this blog post Cults have gained the most attention for their fun indie pop ambiance. The duo from Manhattan has been labeled as a crossbreed of Phil Spector and The Kills (Ironic since Phil Spector is a killer). Their self-titled debut album was labeled Best New Music from Pitchfork, a top pick from NME and Under The Radar, and their song “Go Outside” has been labeled “The best Summer Song of 2011” by me. The definitely have what it takes to be great, and they started with this debut album. 

 Rating - 8.4

Washed Out - Within and Without

I was able to see Washed Out in concert last Winter as he opened up for Beach House. Despite the fact that he had not released a full LP he was gaining a lot of momentum in the music world. All of the time and travel came to a culmination on this album. It's ghostly, effervescent sound is slightly limiting, but on this album it is challenging enough to provoke immediate and grand feelings. Of the 5 New Artists I have talked about this is the hardest album to wrap yourself in, but somehow it really draws me in. 

Rating - 8.2