Guest writer, Nicole Rivera, a Miami Lakes Educational Center senior, reviews what’s new in the music scene.
Bitter Rivals – Sleigh Bells
Rating: 8/ 10
The Brooklyn based noise-pop duo is finally back with their much anticipated third album, Bitter Rivals. Sleigh Bells definitely returned to their roots with this record. If you’ve never heard of them before, you’re in for a treat. Hard beats, effect-ridden guitars, and distorted, melodic vocals by frontwoman Alexis Krauss are expertly produced by the band’s guitarist, Derek Miller.
The band is set to perform at Culture Room on November 2nd.
Top Tracks: Bitter Rivals, 24, Sugarcane, Young Legends, To Hell with You.
Pure Heroine – Lorde
Rating: 9/10
Very rarely do I ever listen to an album and immediately fall in love upon first listen, Pure Heroine was an exception – a very beautiful exception.
Where it be through an Indie Tumblr music blog or a through the radio, odds are that by now you’ve come across Lorde.
The anatomy of the album stays true throughout: simple beats with deeper melodies. Lorde knows how to expertly utilize her voice to add a whole new level of fullness to her songs.
Top Tracks: Tennis Court, Ribs, Buzzcut Season, Glory and Gore.
CHVRCHES – The Bones of What You Believe
Rating: 7/10
The Bones of What You Believe is the debut album by the Scottish trio. Lauren Mayberry fronts the group with her feminine, high pitched vocals. The album contains some of the best modern electronic beats I’ve ever heard, making it a creative masterpiece.
Top Tracks: The Mother We Share, We Sink, Lungs.
Panic! at the Disco – Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die
Rating: 5/10
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Didn’t Panic! at the Disco go extinct with MySpace, scene kids, and AIM?
Nope, they’re still around and kicking.
The band’s fourth album is definitely not their best, but I applaud them for taking a new direction and experimenting with an electronic and more pop oriented sound.
The album, to me, lacked lyrically; the constant use of metaphors and word play fans are used to hearing were almost nonexistent in the lyrics.
It’s as if the album was made solely for radio play; I expect to hear a single on Y100 in the near future.
Concerts to Check Out:
Oct. 25 – Jessie Ware – Revolution Live
Oct 19 – Deap Vally – Radioactive Records (In-Store Performance + Meet & Greet)
Nov 2 – Sleigh Bells – Culture Room
Nov 30 – Anthony Green – Culture Room
Dec 4- Alabama Shakes – Filmore Miami Beach
Got an album for me to review? Concert I should go to? Artist I should check out? Wanna chat about music? Hit me up at: bratmobiles@gmail.com
