In taking a bit of a break from the new Wilco album, there are a few others that came out this past week that I'm taking for a spin.
St. Vincent - Strange Mercy
It sounds more electronic than she has in the past. So far it doesn't grab me like Actor did. That seems to be the reverse of the majority of opinions I read, who think this is her best yet. I first listened to Actor when I was in bed recovering from knee surgery. The slight weirdness worked perfectly for somebody who was whacked out of their skull on painkillers. Having listened to this new album unmedicated, it seems a little more off-putting. Maybe I need to eat some pills or something, I dunno. I can admire the artistic merit of what's here, but it doesn't entertain me... yet.
Mates of State - Mountaintops
There's a word that Pitchfork used in describing this band that I keep coming back to... Overripe. Everything the band does is loud, there's no dynamic range. They shout more than they really sing. The songs are all saccharine, a constant loop of hooks stitched together to resemble a song. There's no in-between on how an album from a band like this is going to end up. Two albums ago, it worked. Their last effort sucked. This time, it works again. They sound a bit more like Passion Pit this time around, but I think Mates of State do it a little better. I'll have to be careful with this one though. If I overplay it, I'll probably grow to hate it.
Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Haven't had a chance to listen to this one yet, other than the first single that I've heard on satellite radio. I have high expectations though. Has anybody else listened to this one yet?
