New Foals Record

So just listened to the new Foals record. Brilliant. The sound and energy bring the classic warmth and vibrant sounds that have accompanied their work. First impressions is that it is a record to watch for in 2013 and definitely will be featured on radio play all over the world. In depth review coming soon.

She and Him

So usually I would stray away from any Hollywood actor/actress that him the music scene, especially the popular ones - of most recent times: Cyrus, Duff, Lohan and the list goes on. But, here I am going to break the rules. She and Him is an indie pop duo with Hollywood actress, Zooey Deschanel and indie singer-songwriter, Matt "M. Ward" Ward and have made some quiet success over the last 5 years, most prominent with their Volume 2 record which was released earlier in 2010.

Most know Deschanel from her appearances on Elf, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Manic and (500) Days of Summer. This side project, which in turn has seemingly become a major one for her has produced a relative amount of success without the mainstream pop title being labelled towards it. Her beautiful and innocent voice that she presents on She and Him EPs and 2 albums does she that she actually does have musical talent and her collaborations with M. Ward work wonderfully, and believe it or not, she does most of the songwriting.

I will be posting reviews and analysis on She and Him's two records shortly...

Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record

During their five-year hiatus, one could assume that Broken Social Scene frontman Kevin Drew had been trimming his garden of friends substantially. On Forgiveness Rock Record, he notes a mere seven collaborators - leaner indeed, compared with the 22 credited on their previously self-titled album. That said, he knows how to pick them, with Metric's Emily Haines, Stars' Amy Milan and the gorgeous Leslie Feist among the survivors. Perhaps ironically, then comes the forgiveness factor.

As the tile suggests, this is a rock and roll record that through its songs explores the emotional process of forgiving, forgetting and moving forward together. From the macro distress of World Sick to Haines' deeply personal Sentimental X's, it's thick with catharsis and human release. It's also the most song-based record the band has even mustered. Where You Forgot It In People was sprawling and tangential, Forgiveness Rock sets it up and knocks it down with steadier structures and that stronger rock inclination.

Co-produced by Tortoise/Sea and Cake drummer John McEntire, it's exactly as we remember their intense aesthetic only sharper, more focused and perhaps better behaved - much like the Broken Social Scene/Sea and Cake contrast. This may alienate those who fell for the granidose and immersing instrumentals of the band's recent history, though the joy here is within our human connection to story. It's a nice thought, and one that's terribly reliant. And after all, who couldn't use a little forgiveness?