Live Shows & Reviews!

LIVE SHOWS:

It doesn't happen very often but when the planets (free time & spare cash) align, I like to check out a live show. Over the past month I've had a chance to see both Sea Wolf and The Walkmen. I recorded a few full songs and posted them on the YouTubes but because I'm a nice guy, I've also embedded them right here into MidPoints. I've got a few more shows lined up so check back for more videos soon. Enjoy!

"Leaves In The River" - Sea Wolf

"You're A Wolf" - Sea Wolf

"The Rat" - The Walkmen

"Another One Goes By" - The Walkmen

"New Country" - The Walkmen

"Woe Is Me" - The Walkmen

"We've Been Had" - The Walkmen

ONE SENTENCE REVIEWS

Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles

Rating: 81/100

A promising debut album from a band that cleverly balances pop melodies, dance beats and robot noises not unlike Justice, Cut Copy & Daft Punk, but with there own enjoyably distinctive touches.

High Point Tracks: "Vanished", "Crimewave (Crystal Castles vs HEALTH)", "Knights"

The Roots - How I Got Over

Rating: 80/100

Excluding the final few tracks, How I Got Over is a remarkably thoughtful and cohesive hip-hop experience that emphasizes authentic instrumentation, rhythm and of course, an MC who actually has something to say.

High Point Tracks: "Walk Alone ft. Truck North, P.O.R.N. & Dice Raw", "The Fire ft. John Legend"

Band of Horses - Infinite Arms

Rating: 70/100

Both enjoyable and forgettable, Infinite Arms does little to distinguish itself from any of the bands preceding releases.

High Point Tracks: "Laredo", "Neighbor", "Compliments"

Best Coast - Crazy For You

Rating: 85/100

Filled with irresistible pop melodies, fuzzy guitars and soaring harmonies, Crazy For You is a quick but entrancing journey through the 'highs' and lows of summertime love and heartbreak.

High Point Track: "The End", "Goodbye", "When I'm With You"

Florence + The Machine - Lungs

Rating: 86/100

While the execution isn't always perfect, the debut album from Florence + the Machine is expansive, unapologetic and straight up epic.

High Point Tracks: "Dog Days Are Over", "Cosmic Love", "You've Got The Love"

The Walkmen - Lisbon

Rating: 79/100

Lisbon is a satisfying mix of energetic indie rock and relaxed guitar pop that sounds both comfortingly familiar and enticingly strange.

High Point Track: "Angela Surf City", "Victory", "Torch Song"

Lil Wayne - I Am Not A Human Being

Rating: 77/100

Half of it sounds like a triumph, a quarter of it is unnecessary features and everything else is a mix of useless trash and Planet Weezy weirdness; but all math aside, this is a solid place holder until Tha Carter IV drops.

High Point Tracks: "Right Above It ft. Drake", "I Am Not A Human Being", "What's Wrong With Them ft. Nicki Minaj"

Long Over Due Reviews

ONE-SENTENCE REVIEWS:

The Black Keys - Brothers

Rating: 83/100

Enjoyable from start to finish, Brothers is the Black Keys doing work.

High Point Tracks: "Next Girl", "Tighten Up", "Sinister Kid"

Drake - Thank Me Later

Rating: 71/100

After the incredible So Far Gone mixtape and a handful of promising singles, Drake delivers a somewhat disappointing major label debut that reveals the young rappers fatal flaw: he just doesn't have much to say.

High Point Tracks: "Over", "Up All Night ft. Nicki Minaj"

Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (II)

Rating: 80/100

While somewhat repetitive and noisy, a healthy number of strange and satisfying tracks redeem Crystal Castles' self titled sophomore album.

High Point Tracks: "Baptism", "Suffocation", "Not In Love"

Sleigh Bells - Treats

Rating: 94/100

Treats is unabashedly loud, inventive, fun and easily one of the best albums of the year.

High Point Tracks: "Kids", Infinity Guitars", "Rill Rill", "Crown On The Ground"

Eminem - Recovery

Rating: 84/100

Relapse was only ok; Recovery is much better.

High Point Tracks: "Won't Back Down ft. P!nk", "No Love ft. Lil Wayne", "Almost Famous" "Havoc"

Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty

Rating: 89/100

Big Boi's hip-hop epic is fresh and flawlessly executed.

High Point Tracks: "Daddy Fat Sax", "Shutterbug", "Fo Yo Sorrows", "Shine Blockas"

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Rating: 98/100

The Suburbs is another remarkable release from one of the best bands of the past decade; I believe there is no stopping them now.

High Point Tracks: "Half Light II (No Celebration)", "We Used To Wait", "Month of May", "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)"

Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People EP

Rating: 83/100

The title track which is more than 11 minutes long makes two appearances on the EP and they're both different, and uniquely enjoyable in a way only Sufjan Stevens can deliver; as is everything else in between.

High Point Tracks: "All Delighted People (Original Version)", "Enchanting Ghost", "Djohariah"

M.I.A. - Maya

Rating: 73/100

The chaotic splashes of noise and sound effects over deeply effected pop melodies sometimes seem more like a schtick than an artistic choice here, however they still seem work for her most of the time.

High Point Tracks: "Steppin Up", "XXO", "Meds and Feds"

I have a few more to do. Stay tuned.