Sleigh Bells
Reign of Terror
(Mom + Pop)
Judging by the demented pep-rally perkiness of "Crush," Sleigh Bells' Alexis Krauss knows the power of contrasts: she half-whispers a sugary vocal in one ear, and in the other she hollers like a cheerleader waving barbed-wire pom poms. A gleeful one-woman battle, it makes one wonder why Krauss doesn't put up more of a fight elsewhere on her Brooklyn duo's second album. Her languid naïf routine is a striking counterpoint to Derek Miller's lurching guitar on "Born to Lose" -- again, contrasts -- but the thin vocals and hammered power chords lose novelty value with each successive track. More abrasive excess would have helped mask some threadbare songs: unlike on 2010's Treats, the electronics and beats on Reign of Terror are more chintzy than overwhelming.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
--Jordan Zivitz, Postmedia News
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Cursive
I Am Gemini
(Saddle Creek)
I suppose it was inevitable that a group as heady as this crew would drop a concept album at some point. This one finds vocalist/guitarist Tim Kasher recounting the tale in 13 parts of the two brothers Cassius and Pollock, twins separated at birth. Honestly, it's not the most obvious storyline but that's fine. Like the group's previous six albums, tracks such as "The Sun and Moon," just blaze off the speakers. Hooks pile upon one another, sharp guitar and spiralling keyboards and concise and direct harmonies all scream that this is a tight band. Perhaps what makes it all work so marvellously well is that the songs average at three minutes long, so whatever ideas are being worked out are never allowed to plod. Rather, the group sticks to what it has always done best: solid indie rock played with equal parts soul and snarl.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
--Stuart Derdeyn, Postmedia News
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Galactic
Carnivale Electricos
(ANTI)
New Orleans' best funk unit continues its exploration of the Crescent City's musical and cultural traditions as well as those of Brazil and the African heritage that lies at the roots of both. With the usual who's who of renowned guests such as rapper Mystikal -- his first studio track recorded since he got out of prison apparently -- and assorted Nevilles, Big Chiefs and Brazilian group Casa Samba, the band is just locked into the pocket on tracks such as "Magalenha" and "Move Fast." Then there is the gorgeous and dangerously groovy opener "Ash Wednesday Sunrise" which moves from sensitive keyboard washes into a positively back-breaking fat funky line that locks into that aforementioned pocket and won't let go. The amazing thing about the group is that it just keeps on refining its intensity on every album. An instrumental unit at its heart, the additional vocalists are always an essential component to each project but never mean that the band will be known for a particular singer or style. All the better as it continues to explore American Deep South funk styles.
Rating: 4 out of 5
--Stuart Derdeyn, Postmedia News
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