12FV

Speak for yourself, 2013. 2012 did.

Check out our top 10 albums from last year after the jump!
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LA’s own indie-pop duo Pacific Air, formerly Ko Ko, recently released their EP LONG LIVE KO KO via Barsuk. An apt choice for a single “Float” is a galloping melody, hurdling through layers of whistles, tambourines and atmospheric vocals. It’s sure to be one of those songs that’s way over remixed, but it speaks loudly enough for itself. RAC did their own haunting rendition, lending itself to something very different from the original. Always hard to argue with RAC, though. The EP is a promising start for the two brothers, who credit Enya as their main influence. They’re doing their own thing, and it’s looking like that just might work out for them.

Float
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/PAc%20AIR/36%20Float.mp3]
Float (RAC REMIX)
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/PAc%20AIR/01%20Float%20%28RAC%20Mix%29.mp3]

If Surfer Blood got really drunk and had a one-night stand with the Libertines and the Libertines got knocked up that mangy bastard child would be Jersey-based indie punk rock outfit Boxed Wine. Or at least that’s the first thing that comes to mind while listening to their debut EP. The catchy riffs and pop beats are certainly reminiscent of the aforementioned English rock mother and the nasally vocals kinda sorta similar to the Florida beach rock father. Their simply composed garage beats give them a classic indie rock edge. No fluff and few flourishes. I can dig it. Five short tracks long, the EP is lighthearted, fun and carefree.

Download it for free. Right here

Feral
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/BOXED%20WINE/02%20Feral.mp3]
Summer Wine
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/BOXED%20WINE/05%20Summer%20Wine.mp3]

Indie rock quartet Atlas Genius are three Australian brothers and an English dude. They just released their debut EP in the US this summer. Three delicious tracks long, Through the Glass is sure to earn them an international following. Its laid back guitar driven anthems remind me of the stuff everyone knows and loves from the late ’90s-early 2000s and it’s no surprise either, considering they’ve cited their main influences to be The Police, Beck and Death Cab For Cutie. Turn it on and turn it up, these guys are bound to reach your favorites list.

Pick up Through the Glass here

Trojans
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/ATLAS%20GENIUS/Atlas%20Genius%20-%20Trojans.mp3]
Trojans (Acoustic)
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/ATLAS%20GENIUS/Trojans%20%28Acoustic%20Version%29.mp3]
Backseat (Goldroom Remix)
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/ATLAS%20GENIUS/Back%20Seat%20%28Goldroom%20Remix%29.mp3]

Christopher Owens, the genius behind San Francisco indie rock outfit Girls recently left the famed band and announced the release of his upcoming solo project. “Lysandre,” set to release January 2013 via Fat Possum, is what Owens calls a window into his soul. It is a personal account of his feelings while touring with Girls.

He said of his solo album:

“Lysandre could easily be mistaken as an album about a love affair and the girl I fell in love with. But it’s much more than that. While love inspired me to write “Lysandre’s Theme” – and the album closes with this encounter- it also tells a story: the story of a writer in a band who suddenly finds himself facing the reality of a first tour and everything that entailed; from writing alone at home, to suddenly being in a band preparing for their first out of town shows. It’s a personal account. My account. Not that of a band or what the world might have seen. This is some of what I was feeling. A little window into my soul.”

I for one can’t wait to hear it. The song linked below is what Owens says to be the foundation for the entire album. “I decided to let the theme dictate the chords and form of the entire record; letting its chords be the colors on a palette to paint many pictures, allowing the theme to recur and tie the story together conceptually, making every song on the album akin to the other, never leaving the key of A.”

Born Ruffians frontman Luke Lalonde’s solo album “Rhythymnals” is, like, really deep, man. No seriously, this is some philosophical ish you guys. I guess it’s only to be expected when a frontman goes lone ranger that the content of the album will try to convey a sense of something deeper, in order to separate it from his band’s material. (Remember how Julian Casablancas’ solo album Phrazes For the Young tried to reconcile his past experiences and make it universal?) “Rhythymnals” definitely plays around with some humanistic questions and ideas. The first of which (and I may well be pulling this out of my ass) being if people experience music the same and why it is that we make the interpretations that we do. At first it grapples that oh so human sentiment of life’s fleeting nature. As it moves along, it tells slice of life stories about gender confusion (Inamorataos), relationships, self-harm and general human struggle. See what I mean? Heavy stuff.

But hey, maybe Lalonde’s whole purpose with this album was to see how turds like me would try to manipulate it into meaning something. As for its sound, it’s got that irreplaceable Lalonde quirk and charm. There’s definitely some of the same folkish vibes as Born Ruffians but it actually reminds me a lot POP ETC’s more recent stuff. With or without it’s humanistic edge, the album is definitely catchy and fresh. It’s getting me all excited for Born Ruffians’ next album.

Stream Rhythymnals in full RIGHT HERE. Do it. I’m serious.

Free Candy

Born Ruffians – Sole Brother
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/LUKE%20LALONDE/03%20Sole%20Brother.mp3]
Born Ruffians – Badonkadonkey
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/LUKE%20LALONDE/06%20Badonkadonkey.mp3]

Indie rock essentials Free Energy are a favorite of mine. Their 2009 debut Stuck On Nothing quickly became an obsession of mine and I’ve never gotten sick of it so naturally I’ve been on the lookout for their followup. They’ve been dangling some teaser tracks in front of our noses for the past few weeks in anticipation of their 2013 sophomore album. So far so good, the new stuff is showing definite promise. Their one of those bands that actually earns their name. It’s actually impossible to be sad listening to their music. I’ve tried. Paul Sprangers has the voice of an angel. Basically, I just really hope that the world doesn’t end before this album comes out.

The Minnesota quartet released this video for their recently released “Electric Fever” a few days ago and it’s nothing but fun. I like when music doesn’t try to prove anything. I think it was filmed in a super shitty carwash. Check it out.

FREE ENERGY – ELECTRIC FEVER (Official Video) from Free Energy on Vimeo.

Free Candy

I’m Going Down
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/FREE%20ENERGYYY/01%20I%27m%20Going%20Down.mp3]
Dance All Night
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/FREE%20ENERGYYY/Free-Energy-Dance-All-Night.mp3]
Something In Common
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/album%20reviews/FREE%20ENERGYYY/Something%20In%20Common.mp3]