The two albums that stand out among the latest pack of new cds that pile up next to our stereo come from a pair of names that belong to the cream of the ’00s alternative rock crop; TV On The Radio and The Kills.
"Nine Types Of Light", the fourth album by TV On The Radio (fifth if you count their self-released and hard to find debut "OK Calculator"), may not scrape the same heights as their three previous stellar efforts, but it certainly helps the band to maintain its remarkably high career average score. The record’s laid back, melodic grooves give the impression of a band that doesn’t feel anymore the pressure to prove a point and who is confident enough to kick back and have some fun. The aim is no longer to experiment or try to find new ways of expression but to make robust, impeccably produced dance-rock rhythms and pop melodies with soul. The mission is successful and the end result is an entertaining record that although it may not make history like "Return to Cookie Mountain" or "Dear Science", it will certainly move your body and your mind.
Another early 2011 highlight comes from The Kills and their fourth full length "Blood Pressures". The powerful combination of Alison Mosshart’s irresistible wail and Jamie Hince’s killer guitar riffs has given us some of the most addictive tracks of the ’00s. Their struggle for dominance over the drum machine’s primitive rock beats continues in The Kills’ latest work, where the band’s unique chemistry still creates sparks and its unique blend of blues, punk, reggae and dance music produces once more some truly memorable tracks like "Future Starts Slow", "Heart Is A Beating Drum", "Nail In My Coffin", "DNA" or The Congos’ sampling "Satellite", all necessary additions to a future "best of".
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart’s sophomore effort "Belong" shows the young band’s ambition to create a bigger and bolder sound. By handing over production and mixing duties to esteemed producers Flood and Alan Moulder the band has upgraded its sound, while the influence of the ’90s indie rock big guitars threatens to overshadow the lo-fi C-86 naïve obsession that was pivotal to its debut’s effortless charm. In the new record the ’80s twee-pop melodies of the band's early efforts step into ’90s fashion shoegaze shoes, while The Smashing Pumpkins prove to be just as influential as Ride or The Jesus And Mary Chain. Although this new batch of songs lacks the immediacy of the first record, the attention given to the details of the sound and the band’s desire to evolve and expand its sonic palette has helped to create a strong whole that promises even greater things for the future.
The top 5 of the third edition of Listening Habits for 2011 is made up by Cold Cave’s second album "Cherish The Light Years" where the band’s '80s dark electropop sound transforms into an anthemic synth-rock orgy that sounds better with each spin and Religious To Damn’s promising debut "Glass Prayer", a record that draws inspiration from legendary names of the early '80s such as Siouxsie & The Banshees, Cocteau Twins, Kate Bush or Japan and introduces us to the amazing vocal talents of their singer and songwriter Zohra Atash.
Top 20 Albums
1. Nine Types Of Light - TV ON THE RADIO
2. Blood Pressures - THE KILLS
3. Belong - THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART
4. Cherish The Light Years - COLD CAVE
5. Glass Prayer - RELIGIOUS TO DAMN
6. Riot Now! - ELEVENTH DREAM DAY
7. Mazes - MOON DUO
8. Degeneration Street - THE DEARS
9. Share The Joy - VIVIAN GIRLS
10. Helplessness Blues - FLEET FOXES
11. Alela Diane & Wild Divine - ALELA DIANE
12. Tao Of The Dead - …AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD
13. Wasting Light - FOO FIGHTERS
14. Mine Is Yours - COLD WAR KIDS
15. What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? - THE VACCINES
16. Trump-Harm - 31KNOTS
17. My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky - SWANS
18. Cloak And Cipher - LAND OF TALK
19. Untitled - FACTORY FLOOR
20. Dagger Paths EP - FOREST SWORDS
Top 20 Tracks
1. Future crimes - WILD FLAG
2. Heart is a beating drum - THE KILLS
3. Will do - TV ON THE RADIO
4. (R E A L L O V E) - FACTORY FLOOR
5. Slow motion - HUSBAND
6. Terra - RELIGIOUS TO DAMN
7. Through the floor - CRYSTAL STILTS
8. Satellite - ELEVENTH DREAM DAY
9. When you cut - MOON DUO
10. Throw away this - TELEPATHE
11. Underworld USA - COLD CAVE
12. Strange - THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART
13. The dog is black (feat. Liela Moss) - UNKLE
14. Milkman - EMA
15. To begin - ALELA DIANE
16. Helplessness blues - FLEET FOXES
17. Blood - THE DEARS
18. Rope - FOO FIGHTERS
19. Vanishing of time - VIVIAN GIRLS
20. Norgaard - THE VACCINES
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