Memoryhouse - "The Slideshow Effect"

Artist: Memoryhouse
Album: The Slideshow Effect
Label: Sub Pop
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Review by: Sean Kayden

After an EP record and a few singles, the attractive duo behind Memoryhouse finally releases their debut LP, “The Slideshow Effect”. Does it live up to expectations for a band with such a dreamy sound that you’re often put into another world of utter bliss? In a nutshell, yes, it lives up to most expectations, but I firmly believe Memoryhouse could have benefited slightly more by not releasing two old tracks on this record, which ends up having the album only consisting of eight brand new tunes. If it holds any merit, they did slightly tweak the two previously released songs, “Heirloom” and “Bonfire”. “The Slideshow Effect” is a very intimate record that is delicate, but rather celestial in nature. The vocals of Denise Nouvion are a thing of incomparable beauty. Her singing is heightened by the magnificent background work of composer, Even Abeele. The two together are a match made in heaven, much like how the album sounds, heavenly-like.

A zestful vibe embodies the entire record. Deeply romantic and intoxicating stunning, Memoryhouse’s sound has never sound so gracefully refined. I would think that’s mostly contributed to being signed by Seattle’s well-known indie label, Sub-Pop. However, despite the slick production values, the record isn’t overproduced and still carries a tone that could have been created in the artist’s bedroom. “The Kids Were Wrong”, undoubtedly the most upbeat track off the record is an absolute gem. Idyllic vocals, passionate lyrics, and an infectious guitar riff over a subtle synth pad gives the song not only heart, but a soul. The standout track, “Walk With Me” is starkly blissful and exquisite. There’s rarely anything to complain about with each consecutive song off the record. Each track is a story in its own right where nostalgia, remembering the better times, and yearning for something out of reach play vital roles. Keep in mind you won’t be blasting this record while driving, but listening to it when you’re at total ease. As an upfront warning, you may become vulnerable when listening since these songs are reflective and wistful.

I’m well aware sometimes it may difficult to completely enjoy a record with a solemn sound such as “The Sideshow Effect”. These are songs that’ll have your mind traveling to different places, familiar and foreign. Most mainstream and commercial bands these days don’t produce the same effect. The music from Memoryhouse is the kind you can revisit anytime because there will be always room for it in your life and heart. It has such an everlasting and timeless sound. It’s a new world out their people, so the time has come to embrace emerging artists such as Memoryhouse. Do yourself a big favor and discover the undiscovered. I hope success is imminent for this band because they deserve every bit of it.

Grade: 8.4 out of 10
Key Tracks: “The Kids Were Wrong”, “All Our Wonder”, “Walk With Me”, “Old Haunts”

Published by Mountain Views News on February 25, 2012
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v06/htm/n08/p09.htm

"Safe House" Review

“Safe House”
Directed by: Daniel Espinosa
Written by: David Guggenheim
Rated R for strong violence throughout and some language
Theatrical Release Date: February 10, 2012
Review by: Sean Kayden

"Safe House" radiates a promising plot that grows exceedingly predictable once it’s kicked into high gear. Director Daniel Espinoza takes a few examples right out of the Tony Scott director’s handbook. Boisterous action displayed in shaky cam mode soaked with color filtration. 2000s action filmmaking 101 is back into play in Safe House. Ryan Reynolds plays green CIA agent, Matt Westin, who is in charge of a safe house in South Africa. He sees his first bit of action when the CIA captures one of their most wanted rouge agents, Tobin Frost, who’s been on the run for many years. Denzel Washington, in his usual always-cool-under-pressure disposition, plays Frost. Don’t get me wrong, there are moments of pleasure in "Safe House". The performances carry a less than stellar script (ironically hailed one of the best “unproduced” scripts back in 2010) to heights that could only be done with talent such as this. However, once the film concludes, nothing feels memorable or eternal. "Safe House" is agonizingly paint-by-numbers that we’ve all seen before countless times.

After the real CIA agents bring in Frost to the safe house, the stage is set. Reynolds’ boy scout persona meets Washington’s character for the first time. Their introduction is brief given the fact that the people trying to kill Frost in the beginning of the movie have now just raided the safe house. Of course they kill the CIA agents, which leads Westin having no choice, but to get Frost out of harms way. The two go on the run and eventually escape from the bad guys after an outrageous, quite unbelievable car chase. Now that the two are alone, Frost warns Reynolds about the CIA and that now he could be in danger as well. Not surprisingly he doesn’t believe or at least, want to believe Frost could be right and that he’s only strictly getting inside his head. After a serious of events, Frost manages to break away from the novice field agent. When the agent reports back to the CIA about Frost, they begin to believe of the possibility that Westin could be working with Frost. The problem with the film is that the audiences knows exactly how the CIA is functioning, but frustrating as it may be, it takes Reynolds’ character two-thirds of the film to catch up with us. When the movie feels it’s time for some action, it hits you with gunfights and car chases. Cool? Yeah, sure, but it’s as if nothing of substance needs to be said and all it does is give the audience another “keeping-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat” sequences. The third act, while pretty intense and mostly enjoyable feels devastatingly derivate of any action movie you’ve seen in the past decade. Nothing new or revolutionary is happening and the film slips into predictability ever so effortlessly.

If you enjoy Denzel Washington movies, then you should find something likable here. "Safe House" is by no means a bad film. It’s just a painfully generic one. You’ll predict every twist well before it is presented on screen. Unfortunately, in doing so, it takes away most of the fun and excitement. While Reynolds may get a bad wrap from time to time, I’ve always enjoyed the guy. Although Washington may be headlining this movie, it’s Reynolds’ film all the way. Washington is a bona-fide movie star, but with Safe House he takes bits and pieces from his previous acting performances and combines them here. He rarely disappoints (because he’s always the coolest guy in the room), but he’s sort of grown into a caricature of himself. He’s trapped in playing the same guy always, even though it’s what we expect from him. At any rate, "Safe House", despite its familiarity and laborious plotting, does supply strong performances and excitement in small, bursting fragments. I just wish "Safe House" didn’t play things so conventional and well, safe.

Grade: 3 out of 5

Published by Mountain Views News on February 19, 2012
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v06/htm/n07/p08.htm

The Twilight Sad - "No One Can Ever Know"

Artist: The Twilight Sad
Album: No One Can Ever Know
Label: Fat Cat Records
Release Date: February 7, 2012
Review by: Sean Kayden

Scottish indie rockers The Twilight Sad demonstrate a complete overhaul to their wall of sound on their third opus, “No One Can Ever Know.” With added synthesizers, the under-the-radar outfit adds extra layers, darker tones, and an ominous vibe to their dense sonic borders. As a result, “No One Can Ever Know” is a taut, menacing, foreboding record that will surprise most supporters of the band. The Twilight Sad’s latest outing is something of an impenetrable mystery. The shift in artistic direction may have some raising questions, but at any rate, the secrecies behind the record only add to the supremacy of it. While the band has always received much praise for their work, the group’s recent effort may finally put them on the map as a true force to be reckoned with.

Frontman James Graham’s heavy accent sometimes makes his lyrics indiscernible, but often the unawareness only contributes to the ambiguity of the songs. The record launches off to a promising start to say the least. “Alphabet,” the opening track and best of the bunch, sets the mood right from the beginning. A simple, but haunting synth beat masked behind the gaunt lyrics gives you an indication how the rest of the record may play out. “Dead City,” a close runner-up for the best track, is an unequivocal distressing piece of music. The closing lyrics, taken straight from the album title, “No one can ever know,” establishes the theme of the record to be a secret that most may never be able to unravel. In essence, this is not your typical TTS album and proves the band is no one trick pony. Whatever Graham is feeling, he puts it on full blast with each and every track. The perceived tormented soul of a man is on display with an honest, moody, and cathartic reverberation that will continue to haunt you well after you stop playing the record.

“No One Can Ever Know” begins irrefutably strong. However, I think with the last two tracks it loses some of its glow. “Another Bed”, the weakest from the playlist, feels oddly off. Maybe it’s because the aforementioned song isn’t nearly as gloomy as the other tracks. Whatever the case may be, something about the arrangements didn’t do it for me. The closing song, “Kill It In The Morning” provides heavy synths, an aggressive blend of rock and electronics that have the record coming to a jarring finish. Despite the relatively disappointing conclusion, The Twilight Sad have crafted an intense, memorable, and evocative piece of work that’s a definite surprise in the way it sounds, but not a surprise in quality since this is a group that continues to produce powerful and original music with each sequential release.

Key Tracks: “Alphabet”, “Dead City”, “Sick”, “Don’t Move”
Grade: 8 out of 10

Published on February 11th, 2012 by Mountain Views News
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v06/htm/n06/p09.htm

Five Great Songs Of The New Year

Review by: Sean Kayden

Delta Spirit – “California” - Delta Spirit is prepping their new self-titled album due out on March 13. In anticipation of their third full-length record, the San Diego band, dropped the single, “California”. They’ve always been pegged as an “Americana” rock band, but with the new single, Delta Spirit moves into more indie rock terrain. With producer Chris Coady (Grizzly Bear, TV On The Radio) on their side, the quintet group turns it up a notch with fuzzy guitars and vocals that seem crisper than ever before. This is a welcoming change of resonance that doesn’t stray away too much from their typical style. I like the direction they’re heading in and with “California” being the catchy, classic rock induced tune that it is, this evolving young band seem destined to make 2012 the year of Delta Spirit.

Delta Spirit - California

Tanlines – “Brothers” - Tanlines is an experimental pop/indie rock duo from Brooklyn, NY. Jesse Cohen and Eric Emm are the two guys responsible for, “Brothers”, a beachy, moody, organic pop tune. Tropical guitars, bongos and baritone vocal style are implanted within this amazing song. On March 20, Tanlines debut LP, “Mixed Emotions” will arrive. If the other songs are just as honest, personal, and pristine, then Tanlines are the real deal. I’m banking on Tanlines to be the definite sound of 2012, which is in need of a drastic overhaul as it is.

Tanlines - "Brothers"

Yukon Blonde – “Stairway” - Yukon Blonde recently released the single, “Stairway”, a blistering, swirling rock song. These Canadian rockers are gearing up for their sophomore release, “Tiger Talk” due out March 20. Their first single is a guitar-driven, full of energy; get you out of bed in the morning type of anthem. Easily the most mainstream band on this list of eclectic artists, Yukon Blonde has the potential of being the next Kings of Leon. From the looks of it, Yukon Blonde can become the next co-headliners at any major rock festival. For now, maybe they’ll just settle on coming out with their best material yet. At any rate, be sure to lookout for their new album because this band won’t be under the radar for much longer.

Stairway by Yukon Blonde

Wild Nothing – “Nowhere” - One of my favorite bands of 2010, Wild Nothing has released a new song entitled, “Nowhere”. It features vocals from Twin Sister's Andrea Estella. With this new song, the hazy, shoegazer band make a notable departure to their resonance as this is the first song produced in a studio. “Gemini”, one of the strongest albums of 2010 and Wild Nothing’s debut, was one of those D.I.Y. records. It was very lo-fi, hazy in tone, and the epitome of bedroom pop. Flash-forward to present day, Jack Tatum (mastermind of Wild Nothing) and crew seem a bit more polished around the edges. This time around, the vocals are even more discernible. The new sound is something to be excited for seeing that Tatum isn’t one-dimensional and the possibilities of what the new record may sound like are anyone’s guess for now. However, if “Nowhere” is an indication of what the record may sound like then my eagerness level has just skyrocketed.

Wild Nothing - Nowhere

Memoryhouse – “Walk With Me” - Memoryhouse’s much-anticipated LP, “The Slideshow Effect” drops February 28. The dream-pop duo consists of Evan Abeele and Denise Nouvion. There’s nothing quite like the vocals of Nouvion. She’s a Goddess when she sings. You will fall madly in love with the way she sounds (and possibly her physical appearance too). There’s no one quite like her in the indie world and she rivals top female vocalists like Adele and Florence Welch (Florence and The Machine). The recent single, “Walk With Me” is impassioned, extremely moving, and picturesquely romantic. With the other glorious and much more fuller-sounding song, “The Kids Were Wrong” released over a month ago, the odds are strong that Memoryhouse’s debut record will be on everyone’s top 10 list by the end of the year.

Published on February 4th, 2012 by Mountain Views News
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v06/htm/n05/p09.htm