Seefeel- Seefeel

I realized almost immediately that I wouldn't be able to give Seefeel a good review. I don't have the required expertise to know what to listen for in ambient techno music. The beats and melodies are really nice to listen to, and the vocals seem well placed. I would suggest this album if you are into chill ambient music that is interesting enough to get pushed to the foreground. I don't feel qualified to say anything beyond that

Tapes n' Tapes- Outside

Tapes n' Tapes has a really interesting sound, mixing polka beats with a hint of blues and a dash of rock. Among similar bands, Tapes n' Tapes stands out for their vocal talent. The lyrics seem authentically sincere, a nice change of pace compared to many Indie rock bands. The percussion on this album is versatile and well done. After a while the songs begin to drag leaving me with little to pique my interests. Although their sound is unique, their songs really lose steam after going on and on with little variation. I was surprised by how much I liked Outside, but I certainly wouldn’t say that I'm their number one fan. I hope to hear more from Tapes n' Tapes in the future when they work into a more refined sound and really begin focusing on complete, solid songs. That said, Outside is definitely worth a listen, even if only for the great percussion and strong vocals.




Final Review- 75

Cake- Showroom of Compassion

I enjoyed hearing Cake's lead singer John McCrea actually sing most of the tracks on Showroom of Compassion rather than use the low talking vocal style that saturates Cake's earlier works. Cake's sixth album starts out really interestingly. Right away I felt certain that Showroom of Compassion would finally leave me with a Cake album I could get 100% behind. This is where I got let down. I love the beats and the instruments - in fact, amazing instrumentals are one of the things Cake always delivers - but after three tracks the album had already lost its novelty. Lyrically, Showroom of Compassion is boring. It is as if the singer just simply finds catchy phrases and repeats it for four minutes and calls it a track. I know Cake lovers are going to rip into me for being so critical of the new album, but honestly it just feels like it lacks real substance. If you are a huge Cake fan I can see you absolutely loving this album; if you’re not you'll find the same old thing with slightly better production and a pinch more soul.




Final Review- 65

Cage the Elephant- Thank You, Happy Birthday

I have been interested in listing to Cage the Elephant for a while but unfortunately I never really got the chance until the release of their latest album Thank You, Happy Birthday this year. The album is incredibly satisfying, sprinkled with outstanding guitar and drum work. The bands greatest strength, however, is in songwriting and melody. Matthew Shultz has an interesting vocal style and harmonizes really well with himself. While strong, the lyrics often feel shallow compared to the stand-out instrument work. I think this album has some really great gems that are definitely worth a listen or two, but as an album I find it lacking.




Final Review- 75