Albums of the Week: The Bad, The Good – The Strokes Vs. Duran Duran

Don’t be surprised to find the reviews a little skewed this week. I never thought I’d be compiling The Strokes and Chris Brown together under the worst of the week, but critics have done a pretty equal job trashing on both albums. The reviews look better as we venture into the world of Swedish rock and some oldie-but-goodie tracks that will bring you back to the 1980s.

The Bad

The Strokes, Angles

Yeah, it’s pretty upsetting that the 5th studio album by New York’s very own The Strokes has been getting panned by critics and bloggers ever since the first couple of singles were released. But why is it that the band can’t seem to live up to Room on Fire or Is This It? Maybe what is most lacking from this record is all the hard work:

• Guardian: “Worse, their new ideas are awful: tricksy prog riffing on Metabolism, 80s pop reggae on Machu Picchu, the latter clearly destined to be welcomed by anyone who thinks rock music reached its peak with Nik Kershaw’s I Won’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me. You wonder why anyone would include something like the scrawny two-note trudge of You’re So Right on an album, unless it’s as a favour to Radiohead: anyone who thinks their experimentation is sterile and grooveless might care to listen and see how sterile and grooveless a musical experiment can get” – Alexis Petridis
• The Observer: “But too many unmemorable songs here struggle to define themselves, much less redefine the Strokes. The detail is lush, the twists can be clever (“Machu Picchu” nods to the Strokes’s heirs Vampire Weekend). But “Under Cover of Darkness” – a pastiche of the Strokes’s old sound, delivered with wry amusement – proves that they just cannot continue as they were.” — Kitty Empire

Angles is available on Amazon for $9.99

Chris Brown, F.A.M.E.

Chris Brown might not be the cleanest name in the business these days, but he sure is trying to stay relevant album after album. F.A.M.E., an acronym for “Forgiving All My Enemies”, isn’t hitting the heartstrings of most critics out there. And honestly, who does Chris Brown have to forgive anyway?

• Guardian: “But he still sounds hamstrung by a fear of trying anything too edgy. The nifty duel between Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes is an anomaly. This record’s syrupy mid-section makes good on his desire to write “songs that your grandma can love”, while Justin Bieber duet “Next To You” will appeal only to your tweenie sister.” — Ally Carnwath
• Soul Culture: “We’ve heard too much of it before. ‘Deuces’ and ‘No Bullshit’ seem almost ancient at this point, especially in today’s music industry where so much music is released so quickly that a month old song just doesn’t have the same impact – and they both have little apart from evoking a, “Yeah, this is a tune… but it’s old now,” – neither song with enough substance to be timeless. Sadly, the same can be said for ‘Yeah 3x’ and ‘Look At Me Now,’ featuring Lil’ Wayne and a blinding verse from Busta Rhymes.” — Aamir Yagub

F.A.M.E. is available on Amazon for $11.99

The Good

Panic! At The Disco, Vices & Virtues

Surprising to  all of us, Panic! At The Disco (now watered down to only two of the original four) is back with Vices & Virtues, a mature effort by the much older, very different band than what first appeared on the scene. Though the band is a poster-child for inconsistency in the industry, jumping from A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out to Pretty.Odd to Vices & Virtues, they’ve managed to keep their head above water. It’s starting to pay off:

• Alternative Press: “Outside of the obvious personnel changes, Vices & Virtues is a new start for Panic! At The Disco. Perhaps Smith and Urie’s biggest success on Vices is their disinterest in simply recreating either of their previous albums, instead choosing to meld the youthful exuberance of their debut, 2005’s A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out,with the restraint and maturity of 2008’s Pretty. Odd. Where Fever faltered because of an often-schizophrenic mess of instrumentation, the band have tightened the reins while not abandoning the dramatic, theatrical tendencies that made them stars in the first place.” — Evan Lucy
• Sputnik Music: “Presentation is key for Vices & Virtues. The album feels more structured overall than previous releases, but all the quirky instruments and sound effects are back and stronger than ever before. All sorts of bells, whistles, and especially strings are well-placed throughout the album, adding a richer layer to each track. It could have led to a hopeless case of overproduction, but it works infectiously, most notably on album closer “Nearly Witches.”” — Thatoneguy

Vices & Virtues is available on Amazon for $7.99

Acid House Kings, Music Sounds Better With You

It’s not often that you’ll get some new music from Sweden’s Acid House Kings. In fact, after a 6 year hiatus from the band, they’re back with Music Sounds Better With You, and despite the long break between records, the band seems to have picked up from where they last ended. Critics are praising the album, excited that the band is picking it up without missing a beat:

• The Line of Best Fit: “This is a collection of pop songs written by and for people who greet the world with a grin every morning, even if it’s raining outside and you’re not sure whether the girl or boy you love feels the same way you do. Acid House Kings may be about as edgy as an orange but if their brand of cheery pop ceased to exist, the world would be a darker more dreary place.” — Sharon Kean
• UR Chicago: “The Swedish trio stays true to the sound they left us wanting more of in their first album, but this time the feel-good tunes come with castanets…in all 10 songs! Come on, who doesn’t enjoy castanets? The album is undeniably lovable. They are light- hearted, folky and dish out lyrics that are radiantly positive (almost to a point of annoyance…almost!). Sure, I’m a little thrown off by their super summery sound in the dead of winter, but by the release in late March, we may all be in the mood for some sunny side music.” — Tiffany Melandis

Music Sounds Better With You is available on Amazon for $12.35

The Great

Duran Duran, All You Need is Now

If the only thing you know about Duran Duran is their popularity streak in the 80s, then don’t worry: All You Need Is Now will definitely take you there musically and stylistically. The band’s producer, Mark Ronson, has helped Duran Duran capture their peak from the 80s and brings the band the strongest album released in years. Album of the week goes to the 13th release by the long-living band:

• The Telegraph: “After a mediocre opening, Duran Duran’s 13th album emerges as their best in years. Producer Mark Ronson says that he set out to capture the sound of their Eighties peak – he has succeeded. There are strong guest appearances from Kelis and Ana Matronic from Scissor Sisters, slowies to match their gem Ordinary World, and rip-roaring Chic-meets-Roxy pop-rockers such as Girl Panic!. Full of tunes and pizzazz, it’s unexpectedly good fun.” — Thomas H. Green
• Guardian: “Given that the Brummies are now in their 50s and have made some very clunky albums, this seems absurd. However, they have unearthed their missing mojo. Ronson has sprinkled guests like Kelis and Ana Matronic over his postmodern sheen, but the surprise is the quality of the songwriting. The title track and groove-thrusting Too Bad You’re So Beautiful are once-heard, sing-the-chorus pop stonkers.” — Dave Simpson

All You Need is Now is available on Amazon for $11.99