New Music Reviews - 10/3/2011 - Feist, Mutemath, Paul McCartney, and Beats Antique

 Mutemath Odd Soul - The Grammy nominated alternative rockers from New Orleans release their first album since 2009's Armistice.  The band locked themselves away in frontman Paul Meany's home recording studio and didn't emerge until the songs on the album were ready to be heard by others.  Armistice reached as high as the #4 ranking on the U.S. Rock charts and #18 overall so let's see if the band can recreate the success their last album brought.

The 13-track album opens with the eponymous "Odd Soul," which was also the first single released from the disc back in July. It has blues-y electric guitar and bass work that fits the narrative about being different extremely well ("I'm an odd soul/just trying to find/a place to call home"). Next up is the best track from the album, "Prytania," with its infectious beat, killer bridge and catchy hook that will have you tapping your foot and humming along for hours. "Blood Pressure" has a jauntier melody that really lets alto vocals to really take center stage. "Sun Ray" is a slower, jam band-esque tune with heavier keyboard and synthesizer work that helps add atmosphere to the disc.

In truth, despite their Grammy nomination (2008 - Best Short Form Music Vid for "Typical"), I was only familiar with this band by name before listening to Odd Soul but this disc ends up being an impressive and raucous introduction to the band's music for new listeners like myself. Fans of their previous albums will probably enjoy it even more. The band's sound on this disc is hard rocking and electric guitar driven with snappy alt-tinged lyrics that is reminiscent of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club mixed with a song writing style similar to Wolfmother. The music is well layered and Meany's vocals have an airy, eerie quality to them that works well on the hard rocking tracks as well as on the slower tempo ones. A very impressive album from start to finish that will have me purchasing their older releases to see if the quality on those can match what is given to us on Odd Soul.

Score: 9/10
Song(s) to Sample: Prytania" [sample it below], "Odd Soul" and "Walking Paranoia"

Feist Metals - The Broken Social Scene member whose "1234" song is permanently ingrained into our memories thanks to its ubiquitous use in movies, TV shows, and commercials releases her first studio album since that song made it big. This is Leslie Feist's fourth album overall and she will be touring both Europe and North American to help promote the release. On Metals, her vocals are as crisp and haunting as you remember, although the melodies on this album are less radio friendly instead going for airy folkpop ditties full of pent up emotion. However, there are some haunting songs given to us on this disc starting with the first single from the album, "How Come You Never Go There?", which sounds like a mix between a Rilo Kiley and a Amy Mann song, but the casual fan won't find as much to like on this album with its somber, folk-heavy tone.

Score:  6/10
Song(s) to Sample:  "How Come You Never Go There?" [sample it below] and "Comfort Me"

Paul McCartney Ocean's Kingdom - The former Beatle makes his debut foray into the world of ballet with help from The London Classical Orchestra.  However, this is not McCartney's first work in the classical music genre having won a Brit Award for one of his past classical releases, Ecce Cor Meum (Behold My Heart), in 2006.  The music itself is presented in four movements and has a grand, orchestral feel with the song composition sounding mostly like part Igor Stravinski and part Ottorino Respighi with some jazzy, wannabe Gershwin refrains thrown in for excitement and variety at times.  The music takes you on a fun and emotional ride that would only be enhanced by the accompanying performance of the New York City Ballet company. 

Score: 7.5/10
Song(s) to Sample: "Movement 2: Hall of Dance"

Beats Antique Elektrafone - Beats Antique is a world electronica trio from the Oakland, CA that was originally signed in 2007 by Miles Copeland, brother of The Police's Stewart Copeland.  The interesting thing about the band's music is that in addition to the samples and electronic beats they use; they also incorporate a wide range of live instruments from all over the world like sitars, African drumming, and more to produce a truly world sound.  Elekrafone is no different with the electronic music taking cues heavily from Goa trance with lots of non-standard string and horn instruments thrown in to add an extra layer to the music.  It's a highly palatable release that takes you on a entertaining journey although there are no breakout hits on the disc.

Score:  7/10
Song(s) to Sample: "The Porch" and "Siren Song"