This indie pop band from Denmark is probably best known for their single "Around The Bend" which was featured in an iPod commercial a few years ago as well as in TV shows like episodes of Chuck and Gossip Girl. This is the band's second studio album.
On this release, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour have a much lusher sound than your typical indie pop band with booming refrains that are buoyed by a boisterous horn section or clever synthesizer-driven melodies.
In addition to the fun horn section which skews some of their songs towards an acid jazz feel, there's a strong electro feel on the other tracks where the horns are dialed down or missing altogether. Blond bombshell and frontwoman Mette Lindberg adds a lot emotion with her slightly accented warbling although she doesn't showcase much of a vocal range.
Overall, Out of Frequency is an album with a lot of fun and life bubbling from it. The songs that skew more towards the acid side are the superior tracks with the electropop tracks, while still strong, have a peppy, Shonen Knife-esque feel to them.
Score: 8/10
Song(s) to Sample: "Heart Attack" [sample it below], "Ghost in My Head" and "Mafia"
The multiple-Juno award winning Somali/Canadian singer, rapper and songwriter releases his first solo disc (albeit in EP form) since 2009's Troubadour.
There are five tracks total on this release and the EP lasts just under 20-minutes in length. In addition, K'naan gets a helping hand (or, rather, voice) on separate tracks from Nas and Nelly Furtado.
I actually am enjoying this release more than I did the very respectable Troubadour. It might have something to do with the limited number of tracks, but the only song I found disappointing was the eponymous song which has a standard R&B melody that doesn't stand out in any way and actually drains the life from the songs that surround it.
Those other four tracks though are real standouts. "Is Anybody Out There" and "Better" are primed to be breakout club hits with fast moving melodies and catchy hooks. "Nothing to Lose" and "Coming to America" are rap-driven tracks with the cleverly written lyrics being worth the price of admission. The former, which is the song featuring Nas, is clearly the superior of the two rap-heavy songs but both are worthy listens.
The only thing that prevents this release from getting a perfect score is that it is only an EP and not a full-length album.
Score: 9/10
Song(s) to Sample: "Is There Anybody Out There", "Nothing to Lose" and "Better" [sample it below]
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