Hear This: Off the Beaten Track
Death From Above 1979, You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine (Last Gang Records)
If you were going on first impressions alone then the name of this album and the metal-head appearance of the band might lead you to expect testosterone-fuelled, alpha-male party anthems. Not so. Death From Above 1979’s—the numbers were added after a New York production company threatened to sue—full-length debut is a noisy classic rock/punk record about relationships and other mushy stuff. Witness the title track and its “Now that it’s over I love you more and more…” chorus. The Toronto-based band is made up of singer/drummer Sebastien Grainger and bassist/occasional keyboardist Jesse F. Keeler, which means this is quite literally a drum and bass album and a fine one at that.
Gentleman Reg, Darby & Joan (Three Gut)
Darby & Joan is the third release from Hidden Cameras/Broken Social Scene sometime member Reg Vermue. He obviously picked up a thing or two about the benefits of collaboration because he brings a backing band that draws on members of Canadian indie rock royalty, including Sloan, The Constantines and Royal City. The album is more complex and confident than Reg’s Make Me Pretty or his first release, The Theoretical Girl. There are poppy arrangements and infectious melodies, but they don’t get in the way of Reg’s fragile falsetto. His unique voice—both lyrically and vocally—still shines.
Damon & Naomi, The Earth is Blue (Sonic Unyon)
Despite the fact that this is the duo’s sixth album, most still recognize Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang as two-thirds of the now-defunct indie band Galaxie 500. It’s a shame really because The Earth is Blue—their first new album in five years—is a beautiful folk-pop album. When they recorded 1992’s More Sad Hits, many certainly thought it was a fitting title. There are lots of slow, swirling, dreamy melodies on the new album and while I would describe Naomi’s voice as beautiful, some would call it sleep inducing. The only sad hit on the record is a barely recognizable cover of The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Naomi’s voice just does nothing for the song. —Lisa Whittington-Hill
