Music

Top 5 Indie/Rock/Pop Releases: February

by Nicole Villeneuve

Each month, tons of new music from many taste-spanning genres is released into a fast-consuming, unforgiving market; it can be tough to get a handle on what’s new before it’s on to the next. In an attempt to highlight the standout releases, at the end of each month, AUX staff re-cap the month in Punk, Metal, Indie/Pop/Rock, Hip Hop, Electronic, and Pop with the top five releases in each. Consider it your cheat sheet for year-end lists.

Top 5 Indie/Pop/Rock Releases:
February

 

Sharon Van Etten – Tramp

Sharon Van Etten has taken firm control of her career since the beginning, and Tramp—named for the couch-surfing state Van Etten was in while making the album—is the strongest realization of her ideas yet, its filled-in sounds and themes a reflection of her hard-sought confidence. Produced with the National’s Aaron Dessner and featuring a slew of excellent guests, such as Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner groaning on “In Line,” Walkmen drummer Matt Barrick all over the place, and Beirut mastermind Zach Condon on the album standout “We Are Fine,” Tramp’s credits could spark curiousity among modern indie rock fans, but Van Ettens tremendous talent, her soft soul, that will make you stick around and invest. (Jagjaguwar)

Grimes – Visions

It feels like as long as Claire Boucher has existed as sound project/producer Grimes, she’s been one of the ones to watch; combining some favourite current MP3 blog musical styles such as loops and bloops and a bit of the ethereal, Grimes—and specifically her anticipated new full length Visions—was ripe for the blogs. And while it may only ever exist largely in that smaller musical sphere, her, ahem, vision, isn’t limited to that. There are some beautiful, downright blissful moments here—“Genesis,” though basically incomprehensible, soars, and “Vowels = Space and Time” is the skeleton of a killer 80s pop jam, better left bare. (Arbutus)

The Wooden Sky – Every Child a Daughter, Every Moon a Sun

Though I don’t feel I’ve even been able to yet give this the time it needs to fully unravel, the new Wooden Sky album is, without a doubt, a Wooden Sky album, and that’s default good for a number of reasons. One of which is that singer/songwriter Gavin Gardiner is one of Canada’s best and most committed songwriters, able to be succinct, dramatic, solemn, or raucous, sometimes all in the same song, while always tuneful. That, plus he’s working with equally as talented, and incredibly intuitive, musicians. On Every Child…, the band turn down the alt a bit and focus more on the country, yielding gorgeous, gospel-y numbers like “Angelina,” but at the next turn, master vintage 60s AM balladry (“Take Me Out”) and sprawling dynamics (“Bald, Naked and Red”). (Black Box)

Topanga – Oceans 7″
	A relatively new, young Toronto four-piece upping the Canadian pop-punx in a way we sorely lack. This new seven-inch Oceans was produced by Jon Drew and was scopped up by Hollerado’s new label, Royal Mountain Records, and it’s a deliriously infectious, too-short gut-punch. Yes, please! More, please! (Royal Mountain)

Mike O’Neill – Wild Lines

Mike O’Neill was, and perhaps still is, best known as the frontman of 90s Kingston/Halifax indie-rock duo The Inbreds (with whom he’ll play another reunion show for this year’s CMW), and though he released some excellent solo material after the band’s demise in 1998, he’s been quiet on the music front since 2004’s The Owl. Busy with work as a sound recorder and composer for film and TV, O’Neill finally made the time to record his new album Wild Lines, and he hasn’t missed a beat. The skilled warm, vintage, hooky guitar pop sits nicely alongside the folkier diversions of “Overtime” and standout “One Pair of Shoes.” O’Neill can take all the time he wants; we’ll always save some space for him. (Independent)

Surprises, disappointments and albums to watch for next month

Surprise of the month: Sinead O’Connor. After her pretty tough life, including the rather condensed public meltdown late last year, this album is remarkably clear, typically frank, and musically accessible. Welcome back, Sinead. <3. Also, Sleigh Bells, ’cause dang that’s some dark shit under all that sheen.

Disappointments: There was nothing that did not exceed or meet my admittedly probably low standards! So no disappointments! Cheating here, probably. Being NICE.

Out in March: New Shins! Springsteen! The Men! Magnetic Fields!