This week’s reviews (8/12/16): Adele, Frank Ocean, Japandroids
21 (2011) – Adele
Other than three, maybe four, great cuts, the rest is halfway decent to standard bores. We all know the hits, but occasionally, there’s a filler song like “He Won’t Go” that isn’t as banal as the others. The lesser ballads are pretty…dull, but never atrocious. As great as singles like “Rolling in the Deep” and “Rumour Has It” are, the rest make Adele seem destined for 2010s nostalgic radio, something you’ll only remember when it actually comes on, not unlike 70s contemporary friendlies Barbara Streisand or the Doobie Brothers. Adele remains more of an icon now than Barbara or the Doobie Brothers were back then, and she still has time to make a true mark, given the fact that this is only her second album. It’s never truly astounding music; still, she did give us the mighty "Rolling in the Deep," a decade-best, and I doubt that will be it from her. All Adele needs to do is make her albums as great as her best singles. At the very least, less ballads, more upbeat stompers. B+
(Key Tracks: "Rolling in the Deep," "Rumour Has It," "Someone Like You")
Nostalgia, Ultra (2011) – Frank Ocean
Compared to Channel Orange, this mixtape is merely a warm-up. But if this is just a warm-up, then Ocean must be the greatest R&B singer of his generation. Compared to songs like “Sierra Leone” or “Pyramids,” these simplistic R&B cuts are child’s play. In no way can it touch his opus, but it doesn’t have to. Limited studio resources are given to mixtape artists, so Ocean had to make the best of what he had. Understandably, a few songs verge on the generic, but they still had that Ocean touch, making it at the very least enjoyable, if nothing else. Other songs use other people’s music with new vocals and lyrics. Two of them more or less remain the same, but “Strawberry Swing” is the only song on here that rises above its original. A special thanks to Coldplay for the fantastic arrangement, but Ocean adds a new depth that fits the song’s nostalgic beauty. The originals are also stunning, leaving you to wonder why there aren’t more, and then you remember that Ocean had limited studio time, resources, etc. Fortunately, we would learn later that these skills would go to greater use, but first, Ocean had to prove himself with a mixtape. If and when his new album is released, we’ll look back upon these primitive beginnings and chuckle. I’m pretty sure Ocean’s already lost sight of the shore, and is currently looking for bluer waters. A-
(Key Tracks: "Novacane," "Strawberry Swing," "Songs for Women")
Celebration Rock (2012) – Japandroids
Too noisy for pop-punk and not raw enough for garage rock. Garage-punk? Either way, they’re energetic and have attitude. Those traits always go hand in hand, but more often than not, your average band is missing one of the two. Just like every other indie rock band, they’re pretty young and the world is their oyster. Unlike most indie rock bands, they’re conscientious of their youth and realize that these are the days of our lives. They curse, drink, smoke and shake the arena with their anthems because they know they can only do this for a limited time. Not only is this a celebration of rock, but a celebration of youth. It’s straightforward, obnoxious, never boring, fast and always a thrill. Sounds like youth to me, and even The Stooges a little. It was also a smart idea to keep this album at a brief eight songs. It also helps that all of the tracks are great, some better than others. Any longer and the repetitiveness would’ve become a nuisance rather than a virtue. Despite it being the perfect length, it still leaves you wanting more (I guess that’s why they have a debut album I’ve yet to check out). Strange, I can’t recall a time where I wanted to hear more of the same power chords over and over. A
(Key Tracks: "The House That Heaven Built," "The Nights of Wine and Roses," "Younger Us," "Continuous Thunder")
