What’s In The Box? This week’s most spun releases
on September 18th, 2011This week we take a look at new releases from the likes of Polar Bear Club, We Are Augustines, Touche Amore and The Decline. See below to find out more information on each one.
POLAR BEAR CLUB – Clash Battle Guilt Pride [Buy Online Here - CD or Vinyl]
With their last album being quite disappointing, I wasn’t expecting much from this one, and on first listen, enjoyment levels weren’t all that high, but with a few more listens under the belt, it started to grow on me and I’m enjoying it more and more with each listen. The band may no longer sound much like their cracking debut, and now sound like they’re trying to copy Rise Against a little too hard, but I’ll hand it to them that there are some solid tracks on this one. They seem a little more settled on their sound with this album, some will see it for the better, some for the worse. It’s well worth a listen though, don’t write it off instantly, it does seem to be a grower. Production is solid, songs are consistent and this one should open them up to a wider audience. If I didn’t love ‘Sometimes Things Just Disappear’ so much, I’d probably love this one a whole lot more. Will be kept at arms reach for a few more spins though.
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WE ARE AUGUSTINES – Rise Ye Sunken Ships [Buy Online Here]
This debut album from former members of Pela has been out a month or so digitally, and now get’s a physical release. This one has the potential to be a bolter in a few end of year lists. Not an instantly amazing album, but once you get into the swing of it, and follow the stories, everything falls into place. One key element of the whole folk type genre is a good story, another is honest delivery, and this one has both. A chilled out listen, perfect to chuck on as background music, or followed closely. Has it’s stripped right back moments and some powerful ones too. A name to keep an eye on, as for a debut, it sounds like it’s come from seasoned veterans. Look it up, it may pull the right strings for your tastes. Plenty of highlights too. File next to the whiskey, as it gets better with age.
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TOUCHE AMORE – Parting The Sea Between Brightness And Me [Buy Online Here]]
Have had an interesting time with this one, it has all the elements about it that should have me really enjoying it. I listen through and I don’t have the urge to turn off, nor do I think it sucks, but for some reason, I just don’t feel it. That little thing whatever it is that clicks and makes you want to listen over and over seems to be missing in this one for me. I can’t get a flow, and given it’s 13 tracks and just over 20 minutes, also doesn’t really feel complete. I’m sure i’ll be in the minority thinking that, but i just don’t get the fuss. So I tried just listening to single tracks, which helped a little, there are a few solid ones, but as an album, I think it really lacks a bit of diversity and becomes pretty samey, only so much yelling at the same pace I can take. Maybe I’ll find that spark and see what everyone else seems to be seeing on a future listen, who knows.
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THE DECLINE – Are You Gonna Eat That? [Buy Online Here]
It took me a while to get into these guys last album, it’s since become a favourite, so was keen to see what this new full length from these Perth guys was like. Pleased to report that this one takes no time to get into. It’s a bit less novelty (not lost altogether though!) and a slightly more mature album, usually that’d sound like a a bad thing, but it still contains the fun filled brand of punk rock they’ve made themselves known for. Musically they’ve stepped it up too, everything seems a lot tighter and the vocals stronger. Plenty of highlights, a few familiar guests and the end result is one high quality album from start to finish. If you like your fast, catchy punk rock, sung without a forced American accent and some sharp lyrics that make memorable choruses, then you probably already know of these guys, but if not, then get onto this one, it’s a ripper.
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