Tag Archives: guitars

  • The Diableros: “Tropical Pets”

    September 23, 2011

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    I fell in love with this album in 2006 when I didn’t write this blog and so I didn’t share it with you then and for that I’m sorry. The Diableros actually broke up recently, which, although I’m sure it’s sad for them, isn’t really the end of the word considering that the follow-up to this album isn’t too great, and neither is the EP that came after that.

    But You Can’t Break the Strings in Our Olympic Hearts is a blast of satisfying pop music that fit nicely into the post-Arcade Fire landscape, and based on the four times I listened to it yesterday, it still holds up nicely. A particular highlight is “Tropical Pets,” which sounds a lot like Interpol or maybe The Ponys, but isn’t nearly as boring as those bands usually are.

    The Diableros: “Tropical Pets”

  • Male Bonding: “Bones”

    September 7, 2011

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    One of my favorite records this year is the Cloud Nothings’ self-titled debut. It’s a scrappy blast of poppy guitars and hooks that’s over almost as soon as it starts, and despite its studied amateurism, it gets by on an almost insane blast of sugar and charisma.

    The reason I mention this is that Male Bonding just came out with its second album, and it reads kind of like a more bloated, less hooky version of the Cloud Nothings record. There’s nothing wrong with it – it’s a perfectly pleasant listen, but if Cloud Nothings is an A, the Male Bonding record is a solid B-.

    BUT! The lead single (haha) off it is called “Bones,” and, to continue the comparison, it’s better than anything on the Cloud Nothings record other than “Heartbeat,” because almost nothing is better than “Heartbeat.” And I know all the blogs have already blogged this song, but I don’t give a blog. Listen:

    Male Bonding: “Bones”