On The Record: Frightened Rabbit, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Renny Wilson, And Joe Budden

Frightened Rabbit

Pedestrian Verse

(Atlantic)

Sounds like: The fourth (and first major label) LP of emotionally-charged, thoughtful-man indie rock from Scotland is a pleasant—if not monotonous—listen.

Free association: “My heart’s beating like a baseball falling down stairs.” Alright.

For fans of: The Twilight Sad x Arcade Fire + the Shins, kilts, beards, sad bastards. 


Unknown Mortal 
Orchestra

II

(Jagjaguwar)

Sounds like: Excellent sophomore of Ruban Nielson’s fuzzy, hazy, blissed-out psychedelia steeped in classic rock and drowsy ‘60s-era production tricks 

Free association: There’s an innocence, feigned or not, in his vocals that’s endearing.

For fans of: Tame Impala x White Denim + Neil Young, psychotropic drugs.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down

We The Common

(Ribbon Records)

Sounds like: Quirky and charming, the contemporary of ladies like Mirah and 
tUnE-yArDs turns in one of her best efforts to date with folksy aplomb.

Free association: She’s better with her band, and this one’s very nicely produced.

For fans of: Cat Power x Joanna Newsom, Zooey Deschanel, shabby chic.

Renny Wilson

Sugarglider

(Mint)

Sounds like: The fantastic debut of Canadian lo-fi grooves fueled by dance music, saxophones and oddball percussion; 
a brilliantly funky batch of tunes.

Free association: Looks like saxy funk and chill rock are renewing their vows.

For fans of: LCD Soundsystem x Mac DeMarco, Ariel Pink/Foxygen, woodwinds.

Joe Budden

No Love Lost

(Entertainment One Music)

Sounds like: The 33-year-old Jersey City-reppin’ emcee’s fifth is mediocre R&B-spiked hip-hip about women, with tons of guests.

Free association: Please just make a record full of “Pump It Up” remixes.

For fans of: Fabolous/French Montana/Wiz Khalifa/Lloyd Banks, fucking and fighting.

Coheed and Cambria

The Afterman: Descension 

(Everything Evil/Hundred Handed, Inc.)

Sounds like: Their seventh and the second part of a double album (Ascension was last year) is more of the same: proggy, vaguely emo, sci-fi metal punk.

Free association: The man who loves this band is a man I do not wish to call a friend.

For fans of: The Mars Volta + At the Drive-In, Saves the Day, comic books.