On The Record: Foals, Pissed Jeans, Lotus, Imagine Dragons, Nataly Dawn, And Matt Costa

Foals

Holy Fire

(Warner Brothers)

Sounds like: The heralded Oxford boys’ third is another delightful batch of ethereal, pretty indie rock with bits of stacatto funk and bouncy dance rhythms.

Free association: They keep getting 
better, even when Total Life Forever slayed. 

For fans of: The XX + Bloc Party, Two Door Cinema Club, Brit groove experts.

Pissed Jeans

Honeys

(Sub Pop)

Sounds like: Local heroes! This eardrum-rattling opus of sludgy, roaring punk tempered with thoughtfully brilliant lyrics could be Philly’s best of 2013.

Free association: For the desire to go on a strangle-rampage of idiots and asshats.

For fans of: X/Sonic Youth/the Jesus 
Lizard, Clockcleaner, cathartic noise.

Lotus 

Build

(SCI Fidelity Records)

Sounds like: The Indiana brothers Miller ride again! Easily their best yet, the instrumental band of funk, synths and vaguely jammy electronica goes hip-hop.

Free association: This will do wonders for their loss of that dirty word jamband.

For fans of: Tortoise x Ratatat + DJ Shadow, Empire of the Sun, wordless tunes.

Imagine Dragons

Night Visions

(Interscope)

Sounds like: Thoroughly mediocre but inoffensive debut from Provo, Utah rockers who peddle synths and studio-polished pop disguised as alt-radio rock.

Free association: This is what happens when bands are inspired by Coldplay.

For fans of: The Killers x Owl City + the Lumineers, U2/fun., religious rock.

Nataly Dawn

How I Knew Her

(Nonesuch)

Sounds like: Belgium- and France-raised, Stanford-educated and startlingly talented, this official solo debut (she’s half of Pomplamoose) is a pretty work of art.

Free association: Hopefully this one does well, and she’ll keep making records.

For fans of: Feist/Regina Spektor/Joni, 
The Bird and the Bee, pretty lady rock.

Matt Costa

Matt Costa

(Universal Republic)

Sounds like: A 30-year-old singer/
songwriter from California on Jack 
Johnson’s label who’s not cheesy or whiney; retro-flavored folksy goodness.

Free association: Even if you’re not into stuff like this, it’s a pleasant listen.

For fans of: Donovan + Belle & Sebastian x M. Ward, Van Morrison, Quicksilver.