When it comes to hooks & songcraft, lately Ben Kweller seems like he has it down to a science. Since his self-titled record (2006), Kweller has become increasingly accessible. Somehow, he has married candy pop hooks with indie rock acclaim. He sings in a decidedly gentle pop vocal (see Josh Rouse or even Paul Simon). […]
Bon Iver – Blood Bank
After the heaps of praise and fascination from his first album, Justin Vernon had a choice to make. Do I play it safe and do what I know? or should I scrap the old stuff and bring in some band or play some instrument? Either option runs the risk of alienating someone. If he plays […]
Bruce Springsteen – Working on a Dream
To be honest, before I heard Devil’s & Dust I thought Bruce was a cheesy 80s stadium rocker. Each song was dripping with annoying horns and god-awful production from that decade. I can just see him now pumping his fist while he sings “Glory Days†or “Born in the U-S-A.†He seemed like an 80s […]
A.C. Newman – Get Guilty
If you’re a fan of A.C. Newman or perhaps his band The New Pornographers, you probably already know about his densely layered pop melodies and musically adventurous song craft. Even if you’re not a fan of his, you can’t really deny that Newman applies many styles easily into each of his songs. Each note is […]