Excerpted from NPR's First Listen: Hamilton Leithauser, "Black Hours" by Stephen Thompson: "The singer largely tones down the briskly jangled rush of The Walkmen's sound throughout Black Hours, as he steers many of its songs toward a slow-burning seethe that suits him well. But there's still a looseness to the record that allows Leithauser to play around on new terrain ...". Read the rest of NPR's review here.
I've said before in this very space, don't get too bummed out when your favorite band breaks up because it might lead to something delicious. After seven fine albums with the Walkmen and 10+ years, I don't blame Mr. Leithauser for wanting to try something different. Much of what I loved about The Walkmen is still found in his new work, but its also more intimate and allows for a more profound listen if you give it a chance.
Dig in! Hamilton Leithauser "Black Hours"Amazon | iTunes | Artist Site
It's always fun when long-time favorites make a great new album and I have a chance to introduce them to a new audience. Imperial Teen released their first album a remarkable 16 years ago. Way back in 1996, their quirky pop (with a bite) was a bit rebellious since the music world was obsessed with post-Nirvana Alternative Rock. In retrospect, looking at the success of bands like Vampire Weekend and Ra Ra Riot, they obviously were just ahead of their time. There's nothing not to love about this album, its well-written, cheery, fun, and has enough rock to avoid sugar overload. It's perfect to get us through cold and gloomy February!
