Reviews

Danny Ross - One Way

Danny Ross' debut LP One Way is a promising, if underwhelming, bit of piano pop. The utilization of up to a 15-piece band on any given track provides deft changes of pace; contrast the sentimental lament of "Forgive Me Love" with the peppy Jazz tones of "This is Just a Test." However, a track like "This Ancient Bridge" evokes only hipster detachedness, not sincere strife. There's no denying Ross is a talented, knowledgeable artist. Yet the audible skill doesn't translate into any powerhouse tracks, thus making the album somewhat forgettable. A month from now, if someone said the name Danny Ross, I'd likely answer with a requisite, "who?"

The xx- "xx"

It's easy to tell from the first two tracks of "xx", (the debut track from the band The xx), that they aren't aiming to pacify listeners. Their alternative pop sound is cold and disorienting, a quality which may be mistaken by some as profound, rather than simply and harmlessly rambunctious. Their track "Shelter" is a perfect example. No matter how minimalist and, at times, effective their sound becomes, the lyrics fail at anything more than circular bouts of whiny pretention. In addition, there's no variation of tone. Only "Crystallized" manages to transcend the stagnation, but even that is steeped in their consistently throaty vocal style and pseudo-philosophical lyrics. For The xx, the world is a dark, crazy place, for which their quirky sense of loss and misplaced love is the only anecdote. Those crazy kids.

Alela Diane featuring Alina Hardin - Alela and Alina

The scant, six-track EP titled Alela and Alina is a short, sweet and delightful listen. The star of the two folk singers is Alela Diane, whose credit as songwriter reveals her as a true talent. All one has to do is absorb the EP's best track, "Crying Wolf," to understand her sophistication. The music is nothing short of exquisite, though it only complements the beauty of her words. She's an artist worthy of the Romantic literary tradition, in how her lyrics value the visceral and emotional. They're also embedded in her personal spirituality, which she imparts with an impressive clarity. Then, there's the pastoral essence of "Rake," with brilliantly simple lines like, "I used to wake and run with the moon/live like a rake and a young man." Alela and Alina is what an EP should be: a thoughtful evocation of an individual artist's fears and delights.