May 10, 2015: Best Coast, METZ, My Morning Jacket

This week’s new release post is a bit late, and I apologize. All of my technology decided to screw me over last minute– which is fine, I guess, because it’s about time I get off the internet and lie down in the grass and taste the salty summer air and whatnot, BUT enough fake poetry– we’re wasting time NOT talking about the new releases of the week.

Best Coast – California Nights

The new Best Coast album is soft and beachy, just like the previous one. My friend at work didn’t like it too much, but I think I like this one better than the last. It’s still beach-pop– bright and earnest and young, so young– but it’s sharper and more clarified. While the first albums were good because they were almost questioning themselves in their curiosity, this third studio attempt is finalized, like looking through a microscope that suddenly turns into an ultra-sharp telescope, giving you both the fine detail of lyrics and light melodies and the big picture of a superb release. While Fade Away may still stop any Best Coast release ever for me (just because it’s the greatest EP ever), I’m falling more in love with California Nights with every listen.

Rating: 8/10

METZ – II

The highly-anticipated second album from METZ was a hit as predicted. With roaring (ugh), insane melodies and hard-hitting drums, the whole album was upbeat, exciting, fresh, and new. Since the band is from Toronto and I live in Toronto, I basically have no choice but to love them. Having produced the entire album on their own, it’s deeply impressive with how much focus is still being paid to the lyrics and instrumentals. Noise rock can be done right, and this is how.

Rating: 7/10

My Morning Jacket – The Waterfall

I mean, okay. My Morning Jacket is fine and this album was fine. But that’s it, really. Frankly, I wasn’t a huge fan– but I know it’s not completely terrible. Soft melodies and sparkling harmonies pull the album together, but the opener, “Believe (Nobody Knows),” was a bit too long, whiny, and repetitive for my taste– clocking in at just under five minutes. Perhaps I’m just losing patience for slow, long songs– that being said, I don’t want that to be a constant thing.

Rating: 6/10