Music

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• Music 10/04/05

  Broadcast—Tender Buttons
  Many of you might hate us for saying this, but Broadcast is basically top-shelf Stereolab. Better melodies, more innovative and less repetitive, Tender Buttons, while created with only the last two remaining members, is by far their richest, most accessible, and all around enjoyable album to date.
  
  
  Hot Chip—Coming On Strong
  Hot Chip is similar in sound to another Refinery favorite Cut Copy, but has a much more light-hearted tone. When we say the lead singer sounds vaguely like a soul singer, musing about Escalades and R Kelley records over electronic beats, don't be afraid. It sounds borderline like Vice magazine music, but honestly it's incredibly catchy, fun, and worth hunting down.
  
  
  Sigur Ros—Takk
  Hands-down the best album from this band yet. Long gone are the nine-minute tracks with sometimes aimless, noodling vocals spoken in a self-made language. This was the best career choice they could have made because quite honestly we wouldn't be surprised if this makes pretty much every critic's Top 10 list this year. In short, it's breathtaking.

• Music 09/13/05

  Chad Vangaalen—Infiniheart
  Oh, how the Canadians seem to be relentlessly conquering all that is cool in the music world. First there was the Arcade Fire, then Wolf Parade, and now Sub Pop gives us Chad Vangaalen's debut album, Infiniheart. Quite honestly one of the most heartbreaking and sincere albums to be released this millenium, Chad's soothing yet experimental odes to love's future have a whisper of Neil Young in them.
  
  
  Foreign Born—In the Remote Woods EP
  We don't care if the 80s are over! These guys kick Interpol ass with their gorgeous and shimmering, yet appropriately synthy, new wave songs. A little Echo and the Bunnymen takes these boys a long way, far beyond their LA band roots.
  
  
  
  Goldfrapp—Supernature
  We at Refinery29 think Alison Goldfrapp is about as smoochy as you can get. And that's not why we love her music so much, but it certainly doesn't hurt. Her music, while still glacial, has been slowly creeping towards a more uptempo electro-pop flair. Not that we didn't love her debut, but finally she's given us something we can move to.

• Music 09/06/05

  The Shortwave Set—The Debt Collection
  Sounding like a vintage AM radio broadcast, cluttered with subtle modern touches, this album's soothing tone and vocals find a quick and easy way into the brain. Yes it's an import....and yes it's worth it.
  
  
  
  Mobius Band—The Loving Sounds of Static
  Every electronic label needs one "rock" band, and this is Ghostly International's bid at taking a piece of the indie rock pie. They've managed to score themselves a lovely, unassuming band that writes simple yet pleasing pop tunes with subtle electronic flourishes.
  
  
  Zoot Woman—Zoot Woman
  Jacques Lu Cont can do no wrong. His remixes of Madonna, Gwen, and many other pop superstars make us take a second look at their sometimes bland attempts at dance hits or being "current." So it is to our delight that we've discovered his own personal studio work in the band Zoot Woman, and boy is it fantastic. A few years old, this album still feels and sounds fresh today, mostly because it's mildly aping '80s New Wave (but in a good way, we swear).
  
  

• Music 08/20/05

  Pink Martini—Hang on Little Tomato
  Eight years after their stunning debut Pink Martini are back and selling more records than anyone could imagine thanks to hundreds of thousands of fans across Europe, Asia, and the U.S. This is multi-culti lounge done the right way: tasteful and gorgeous with just a touch of tongue-in-cheek. You can do no wrong with this band and your mom will love them too.
  
  
  Andrew Bird & The Mysterious Production of Eggs—Bird's Bowl of Fire
  Like Rufus Wainwright without the camp and Jeff Buckley without the melodrama, Andrew Bird's vocals are what makes this record so captivating. Add to that his impressive songwriting and violin skills and you've got one of the most honest and endearing records of the year.
  
  
  Dungen—Ta Det Lugnt
  Sure, this album has been blogged about endlessly, but for good reason. One of the most epic and gorgeous psych-rock albums out there right now. It's so intricate and lush you wont even notice that you can't understand a single word. Best swedish import since ABBA.
  
  

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