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• April 1, 2008
• Reviews

04/01/08

Crystal Castles—Crystal Castles

She & Him—Volume One To immediately dispel any mystery, "She" is the actress Zooey Deschanel and "Him" is singer-songwriter M. Ward. The two have teamed up for this lovely album that we've enjoyed far more than we ever expected to. M. Ward has always made albums that sounded like they were better suited to a jukebox or transistor radio in an alternate universe. But when Deschanel sings his songs, the dynamic changes. Her voice is sweet, and the sound comes closer to the classic pop and country songs of the '60s. No question, it's fairly addictive listening.

Crystal Castles—Crystal Castles Prior to releasing this eponymous debut album, the Toronto duo Crystal Castles were mainly known for their remixing work for bands like Bloc Party, the Klaxons, and Liars. Their previous productions only hinted at what their own music sounds like. Well, of course you might have predicted the 8-bit Nintendo dance tracks, but some of the strongest
songs are atmospheric and sparse tracks with breathy vocals. The overall effect is like listening to entirely different bands, albeit very good ones.

The Breeders—Mountain BattlesWhen you think about indie pop, it's hard not to mention the Pixies. It's because of the monumental influence of that band that people often overlook the strengths of Kim Deal's other band The Breeders (I guess with the ubiquity of "Cannonball" in the '90s, it wasn't that hard to overlook them, but you get the point). Quietly, they have released three great albums previously and now another strong outing. We love how it still sounds like a Breeders record while also feeling cool and current. Give it a few listens and you'll see how this band shows all the youngsters how it's done.

Prior to releasing this eponymous debut album, the Toronto duo Crystal Castles were mainly known for their remixing work for bands like Bloc Party...