It was this week that Les Savy Fav's fifth studio album 'Root for Ruin' was set to be released. However, the album was leaked online towards the end of July, therefore prompting an earlier digital release at the beginning of August. Still, to stay respective to the original release date, I take a listen to 'Root for Ruin', a fantastic offering from a band I consider to be ridiculously overlooked. Also, released just over a week ago, I review Robyn's latest single, 'Hang With Me', a tune that's been dominating both the airwaves and my iTunes since it's first play.
Again, without further ado...
Again, without further ado...
Les Savy Fav - Root for Ruin:
As previously mentioned, Les Savy Fav are a band who I feel are ridiculously overlooked, if not under rated. With BlocParty's Kele often listing them as one of his many inspirations as well as Black Lips and Welsh noise rock trio Future of the Left singing their praises, it's a wonder they're not that little more mainstream.
The album kicks off with the loud, self assured 'Appetites', cementing the band's return to the Indie scene after their brief hiatus back in 2005. The track takes me back to dirty dance halls; snakebite in hand and feet firmly on the dance floor. Although not necessarily the strongest track on the album, it's a suited opener - assuring us that Les Savy Fav have still got their 'appetite' whilst acting to ignite ours.
The next three tracks unfortunately pass by without much importance, with raucous 'Lips N'Stuff' making the next big impression. A tale of frustration and heady lust, it has a certain juvenile charm. Bold as brass with lyrics like 'Let's be friends with benefits, You know we'd be into it', for those not used to Tim Harrington's ballsy lyrics and 'couldn't care less' attitude, it may come as a slight discomfort. However, with an open mind and a basic understanding of Harrington's character, it makes for a brilliant listen, (or ten).
The theme continues throughout the rest of the album, with Harrington slipping in a handful of adolescent anecdotes along the way. 'Poltergeist' appears to take it's influence from goth rockers 'The Horrors', oozing with grimey goth-tinged guitar chords, whereas 'Excess Energies' is everything the title suggests. It's loud, fast and a rather honest peek into the front man's teenage years - 'I am only 17, someone kick me in the teeth, I could use some enemies, I have excess energies'.
The last three tracks are of a somewhat calmer nature, (at least in relation to the rest of the album). 'Dear Crutches' acts as a useful insight into Harrington's personal life, insisting he's not quite the wild, ignorant persona he is often perceived to be, pleading '...you can go home my sweet, just please don't go home tonight'. So, Harrington does have a heart capable of breaking after all.
It is by the end of the album that we're made aware of Harrington's personal root to ruin, (or at least that little bit closer). In reflection, all 11 tracks are an honest collection of individual insights and realisations. We're thrown from frustration to frustration, from lust, to sex, to regret - all wonderfully juxtaposed with abrupt, ear-splitting boisterous rock.
And it's with great pleasure, that I share with you a live performance of 'Appetites', the first single to come from 'Root for Ruin'.
Robyn - Hang With Me:
Robyn has always been my guilty pleasure. A genre in herself, (Swedish electronic pop perhaps?!), it's rare she releases a track that I don't like to some extent. 'Hang With Me' is no exception to this general rule, in fact it's turned out to be one of my preferred offerings from the Swedish songbird.
Egotistical yet remarkably honest, Robyn pleads us to not fall '...recklessly, headlessly in love' with her, although showing a slightly softer side, she insists that '...if you do me right, I'm gonna do right by you'; all the while romancing us with her trademark electro-groove style. It's a tune to sing along to, to dance to and to more importantly, relate to. It's not often a track ticks all three boxes.
Derived from it's acoustic version on previous album 'Body Talk Pt.1', I for one am glad Robyn chose to work her pop-synth magic on 'Hang With Me' for the follow-up offering - 'Body Talk Pt.2'. And here it is:
As previously mentioned, Les Savy Fav are a band who I feel are ridiculously overlooked, if not under rated. With BlocParty's Kele often listing them as one of his many inspirations as well as Black Lips and Welsh noise rock trio Future of the Left singing their praises, it's a wonder they're not that little more mainstream.
The album kicks off with the loud, self assured 'Appetites', cementing the band's return to the Indie scene after their brief hiatus back in 2005. The track takes me back to dirty dance halls; snakebite in hand and feet firmly on the dance floor. Although not necessarily the strongest track on the album, it's a suited opener - assuring us that Les Savy Fav have still got their 'appetite' whilst acting to ignite ours.
The next three tracks unfortunately pass by without much importance, with raucous 'Lips N'Stuff' making the next big impression. A tale of frustration and heady lust, it has a certain juvenile charm. Bold as brass with lyrics like 'Let's be friends with benefits, You know we'd be into it', for those not used to Tim Harrington's ballsy lyrics and 'couldn't care less' attitude, it may come as a slight discomfort. However, with an open mind and a basic understanding of Harrington's character, it makes for a brilliant listen, (or ten).
The theme continues throughout the rest of the album, with Harrington slipping in a handful of adolescent anecdotes along the way. 'Poltergeist' appears to take it's influence from goth rockers 'The Horrors', oozing with grimey goth-tinged guitar chords, whereas 'Excess Energies' is everything the title suggests. It's loud, fast and a rather honest peek into the front man's teenage years - 'I am only 17, someone kick me in the teeth, I could use some enemies, I have excess energies'.
The last three tracks are of a somewhat calmer nature, (at least in relation to the rest of the album). 'Dear Crutches' acts as a useful insight into Harrington's personal life, insisting he's not quite the wild, ignorant persona he is often perceived to be, pleading '...you can go home my sweet, just please don't go home tonight'. So, Harrington does have a heart capable of breaking after all.
It is by the end of the album that we're made aware of Harrington's personal root to ruin, (or at least that little bit closer). In reflection, all 11 tracks are an honest collection of individual insights and realisations. We're thrown from frustration to frustration, from lust, to sex, to regret - all wonderfully juxtaposed with abrupt, ear-splitting boisterous rock.
And it's with great pleasure, that I share with you a live performance of 'Appetites', the first single to come from 'Root for Ruin'.
Robyn - Hang With Me:
Robyn has always been my guilty pleasure. A genre in herself, (Swedish electronic pop perhaps?!), it's rare she releases a track that I don't like to some extent. 'Hang With Me' is no exception to this general rule, in fact it's turned out to be one of my preferred offerings from the Swedish songbird.
Egotistical yet remarkably honest, Robyn pleads us to not fall '...recklessly, headlessly in love' with her, although showing a slightly softer side, she insists that '...if you do me right, I'm gonna do right by you'; all the while romancing us with her trademark electro-groove style. It's a tune to sing along to, to dance to and to more importantly, relate to. It's not often a track ticks all three boxes.
Derived from it's acoustic version on previous album 'Body Talk Pt.1', I for one am glad Robyn chose to work her pop-synth magic on 'Hang With Me' for the follow-up offering - 'Body Talk Pt.2'. And here it is:
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