“Nick Jonas”—Nick Jonas
After, like, ten years,
Nick Jonas hit puberty.
He's horny now... weird.
Grade: D
Best when: Reading your erotic JoBros fan fiction to a bemused audience at an Elmo's speakeasy
Download: "Jealous"
“IX”—...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead
I liked these guys when
I was in high school; that said,
This is pretty 'meh.'
Grade: C
Best when: Passive–aggressively trying to annoy Whartonites by playing your music too loudly in the Huntsman forum
Download: "The Doomsday Book"
“The Other I”—2:54
Aggressively pop,
Washed–out, moody; makes one think
Of the color grey.
Grade: B-
Best when: Strolling down Locust late at night in the winter
Download: "The Monaco"
If e'er there were a man to make synth pop,Not Aaron Maine would I think it to be.Not lonesome crooning sputtered out atopThose cracked guitars, nor the angst of "Skinny Trees,"But catchy, tight, infectious vocal linesAnd synths and drums with such great energy,Arranged so well that, still, the vocals shineIn all their autotuned cacophony.With Greta Kline's refrains to punctuateThe shimm'ring morass of the instruments,It's lovely, simple to appreciate,And thoughtful, while remaining innocent.Iambic pentameter's really, really hard.So is lofty diction; something something avant-garde.
"It's About Time" - Todd Terje
Whether you love or hate the snark of its title, Norwegian producer Todd Terje’s (Terje Olsen) debut LP “It’s Album Time” is excellent. It’s smart, exceptionally well–done electronic music that falls somewhere in the vicinity of the disco genre.
"Enclosure" John Frusciante
Former RHCP guitarist John Frusciante has had a stylistically indefinable solo career, and “Enclosure” continues this trend.
You’ve never been into indie rock. I know. I understand. There’s just something missing.
“I just need...It doesn’t have enough...”
I look at you, recognition shining in my eyes.