Written by Ella Fortine and Jacob Flores, Staff Writers
Read about new albums from blooming bands to old albums of the psychedelic pop genre to expand your musical world.
New Releases from October
From The Pyre – The Last Dinner Party
The Last Dinner Party has proven again their ability to transport listeners into a world of backstabbing angels and downtown London witches with their second album From The Pyre. This project is a beautiful evolution from their debut, Prelude To Ecstasy, one that reaches out and expands musical prowess in every way. The instrumentation is organically ethereal, created with the kind of magic woven through complex guitar pedal arrangements and haunting choral sections rather than computerized production programs. Every song is meticulous, yet raw, orchestrated, yet vulnerable. Frontwoman Abigail Morris brought her full vocal array to the table, executing grand vocal riffs, beautiful harmonies and the small embellishments that make the music sparkle all the more. From The Pyre is a tribute to the stories that can be told with music, and is a story that is a joy to listen to.
And Your Song is Like a Circle – Skullcrusher
Quite the opposite of something to be expected from an artist with a name like Skullcrusher, And Your Song is Like a Circle is a beautiful anthology of heavenly melodies that pour from an open heart. This album is one to get lost in, to marvel at and sit with. However, as wonderful as the songs on this record are, it does not entirely measure up to the cohesiveness and ambiance of Skullcrusher’s previous album, Quiet the Room. While it exceeds the confines of Quiet the Room, this expansion felt random and misplaced at times, such as in the song “Maelstrom”, a jarring shift in mood. In all though, this project is still a moving and sonically satisfying work of art that is wonderful for the foggy autumn mornings to come.
Everybody Scream – Florence + The Machine
A perfectly spooky, witchy, and completely delightful Halloween release, Everybody Scream, Florence + The Machine’s sixth studio album sets the stage for Florence Welch’s exceptional vocals to shine. Her writing is timeless and as expressive as ever, boosted by production that fits like perfect puzzle pieces. Florence takes the listener through a journey of emotion, feelings of sorrow, madness, and power. She spans a variety of topics, instrumentation, and moods without the album ever feeling anything but a perfectly stitched together tapestry of the magic of fall. “It must be nice to be a man, and make boring music just because you can,” she sings on “One of the Greats”, a song that’s anything but boring, on a record that is truly great.
Old Releases from 1960’s – 2000
Tusk – Fleetwood Mac
Known as Fleetwood Mac’s most underrated album, Tusk takes the term “experimental” and turns it into a wide variety of musical stories. Released on October 12th, 1979 under Warner Bros records, Tusk was the Twelfth studio album in Fleetwood Mac’s catalog and the first to change the style of the band’s genre, from Pop Rock to Avant Pop. Starting off with a warm and more subtle song “ Over & Over” debuts the album as the first track, with the vibe already showing the Pop Rock difference while using guitar elements as the main instrument and a sort of lead for the song. “Save Me a Place”, the fourth track on the album, demonstrates the folk and gentle feeling of the album as a whole, with the track talking about the lack of trait or meaning in a person’s life, while also showing the classic harmonies and rhythms that Fleetwood Mac is known for. “Sara”, the fifth track on the album, is an six-minute long harmony and journey through the sounds of piano and vocals that discussing the topics of Stevie Nicks’ personal life journey, while also also being the origin to the sequel of “Sara” called “Welcome to the Room Sara” on the album Tango in The Night. The album continues with songs varying from “That’s all for Everyone”, “Angel”, “Never Make Me Cry”, and “I Know I’m Not Wrong”, which all have different meanings and passion put into each lyric that does not disappoint. “Beautiful Child”, the seventeenth track on the album, brings a folk like guitar, dream like harmonies, and gentle vocals by Stevie Nicks to bring an amazing song that really shows the Soft Rock genre, while the song talks about the hard and tough emotional experience of moving on in life. The album closes off with “Never Forget”, a reflecting and farewell song that talks about how “We will never forget tonight”, as an homage to the album itself. There are plenty more songs that Tusk has to offer not discussed here, and every song has a meaningful message behind it and demonstrates the song writing skills of Fleetwood Mac as a whole. If you are looking for an amazing album that has the fall, or toned down vibes, Tusk by Fleetwood Mac is the album for you.
Surfs Up – The Beach Boys
With sorrow comes the beauty of emotion, and Surf’s Up by The Beach Boys uses that aspect by creating a unique masterpiece. Released in August, 1971, The Beach Boys published what is known as one of the darkest albums under Reprise Records. The album begins with a gloomy but groovy start with “Don’t Go Near The Water”, a song discussing the topics of the water pollution crisis in the early 70’s while also mixing in the genre of psychedelic pop with the classic harmonies and heart warming piano The Beach Boys is known for. The second track on the album, “Long Promised Road”, is a confusing yet soothing song that explores topics such as loss and “whatever the future holds ahead.” The song is known as one of The Beach Boy’s most popular songs and is the main headline of the whole album. Surf’s Up continues with tracks such as “Take A Load Off Your Feet”, “Student Demonstration Time”, “A Day In The Life Of A Tree”, and “‘Til I Die” making for a soothing yet sorrowful journey of emotions that demonstrate the creativity of the band and their music as a whole. The fourth track on the album “Disney Girls” is a track that discusses the overwhelming topic of growing up and love, while also mixing a beautiful piano piece written by Bruce Jhonston. “Feel Flows”, the sixth track on the album, goes over the topic of mental health, demonstrating the psychedelic pop genre perfectly with funky drums, vocals, and a dreamlike atmosphere. “Lookin‘ At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)” is the seventh track on the album that goes over the topic of personal struggle and yearning for a more fulfilling life, making for a one of a kind song that has vibrant guitar solos and loud yet quiet vocals. The album closes off with “Surfs Up”, the title track of the album. The song references the confusion of the modern age and grief of life itself, specifically stating “A choke a grief, heart hardened, I beyond belief, a broken man, too tough to cry.” Although Surf’s Up as an album has its depressing and hard topic moments, the album is meant to show the realization thatno one is truly alone and that everyone has their own struggles. If you are in the mood for a mellow yet unique album, Surf’s Up by The Beach Boys is the album for you.
Hermit of Mink Hollow – Todd Rundgren
When the genre of pop is in the subject, Todd Rundgren is known to be brought up. With hits such as “I Saw the Light” and “Hello It’s Me”, Todd Rundgren never disappoints to bring amazing pop songs and albums to the table, with Hermit of Mink Hollow being one of the headlines. On January 1st, 1978, under Bearsville Records, Todd Rundgren released what is known as one of the best pop genre albums of all time. Starting off with an amazing opener, “All the Children Sing” brings joy and charisma through lyrical rhymes and harmonies while showing an appreciation to all the children and emotions in the world. Switching to a more subtle and slow groove theme in the next song, “Can We Still Be Friends?”, shows the brilliant mind and creativity of Todd Rundgren who composes the track into an amazingly sad and vibrant track about wanting to be friends with someone after a difficult breakup. Keeping the tone of the previous song, “Hurting for You” is an amazing track that mixes the brilliant vocals and guitar skills of Todd Rundgren while talking about the drive and spirit of wanting to get back with someone. The album continues with songs such as “Too Far Gone”, “Onomatopoeia”, “Determination”, “Out of Control”, and “Bread” that all have amazing lyrics, instrumentals, and structures of their own that add further depth to the whole experience. “Bag Lady”, the eighth track of the album, is an emotional song that discusses the sadness for the older generation and the negligence that the older generation often feels. “You Cried Wolf”, the ninth track of the album, is often seen as a companion to Todd Rundgren’s other song “Wolfman Jack” due to the groovy and upbeat like harmonics of the songs that both talk about wolf-like characters or “Wolfman Jack”, the radio show host. “Lucky Guy”, the tenth track on the album, is a saddening or sort of motivational song about a man that seems to have luck effortlessly while others struggle to do so, while also including an incredible guitar solo and soft piano. With “Fade Away” being the last track on the album, it does not disappoint with its amazing dream-like fade and instrumental repeats while talking about how “in a hundred million when the planet disappears you and I will stay and watch the world fade away.” Hermit Of Mink Hollow not only shows the creative skills of Todd Rundgren but it also shows the evolution of the pop genre as a whole with its subtle tones and mixed rock essence. If you’re looking for an amazing album that mixes upbeat vibes to a dark and complicated theme, Hermit Of Mink Hollow by Todd Rundgren is the album for you.