The Address Sept-Oct 2013

MUSIC
MODERN VAMPIRES
OF THE CITY
VAMPIRE WEEKEND
Successfully hopping on the
bandwagon of hipster gone
mainstream, Modern Vampires of
the City is Vampire Weekend’s
finest effort to date. Ezra
Koneig’s vocals run high and
low to wonderous effect even
though their blatant use of
distortions would put off many
with a preference for a more
easy listening tone. The comical
chorus on ‘Ya Hey’ does come off
a bit like a Nickelodeon marching
band but instead, Vampire
Weekend manages to pull it off
with true indie hipster panache.
‘Diane Young’ is one of their best
songs to date with its haphazard
rhythms that keeps your feet
tapping and head bopping while
occasionally slowing down to
sing-along friendly verses. This
is most definitely an indie rock
album worth a listen or two, and
then some more.
SIDE EFFECTS OF YOU
FAN TASIA
Side Efects of You sings a new
sound of a well-divined spirit,
something that is unsurprising
for this once struggling single
mother made good. The chosen
first single off the album ‘Lose
to Win’ exudes a sense of
empowerment and newfound
success; strong, confident, yet
fantastically melodic. Another
standout track is ‘Without Me’
that features a star-studded
line-up of Kelly Rowland
and Missy Elliot. With songs
like ‘End Deep’, ‘Lighthouse’
and ‘Supernatural Love’, the
album cuts across important
life-lessons that carry with it
a joyful, inspiring listen. Far
from being a conventional R&B
album, a surprising rock-soul
vibe runs through the tracks,
complementing her amazing
vocal range and powerful
rhythms. Fantasia has come a
long way since American Idol
and her musical maturity can
be heard deeply reflected in her
latest effort.
WAKIN ON A PRETTY DAZE
KURT VILE
The 33-year-old Philadelphian
folk musician has been producing
music and touring for almost 10
years, and in this relatively short
span of time he has managed to
drop his fifth studio album. He
might be an acquired taste to
most old school folk-rockers,
but upon listening to Wakin on
a Pretty Daze, it is obvious that
this artiste carries a unique set of
special qualities. From the first
song ‘Wakin on a Pretty Day’
to the last, it is apparent that far
from being a hazy stroll through
a classic rock road, it builds
up and carries you through
unveiling chapters that comes off
heavier and fuller. It is irony at
its best and folk-rock at its finest.
‘Pure Pain’ is undoubtedly a
highlight, in many ways symbolic
of the sound of the album.
MAGNETIC
TERENCE BLANCHARD
Since the jazz supremo’s
critically-acclaimed 2009 album,
Choices, it seems as though he
has set a note of standards that
would be a difficult reach even
by his own talents. But Terence
Blanchard’s latest studio album
Magnetic has proven that the
New Orleans wunderkid has still
got what it takes. He utilises the
fine talents of tenor saxophonist
Brice Winston, drummer
Kendrick Scott, dazzling pianist
Fabian Almazan, and 21-yearold
rising star bassist Joshua
Crumbly. From the blistering
bop of ‘Don’t Run’ to the fragile
ballad ‘Jacob’s Ladder’; the
psychedelic electronic haze of
‘Hallucinations’ to the urgent
edginess of ‘Another Step’, the
album is a great listen to postbob
fans and new entrants to the
freewheeling world of jazz.
30 TA | SEPT/OCT 2013