STACK January 2016 Issue 135

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On My Speakers
Did you know it's impossible to hear all of the music in all of the land?
You'll drive yourself up the wall if you attempt it, and that's why it is
clever to sometimes let other people do the niche digging for you.
Our truly brilliant genre reviewers – those blessed names you see beside
album write-ups in the latter pages of STACK's music section – have chosen
their top two releases of the year on page 58, and it's there you should
start if you think you might be behind the Magic 8 Ball. ("Am I musically
informed?" "Outlook not so good.") It's also our final farewell to the amazing
Doug Wallen, who has contributed his skilled ear and excellent writing to us
for many a moon. Thank you and best of luck, Doug. Zoë Radas (Music Editor)
Aoife O'Donovan
In the Magic Hour
Lanu
The Double
Sunrise
Basement
Promise
Everything
Cage The
Elephant
Tell Me I'm Pretty
THE BESNARD LAKES
Luscious and dense, A Coliseum
Complex Museum is just as carefully
crafted as its title suggests. It's The
Besnard Lakes' fifth album (and their
fourth with Jagjaguwar), and contains all
the typically stunning, eclectic, ethereal
rock for which this band have become
critically acclaimed. There's a renewed
sense of ambition and joy to the group
too, which will revive any latent love and
probably snare them a new crowd of
fans as well.
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Doug's #1 for 2015, DeafWish
What is Savages' Adore Life? "It’s about change and the power
to change," the four-piece write. "It’s about metamorphosis
and evolution. It’s about sticking to your guns and toughing it out.
It’s about now, not tomorrow... But most of all it’s about love, every
kind of love. Love is the answer." These indomitable post-punk
revivalists couldn't have known the words would come to have
triple-fold meaning after the horrendous November Paris attacks,
but the timing with which these four women had
chosen to reaffirm their belief in life isn't lost on
them. While Adore Life doesn't include the band's
live cover of Eagles of Death Metal's I Love You
All the Time – the publishing proceeds of which
went to victims of the Paris attacks, and video
of which you can find online with French-born
lead singer Jehnny Beth
explaining the project
to the heaving crowd –
the message remains.
Adore Life careens all
over the joint in perfect
shameless abandon,
with "shotgun drumming
and break-beat grooves"
(see Chris Murray's review
on page 66). If you're not on
board already, it's time to hop the
Savages train.
Adore Life by Savages
is out January 22 through
Matador/Remote Control
As if you don't want to hang out with
HINDS, the kooky garage foursome from
Mexico. Our Simon says their debut Leave Me
Alone is a "vivid portrait of modern life and love
viewed through a faintly nostalgic, psychedelic
lens," which is definitely true, but we'd also
like to join them at the beach for some tins.
A Coliseum
Complex Museum
by Besnard Lakes is
out January 22 through
Jagjaguwar/Inertia
HINDS
SAVAGES
Leave
Me Alone
by HINDS is
out January 8
through Inertia
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