This week, Nick Landolfi, WTSR assistant music director, highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into their weekly rotation.
Band: Radkey
Album: “Dark Black Makeup”
Hailing From: Missouri
Genre: Punk
Label: Little Man
Radkey started as two brothers from Missouri who had a hankering for some damn good punk. With two EPs under their belt and plenty of touring, they’re ready to be taken seriously. This album throws some of that our way. They have all the makings of a throwback punk sound that really makes you shed an angry tear. With vocals that sound like Glenn Danzig found a new energy and throbbing guitars that rhythmically punch you in the gut, this is a superb punk album. However, these guys are not afraid to crank out a more contemporary indie rock sound reminiscent of the Arctic Monkeys, and they do it well. Give it a listen if you feel at all like you miss what classic punk rock should sound like.
Must Hear: “Dark Black Makeup,” “Hunger Pain” and “Le Song”
Band: Of Monsters and Men
Album: “Beneath The Skin”
Hailing From: Keflavik, Iceland
Genre: Indie Magic Folk
Label: SKRIMSL
Coming off of the huge success of their debut album, these Icelandic five-piece folk rockers deliver with their newest album, “Beneath The Skin.” This album builds upon the sound they fronted for their previous album. Their melodic indie folk driven by guitars and drums, is carefully accentuated with the dual female-male fronted vocals. This album has the trimmings one would expect from a band given a bigger budget, but stays pretty true to form. The song “Crystals” has already been popularized, but there other songs that make the album worthwhile. “Wolves Without Teeth” keeps up their obsession with metaphoric animal-based images and has more guitar work than their debut. When listening to this album, you’ll hear more drawn out melodic songs, breaking out of the pigeonhole that is contemporary folk music. This album has the feeling of a matured and professional band. Not too many horns on this album so don’t expect a “Little Talks,” but still an enjoyable album.
Must Hear: “Sting’s Teacher Years,” “When I Die” and “White Lodge”
