Destroyer - Trouble in Dreams

Trouble in Dreams, the new album from Destroyer, begins with a strummed acoustic guitar and Dan Bejar's reedy voice comparing the sky to wine. The rest of the record follows this trend adding ghostly guitars and lilting pianos. Following the great Destroyer's Rubies, Trouble in Dreams traverses much of the same territory covered on that album. Of course to anyone that heard Rubies this is anything but bad news. Bejar continues to write cryptic lyrics that inspire one to consult the lyric sheet and try to piece the puzzle together. The fact that he can do all this while be backed by fantastic chamber pop makes this record that much easier to return to. "My Favorite Year" is the best example of this template. Starting off with two fuzzed out guitars answering eachother, the song is supported by a rolling bass line while Bejar la-da-da's and shouts abstract metaphors. Granted, none of this is new but when one of the best songwriters is at the top of his game all you really need to do is sit back and appreciate it.

Score: 8.5

Xiu Xiu - Women as Lovers

Either one falls in love with Xiu Xiu's over sincerity or detests the group's contrived theatrics. I strongly fall in the former camp. Jaime Stewart is one of the few people today that actually makes interesting music. He loves to throw unexpected turns at his listeners with little regard who will stay on the road with him. Yet it seams for the last few albums, Stewart has been in a bit of rut. After perfecting Xiu Xiu's twisted pop with the brilliant Fabulous Muscles, the band still has made little progress in its recent output. Women as Lovers continues this trend. Xiu Xiu loses much of the shrieks and drum machines they made their name on replacing them with live drums and brass. These new elements give the album a much more organic feel and would probably work great in a live setting. The album is a bit front-loaded and tends to lose momentum as it enters the second half. The back to back of "F.T.W." and "No Friend Oh!" is easily the records high moment and yet there is nothing here that even comes close to the fantastic "I Luv the Valley OH!" or as carthatic as "Apistat Commander". So it comes down to whether or not you are a fan of Xiu Xiu in the first place. Long time listeners will find something to love while those who just can't stomach Xiu Xiu will continue to ignore one of the better bands around.

Score: 7.2

Hot Chip - Made in the Dark

The Warning is simply one of the best pop albums of this decade. From the anthemic stomp of "Over and Over" to the regret of "Boy From School", the record created a perfect somber mood with its soft vocals cooed over skattered beats. Unfortuantely, the same can not be said of Hot Chip's third album Made in the Dark. Much of the record sounds as if it was meant for dance floors and it would certainly sound good there. A band this talented knows how to layer just the right amount of percussion to make you move. Yet, the best moments of The Warning soundtracked walks to class and empty bedrooms. One exception is the beautiful "Looking for a Lot of Love". A lilting beeping skips over a slinky bassline while Alexis Taylors sings of a lonely city night. The song is easily one of the band's best songs and one wishes they would have continued in this direction.

Score 5.6