The Needle Drop

cults

Cults - Static

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Loaded with insipid lyrics, amateur singing, and childish melodies, it's pretty clear the the pop duo known as Cults has no desire whatsoever to mature their sound. There's definitely more ambition on this record on the instrumental side; featuring an increase in instrumental layers. However, what ends up making Static a sophomore slump for this indie buzz alum is its serious lack of single power.

1-Minute Miracles Remixes Cults

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If you watch my reviews on the reg, you know how I feel about Cults. So, imagine my hesitation when I saw that my new favorite beatmeister remixed one of their songs.

Well, truth be told, 1-Minute Miracles performed like a plastic surgeon of the sonic persuasion on this one, because this reinvention of Cults' "Go Outside" sounds absolutely nothing like the original. I don't even think I would have guessed cults was even sampled here if it weren't stated.

Of course, 1-Minute Miracles has still been posting new beats on his Tumblr, and I can't wait for the guy's full-length to finally drop.

Cults- Cults

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New York's Cults have a deeply rooted love for pop's older and more sentimental side. Considering how referential this music is, these two must be extremely well-verse when it comes to the Spectors, Wilsons, and Meeks of the world. I'm sure they're even fans of artists in the Twee genre some people are so willing to label them with. The duo's style and sunny disposition is definitely the most solid thing this album has going for it--well, that's the case for some people, anyway.

For me, it's these very things that are kind of pushing me away from this album. Sure, I dig on Camera Obscura or some Pains of Being Pure at Heart, but this is too sweet for even me.

A few of the songs here, like "Go Outside" and "Oh My God," come off with original melodies and fleshed out song structures, but many tracks here feel too familiar for me to want to latch on. Some songs even lazily fade out after a quick couple of verses and choruses, like "Abducted," leaving me wanting a lot more.

So, I'm pretty lost on this one. It's definitely sweet, but I can't say much more about it than that. Just some young and fun revivalism that flies in one ear, and quickly shoots out the other for me.

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Friday Roundup: 7-9-10 ‡ MP3s

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1. Black Milk- Welcome (Go Home) Black Milk's upcoming album is pretentiously titled Album of the Year, but this man has reason to be cocky. Working out of Detroit, the guy has built himself up as one of the hardest-working producers in underground hip hop. He's not a bad MC either.

2. Cults- Oh My God This track was the last single to come up in Adult Swim's weekly singles segment. I hope they do this again, because the tracks that came out of it--with the exception of Madvillain's, pffff--were really great. Cults' contribution is nothing to scoff at, too. A great hook, soulful organ, and an endearing glockenspiel make this thing cute and catchy.

3. Dam-Funk- A Day At the Carnival There's a reason the word "funk" is in this guy's name. He revives the kitsch of electrofunk with absolutely no regrets. Listen to his album Toeachizown if you wish to purge your ears of all that unfunky music you listen to on a regular basis. This track comes from a new compilation via Proximal Recs.

4. Superhumanoids- Cranial Contest This LA outfit has graced this blog more than once, and this track has got me pumped for their debut EP, Urgency. I love the straightforward, minimal sound of this band, and the gentle vocals are a nice touch, too. The hook is killer, and the mix impeccable. Stream their new EP here.

5. The Thermals- I Don't Believe You When a band has been around for nearly ten years, they start to gain a noticeably confident and experienced sound. I'm not using "experienced" to say "old," but to state the Thermals have been baiting hooks for a while now--you'd think they'd know how to do it better than most bands out there. "I Don't Believe You" is the proof. This track comes from the band's upcoming album, Personal Life. It's their 5th LP.

6. Tim Cohen- Oh, Oh, Oh Fresh & Onlys' frontman has his eggs in a lot of baskets. From the black metal stylings of AmocomA to the psychedelia of Black Fiction, there's no telling what this guy is going to do next. "Oh, Oh, Oh," is his latest tune to leak onto the net, and it's an endearing, acoustic ballad. Precious vocals and a playful hook make the lo-fi recording here pretty irrelevant. Sweet energy in this one.

7. Sunvisor- Sky Dive This duo produces electronic music with a dreamy edge, but I wouldn't go calling it "chillwave." This track is a sweet display of angelic vocals and 80s-era synth bass. It's lucid, but won't put you to sleep. A light pop snack for those with a hunger for dance beats. There's allegedly an EP in the works from this project titled New Romantique. If the tracks there are on par with this, I'll need to get my hands on it. TND TIP: WATCH OUT WHERE HUSKIES GO / DON'T EAT YLLOW SNOW.