Kid Koala - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: 3.5/5 Bits

Artist: Kid Koala

Album: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Genre: Electronic, Hip-Hop, Turntablism

This is a special review as it was a request. This album is an underrated gem that's a decade old which manages to maintain it's shine, so I had no problem giving it a review to bring it up to the public's eye. This album is an electronic album with hip-hop beats manipulated by a turntable, in-fact it's the first turntablist album I've heard so I had no idea what to expect. In general turntablism is tough for a casual listener due to the subtle nuances associated with the techniques. The average listener, for instance, will find it hard to discern the difference between a good turntablist and a bad one. Kid Koala though makes turntablism not only highly accessible, but it's clear he's very good at what he's doing.

The album feels like a lazy summer day, in a very good way. The mellow beats and melodies are perfect for simply kicking back and enjoying your air conditioner. What makes this album great is how fluid it is. Despite the vast amounts of miscellaneous dialog and samples, Kid Koala manages to blend them together for a fantastic mix that simply works. The samples really have nothing to do with one another, but Kid Koala's slick turntable work somehow provides the magic necessary to make them work. What makes this album even better is the choice of skits, often poking fun at his style of music in a tongue in cheek manner before displaying excellent turntablism skill.

There's nothing particular that stands out about this album, it's truly one of those albums that must be listened to from beginning until the end. This, in my opinion, is a greater feat than simply having 2-3 amazing tracks in the slew of mediocrity. This album is highly recommended for kicking back on those lazy days.

Read more about Kid Koala's album "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome" here.

3.5/5 Bits

Matt & Kim - Sidewalks: 3/5 Bits

Artist: Matt & Kim

Album: Sidewalks

Genre: Pop, Indie, Electronic

Matt & Kim are one of those bands I'd heard random songs by through friends and had always been meaning to give them a proper listen, but hadn't. With their new album Sidewalks just being released yesterday I figured what better time? The first thing that you'll notice is rather high energy music in the form primarily of synths and drums with vocals similar to that of Peter Bjorn and John's. The album continues the upbeat energy throughout the album. This is a good thing. Matt & Kim obviously know what sound their listeners expect to hear and don't disappoint. This is also a bad thing, as there's little diversity and each song easily blends into the next if you're not paying attention.

This album sadly borders on mediocrity. Two listens in and I have not had one song grip me. There are plenty of decent songs, in-fact the entire album is decent. It's just not very memorable. If you're looking for an upbeat synth and drum heavy album then this will definitely please you, I'm just not sure for how long.

Tracks to check out: Cameras, Where You're Coming From, Good For Great

3/5 Bits

The Album Leaf - A Chorus of Storytellers: 4/5 Bits

Artist: The Album Leaf

Album: A Chorus of Storytellers

Genres: Post-Rock, Ambient, Electronic

I had forgotten I had this album sitting on my hard drive for quite a while and boy am I sorry that I waited so long to hear it. Before I go into the album I'd like to explain why this is an important release by The Album Leaf. The biggest thing about this album is that it was the first time the whole band had been a part of the recording process, rather than one person doing it all. Secondly you may notice hints of Sigur Rós, this is because Jonsí helped with this album, mostly in the mixing department. Now onto why you should listen to this album, if the Sigur Rós name drop wasn't enough.

The first track opens up with a lush atmospheric ambiance that sets a theme for the album. The sound production on this is absolutely wonderful. The attention to detail is brilliant. This enhances the serene sounds that The Album Leaf have crafted. Wonderful soundscapes combined with electronic drumming and the occasional vocal melody mixes wonderfully together to bring the listener quite the experience. The only times I was left slightly disappointed were on the vocal tracks, which are few. It's not that they are bad, it's that they do instrumental much better.

I didn't know what to think of this album when I was loading it up to listen. To be honest I had low expectations. The Album Leaf have always been a solid band, but have never blown me away. This hasn't exactly blown me away, but it's a great start. This is a well crafted album with each song flowing well into the next. If you're a fan of anything I've mentioned here, you need to here this.

Tracks to check out: Blank Pages, Summer Fog, Until the Last

4/5 Bits

Brian Eno - Small Craft on a Milk Sea: 3/5 Bits

Artist: Brian Eno

Album: Small Craft on a Milk Sea

Genres: Electronic, Ambient

This is actually a shocker to me. This album I mean. I expected to completely hate this based on the past stuff I've heard from him. To be honest his past stuff bored me to a level that I've never experienced before or after. I heard a lot of people hyping this up though, as expected, so I decided to give it a try. I wasn't blown away, but I wasn't turned off. The album had it's moments where I really dug it, and moments where I was almost bored. My biggest problem with this album was the lack of fluidity from song to song. It was pretty noticeable when the track had switched despite me not giving it my full attention. Overall though the album made for good background music. It suited it's purpose while I played Wordfeud on my Droid.

Tracks to check out: Bone Jump, Paleosonic, Late Anthropocene

3/5 Bits