30 Second Reviews from 6/16

Janelle Monae
The ArchAndroid
(Bad Boy)
SOUNDS LIKE: Stylistic hybrid of funk, soul, R&B, and hip hop from a futuristic new diva for the 21st Century whose take on pop music is refreshing and new
FREE ASSOCIATION: Solid production, ambitious variety and infectious hooks
FOR FANS OF: Ms. Badu, Estelle, Jill Scott, Santigold, VV Brown

Blitzen Trapper
Destroyer of the Void
(Sub Pop)
SOUNDS LIKE: Laid back countrified indie rock from Portland on their second Sub Pop but fifth LP, it's a breezy, ambient spin on Americana for dusk
FREE ASSOCIATION: The title track is an impressive sprawling proggy gem of weirdo folk
FOR FANS OF: Neil Young, ELO, Beach Boys, Gram Parsons

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
Before Today
(4AD)
SOUNDS LIKE: The weirdo/creative genius is a production maverick and DIY hero, but he uses his power for retro, trip rock and not for groundbreaking futurism
FREE ASSOCIATION: Tempo changes, peculiar vocals and the occasional deep groove
FOR FANS OF: Bowie, Eno, Hall & Oates x Zappa

Sleigh Bells
Treats
(Mom & Pop Music)
SOUNDS LIKE: Electrified mixed bag of punk, crunchy synths, beats, grungy dance music and pop ditties that has everyone jerking off to their indie appeal
FREE ASSOCIATION: "Tell Em'" is tired, the rest of the album's chiller and not nearly as shitty
FOR FANS OF: Go! Team, Bat for Lashes, M.I.A., popularity

Tobacco
Maniac Meat
(Anticon)
SOUNDS LIKE: The Black Mother Super Rainbow solo project is a psychedelic, tweak-treatment of electro synths and beats with distorted vocals and reality
FREE ASSOCIATION: Beck shows up for three unremarkable minutes; otherwise rad!
FOR FANS OF: Justice, Xiu Xiu, Broadcast, Ladytron

Toni Braxton
Pulse
(Atlantic Records)
SOUNDS LIKE: The R&B diva returns to the fore with a major label after five years with a collection of ballads, bangers and breakups in her sultry voice
FREE ASSOCIATION: Remember 2000's The Heat and "He Wasn't Man Enough"? Straight FIRE!
FOR FANS OF: Whitney, Chaka, Luther, Babyface, Brandy, Monica

Jack Johnson
To The Sea
(Universal Republic)
SOUNDS LIKE: The soft rocker's bazillionth record in ten years isn't so bad because he lets his band play a little louder; as always, sun-drenched folksy surfer rock
FREE ASSOCIATION: Doesn't it feel like you're funding his stoner beach lifestyle?
FOR FANS OF: Dave Matthews, G Love, John Mayer, Jimmy Buffet

Deftones
Diamond Eyes
(Reprise)
SOUNDS LIKE: Sacramento prog metalheads' first in four years is a cathartic scream-out after their bassist emerged from a coma; less melody and more brute force
FREE ASSOCIATION: It feels like a dying genre, but these guys keep breathing life into it
FOR FANS OF: Tool X Smiths, Faith No More, Nirvana x Metallica



PW LINK.