Foreign Born

"Person To Person"

Secretly Canadian

Release: Out Now

3.5 out of 5 Stars

Foreign Born’s latest release certainly does have a bit of a foreign feel to it. It has a sort of dusty, leathery quality that brings to mind images of old Spain. As vintage is it may seem though, there are modern elements that domesticate this foreign beast into something a little more manageable.

“Person To Person” is a very sunny affair. Hell, the band isn't even shy about this fact; “That Old Sun” is a stellar slice of vintage rock and sums up the album beautifully.

The title “Winter Games” may bring to mind skiing and snowboarding, but it rides along like a surfer on a wave. “Blood Oranges” is the true standout of the album, and a nice introduction to the experience. The ethereal guitar gushes along will the bongos and chilly vocals keep it grounded.

The journey gets a little monotonous though. The songs kind of just melt into each other, and there are times when you wish there was a bit more diversity present. On the other hand, what they do, they do well, and I wouldn’t want them venturing to far off the path.

The songs are organic pieces of entertainment, but some of the elements don’t always culminate into something edible. But there are many moments in “Person To Person” that show glimmers of brilliance, and those moments are what shine through in retrospect.

Sunset Rubdown

"Dragonslayer"

Jagjaguwar

Release: Out Now

4.5 out of 5 Stars

When you title your album “Dragonslayer,” it better be pretty damn epic. Well Spencer Krug’s umpteenth side project (Wolf Parade, Frog Eyes, etc.) makes sure that it goes beyond epic, and this dreamy-pop narrative is the best story told in recent months.

There is a never a dull moment on “Dragonslayer.” Every song is its own distinct story, each worthy of told.

I could easily mention each one, but for the sake of space, I’ll note the shiny “Silver Moons” that feels the most traditionally heroic with its marching drumline and gutsy piano rhythm. My personal favorite would have to be “Idiot Heart” which I will relate to the scene where the protagonist just wastes a huge field of minions with nothing but a battleaxe and a badass attitude.

“Dragonslayer” is Beowulf dressed in skinny jeans and Ray Bans. Effortlessly stylish and cool, the album is just as much chic as it is epic.

It’s definitely not the sort of album that feels like a bunch of singles stitched together. The songs are catchy, but they are not the sorts of songs you sing along with in the shower.

This album is meant to be consumed whole: no element stands head and shoulders above the others, and taking one out would diminish the whole thing. It reads like a book, and you’d feel a bit bewildered leaving out a chapter.

So I can’t help but believe that “Dragonslayer” is sure to be a legend for years to come. The songs are not only interesting, but also accessible, fun and stylish. This is far from an epic fail, and after the first lesson you won’t be able to wait to hear what the hero has been up to since then.