With no major releases hitting stores this week, Rolling Stone shines the spotlight on a trio of up-and-coming artists in this week’s New Reviews. Leading the way with a three-and-a-half star review is Yacht, whose fourth album See Mystery Lights marks the duo’s first album on the acclaimed DFA label, home of LCD Soundsystem and Hercules and Love Affair. The brainchild of Portland, Oregon-based Jona Bechtolt, See Mystery Lights is also YACHT’s first album to feature vocalist Claire Evans as a full member, and the duo produce an album with Talking Heads art-pop sensibilities and loads of synth. “The throbbing singalong ‘Summer Song’ will sound killer bumping from ad-hoc porch discos during the coming months,” Rolling Stone’s Christian Hoard writes in his review.
Next is the debut album Exposed from 19-year-old singer Kristinia DeBarge. Kristinia certainly has the pedigree to try her hand at Rihanna’s throne: Her father James was one of the members of the R&B group DeBarge, who were like a poor man’s Jackson family back in the 1980’s. Plus, DeBarge gets a helping hand from hit machines like Babyface and OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder on Exposed, which earned a three-star rating from RS. Further helping DeBarge on her path to stardom is Britney Spears, who recruited DeBarge to open some dates of her Circus tour.
This week also marks the return of Australia’s Howling Bells, who follow up their 2006 self-titled debut with their dream pop-packed Radio Wars. In his three-star review of the album, Kevin O’Donnell likens the band to “If Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval teamed up with shoegaze icons My Bloody Valentine.” The lyrics are lacking, but the music itself and singer Juanita Stein’s sumptuous voice more than make up for it.
...Article Source: Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily