The Dandy Warhols - This Machine (2012)

I don’t claim to understand the Dandy Warhols most of the time, I just sit back and enjoy the ride. This Machine offers some familiarity, with the pulsating baselines and laid-back attitude of “Sad Vacation” or the hypnotic rhythm and breathy vocals of “Autumn Carnival”. However, as always, there is something new and interesting. This Machine is heavier, exposing an often grinding and violently strummed guitar. The upbeat “Enjoy Yourself”, along with “SETI vs. the WOW signal”, playfully bringing together an almost mocking tone in the lyrics with pounding and often rough instrumentation. A couple of surprising combinations are the haunting ballad “Well They’re Gone” which easily sets the mind to wander, which contrasts inquisitively with the uplifting guitar and horns combo of “I Am Free”. But what would be a Warhols' album without the psychedelic meditative trance and lighter-than-air vocals of “Don’t Shoot She Cried”, chased by a strong dose of the Dandy 'weird' in "Side" to finish off the album, right? As a whole, This Machine has is paired-down with less synth and less of the catchy hooks present in previous albums, but it still exudes a great energy.

Soft Swells - Soft Swells (2012)

March may be a little early for summer, but it is never to early for summer jammy jams. The summer sounds come early with the Soft Swells' self-titled release. The beachy-vibed indie rock is quite popular these days, and in some respects the Soft Swells could be considered California's response to Florida's Surfer Blood, with less reverb and more appealing vocals.  Overall the album amounts to a well-crafted collection of pop songs, with shimmering vocals and rhythmic drums. Such attributes shine through on "Every Little Thing" and "Shake it Off." While every song is quality, there isn't a dominent single (in my mind) that needs listening to over and over again. More likely, one can toss this on with a couple other breezy indie pop albums, such as the latest Tennis, Drums, or Young Friends and nod along, imaging bare feet in the sand, sun on the face, and an ass in a comfortable folding chair. The combination of Brooklyn and Los Angeles roots reeks of hipster, but the tunes transcend any niche, too-cool-for pop culture genre or stylization. The Soft Swells bring great music and good times.