Ben Folds Five

“The Sound of The Life of The Mind”

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Ben Folds and company are back in full form on this long-awaited return.

Some 13 years after the iconic ’90s band split, and after a successful solo career for Folds, the Ben Folds Five is back with a rejuvenating blend of skillfully played piano, bass and drums. In this day and age of common tradeoffs of pianos for synthesizers, it’s refreshing to hear such sonic purity.

The title track contains lyrics penned by author Nick Hornby, along with a ridged progression reminiscent of Folds’ solo work.

“It’s noisy up there/it rocks like a mother,” Folds sings over a powerful cadence, drenched in crash cymbal and a grandiose chord progression. The bass dominates the mix at certain points in this and many other tracks.

Folds’ unique sense of melody is showcased in what is arguably the most intense track on the album, “Draw a Crowd.” Folds’ ageless humor is displayed in the lyrics when he suggests drawing genitalia on the wall as a last resort if drawing a crowd isn’t a possibility.

Folds shows his serious side with “Away When You Were Here,” a track about an aloof father who has passed away. Well-timed and beautifully arranged strings give this track enough musical substance to compete for attention with the more obnoxious songs among it.

A solid 10 tracks of both classic Ben Folds and an enthusiastic vigor give this group of tunes a creative edge over much of Folds’ previous solo work.

By: JAKE BETHEL, Staff writer

Grizzy Bears

“Shields”

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Imagine being on freight train with thunder roaring throughout a roller coaster tunnel.

That’s where Grizzy Bear’s fourth studio album, “Shields,” takes its audience. After a three-year hiatus, the lo-fi, psych-folk quartet from Brooklyn lived up to expectations following its breakout album, “Vectatimest.”

It’s an effort that is not designed to be fully digested in one sitting, with verbose songwriting and its most layered orchestration to date. Combined with superb production and continuity, “Shields” features three definite hits at the beginning, middle and end that are equally enjoyable either by themselves or collectively.

With the band members in their early 30s, the album’s theme centers around the desire for independence and the alarming uneasiness of being alone and away from loved ones.

The theatrical opening single, “Sleeping Ute,” could be mistaken for a soundtrack in “The Legend of Zelda” series. With synth, percussion and drums ablaze throughout, lead singer Dan Rossen’s soft-spoken voice echoes, “If I could lie still, as that gray hill, but I can’t help myself.”

“Yet Again” displays the band’s obvious Radiohead influence but comes away with a much bolder and clearer message of determinism. Fuzzy and eclectric, singer Ed Droste concludes, “Take it all in stride. Speak, don’t confide. We barely have a case. It’s done before we try. It’s darkened and by night. A desert in deface.”

Concluding the album is “Sun In Your Eyes,” and this track makes one thing abundantly clear: Grizzy Bear is not about to conform to social norms. “So bright, so long. I’m never coming back,” Droste proclaims.

Whether or not you agree with its lyrical philosophy, “Shields” is an aesthetic trip in a generation where continuous attention to detail is pushed down on the priority list.

By: PAT HICKEY, Staff writer

No Doubt

“Push and Shove”

Rating: 4.5/5 star

No Doubt is back. “Push and Shove,” its first studio album in 11 years, has undoubtedly restored my faith in Gwen Stefani. The album is filled with the same upbeat music that I fell in love with many years ago. The lyrics are raw and filled with emotion that inspires you to get up and move. Every song on the album is relatable, especially “One More Summer” and “Undone.”

If you haven’t already bought the album, I’d suggest getting the bonus edition, with acoustic versions and remixes. Lyrics from the song, “Easy” – “I’m gonna take it easy/No, not gonna do a thing/’Cause I know you miss me” – are pretty accurate.

We did miss you, No Doubt. Stefani just couldn’t make that kind of music on her own. There are a few tracks that very obviously display pieces of Stefani’s solo career, such as “Looking Hot.”

This album is the best comeback I have ever heard.  I haven’t been able to listen to anything else since the day it came out.

By: Julisa Gendren, Staff writer 

Smash Mouth

“Magic”

Rating: 1.5/5 stars

Smash Mouth is known for their catchy, generally lighthearted music and lyrics that tackle personal heartache more readily than political or societal problems. The band is famous for putting a West Coast spin on songs like “I’m a Believer” originally by The Monkees and “Why Can’t We Be Friends” by War.

“Magic” does have some mentionable songs. The album opens relatively strong with “Perfect Planet.” The title track, “Magic,” while saturated with synth lines, is still a well- structured song that utilizes the theme of the album effectively.

The most notable song is a cover of  “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” originally by the band Simple Minds. Reminiscent of a Smash Mouth that didn’t take itself too seriously, the song is a refreshing way to wrap up the album.

The majority of the songs on “Magic,” however, are not as memorable. The trademark Smash Mouth sound that can be found in songs like “Walking on the Sun” and “All Star” from previous albums  is lost beneath a clutter of over processed audio and clichéd lyrics. The album is, in short, exactly what I would expect from a pop-rock band and trust me – this is not a good thing.

My advice is that you save yourself some pain and stay away from this album.

By: NICK EBERTZ, Staff writer