U2
Songs of Innocence/Interscope Records
Bono’s voice is cracking, The Edge’s riffs aren’t exactly scraping against the stars anymore, and even drummer Larry Mullens, Jr.’s beats have slowed down a tick, but despite all of this, U2 finds another gear on Songs of Innocence. Most of the energy is in the second half, where tracks like the beautifully harsh “Raised By Wolves” will make the hairs on your neck stand and “Cedarwood Road” features fuzzy guitars and chugging drums charging at you with ’90s-era grunge power. Arriving at songstress Lykke Li’s guest appearance on the soulful, jazzy closer “The Troubles,” is a breath of fresh air to go out on. Songs proves that the band still crafts engaging pop melodies—witness the catchy, bluesy, thumping rhythms of “The Miracle of (Joey Ramone)” for example—and that Bono is as heart-on-his-sleeve as ever.
Cory Bishop
Cory Bishop EP/Self-released
Singer-songwriter Cory Bishop’s latest release is a dandy. Equal parts country, folk, Americana, and rock, there is something for everyone on this release, but it’s more than a series of engaging sounds. This is meaty stuff. “Carolina” works in a double meaning about coming back home—be that to a lover named Carolina or the state—no matter what temptations lie beyond, and you’re sure to be shedding tears by the end of “Crown of Thorns,” with its drunken, yet clear-as-day narrative from the male perspective as he takes a woman’s virginity while trying to find salvation. The first single, “You Can’t Take Me,” also zeroes in on the notion of soul-searching with lyrics like “Standing on the edge of who you are/And who you’re not,” in a solid release guided by dusty, strong vocals.
Kyler England
Golden EP/Self-released
England is something of a chameleon, taking part in the alternative rock group The Rescues, the alt-pop group The Fire and the Sea, and lending her vocals to a host of dance tracks by Tiësto, among others. But she has also carved out a solid solo career, and her latest release, Golden, is a crowdpleaser. The five tracks feature England’s alternately breathy and strong vocals as she navigates through a series of emotional landscapes. The title track has a chilling, hand-clap and beat-based rhythm, and when she sings about the importance of each day, the effect is electric. This becomes the primary theme of the EP as the remaining tracks—“Beautiful Blur,” “When We Were Young,” “Home,” and “How Lucky We Are”—center around a fast-paced life and how we can’t afford to let it eat us up. The EP is filled with a spine-tingling eclecticism that culminates in stirring, not-to-be-missed, ambient folktronica.