album of the month club

Album

“Recto Verso” by Paradis (2016)

Selected By

Dan Burke

Background

The only album ever made by this French duo, “Recto Verso” encapsulates the rapid demise of this group just as they’re putting out they’re best (and only) piece of work. Despite the lyrics being entirely in French, a melancholic feel permeates the album and gives the listener a sense of the tumult below the surface. Digging into the lyrics drives this home further – the chorus to “Des Semaine En Semaine” translated to English reads “And from week to week / This loop keeps runnin’ ’til it’s hard to breathe / And from week to week / I grit my teeth to the BPM”.

That being said listening to the album is anything but a negative experience. Lush synths and catchy vocal melodies pair nicely with the mellow House beats to put the listener into a trance-like state (the hour album flies by). Production is great (recording and mastering were helped by Daft Punk affiliates), and comparisons range from Body Language and Disclosure to more downtempo artists like Zero 7. Best listened to with high quality headphones, shoveling snow at night, or driving in your car while contemplating life’s ups and downs.

Genres:

-French indie electronic / EDM

-Driving with your mom while very high

-Driving through LA after a breakup, trying to figure life out

-Maybe sex playlist

Album Picks

-Recto Verso

-Instantané

-Toi Et Moit

-De Semaine En Semaine

Album

“I Had A Dream That You Were Mine” by Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam (2016)

Selected By

Ben Gulla

About

An indie super-group of sorts, The Walkmen’s Hamilton Leithauser and Vampire Weekend’s Rostam joined together to create this wistful indie-rock album. Leithauser’s raspy crooning pairs surprisingly well with the pop arrangements and choral backgrounds, creating an uplifting listening experience despite a slight melancholic feel to the album overall. The more acoustic-led arrangements combined with the singing style invite comparisons to Bob Dylan (especially on “You Ain’t That Young Kid”), however combined with modern elements this album is quintessentially 2010s indie rock and also recalls Cold War Kids, Lord Huron, and Edward Sharpe.

The lyrics are perhaps the most interesting part of the album, with every song being a story about a person that Leithauser knows in real life. “The Bride’s Dad” may be the lyrical highlight of the album, but also be warned that “A 1000 times” lives up to it’s name, for better or worse. Regardless, if you’re on the the other side of the world and don’t know anybody, this is the album to help lift your spirits.

Genres

-Driving in South Africa in a Hyundai i10

-Lonesome wistfulness

-Minnesota

-Walking home late night in NYC

Album Picks:

-A 1000 Times

-The Bride’s Dad

-Rough Going (I Won’t Let uP)