Artist: Owls Album: Two Label: Polyvinyl Records Release Date: March 25, 2014  (Pre-order Digital/LP/CD/Cassette) RIYL: Cap’n Jazz, Joan Of Arc, Mineral, American Football

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When I started to broaden my horizons away from punk rock, I latched on to more melodic emo bands such as The Appleseed Cast and American Football. As I dug more into the emo scene, I knew I was supposed to like bands such as Cap’n Jazz and Joan Of Arc, but I never fully got into them. So for me, a new Owls album is already a tough sell. I didn’t care much for their 2001 release on Jade Tree Records, so I met this long awaited follow-up with shrugs. Owls probably won’t gain many new fans with Two but fans of Cap’n Jazz, Joan Of Arc and Owls’ previous effort will love this album. What I can respect with Owls (and all of Tim Kinsella, Mike Kinsella, Victor Villarreal, and Sam Zurick’s projects) is the lo-fi and simple approach they’ve maintained throughout the years. If you’ve listened to anything they’ve been involved with (including Owen, Joan of Arc, Make Believe, and Ghosts and Vodka) you won’t find over-complicated production. In fact, Tim Kinsella remarks, “The line ‘We’ve never had nice stuff’ (in the song “Ancient Stars Seed”) feels good to sing because we really are still a grubby foursome with broken equipment and no money and I see these shitty young bands every day with pedal boards and no ideas.” In fact, what we’re seeing with Owls’ Two is a growth of ideas and theme, but not a shift or sacrifice in production quality. The album sounds exactly like you’d expect it to. If you were a fan of Owls’ 2001 self titled release, Two is a fantastic follow up. The band doesn’t seem to have missed a beat in 13 years, in fact Two seems to have a pinch of energy their original release lacked. The production is crisp, clean and full of life. With Two, I believe the band has accomplished what they set out to do: to return with an album that long time fans of all these members’ projects will appreciate and love.  

Artist: Pillar Point Album: Pillar Point Label: Polyvinyl Records Release Date: Out Now  (iTunes | AmazonMP3| Spotify | LP/CD/Cassette) RIYL: Depeche Mode, Throw Me the Statue, M83, Washed Out

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For me, synth-pop and electronica has been hit or miss. Few electronic albums turn my head and most of them annoy the hell out of me, which is why Pillar Point’s debut self-titled album is such a stand-out. The tinge of 80′s synth mixed with Scott Reitherman’s smooth, slightly processed vocals are reminiscent of early Depeche Mode, but it doesn’t feel like an experiment in nostalgia. Pillar Point is Scott Reitherman, with the album produced by long time collaberator Charlie Smith. The album is a departure from their past projects. “Part of what steered me toward the textures and beats of dance music was the feeling of catharsis you can experience through dance,” explains Reitherman. The upbeat sounds of Pillar Point are in direct contrast with the album’s themes of heartbreak, loneliness, aging and isolation in an increasingly connected world. This approach works fantastically, especially on the song “Eyeballs” which is a song dealing with our digital connection with people in our lives, but our disconnection with friends and loved ones in real life. Other stand out tracks include the smooth electronic grooves of “Cherry” and “Echoes.” Scott Reitherman and Charlie Smith have collaborated in the past with the indie-pop outfit Throw Me the Statue, but Reitherman considers Pillar Point his most intimate work yet. “Writing darker songs with dance elements helped me to process the confusion and change I was experiencing in my own life, because within the confines of a pop song I could control little moments of clarity and redemption,” he says. “And for the listener it adds depth to what might otherwise be just dance music.” This honesty and intimacy push each song on the album to a deeper level. It’s easy to enjoy a song for it’s tune, but discovering depth beneath the surface level elements of each song add for a richer experience. While certain tracks do stand out more than others, Pillar Point’s debut self titled album is a fantastic listen from beginning to end. Reitherman does a great job of blending a certain genuine nostalgia for 80′s Synth-pop, but goes above and beyond in still creating something new. The album’s sensibilities don’t feel like a cheap gimmick. Instead, Pillar Point is an fun, engaging and memorable introduction to a project that I hope continues for many more years. *This review originally appeared at PopSyn.com