"No Wonder"- WIll Stratton

8.5

After "What the Night Said", a spring album full of happy and melancholy tunes for the season, "No Wonder" returns in 2009 with the same shy-voiced 23 year-old Will Stratton. His almost whipsered vocals and lyrics paint pictures of summer evenings, old friends, old love, new love, and all the ups and downs of life; something he does so well portraying.

This time, Stratton is joined by several musicians that play a vital role in most of the songs. His voice is backed by a female singing just loud enough to grace the words with a feminine touch; this just makes his music even more endearing. If "What the Night Said" was his acoustic album with the touch of electric songs, "No Wonder" is his electric album with the touch of acoustic songs; the perfect balance.

"Who Will", the first song, starts the album off celestially. One of his most valiant, soul wrenching songs ever. After some light acoustic songs, "Robin and Marian" picks up with an 1800's song of a union miner who is trying to support his beautiful wife; a really moving story actually. "You're a Real Thing", is already a strong contendor for best song of the year. Yeah, it's that good. This song is his strongest lyrically, with several amazing lines; "The old ones wish that they were younger/so they would know what they know now"; wow. Such a deep analysis from such a young man. This album even dabbles in noise rock/punk. "Nineteen" and "If Only" rock this album. "It's Okay if you Want to" is another truly moving song. Just listening to the music can take you away; it was stuck in my head for days.

For me, this album was a huuuuuge step from his first effort, but I loved it even more. On "No Wonder", Stratton shows his best songwriting, and musicianship, and he shines. This album is already one of my picks for best of the year.

Key tracks: "You're A Real Thing", "It's Okay if you Want to"
Listen if you like: Ra Ra Riot, Fionn Regan

http://www.willstratton.com/

http://www.willstratton.bandcamp.com/

www.myspace.com/willstratton

"Tonight: Franz Ferdinand"- Franz Ferdinand

7.0

Franz Ferdinand has always been, in my opinion, number 2 in indie (at least). It always seems that whatever they do always get out shined by something else; and, in my opinion, that's not necessarily in vain.

First of all, this is supposedly their "dance" album. This didn't necessarily work out for them because you can't just add a couple synthesizers here and there and make the beat a little faster and expect to have it be a dance album. They didn't necessarily miss their objective; this album lies somewhere between Indie Rock and Indie/Dance.

This album starts out strong, and then falls off the cliff from there. For instance, "Ulysses" does a great job of opening the album. It's a catchy tune that makes you want to groove into a British night club. The next, "Turn in On", is the stalker in the back of that night club you just walked into. "No You Girls", highlights the differences in genders (possibly during intercourse). "Send Him Away" is the first mediocre track, with a grooving line, but not quite there. "Twilight Omens" is possibly the most jivin' song on the album. This song plays the part when you get her number and go home from the night club. "Bite Hard" marks the first in the black hole on the album, which lasts until "Lucid Dreams", an almost 8 minute jam. "Dream Again", is a strikingly celestial song in the midst of almost dance-indie and pop. The end of the album, "Katherine Kiss Me", takes the group back to "Jacqueline", a slow acoustic soulful tune.

All in all, this album starts out strong, fades off, and sort of recovers. An overall pretty good album.

Highlight: "No You Girls", "Dream Again"
Listen if you like: The Bravery, MGMT