Tin Bangs – My Wife is so Bored (Independent)

On their new EP, My Wife is so Bored, Tin Bangs encapsulates all its Brit pop and ’70s punk influences into a brief ten minutes. For a local band, Tin Bangs has left a considerable impression on the indie music scene internationally, opening for bands like Art Brut, the Killers, and Editors. My Wife is so Bored consists of three songs, all with repetitive guitar riffs and fast drums. “Shit Disco” provides an energetic start with dominating guitar chords from the first second to the last. “Animal Mother” has a catchier chorus, and incorporates even heavier guitar riffs. “Nervous Now” ends the short EP with three minutes of pent-up energy and the Marco Polo shouting of “Are you nervous now?” Even the most unconscious listener is forced to anticipate what’s ahead, but the song ends abruptly. What just happened? With the popularity of Arctic Monkeys, Art Brut, and Tokyo Police Club, it’s not surprising that Tin Bangs has quickly emerged onto the alternative music scene. Listeners will like this EP for its high energy, but probably won’t put it on if its influences are within reach. —JACQUELINE CHAN

Rating: VVV

Keren Ann – Keren Ann (Blue Note)

After having spent seven years perfecting her art in locations around the world, Keren Ann returns with her fi fth solo album, the self-titled Keren Ann. With a rawness analogous to Cat Power, and electronic mixes comparable to those on Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Keren Ann’s latest is an emotional journey through heartache, anger, and understanding. The album begins with calculated movements, precise and accurate, as Keren Ann conceals her desperation. As the album progresses, she diverges into emotional heartache in “Lay your head down” and “The Harder Ships of the World.” The journey advances into resentment nicely represented with heavy drumming in “It Ain’t No Crime.” The second half mixes static sound and feedback, with piano and echoed vocals. “Caspia” concludes the album and is the only up-tempo instrumental. Wrap up the tears, ’cause it’s time to go.—JC

Rating: VVVV