“Big Mess” by Grouplove

Released: Sept. 9

Genre: Indie

Grade: A

“We’re back in business” sings Hannah Hooper on the opening track, “Welcome to Your Life,” as the band Grouplove officially releases its third album. It has been three years since it released its second album. The hiatus was due to the birth of Hooper’s daughter with Christian Zucconi. The quirky band with its danceable beats is back just as strong as before with the single “Good Morning,” that hosts a danceable beat leaving listeners unable to sit still. Between “Traumatized” and “Do You Love Someone,” as well as a few other tracks, the album is heavily influenced by Hooper and Zucconi’s daughter, and their relationship and love for each other. Although Zucconi’s wild and screeching vocals are usually something to be enjoyed, like on their very first single back in 2001 “Colours,” it happens to be a bit over-bearing on “Heart of Mine.” Not like usual, he didn’t mix the screeching vocals with his normal tones or those of Hooper, so three minutes and 36 seconds of those screeches ends up being a bit too much. This only flaw, though, leaves this highly anticipated album well worth the wait. 

Download: “Traumatized”

“Signs of Light” by The Head and the Heart

Released: Sept. 9

Genre: Indie

Grade: D

The Head and the Heart, like the Lumineers, Of Monsters and Men and many other indie-folk bands, has gained popularity through its kinda-rock-kinda-country instrumentals. Unlike these other bands though, The Head and the Heart have become progressively worse over the course of the last two albums. That’s not to say the second and third albums are bad per-say, but it hasn’t been able to live up to the fantastic compilation that was the 2010 self-titled first album. “Turn it Around” is a prime example of the lacking qualities on this album. First, it doesn’t feature the band’s extremely talented and delicate instrumentals and instead is swapped for over-the-top, pop-y, bland tunes and repetitive vocals that go on for way too long. The same can be said for “Your Mother’s Eyes.” The album also has a monotonous rhythm as one song seems to flow into the next. It lacks a change of pace and tone. One of the only redeemable songs on the album is the title-track “Signs of Light.” It surprisingly starts off slower than the rest of the album, but manages to add beating instrumentals and picks up the pace quite nicely. It’s a bit reminiscent of the early days of “Rivers and Roads.”  You would think listeners would have received better material with a three-year wait in between albums. Hopefully if we have to wait another three years, we will actually get something worthy of the self-titled album.

Download: “Signs of Light”