Album reviews for those of us who just wanna vibe out, maaaan.

Album reviews for those of us who just wanna vibe out, maaaan. Have an album submission? Email it to us at Contact@TheRooster.com

LOCAL

Bvggz // Vampire

Bvggz comes out brandishing a wild stick on fire with his latest release “Vampire” — a solid, dark-driven collection of worthwhile heaters. With recognizable features including Devan Blake Jones, Trev Rich and Leona Harper (each successful in their own right), the 10-track trip is a look into the mind of someone turning life’s downs into something up. Get deep with “RIF B” or “Drop Down” — the standout tracks of the album — to acquaint yourself with an artist ready for more.

Eldren // Welcome to Deathville

Eldren, a self-proclaimed “psychedelic space pop” outfit, represents everything great still left in the world. The lot of them has fun with their musical enterprise, and stray far away from stagnant local deliveries, not wrapping themselves too tight in a marketing box with little air for creative experimentation. The act’s music video for the single “Sunny Rain DayMoon” (a damn catchy tune) follows Tolkien-esque characters battling trolls and asian stereotypes for precious gems and whatnot. Why? Why not? Bless the heavens for Eldren.

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL

Jean-Michel Jarre // Electronica 1: The Time Machine

Jean-Michel Jarre is a pioneer that arguably helped begin it all. Electronic lovers, and especially trance heads, this is big time. In putting the new album together, Jarre collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, including Moby, M83, 3D of Massive Attack, Pete Townshend and Armin van Buuren. It’s stacked. And it’s no ‘boom boom bap, bass drop’ like today’s artists; it’s a wave-caressing ride into unexplored territories of the mind. Sonic drugs. We’re going to call it sonic drugs.

Nathaniel Rateliff  & the Night Sweats // Self-titled EP

After years of honing his craft, Rateliff seems to be most comfortable in his soul, blues and rock inspired incarnation. While the infectious “S.O.B.” will likely be the biggest radio single on the album, the rest of it isn’t anything to sleep on. “Howling At Nothing,” “Thank You” and “Look It Here” feel like they’ve been stolen from a more sincere era in music and posted up in the present. Yeeap, after a blistering appearance on both Conan and Fallon, we needn’t consider Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats “local” anymore.