Blog: Cougar Microbes

Alex Ebert's dedication to writing music showed no signs of slowing down in 2011. Having wowed us with THAT Magnetic Zeros album and resurrected Ima Robot recently he also found time to release his solo album named simply 'Alexander'. Recorded in his off time from touring this album sounds like the stripped down extension of [...]

Bon Iver's much awaited sophomore album did not disappoint warranting a spot on numerous "Best of 20113 lists including a handful of Cougar Microbes types. Nicole justified its selection saying "Bon Iver continues to carve out his niche, and the deeper he goes the better. If the listener follows as he continues his subterranean exploration, [...]

considering Jamie Hince's extended stint in the tabloid papers and Alison Mosshart's largely enjoyable The Dead Weather project The Kills may have been forgiven for losing focus once it came down to the business of recording music again. Instead with the release of 'Blood Pressures' the duo returned with a bag full of attitude and some of their [...]

Annie Clark's return marked the continued metamorphosis of her St. Vincent project. 'Strange Mercy' see's the Texan mix eerie instrumentation and crystal clear vocals into a delicious concoction. Cole included the album in his year end list adding "Annie Clark, performing as St. Vincent, has crafted a spellbinding third album. Perhaps it's her serene vocals [...]

PJ Harvey returned in 2011 with her 8th studio album and yet another reinvention of her sound. Yet again the Dorset native does not merely retrace steps she has taken in the past instead preferring to venture into unexplored territory. This is a concept album of sorts dissecting events and behaviors leading to and during the [...]

As a teenager I dragged my dad to see Radiohead's The Bends tour in Milan making me the youngest person in the audience and him the oldest most likely. At the time I thought this would be a momentous occasion as we both witnessed a phenomenal show from what I was certain would be [...]

Lykke Li returns with the long awaited follow up to 20082s 'Youth Novels'. Back then the Swedish starlet was a shy teenager whose quirky manner and heart-on-sleeve delivery made her impossible not to like. Still, the very inexperience and exuberance that made the album so endearing also produced some of its most obvious flaws. On [...]

It is somewhat poetic that 'We're New Here' would turn out to be Gil Scott-Heron's last release before he sadly passed away in 2011. In a career where he distinguished himself for confounding expectations it felt like the tracks from 'I'm New Here', his triumphant comeback album from 2010, where ripe to be quoted, sampled [...]

Cut Copy's latest album represents an intriguing pastiche of French house chic and indie rock adrenaline. It fuses a metronome precision traditionally associate with a "one-man-and-his-laptop" act with that warm feeling when band members feed off each other's energy. On 'Zonoscope' it is easy to lose yourself in a sea of loops and twists as Dan Whitford delivers [...]

Having waited for Florence + The Machine to release a followup to 20092s excellent 'Lungs' album our wish was finally granted with 'Ceremonials'. This followup from Florence Welch and co. merits a spot in our top albums of the year because it combines great songwriting skills, something that is becoming rare these days, with an [...]

Belgian-Australian Wally De Backer found the winning formula with his 3rd album under the Gotye moniker. 'Making Mirrors' saw the multi-instrumentalist bring his unique Sting-meets-Ceelo sampling appeal to a greater audience no doubt led by the success of lead single 'Somebody That I Used To Know. Cougar regular Emily, who also wrote this gushing review, [...]

Following the success of Fleet Foxes' debut self titled album interest in their follow up was understandably high. Cougar writer Jazmin added them to her year end list adding: "Fleet Foxes embody everything about why I love indie-folk- consistently brilliant albums, and consistently wonderful live shows, both of which combine simple musical elements to make [...]

Das Racist's free 2010 mixtapes had critics and fans scratching their heads over whether the trio were for real. The release of their official album 'Relax', while simultaneously resembling a series of elaborate in-jokes, suggests the trio are genuine enough. The Brooklyn band spit over a series of jagged beats produced by the likes of [...]

Cold War Kids' debut 'Robbers & Cowards' is an album I have given numerous plays over the years and never get tired of. It's follow up 'Loyalty To Loyalty' left me bitterly disappointed as the Californians ditched much of the angular attack that had drawn me to them in the first place. I worried Cold [...]

Conor Oberst oversaw the evolution of Bright Eyes over the past 10 years offering a series of constantly changing albums which displayed the frontman's outstanding ability to write a pop song in his many evolving guises. Hardcore fans may have been left disheartened by the apparent refusal to return to what brought Bright Eyes to the limelight in [...]

Still only in their early 202s Londoner's Bombay Bicycle Club released their third album in as many years in 2011. Just as the novelty factor of the foursome being fresh out of school was starting to wear off they produced an album that begs to be described as mature. Those expecting more acoustic forays in [...]

Apparat's, AKA Sasha Ring, latest album feels like the most natural progression for the German DJ/artist merging diverse elements from his past into an all together more ambitious vision. 'The Devil's Walk' sees a whole bunch of personalities share vocal duties but the real star is always it's creator. He builds his songs subtle string elements and [...]

Popular music and the way we consume has changed a great deal in the past 20 or so years. CAKE on the other hand exist in their own bubble continuing to pinch from seemingly dated influences and turning them into something all together more timeless. The Californians pull off every move from their personal playbook [...]

The Black Keys didn't keep us waiting long for their new album reuniting with old co-conspirator Danger Mouse in the process. 'El Camino' is further proof that the duo's unlikely success is not a fluke. Cougar writer Cole added this to his top 10 explaining "'El Camino' is not The Black Keys' best album. Frankly [...]

Over 25 years have passed since the release of 'Licence To Ill' and the Beastie Boys still sound as exciting as ever. In today's musical landscape their shared delivery style is almost singular and on 'Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2' the true New York kings are as good as they have ever been. Cougar regular Thom [...]