Crystal Castles

"After all of the stuff Crystal Castles did in the wake of their success, a whole lot of people hoped their new album would be terrible. Sorry, haters: 2010's Crystal Castles improves on their (also self-titled) debut in nearly every way. The latest from the Toronto-based electro duo is reminiscent of the jump forward taken by Deerhunter between Cryptograms and Microcastle, or F*ck Buttons from Street Horrrsing to Tarot Sport. Like those acts, Crystal Castles have reconciled with their detractors instead of running from them. By staying true to themselves, they've created a more focused, propulsive, and satisfying follow-up. Some listeners might miss the sonic shock that came from hearing the sub-zero Italo chill of "Magic Spells" sequenced next to the 8-bit electrocution of "Xxzxcuzx Me", but clashes like those wore out their welcome over the span of 16 tracks. Here, Crystal Castles embrace continuity and broaden their dynamic range beyond the primitive loops that once constituted the foundations of their songs. The core elements of first single "Celestica", for example, are pure shoegaze, but the waves of distortion that scrape across its chorus squash any concerns that the duo has gone soft. For a band known for its harsh midrange, this record reveals a surprising amount of depth in headphones." - Pitchfork, 8.5, Best New Music!

TRY: #2, 5, 8, 12

http://www.myspace.com/crystalcastles
http://crystalcastles.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Castles_(band)
http://www.last.fm/music/Crystal+Castles
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14190-crystal-castles/