May 11 Album Roundup

illuminati hotties — Kiss Yr Frenemies

Indie Rock

Los Angeles-based producer, mixer, and engineer Sarah Tudzin shows off her talents as a performer on her first album as illuminati hotties. Kiss Yr Frenemies is equal parts peppy pop rock and powerfully intimate slow burns along with sprinkles of angsty acoustics (“Boi”) and breezy sing-a-longs (“Patience”). 7/10

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La Luz — Floating Features

Surf Rock

This all-female quartet from Seattle, based out of L.A., released their third album in May. Floating Features is a bit more off the beaten path than your average indie rock album; and while the ladies of La Luz manage to create some appealing melodies, overall, the album doesn’t bring much to the table. 4/10

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Benjamin Jaffe — Oh, Wild Ocean of Love

Alternative

Benjamin Jaffe makes up one half of the acclaimed Americana duo HoneyHoney, and on his debut solo effort he takes on a lighter alternative rock sound. The man has an incredible voice and he sings comfortably over warm instrumentation that seems built for a nap in the sun. Sadly, the pleasant atmosphere doesn’t make up for the lack of gripping material, with only a few tracks that strike a chord with me. 5/10

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courtship. — Denial in Paradise

Synth Pop

The L.A. duo of Micah Gordon and Eli Hirsch have put out an album of unashamedly in-your-face electronic pop jams. While low on originality, these songs pack in some very fun hooks and a playful energy best enjoyed with friends and alcohol. 7/10