Iceage prove their worth on sophomore CD

Iceage
``You‘re Nothing’‘
(Matador Records)

The second album from the four Danish lads known as Iceage is an even more caustic slab of brooding punk than their blindsiding first record. ``You’re Nothing‘’ rails against excess, manufactured pressure and the general decimation of morality.

Alternating between urgent calls to act (“Coalition‘’) and a bruised motivation (”Wounded Hearts‘’), these songs devolve and instruments claw for space, fueling the unbridled frenzy. On the raging ``Burning Hand,‘’ Elias Bender Ronnenfelt loses his throat asking pointed rhetorical questions with such aplomb. It‘s like he’s in on a good joke. The chorus of ``Rodfaestet‘’ - sung in their native tongue - is as close as they get to sing-along territory.

A few moments jump out: The immediate pummel of the percussion that opens ``It Might Hit First,‘’ the reflective intervals (“In Haze‘’) reminiscent of debut standout ``Remember‘’ and the unhinged repeating of the title that closes out the album.

(AP)


Foals shine with ‘Holy Fire’

Foals
``Holy Fire‘’
(Warner Bros. Records)

One thing you can say about the Foals is that they always mix it up. Their first album, ``Antidotes,‘’ was loaded with heavy drumbeats, while ``Total Life Forever‘’ was more melancholic with beautiful lyrical prowess.

The British band sticks to their wild formula on the new album, ``Holy Fire.‘’ It opens with ``Prelude,‘’ a 4-minute long instrumental that blasts into ``Inhaler,‘’ showcasing a rockier side to the band. There are howling guitars and shouting vocals, courtesy of Yannis Philippakis.

``My Number‘’ is addictive and could have jumped straight from a Talking Heads record. It is funky, uplifting and playful, and the lyrics illustrate optimism: ``I feel the love, feel the love.‘’

Melancholia isn‘t far away though, as the record swings back down with ``Bad Habit,’‘ which is a soulful lament. ``I’m a bad habit, one you cannot shake,‘’ sings Philippakis.

(AP)


Houser returns with radio-ready album

Randy Houser
``How Country Feels‘’
(Stoney Creek)

There‘s little coincidence that Randy Houser’s new album, ``How Country Feels,‘’ arrives just as the title track reaches No. 1 on the country radio charts.

The Mississippi singer earned his first chart-topper with the initial single from his most radio-friendly album. Stuffed with country soul-inflected mid-tempo arrangements that highlight Houser‘s rich voice, there’s likely a few more hits among its 15 tracks.

He‘s sanded away much of the grit that marked his previous work and deploys a more traditional country sound on songs like ``The Singer,’‘ ``Power of a Song’‘ and ``Like a Cowboy’‘ that shows off his vocal versatility and a willingness to explore.

Just when it starts to feel like there’s a little too much varnish, Houser closes the album with ``Route 3 Box 250 D.‘’ It‘s easily his most powerful song, and one we hope gets played on the radio, too.

(AP)