There are always new musical acts accompanied by strong promotional efforts and hype orchestrated by the recording companies who have invested in them. And there is real reward when the hype surrounding them is justified, as is the case with both Karmin and American Authors.
Karmin: Pulses (Epic/Sony Music). Originally a YouTube sensation, the real-life couple behind Karmin — Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan — would record covers of songs by Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj and Eminem. But what really caught the public’s imagination was the rapping of Amy. Pulses is the pair’s first full-length album, and it’s a wonderful melange of pop, hip-hop and rap, with touches of reggae and dub. What is impeccable is the songwriting quality, as well as the diversity of the songs.
At times, Amy sounds like Nicki; on other songs, she reminds one of Jessie J, or Ke$ha, or Mariah Carey. Nevertheless, the album is sheer pop bliss. I loved I Want It All, Nights Like This, Hate to Love You. Karmin is also just as good with ballads like Neon Love. Nick is the guy, and he sings great as well. You’ll find a true winner here.
American Authors: Oh, What A Life (Island Records/MCA). When I first heard Best Day of My Life, I thought it was a new single from fun. or Imagine Dragons. So, I was quite surprised to learn it was from a new act hailing from Brooklyn, whose members met while studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. The band’s music is a heady mix of indie pop and neo-folk — somewhere in between the two aforementioned bands and Mumford & Sons. Several of the tunes also incorporate the banjo. Besides the carrier single, Believer, and Think About It, tracks such as Luck and Love would be the ones I’m certain you’ll return to, especially if you’re a fan of the music of the acts I pointed to as musical reference points. Oh, What A Life is a strong debut album, with songs that cry to be sing-along standards.