Ghostory<\/em><\/p>\n (Vagrant\/Ghostly)<\/p>\n 4\/5<\/p>\n School of Seven Bells, a dream-pop indie-rock shoegaze band from New York, are back with their third studio album. This band is adorable: their songs draw you in and feel like comfortable dreams, the kind you never want to end.<\/p>\n Recently, School of Seven Bells downgraded in size, becoming a duo consisting of Alejandra Deheza and Benjamin Curtis. Alejandra\u2019s biological twin, Claudia, left the band in 2010. (So, officially, the band is still genetically the same.)<\/p>\n Most of the band\u2019s lyrics read like poetry, instead of traditional shoegaze music that has a tendency to use vocals as another layer of sound. This is because of School of Seven Bells\u2019 unique songwriting style, in which the lyrics are formulated first and then are only supplemented by the music.<\/p>\n Which isn\u2019t to say the music isn\u2019t worth exploring, because it is; the vocals and lyrics are simply the extra element that pushes this one above good and into great.<\/p>\n -Clorisa Simpson<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chains of Love<\/strong><\/p>\n Strange Grey Days<\/em><\/p>\n (Dine Alone)<\/p>\n 3.5\/5<\/p>\n Strange Grey Days<\/em> is a promising debut from Vancouver\u2019 Chains of Love. The album bursts out of the gate in stunning fashion, with dense, soulful rockers. \u201cHe\u2019s leaving (with Me)\u201d and \u201cAll the Time\u201d display rhythmic chemistry between bassist Brian Nichol and drummer Steve Ferreira.<\/p>\n The third and fourth tracks are an inexplicable shift from the darker sound of the first two. The atmosphere established by the opening tracks is all but abandoned in favour of two pop numbers heavily steeped in the influence of Fleetwood Mac. This lack of focus rudely interrupts the listening experience.<\/p>\n The album picks up steam once more on the sixth track, \u201cLately,\u201d with some truly inspired keyboards. Henry Beckwith\u2019s playing here is reminiscent of the psychedelic stylings of Ray Manzarek.<\/p>\n Although the band shows a lack of focus, Strange Grey Days<\/em> is a fresh and compelling record that gives off a heavy retro vibe.<\/p>\n -James Down<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Projection<\/strong><\/p>\n While You Were Out<\/em><\/p>\n (Paramount Drive)<\/p>\n 1.5\/5<\/p>\n While You Were Out <\/em>is the second album by Chicago pop-punk trio the Projection. The album begins in lackluster fashion with the title track and \u201cCross the Line.\u201d The band establishes the album early as commercially conscious, generic pop-punk.<\/p>\n While the first three tracks offer nothing notable, the fourth track, \u201cAlways Remember,\u201d is notably awful. This insipid, clich\u00e9-drenched ballad is like a Blink-182 song sloppily played by a far less confident band.<\/p>\n Drummer Colin Benoit saves While You Were Out<\/em> from being a complete throwaway. His chugging, powerful rhythms carry his far weaker bandmates. He\u2019s the one strong point in an album rife with uninspired, bland music, childish lyrics, and tired themes.<\/p>\n While You Were Out <\/em>will be filling record store bargain bins come the end of the month.<\/p>\n -James Down<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/1932149b.jpeg\" "\\"1932149b\\"")
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