Albums you need to hear now

Hockey

"Mind Chaos"
(Capitol Records)
The buzz: These crazily buzzed-about Portland dance-rockers have already played Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza before even releasing a full-length album. It’s not hard to hear why people are so psyched for “Mind Chaos”; single “Too Fake” is sultry and irresistible, and singer Ben Grubin has the voice, the versatile delivery and stage presence of a star.

The verdict: The most fun new band since Friendly Fires (and, yes, that statement considers Passion Pit), Hockey cranks out the sort of dizzyingly danceable rock that gets you moving one minute, and an hour later you’re tired and sweaty and can barely remember how it happened. It’s part retro, part disco and all outrageously catchy, from the piano-laced workout “Preacher” to the hip-thrusting “Learn to Lose,” which should have audiences elbowing for dancing space near the stage. (The impressive “Four Holy Photos” and “Everyone’s the Same Age” show the band can nail ballads too.) Who cares if half of the songs have the same galloping bassline? Shut up and ride it.

Did you know? The band may sound like New York hipsters, but their roots are all over the west coast. Grubin and bassist Jerm Reynolds met at the University of Redlands in southern California, recruited guitarist Brian White and drummer Anthony Stassi in Spokane, Washington, and later moved to Portland for the more robust music scene.

Posted Oct. 5 by Matt Pais

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