Review: Hot Chip – Coming On Strong (or) i’m a nomad for love
Is it dance music? Is it romantic make-out music? It is humorous lite funk? Yes. Hot Chip is a quirky little group from England and their songs are silky smooth slices of electro-funk pop. With delicate vocals (singing seemingly tongue-in-cheek lyrics) layered on top of loungey beats and blips, Hot Chip pays homage to everyone (Read more…)
Review: Fear Before The March Of Flames – Art Damage (or) whiskey is alright in its place
I was reading the Equal Vision Records website and was saddened to learn that Detroit’s Bear Vs. Shark has called it quits. Too bad. Their latest record Terrorhawk was # 44 on my 2005 Top 50 list. I did (however) come across a band called Fear Before The March Of Flames and they play some (Read more…)
Review: Maritime – We, The Vehicles (or) to make room for you and i
Everyone is familiar with the musical stylings of Maritime, right? Well, the Promise Ring broke up in 2002 and the Dismemberment Plan followed suit in 2003. The latter being one of my all-time faves, but not to worry. Maritime is Davey VonBohlen and Dan Dider (both ex-Promise Ring) and Eric Axelson (ex-Dismemberment Plan). They play (Read more…)
iTunes, iPod, & baby help needed
I am reaching out to all of you iPod owners for a little help. I’ve got a new white 30GB iPod and iTunes is being less than cooperative with me. I basically have three questions: 1. Is there a way to refresh my iTunes library? 2. Is iTunes the only way to get music onto (Read more…)
Review: Goes Cube – Goes Cube EP (or) solving rubik’s
Goes Cube is a Brooklyn post-punk duo made up of David Obuchowski (vocals, guitars) and Matthey Frey (bass) along with their aptly named “beating machine.” The music is catchy without being poppy, edgy and biting without being heavy, and it makes you want to get up and move without being too dancey. “Goes Cube offsets (Read more…)
Please take me home
Over the Christmas holiday, I was pleased to learn that my younger cousin Sam is learning to play the guitar. He informed me that he loves Nirvana and Led Zeppelin and it got me thinking about the great “guitar” bands that I loved when I first started playing. This same cousin got a subscription to (Read more…)
Review: Forget Cassettes – Instruments Of Action (or) this conversation is wearing thin
Nashville’s own Forget Cassettes is your next favorite band. Straddling the line between garage-rock and Jawbox-esqe post-punk, this (now) trio is currently working on their next album. They transition from out of control guitar riffage to barely audible breathy vocals and do it gracefully. Fronted by the dynamic and powerful vocals of Beth Cameron, Forget (Read more…)
Review: Lake Of Falcons – Lake Of Falcons (or) transitioning the neutral
Lake Of Falcons is a three-piece rock band from Seattle that sounds like they should be from Gainesville or Richmond (if you know what I mean). Its gritty, straight-ahead punk-inspired guitar rock with vocals that range from softly sung to screaming. This is blue-collar music that shifts tempo and changes intensity without ever losing its (Read more…)
Merry christmas everyone
Despite the naysayers that say a reunited Smoking Popes is nothing more than Duvall playing Popes tunes, I’m still really excited. Duvall is basically the reunited Smoking Popes lineup minus brother Matt Caterer. Sample the choice Duvall tunes below including their version of my favorite Christmas song as well as a great cover of Jawbreaker’s (Read more…)
