Review: Cobra Skulls – Sitting Army
Reno, Nevada’s Cobra Skulls have a great record out called Sitting Army that fuses gruff leftist pop-punk with rockabilly, punk-ska, and more. It is a brief and frenzied album with nary a lull to be found anywhere. With every song title containing the word cobra, it is obvious the band has a sense of humor, (Read more…)
Review: Dust Jacket – EP
Despite the manila folder and horribly ridiculous professional promo pictures (see above for example) of the band included with the three song sampler disc I got from Dust Jacket, this band from Phoenix, AZ is actually pretty good. Opening the package I was expecting the worst as I popped the disc into my stereo. Instead, (Read more…)
Review: White Shoes & The Couples Company
I don’t doubt that White Shoes & The Couples Company are the best indie-pop band in Indonesia simply because I can’t name any others. This band of art school students does (however) serve up a big dose of retro-inspired indie-pop that is breezy, playful, and full of all sorts of gently fluttering instrumentation. They remind (Read more…)
Review: A Wilhelm Scream – Career Suicide
Sometimes jazz musicians talk about concepts like “the space between notes” and the importance of “the notes you don’t play” when referring to selecting exactly the right phrasing and making each and every one count. Every note is indeed important to the the veteran Massachusetts hardcore punks in A Wilhelm Scream but instead of letting (Read more…)
Review: Paper Rival – EP
Paper Rival is an upstart indie pop band from Nashville that is (with only an EP to their name) already making quite a splash. Their sparkling & clean-toned sound has an obvious nu-emo influence (think Taking Back Sunday lite) that is easy on the ears without being too watered down. Vocalist Jake Rolleston belts out (Read more…)
Songs for a Black Friday shopping spree
Hello everyone. I hope you all stuffed yourself with turkey, tofurkey, or whatever you chose and has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I’m wondering how many of you are going to be heading out early to find the best and biggest deals on everything you need for the holidays this Black Friday? Are you headed out to (Read more…)
Review: That’s Mister To You – And Another Thing!
A few weeks ago our friend Laura from Dallas asked us to give a listen to her friend’s band That’s Mister To You. I remarked that they have a terrible name but I agreed to give ‘em a listen. Oftentimes a personal influence such as this might skew a review to be overly positive. I (Read more…)
Review: Travels – S/T
Do you like darkly sunny lo-fi bedroom indie pop-tronica? If no, you can stop reading now. If yes (or if you’re feeling a bit adventurous) you might really enjoy the self-titled album from Travels. Travels is the duo of Mona Elliott (of Victory At Sea) and Anar Badalov (of Metal Hearts). The two met and (Read more…)
Review: Moving Units – Hexes for Exes
WI thought the disco-dance-punk movement was so 2003-2004 and all but dead these days. Evidently the Los Angeles trio of Moving Units didn’t get that memo. The band released their excellent debut full-length Dangerous Dreams in 2003 and has finally released their sophomore effort Hexes For Exes after four long years. It is still dance-punk (Read more…)
