Review: The Maine - The Way We Talk EP
Posted on 26 April 2008 | No Comments
The Way We Talk is full of run-of-the-mill radio-friendly pop-punk that does without most of the punk. The music is simple and pretty damn catchy, but just it just sounds like every other fucking poppy pop-punk-indie-rock band trying to make it onto TRL these days. Sure, The Maine does what they do pretty well, and I’ll take this over a lot of the crap on the radio these days but I don’t even listen to the radio anymore. And even though I’m a huge pop-punk fan, I’m so over this sound. RIYL: The Starting Line, Cute Is What We Aim For, Mayday Parade, and hundreds of other bands that Drive Thru is probably dying to sign and pissed that Fearless got to first.
MP3 | The Maine – If I Only Had The Heart The Way We Talk EP
MP3 | The Maine – We Change, We Wait The Way We Talk EP
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Just Plain Rock, Pop
Review: Bayard Russell - Selftitled
Posted on 24 April 2008 | 1 Comment
Selftitled is a nice little record full of hushed but playful bedroom indie pop tunes from NYC singer/songwriter Bayard Russell. They are catchy, melodic, bouncy and everything you could want out of a record like this. Very recommended for fans of The Incredible Moses Leroy, The Softlightes, Say Hi, etc…
MP3 | Bayard Russell – I Know Selftitled
MP3 | Bayard Russell – A Candle That’s Burning Selftitled
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Pop
Review: Ben Lee - Ripe
Posted on 10 April 2008 | No Comments
Have I really been a fan of Ben Lee for this long? Heck, I remember buying his juvenile and imperfectly charming album Grandpaw Would back in 1995 when I was an aspiring young four-tracker myself. That was a long time ago; trust me. Since then, Ben Lee has released six full-length albums (if you include his track-by-track cover of Against Me’s New Wave) that I have all basically enjoyed. He’s recorded everything from sparse and introspective acoustic pop songs to electronics-laden beat-heavy indie-pop with production credits from Dan The Automator. His latest album, Ripe, is (however) a bit underwhelming. It comes across as something like the soundtrack to a boring romantic comedy; homogenized, smoothed over, and dumbed down for the masses. Songs like “What Would Jay-Z Do?,” “Sex Without Love,” and “So Hungry” are perfect examples.
Sure, the production and arrangements are pleasant (if a little boring) and the songs can be really really catchy, but there is nothing truly exciting about the album; nothing distinguishing. I’m willing to give Ben the benefit of the doubt here, but Ripe just seems like paint-by-numbers pop aimed at a demographic that I’m no longer a part of. Ripe has a few classic Ben Lee moments, but is ultimately disappointing; especially after Ben’s interesting (and excellent) take on Against Me’s great New Wave. Hopefully, Ben Lee will return to form on his next record. As someone who has been a fan for over a dozen years, I’d expect no less.
MP3 | Ben Lee – Birds And Bees (ft. Mandy Moore) Ripe
MP3 | Ben Lee – American Television Ripe
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Just Plain Rock, Pop
Review: Karmella's Game - The Art Of Distraction
Posted on 5 April 2008 | No Comments
Another disc that has been in my large stack of “stuff to review” is The Art Of Distraction From the Baltimore-based group Karmella’s Game. They play fun and bouncy synth-driven keyboard rock a la Reggie or Zolof but with fewer big rock tendencies. A little like what I’d imagine Sarge might sound like with James Dewees pounding the keys or perhaps a female-fronted Get Up Kids circa Something To Write Home About. Karmella’s Game doesn’t do anything groundbreaking on The Art Of Distraction, but the album is pretty fun and entertaining even for a jaded old fool like myself; even though the keyboards are (at times) cheesy and overdone.Think of it this way, if Darth Vader ever had a little sister, Karmella’s Game would be the perfect band to play her sweet sixteen party. Synth-heavy emo-dance-rock.
MP3 | Karmella’s Game – Diversions The Art Of Distraction
MP3 | Karmella’s Game – One Phone Call The Art Of Distraction
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Just Plain Rock, Pop
Review: Tift Merritt - Another Country
Posted on 24 March 2008 | No Comments
If you’d like radio-friendly country pop that sounds a little bit like Sheryl Crow and Lucinda Williams, you’ll almost certainly enjoy Tift Merritt’s latest Another Country. It is subtle, introspective, and with Merritt’s graceful vocals as the focal point, it is the perfect counter to Miranda Lambert’s brash and boisterous country affectations. Another Country goes down easy and fills the spot on my shelf next to Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris’ All The Roadrunning. It is a nice calming break from punk rock even if only for a minute or two.
MP3 | Tift Merritt – Keep You Happy Another Country
MP3 | Tift Merritt – Broken Another Country
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Pop
Review: Aloha - Light Works
Posted on 24 March 2008 | 1 Comment
Aloha has followed up their outstanding 2006 album Some Echoes with a brilliant (and aptly titled) 7 song EP called Light Works. It has a dreamier and more sparsely populated feel than Some Echoes but retains the same light and airy indie-pop melodicism of that album. The songs are gently radiant and seem to fill every corner of this room with new light. Aloha seems to have perfected and refined these songs to a point where all extraneous elements have been discarded and all that’s left is everything that’s needed. It is an exercise in concise arrangements that culminates with the sparkling near-perfection of songs like “Passengers” and “Gold World.”
The EP plays like the melting of snow and the rebirth of the world after a long, cold, and precipitous winter; like spring is finally here. It is perhaps due to the seasonality of this post or songs like “Trick Spring” and “Equinox,” but there is a palpable sense of movement and growth from the beginning of Light Works through its conclusion. This is a fantastic and highly recommended EP that is out now on Polyvinyl Records.
MP3 | Aloha – Body Buzz Light Works
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Pop
Review: Every Avenue - Shh. Just Go With It
Posted on 15 March 2008 | 2 Comments
This band should be huge. Seriously. Not with late-twentysomethings with a two year old kid like myself but (rather) with the teenage MTV crowd. Let me explain. First, Every Avenue sounds almost exactly like a cross between Fall Out Boy and Cartel. On their latest album Shh. Just Go With It, Every Avenue churns out catchy and mid-tempo peppy, poppy, punk-ish rock music that is safe and polished enough to have mainstream appeal. It is a little too vanilla for my tastes, but that is why it should be huge.
Therein lies the problem. Every Avenue is actually good. Despite the over-styled press photo you get when you open up the CD (which is evidently what kids look like these days), the band has talent. Maybe the studio has been kind to them, or maybe I’m a sucker for pseudo-pop-punk hooks, but the band is tight, on point, and ultra-melodic. The record’s thick and crystal-clear production make it sound like a million bucks; I mean, this is how big rock records are supposed to sound.
It is all fine and well as the album blazes along until the tenth song on the album, “Between You And I.” WTF is this? Why does every single pop-punk-rock band (EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM) feel that it is necessary to include a shitty piano ballad or whiny acoustic song near the end of their albums? Every single one is a waste of my time because they are never as good as the rest of the record (“Hey There Delilah” notwithstanding) and just add another layer of predictable suckage to the album.
All ranting aside (however) Shh. Just Go With It is a pretty solid debut album from Every Avenue and head and shoulders better than the EP I heard from them last year. Even if some of the lyrics and songs are a bit ordinary (or maybe I’m just too old and jaded), Every Avenue is better than so many other neo-pop-punk bands out there (see my review of The Frantic here).
MP3 | Every Avenue – Days Of The Old Shh. Just Go With It
MP3 | Every Avenue – Where Were You? Shh. Just Go With It
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Just Plain Rock, Pop
Review: Zolof The Rock & Roll Destroyer - Schematics
Posted on 15 February 2008 | 1 Comment
If you name your band Zolof The Rock And Roll Destroyer, you’d better be able to back it up and bring the rock. For the most part, Zolof succeeds. But this female-fronted Philly band plays punkish major-key pop-rock with big guitars, big riffs, and melodic synth leads and isn’t afraid to be a little cute too. Their latest album Schematics follows this simple formula and doesn’t aspire for anything more. It is feel-good fun rock for the myspace emo generation. And while vocalist Rachael Minton often has a bit of a snarl and could be (and probably already has been) compared to Hayley from Paramore, I get a much more Juliana Hatfield kinda vibe. In fact, there are more than a handful of moments on Schematics that wouldn’t sound at all out of place on Hatfield’s own 1995 album Only Everything, and that makes me actually sorta like this record when I normally would have dismissed it. My wife did and still doesn’t really like ‘em. And even though Schematics didn’t blow me away, it is still a fun listen that should have all the kids singing-along in no time. RIYL: Paramore, The Hippos, River City High, The Unlovables, Reggie & The Full Effect, etc…
MP3 | Zolof The Rock & Roll Destroyer – Death Or Radio Schematics
MP3 | Zolof The Rock & Roll Destroyer – The Way It Goes Schematics
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Just Plain Rock, Pop
Review: Dashboard Confessional - The Shade Of Poison Trees
Posted on 17 January 2008 | 1 Comment
I remember back when my former employers at Drive-Thru Records (I guess you could call them that since I was in a band on their roster and got paid a few peanuts back in the day) re-released the first album from up-and-coming acoustic emo troubadour Dashboard Confessional (aka Chris Carrabba) back in 2000. The Swiss Army Romance was heartfelt (even if a little over the top at times), raw, and memorable. I could probably still sing along to the majority of its songs even without hearing them in years. It was an album that showed the major crossover possibilities that existed for Dashboard (3 gold and 1 platinum album prove that).
Heck, I even remember seeing a still solo Dashboard live at the Fireside Bowl back in the day where it was packed full of kids loudly and emphatically singing along to every word that left Carrabba’s lips and nearly drowning him out during almost every song. It was a strange moment when the hardcore kids, the punk kids, the emo kids, and even some regular kids were lost in the moment and completely captivated by everything Dashboard did. It gave me chills.
So Dashboard Confessional kept putting out albums (including one for MTV Unplugged) and eventually incorporated a full “backing band” into both his recorded works and live shows. Not such a good move. Instead of the stripped down sound that was accessible but still different and a little more (dare I say) “punk” than other slickly produced modern rock radio artists, Dashboard turned into one of those slickly produced modern rock radio artists. Boring, bland, and not really worth my time anymore. The music just started to sound like everything else.
The new Dashboard Confessional album The Shade Of Poison Trees isn’t terrible; it is actually pretty decent. His sixth album is very pleasant and listenable and probably the best thing he’s released since 2001’s The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most. The problem is that it isn’t nearly as engaging or powerful as much of his earlier material but I’m not sure anything he does will be again.
MP3 | Keep Watch For The Mines The Shade Of Poison Trees
MP3 | Dashboard Confessional – Little Bombs The Shade Of Poison Trees
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Just Plain Rock, Pop
Review: The Hot Toddies - Smell The Mitten
Posted on 14 January 2008 | No Comments
When I was sick between Thanksgiving and Christmas I remember drinking a bunch of hot toddies. In part because they are supposed to be good for sick people but mostly because they are yummy. Sure it may have not helped at all but that has nothing to do with this review. Whatever you do, don’t call The Hot Toddies a novelty group. On their debut full-length Smell The Mitten this all-girl San Francisco quartet churns out sassy and sarcastic songs full of retro-style surf-inspired 60’s girl-group doo-wop that is (on the surface) so cute it makes me wanna puke. It is sickly sweet, but awesome.
But if you don’t lose your lunch and actually keep listening, you’ll thank yourself. For all the clichés the band walks through there is equally as much substance. And the vocal harmonies supplied by Heidi Bodeson and Erin Skidmore are absolutely perfect in every way. Lyrically (and musically) the band gleefully slides down to the bottom of the hill with fun, whimsical, clever, and intelligent lyrics. It is a little punk, a whole lotta fun, and completely impossible to deny. Smell The Mitten must certainly contain some of the sunniest, most saccharine, sugary sweet melodies and vocal harmonies that have ever been recorded.
My only complaint with this is that the Beach Boys obsession and retro vibe of Smell The Mitten seems a little contrived and sometimes sounds like nothing more than a doo-wop cover band. Or perhaps that’s a compliment and it really is just that good I’m not complaining though since Smell The Mitten is (despite my better judgment) one of the most fun and instantly charming records I’ve heard in awhile. Is it even possible not to like this? Maybe The Hot Toddies are falling in rank behind The Pipettes and The Queers. I don’t even care. I dare you to listen to awesome and hilarious “HTML” and not crack a smile. I triple dog dare you.
Smell The Mitten is out now on Asian Man Records.
MP3 | The Hot Toddies – HTML Smell The Mitten
MP3 | The Hot Toddies – Seattle Smell The Mitten
Filed Under: Album Reviews, New Wave, Pop, Punk
Review: Let's Get Out Of This Terrible Sandwich Shop - Listening
Posted on 11 January 2008 | 1 Comment
I recently got a copy of Listening, the first full length from the Chicago indie pop group Let’s Get Out Of This Terrible Sandwich Shop. Yes, the band has a horribly long (but equally memorable) name, but that isn’t what this is all about. It is about the music. Guitars churn, male/female vocal harmonies abound, keyboards swell, and everyone sounds like they are having a great time performing improv sketch comedy. Listening is all over the map, but could generally be classified as quirky indie pop that has a little bit of a retro garage rock thing happening as well. The band could possibly be compared to They Might Be Giants, but I probably wouldn’t go that far.
Sure, Let’s Get Out Of This Terrible Sandwich Shop mixes rock music and comedy, but it somehow seems like a cumbersome process on Listening. Perhaps this combination translates better in a live setting, but I think the band would (most likely) have been better served by concentrating on either the humor or the rock. Additionally, this album is full of crazy lyrics that really aren’t as good or clever as I would have hoped and not as literary or encyclopedic as those of TMBG.
All that being said, I kinda like this album. They mix up all sorts of sounds and a dry witty humor and Let’s Get Out Of This Terrible Sandwich Shop just sorta feels like the underdog and I’m rooting for ‘em. Listening is (even so) a fairly entertaining and humorous album that (despite song titles like) “King Wonder Wiffle And The Commencement of Batting Practice,” “Bionic Dolphin,” and “Chattanooga Kookoo” is a pretty decent cross between comedy and indie pop. Plus the faux-disco-funk of “VIP Room” is pretty hilarious. See, I’m smiling now.
MP3 | Let’s Get Out Of This Terrible Sandwich Shop – Larlie Listening
MP3 | Let’s Get Out Of This Terrible Sandwich Shop – My Fucken Family Listening
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Pop
Review: Cake - B-Sides And Rarities
Posted on 5 December 2007 | No Comments
My daughter loves cake; especially birthday cake. My wife and I (however) probably like the band Cake more than we like the kind with frosting and candles. Sure, that is a totally ridiculous lead-in, but I’m entitled. After an evening with three little girls (Hailey plus a 3 year old and her 21 month old sister) running and bouncing around my house I’m a little worn out and have been sipping a Beam and lemonade for a little while. Ahh…
Anyhow, it seems like Cake (the band that is) has been around forever. This Sacto, CA band just never seems to age. Their sound is instantly recognizable and has never changed a single bit. Whether it is John McRea’s vocal delivery or the the killer trumpet that punctuates just about every song, Cake has always been the epitome of laid-back and cool. The band has just released a new collection called B-Sides And Rarities that features some of their classic covers and some live versions. Great stuff that I would have written about sooner if my wife hadn’t grabbed this to jam in her car the day we got it.
MP3 | Cake – Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town B-Sides And Rarities
MP3 | Cake – Mahna Mahna B-Sides And Rarities
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Just Plain Rock, Pop
Review: Sarah Blasko - What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have
Posted on 4 December 2007 | No Comments
Ok. I’m gonna make this one short and sweet. If you liked the last two Laura Veirs albums, I think you’ll like Aussie indie pop darling Sarah Blasko’s latest album What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have. You might even like it better. What The Sea Wants… is a little darker than anything from Veirs, but equally as good. Not to say that there aren’t great pop moments, but it is infinitely more complex than your standard radio-friendly unit shifters. This record (in many places) seriously reminds me of Radiohead a lot and for those of you keeping score at home, that’s a good thing.
MP3 | Sarah Blasko – For You What The Sea Wants…
MP3 | Sarah Blasko – The Albatross What The Sea Wants…
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Pop
Review: White Shoes & The Couples Company
Posted on 28 November 2007 | No Comments
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 me a little of what I’d imagine Stereolab would sound like performing Peter & The Wolf in a bossa-nova style. White Shoes & The Couples Company has a self-titled album out now in the US on Minty Fresh.
MP3 | White Shoes & The Couples Company – Nothing To Fear S/T
MP3 | White Shoes & The Couples Company – Tentang Cita S/T
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Pop
Review: The Go! Team - Proof Of Youth
Posted on 15 November 2007 | No Comments
So earlier this year The Go! Team released their sophomore full-length called Proof Of Youth. I know I’m way behind here, but like its predecessor (2005’s Thunder, Lightning, Strike) it is full of volcanic youthful energy, classic horn arrangements, and is just so damn much fun and so melodic it is really hard not to crack at least a little smile when listening. And while Proof Of Youth didn’t knock me on my ass like their debut did, it is more of the same cheer-core guitar squalor backed by hip-hop beats the girls and guys from The Go! Team imported from England last time. Check it out.
MP3 | The Go! Team – The Wrath Of Marcie Proof Of Youth
MP3 | The Go! Team – Doing It Right Proof Of Youth
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Hip Hop, Indie Rock, Pop
Review: As Tall As Lions - S/T
Posted on 25 October 2007 | 4 Comments
This may be new to me but not really all that new. And even though New York may be thousands of miles from England, but the Long Island quartet As Tall As Lions does what they can to bring the melancholy pop/rock sounds of British groups like Coldplay or Keane stateside. The music on their latest self-titled album dangerously straddles the line between indie rock and mainstream radio rock while veering almost perilously towards the latter. Let me explain.
As Tall As Lions deliver soaring and emotive pop/rock songs that aren’t overly energetic and meander along through thickets of gorgeous melodies. Vocalist Daniel Nigro’s soulful crooning is perfectly suited for the band’s sparkling arrangements where every rough edge has been smoothed over. Really, there isn’t a whole lot about this record that I can find fault with. The record is well executed, well written, and expertly produced, and that is exactly the problem.
As good as this record is, it doesn’t elicit much of any response from me aside from, “Yeah, that was good.” To be honest, I’m not sure why I’m turning this into a pseudo-negative review since I really do like this record. It’s just that like so much other “mainstream” music, sanding down the rough edges and putting everything exactly in its place makes it unexciting. Sure, there will be some crossover, but As Tall As Lions isn’t indie enough for the indie kids to get down with and may or may not have the luck to break it onto MTV and gain mass appeal. That may be a stupid statement seeing as both The Shins and Modest Mouse have had some level mainstream success and acceptance and both those bands are way more “indie” sounding than As Tall As Lions.
Maybe I just don’t know what I’m saying at all here. What I’m trying to get at here is that As Tall As Lions have made a really good record that I’ve really enjoyed listening to whenever I’ve played it, but it’s just not something that I’m really all that excited about. Sometimes simply good isn’t enough.
MP3 | As Tall As Lions – Love, Love, Love (Love, Love) S/T
MP3 | As Tall As Lions – Stab City S/T
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Just Plain Rock, Pop
Review: Caribou - Andorra
Posted on 30 August 2007 | 1 Comment
Can anyone tell me why Dan Snaith’s music has always seemed to get lumped into the folk-tronica genre? The man behind the Caribou moniker is an amazing producer and even though much of what he creates is sampled, chopped, and tweaked, it doesn’t (and really didn’t ever) strike me as truly “electronic” music, but whatever. His latest album Andorra is simply amazing.
Andorra is awash in a psychedelic haze that can easily (and without chemical help) transport its listeners to another world. Its densely layered symphonic soundscapes are the aural equivalents of the grandest spectacles mankind has ever seen. The most accurate of those that comes to mind is that of a star-birthing space nebula. If you’ve ever seen a picture of one of these interstellar clouds of dust, gas and plasma you’d know what I’m talking about. And much like those nebulae, Andorra is a nebulous and mesmerizing combination of layered polyrhythmic percussion, fluttering woodwind instruments, swirling synths, crashing cymbals, rock guitars, and falsetto vocals.
Another visual reference point for the music on Caribou’s Andorra is the Aurora Borealis. Free flowing and somewhat formless but cohesive enough to almost have structure, the record references everything from sun-drenched 60’s pop to noisy electronic freak outs and makes the most of all those moments. Some may say it is too sprawling and not focused enough while others may say it just sounds like a lazy rehashing of the past. I think not. The production is meticulous and the multifaceted sounds are expertly crafted. Andorra is essentially electronic-ish music that doesn’t really sound all that electronic.
Did you think the Junior Boys’ last record was great? Do you like Four Tet or Hot Chip? Well, this is totally different, but give it a try. I think you might like it.
MP3 | Caribou – Melody Day Andorra
MP3 | Caribou – Sundialing Andorra
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Atmospheric, Electronic, Pop
Review: Yellowcard - Paper Walls
Posted on 28 August 2007 | 7 Comments
Paper Walls is the latest album from the Jacksonville, Florida pop-punk band Yellowcard. It isn’t groundbreaking or even all that original, but I’ve always sorta liked Yellowcard. Maybe its because they are the only pop-punk band around (to my knowledge) that prominently features a violin player or maybe I just really like that “Ocean Avenue” song of theirs. Yeah, I know I lose street cred for liking this band, but whatever. I didn’t have any to begin with and everyone has their guilty pleasures, right?
Anyhow, Paper Walls is a slickly produced pop-punk album with a bunch of songs that sound like they were just made for the radio. Simply imagine Blink-182 without the humor and then throw in a little melancholy for good measure. It isn’t totally remarkable or groundbreaking, but is a solid effort from a band that would be a notable improvement to what normally gets played on mainstream modern rock radio (have you heard the new Silverchair song). Paper Walls is out now.
MP3 | Yellowcard – The Takedown Paper Walls
MP3 | Yellowcard – Afraid Paper Walls
BONUS:
MP3 | Yellowcard – Violins (Lagwagon Cover) Rock Against Bush Vol. 2
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Pop
Review: Amber Pacific - Truth In Sincerity
Posted on 17 August 2007 | 2 Comments
When the intro of the new Amber Pacific album Truth In Sincerity kicked in with its overly dramatic piano and synthesized strings I was thinking, “WTF is this?” The band was great at Warped Tour only a few weeks ago so only 30 seconds into the album I was completely underwhelmed. Luckily (however) the band kicks it into high gear and throttles right into a handful of ultra-catchy melodic pop-punk tracks. You know, stuff that sounds like MXPX and Strung Out circa 1997. The music is fast and tight. It is melodic, well-played, and for the first half of the album, really energized and a whole lot of fun.
Unfortunately after the first few standout songs, it all starts to sound very similar. Granted, Amber Pacific is a pop-punk band and Truth In Sincerity is a pop-punk album, but after the strong start, I was hoping for more. I obviously wasn’t expecting the next Dookie or Hello Bastards, but during the album’s second half, the synth strings heard in the intro creep back in and the songs just don’t pack the same punch as the first few did. Yeah, Mike Herrera of MXPX contributes guest vocals to a song but I already heard that song and it was better on the first half of the album. I’m still as big a pop-punk fan as I ever was but maybe I’m just too old and jaded and too difficult to impress.
As promising as the beginning of Truth In Sincerity (sans the intro) is, it would have ultimately been much better as a 5 song EP where only the strongest survive. The album is out now on Hopeless Records.
MP3 | Amber Pacific – Summer (In B) Truth In Sincerity
MP3 | Amber Pacific – Temporary Truth In Sincerity
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Pop, Punk
Review: The Secret Handshake - Summer Of 98 EP
Posted on 16 August 2007 | 1 Comment
The Secret Handshake is a one man show consisting of Luis Dubuc from Dallas, Texas. On his Summer Of 98 EP, he churns out a few great emo-rock jams that are dripping with sweaty dance-inspired synthesizers and skittering drums. The EP is rounded out by a few remixes by notables such as Spank Rock and The Dillinger Escape Plan. This EP from The Secret Handshake is a good intro and makes me curious to hear the new full-length due out on September 25th on Triple Crown Records.
MP3 | The Secret Handshake – Summer Of 98 Summer Of 98 EP
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Electronic, Pop
Review: St. Vincent - Marry Me
Posted on 7 August 2007 | No Comments
All you need to know about Marry Me is that it is a huge, diverse, beautiful, and amazing record. For those who don’t know, St. Vincent is essentially Annie Clark making just about every audible sound on the record. Where should I start…
This is not your typical singer songwriter fare. Not in the least. It is adventurous pop music that has much more in common with The Beatles or even Radiohead than just some girl with a guitar. Annie Clark’s gorgeous vocals drive her songs forward and are equal parts Beth Orton, Bjork, and Tori Amos and range from hushed and breathy to sweet and soulful. Her melodies often sound old and familiar. Not retro and recycled like the straight up doo-wop theft of Amy Winehouse; but (rather) something timeless.
Musically Marry Me full of inventive and darkly quirky arrangements that draw upon influences ranging from jazz standards, space rock, classical, Eastern music, and the skronk of the avant garde. All under the pretense of indie pop. It is not (however) full of happiness and kissyface, but it is playful. Maybe it is the combination of muted brass, strings, samples, programming, piano, etc… or maybe it is Annie Clark’s enchanting voice. Whatever it is, I really really like this album.
Marry Me is out now on Beggars Banquet.
MP3 | St. Vincent – Now, Now Marry Me
MP3 | St. Vincent – Marry Me Marry Me
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Noise, Pop
Review: Paramore - Riot!
Posted on 2 August 2007 | 5 Comments
Another of the bands we saw at Warped Tour and were pleasantly surprised by was Paramore. This Tennessee quartet is fronted by the young and incredibly talented Hayley Williams. Despite much of the media’s focus on the talented 18 year old and her ever-changing hair color, Paramore is a band and not just her backing band.
The first I heard of Paramore was their 2005 single “Pressure,” which was a catchy song that intrigued me enough to find out that the band’s singer shared the same name as my daughter (albeit spelled differently), but nothing more beyond that. Fast forward to the Warped Tour this past weekend where my wife and I were blown away by Paramore’s performance. Let me explain.
On their latest album Riot!, Paramore sounds a bit like a female fronted Fall Out Boy or Panic! At The Disco (not surprising considering their affiliation with Fueled By Ramen) or perhaps a Kelly Clarkson-type that the hardcore kids can get into. Live (however) Paramore’s sound is a bit more hardcore and a bit less pop. That doesn’t mean that I write off Riot! though. It is a solid album that far exceeds what both FOB and P!ATD have been doing recently (perhaps ever).
The album is full of some of the catchiest songs I’ve heard in awhile with big hardcore-style breakdowns, speedy punk, and even a few quieter moments. There is the pitter patter of drum machines in all the right places. The melodic guitar leads work perfectly alongside Hayley’s soaring vocals. I know I’ve talked a lot about Hayley Williams but even though Paramore is a band, just like just ex-No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani, much of the focus is squarely on Hayley.
In a fight between Avril and Hayley, I’d take the Paramore singer in a heartbeat. With songs like “That’s What You Get,” “Hallelujah,” “Misery Business,” and “CrushCrushCrush,” Riot! is great (and for me unexpected) find. With any luck at all, this band and this album will be huge in a matter of months. Riot! is out now on Fueled By Ramen.
MP3 | Paramore – That’s What You Get Riot!
MP3 | Paramore – Misery Business Riot!
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Pop, Punk
Review: Matt Nathanson - Some Mad Hope
Posted on 22 July 2007 | 2 Comments
I was unfamiliar with Matt Nathanson until recently when Heather from Fuel Friends posted some of his stuff. I’ve been enthralled since. Nathanson’s second major label album Some Mad Hope finds the San Fransisco based singer-songwriter making some of the catchiest and most radio-ready pop rock that I’ve heard in awhile.
Nathanson’s acoustic guitar and his ever-so-slightly raspy vocals are the foundation of the music upon which he weaves tales of love, loss, and longing. Lyrically, Some Mad Hope seems reflective. Like someone who has been almost broken and is now healing and ready to move on. While I really like the slickly produced versions of all the songs on Some Mad Hope is is during Nathanson’s more intimate solo acoustic performances that the weight of these songs really shines.
Some Mad Hope will be released on August 14th by Vanguard Records.
MP3 | Matt Nathanson – Detroit Waves Some Mad Hope
MP3 | Matt Nathanson – Car Crash Some Mad Hope
MP3 | Matt Nathanson – Car Crash (Live)
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Just Plain Rock, Pop
Review: Girl Talk - Night Ripper
Posted on 16 July 2007 | 1 Comment
The skies were gray and pouring down rain as I made my way home from work this afternoon. Luckily I was listening to Girl Talk’s utterly fantastic mash-up album Night Ripper to cheer me up. It then struck me that I didn’t include this album in my best of 2006 posts nor have I ever posted about it. Shame on me.
Most of you probably know and love this album, and if you don’t, you should. On this (his third full-length) Girl Talk’s Gregg Gillis takes hundreds of samples and smashes them into one another with reckless abandon. A few of the artists sampled on Night Ripper include:
2 Live Crew, 2PAC, 50 Cent, 69 Boyz, Abba, Paula Abdul, Aerosmith, Amerie, Annie, Arrested Development, David Banner, Rob Base, Bel Biv Devoe, George Benson, Better Than Ezra, Beyoncé, Black Box, The Black Crowes, Black Eyed Peas, Black Rob, Black Sheep, Boredoms, Boston, Bow Wow, Boyz II Men, The Breeders, Chris Brown, James Brown, Bun B, Busta Rhymes, Calloway, Candyman, Mariah Carey, Cassidy, Chicago, Ciara, Clipse, Phil Collins, Nikka Costa, Crime Mob, D12, D4L, DJ Assault, DJ EZ Rock, Dem Franchise Boyz, Digable Planets, Diplomats, Dinosaur Jr, Dr Dre, Jermaine Dupree, Elastica, Missy Elliot, Eminem, The Emotions, En Vogue, Fabolous, Fall Out Boy, Fatman Scoop, The Five Stairsteps, Fleetwood Mac, Folk Implosion, Foo Fighters, G-Unit, The Game, Garbage, Genesis, Andrew Gold, Al Green, Peter Gunz, Hall and Oates, Sophie B. Hawkins, Honey Drippers, Hum, Donnie Iris, J-Kwon, JJ Fad, Jay-Z, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Public, Elton John, Mike Jones, Junior Mafia, KRS ONE, Kansas, Kelis, Alicia Keys, LCD Soundsystem, LL Cool J, Lady Sovereign, Laid Back, Lil John, Lil Wayne, Lil Webbie, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, Lord Tariq, Ludacris, M.A.R.R.S., M.I.A., Madonna, Main Ingredient, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Marky Mark, Paul Mccartney, Michael Mcdonald, George Michael, Mobb Deep, Mark Morrison, ‘NSYNC, Nas, Nate Dogg, Naughty by Nature, Nelly, Neutral Milk Hotel, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, Noreaga, Notorious B.I.G., Oasis, P. Diddy, Pavement, Phantom Planet, The Pharcyde, Pharrell, Pilot, The Pixies, Positive K, Public Enemy, Punjabi MC’s, Purple Ribbon All-Stars, The Rentals, Smokey Robinson, S.W.V., Salt N Pepa, Juelz Santana, Seals and Croft, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Slim Thug, The Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, Britney Spears, Billy Squier, Gwen Stefani, T.L.C., James Taylor, Tears For Fears, Technotronic, Three 6 Mafia, Timbaland, Trillville, Trina, The Verve, The Waitresses, Paul Wall, Warren G, Weezer, Kanye West, Whispers, Wings, Steve Winwood, Stevie Wonder, Wreckx-N-Effect, X-Ray Spex, Ying Yang Twins, Young Gunz, Young JeezyYeah. Amazingly (to me at least) as we were listening to this earlier this evening, my wife was picking out samples from LL, Rob Base, Black Box, etc… I guess there is a reason I keep her around. Night Ripper is out now on Illegal Art. So, are you ready for this?
MP3 | Girl Talk – Smash Your Head Night Ripper
MP3 | Girl Talk – Bounce That Night Ripper
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Hip Hop, Pop
Review: Matthew Dear - Asa Breed
Posted on 18 June 2007 | No Comments
As true in modern music as it is in nature, we must evolve to ensure survival. With his latest album Asa Breed, Detroit’s micro-house wunderkind Matthew Dear has just guaranteed his survival for now by crafting an album that (while a bit of a departure for him) is something that I just can’t get enough of.
Matthew Dear’s music has always had a little more pop structure than your typical dance fare and (for that reason) it has always resonated with me. I’ve been a fan since his 2003 debut Leave Luck to Heaven and 2004’s Backstroke. Asa Breed finds Dear pushing his aesthetic vision even further outside the micro-house template he stared working with. His incorporation of African-sounding rhythms, guitars, and droning buzzing synths spins this into something that sounds natural, organic, and (at times) almost tribal. Those elements along with the prominence of Dear’s low and multi-tracked vocals make many of the songs on Asa Breed more akin to something from TV On the Radio or Caribou rather than what might be universally perceived as“dance music.”
With his strictly techno records being released under his Audion moniker, Matthew Dear seems clearly focused on exploring a different path with the albums released under his own name. The dark and dimly-lit textures that illuminate Asa Breed are surprisingly melodic and listenable in a way that would appeal to fans of Junior Boys and other like-minded artists. Asa Breed is out now on the Ghostly International label.
MP3 | Matthew Dear – Deserter Asa Breed
MP3 | Matthew Dear – Neighborhoods Asa Breed
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Electronic, Noise, Pop
Regina Spektor is da bomb
Posted on 14 June 2007 | 2 Comments
I’ve been meaning to do this for awhile now.
MP3 | Regina Spektor – Fidelity Begin To Hope
MP3 | Regina Spektor – Samson Begin To Hope
Filed Under: Indie Rock, Pop
Review: Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? (or) heimdalsgate like a promethean curse
Posted on 29 May 2007 | 5 Comments
For some reason I’ve never given the Athens, GA band Of Montreal much of a listen. I don’t really know why but I never did. But a month or two ago my wife Amy started going on and on about just how great the new Of Montreal album is. I was like “Yeah, whatever,” but she was persistent about it.
Fast forward to last week and she finally corners me and tells me I need to listen to the album and write about it and blah, blah, blah. So I listened to it. Wow.
The album was blessed with the ridiculously long and pretentious-sounding title Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? but is so freakin’ irresistible that it doesn’t matter. On it Of Montreal kicks out twelve songs of indie-disco post-punk-funk jams that blew me away but not before being lodged deep inside my cranium. I mean what band has song titles that include the words Kongsvinger, Heimdalsgate, and Gronlandic?
Rump-shakin’ beats knock around with hyperactive synthesizers and Kevin Barnes’ sometimes shrill falsetto to conjure a dark yet sugary sweet psychedelic haze that approximates throwing Abba, The Rapture, LCD Soundsystem, The Bee Gees, and The Shins into a blender and then injecting the mixture into your broken heart. Forget Prozac and all the other anti-depressant drugs and listen to Hissing Fauna instead and dance away your blues.
I’m not really sure what earlier Of Montreal albums sound like, but I’ll soon be looking back to find out. Hissing Fauna is such an incredible and invigorating album that I’ve probably played it a half-dozen times or more during what was a busy Holiday weekend. The album is out now on the fantastically awesome Polyvinyl Records.
MP3 | Of Montreal – Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse Hissing Fauna…
MP3 | Of Montreal – Faberge Falls For Shuggie Hissing Fauna…
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Electronic, New Wave, Pop, Post Rock
Review: Cary Brothers - Who You Are (or) robot projectors are storming down
Posted on 25 May 2007 | No Comments
Cary Brothers (first name Cary, last name Brothers) is probably best known for his song “Blue Eyes” which was included by Zach Braff on the Garden State OST but what I really want to say is that he has a new album called Who You Are ready to be released next Tuesday.
The truth of the matter is (is) that Who You Are is a polished and radio friendly album that is the perfect vehicle to showcase Brothers’ crystalline vocals. I really don’t know what it is that draws me into this album since I liken it to what I would normally call “wussified pop rock” but I think that Zach Braff got it right. This is music that would be perfect on a movie soundtrack during some sentimental montage or simply perfect playing from your stereo on a Saturday afternoon as the soundtrack to your life.
Who You Are (with the proper promotional push) and the strength of the lead single “Jealousy” should propel Cary Brothers into mainstream consciousness. Pleasant for your ears but with just enough substance to keep you interested, he (for me at least) recalls a smoother version of Joe Pernice or maybe Snow Patrol. See what the hype is about and peep the tracks below.
MP3 | Cary Brothers – Jealousy Who You Are
MP3 | Cary Brothers – Blue Eyes Who You Are
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Just Plain Rock, Pop
Review: Feist - The Reminder (or) white corn chips in amsterdam
Posted on 10 May 2007 | No Comments
Leslie Feist is a member of Broken Social Scene and records solo simply as Feist. After hearing a review of the new Feist album on NPR a few weeks ago I decided that I should give her new album The Reminder a listen and then wished I had done so much much sooner. It was recorded on the outskirts of Paris in only two weeks and is absolutely fantastic warm and airy Parisienne Americana (whatever that means). Anyhow, this album has been written about by just about everyone everywhere including here, here, here, here, here, and even here. So rather than just rehash what they’ve all said, I’ll just add a few comments.
Feist’s vocals are subtle, fragile, and the focal point of the album. They are thin-sounding but captivating. The Reminder (as so many others have stated) is an beautiful and enchanting album that deserves your attention.
MP3 | Feist – Sea Lion Woman The Reminder
MP3 | Feist – Past In Present The Reminder
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Folk, Indie Rock, Pop
Review: Yacht - I Believe In You, Your Magic Is Real (or) please beware the quiet front yard
Posted on 4 May 2007 | 1 Comment
Jona Bechtolt is a Portland-based producer/singer/songwriter and plain old mischief maker who records solo using the moniker Yacht and as part of the indie-pop duo The Blow. As Yacht, Bechtolt combines bubbly electronics and quirky pop with the reckless joy and abandon of a little kid in a candy store on his latest album I Believe In You. Your Magic Is Real. Or like a kid jumping from puddle to puddle after a big rain.
I Believe In You. Your Magic Is Real matches big beats against bouncy synths with a childlike playfulness and humor that makes the music come alive. Its a breath of fresh air into the all-too-serious world lap-pop-tronica. And while it isnt all glory like and (just like mine) all his jokes aren’t funny to anyone but him, Bechtolt has made a solid album that includes a wicked cameo from Eats Tapes.
Yacht’s …Believe…Magic… is out now on Marriage Records.
MP3 | Yacht – It’s All The Same Price (ft. Eats Tapes) I Believe In You…
MP3 | Yacht – I Believe In You I Believe In You…
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Electronic, Pop
Review: The Eames Era - Heroes And Sheroes (or) kicking chairs and the family cat
Posted on 26 April 2007 | No Comments
Can anyone resist the sugary sweet indie-pop of The Eames Era? I know I can’t. On their second full-length Heroes And Sheroes, the Baton Rouge, Louisiana band dishes out another generous helping of infectiously catchy female-fronted indie pop. This is due in large part to the sweet pipes of vocalist Ashlin Phillips which sound eerily like those of Jenny Lewis, but also to the relentlessly upbeat nature of the music. While the drums sprightly keep time and guitars pluck out melodic leads I can’t help but nod my head. It is almost like three minute blasts of sunshine straight out of your speakers.
Although nothing on Heroes And Sheroes is groundbreaking, it is still always refreshing to hear a band that is at the top of their game. Yes, the hand claps, cheesy keyboards, and la-la’s all belong in the big book of twee-pop cliches, but The Eames Era manages to use all of them without sounding trite or insincere. It’s as if every member of the band actually is happy. Besides, how can anyone not love an emo dissing lyric like, “Emo kids you don’t tip for shit?”
Heroes And Sheroes was self-released by the band and can be purchased directly from the band’s website, from Insound, or from iTunes. Totally recommended for fans of Rilo Kiley, The Blow, Headlights, etc…
MP3 | The Eames Era – Benjamin Heroes And Sheroes
MP3 | The Eames Era – Dear Gabby Heroes And Sheroes
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Pop
Review: Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position (or) everything in this room is edible
Posted on 24 April 2007 | 1 Comment
I went to get my haircut on Saturday morning and during the 5 minute drive to the salon I managed to catch “The Magic Position” by London indie pop star Patrick Wolf on local college radio station WONC. The song is sooooo good. It is title track from Patrick’s latest album which is also quite good. It was (as so much music is) absolutely perfect in the moment of a warm and cloudless Saturday morning.
Having not heard anything from him before, I was very pleasantly surprised at just how great his unique brand of pop was. Nothing like weaving theatric and affected vocal melodies with lovely violins and other instruments and smashing them into glitchy electronics. You know that I’ll be heading out to get The Magic Position when it is officially released next week. In the meantime, have yourself a listen.
MP3 | Patrick Wolf – The Magic Position The Magic Position
MP3 | Patrick Wolf – Accident And Emergency The Magic Position
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Pop
Review: Dntel - Dumb Luck (or) commotion in the ocean of fools
Posted on 20 April 2007 | No Comments
Jimmy Tamborello has made music as part of The Postal Service and Figurine, and also as Dntel. He has a new album coming out April 24th under the Dntel moniker and it is called Dumb Luck. It features Tamborello’s skittering beats, blips, and clicks and pixelated soundscapes, but also features vocal contributions from Jenny Lewis, Grizzly Bear, Lali Puna, Mia Doi Todd, Bright Eyes, and more. It is a gem of a record and (as stated) will be released on Sub Pop next week.
MP3 | Dntel – Dumb Luck Dumb Luck
MP3 | Dntel – Roll On (Ft. Jenny Lewis) Dumb Luck
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Electronic, Pop
Review: Utah Carol - Rodeo Queen (or) sunsets and rolling hills
Posted on 19 April 2007 | No Comments
Utah Carol is a husband/wife duo from Chicago made up of Grant Birkenbeuel and JinJa Davis and their shifty drifty folk-pop is spiked with hushed Americana melodies. Their third full-length Rodeo Queen is full of dreamy soundscapes created from muted horns, slide guitar, what sounds like a rhodes, and other orchestral elements. And if that isn’t enough, the duo’s soft breathy harmonies will just pull you in and lull you towards eternity. Seriously gorgeous. Its almost as if all the rough edges have been sanded down and polished leaving only gentle floating melodies behind.
Although Rodeo Queen is the first music I’ve heard from Utah Carol, I’ve been aware of them for years. Silly me. I should have checked ‘em out much much sooner. Rodeo Queen will be released (to rave reviews I suspect) in May. RIYL: Sufjan Stevens, Laura Veirs, etc…
MP3 | Utah Carol – Kimberly Smiles Rodeo Queen
MP3 | Utah Carol – Come Back Baby Rodeo Queen
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Folk, Pop
Review: The Bird And The Bee - The Bird And The Bee (or) continually and never ending
Posted on 10 April 2007 | No Comments
I am really really good at dismissing things that don’t immediately catch my attention. A perfect example of this is the self titled debut album from the pop duo The Bird And The Bee. Although I posted the track “Again & Again” awhile back and listened to CD a few times, I’d pretty much shrugged them off as some generic sounding group without much afterthought but…
…fast forward to this past Saturday morning. I dropped Amy and Hailey off at their swim class and then bummed around Barnes & Noble for awhile. As I was perusing the periodicals I heard some familiar music come on over the loudspeaker. It was The Bird And The Bee and (much to my surprise) I really enjoyed what I heard. Something just clicked. Taking cues from classic 60’s female vocal music and even the modern electro-pop sounds of Stereolab, the duo (comprised of vocalist Inara George and multi-instrumentalist/producer Greg Kurstin) has a light and airy sound that was perfect with my coffee and copy of Punk Planet(seriously, the one with Ted Leo on the cover) on a Saturday morning. The Bird And The Bee is out now on Blue Note.
MP3 | The Bird And The Bee – Again & Again S/T
MP3 | The Bird And The Bee – I’m A Broken Heart S/T
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Electronic, Pop
Review: LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver (or) yellow mustangs on a dusty road
Posted on 8 April 2007 | 2 Comments
Even though LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy doesn’t run or jog, his excellent Nike approved 45:33 is a great soundtrack for a few miles on the treadmill or just chillin’ out around the house. LCD Soundsystem’s latest full-length Sound Of Silver is equally great. But would you expect anything less than greatness from the guy who gave us “Losing My Edge” and “Daft Punk Is Playing In My House?”
Sound Of Silver finds Murphy mining the same great electro dance pop territory that he always has, but this time every track is spot on. To my ears his warm production and decidedly pop ways have always set Murphy and LCD Soundsystem apart from the rest of the pack. And with almost half the tracks on Sound Of Silver clocking in at over 7 minutes, its hard to imagine that this could be LCD’s most accessible work to date, but it is.
Interestingly, I spent a lot of time jogging along to 45:33 last fall and upon listening to Sound Of Silver I couldn’t help but notice that parts of 45:33 were used. In fact, my favorite track from Sound Of Silver, “Someone Great,” appears on 45:33 in instrumental form. I’d recommend checking out both of ‘em. You can get both through DFA Records.
MP3 | LCD Soundsystem – Someone Great Sound Of Silver
MP3 | LCD Soundsystem – North American Scum (Onastic Dub Remix) North American Scum Single
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Electronic, Indie Rock, Pop
Review: Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha (or) soothing sounds of rushing water
Posted on 5 April 2007 | 1 Comment
So does everyone own the new Andrew Bird album Armchair Apocrypha yet? No? You should. It is a brilliant album where Bird’s musical genius is (again) exposed for the world to see. Honestly, I love this album, but can’t manage to find the right words to describe it. I suppose some “dancing about architecture” quote should go here or something like that.
Andrew Bird’s cerebral lyrics and and interesting pop sensibility perfectly complement his hushed and soothing vocals. His looping violin, otherworldly whistling, and (of course) virtuosic violin playing create a rich and vividly colored sonic tapestry that is stitched together by the sensible beats of touring drummer Martin Dosh. Armchair Apocrypha is a magical album that seems to run backwards in time from pre-dawn back to just before the previous day’s sunset. Like a 12 hour time machine made of feathers and bubblegum.
Armchair Apocrypha is out now on Fat Possum and you’d be an idiot if you didn’t get it. Trust me.
MP3 | Andrew Bird – Plasticities Armchair Apocrypha
MP3 | Andrew Bird – Scythian Empire Armchair Apocrypha
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Pop
Review: Arwin - Bright Outside EP (or) it's getting bright outside
Posted on 26 March 2007 | No Comments
As the weather here in Chicago gets warmer let the easy and breezy pop sounds of Chicago’s own Arwin wash over you. Their recently released EP Bright Outside is a sunny slice of oven-fresh indie pop that is as refreshing as a tall glass of fresh squeezed lemonade on a warm spring day like today.
Alternately, the music of Arwin is like a smoothie made with 1 banana, a scoop of vanilla yogurt, some Byrds, a little Flaming Lips, a pinch of Radiohead, a dollop of Fleetwood Mac, and some Beach Boys orchestration. Once blended, it is a smooth and charming listen from a terrific band that more people need to know about. Seriously, these songs have been on constant repeat over here the last few days. Great stuff.
MP3 | Arwin – Bright Outside Bright Outside EP
MP3 | Arwin – Meant To Be Bright Outside EP
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Just Plain Rock, Pop
Review: Amy Winehouse - Back to Black (or) apom the little blue pill box
Posted on 25 March 2007 | 4 Comments
Evidently I’m not as hip as I’d like to think (no snide comments please). Only recently have I become enamored with the smoky and sultry vocals of Amy Winehouse and I can’t get enough of her latest Columbia Records album Back To Black. I won’t go on and on about it (or any of the tabloid-worthy drama that she seems to be involved with), but Back To Black is sooooooo good. It plays like a jazz-inflected interpretation of the classic 50’s and 60’s doo-wop sound with modern R&B production qualities. Motown in style but modern in scope. Perfect shoulder-shakin’ music for the warm up we here in Chicago are gonna get today.
MP3 | Amy Winehouse – Rehab Back To Black
MP3 | Amy Winehouse – Back To Black Back To Black
MP3 | Amy Winehouse – Rehab (Hot Chip Remix)
MP3 | Amy Winehouse – Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Pop, Soul
Review: Nicole Atkins - Neptune City (or) upside down on a blue car
Posted on 23 March 2007 | 2 Comments
Nicole Atkins calls Neptune, New Jersey (a shore town just down the cost from Asbury Park) home. She now calls NYC home and (in addition to opening for the likes of indie rockers like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and The National) she was named one of Rolling Stone’s top 10 artists to watch earlier this year.
Her songs are throwbacks and recall the buoyant girl-group pop songs of the 50’s and 60’s and would provide the perfect soundtrack to an Under The Sea themed high-school dance. Her voice has been compared to Loretta Lynn’s (not a bad compliment at all) and (by me) Gwen Stefani’s. Needless to say that I’m pretty excited for her forthcoming major label debut called Neptune City. The record drops June 26th.
MP3 | Nicole Atkins – The Way It Is Neptune City
MP3 | Nicole Atkins – Carouselle Bleeding Diamonds
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Pop
Review: The Autumn Defense - The Autumn Defense (or) the sun sets on my summer career
Posted on 8 March 2007 | No Comments
By now virtually everyone should know that the new Wilco album Sky Blue Sky is slated for a May 15th release date on Nonesuch Records with the following tracklist:
1. Either Way
2. You Are My Face
3. Impossible Germany
4. Sky Blue Sky
5. Side with the Seeds
6. Shake it Off
7. Please Be Patient With Me
8. Hate it Here
9. Leave Me (Like You Found Me)
10. Walken
11. What Light
12. On and On and On
MP3 | Wilco – Impossible Germany (Live) Live In Milwaukee
MP3 | Wilco – What Light Sky Blue Sky
What you may not know is that The Autumn Defense (featuring John Stirrat and Pat Sansone of Wilco) already has a new self-titled album out. Like their last album Circles was, their new album is full of AM radio ready pop-rock that recalls the sounds of the 60’s and 70’s. It is the audio equivalent of a sunset in a William Faulkner novel with golden and burned in sepia toned vocal harmonies spilling from the speakers and a hint of relaxed Southern charm. Or is that the glow of the firelight on a cold winters night with just a smidgen of slow jam? Not exactly folk-rock and certainly not adult-contemporary rock, The Autumn Defense (like Wilco) beautifully defies any easy classification.
I had the opportunity to see a stripped down version of the Autumn Defense live a few years ago when the opened for Jeff Tweedy in Chicago, and I’ve been a big fan ever since. Their new self-titled album is out now on Broadmoor Records and certainly deserves a little of your time. RIYL: Simon & Garfunkel, Nick Drake, The Pernice Brothers, etc…
MP3 | The Autumn Defense – Feel You Now S/T
MP3 | The Autumn Defense – We Would Never Die S/T
Filed Under: Album Reviews, Americana, Pop
Review: The Softlightes - Say No To Being Cool, Say Yes To Being Happy
Posted on 6 March 2007 | 1 Comment
As my wife and I (and a few friends) were stuffed like sardines in a bright yellow cab as it scurried across Chicago on Saturday night when I heard a song by The Softlightes on the cab’s radio. How unexpected. As I think I’ve mentioned before, The Softlightes is the new project of frontman/singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Ron Fountenberry, formerly of The Incredible Moses Leroy.
The debut album from Th