If records like Sweet As Pie the latest release from Lake Of Stew don’t put you in a good mood, then there’s simply no helping you. Though this hootenaney-ready, banjo laden dustbowl of a listen is tinged with some dark undertones, there’s no stopping the overwhelming sense of prosperity that keeps this gem of a…
Category: REVIEWS
CD and DVD reviews
April Smith And The Great Picture Show, Songs For A Sinking Ship
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There’s a clever edge to “Songs For A Sinking Ship,” the debut full-length from April Smith and the Great Picture Show. Perhaps it’s the fine touches that litter “Songs For A Sinking Ship.” Nothing is laid on too thick; Smith and her bandmates never rely too heavily on banjos, organs, mellotrons and the like. In…
1986, Everybody Is Whatever I Think They Are
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1986, the branchild of Giorgio Angelini and Cully Symington isn’t a band to take lightly. Everybody Is Whatever I Think They Are is a weighty, emotional listen, burgeoning with a swampy and often melancholic grunge edge. It’s a potent listen, particularly on swerving rock and roll beasts like “Habit,” which clamour at the edge of…
Peasant, Shady Retreat
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Obviously artists vary in terms of the complexity and simplicity of their music. Some tend to blend a myriad of instrumentation that equates to a “sum of the parts” aural assault. Others tend to lean on a “less is more” approach and allow the music to stand on its own merit. Pennsylvania’s Peasant leans on…
Blake Shelton, Hillbilly Bone
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Country crooner Blake Shelton has released a recession-buster of an album in “Six Pak” fashion–a six-track EP that will reach store shelves with an appropriate $6 price tag. The first of two planned releases, appropriately named Hillbilly Bone, is a collection of Southern stereotypes all sung through the contemporary country vein of kitschy-meets-clever lyrics. Title…
Buck Brothers, We Are Merely Filters
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Guinness World Record holding (Most gigs in a 12 hour period) London-based punk powerhouses Buck Brothers are the greatest thing to come out of a Buddhist Disco since pacifist whack-a-mole. Their sophomore effort “We Are Merely Filters” has the same infectious hook-driven melodies with hilarious lyrics filled with far-spanning references and witty wordplay that was…
Carmelo Rosado, Jr, La Voz De Seda “Un Homenaje Para Mi Mejor Amigo, Mi Padre†‘Interpreta’
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Rosado Jr was born in NY but raised in California with a deep musical background. At just age 10, Carmelo was already playing with established Latin artists such as: Daniel Santos, Vicentico Valdez & Rene Rene. Carmelo took some years off from the music scene to pursue a degree in business. He…
Golden Bloom, Fan The Flames
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Golden Bloom, the power-pop force sounds like a thousand waves crashing in ferocious union on “Fan The Flames.” It should come as a mighty surprise then, that Golden Bloom, which can easily rival acts like The New Pornographers in their power pop capabilities is just one dude. Shawn Fogel cranks out nine pieces of pop…
Stricken City, Songs About People I Know
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Talk about groovy. Stricken City’s latest full-length, “Songs About People I Know” is ripe with enough insanely bombastic, electronically-infused melodies that you may feel a little exhausted after your first spin of the record. Rebekah Raa belts out 80’s influenced notes in a suitably hyper manner, and while this London act can come across as…
Edward Rogers, Sparkle Lane
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Originally of Birmingham England, Edward Rogers is a New York based singer-songwriter who’s latest solo effort Sparkle Lane (named after a street his grandmother lived on that was paved with concrete and bits of broken glass whose sparkle sums up how Edward felt as a child) deals with the loss of innocence, and stories of…
Room Full of Strangers, We’re All Living The American Dream
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What you get from this five-man crew from Orlando is complete and utter pandemonium. The five-song EP comes fully equipped with a DVD, so you can hear & see the craziness for yourself. What makes this group so eccentric is the fact that they perform their music in black ski masks. That’s…
Balmorhea, Constellations
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“Constellations,” the latest from Austin’s architects of aural density, Balmorhea is one damn freaky listen. Whether or not this five-piece intended on scaring the shit out of listeners, it happens, repeatedly on “Constellations.” It’s such a simplistic record, sparse in every manner of the word, that little more than a pluck of a banjo, a…
Pants Yell!, Received Pronunciation
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It`s been widely reported that “Received Pronunciation” will be the last release from Boston trio Pants Yell! And that’s a shame. This isn’t just the passing of another three piece, but the passing of a language of sorts. At nine songs and twenty-seven minutes long, “Received Pronunciation” creates a warm resonance. Each three minute slice…
The Rebellion, Time
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When commonality and diversity meld, the result is typically something quite dynamic. And in a world that is too often wrought with the maxims “similarity breeds contempt” and “difference causes conflict” it is a breath of fresh air when the opposite is achieved. Enter The Rebellion. Two native Canadians, a multi-instrumentalist from Romania and a…
The Jardines, Self-Titled
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It looks like there’s more going on in Vancouver this year than just the 2010 Winter Olympics like that isn’t enough! Coming from Richmond BC Canada, I present to you the mother-daughter act of Cherelle and Ajaye as The Jardines. This brand new act was even lucky enough to land a spot on…
Mel Flannery Trucking Co., You Know What To Do
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Mel Flannery and her band known as the Trucking Co. are ready to hit the roads and travel a long way with their new release You Know What Do. This disc is an advance promotional-only EP with five cuts from the forthcoming record, As It Turns Out. The NY-based group consists of chief…
Alphanaut, Out Of Orbit
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Singer/Songwriter, Marc Alan is the man known as Alphanaut. This artist is ready for lift off with his latest album, Out Of Orbit. Alphanaut gives you space jams for 2010 and beyond! T minus 9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…BLAST OFF!!! This new record is electro pop madness that will literally blow your mind! You get…
Holopaw, Oh, Glory. Oh, Wilderness
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Holopaw’s relaxed and melodical approach isn’t exactly synonymous with Gainesville, Florida. Energetic punk rockers like Against Me! come to mind, but that shouldn’t lead to any infused doubt over Holopaw’s third full-length, Oh, Glory. Oh, Wilderness. This is a record that is thick with a precious attention to melodies and slow, growing deceit. Each of…
Zeus, Say Us
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Although a relative newcomer on the Canadian indie scene, Zeus, a Toronto foursome are one hell of a classically trained act. Their debut EP, Sounds Like Zeus garnered rave reviews, not the least of which for their rollicking cover of the Genesis hit, “That’s All.” What’s more, these four spirited, harmonious dudes cut their teeth…
Ryan Bonner and The Dearly Beloved, Monsters In The Hallway
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Naturally, the story within a song belongs to the person who penned the lyrics. And interpretations within said lyrics tend to vary greatly from writer to listener. However, I have long found it impressive when a songwriter can package a story and “give” it to a listener by allowing the lyrical content to stand on…
The Silent Boys, One Step Closer
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Sombre and meandering as it may be, One Step Closer, the third release from The Silent Boys is a potent mix of English pop and melodically-charged indie pop. Jangles litter the album, including on the lighthearted “Tin Heart,” which rolls along like the Irish hills that seem to have gave birth to not only…
Yeasayer, Odd Blood
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While many indie fans waited in eager anticipation for Yeasayer’s second full length, Odd Blood. And it’s safe to say that after a few spins of Odd Blood, listeners will have their work cut out for them. No, it`s not as if Odd Blood is a particularly challenging listen. In fact, the experimental psych-popppers…
Hot Chip, One Life Stand
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Everyone’s favorite British party boys, Hot Chip, have come a long way since their simplistic tunes on their debut record Coming On Strong. Since its release, the band has delivered rich dance-floor anthems dotted with melancholic love songs. On the band’s latest release One Life Stand the sentimental side becomes more pronounced. If 2008’s Made…
Ash Gray And The Girls, This Could Be A Wild Night
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One guy and four girls creating a full ‘n’ flavorful sound—genius idea here! The richness of the vocal arrangements & harmonies is right on point. Ash Gray sings up front while his Girls sing along in a most powerful fashion. Gray and his ladies are takin’ you back in time with the…
VICTOR WAINWRIGHT AND THE WILDROOTS, BEALE STREET TO THE BAYOU
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The four-piece group featuring Victor on piano (or Piana as he describes it) blends some boogie with some Cajun and blues. A capable cast of “Extended Roots Members” supports the disc. The bulk of the songwriting goes to bassist Stephen Dees and Victor. The 14-track release has some Dr. John feel to…
Capgun Coup, Maudlin
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Maudlin, the second full-length from Omaha’s Capgun Coup has been described as “…a sonic homage to (Their) renowned energetic performances at house parties.” A more fitting description, I can’t think of. Maudlin oozes the life of the party, complete with jangly, attention-seeking riffs and the kind of uncomplicated production that seemingly sparkles in its simplicity.…
Corrin Campbell & The Election, Game Night
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Corrin Campbell & The Election step out of the trenches and into the public’s eye to give you Game Night. Corrin Campbell formerly served as a US Army bassist in the 1st Cavalry Division–combat vet and is currently working with the Army Material Command Band. Another member of The Election, Tony Corbett, is…
Oh No Ono, Eggs
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Right off the bat, I want to give major kudos to Friendly Fire Recordings. They are serious about their vinyl, and the proof is in the pudding. Warm, beautiful, mouthwatering pudding. From the moment I laid eyes on this record, I knew it was something different. The album artwork is exquisitely intricate, an ornate collage…
Remember September, The Roads We Travel
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There are a few things that come to mind when I think of the month of September. The first and foremost would be the unfortunate tragedy that hit us all on that unforgettable day of 9/11. Labor Day, the first day of fall and of course my mom’s birthday would be other events…
Good Shoes, No Hope, No Future
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Sophomore albums can be a tricky thing. Many bands try to up the ante and go for broke as they try to improve their debut’s sound with new studio tricks and elaborate instrumentation that are meant to impress a listener. The London-based band Good Shoes is not one of those groups though. On the contrary,…
Stellar Vector, A Flock of Cowards
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Stellar Vector hails from Minneapolis, MN and the founding members are: Charles Sadler on lead vocals & keyboards and Jonathan Ford on rhythm guitar. The two members got their start playing at First Avenue where Prince actually played many times. This venue was even used as the main spot for the movie, Purple…
The Mary Onettes, Islands
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Every ten years years, we’re nostalgic for a time twenty years ago. The Mary Onettes are no excuse to this rule. With a style mimicking New Order, The Cure, The Smiths and other 80‘s cult bands, The Mary Onettets can outdo most bands you hear on radio today and even in the 80’s. …
Robert Pollard, The Devil Went Home and Puked: Robert Pollard’s Rock Show
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Spanning the carers of both Guided By Voices and Robert Pollard’s side projects and now main projects after Guided by Voices split (including songs such as “Circle Saw Boys Club,”“Winston’s Atomic Bird” “Get Me Extra”) this D.V.D is ram-shackle attempt to make a video collage that demonstrates life on the road, performing and being in…
Cook & Uno Mas, C&U Music Factory
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C&U Music Factory is an album that demonstrates Cook and Uno Mas’s flexibility. There are edgy rock chords, swirling guitar melodies, 808 beats, turntable acrobatics and RnB grooves that amount to an incredibly varied sound. One theme does permeate the album and that is the clear message that these rappers stay true to their craft…
My Glorious, Home Is Where The Heart Breaks
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This Vienna, Austria-based rock trio are bringin’ the ugly truth to the forefront with no sugar coating. However, the overall sound coming from these three musicians is far from ugly. What I heard on this new record were straight rock grooves mixed with a raw & brutally honest sound. My Glorious offers…
Hot Wax, Grant Hart
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“All limits are self imposed.” Icarus* After Hüsker Dü split, Grant Hart moved from drums to singing and playing guitar. He’s been of working on his sixth release Hot Wax for the past few years. Featuring appearances from members of Godspeed You Black Emperor, Silver Mt. Zion and Rank Strangers, Hot Wax has some…
Calvin Harris, Ready for the Weekend
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Calvin Harris has a knack for making infectious, intelligent and funny club music that has a sense of humour. Ready for the Weekend features 14 catchy little numbers are sure to make you dance, and clap your hands. Over the years he has worked with Kylie Minogue and Example (even turning down a…
Los Campesinos!, Romance Is Boring
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Romance Is Boring, the third proper LP from Los Campesinos! is also the 50th release from Arts & Crafts, the Toronto indie label best known for their family-like attitude and releasing records from all manner of groundbreaking artists. A landmark release, or simply a coincidence? You’d have to think that after releasing three records in…
The Smith Westerns, The Smith Westerns
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Devices like Autotune and albums like Heidi Montag’s Superficial have many worried about the future of music and how authentic things may turn out. (Although the universe scored a big win with the weak sales of Superficial. Right on, universe.) But with bands like The Smith Westerns around, the universe may have scored another big…
Enation, World in Flight
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He may be known best as General Hospital’s Lucky, but Emmy-winning soap actor Jonathan Jackson maintains a double-life as a sensitive, sometimes brooding modern rock singer-guitarist in Enation. Much of the material on the Pacific Northwest band’s World in Flight is driven by echo-laden guitars reminiscent of U2, splashes of piano that call to mind…
