As the frontman of quite possibly the biggest buzz-bands of the 00’s, Alec Ounsworth has seen his career as a songwriter evolve and devolve, from a dorm room in Connecticut College, where he first shared his eclectic brand of songwriting with future Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! bandmate Lee Sargent to the self-distributed release of…
Category: REVIEWS
CD and DVD reviews
A Place To Bury Strangers, Exploding Head
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Exploding Head, the second full-length from A Place To Bury Strangers isn’t so much loud as it is piercing. Sonically, it’s the equivalent of a root canal. There are moments of pain and distrust. But the end result is satisfying; imagine never having the aching pain of a pesky tooth again, or better yet, never…
Fifth Nation, Flight
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Fifth Nation is named after a Native American tribe and the band consists of Julia Richardson as singer/songwriter/guitarist & Music Read on drums. This duo is bringing a style all of their own here that is full of life. The two members are blending together so many different musical styles such as: …
Ty Segall, Lemons
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Lemons, the second full-length from Ty Segall, calls to mind many genres, including psychedelia and garage punk. Hell, there’s even hints of freak-folk and noise-rock, if you want to get really specific. What doesn’t work in Segall’s favour is how many bands are proliferating knock-off sounds in each of these genres these days, jumping on…
Lake, Let’s Build A Roof
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If Let’s Build A Roof, the latest record from Olympia’s Lake is going to be classified as a “Pop” record, then the record may have forged a new genre for eagers ears; patient-pop. From “Breathing,” the budding and rolling opener, one can’t help but envision a young couple in summertime, lying in the cool grass…
The Very Best, Warm Heart of Africa
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I’ll admit that I didn’t have the faintest clue what I was getting into before I heard Warm Heart Of Africa, The Very Best’s first official release. Judging by the slight word of mouth I heard, I couldn’t help but wonder: was I for an initiation into the mysterious world of African pop?Well, after hearing…
Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster
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Change was a very good thing that happened to Lady Gaga. This time last year, we were introduced to a much different Gaga than the “freak b****h”(as she calls herself on “Bad Romance) that we are coming to know her as. Radio stations were blasting her electro-heavy dance singles, “Just Dance” and “Poker Face”, but…
Paramore, brand new eyes
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The last two years have been very life-changing for Franklin, Tennessee rockers Paramore, led by fiery-haired femme rocker Hayley Williams. Not only did they settle a permanent spot on the radio with the many singles that spawned from 2007’s Riot!, but holding the official single(“Decode”) for the hugest movie of 2008, Twilight, just made it…
The Wheat Pool, Hauntario
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Sombre bands often get backed into a corner. Listeners often feel that their records are only worth being heard on rainy, hungover Sundays. Such is the case with The Wheat Pool and their sophomoric release, the appropriately titled Hauntario. But there’s more to this Western Canadian alt-country outfit than just chugging tales of lost loves…
The Slew, 100%
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Admit it: the idea of legendary Canadian Kid Koala teaming up with bassist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett (The original rhythm section of Wolfmother) has you intrigued at the very least. Yet there’s the distincy possibility you’re salivating beyond control. But the intriguing combination that The Slew are, there is the possibility that 100%,…
Castanets, Texas Rose, The Thaw & The Beasts
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I first got turned onto the “Freak-folk” genre a few years ago, while touring through a dank little record store instead of attending University classes. Now, the record that turned me onto the movement has faded into obscurity. But I’m quite sure had it been Castanets, also known as the musical stylings of Raymond Raposa…
Shaky Deville, Self-Titled
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Named after the classic ’76 Cadillac Coupe De Ville, Shaky Deville are revvin’ their engines loud on this one. Lead singer and guitarist, Matt (M.S.B.) DeVille fittingly enough, actually owned this car thanks to his dad. “Best car I’ve ever owned” are DeVille’s exact words, but will this album be the best thing…
Bottle Up & Go, These Bones EP
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Haven’t we heard enough of blues-punk power duos? If anyone ever asks you that question, ask them if they’ve ever heard These Bones, the debut EP from Brooklyn’s Bottle Up & Go. Sure, whoever you’re engaged in a conversation with might insist that Bottle Up & Go are a two and a half piece band.…
Early Day Miners, The Treatment
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It’s a rather remarkable thing when a band like Early Day Miners stays under the radar for so long. Six full-length records into the game and they remain a niche band, whose name rarely gets brought up within indie rock discusssions. Enter The Treatment, the aforementioned sixth full-length. This is where things will probably change…
Parkas, You Should Have Killed Us When You Had The Chance
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Say it ain’t so! Yet another young, sweaty rock and roll act, full of energy and promise calls it a day. But rather than lament for the demise of dense barroom rock, listeners should pull a little carpe diem here. You Should Have Killed Us When You Had The Chance, the tongue in cheek final…
Rise For Order, Rip It Up
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Rise For Order is a hard rock/metal group based in Toronto. Four members included are: Johnny Goltz on lead vocals, Trevor MacLeod on guitar, Mad Choyles on bass and Jorge Pereira on drums. It’s also worth noting that their producer, Steve Thompson, has worked with Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Korn and Soundgarden.…
Justin Levinson, Predetermined Fate
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Why someone from Vermont with a soft, mellow Ben Folds-esque voice would desire to write a country album is beyond me, but something about it just works. Maybe it’s the something different that comes from pop/rock/country composition without the vocal twang. Perhaps Levinson says it best: “I’ve come supplied with duct tape and a…
Katie Garibaldi, Next Ride Out
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Katie Garibaldi is coming strong with her sixth full-length album titled Next Ride Out. At just 25, this young singer/songwriter wrote all the songs on the new record, handled all vocals & acoustic guitars and even came up with the outdoorsy & rustic album design. There are many other talented players on the new release…
Audio-OK, Good Men
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Isn’t that what we all want as music connoisseurs is just good-sounding audio for our ears? Audio-OK are attempting to bring you just that with satisfying music for one to enjoy. Okay…so don’t worry because Audio-OK has got you covered with their debut album, Good Men. These Good Men are made up…
THE MUSIC OF DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES, DO WHAT YOU WANT, BE WHAT YOU ARE (BOX SET)
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This four disc boxed set covers the career of the most successful duo in pop/rock history. Since 1966, the guys (who originally thought they could have careers as background singers) have been banging the chart tops with memorable tunes, and amazing collaborations, such as the monumental gig with the original Temptations at the Apollo…
CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL: THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Jo-Ann Geffen
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As part of the feel good series penned by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, the two have collaborated with Jo-Ann Geffen on a book filled with 101 stories behind popular songs. I knew many of the stories already (having been working on a book of this sort myself), but there was a lot…
Sinatra: New York, Box Set
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I will admit that if it was not for my absolute obsession with Mafia movies & shows like Goodfellas, The Godfather, and Sopranos I may not have such a love for the music of the legendary, Frank Sinatra. So when I was pitched to review the brand new box set of CD’s and a DVD…
When Summers Gone, December
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The dynamic duo known as When Summers Gone get extremely personal on this debut release titled December. When Summers Gone is made up of long-time friends Dave Graziani on lead vocals, guitar and piano & Chris Lepri on bass and drums. Graziani is also the chief songwriter behind this collection of emotionally-charged songs.…
Tegan and Sara, Sainthood
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Canada gets shit on for a lot of reasons. As a Canuck, I can’t imagine a lot of people living outside the great white north to understand the cultural importance of Curling and Peter Mansbridge. But we’ve got our heroes. We’ve got saints too, usually of the musical nature. And on Sainthood, the sixth full-length…
Grooms, Rejoicer
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Seriously, is Brooklyn the new Seattle? I mean, grunge is dead and gone, but what is it about the New York borough that breeds diverse, eclectic indie bands with unassuming ease. So many of these bands provide thirsty listeners with heightened awareness through potent, fuzzy guitar-heavy jams. Yet so many of these bands quickly fade…
Jay Reatard, Watch Me Fall
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Three years after his last full length, Jay Reatard returns with Watch Me Fall, a jubilant twelve tracks that smooth over Reatard’s scuzzy, garage-rock gems with concise production. Many will lament over Reatard’s decision to give into a production-heavy record, but it’s impossible to neglect how the production works in Reatard’s favour. Reatard’s vocals are…
The Got To Get Got, Salahee
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One of the biggest fears faced by writers is making their audience seem irrelevant by dropping unnecessarily large amounts of references. Anyone who’s read Chuck Kloksterman has probably felt fucking stupid at one point, yet there’s something about his vast array of knowledge that keeps you coming back for more. I wouldn’t be as brazen…
Hockey, Mind Chaos
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You’d think with a name like Hockey, this Portland foursome would be one of those shit-kickin’, tough as nails country bar bands. But thankfully for everyone who likes listening to records and going to shows and leaving with their teeth, this isn’t the case. Instead, the insanely catchy Hockey present a plethora of synth-laden hooks…
Cococoma, Things Are Not All Right
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Forget blitzkriegs, CoCoComa’s Things Are Not All Right is the real all-out assault. Ten tracks clocking in at somewhere around 25-minutes (It’s impossible to count, let alone keep your head above water throughout these often fanatical but impressively succinct tracks) will leave listeners grasping for air. But how could you expect any less from Goner…
Language Arts, Where Were You In The Wild
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Where Were You In The Wild, the debut LP from Vancouver’s Language Arts is a record made for the music geeks. No, not because it presents a certain bookish aesthetic. But because this eleven-track masterpiece contains some of the most original and inventive music available for blogging purposes. Sadly, it’s only those who are constantly…
Portugal. The Man, The Satanic Satanist
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How much does album packaging matter in this in age, when Itunes and The Pirate Bay are happy to pawn digital copies of new releases off and have the tunes delivered to you almost instantaneously? Albums used to be a complete package, a work of art. Despite their decidely modern sound, Portugal. The Man seem…
Copilot, Escape Through The Trees
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Not having been alive for certain things really gets me down. Paul Henderson’s goal in ’72, now that would have been something. And I suppose watching Neil Armstrong would have been a bit surreal. But not being able to enjoy psychedelic rock in at the legendary Fillmore in San Francisco seems like a place I…
The Mary Onettes, Islands
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Alright, seriously. Sweden sounds like a magical place. Sure, it’s probably cold as hell, but the images that are often conjured up when listening to Swedish dream-pop bands that gets me thinking about booking a one-way ticket to Stockholm. I’m From Barcelona seduced me rather easily on Who Killed Harry Houdini? while Peter, Bjorn and…
Grant Hart, Hot Wax
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Some people are just blessed. These folks don’t necessarily “Walk in the light” as it were, but they’ve definitely got a perpetual well of talent to draw water from. Grant Hart is one of those dudes. As a member of Husker Du, one of the 80’s most influential and righteous alternative bands, Hart manned the…
Esthema, The Hereness and Nowness of Things
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Boston isn’t known as a major player in world music but that doesn’t mean it isn’t home to some fine bands who love to play the more complex and unconventional sounds associated with the genre. Need proof, just listen to Esthema’s latest cd The Hereness and Nowness of Things which expands on the charms of…
The Mary Onettes, Islands
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Sweden’s The Mary Onettes created a small buzz two years ago when it released its debut self-titled disc. That was mostly due to its 80s new wave sound of shimmering guitars and lush, dreamlike synthesizers. To many that loved the cd, it brought back many fond memories when Echo and the Bunnymen and New Order…
RANDOM STABBINGS & ARTLESS CRITIQUE, NOVEMBER 2009
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The Antikaroshi, Crushed Neocons (Fonatana Universal Records) Bordering the three musical states of Black Sabbath, Kings of Leon and Lou Reed, this German trio threaten math rock nonsense at the beginning (“Downtown”) before settling in to a found groove that weds the Paranoid guitar sound to an addictive little figure that would have fit in…
Mojo Rising, Feel What You Feel
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Mojo Rising has taken the land down under by storm as they now set out to take over the states. Making the move from their home-land of Australia to the sunset strip of Los Angeles hopes to be a beneficial one for the band. They hope to create a brand new fan-base by…
Alexandra Celano, I’m Overcome
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This singer/songwriter from Southern California is bringing her highly spiritual & inspirational music to the forefront. Alexandra Celano blends a joyful mix of Christian, country, rock, pop and Americana to make up one uplifting sound. Celano invites you to come along on her celestial life journey. The eleven tracks on I’m Overcome…
Morning Fuzz, Self-Titled
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This Morning Fuzz will without a doubt get your motor running from the early morning to the midnight hour. Morning Fuzz are a Brooklyn-based band with ROCK at the core of everything! The group is made up of front man, Frank Fussa on vocals & guitar, Chris Johanidesz on bass & vocals and…
