|
Thursday, February 11, 2010
|
Red Pens - Reasons (self released) [upcoming shows]
Red Pens bring 90's guitar rock back with a howling vengeance on their album Reasons. The duo build their tunes up against walls of feedback, via My Bloody Valentine, while bouncing a barrage of guitar squeals off the noise, much like the Daydream Nation Sonic Youth era. The results hark back to the corrosive yet catchy sounds of The Jesus and Mary Chain. Red Pens aren't the most original band in the world but they are certainly one of the loudest.
- corey c
|
|
Released 10.01.2009
|
|
|
Monday, February 01, 2010
|
Red Mass - self titled EP (Semprini) [upcoming shows] [audio]
Attention! Roy Vucino, leader of the defunct CPC Gangbangs, has a new project: Red Mass. Vucino recruited over twenty Montreal-based musicians to create these seven tracks for a new self-titled EP. The first three tunes are reminiscent of Fugazi/DC punk, the latter four hit on the psychobilly of the Reverend Horton Heat. Vucino's manic energy and contagious song writing are what separates his musical output from the other mediocre garage rock groups. Red Mass is a modern example of unadulterated and delicious rock n' roll music.
- corey c
|
|
Released 01.12.2010
|
|
|
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
|
Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall (Matador) [audio] [upcoming shows]
Watch Me Fall is the cleanest and poppiest album Reatard has recorded and it's also another step forward in his ever-expanding sound. Lead off track "You Ain't Gonna Save Me" is classic Reatard thrash/punk, but as the record progresses he branches out with acoustic guitars, organs, and cello. Almost every song on the record has a big hook and I hear a Buzzcocks influence all over these tracks. 12 songs in just over 30 minutes; perfect for repeat listening, which I intend to do for the rest of the summer.
- kyle j.
|
|
Released 08.18.2009
|
|
|
Friday, June 26, 2009
|
Rancid - Let the Dominoes Fall (Hellcat) [audio] [upcoming shows]
It seems unfair to give Rancid a hard time for falling short of ...And Out Come the Wolves and Life Won't Wait, when they are easily the only punk band even slightly in the public spotlight that still makes music this strong. The frantic intensity is dialed back slightly on this album, but all 19 tracks are solid, even when veering from their trademark sound (an acoustically mellow "Civilian Ways" is an obvious highlight here). It would be in my best of the year list no matter what; the fact that I never expected another Rancid album of this caliber just makes it that much better.
- tom d.
|
|
Released 06.02.2009
|
|
|
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
|
Ram Di Dam - A Liar to Admire EP (Mock Turtle) [audio] [upcoming shows]
Sweden's Ram Di Dam sort of meets a need for me, in so far as they channel the whole post-Strokes thing far better and less one-dimensionally than most New York bands. To boot, they also mix in a little bit of funk on the low end like Franz Ferdinand or the new, improved Modest Mouse. A track like "Chances" is just waiting to be heard in a sports drink commercial or the next episode of Gossip Girl, but I guess Ram Di Dam needs to be discovered first. Paging Stereogum!
- paul
|
|
Released 04.21.2009
|
|
|
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
|
Anni Rossi - Rockwell (4AD) [audio] [upcoming shows]
Perhaps Steve Albini should have taken two days to record Rockwell, because the one day it took produced some utterly uninspired and uninspiring tracks. Rossi's voice easily soars over her sparse instrumentation, but the passion and intensity heard on last year's Afton EP just isn't there this time around. And considering that almost all of those songs were re-recorded, and that so many of the songs are so good (including the Ace of Base cover), this mild collection of recordings is genuinely disappointing.
- cormac
|
|
Released 03.10.2009
|
|
|
Friday, April 17, 2009
|
Röyksopp - Junior (Astralwerks) [audio] [upcoming shows]
Norwegian duo Röyksopp have been threatening since the beginning to make pop singles, but were swamped in largely instrumental club music with no way out. The answer? Bring in no less than four guest vocalists doubling as writing partners. Lykke Li and Robyn are both new collaborators, while Anneli Drecker and Karin Dreijer Andersson return in a greater role, all providing a more traditionally pop-styled structure to their respective songs. Junior launches Röyksopp out of the DJ booth and onto the streets.
- paul
|
|
Released 03.24.2009
|
|
|
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
|
Red Red Meat - Bunny Gets Paid: Deluxe Edition (Sub Pop) [audio]
Sub Pop is ushering in the golden age of grunge by re-releasing the deluxe editions of albums released a decade ago. Bunny Gets Paid catches Tim Rutili just as the band is about to move from being a rock band to a more sullen anti-rock band. Sub Pop expands this to a double disc with demos, different mixes and amazing covers of Low's "Words" and Flock of Seagulls "Wishing". Rutili has since moved on to Califone, which has been just as prolific as Red Red Meat once was.
- mark
|
|
Released 03.24.2009
|
|
|
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
|
Anni Rossi - Afton EP (4AD) [audio] [upcoming shows]
Anni Rossi is a mesmerizing one-woman show, and she may be out of her mind. As a vocalist, she can magically combine voice cracks, raspberries, squeaks, squeals, roaring and bah-bah-bah'ing into a sound that is shocking at one second and mellifluous the next. As a violist, she plays with many a finger-plucking and the traditional bow, creating a unique sound of folk masterfully combined with dreamy alternative rock. Afton is a soothing, fun, and raucous debut EP that will easily make many fans.
- cormac
|
|
Released 10.21.2008
|
|
|
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
|
Dex Romweber Duo - Ruins of Berlin
(Bloodshot) [audio]
[upcoming shows]
The Flat Duo Jets were a landmark rockabilly duo, making a racket louder than most full bands and embracing lo-fidelity long before it became a style. After battling various substances, Dex's career is back on track and you will have a hard time finding a better trio to perform duets with than Neko Case, Cat Power and Exene Cervenka. The old-timey reverb-drenched guitar and sweet baritone voice are still there, but with somewhat fewer runaway guitar freakouts.
- mark
|
|
Released 02.10.2009
|
|
|
Monday, February 09, 2009
|
Mia Riddle - Tumble and Drag (self released) [audio] [upcoming shows]
Tumble and Drag sounds like a lot of different things, but imitates none of them. "Bird of Paradise" is sultry, floating in on a puff of smoke like a Neko Case ballad, while "City Song" is a rocker that would have fit right into either Lone Justice record. Comparisons might come easy; picking out exactly what's best about Mia Riddle comes easier. She has a natural and inviting presence behind the microphone, as if Tumble and Drag was made with you in mind.
- sam
|
|
Released 01.13.2009
|
|
|
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
|
Lou Reed - Berlin Live at St. Ann's Warehouse (Matador) [audio]
This is the soundtrack to the Berlin concert film, recorded over four days in 2006 with Antony, Rob Wassermann and many other guests. Originally released in 1973, Lou Reed's Berlin had the unfortunate timing to be following up the massive arena rock hit Transformer and disappeared quietly before being rediscovered by critics. This was the first time Reed performed the album live in it's entirety and adds "Sweet Jane" and "Candy Says" as encores. Not only is the recording quality crisp and raw, but Reed sounds amazing.
- mark
|
|
Released 11.04.2008
|
|
|
Monday, November 24, 2008
|
The Rosebuds - Life Like (Merge) [audio] [upcoming shows]
The Rosebuds' sound is initially one of monotony, yet there is an inscrutable quality to their dreamy indie rock that reels you in and demands repeated listens. For Life Like, it's these repeated exposures that are necessary in order to bring out all the textures that the duo's fourth album has to offer. The bouncy square-dance feel of "Bow to the Middle", the post-punk synth of "Border Guards", and the folky campfire singalong feel of "Nice Fox" blend together to make a truly enjoyable album.
- cormac
|
|
Released 10.07.2008
|
|
|
Thursday, October 09, 2008
|
Serena Ryder - Sweeping the Ashes EP (Atlantic) [audio] [upcoming shows]
I can't stop listening to the latest release from Canadian singer/songwriter Serena Ryder. Her voice is unique in today's landscape of female vocalists. Wrought with emotion and power, she seamlessly flips the switch between vulnerability and dominance. The songs are well thought out and purposefully restrained so that the dynamic vocals are unchained at the appropriate moments. While the songwriting is solid, it's Ryder's voice that carries Sweeping the Ashes and sets it apart. The full-length will be a killer.
- j.p.
|
|
Released 10.14.2008
|
|
|
Friday, June 13, 2008
|
Henry Rollins - Provoked (2.13.61) [audio] [upcoming shows]
What happened to the Henry Rollins who once not only told funny stories, but also engaged us on a second and deeper level between the lines? Not to take away from his more recent material, but maybe all of his best stories were told long ago—those about touring with his band and about his youth. The "Van Halen" story here goes back to that well, but the rest are just observational or superficially personal anecdotes that, while amusing, offer nothing in the way of a real connection.
- paul
|
|
Released 04.01.2008
|
|
|
Friday, June 06, 2008
|
Robyn (Cherry Tree/Interscope) [audio] [upcoming shows]
A musical hitchhiker of sorts, Robyn (and Robyn herself) has been moving west towards North America continent by continent in yearly intervals. Originally a Swedish release in 2005, it hit Europe in 2006, the UK in 2007 and now here in 2008. It's changed over time, tracks have been pulled and replaced, but it's still the most excitingly "pop" pop album of the decade. If every former pop princess had the daring to start her own label and blow minds instead of just do blow, TMZ might cease to exist.
- paul
|
|
Released 04.29.2008
|
|
|
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
|
Rustic Overtones - Light at the End (Velour) [audio] [upcoming shows]
Everyone has a band like this. Guys you've loved for years, seen live multiple times, and yet every one of their CDs demands qualification. "It sounds much better live... it rocks harder than this... let's just skip this track...." Then, before they really "get it", they break up. Now, imagine they reunite 6 years later and just fucking nail it. The album you always knew they had in 'em. This is it. A perfectly produced pop rock album. Horns without being ska, drive without being loud... awesome.
- tom d.
|
|
Released 03.18.2008
|
|
|
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
|
Tyler Ramsey - A Long Dream About Swimming Across the Sea (Echo Mountain) [audio] [upcoming shows]
Acoustic singer/songwriters are rarely as charming and delicate as Tyler Ramsey. On his debut album, he has created a subtle and haunting atmosphere of heartache, with a style reminiscient of José González or Iron & Wine. A Long Dream... softly glides out of the speakers and settles discreetly in your auditory meatus. Mr. Ramsey's skilled instrumentation is always clearly on display, with songs like the instrumental "Chinese New Year" that are bound to get him labeled as the next Bert Jansch.
- cormac
|
|
Released 01.15.2008
|
|
|
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
|
The Riff Randells - Doublecross (Dirtnap) [audio] [upcoming shows]
One thing I love way more than I probably should is Juliana Hatfield's first solo album Hey Babe, and Doublecross reminds me of it a lot. Just under 25 minutes, it's a quick dose of rudimentary and off-the-cuff guitar rock adorned by Joey Ramone-ish vocals about cruising and records and boys sung by a girl with a sassy tweener voice. Yeah, I'm well aware there are about two million bands out there just like The Riff Randells, but occasionally one of them just has a little extra something that keeps them in steady rotation.
- paul
|
|
Released 09.18.2007
|
|
|
Friday, January 18, 2008
|
Bogdan Raczynski - Alright! (Rephlex) [audio] [upcoming shows]
While acknowledging the work of drum and bass forefathers like Mike Paradinas (µ-Ziq) and Tom Jenkinson (Squarepusher), Bogdan Raczynski is always clearing a pathway for the second generation of the genre. It's a kinder, gentler music, with more attention paid to melody and verse/chorus structure than the apocalyptic disorder that characterized its origins. You'd still have a hell of a time finding a flesh and blood drummer who could consistently match the bpm's of these loops, but Alright! exudes a charming humanity which can't be denied.
- paul
|
|
Released 11.20.2007
|
|
|
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
|
Chris Read - The Diary: The World's Greatest Rap Megamix (Substance) [download]
This is so much better than any so-called "definitive" box set of rap and hip-hop's history ever could be. UK-based Chris Read condenses three decades of an impossibly broad genre—801 individual songs—into one continuous 77-minute mix that flows so amazingly well you'd never know it's a history lesson. That's right, it's chronological! From Spoonie Gee to Public Enemy to Naughty By Nature to Kanye West (and dozens of others in between). There's no old, there's no new. It's all right now and it's unquestionably cool and vital.
- paul
|
|
Released 11.27.2007
|
|
|
Friday, December 21, 2007
|
Rhythm King & Her Friends - The Front of Luxury (Kitty-Yo) [audio] [upcoming shows]
Like much of the electronic-based music traversing the bridge between Berlin and Paris, the songs on The Front of Luxury are grounded in mechanical, robotic tempos. They would be rendered completely frigid and inorganic were it not for the vitality brought to them by the yé-yé girl approach to the arrangements and vocals of Pauline Boudry and Linda Wölfel. Thankfully, this is what you get when you prepare a cocktail of Kraftwerk, Françoise Hardy and Luscious Jackson—a hip party jam that draws from four different decades.
- paul
|
|
Released 09.11.2007
|
|
|
Thursday, October 11, 2007
|
Radiohead - In Rainbows (self released)
In Rainbows is a soaring, uplifting work. Yorke's vulnerable vocals delicately float over fairly straightforward but effortlessly catchy melodies and rhythms. Bass and drums are very back in the mix, giving things less of a drive than expected, but this is counteracted by head-nodding compositions and gorgeous string and guitar elements. While lacking the dramatic expression and some of the powerful rock and electronic elements that Radiohead have been known for, In Rainbows is a collection of elegant, well-crafted songs that combine to create a beautiful whole.
- ShaneB
|
|
Released 10.10.2007
|
|
|
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
|
The Rentals - The Last Little Life EP (Boompa) [audio] [upcoming shows]
As long as the core of The Rentals consists of Matt Sharp and at least one Haden sister, the band will still pretty much sound the same despite however many years they hibernate between releases. Here, the analog synths are smartly mixed down for the new decade, but the commerciality of the second album is also tempered—meaning this EP is a metaphorical crossroads; a launching pad that could send them either direction with the upcoming LP. Well, either way is fine, but time's wastin'.
- paul
|
|
Released 08.14.2007
|
|
|
Monday, September 10, 2007
|
Retconned - Unhappenings (self released) [audio]
If Zack de la Rocha barebacked Jim Carroll in a roomful of cats running over a dozen casio keyboards with dying batteries, Retconned would be the ringleader applying a delicate mix of tender vittles and lube where needed to keep everyone in perfect rhythm to each other, so that anything that was coughed up or shat out was immediately put to good use as either nourishment to keep the party going or fuel set aflame to provide warmth, until the last cat dropped dead and the last popper was washed down. Viva la dry hump.
- junco tibet
|
|
Released 05.29.2007
|
|
|
Friday, August 24, 2007
|
Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight (Warner Bros.) [audio] [upcoming shows]
Under the Blacklight is a refreshing makeover for the formerly boringest of all boring indie bands in indie land. As a bizarre and unexpected exercise in genre-hopping, this album seems to be alienating a lot of long-time fans (you know who I'm talking about—those kids who wear sweaters in the summer and get their feelings hurt if someone speaks ill of Dave Eggers). Not every song works exactly as it should, but the risks this band is taking are appreciated by the rest of us.
- paul
|
|
Released 08.21.2007
|
|
|
Thursday, August 02, 2007
|
Dizzee Rascal - Maths & English (XL Recordings) [audio] [upcoming shows]
The third release from the British prince of hip-hop is certainly more Americanised than his previous offerings; the dirty grime beats being more polished and the dropping of American slang being a tad more profuse. However, Dizzee's still got the wit and panache to pull off sampling nu-metal and Bugsy Malone on the same album and his quirky wordplay prevents this album from being just another rap record. Though it doesn't represent Dizzee's finest work, his crown is still very firmly in place.
- ellie
|
|
Released 06.12.2007
|
|
|
Thursday, June 21, 2007
|
Jay Reatard - Night of Broken Glass EP (In The Red) [audio] [upcoming shows]
Ladies and gentlemen, this is a great time to be alive. Whether you know it or not, we are bearing witness to Jay Reatard's "Golden Era." The last time I can remember one person being so prolific without suffering insignificance one iota was between 1996 and 1996, when everything Robert Pollard recorded inside or outside of Guided by Voices was immaculate. Reatard's latest 4-song ep picks up right where Blood Visions left off last October and serves as a delicious appetizer for whatever's around the corner. Own this before it owns you.
- paul
|
|
Released 05.22.2007
|
|
|
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
|
Remate - No Land Recordings (Acuarela) [audio] [upcoming shows]
No Land Recordings is a completely reimagined approach for Remate, whose last album was as direct a message from performer to listener as they come. The material here is the work of a reborn studio rat; scattered, but thematic and dreamlike. Twenty-five songs (and songlets) are spread the length of two discs, most every one indicating a refusal to compromise. You're either on board or you aren't, but few albums this conceptually sound will disappoint in the long run. If In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is your late night jam, consider giving this a spin.
- paul
|
|
Released 05.15.2007
|
|
|
Monday, May 28, 2007
|
The Rikters - Don't You Get It EP (self released) [audio] [upcoming shows]
The Rikters are back with Don't You Get It, a 7-song ep that flies by while listening to it and gets better every time. Guitarist/singer Doug Jenkins really shows off his voice on these songs, especially on "Want It You Got It." "You" is a flat out rocker and parts of "Give Me the Wheel" dabble in Radiohead territory. Great bass lines, sharp guitar and pounding drums are prevalent throughout this indie/power pop disc. With 2 eps under their belt, I'm hoping for a full length follow up that rocks as hard as this ep.
- kyle j.
|
|
Released 02.27.2007
|
|
|
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
|
Radical Face - Ghost (Morr Music) [audio]
Ghost is the latest musical missive of Ben Cooper, who you might know as 50% of Electric President. As Radical Face, he's a true solo performer and it's not too surprising that he excels under such circumstances. A lot of the synthetic detail Cooper's known for is cast aside here, allowing the organic core of his songwriting to breathe. And, oh my, are these songs something. Ghost is a showcase of epically beautiful, slow-burning melodies and dusty, distant instrumentation which closer resembles a cherished novel than it does a record.
- paul
|
|
Released 03.20.2007
|
|
|
Friday, March 30, 2007
|
Damien Rice - 9 (Warner Bros.) [audio] [more audio] [upcoming shows]
Damien Rice, you are a dude. Ergo, you have balls. It's too bad someone broke your heart, but did she take those too? You've become the guy who attends big parties only to stand in the corner going on and on and on (and on and on and on) about that girl you dated for all of seven months until she dumped you back in 2003—the human party foul. Beautiful, somber music can be made without becoming a total d-bag (heard Leonard Cohen?), so get busy, you pussy.
- paul
|
|
Released 11.14.2006
|
|
|
Thursday, March 01, 2007
|
Jay Reatard - Blood Visions (In The Red) [audio] [upcoming shows]
How the hell have I managed to only get hipped to Jay Reatard just now? He's been making records for nine years under at least that many aliases, all of which seem to be experiments in genre purity. Here's the first one released under his own name and his total devotion to an aesthetic ideal remains front and center with the material. Comprised of 15 hit and run art-school punk songs (think Wire or the Buzzcocks), an unaware listener could honestly mistake Blood Visions for something John Peel was playing in 1978. A real shame he never got to hear it.
- paul
|
|
Released 10.10.2006
|
|
|
Monday, January 22, 2007
|
Amanda Richards - Live at Mississippi Studios (self released) [audio]
Lady can certainly sing the blues, but with a sharp, sometimes comical, tongue. On "Cookies & Whiskey," Richards drops these lyrical bombs: "But I'll drown my sorrows/In pastries and booze/I've got a big ass and bad gas/And heartbroken blues." The acoustic-folk arrangements are given extra spice by George Turner's cello; however, it's Richards' words that steal the show.
- michael s.
|
|
Released 10.03.2006
|
|
|
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
|
Redbeards EP (Heartbreak Beat) [audio] [upcoming shows]
Bring back the days of You're Living All Over Me-era Dinosaur Jr., prime Leaving Trains, music filled with hooks but buried in heavy noise, and the Redbeards are in. The six minute "Drop it at the Foot of the Cross" is equal parts Modest Mouse, Codeine, early Butthole Surfers and Explosions in the Sky. Switching off vocals between members leads to some Laughing Hyenas' John Bannon-level unholy moments and also some smooth Jonathan Richman-like disaffected baritone vocals. Powerful, tortured stuff.
- mark
|
|
Released 09.05.2006
|
|
|
Saturday, December 09, 2006
|
Ruby Tombs - Those Who Can't 7" (Art Goes Pop) [audio] 7" Single Saturday Review
Nine out of every ten bands who come along, cut one single, and then break up shortly thereafter probably don't warrant any coverage posthumously. It's the tenth one—the rare exception—where the story of their brief survival only adds to the legend. Ruby Tombs formed in 2004 and were gone within two years. But they had time enough to record "Those Who Can't" and "Tattletale," two songs so electric, fevered and vampy that doing an album's worth of likeminded material might have driven them, and us, all mad.
- paul
|
|
Released 02.06.2006
|
|
|
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
|
The Ridgerunners Band - Keep-Ur-Runnin' (self released) [upcoming shows]
Like a classic automobile that they don't make anymore, the Ridgerunners Band are simply better made than any of today's shiny new models. Sure, they have more mileage in them, but that only means they have more experiences to draw from. Their stories of undying love and friendship are as uplifting as they are pensive and evocative. The Jesus confession "In My Soul" will kick your puny white ass, son.
- michael s.
|
|
Released 09.30.2006
|
|
|
Thursday, October 19, 2006
|
The Roots - Game Theory (Def Jam) [audio and upcoming shows]
From The Tipping Point to Game Theory comes a shift in theme from micro-hip-onomics to macro-hop-onomics: taking the lyrical basis of The Roots music from a personal level to a social level. In rapping about the media, government, and urban Philly, the album takes on a
bit darker of a tone than their previous records, with music and lyrics feeling more "poorly-lit bar" than "leg-humping club". The musical excellence anyone has come to expect from the group resounds, and Black Thought maintains his title as Most Under-Recognized Player
in the Game.
- bob d.
|
|
Released 08.29.2006
|
|
|
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
|
The Rapture - Pieces of the People We Love (Universal) [audio and upcoming shows]
With the juggernaught of Echoes nearly four years past, the Rapture have a lot to live up to. Luckily, Pieces ... strays from the heavily mined Gang Of Four and PiL influences and shoots for a more Talking Heads afro-electro-punk approach ... and pretty much pulls it off. "The Devil" is a standout; Cure-meets-Michael Jackson orgasmic panting, skronky guitars, glitterball keyboards, this one’s the dancefloor killer like "Sister Savior" was a few years back. Morgan better rock this at POP or I’m boycotting.
- eric
|
|
Released 09.12.2006
|
|
|
|
|
The Rapture - Pieces of the People We Love (Universal) [audio and upcoming shows]
This is what Sigur Ros fans dance to so that they won't be embarassed in the presence of actual pop. (Don't take that as a recommendation.) Even if we ignore the tragically horrible irony of a band calling themselves "The Rapture" and making dance music for disaffected emotionless robot hipsters, this album fails to reach the plateau of standard dance-punk mediocrity. (Dance-punk? Who comes up with... Anyway...) Quick note: you can't hide filler songs by making the whole album filler! These self-aware pop-tards have delivered a synthesized train wreck.
- tom d.
|
|
Released 09.12.2006
|
|
|
Thursday, August 17, 2006
|
The Royal Army
Recording Co. - Mary, Your Ghost is Showing (self released) [audio]
Described as a "collective," The Royal Army Recording Co. sounds like their members include the Beach Boys, Pedro the Lion, Grant Lee Phillips, and John Vanderslice. Most of all, though, they remind me of The Bland Allisons. Like that band, the lovely acoustic folk-alt-country-pop sound belies the darkness of the lyrics; it seems almost like a concept album, what with all the waiting and dying and cemeteries. My favorite line: "You were once a projector / now you're just an empty screen I see."
- meredith
|
|
Released 09.05.2006
|
|
|
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
|
Roy - Killed John Train (Lujo) [audio] [upcoming shows]
Roy's latest effort is filled with a wide array of musical tastes. On parts of Killed John Train you can hear the hiss from a four track and the gloss of pro tools. In other spots you'll hear their love for country/folk rock and you'll catch indie pop hooks a la their debut record. "Jesus Drives a Trans Am" has a country feel to it with the accompaniment of a drum machine. "Middle Son" is rocking in all of it's indie glory, while "Reno I'm Coming Home" features a killer harmonica part with haunting, distorted guitars.
- kyle j.
|
|
Released 03.14.2006
|
|
|
Friday, July 14, 2006
|
Rye Coalition - Curses (Gern Blandsten) [audio] [upcoming shows]
If listening to Wolfmother constantly is helping you relive the days of Sabbath, then this might be a good choice to help you get your AC/DC jollies. Sounds like Dave Grohl decided to produce a more Grohl-ish version of Queens of the Stone Age with its homage to 80s metal slightly less masqued. These are beer-bottle-smashing songs, the kind of stuff that cracks you up and raises its goblet of rock all at once. The too-cool-for-fun need not apply.
- tom d.
|
|
Released 04.18.2006
|
|
|
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
|
The Rakes - Capture Release (V2) [audio] [upcoming shows]
The Rakes' debut record is filled with twelve tracks made up of equal parts punk, art rock, and new wave. There are obvious influences such as Buzzcocks, Bowie, and Wire throughout the album. I'm sure other reviewers have lumped The Rakes in with bands like Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party, but Capture Release is much more enjoyable and heavier than anything those bands have put out. This record is the perfect soundtrack to wherever there is heavy drinking and hell raisin' being had.
- kyle j.
|
|
Released 04.25.2006
|
|
|
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
|
Joshua Radin - We Were Here (Columbia) [audio] [upcoming shows]
You wake up on a grey Saturday and suddenly remember that your heart is bruised. You want to lie in bed, stare out the window, drink tea and be melancholy. Joshua Radin is the perfect background music for you. As if his sweet, almost whisper of a voice and soft guitar picking weren't enough, his words convey a poignant combination of longing, loss, love and hope. File "We Were Here" somewhere between Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and Damien Rice's "O."
- stacie d.
|
|
Released 02.07.2006
|
|
|
Thursday, March 23, 2006
|
Receptor Sight - Cycles and Connections (Joyful Noise) [audio]
With two tracks under a minute and another two over thirteen minutes long, the listener gets to choose their favorite extreme. It takes until the fifth track for the Mogwai-ish grooves to appear and "Bagel and Green" rivals anything by Explosions in the Sky for its' entire 13 minutes. This cd begins and ends with clanking champagne glasses, scraping metal bathed in static and pots and pans being hit with a rubber hammer. Because of that, the noise defeats the rock by majority decision.
- mark
|
|
Released 01.24.2006
|
|
|
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
|
Josh Rouse - Subtitulo (Nettwerk) [audio] [upcoming shows]
Subtitulo is Spanish for subtitle, a fitting motto for a light-hearted chronicle of the artist’s post-divorce rebirth in his newfound refuge in Spain. The album is a nostalgic nod to 70s FM radio, colored with lush orchestration, simple melody and lyrical optimism. “Summertime” is reminiscent of Jack Johnson’s catalog, and as always, Josh’s soft tenor is an open smile. Loyal fans will not be disappointed although, at times, the songs lack the earthy sophistication of many of Rouse’s earlier works. “Subtitulo” is the musical equivalent of a deep sigh of contentment; the perfect Sunday morning soundtrack.
- betty
|
|
Released 03.21.2006
|
|
|
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
|
Remate - On Junk (Limbo Starr) [Video] [upcoming shows]
I hope Remate never spends too much time in America. As a native of Spain, he has the benefit of observing American indie-folk music from afar and is less likely to fall into the trappings associated with the underground machine here in the States. His most charming qualities are that he writes like no one else while obviously admiring everyone from Will Oldham to Jeff Tweedy, as well as wrestling with his own tongue to sing his songs in English. Remate is speaking, literally and musically, a new language.
- paul
|
|
Released 10.03.2005
|
|
|
Friday, January 06, 2006
|
Radiant Darling - Cryptomnesia (Tense Forms Records) [audio] [upcoming shows]
It's difficult not to compare Radiant Darling to The Arcade Fire, Bjork, or even Squirrel Nut zippers. There are two reasons for this: Ami Saraiya has a torch singer quality reminiscent of both Billie Holliday (in sound and attitude) and Nico (attitude only); and the music is mostly rickety, ethereal, Old World and acoustic. While there's nothing incredibly new on this CD, the exotic South Asian trip-hop beats and Indian chanting on "Versadh" are a nice touch, and Saraiya's voice really does grab the imagination.
- karen m.
|
|
Released 11.01.2005
|
|
|
Sunday, November 27, 2005
|
The Russian Futurists - Our Thickness (Upper Class) [mp3s]
When someone says an album is unique and unclassifiable, it's a signal to me that the music's so weird and experimental that listening will present a challenge. Toronto's Matthew Adam Heart, a.k.a. The Russian Futurists, busts that stereotype. On the one hand, these ten songs are a little lysergic, a little art-damaged, a little, well, different. On the other hand, they're booty-shaking electronic dance-anthems. Like chocolate and peanut butter, it's a perfect combo, a tasty treat for the ears.
- tim p.
|
|
Released 05.03.2005
|
|
|
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
|
Röyksopp - The Understanding (Astralwerks) [upcoming shows] [audio/video]
One of the very few electronic albums that have caused me to sing their lyrics under my breath for days. It would be very difficult to make a poppier electronic album and still have it be any good. This is music made to inspire dancing while you remain sitting on a couch with your favorite libation. (Think the Mitsubishi girl on one extra valium.) Not a huge step forward from Melody AM, and the uber-pop melodies might wear on some listeners over time, but largely excellent.
- tom d.
|
|
Released 07.12.2005
|
|
|
Monday, October 17, 2005
|
The Rosebuds - Birds Make Good Neighbors (Merge) [mp3/audio] [upcoming shows]
The Rosebuds have always had a flair for winsome love songs full of vaguely-psychedelic hooks. On their latest release, the hooks are
still there, but the mood is more melancholy, with happy melodies showcasing lonely lyrics, or, just the opposite with dreamy words set to a dirge. But no matter how lonesome the lyrics or ominous the melodies, the songs, for the most part, are so beautiful that you don't mind the pain.
- karen m.
|
|
Released 09.13.2005
|
|
|
Thursday, September 08, 2005
|
Amy Rigby - Little Fugitive (Signature Sounds) [audio]
[upcoming shows]
Musicians of a certain age always begin playing it safe, working with
diluted potency when approaching new material. You've seen Elvis
Costello and R.E.M. even resort to making a complete mockery of what
they once were. Amy Rigby, naturally, defies convention. The opening
3-song salvo of Little Fugitive may even be some of her best work ever, not that the rest of the album slouches in any way. With her sharp lyrical wit and a gift for great folk rock writing, Ms. Rigby remains intriguingly ageless.
- paul
|
|
Released 08.23.2005
|
|
|
Thursday, August 25, 2005
|
The Rikters - Mistaken For Scientists EP [mp3s] [upcoming shows]
From the band name alone, I was ready to dislike The Rikters. After listening to Mistaken For Scientists, I hear far too many sounds I enjoy to dismiss them based on their name. Doug Jenkins' vocal range, while not quite Jeff Buckley's, is quite impressive and sounds good for what's happening on this EP. Add some good harmonies and interesting start/stop guitar and you have a nice little 6 song EP on your hands. Even the band name is growing on me.
- kyle j.
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
|
Rogue Wave - 10:1 EP (Sub Pop) [mp3] [upcoming shows]
Rogue Wave's debut album consisted of good material that was
underperformed by a solo Zach Rogue. After its release, Rogue Wave
evolved into an actual band and, through extensive touring, those same songs picked up a whole new set of dynamics. 10:1, Rogue Wave's new 4-song EP, precedes their second full-length. The title track is a short burst of what makes present-day Rogue Wave so exciting. Three other songs exclusive to the EP are pleasant, but recall the solitude of earlier work. Overall, it's a worthy teaser.
- paul
|
|
Released 08.23.2005
|
|
|
Saturday, December 18, 2004
|
RTX - Transmaniacon (Drag City) [upcoming shows]
Hagerty's gone, leaving Herrema 100% in control of the RTX legacy.
So, how's she done? Remarkably well, it turns out. There remains an
underlying looseness to how the band swaggers through its material,
but now it's accompanied by focus and aural polish which, at times,
makes RTX sound more like a direct descendent of Faster Pussycat than
their original Rolling Stones-isms indicated. Still far from becoming
a household name, more albums in this vein could at least push them
into the periphery of the mainstream.
- paul
|
|
Released 09.21.2004
|
|
|
Friday, October 15, 2004
|
Racetrack - City Lights (Skrocki Records) [mp3] [upcoming shows]
Do you remember mid-90's college rock radio? When a "let's start a
band!" attitude, some pretty chords, and a little more enthusiasm was all that you needed to get a tour with Velocity Girl? Well, Racetrack sounds like they might - and that's a really good thing. The guitars and production are bigger and better than back in the day, but the herky-jerky rhythms, boy/girl vocals, and alternating cute/angst-ridden lyrics are still representing. Yes Virginia, geeks CAN rock.
- jeremy
|
|
|
|
|
Monday, July 12, 2004
|
Radio 4 - Stealing of a Nation (Astralwerks) [audio] [upcoming shows]
Electroclash as a genre may have tanked with Fischerspooner (remember them?), but punk-edged dance music hasn't thrown its last soiree. In their major label debut, Radio 4 hones infectious dance guitar ("State of Alert"), waxes the Happy Mondays ("Shake the Foundation") all the while proving that bongos are so the new cowbell.
- matthew r.
|
|
|
|
|
Friday, January 23, 2004
|
The Rosebuds - TheRosebudsMakeOut (Merge) [mp3s] [upcoming shows]
In a less-capable band's hands, the Rosebuds' boy/girl vocals + keyboards + guitars + drums equation could be reduced to simple twee. But the Rosebuds pound away at their perfectly crafted songs with such abandon that they transcend simple math. These kids know their rock history, instinctively. The kicker is Ivan Howard's beauty of a voice - when he howls, "I believe in rock & roll," I believe right along with him.
- jeremy
|
|
|
|
|
Thursday, October 30, 2003
|
The Rapture - Echoes (Universal/DFA/Strummer) [stream the disc] [upcoming shows]
Here's the recipe: First, take Public Image Ltd.'s This Is What You Want LP - tweak it just enough to avoid a lawsuit. Next, take a bunch of Wire guitar riffs, chop them up and place the samples randomly throughout the record. Finally, bring in some Chemical Brothers wannabes to produce it, replace the drummer with a drum machine on almost every track and make it danceable. Place in a studio for three years, then market to unsuspecting hipsters with a terminal case of dance fever. There you have it - new wave for idiots.
- junco tibet
|
|
|
|
|
Monday, July 14, 2003
|
The Rogers Sisters - Purely Evil (Troubleman Unlimited) [audio/video] [upcoming shows]
"Punk funk" has replaced "neo-garage" as the ridiculous NYC music/haircut movement du jour; it seems like every ridiculously-coiffed honky in greater Manhattan wants to try and dance, dance, dance - with mixed results at best. Fortunately, the Rogers gals (and guy) buck this trend with enough sinewy ESG-influenced beats, Fred Schneider yelps, and fuzzed-out charisma to not only look but SOUND cool as hell on their innocently innovative freshman effort.
- nick
|
|
|
|
|
Thursday, May 01, 2003
|
Robbers On High Street - demo [mp3s] [upcoming shows]
Sick of the "New York Scene" yet? Think all these new NYC bands are of such blandy-sameness that they can be expressed with a simple mathematical formula (L8 70s + 80s x 90s)? News for you: There's pure, sweet indie rock lurking in Gotham as well. Comin' off like an East Coast version of Spoon, The Robbers On High Street will bust your chops with their finely-honed indie rockin' skillz. I realize that the world is, as a general rule, an unfair place, but sheesh, somebody sign these guys already!
- ryan
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, January 29, 2003
|
Raveonettes - Whip It On (Red Int / Red Ink) [audio] [upcoming shows]
In some alternate universe Bizarro-world, The Raveonettes don't exist. In their place, The Jesus and Mary Chain reunite to record an EP of spazzy, heavily-medicated rockabilly covers. Or was it Sonic Youth B-sides? They don't remember either. Unfortunately, the novelty wears off quickly (boding poorly for future full-lengths), but a song like "Attack Of The Ghost Riders") deserves to remain for inter-dimensional vinyl archeologists to discover long after.
- nick
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, December 04, 2002
|
The Rapture - Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks (Sub Pop) [live show]
Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks is all about the title track, which could easily be the anthem for post punk revivalism. The rest of the 20-minute EP completely rocks with low-slung distorted bass and Go4 influenced experimentation (see cowbell on "The Confrontation"). Feedback and pounding rhythms drive The Rapture's innovative meld of disco rock and post punk progressions, moving towards a future where there's something called intelligent dance rock - gasp.
- jules
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, November 12, 2002
|
RMSN - Variegated (Quarterstick)
The third and final release in this series of EPs, this one is, at first glance, one track longer. Take a closer look and there's an extra, unlisted track stuck on the end. This may as well be a whole new Shipping News album. An awesome release except for that damned packaging that makes the process of opening this fucker rougher than Christmas at Harry Houdini's house. No matter... these tracks are soon to be compiled onto one CD, maybe there'll be a jewel case involved.
- brian
|
|
|
|
|
Thursday, November 07, 2002
|
Rocket From the Crypt - Live From Camp X-Ray (Vagrant) [mp3]
I could sum this review up in one word: disappointing. If I were to elaborate a bit, I could lengthen it to: very short. If you really wanted me to get longwinded and try to fill up my 75 word quota, I'd say that while it's not my favorite Rocket record (by far), I still like it for what it is: ass-kicking rock and roll. I just wish it rocked a little more...
- brian
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, September 18, 2002
|
Rocket From The Crypt - Hot Charity (Swami Records)
Anyone waiting for their rebirth after drinking from the tainted water fountain known as Vagrant Records will have to settle for this reissued release from 1995. Their appearance on MTV's Spring Break now seems like a lifetime ago but Speedo and gang have pressed on, however inconsistantly, with their blasts of full throttle horn saturated rock. To their credit, the original mission and matching outfits are still intact, and these older songs should placate those waiting for the "live" release out soon.
- mark
|
|
|
|
|
Friday, June 21, 2002
|
The Rocking Horse Winner - Horizon (Equal Vision Records) [mp3]
Jolie Lindholm raised her stock by contributing backing vocals to the latest Dashboard Confessional effort, though it’s the charming pop love songs with her own band - The Rocking Horse Winner - that will make her an idol to Teen People readers everywhere. Far from the emo tag that the band has been pegged with, TRHW should appeal to an audience that enjoys everything from the effervescent pop of Letters to Cleo to the introspective shoegazing styles of The Sundays.
- chip
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, June 05, 2002
|
Radio 4 - Gotham! (Gern Blandsten) [mp3s]
I don't know what "the struggle" is, but if this is its soundtrack, I'll get behind it. Here we have another hot New York band taking a cue from the past (Gang of Four) and creating something new, stylish, and all their own. This is "new disco," and it totally rocks. That's right, it's punk rock you can dance to - catchy, propulsive, layered, groovy, addictive. It won't change the world, but it'll sure shake yours for an hour or so.
- catherine
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, May 29, 2002
|
Royal City - Alone at the Microphone (Three Gut Records) [mp3s]
Welcome to a Texas death style wrestling match with the members of Wilco (including all ex-members), Giant Sand, Palace Brothers, Crazy Horse and the Old 97's as the participants. If the last five men standing had to record an album together, you might end up with Royal City, who combine the best elements of all the previously mentioned bands and create a boatload of sparse catchy country influenced songs. While listening to this I kicked my dog, smashed a whiskey bottle, lost my job, and my woman left me. This is as legit as it gets.
- mark
|
|
|
|
|
Friday, May 17, 2002
|
Richard Hell - Time 2xCD (Matador Records) [mp3]
Richard Hell holds a very high position in the history of U.S. punk rock, situated right near Iggy and the Ramones. Although he concentrates more on his writing nowadays, he should be remembered not only for his music and acting, but also for being the prototype for the Sex Pistols "look". This double cd contains all his classics, digitally remastered from the most crappy of sources, and featuring loads of previously unreleased live tracks. Get this cd, a copy of Please Kill Me and spend the weekend feeding your brain.
- mark
|
|
|
|
|
Friday, April 05, 2002
|
RMSN (Shipping News) - Sickening Bridge (Quarterstick)
This is the second in an ongoing series of EPs by Louisville's Shipping News. Three elaborate, moving songs with equally elaborate packaging (handmade in Chicago, land of the starving yet drunk artist). This release features two great additions to the mix: Chris Higdon of Elliott on guest vocals on the second track and one of the longest song titles ever..."Now That Your Diamond-lined Star Is Failing You, What Fair Silhouette Would Best Suit This Satellite." Good thing I had some room in my 75 word quota, or I wouldn't have put...
- brian
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, February 06, 2002
|
Josh Rouse - Under Cold Blue Stars (Rykodisc) [mp3]
The most significant moment in Rouse's musical past is a collaboration EP with Lambchop's Kurt Wagner. In the howling on the title track, echoes of Kurt can be heard and, throughout the album, the spirit of Lambchop is somehow captured. That isn't to say that Rouse isn't original - alt.country has never sounded so soulful, laid back and easy to listen to. Buy it - it'll be a fixture in your hi-fi for weeks.
- christopher
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, November 20, 2001
|
Radiohead - I Might Be Wrong, Live Recordings (Capitol)
From last year’s Kid A to their first hometown show since Creep, the past 14 months have been all about Radiohead. This is a gorgeous summation of those events, featuring a beautifully straightforward piano version of “Like Spinning Plates” and the never-before-released but long-time-favorite “True Love Waits.” Showcased is their knack for creating music in a concert setting that takes the complexity of recorded versions and adds a rare intensity, something worth hearing for their sheer talent at tweaking something different into any song.
- cory
|
|
|
|
|
|
Red Planet - Let's Degenerate (Gearhead)
Sometimes, there ain't nothing like punky rock and roll songs about drinking it down and getting it on. One seeking a fix of such would do well to seek out Red Planet. In this day of pretentious rock revivalists, they stand out as a band genuinely interested in making fun records that pay homage to past greats like the Real Kids and early Replacements. Let's Degenerate is certainly nothing you haven't heard before, but it's probably just the thing for your next drunken gathering. Watch for party fouls.
- chris
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday, November 04, 2001
|
|
RMSN - Carrier (Quarterstick)
RMSN = Shipping News. For some people, that's enough reason to snatch this album off the shelf and cram it into the nearest CD player. Throw in insane, limited edition packaging and you have a hit. That is, of course, if you don't notice that there are only three tracks. Three really good tracks, mind you, but only three, nonetheless. The songs are great, but I feel like it took longer to open the fucking thing than it did to listen to it. Word is that this is only the first in a series.
- brian
|
|
|
|
|
Thursday, October 18, 2001
|
Roots of Orchis - self titled EP (Slowdance Records)
How many different ways are there to rewrite the formula for post punk/jazz influenced instrumental indie rock? I am not sure, but there are many different flavors to choose from. The Roots of Orchis have added another tasty option onto the menu. This may be the perfect soundtrack when your girlfriend forces you to attend a lameass dinner party that falls into chaos as the third bottle of wine gets cracked open and the girls start turning cartwheels and smashing coffee tables.
- mark
|
|
|
|
|
|
