Many would argue that, when it comes to decade-old genres, it becomes harder and harder to write that which stands alone as unique. The same has been said over and over about post-rock, yet Black Hat Brigade seem to be creating a sound that, at least to some extent, is proprietary. After a brief single for their track “Zombie City Shake”, they now give us an EP titled “Fathers”.
Read More »Black Hat Brigade: “Fathers” [Album Review] 
Loud. Brash. Obnoxious. Wild. Crazed. These are all terms one could use to describe the village nut; they can also be used to describe the band PRE, whose wild noisy punk is absolutely not for everyone. But for the individual that can tolerate the noise sub-genre — featuring shouted vocals, massive volume in percussion and guitar, and erratic behavior in all three — these songs are absolutely brilliant. Read More »PRE: Hope Freaks [Album Review]
On his fourth album under the guise The Legends, Johan Angergård surprises yet again. After three albums that each take the group in a different direction, it has become standard to expect no less from the next release, and thus it was on Over And Over.
Read More »The Legends: Over And Over [Album Review]
Trespassers William and their multiple corresponding side projects have always been hit or miss when it comes to producing songs that are lyrically heavy as well as experimentally obscure. But, when they do find the right combination, keep your ears open during your late night television viewing because you are likely to hear them during a crying or “finding love” scene on your favorite melodrama (they’ve have been featured on The O.C., One Tree Hill, and more). After a small stint off touring the whole damn planet, the prodigies of the strange are back with the EP The Natural Order Of Things. And although they are smaller in size, they are back in a big way.
Read More »Trespassers William: The Natural Order Of Things [Album Review] 
God Help The Girl‘s debut, self-titled LP opens with a female touch on Belle & Sebastian’s “Act Of The Apostle”, one of the champion tracks off The Life Pursuit. In comparison to Murdoch’s other project, God Help The Girl gives it not only a female front but baroque backing vocals and an orchestra background heavy with strings. Title track “God Help The Girl” finds the ladies and Murdoch enveloping the track in the pop melody common in Belle & Sebastian, primarily found in the percussion, yet both the female vocals and up-front orchestra presence reside. Read More »God Help The Girl: God Help The Girl [Album Review]
As hard as they may try, Astronauts of Antiquity can not escape setting the new tone for today’s neo-soul genre. Sure, they dabble with a bit of electronica on Rocket Science For Dummies. But, this is pretty much new jazz! For the experimentally obsessed indie scene that has flourished as of late, this a is a rare gem! Lead singer India’s voice is a modernized version of a big band backup vocalist. Yes, they play with the weird. But, their very core is something of a classic nature. Read More »Astronauts of Antiquity: Rocket Science For Dummies [Album Review]
The Caterpilar by Ödland is a concoction of classically-trained pianist Lorenzo Papace of Lyon, France. Vocals (very likely through influence by French masters like Serge Gainsbourg) are contributed from actress and enchantress Alizée Bingöllü. Isabelle Royet-Journoud can be found on ukulele and environmental sounds, and Léa Bingöllü provides stringed accompaniment in the form of violin. These four individuals are Ödland, a French folk/classical group whose music is beautifully peaceful and unmistakably original. Read More »Ã–dland: The Caterpillar [Album Review]
Newcastle is a town known for many things. A fine thick lager would be the obvious. But, hip hop probably wouldn’t cross an outsider’s mind when envisioning fields of green and cheerful soccer games pouring through two-story flats. Enter The Forcefield Kids with their soulful and spiritual flows over great seizures of digitized utopia. Their debut release, Home EP, is a fine example of the relevant fact that these brilliant British rhyme-smiths know hip hop, and they deserve their place in all it’s glamour. Read More »The Forcefield Kids – Home EP [Album Review]
Tucked comfortably within my extensive collection of compact discs are several PDX Pop Now! releases, dating from 2008 back to, oh, I don’t know, maybe 2005 or so. Each year PDX Pop Now! puts together an excellent two-disc set featuring tracks from the best up-and-coming artists from the Portland, OR area. This release, PDX Pop Now! 2009, is my favorite yet. Read More »PDX Pop Now! 2009 [Album Review]
Jazz never fails to amaze me. Just when I think I’ve figured out an artist, they throw a curve ball and once again I’m blown away. In shopping for jazz albums there are a few things I keep in mind: I love classic staple artists like Charles Mingus, but I also have a major Jones for hip album covers. This two-sided affinity led to the purchase of Mingus at Carnegie Hall.
Read More »Charles Mingus: Mingus At Carnegie Hall [Album Review]
