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Megafaun: Impressions Of The Past [Video]

megafaun

Photographer Tim Lytvinenko joined and documented Megafaun as they toured across the states in support of their latest release, Gather, Form & Fly, out now on Hometapes. The result is a collection of experiences from the road in what they dub “part-documentary, part-sense memory.” No surprise, Lytvinenko puts this collection of shots to the music of Megafaun’s epic almost instrumental track “Impressions Of The Past”. It’s the best of the road, the fun and the fans, the antics and the hilarity of it all. Read More »Megafaun: Impressions Of The Past [Video]

Built to Spill

Built To Spill: There Is No Enemy [Album Review]

To think back over a career of an artist like Built To Spill is, to an extent, the same as doing it for Radiohead or Death Cab For Cutie. Albums come and go, and they’re all pretty damn great; they all hold their own, unique special place in your heart. Revisiting the old albums bring back memories of where you first heard it, or experiences you had while it blasted over your speakers. Sure, you have your favorite(s) and likely one you don’t care for too much. Perfect From Now On has been, in my opinion, their strongest album since its release in 1997. There Is No Enemy, their latest, gives Perfect a run for its money.

Read More »Built To Spill: There Is No Enemy [Album Review]
Best Albums of 2000

A Retrospective Top 15: Best Albums Of 2000

I’ve decided to create an installment in which I do a recap of my favorite albums of the past ten years now that we’re coming up on the turn-of-decade – yes, 2010 is upon us.

volvo

The key: I do them one at a time.

I figure contemplating the weight of albums that have been instituted in my library for the better part (or even just half) of a decade would warrant a skewed opinion when comparing them to those released just this month. And, as these things are all truly opinion-based, well I just couldn’t have that.

Read More »A Retrospective Top 15: Best Albums Of 2000

Yarn Owl: Tiny Dots [Cassette Review]

Yarn Owl

With a heavy vocal echo and reverb cranked to eleven, Yarn Owl presents seven tracks of undulated upbeat pop. “Yarn Blues” kick things off; it’s a track we’ve heard before, but Yarn Owl gives it a revisit by speeding things up a bit and treating it with the reverb jangle heavy throughout Tiny Dots. One thing is for sure: this isn’t likely what you were expecting, coming from a cassette tape. Tiny Dots label Leftist Nautical Antiques is prone to release things in this form, and it’s almost perfect – the pop Yarn Owl creates has a classic feel to it, be it late 80s or early 90s. Read More »Yarn Owl: Tiny Dots [Cassette Review]

Golden Ages [Feature Band]

Golden Ages

Philadelphia’s Golden Ages dub themselves as creators of psychedelic pop, and that would be an adequate description. But it would also be incomplete. Their songs certainly possess elements of the psychedelic; however, there’s a lot going on in each tune that also pulls in everything from electronics to experimentation. Take, for example, the closing track of their new EP Sitting Softly In The Sea, “Everything Will Be Alright”. There’s more electro-pop here than psychedelic pop. The same can be said about opener “Here We Are At Sea”, but the focus is instead on experimentation. And “The Whale” mixes all three. Read More »Golden Ages [Feature Band]

Girls: Hellhole Ratrace [10″ Single Review]

girls

In a recent conversation, a friend noted they didn’t quite understand the hype behind Girls. After all, there are a dozen bands that write similar, edgy songs and can carry a complimentary weight. I agreed, but only somewhat. Revisiting songs like Album‘s opener “Lust For Life”, I hear a unique vocal styling and that damn garage-pop I seem so fond of these days (along with everyone else). But one thing is certain: Girls sure can write a powerful ballad. Read More »Girls: Hellhole Ratrace [10″ Single Review]

Railcars Take Miraculous ‘Cathedral With No Eyes’ On The Road

railcars

San Francisco garage-noise-pop outfit Railcars dropped their new record yesterday, a mystical collective of ferocious bouts of electro noise dubbed Cathedral With No Eyes. You may remember Railcards from our debut/premiere of “Passion Of St. Edmund (Rebirth)”, or maybe even our premature review of Cathedral With No Eyes from a month and a half ago. Frontman Aria Jalali takes noise and throws it through a lollipop dreamboat; its almost unbelievably upbeat pop nature is something that simply must be heard. Read More »Railcars Take Miraculous ‘Cathedral With No Eyes’ On The Road

Fanfarlo Head This Way In Support Of ‘Reservoir’

fanfarlo

Fanfarlo has three key influences, in my opinion. First, the blaring trumpet and deep lead vocals on tracks like “The Walls Are Coming Down” reminisce of early Beirut (circa The Gulag Orkestar). Then, there’s the anthemic qualities in songs like “Luna”, which conjure artists such as Arcade Fire. And, finally, the theatrics of greats like The Decemberists. Still, I feel safe saying that the combination of influences is just right – it makes their music their own, and it makes an album like Reservoir really, really good. Read More »Fanfarlo Head This Way In Support Of ‘Reservoir’

Electric Owls [Feature]

Electric Owls

Backed by a few synths and a light guitar strum, Electric Owls‘ Andy Herod has pieced together a surreal soundscape for Ain’t Too Bright opener “Magic Show”. It’s an energetic tune that is true to the pop sensibilities Herod’s previous group, The Comas, never seemed to quite reach. Where The Comas pumped out one rock tune after another, Herod now seems more than comfortable writing pop songs that have a light rock edge, but don’t stray too far into his former stomping-ground. Read More »Electric Owls [Feature]

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