Insanity comes in many forms, most undesirable. However, there is one that is much more intriguing and inspirational than the others: audible insanity. Golden Triangle (MySpace) is the perfect example of outstanding audible insanity. It can be heard in their music, and seen in the photographs of their live performances. They don’t call it garage punk for nothing. Read More »Golden Triangle: Golden Triangle [Album Review]
If you have yet to check out Cloud Cult (MySpace), this little trailer might be a good introduction. And if you’re a long-time fan of the group, the video is another memento from the band for your collection. It’s for their upcoming documentary No One Said It Would Be Easy. Blending pop with electronics and music with art, Cloud Cult becomes an experiential band in both the audio and visual sense. Read More »Cloud Cult: No One Said It Would Be Easy [Trailer & Show Preview]
I’ll admit, Crystal Stilts self-titled EP and debut full-length Alight Of Night passed me by a bit. Don’t get me wrong – I love the sound. It just failed to live up to the garage-pop that was Up Against The Legends by The Legends and was soon to be The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart by The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. But that has all changed. Enter “Love Is A Wave”. Read More »Crystal Stilts: Love Is A Wave [pReview]
Were you ever a fan of MTV’s The State? What a great show; it was packed with an outstanding cast fairly early in their collective careers, and members went on to such notable shows as Reno 911 (practically half the cast) and Stella (the entire trio). There was a particular sketch – the pants sketch – that reminds me of the first quarter of the “Houndstooth” video by Hot IQs (MySpace). Read More »Hot IQs: Houndstooth [Video]
When one thinks of Swedish musicians, one does not necessarily associate them with alcohol. Yet here we see an exception. Francis (MySpace) is fit for a rambunctious Swedish bar-room, packed with drunk blond men and women with superb fashion and design sense. (Does such a place even exist?) Read More »Francis: Francis EP [Album Review]
This is it—the end of Racetrack. They recently played their final two shows, wrapping up an era and releasing their final EP, Go Ahead & Say It. The release party and goodbye party were combined and split into two locations: Seattle and the group’s hometown of Bellingham, WA. Knowing that the end was upon them, it is a common theme rampant throughout the EP, trickling from the opening track, “Don’t Sit On The Pickets” to the closer, “Recidivism.” Read More »Racetrack: Go Ahead And Say It [Album Review]
Yes Is The Answer is the debut album by Seattle’s Grand Hallway. Yet prior to its release, the band already had several international shows booked in Japan, a country from which they draw severe influence. Describing their music as Experimental Classical Pop, Grand Hallway blends piano-heavy orchestral instrumentals with Tomo Nakayama’s quivering alto vocals. The combination draws likely similarities to Sufjan Stevens and Anathallo. In comparison, the band’s music finds a home more experimental than the former and less high school orchestra than the latter. Read More »Grand Hallway: Yes Is The Answer [Album Review]
To be honest, I haven’t listened to very much Metric (MySpace). I know that what I have heard I have liked, and what I haven’t I probably would like. So, naturally, when I heard they’d be releasing a new album upon the world, I turned to the one person I knew would appreciate the release: Margar. But, as the album has yet to come and the release won’t hit for another month or three, I figured I’d drop in a little note about the upcoming release and include some glorious embeds. Read More »Metric: Help I’m Alive [Video & pReview]
Up against Love And Distance, there is virtually no recognizing The Helio Sequence we once cherished. Gone are the upbeat poppy keyboard riffs of “Harmonica Song” and the super-dance driven electronics of “The People Of The Secret”. Gone are the hip-swaying, feel-good lyrics of “Everyone Knows Everyone”. And there’s practically no trace of harmonica to be heard. Yet Keep Your Eyes Ahead holds its ground as, possibly, an even more profound album then The Helio Sequence’s 2004 Sub Pop release. Read More »The Helio Sequence: Keep Your Eyes Ahead [Album Review]
As a young boy my exposure to music was limited to Oldies. I fell in love with groups like The Beatles and The Beach Boys. My father was especially fond of James Taylor so, naturally, I enjoyed his music as well. Growing older I became rebellious and searched out newer music sources, shunning my early loves and growing my hair to a painful-looking shoulder-length. Looking back at pictures of me with the less-slick Stephen Segal pony-tail make me cringe. But I guess we all go through such phases. I eventually came around to revert back to some of those early influences on my music palette. So why all this discussion of the music of old? How can that be relevant to a Canadian band called Young & Sexy? For starters the group’s third release, Panic When You Find It, does not sound like it was first released upon the world in 2006.
Read More »Young And Sexy: Panic When You Find It [Album Review]
