Vessels is a UK-based post-rock outfit whose new LP, Helioscope, can be found on Cuckundoo Records. “The Trap”, enclosed below for sampling purposes, treats the listener to sonic soundscapes with rapid, potent percussion and spacey guitars that find a comfortable compromise somewhere between Mogwai and Battles. Read More »Vessels [Feature]
Fred Thomas and Ryan Howard, the duo behind City Center, are set to give us their debut full-length, Redeemer. Their slightly reverb-laden dream pop is sometimes electro-infused, sometimes as lo-fi as the band’s K Records brethren. The album is a reflection on youth from one in the throws of growing up, an attempt to understand where they have been and project they are going (but mostly the former). Read More »City Center: Redeemer [Album Review]
I initially found it very difficult to write about Jackie-O Motherfucker. After all, I’m a bit of a newcomer to the band, having only really listened to two, maybe three of their albums. And with a total of 15 under their belt since 1995, they have the history and repertoire that is both prolific and highly impressive. Read More »Jackie-O Motherfucker: Earth Sound System [Album Review]
Eastern Phoebes is a duo from Long Island that creates light playful pop music similar to that made by Page France. They are, as they put it, two lovers – Ry Smith and Meg Bayley. The band describes their music as twee-pop, and after a few listens to their new 10-song release, Wampum, it becomes apparent that the description is quite accurate. Read More »Eastern Phoebes: Wampum [Album Review]
The Coathangers know how to craft a mighty infectious hook, be it strummed wildly on a gritty, grungy guitar or screamed near illegibly into a microphone. “Hurricane”, the first track off the band’s forthcoming LP Larceny & Old Lace, is a perfect example of this mastery. Let’s face it – a song like this proves that The Coathangers know how to have a good time. A song like this is precisely what you’d want to hear live at a party. A party with lots of beer and lots of cool people. These girls know it, and they enjoy giving you want you want. Read More »The Coathangers: Hurricane [mp3]
It’s been a few years since we’ve heard anything from Los Angeles circa Vienna band Sugarplum Fairies. The duo of Silvia Ryder and Ben Bohm are back with a new album called The Images We Get, featuring the signature airy vocals of Ryder and light southern-tinged Americana folk pop. As found on the band’s prior releases, this one is dreamy and filled with accompanying stringed orchestration. Read More »Sugarplum Fairies: The Images We Get [Video]
Hunx And His Punx clashes the 50s style girl group doo-wop pop with punk rock in the first song off their recent LP, Too Young To Be In Love. “Lovers Lane” is definitely influenced by classic teenage tragedy songs like Jan And Dean’s “Dead Man’s Curve” and Wayne Cochran’s “Last Kiss” and even The Shangri-Las “Leader Of The Pack”. Read More »Hunx And His Punks: Lovers Lane [mp3]
German Error Message is a lo-fi experimental folk band fronted by Paul Kintzing. Though the band has been around since 2004, it wasn’t until more recently that they’ve started releasing music. And with their self-titled EP in 2008, the flood gates opened. The subsequent debut LP, To Carry Alongside, was released in early 2010, followed by a January 2011 release of and EP called SPPLIT and a February 2011 release of After The Warmth.
Read More »German Error Message [Feature] 
In the photo above you can see Phil Elverum (Mount Eerie, Microphones, D+), Calvin Johnson (The Cave Dwellers, The Halo Benders, K Records), and Karl Blau (Karl Blau, D+). So yes, it is that time of year again. The sun is out (for once) in Western Washington and all the unique individuals in Anacortes come out of their hiding places (and their friends come up from Olympia) for the annual What The Heck Fest! I went last year (hence the above photo) and things went down like this: watched some bands in a park, ate a sandwich in town, watched more bands, slept some, took a walk to Whistle Lake with some friends, watched more bands, drank some beers.
Read More »What The Heck Fest! 2011 Edition!
Conversion Party boasts a sound that draws influence from classic indie rock, with squealing post rock guitars backed by clever riffs and fronted by emotive vocals and cunning lyrics. Favors is the band’s new EP, out this past week on Open Kimono. “False Teeth” opens the 4-song EP with those emotive vocals, then we get dosed with multiple vocalists in the anthemic “In The Mountains”. Though these songs are a bit different in style, both are massively good.
Read More »Conversion Party: Favors [Album Review]
