FensePost Music & Vinyl Blog

Kasey Anderson: The Wrong Light [mp3]

Andy Fenstermaker
February 28, 2011February 26, 2011

Earlier this month, Portland’s Kasey Anderson dropped another album in our hands. On Heart Of A Dog, he’s backed by his band The Honkies. You can tell right off that Anderson has taken a slightly new path, one capitalizing in blues-oriented rock. He still has those drawl-tinged, country-like vocals, but Heart Of A Dog is heavier and greater in overall scope. “The Wrong Light”, opening track from the new album, screams with wild, bluesy electric guitars wrought with distortion. And Anderson’s vocals, too, seem more confident in their gritty, back-country nature. “The Wrong Light” is cool. Very cool. Anderson knows this, and he flaunts it on “The Wrong Light” in the most tantalizing of ways. Read More »Kasey Anderson: The Wrong Light [mp3]

Lindsay Fuller: The Last Light I See [Album Review]

Ron Trembath
February 28, 2011February 26, 2011

One of the first lines you will hear on Lindsay Fuller’s beautiful, lyrically-based album The Last Light I See is: but every tale needs a villain so I signed myself up. And it pretty much gets even more awesomely depressing (yet also enlightening) from this point on. This Seattle artist has a style that is somewhere mixed in with the anger of Ani Difranco and the sad storytelling soulfulness of Traci Chapman. But, her stories are way cooler. Though riddled with beautiful piano solos and wonderful strumming, the tales of heartache, dead birds of life, penniless gypsies, and a fear of love that is so strong it leads you to suicide is what really makes this album very captivating. Read More »Lindsay Fuller: The Last Light I See [Album Review]

Beat Connection: Silver Screen [Video]

Andy Fenstermaker
February 25, 2011February 24, 2011

A few days ago I wrote a piece on Beat Connection’s new LP, Surf Noir, which coincidentally went live a few hours ago. Shortly after wrapping that piece, I discovered their video for “Silver Screen”, crafted by Seattle’s DUMB EYES. Peruse DUMB EYES’s library of videos and you’ll find some pretty trippy stuff. But none, in my opinion, top their work on “Silver Screen”. Dizzying, kaleidoscope-like footage blended with video of the Beat Connection duo is what we get. That and a lot of flashing lights and layered footage, all of which complement Beat Connection’s style of psychedelic loops and chillwave. Read More »Beat Connection: Silver Screen [Video]

Beat Connection: Surf Noir [Album Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
February 25, 2011February 25, 2011

They call it “chillwave,” a term that has come to define this style of electronica meets psychidelia. The term is fitting, and of late has come to encompass a different side of beach-style pop thanks to the various effects and loops involved. It’s all quite hypnotic. I think the first band fitting the bill (the bill being beach-worthy chillwave) I really got into was Washed Out. Neon Indian followed, but with more experimentation. So the style has become prevalent of late, and Seattle band Beat Connection has created its own style somewhere between those to aforementioned bands. Read More »Beat Connection: Surf Noir [Album Review]

Pillow [Feature]

Andy Fenstermaker
February 24, 2011February 21, 2011

I still find it astonishing that the 90s were more than a decade ago. That would also mean that Pillow, this little-known Swedish group, met its demise in the early days of the Internet. Unfortunately, that means there is very little about this band available, and with a name simple and commonplace in terminology — well that makes it even more difficult. What one can gather is that this band existed in the 90s, staring in 1995. They recorded a bit, but most never received an actual release. Until now. Read More »Pillow [Feature]

Lawrence & Leigh: Chelsea Nights [Video]

Andy Fenstermaker
February 23, 2011February 20, 2011

With light piano and Kristin Stokes’ chamber-hall-like echoing vocals, Lawrence & Leigh open “Chelsea Nights” in a dream-like state. Soon Andrew Kalleen takes over with crisp yet mellow, folk-ridden vocals. The listener is treated to a dreamy pop song, inundated with hints of 60s folk and infused with the free spirit of jazz. Highly intriguing vocal harmonies extend into Kristin’s near Dark Side of the Moon improvised shrieks. In “Chelsea Nights”, Lawrence & Leigh have succeeded in their mission to create expansive, unique music. Read More »Lawrence & Leigh: Chelsea Nights [Video]

N8’s 12 Favorite Concerts of 2010

n8
February 22, 2011February 24, 2011

When Shabazz Palaces played their first ever live show on the 8th day of 2010 it was too early in… Read More »N8’s 12 Favorite Concerts of 2010

N8’s Top 10 Albums of 2010

n8
February 22, 2011May 5, 2023

Intro from Fense. It’s hard to believe I’ve known Nate for about a decade. We first met, if I were to make an honest guess, in the fall of 2001. I don’t believe either of our musical inclinations had yet been established, mine for writing and critiquing and his for DJing and working at Seattle’s only truly great radio station — KEXP. Ultimately we found comfort in the KZUU crowd, which led to where we are today. After posting my best-of list for 2010, Nate hit me up expressing interest in passing along his. And while he was at it, dropped a list of best shows as well. Check ’em out!

Acid House Kings: Would You Say Stop? [mp3]

Andy Fenstermaker
February 21, 2011May 13, 2023

Acid House Kings is back next month with a new album, their first in about six years. As the previous, Sing Along With The Acid House Kings, has been a favorite of mine since its release, their new one is easily my most anticipated album of 2011. Last weekend, I pre-ordered Music Sounds Better With You on vinyl; the anticipation continues. Thankfully, Acid House Kings have given us another song to bide the time. The song is “Would You Say Stop?” and it will be released as the band’s first single off Music Sounds Better With You on March 3.

Ron Trembath
February 21, 2011February 20, 2011

Did you know that George Washington was unable to have biological children because of a contraction of small pox in his youth? Or that Andrew Jackson once killed a man for insulting his wife? Do you really know absolutely anything about our 13th president Millard Fillmore? Well Matt Beat, a.k.a. Electric Needle Room, knows a lot. And he wants to tell you a little something about each of our first 15 presidents through 3-5 minute bedroom pop infused songs on The Presidents of the United States of America (Volume 1). Read More »Electric Needle Room: The Presidents of the United States of America (Volume 1) [Album Review]

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