In a man’s life, there is always one certainty that can confuse him, impress him, and make him cry for many reasons. Big Sur knows this to certainly be the female gender. Ladies. X Chromosomes. In other words – Women. God we sure do love them in all their complexity and beauty; they just exude happiness in the best of times. And what better topic for a country folk band of Bellingham gypsies to tackle? Read More »Big Sur: Women [Album Review]
Grand Archives‘ latest LP, Keep In Mind Frankenstein, follows their self-titled debut in the creation of masterful harmonies backed by pleasant melodies. “Oslo Novelist” is the second track released off the album for free public consumption (following “Silver Among The Gold”) and the first to be put to video. The storyline consists of a novelist in space who loses his writing and follows his attempts to get the papers back. It’s a fun one that works well with the luscious melodies Grand Archives creates. Read More »Grand Archives: Oslo Novelist [Video]
Call it indie rock, or call it power pop; however you label it, Open Choir Fire‘s new LP, Dirt Bathed And Quilted is flat out good. There’s an unquestionable 90s influence focused primarily on the Northwest region, which is no surprise as the band hails from Seattle. “Killing The Messenger” is a hard-hitting rocker, while its successors in “Big Regret” and “You Should Take The Bus” take it down a notch but are no less intricate, powerful or yes, even sophisticated. Read More »Open Choir Fire: Dirt Bathed And Quilted [Album Review]
To celebrate her tenth year in Seattle shooting music and various other goodies, Skylark Cafe in West Seattle is hosting an exhibit by Jenny Jimenez dubbed “Show Me Your TIFFs: Ten Years Of Music Photography”. The exhibit will show from September 28 to December 14.
Read More »Jenny Jimenez Celebrates 10 Years Of Music Photography 
Seattle was once a city of depression-based rock enthusiasm when the times where as confusing as a text message from Michael J. Fox. But, times were almost better then. And we needed something to be angry about. Nowadays, there is plenty to be upset with. So why not enjoy the city’s new excursions into a more inspiring blend of progressive shoegaze. This would be the work of Benjamin Bear, brainchild of pianist Mychal Cohen and percussionist David Stern and their refreshing album Lungs. Read More »Benjamin Bear: Lungs [Album Review]
The taunting yet soulful words of Toby Campbell, a.k.a. Anomie Belle, are a true symbol of constructive rhythm and melancholy blues. Her album Sleeping Patterns is 11 songs that are nothing short of keyboard-infused goodness. The entirety of this album will run through your heart like a 2 a.m. subway ride through an empty of city of dust and desire. Read More »Anomie Belle: Sleeping Patterns [Album Review]
Mat Brooke has come a long way since his Carissa’s Wierd project; his confidence is significant in comparison to its presence on the first Band Of Horses LP. In fact, listening to the stripped down tracks on Grand Archives‘ latest, Keep In Mind Frankenstein, (songs like opener “Topsy’s Revenge” and the near a capella “Siren Echo Valley (Part 1)”) he has gone through a major confidence boost since the group’s self-titled debut. Read More »Grand Archives: Keep In Mind Frankenstein [Album Review]
Sent To Coventry by Coulter was obviously influenced by an 80s-era indie pop, circa C-86 and The Smiths. Guitar riffs and synth lines all scream pop bounce, while the vocals have an occasional stripped-down lo-fi quality. Songs like “See You Next Tuesday” could easily have been released a quarter century ago rather than this year.
Read More »Coulter: Sent To Coventry [Album Review] 
Lose the drama for one damn night. Learn to enjoy yourself. Life doesn’t have to be an ever-ready emotional roller coaster all the time. Have some fun for once. Throw in Skeletons with Flesh On Them’s debut album All The Other Animals and prepare yourself for good time Seattle pop rock. Of course it wouldn’t be fitting to be entirely positive. Hell, Richard Simmons was bulimic and John Edwards needed a mistress. And they always seemed to be happy and optimistic. Let’s keep it real. Read More »Skeletons With Flesh On Them: All The Other Animals [Album Review]
Songs like “Young Sensualists” and “Yucatan Gold” off Throw Me The Statue‘s debut LP Moonbeams were, in my opinion, far greater in depth and personality than the song that initially garnered them fame: “Lolita”. Thus is often the curse of the first single; luckily their sophomore follow-up to Moonbeams debuts with “Ancestors”, a song that has just as much character as the aforementioned greats off Moonbeams. The new release is dubbed Creaturesque and will find a comfortable home yet again on Secretly Canadian. Read More »Throw Me The Statue: Ancestors [Album Preview]
