May 25

The Black Angels

May08, music reviews, music No Comments »

The Black AngelsBy Matt Walker, May 2008

Directions to See a Ghost, Light in the Attic Records

There’s no shortage of psych-rock/guitar-driven folk-rock acts today: The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Dead Meadow, Comets on Fire, Six Organs of Admittance, and the Warlocks all come to mind. The Black Angels, who return with Directions to See a Ghost, often get mentioned with these bands, but they stand a bit further out of the circle with their heavy emphasis on dark, mournful, lyrics and very retro guitar licks, not to even mention the obviously Jim Morrison-inspired vocals. Read the rest of this entry »

May 25

Glass and Ashes

May08, music reviews, music No Comments »

Glass and AshesBy Matt Walker, May 2008

Self-Titled, No Idea Records

            Glass and Ashes’ music doesn’t fit conveniently into one particular musical genre. Instead, the Ventura, Ca. band pulls together some of the best aspects of several, including the ferocity of early hardcore, the precision of metal and the innovativeness of the ‘80s DC punk scene to make an explosive batch of ferocious tunes. Read the rest of this entry »

May 25

She & Him

May08, music reviews, music No Comments »

She and HimBy Fred Sowder, May 2008

Volume One, Merge

           Singer-songwriter M. Ward had a grand idea: form a group with actress Zooey Deschanel and record songs that recall the best of the Tin Pan Alley and Brill Building eras of the early- and mid-20th century.  Ward knows good voices when he hears them.  Read the rest of this entry »

May 25

Fuck Buttons

May08, music reviews, music No Comments »

Fuck ButtonsBy Fred Sowder, May 2008

Street Horrrsing, ATP Recordings

            Anyone who caught this British duo’s set when they opened for Caribou last month at Common Grounds will know what to expect on record from these noisemakers.  Andrew Hung and Benjamin John Power harness sounds from kids toys such as a “Mr. Microphone” and an old school Nintendo Gameboy.  Read the rest of this entry »

Apr 19

The Mountain Goats

April08, feature, music reviews, music No Comments »

MG-Heretic PrideBy Travis Fristoe, April 2008

Heretic Pride, 4AD Records

While a shocking number of my friends wrangle over Bob Dylan, a more relevant subject — John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats – gets overlooked.  Or, like Fugazi, ignored as some sort of separate, unattainable mountaintop.  Not that Darnielle seems to care.  He’s been too busy touring and releasing recording after recording for the past 15 or so years.

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Apr 19

MATMOS

April08, music reviews, music No Comments »

M-Supreme BalloonBy Fred Sowder, April 2008

Supreme Balloon, Matador

            First off, this is not your parents’ Enigma-type electronica.  True, in the past they have worked with Björk, whom your mother probably even sometimes likes in an it’s-oh-so-quiet sort of way.  Matmos, however, are known at times to turn up the noise and squelch – perhaps not all the way up to Merzbow or Squarepusher standards, but enough to keep most everyone but the serious electronica heads away.

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Apr 19

R.E.M.

April08, music reviews, music No Comments »

REMBy Matt Walker, April 2008 

Accelerate, Warner Bros. Records

            While it’s become clear that R.E.M. probably won’t ever reach the greatness of albums like Murmur or Life’s Rich Pageant again, their newest is the best they’ve offered in over a decade.

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Apr 19

The Raveonettes

April08, music reviews, music No Comments »

RaveonettesBy Fred Sowder, April 2008 

Lust Lust Lust, Vice

   This duo from Denmark has put out a spotty set of albums over their three-disc career.  On Lust Lust Lust, The Raveonettes kick things off on a good note with the vamping “Aly, Walk With Me,” which should satisfy those pining for a new Garbage album.

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Apr 19

Dragged by Horses

April08, music reviews, music No Comments »

Dragged By HorsesBy Matt Walker, April 2008

Deep in the Woods, High Wheel Records

Apparently Dragged by Horses have described themselves as sounding like a “violent orchestra” and “natural disaster,” and the press release that accompanied the album backed up these claims promising “insane energy,” “well-designed chaos” and “heavy, sharp and intelligent tracks.”

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Apr 19

The Gaslight Anthem

April08, music reviews, music No Comments »

By Matt Walker, April 2008 

Señor and the Queen, Sabot Productions

The Gaslight Anthem’s debut album, which came out last year, was a solid first effort full of great lyrics, catchy melodies and well-written songs. And this EP picks right up where Sink or Swim left off.

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