STEREO<-->TOTAL
StereoTotal, ParisBerlin, 2007 Kill Rock Stars
Berlin based duo, Stereo-Total, bring you the 2007 album of the year, ParisBerlin, a summer release worth holding onto your icecream money for.
Art-punk with a European bloodline, including mellow influences of German and French pop—breeds chic, modern music wrapped in bilingual lyrics of sex and revolution. Françoise Cactus a…
Up the Empire
Up the Empire, Light Rides the Super Major, 2007
Up the Empire is a four-person rock ensemble and through the introduction of their first big release, Light Rides the Super Major, appear to know exactly where their music niche lies. It is plain to see where this band is going and apparently, in their opinion, that is “Up” and I’m not going to argue.
Track one is a super intro to Up the …
holy good god--and we're back in business
home sweet home. back in the states and will slowly but surely begin to fill out this webpage.
please look forward (maybe… way way forward) for reviews:
muscles,
numbers,
+
the dead betties
the cold seasons may be a little slow for venues—but that’s when some real gems can pop up RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE. yadda yadda. yadda?
if you haven’t yet, s…
whoops...
ima be outta the office for the next week more or less. as i am on vacation. so much for getting the ball rolling—ill have a lot of freelancing work when i get back, but ill get to all your emails asap. (+ thanks tons!)
in the meantime…
AGENT SPARKS (Red Rover)
+
THE BREEDERS (Last Splash)
a couple summertime favs.
The Ohsees (OCS)
The Oh Sees, Sucks Blood, 2007 Castle Face Records
The Oh Sees’ 2007 release, Sucks Blood, is a supreme indie record to the fullest. Riffs of folk and psychedelic pop shuffled between Brigid Dawson’s soft and cozy vocals are like back at the ranch with the Breeders—a flawless wreck of distorted and slicing guitar chords matched with airy and affectionate lyrics. The Oh Sees were originally …
July 1 update--Oi! Too many cookies + not enough milk.
This week:
New album reviews: Brazilian Girls, Bear, Up the Empire, and the Oh Sees
LIVE SHOW updates: the Divorce (last show), Schoolyard Heroes
+ flyer art, animation, love children, and a Pretty Girls Make Graves live album.
Klaxons
Klaxons, Myths of the Near Future, 2007
This album is eager to please. Ideal pop-rock blend and safe alternative to recent radio played bands, such as the latest Modest Mouse (sorry, not a fan) and Yellow Card type mumbo jumbo that pushes popular melodies to an extreme—the Klaxons are less exhausting and more original, or maybe just a little eccentric in their musical excursions. About eve…
The Big Sleep
The Big Sleep, Son of the Tiger
The Big Sleep is the rock “kick” that the 21st century was looking for. As the decade begins to roll around into the teens hopefully the Son of the Tiger—released in 2006 and an expansion of their EP: You Today, Me Tomorrow—wont be the only sample of their perfect persuasion of instrumental genius to hold our hand through the next few years.
Son of the T…
Deerhunter
Deerhunter, Cryptograms, 2007
Cryptograms is introduced by a spacey three minute piece that tugs the listener from a mellow trance into another worldly atmosphere. A typical instrumental bit at the beginning of an album, but with an atypical lack of direction—unsure of whether the record will take on an indie, rock, or electronic vibe.
The rest of the album is nearly as odd as the ba…
Sirens Sister
Sirens Sister, Echoes From the Ocean Floor, 2007
Sirens Sister’s pulsing melodic metaphors conducted by vocalist Zach Davidson, coupled with an instrumental courtship via visionaries Leif Anderson, Ben Libay, and Jeff Rouse have developed a revolutionary and romantic hiatus in their introductory album: Echoes From the Ocean Floor.
Sirens Sister has a little more sway in her step and t…