Not too long ago, Grant (aka. The Gumshoe of The Gumshoe Grove) and I pieced together some questions for Darlings, one of our mutual favorite bands from 2009.
Some were a little odd, some funny, some flat out dumb.
They were kind enough to provide us with some answers, no matter how ridiculous the questions. Here is the result, unedited and unfiltered. Enjoy…
Read More »A Darlings Interview 
It’s been a few years since we last heard from The Album Leaf, but they’re back. “Falling From The Sun” renews the band’s focus on vocals. Looking back at In A Safe Place and Into The Blue Again, those albums emphasized The Album Leaf’s ability to create a dreamy, atmospheric tune. “Falling From The Sky” lapses into those areas, but the true emphasis is on lyrics and vocals, and that in itself is a substantial change. Read More »The Album Leaf: Falling From The Sun [mp3]
When I compiled my original Best Of 2008 list last December, it was a snow day. The sky dropped about a foot, maybe a foot and a half of fluffy white stuff and we lowly sub-compact drivers could go nowhere. Between ranking albums and locating album art, I took a stroll around town with my camera. The above image comes from that trek. Overall, I was pretty happy with last year’s list but, in revisiting all the albums from 2008, I now see quite a few that I left out.
Read More »A Retrospective Top 33 and 1/3: Best Albums of 2008 
In 2009, Hometapes aptly demonstrated that they are a force to be reckoned with and a label to keep an eye on. They packed the year with great releases, some of which are likely to appear on my best of 2009 list, slated to go live late next week. To celebrate the holidays, they’ve done two things worth noting. First is Eight Days Of Christmas, which features Christmas tunes from eight Hometapes bands. Second is a Holiday sampler, which arrived in the form of a cassette via mail on Friday. Read More »Eight Days Of Hometapes: An Indie Christmas Music List
The Dandy Warhols use their electro-fused, almost Beatles pop sound (one of their many styles) to recreate one of the best Christmas songs ever, “Little Drummer Boy”. And it couldn’t have worked out better. This cover is, too say the least, far better and more energetic than when Bright Eye’s tried it out for size. Yes, rockers doing holiday songs is one commodity that shall never grow old. The Dandies have been releasing this one for free download for a number of years. It’s a quite perfect way to enjoy these annoying jingles that used to bring you so much joy when you still believed it would be a good thing for a fat bearded guy to sneak in your house late at night and eat your cookies. Bless these Portland rockers for bringing back the joyous feelings we seem so often to forget. Read More »The Dandy Warhols: Little Drummer Boy [mp3]
Viva-Radio’s Me+You has done it again, in more ways than one. They’ve brought back Andrew W.K. for a second Me+You session, and they’ve created something absolutely worth hearing: an Andrew W.K. Christmas Holiday Special. This is one session you definitely do not want to miss. Read More »Me+You Plus Andrew WK Equals A Spectacular Chrismas Special
Is it just me or is there an overabundance of indie Christmas tunes being released this year? As in, substantial quantities more than usual. Maybe I’m just paying attention this time ’round. Anyway, one of the better ones I’ve heard as we approach the holiday season is “I’m A Snowman” by Ohio’s best pop group Bears. Read More »Bears: I’m A Snowman [mp3]
Let me tell you a story. In 2007 some notable things happened. I attended the annual music festival SXSW (the image above is of myself and The Lovely Sparrows’ Shawn Jones, taken by Abandoned Love Records/Virgin Of The Birds’ Jon Rooney), I grew a mustache, and I met a beautiful girl named Andi at the Capitol Hill Block Party. We hit it off and ditched the after-party to get a sprite (her) and coffee (me) at Denny’s in Ballard (sadly no longer there) at 1:30am. I still have the mustache and I’m still dating Andi. A lot of pretty notable things happened that year, and a lot of great releases came out…
Read More »A Retrospective Top 33 and 1/3: Best Albums of 2007 
No sooner than I discovered The Cops, they were over; succumbing to the fate all bands reach at some point. But Mt. Fuji Records mastermind Mike Jaworski is back with a new project, one in the same vein as The Cops. This group, Virgin Islands, just dropped their first EP. I picked up Age Of Anxiety on a whim while in Seattle last weekend and now I’m obsessing over its post-punk Seattle in-your-face greatness. Read More »Virgin Islands [Feature]
Hello Seahorse! creates honest, lovable pop in the vein of Mates Of State. The trio from Mexico City is centered around light, clean keyboard riffs, soft bass lines and female-fronted vocals. The music is ingenuous and unassuming. There’s no typical pretensions here, simply pleasant pop songs. “Won’t Say Anything” will surprise you with its purity, and abash you for your lack innocence. Read More »“Won’t Say Anything” by Hello Seahorse! [mp3]
