Above photo by Jesper Berg.
Swedish artist Moto Boy has a very Jeff Buckley aura to his persona, from his highly powerful vocal styling to the cleanly plucked guitar. So, it’s no surprise to hear that he’s covered Buckley live. This introduction is merely a focal point, an introduction to Moto Boy, whose latest tidbit of news is that label cohorts Regina remixed his song “Young Love”. Read More »Moto Boy: Young Love (Regina Remix)
Every so often I got on a label kick. The latest label to succumb to my addiction is Slumberland Records. Included in my foray are a few wonderful indie-pop artists and the first to get coverage from the attack is Liechtenstein. Read More »Liechtenstein [Feature Band]
Initially listening to Bagheera‘s music, one might dub it as minimal. That, however, would be a folly. Digging deeper into the soft vocals and light instrumentation you’ll find an extensive complexity in every element added, from the instrumentation and percussion backing the Grizzly Bear-esque “Circadian Clock” to the opening Beach Boys-meet-Yeasayer tonal vocal harmonies in “Horizons Lined With Scars”. Read More »Bagheera [Feature Band]
We’re now half way through 2009, so I figured it was about time to collect a few favorites from the year thus far. I’ve put together 10 must-hear albums from the first half of 2009. To alleviate any bias, and because I’m totally obsessed with this style of categorization, I’m putting them alphabetically. Read More »10 Must-Hear Albums From The First Half Of 2009
A few weeks ago, I got a note from Cari Palazzolo of Austin keyboard-pop group Belaire. The reason was her new project, School Police, a similarly poppy group that this time around found her splitting vocal responsibilities with a band member of the opposing gender. Read More »School Police: Cover Art Feature
Denmark’s Mew is prepping to drop their third studio album, this time via Columbia Records. No More Stories… is its name and “Repeaterbeater” is the second track now available from the release. For fans of …And The Glass Handed Kites, the group’s sophomore release, you’ll be happy to hear that, at least on “Repeaterbeater”, the traits that made Glass so great remain in-tact. Read More »Mew: Repeaterbeater
Oh man, this takes me back to the gritty rock of the late 90s. Following the loud, raucous punk-ish path of groups like No Age, Japandroids feature wild guitars, intense percussion, and dual screams. The band is Brian King and David Prowse and their music is Canadian genius. “Young Hearts Spark Fire” is absolutely brilliant. Read More »Japandroids: Young Hearts Spark Fire
It’s instrumental. It’s experimental. And, unfortunately, it is no more.
I am, of course, talking about Nameless Numbers. I caught their first show at the Retro Fit Gallery (another has been) in Moscow, ID a mere three months after formation. The hypnotic keyboardist, the Garfunkel-haired guitar improvisation artist, the wacky but talented drummer, and the bass/banjo multi-instrumentalist have sadly parted ways. But with death comes birth. Grant (drums) has joined The Last Melting Man while the remaining trio are banding together for a new, currently unnamed project. Read More »Nameless Numbers: Feature Band
I must say, I’m quite obsessed with a few select songs off Royal City‘s latest release, 1999-2004. Those tracks are 1) “Here Comes Success”, thanks to its eclectic guitar breakdown toward the end of the tune, and 2) “Bad Luck” due to a clever lead guitar riff. 1999-2004 is an album of rarities and b-sides collected over the tenure of this short-lived band. Read More »Royal City [Feature Band]
OK, this may be an odd question: How would a mash-up between Rasputina and Tilly And The Wall sound? It’s hard to think about as one would believe the result would be a bit awkward. But it’s not; just listen to “Sleep” by Blue Rabbit. There’s the dark cello, a Rasputina signature. And pop-riddled vocals are sung by multiple individuals in a manner quite like Tilly And The Wall. And here’s the kicker: it works, and it works well. Read More »Blue Rabbit [Feature Band]
