Song Reviews

Crushed Stars: Black Umbrella [mp3]

Andy Fenstermaker
December 6, 2010December 4, 2010

Convalescing In Braille is the latest by Todd Gautreau, who often goes by the moniker Crushed Stars. Oft descriptive words associated with Gautreau and his Crushed Stars may relate to the night hours, overcast days, or infinite soundscapes. These words fit — there’s something oddly spacial about the dreamy pop of Crushed Stars, and that’s what makes the band, and an album like Convalescing In Braille work so well. Read More »Crushed Stars: Black Umbrella [mp3]

Golden Bloom: Magic Words [mp3]

Ron Trembath
December 6, 2010February 12, 2022

Shawn Fogel a.k.a. Golden Bloom can do pretty much anything! One thing he seems to be damn good at is picking out nice catchy little tracks to cover. He’s enjoyed some success covering Neutral Milk Hotel with a ukulele (as Neutral Uke Hotel), and now he has created something even more exciting.

Andy Fenstermaker
December 3, 2010December 2, 2010

Now this is the sound that gets me excited. Portland’s Wow & Flutter released Equilibrio! just over a month ago on Mt. Fuji Records and if you have yet to check it out, don’t hesitate. Theirs is a sound you do not want to miss. “The Puget Sound” reminds me of noisy melodramatic 90s rock, packed with dreamy vocals, ringing guitars, and heavy percussion. It’s a sound just as familiar to the northwest (their hometown is Portland, OR) as it is to that era DC. The harmonies are dissonant and emotive, while the music behind is wildly consistent and hypnotic. This is the best thing I’ve heard yet from Wow & Flutter! Read More »Wow & Flutter: The Puget Sound [mp3]

Destroyer: Chinatown [mp3]

Andy Fenstermaker
November 24, 2010November 23, 2010

For those of you familiar with Dan Bejar and his work in both Destroyer and The New Pornographers, this song may come as a bit of a shock. It’s damn near electronic! This isn’t the Dan Bejar we know and love… or is it? Leave it to JC/DC to spend a solid year-and-a-half production time reinventing Bejar as an off-beat, near contemporary artist. Bejar has never been one to create normality, but “Chinatown” is about as strange as it gets because it lacks consistency with the man’s prior work. Read More »Destroyer: Chinatown [mp3]

Hobosexual: Van Candy [Video]

Andy Fenstermaker
November 22, 2010November 21, 2010

So I was turned on to the band Hobosexual about a month or so ago, but ended up holding off on writing anything as I wanted to make sure I had something audible to include in the post. Well I found a little something called “Penthouse Lover” as well as the video for “Van Candy” my pals at Sound On The Sound premiered. Bonus. Read More »Hobosexual: Van Candy [Video]

Acid House Kings: Are We Lovers Or Are We Friends? [mp3]

Andy Fenstermaker
November 16, 2010May 13, 2023

Of Johan Angergård’s three bands, only Acid House Kings stays fixed within its prior works’ roots. This band has always created lovable pop music and that hasn’t changed one bit in their first single in five to six years, “Are We Lovers Or Are We Friends?” The track is off the bands LP Music Sounds Better With You.

Andy Fenstermaker
November 9, 2010November 7, 2010

The Asteroid #4 are masters at psychedelic pop. It was rampant on the band’s fifth album, These Flowers Of Ours…,… Read More »The Asteroid #4: Ignition Slated For Eight [mp3]

The Orchids: The Girl & The Soldier [mp3]

Andy Fenstermaker
November 4, 2010November 3, 2010

From the remnants of Sarah Records and the twee movement come The Orchids, who have spent the past few decades mastering their craft. The band has a new record out now on Pebble Records, and their song “The Girl & The Soldier” comes from it. What makes the song so endearing is accompaniment by the Cairn String Quartet, who has also worked with Camera Obscura. The song itself is relaxed and laid back, soft and slow. It’s the perfect ballad for an indie pop slow dance, and nerds everywhere will rejoice upon hearing it. I know I did. Read More »The Orchids: The Girl & The Soldier [mp3]

Ghost Box Orchestra: Oh, The Moon Hangs Low [mp3]

Andy Fenstermaker
October 25, 2010October 25, 2010

The Only Light On begins with a dreamy, shoegaze-like percussion and guitar pattern, fronted by a playful keyboard riff. Blending post-rock and shoegaze with elements of psychedelia, Ghost Box Orchestra finds a comfortable mix between being instrumental versions of Piano Magic and The Black Heart Procession. Vastly instrumental, Ghost Box Orchestra’s music finds solace in dreamscapes, and “Oh, The Moon Hangs Low” is no different. However, it has more of a rock edge to it, with heavier, louder guitars. And it has vocals, which sets the song apart from the others on The Only Light On. “Oh, The Moon Hangs Low” is explosive, hypnotic and swarming with the ethereal mystery you expect in post-rock meets shoegaze, and they execute it all masterfully. Read More »Ghost Box Orchestra: Oh, The Moon Hangs Low [mp3]

Club 8: Closer Now [mp3]

Andy Fenstermaker
October 21, 2010October 20, 2010

I am at a loss for words. The People’s Record, the latest by Swedish pop group Club 8, defies explanation. The band has always fit the pop mold, often flirting between dreamy electro-pop and indie pop sensibilities, but this new stuff has islands-ish percussion, playful guitars, and obscure keys. It’s as if their traditional Swedish pop took a tropical vacation. We heard it on the album’s first single “Western Hospitality” and it’s written all over their latest single, “Closer Now”. These new sounds are upbeat, fun and completely refreshing. There truly is nothing like it out there in the world of indie pop. Read More »Club 8: Closer Now [mp3]

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