There is an unspoken comfort zone in underground music around the Pacific Northwest. We all know it is there, but we refuse to acknowledge it for fear of reprisal. However, when an artist invades this zone and tears down the walls, it’s becomes time for some exposure. This is just what David Minne does with his debut full-length album Pop Sarcastic. Read More »David Minne: Pop Sarcastic [Album Review]
Clash art punk with the resurgence of a somewhat Grrrl Rock sound and you’ll begin to get the picture Golden Triangle paints. Double Jointer is the band’s debut full length, following a self-titled EP from last year. Golden Triangle’s sound is based around noise. Everything is loud, in your face, and over the top. Exotic and slightly erotic, “Blood And Arrow” and “Eyes To See” bring forth a bit of crazy. That crazy is a common theme throughout Double Jointer, and it’s just as present (if not more so) than it was on their debut. Read More »Golden Triangle: Double Jointer [Album Review]
Madeline Adams from Orange Twin Records stopped by Department Of Safety in Anacortes during the summer of 2008. With some local artists and a few well-known names, she recorded with them what would become Tour EP, a collection of six songs previously available only via a CD-R sold while on the road. It now gets proper release via Orange Twin on vinyl 7″. The songs feature Clyde Peterson from Your Heart Breaks and Karl Blau. Other staples dropped by to lend expertise, including Mount Eerie/Microphones master Phil Elverum and Gus Franklin of Architecture In Helsinki. Read More »Madeline, Your Heart Breaks & Karl Blau: Tour EP [Album Review]
Anybody can enjoy a nice “almost punk†sound. And if you can’t, you’re likely to drown in that bottle of Jameson you call a life. Misery is necessary for the wicked, but sometimes we need to dance and love. A group like Bombs Into You are the perfect match for all those who wish to hear their bad news in a positive vibe. Metaphorically Yours [Vol 2] is a spectacular display of new wave pop at it’s finest. Read More »Bombs Into You: Metaphorically Yours [Vol. 2] [Album Review]
Songwriting is an art that few can really perfect. Some artists have spent their entire lives producing words of wisdom, fear, turmoil, love, happiness, drastic sadness, etc. Some get heard and understood, some don’t. Bob Dylan has written more songs than you can shake a fedora at. So much work has been put into this art form, it’s almost unfair for it to go unnoticed. But, Richmond’s Louisiana Territory is bound for personal and recognizable glory with the wonderfully written words they have brought to life on their debut, full-length album Traces of Gold. Read More »Louisiana Territory: Traces Of Gold [Album Review]
After an extended leave of absence from the recording world, The Mercury Program are back in full effect with their latest release, Chez Viking. With an intriguing blend of atmosphere-filling sounds, these experimentalists by nature bring forth something of a fondue pot of boiling and bizarre collaborations between vibraphones and a taunting rhythm section. Their style would almost seem simple by nature if it didn’t leave you with an out-of-this-world, hand job from an alien-like euphoria after one listen. Read More »The Mercury Program: Chez Viking [Album Review]
Music based solely around acoustic guitars is so often slapped with the “simple” label, that one tends to associate the term with all artists that base their music solely around that particular instrument. Acoustic folk-pop artist Thousands prove that’s a fallacy. His melodies are as intricate and complex as the vocal patterns the band mixes in on The Sound Of Everything. Thousands is Seattle duo Kristian Garrard and Luke Bergman, and together they make some of the best acoustic music you’ll hear west of the Rockies. Read More »Thousands: The Sound Of Everything [Album Review]
Four bizarre folksy indie-pop songs; that’s what you get with Spaghetti Anywhere‘s self-titled EP, out this week. They possess a slight jangle in guitar, feature mechanical drums and an occasional keyboard line. There’s a major shuffle in the guitar that adds in highly upbeat hooks. And the band slaps in some extremely unique vocals and lyrics. Read More »Spaghetti Anywhere: Spaghetti Anywhere [Album Review]
Chris Heidman knows electronic music. Jeff Lorentzen knows R&B/hip hop flavor. Together they make UltraChorus, a digitized electro-pop frenzy that rivals the likes of Gnarls Barkley or Hot Chip. Because of the nonconforming and experimental irregularities that their debut album Ultra-Def has against modern R&B, there is an indifference in what this Minneapolis based duo should be labeled. All that’s really important to understand is that these cats have soul and can write one hell of a love song. Whatever category their qualities are dubbed, they probably exceed the necessary credentials for that three others as well. Read More »UltraChorus: Ultra-Def [Album Review]
To celebrate Silence Is Sexy’s full year of success after 2009’s Euronet sensation This Ain’t Hollywood, the Netherlands’ finest group has developed quite a treat for the listeners they picked up over the last 365 days or so. Teaming up with the fantastic Cuban Royal Republican Orchestra, these electro-rockers have developed the very cleverly titled EP, This Is Hollywood. Their high paced energy and strong verbal stamina can now be heard in an all new fashion — one which prefers tears way over fears. Read More »Silence Is Sexy & The Royal Republican Orchestra: This Is Hollywood EP [Album Review]
