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Album Reviews

Brown Recluse: The Soft Skin [Album Review]

brown-recluse

Mixing the psychedelic pop of the 60s with a more orchestrated baroque sound, The Soft Skin is four sunny tracks by Philadelphia’s most promising pop band in quite a while. Brown Recluse began as duo Timothy Meskers and Mark Saddlemire, and ultimately grew to six individuals. Within The Soft Skin, you’ll hear the plush instrumentation, from a focus on keys and jangle guitars in opener “Rotten Tangerines” to the trumpet feature in closer “Contour And Context”. Read More »Brown Recluse: The Soft Skin [Album Review]

Boy Genius: Staggering [Album Review]

boy-genius

What an intriguing batch of pop songs Boy Genius has came up with here! Staggering is an album that jingles and jangles it’s way through rockin’ tunes that act as a wonderful sequel to their debut album Anchorage. For returning listeners, you will notice that the first note on this album picks up where their debut left off. Another genius (pun intended) idea from this crafty Brooklyn-based group. It also wasn’t such a bad idea to bring on board super-producer Mitch Easter to help them polish up their happy-go-lucky recordings. Read More »Boy Genius: Staggering [Album Review]

Bunnygrunt: Matt Harnish & Other Delights [Album Review]

bunnygrunt

There is documentation of creative longevity and then there’s Bunnygrunt, whose sixteen plus years as a band (give or take a few) has gained them notoriety in the areas of lo-fi rock, indie pop and 90s pop-punk. This band’s latest effort is Matt Harnish & Other Delights, a record that takes its name from so-called main Grunter man Matt Harnish, the other half being that of Karen Ried (possibly the ‘other delights?). Read More »Bunnygrunt: Matt Harnish & Other Delights [Album Review]

The Long Winters: Putting The Days To Bed [Album Review]

long-winters

I first saw The Long Winters live at the Capitol Hill Block Party in Seattle at the end of July, 2004. Along with IQU, they stood out as the event’s best performers. The second time was in Pullman this past spring [2006] for the university’s annual Spring Fest. And again, they left the other performers behind to become the main attraction of the day. Standing at what appears to be well over six feet tall, front-man John Roderick has a stage presence that is outstanding. I recall hearing “Pushover” and the quick, punchy chords of “Fire Island, AK”. I remember “Sky Is Open” being a favorite, and possibly even “Rich Wife” and “Ultimatum”. Read More »The Long Winters: Putting The Days To Bed [Album Review]

Jack James: Lights Off, Headphones On [Album Review]

jack-james

There has been alot of grief giving in popular culture about simple man and acoustic guitar rock. America can find a way to relish on the bad of everything. The “bro”-worthy Dave Matthews or Ben Harper are now being laughed at. Glasgow, Scotland apparently feels the same way at times. But, like our soft-core heroes at home, they have an artist who does not give a damn. One Jack James is here to show the beauty of wordplay with his intriguing debut album Lights Off, Headphones On. Read More »Jack James: Lights Off, Headphones On [Album Review]

The Prime Ministers: Compromiser [Album Review]

the-prime-ministers

If the Gin Blossoms proceeded to follow down whoever they found so infatuating, fellow alternative pop group The Prime Ministers could surely pick up the slack with their medium tempered and mild-mannered album Compromiser. This collection of somewhat funk-driven tracks is not only the descendant of that which has been done, but something that is the predecessor of the fresh and stunning. Read More »The Prime Ministers: Compromiser [Album Review]

Lars Ludvig Löfgren

Lars Ludvig Löfgren: Heterochromia [Album Review]

There’s something a little off-kilter about Lars Ludvig Löfgren and his album Heterochromia. With a base that encompasses a fairly common pop sound, he adds in an indistinct oddity that you might not notice right off the bat; it’s a trait that works well with the album title. Löfgren’s music fits the upbeat nature of pop, but often finds the beats lagging slightly, at least early on. “Canadian Maple Leafs” and “Across Your House” open the album on a laid-back note before “Round Your Heart” removes any preconceptions about the band. The song is unquestionably catchy.

Read More »Lars Ludvig Löfgren: Heterochromia [Album Review]

AristeiA: You Give Me Strength, You Give Me Patience! [Album Review]

aristeia

Written by Justin Ray Ross.

AristeiA‘s first full length album, You Give Me Strength, You Give Me Patience!, blends the jam-session styling of Built to Spill with the post-rock sensibilities of Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky, which the majority of their sound is influenced by. Floating melodies intertwine with pounding rhythms to carry you on a journey across winter soundscapes. Read More »AristeiA: You Give Me Strength, You Give Me Patience! [Album Review]

The Scruffs: Conquest [Album Review]

scruffs

Like a time-warped whirlwind, the sometimes southern, sometimes Swedish, but always rockin’ band known simply as The Scruffs breaks through again, or for the first time. With the release of Conquest, this band of old-school rockabilly masters have truly conquered (all pun intended) the art of reinvention. Their songs have the ability to create massive nostalgia for middle-aged cats from the glory days, while still intriguing the ever-searching-for-nostalgia troubadours of the new times. Read More »The Scruffs: Conquest [Album Review]

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