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Album Reviews

The Zebras: Worry A Lot [Album Review]

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Worry A Lot marks second release by The Zebras, following their self-titled debut from 2004. The album is crafted with the jangle pop that made the twee movements of C86 and Sarah Records so lovable. From the punchy guitar to the driving percussion, each song contains the power to knock you off your feet. The Zebras hail from Australia and it is extremely difficult to find a copy of anything by the group on this continent, making it clear a US-based label needs to release the album stateside. Read More »The Zebras: Worry A Lot [Album Review]

The Very Foundation: The Restless Enterprise [Album Review]

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What would you think if you read the lyrics “….but it comes from simple needs/ just fuck me till I bleed”? Would you be expecting a Trent Reznor-inspired electronic mess? Or maybe an speed metal diatribe about lust over love? Well, chances are you wouldn’t expect these words to be used in a song done by an indie power pop group such as The Very Foundation. But, much like their whole demeanor, there isn’t too much obvious about this tremendous group. Especially on their latest release The Restless Enterprise. Read More »The Very Foundation: The Restless Enterprise [Album Review]

Adolfo Lazo: On Tape [Album Review]

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The quick and spirited ditties like those on Adolfo Lazo‘s sophomore solo release On Tape that will keep this globe spinnin’. World-folk with a great sense of humor is one form of self expression with the possibility of stirring up the heart, body, and the ever-illusive soul. This is an album from an artist who only takes himself just serious enough to garner a bit of respect. Other than that, he comes off as a fun-loving musical vagabond lost on the highway of indie rock. Read More »Adolfo Lazo: On Tape [Album Review]

Letting Up Despite Great Faults

Letting Up Despite Great Faults: Letting Up Despite Great Faults [Album Review]

The name Letting Up Despite Great Faults stems from Blonde Redhead’s “Loved Despite Great Faults” off Melody Of Certain Damaged Lemons. They often gets comparisons to The Postal Service, but I just don’t see it. Sure, it’s electronic pop at its best (a bit of a similarity) and there are occasionally some Tamborello-esque beats, but Letting Up Despite Great Faults isn’t nearly as clean nor does it possess those cut-and-dry vocals signature to Gibbard. The primary similarity is the band’s ability to create dreamy electronic indie pop tunes with a romantic edge. It’s a similarity in theme at best.

Read More »Letting Up Despite Great Faults: Letting Up Despite Great Faults [Album Review]

Dragon Turtle: Almanac [Album Review]

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Opening track “Casualty” off Dragon Turtle‘s Almanac begins with a soft acoustic guitar and a set of soft backing instruments, from deep drums (tympani perhaps?) and what could even be a clarinet. The strum is prominent, while the rest maintain an ever-present drone. Basking in an immense reverb, the vocals enter just as quietly, echoing across the drone-created plateau. And then it happens: the song nears the midpoint (about 3:40 in) and feedback begins to take over – an incriminating dominatrix, ready to make your wildest and most bizarre fantasies come true. Read More »Dragon Turtle: Almanac [Album Review]

Laura Brino: How We Survived [Album Review]

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There are a lot of female singer/songwriters out there who are obviously influence by the likes of Ani DiFranco or Joni Mitchell. Sadly, most of them become are poor representations of their elders. But, Laura Brino can proudly look beyond such satire. Her sophomore album How We Survived is reminiscent, but less reflective, of her elders. She has a power and grace that is obviously all her own. Her songs are the warm coffee on a rainy day. Or the oh-so-sought-after light at the end of the tunnel in the world of folk music. Read More »Laura Brino: How We Survived [Album Review]

Hunters, Run!: EP2 [Album Review]

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Hunters, Run! blend an interesting combo of post-punk and power pop that’s super infectious. “If I Had Half A Chance” is filled with power chords and it even highlights some emotive vocal harmony shouts. When the instrumentation drops out during the bridge, leaving little other than the “ohhh ohhh” vocals pattern, the band transcends standards for something on an entirely different plane. Read More »Hunters, Run!: EP2 [Album Review]

Dinosaur Feathers: Early Morning Risers [Album Review]

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Imagine a barbershop quartet fronted by a more introspective Rivers Cuomo in his early days. Now back it with folk-pop guitar and give everyone in the audience some unique nonsensical item to beat upon. Send the entire troupe back to the stone ages for a few decades, and bring them back a little less sane, a bit less civilized, and the summation of this somewhat unusual scenario is the basis for the music Dinosaur Feathers (a mere trio) creates. Their brief four-song EP, Early Morning Risers introduces something quite original when it comes to songcraft. Read More »Dinosaur Feathers: Early Morning Risers [Album Review]

Cajita: The Ellipsis [Album Review]

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When laptops are added to folk-pop music, the resulting melodies are (more often than not) atmospheric. Cajita begin nearly every song on The Ellipsis with those swirling, spacey sounds. Featuring a variety of instruments, from trumpet to standard guitar, Cajita appears much more a group than one man with an occasional partner. Jay Chakravorty takes on the brunt of creation and performing, including all programming, guitars, keys and vocals. The trumpet is resigned for Jim Cornick. Read More »Cajita: The Ellipsis [Album Review]

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