Album Reviews

Gary B & The Notions: The New Twist & Shout [Album Review]

Ron Trembath
November 23, 2009November 21, 2009

The term “WTF” was thankfully not accessible when Elvis Costello emerged so many years ago. But, in his beginning stages, it probably would have applied. Thankfully, the artistic revolution happend, and he became a household name. And with this, some brilliant performers were surely to draw influence. One act would be Gary B & The Notions and their gem of an album The New Twist & Shout. Influence, yes. Copycat, definitely not. They simply stir up a 50’s pop style with a new age rock mentality to create barroom classics that will assist you in drowning yourself alongside your pitcher of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Read More »Gary B & The Notions: The New Twist & Shout [Album Review]

Phantogram: Phantogram EP [Album Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
November 20, 2009April 13, 2023

Erich said, You gotta check out this band; you gotta review their EP. End paraphrase. Having recently noted the band’s signing to Barsuk, it seemed the logical next step. In anticipation of that future record, slated for an early 2010 release, it just made sense. Besides, there’s substantial overlap between the self-titled EP and the pending full-length, Eyelid Movies. Of the five tracks on the Phantogram EP, four find their way onto that album of eleven total songs. I’m here to say that the EP is still totally worth it.

Ron Trembath
November 19, 2009November 17, 2009

What a spirited little dose of experimental pop Globes On Remote have offered up with their strangely titled debut album The Woo Hoo Hoo. It’s a fun collection of spaced out and dizzy pop songs with a highly positive outlook. This LA based group manages to bring together the styles of Michael Jackson, Radiohead, and even The Killers together (FINALLY!!) to create songs that are fun and exhilarating in nature. With so much going on as far as noise and space-filling, you may feel like an 8 year old kid lost in Disneyland. Scared yes, but very entertained. Read More »Globes On Remote: The Woo Hoo Hoo [Album Review]

The Family Curse: White Medicine [Album Review]

Gumshoe
November 18, 2009February 11, 2022

The Family Curse … good god. When people tell me a band is “crazy” I usually chuckle to myself heartily and think about Edward Ka-Spel. That makes me feel better, usually …

But in this case “crazy” is actually a fairly apt descriptor (hear it for yourself; listen to all 6 minutes of “Bodies in Rooms” for free down below). The Family Curse are dollars-to-donuts one of the kookiest combos around, dealing in an unseemly din of death loops, car-crashing crescendos and hyper-banshee shrieks.

Andy Fenstermaker
November 17, 2009November 14, 2009

In defining folk rock, one rarely sees an association made with rockabilly. But it’s a pertinent inclusion in the music Charles Leo Gebhardt IV makes. On his recent GGNZLA Records EP, Unfaithful, it’s the jangle in his guitar – that almost country sound that definitely fits the rock genre (as opposed to jangle pop). “Look Out, Look In” and “Better At Love” have that old-time 50s rock feel, which fits the rockabilly persona, but it’s not nearly as rockin’ as some of those artists tend to be, hence the folk. Read More »Charles Leo Gebhardt IV: Unfaithful [Album Review]

Mark Matos & Os Beaches: Words of the Knife [Album Review]

Ron Trembath
November 16, 2009November 15, 2009

What do you get when you combine bay-area love-folk and southwest obscurity with a pinch of world music influence? Well, all corniness aside, you would have Mark Matos & Os Beaches and their album Words of the Knife. Mark Matos, formerly known as Tucson-based folk vagabond Campo Bravo, brings a stellar collection of ParrotHead friendly tracks that make him sound like a Portuguese Jimmy Buffett. Alongside Os Beaches, here is an album you will be humming to yourself for days to come. Read More »Mark Matos & Os Beaches: Words of the Knife [Album Review]

Animal Collective: Grass [UK Import Single Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
November 15, 2009November 14, 2009

With more recently-released 7″ singles, you never really know if it’s 33 & 1/3 RPM or 45 RPM. Many do not say. With this single, I started out on 33 & 1/3 and it took me a moment to realize it should have been on 45. That’s the beauty of Animal Collective: it could almost work on both levels. Animal Collective is one of those special groups that will never hit mainstream, but that doesn’t mean it’s not good music. The group’s distinct sound is made up of impossible-to-decipher lyrics, shrieks, and random loops. Read More »Animal Collective: Grass [UK Import Single Review]

Polka Dot Dot Dot: Syzygy [Album Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
November 13, 2009November 12, 2009

Of all the timeless folk and folk-pop musicians that scour the earth, none are more true to the roots than those that possess the lo-fi nature of artists came before… long before. Polka Dot Dot Dot is one such band that follows this particular path, though their subject matter may not be that of an early Western era, nor may the harmonies and melodies. Yet they have a certain efficacious manner about them that bridges the then with the now. Read More »Polka Dot Dot Dot: Syzygy [Album Review]

Jookabox: Dead Zone Boys [Album Review]

Gumshoe
November 12, 2009November 12, 2009

I used to think Dirty Projectors were bombastic. I used to think Parenthetical Girls were epic. I used to think Battlehooch were chaotic.

I used to think these things, but it turned out I just hadn’t heard Jookabox yet. These guys really Man (Man) up. And those Anticon-esque moments are just-plain confusing. I’m really just using these signposts because I’m lost, though (and where would us reviewers be without our signposts, touchstones, dead ringers and red herrings?). Read More »Jookabox: Dead Zone Boys [Album Review]

Donerail: Destiny and Dishonor [Album Review]

Ron Trembath
November 12, 2009November 11, 2009

Donerail is an intriguing group of fellas, no matter from what angle of the music world you decide to look at them. Their classic roots are embedded on their sophomore release Destiny and Dishonor. But all the indie brands and typecasting are clear and present enough for them to flourish in the night life of their home city of Portland, Oregon. In just one song, these blokes will go from spiritual, to rugged, to loving in only a couple minutes. And unlike many indie acts today, their songs are inspiring and much less destructive than what you might hear regularly. Read More »Donerail: Destiny and Dishonor [Album Review]

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