Album Reviews

The Explorers Club: Freedom Wind [Album Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
February 22, 2009

The Expolorers Club address and hint at their influences before you even crack the vinyl wrapping (or, if you prefer, CD wrapping); their album art screams The Beach Boys. Sure enough, opening track â€œForeverâ€ is suited for the relation. Describing the group to a friend shortly after picking up the album, I noted that Freedom Wind is the album The Beach Boys would have released after Smile had they not disbanded during that albumâ€™s recording. Read More »The Explorers Club: Freedom Wind [Album Review]

Back In Judy’s Shack: Back In Judy’s Shack [Album Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
February 22, 2009April 11, 2009

Contrary to the majority of bands out there, indluding those fitting the indie-pop mold, keys are the primary instrument in Back In Judyâ€™s Shack. Thus, there should be no surprise that I immediately relate them to Au Revoir Simone. However, Back In Judyâ€™s Shack do stand on there own, well outside that early reference point. Read More »Back In Judy’s Shack: Back In Judy’s Shack [Album Review]

Math And Physics Club: Movie Ending Romance [Album Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
February 21, 2009May 5, 2023

As a child I was fascinated with the Beach Boys. Songs about surfing and care-free relations with women on the beach made my feet tap, though many of the latter references were well above my head. All that mattered was that they had hot rods on their record covers and that they looked cool. I found Brian Wilson to be not only the best looking of the bunch, but also the one with the most charm and grace. He appeared natural on the back of the cover while the rest of the group seemed a bit out of place. It is nice to hear bands like Math And Physics Club pay homage to the pop groups like the Beach Boys so fully and truly. Wilson’s “You’re So Good To Me” is given a fresh indie-pop sound that brings forth the nostalgia of Summer Days (And Summer Nights) and Pet Sounds and adds to it a hint of twee and jangle.

Andy Fenstermaker
February 21, 2009May 4, 2023

Album covers can give away an album, compliment the music contained within, and even determine whether or not someone like myself, a music critic, even cracks the case to listen to what’s inside. For the longest time KZUU had an album by a group called The Aesthetics, a name that inspires high degree of quality and beauty. This particular album sat on the “To Be Reviewed” shelf for ages.

Andy Fenstermaker
February 21, 2009October 18, 2009

After moving to Seattle in December 2003, I started frequenting Easy Street and Sonic Boom Records. Iâ€™d spend hours looking through old records, listening to bands Iâ€™d never heard of, and carrying around large stacks of soon-to-be-purchased (or put back) merchandise. On occasion I would pick up something cold, having never listened to the album, just because the cover looked intriguing or the price was pleasing. Chromatics‘ Plaster Hounds was one of these grabs and came on purple swirl vinyl for a mere $6.49. I immediately fell in love with â€œGarden.â€ Read More »Chromatics: Nite [12″ Single Review]

Super XX Man: There’ll Be Diamonds [Album Review]

Ron Trembath
February 19, 2009April 11, 2009

Super XX Man, pronounced “Super Double X Man,” is bringing the Portland folk scene to it’s knees. His less than ambient yet less than standard folky vibes bring a surprisingly different view to the expected one man, one guitar (with the occasional tambourine or ukulele) that has become so common in the underworld of the overtly acoustic, and financially challenged City of Roses. Read More »Super XX Man: There’ll Be Diamonds [Album Review]

Blind Pilot: 3 Rounds And A Sound [Album Review]

Marc Griffin
February 18, 2009April 11, 2009

Blind Pilot (MySpace) creates infectious folk music, or maybe indie pop music, depending on how you want to take it. That’s all I need say about 3 Rounds and a Sound; it spreads through people like a winter cold everyone wants to get. I first heard this Portland band on the University of Oregon campus radio station KWVA, where my friends at the Sunday Night Sleepover spin music. Blind Pilot immediately struck me as a band that knows how to write good songs. Read More »Blind Pilot: 3 Rounds And A Sound [Album Review]

The Story Of: Until The Autumn [Album Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
February 18, 2009April 11, 2009

“Berkeley”, the opening track off Until The Autumn by The Story Of (MySpace) compiles male vocals, includes plays on volume, and has an emphasis on melody. Hearing the tune for the first time, I was immediately reminded of Denmark’s epic group Mew. But here, the song is not quite as heavy, not quite as forceful; the listener is allowed to relax. Read More »The Story Of: Until The Autumn [Album Review]

Paul Turner: Clear Blue [Album Review]

Ron Trembath
February 16, 2009April 11, 2009

There are many aspects about Paul Turner’s bluesy folk that have been heard before. But, many of these characteristics are truly from his own inspiration. And with a deep throated vocal capacity and a nature-inspired collection of guitar melodies, this Australian born singer/songwriter has created a superb collection of artistically inclined tracks with his debut album Clear Blue. Read More »Paul Turner: Clear Blue [Album Review]

Beirut: March Of The Zapotec / Holland [Album Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
February 13, 2009February 2, 2022

In what could technically be called Beirut‘s third LP, the March Of The Zapotec / Holland double EP sees Zach Condon and company once again delivering a masterpiece. Concerns leading to the release of The Flying Club Cup saw many – myself included – worried that the Balkan orchestral sound would stale and grow old. And while the group’s second didn’t quite hold the power of The Gulag Orkestar, it was a more than solid release. But on Zapotec / Holland, one will find themselves falling truly in love.

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