los angeles

Letting Up Despite Great Faults: Teenage Tide (MP3)

Andy Fenstermaker
June 21, 2011February 11, 2022

I really dug Letting Up Despite Great Faults‘ debut self-titled LP. In fact, “Our Younger Noise” was one of my favorite videos of 2009. So getting wind of a new EP in the mix was pretty exciting. “Teenage Tide” is off that EP and it finds the band picking up where their debut left off. The song maintains that perfect dream-pop sound, with consistent guitar riffs draped softly in a fuzzy reverb and fronted by airy vocals.

Andy Fenstermaker
April 27, 2011April 24, 2011

It’s been a few years since we’ve heard anything from Los Angeles circa Vienna band Sugarplum Fairies. The duo of Silvia Ryder and Ben Bohm are back with a new album called The Images We Get, featuring the signature airy vocals of Ryder and light southern-tinged Americana folk pop. As found on the band’s prior releases, this one is dreamy and filled with accompanying stringed orchestration. Read More »Sugarplum Fairies: The Images We Get [Video]

Young Hunting [Feature]

Andy Fenstermaker
December 15, 2010December 14, 2010

Dream-pop is often best when it has a sleepy bedroom sound to it, casual and relaxed, and that’s precisely how Young Hunting like it. The A-side (“Into Your Mind”) off their new 7″ single, distributed by K Records, hints of The Beach Boys-like harmonies backed by soft, dreamy, borderline psychedelic pop. Their old-time pop sound has also been likened Harry Nilsson, which is more apparent in “Sonata”, the single’s b-side. A more modern reference could be the romantic silhouette vocals of Sweden’s Moto Boy. However you see it, Young Hunting crafts mysterious pop music fit for pleasant slumbers. Read More »Young Hunting [Feature]

Family Of The Year: Stupidland [Video]

Andy Fenstermaker
November 23, 2010November 21, 2010

Of the two videos I’ve covered by director Chris Ewing, both have featured multi-media of sorts; he does it again with “Stupidland” by Family Of The Year, a folk-pop band from Los Angeles. What makes this video so interesting is that it was shot on a still camera, one frame at a time. That’s an impressive feat. Read More »Family Of The Year: Stupidland [Video]

Seasons: Light, Lost [Video]

Andy Fenstermaker
September 10, 2010November 19, 2010

One of my favorite recent videos is that of Letting Up Despite Great Faults’ dreamy fuzz-pop tune “Our Younger Noise”.… Read More »Seasons: Light, Lost [Video]

No Age: Glitter [mp3 Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
August 18, 2010August 17, 2010

It’s interesting to hear the progression No Age has made since Nouns. “Glitter” is an entirely different beast. Sure there are elements of noise that the band so favored on that brilliant debut from 2009, but here it’s contained and restrained. They’ve tamed the beast. No longer do they shout to be heard amidst overwhelming, clever guitar riffs. No, here they focus on a consistent drum beat and actually… wait for it… sing! Still, the song builds and grows into a noisy little creature, vicious yet slumbering. I doubt this band has tamed to the point of being domestic — after all, “You’re A Target” was pretty f*ing mad, and that came out pretty recently. Frankly, I’m torn as to which side of No Age I like better, the insane noise or the restrained madness. Either way, you’ve got a winner. Read More »No Age: Glitter [mp3 Review]

Woom: Quetzalcoatl’s Ship [mp3]

Andy Fenstermaker
June 28, 2010June 26, 2010

The thing I love about Ba Da Bing is that you never really know what you’re going to get, but you can always trust the fact that it will be 1) almost entirely unique, and 2) extremely good. Enter one of the label’s latest bands, Woom. They fit the facts, producing minimalist experimental folk pop tunes like “Quetzalcoatl’s Ship” on their mini LP, simply titled demo. Read More »Woom: Quetzalcoatl’s Ship [mp3]

HEALTH: DISCO 2 [Album Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
June 22, 2010June 20, 2010

Remix albums are something I don’t often look forward to. They typically are not as innovative or unique as the… Read More »HEALTH: DISCO 2 [Album Review]

Sweater Girls: EP [7″ Review]

Andy Fenstermaker
June 17, 2010December 18, 2012

Sweater Girls are a new Los Angeles-based group and, according to Mike over at Happy Happy Birthday To Me, their debut 7″ single sold out solely based on word-of-mouth. Listening to the three songs tucked within, it’s easy to hear why — Sweater Girls produce outstanding indie pop music perfect for the HHBTM label, and perfect for everyone’s favorite musical consumption format… vinyl. Read More »Sweater Girls: EP [7″ Review]

Hands: Hold [mp3]

Andy Fenstermaker
June 10, 2010June 9, 2010

I was expecting something upbeat and poppy, simple but infectious. Hands, however, doesn’t quite fit that mold. “Hold” is upbeat and poppy, but the band slips in dreamy twists, tribal drums, and ethereal harmonies. At around the midpoint, the crew changes pace and adds an electronic-sounding beat and heavy keys. It’s easy to fall in love with songs like this, obscure yet endearing. Read More »Hands: Hold [mp3]