My buddy Jon wrote in an email to me yesterday: “Hey Andy, did you see this yet? That’s your ride too, right?” Sure enough, he linked to this great article from Michael Lerner on Aquarium Drunkard talking about his 1976 BMW 2002. Part of AD’s Diversions column in which artists talk about a passion outside of music, I simply felt compelled to leave a comment. Read More »Telekinesis: Car Crash [mp3]
There’s something about the music Virgin Of The Birds creates that is seemingly timeless. It’s absolute, in the present, yet it hints of a time long past. Perhaps it’s the simplicity of the songs, with poppy guitar melodies and an ever consistent percussion. The songwriting is where complexity dominates; a lyrical prowess filled with story-like mystery. This mystery has dominated the library Virgin Of The Birds has built. And you can hear it thoughout “They Wake”. Read More »Virgin Of The Birds: They Wake [Video]
BOAT is prepared to release their fourth album, Dress Like Your Idols, in March and we have here the first single from that album. The song is called “(I’ll Beat My Chest Like) King Kong” and it maintains BOAT’s wild throaty vocals, packed with a seemingly self-deprecating sarcasm and a penchant toward pop culture. It maintains those rockin’ guitar riffs and bouncy percussion. It maintains all those lovable rock hooks, catchy as all hell. Yet it’s slightly different from their past three releases — it’s more mature, refined a little bit, almost grown-up.
Read More »BOAT: (I’ll Beat My Chest Like) King Kong [mp3] 
There are a few reasons I rarely go to shows, and to be honest it’s a shame. First and foremost is the time of day. I’m usually in bed by 10:30PM, which isn’t conducive to witnessing live music. Second is the awkward moments prior to showtime — inevitably, I am that guy standing in the corner against the wall pretending to be absorbed in texting or Facebooking or Tweeting because, despite arriving 45 minutes after doors, the first band is still nowhere near starting. And I tend not to know anyone either. But really, this is all the precursor to the amazing. Yes, Hey Marseilles blew my socks off. Read More »Hey Marseilles Live in Bellingham
Summer Babes is a new garage pop band from Seattle featuring Jeff Albertson, who you may know as the bass player of The Lights. “Crack Habit” is a super catchy pop track packed with indecipherable lyrics, heavy lo-fi percussion, loud fuzzy guitars, and a bouncy keyboard riff. The song can be found on the band’s debut EP, righteously titled Babe Summer. Read More »Summer Babes: Crack Habbit [mp3]
Moody rock is nothing new to the northwest. I think it has something to do with the less-than favorable weather; it’s always raining and when it’s not there’s a fair chance it’s gray and overcast. Hurricane Lanterns fit right in, creating a heavy-yet-bouncy style of rock easy to dig. The project is that of Patrick Dodd, with Jack Lightfoot on drums and Aaron Mannino on bass and backup vocals. Their latest release is called Hymns for the Misguided, and they make acoustic-based tunes seem heavier and louder than normal. Read More »Hurricane Lanters: Hymns For The Misguided [Album Review]
Oh dear Alexi and your consistently inspiring lyrical madness. Each time you show us a Good Side of Bad, it seems impossible to be even more impressed than the last time. Yes, Alexipharmic is back with a brand new batch of highly intelligent hip hop based words to beat that are guaranteed to make you think as much as you are sure to dance. Although the high pitched glory of his full fledged album American Beauty has long and disappeared into the depths of history, our man brought back that same spirit to his latest volume of self conceited releases known as Good Side Of Bad. Honestly enough, this third volume is not only the best of the series, but the best our man has ever created. Read More »Alexipharmic: Good Side Of Bad Vol. 3 [Album Review]
So I was turned on to the band Hobosexual about a month or so ago, but ended up holding off on writing anything as I wanted to make sure I had something audible to include in the post. Well I found a little something called “Penthouse Lover” as well as the video for “Van Candy” my pals at Sound On The Sound premiered. Bonus. Read More »Hobosexual: Van Candy [Video]
The Head and the Heart craft songs of such sweetly cadenced melodies and rhythms we can’t help but feel all together joyful when we hear them. Their self-titled debut album is from beginning to end an effortlessly accessible celebration of a refusal to give in to the thick of things. With a beautiful sun-lit Americana style, this band captures in sound the idea that songs are stories. Stories about the hope, glory, and severity we experience while being uprooted and replanted. About what we’re looking for, what we’ve left behind and who we’ve found. Stories about us. Stirring together classic elements of guitar, percussion, piano, bass, and strings with gravely vocals and a touch of hand-clapping, this band has a maturity in their musicianship that defies expectation. The Head and the Heart’s folk/pop approach may not be new, but it’s sure as hell fun, rousing and full of spirit. Read More »The Head And The Heart [Feature]
There are some really great underground pop labels that span the world, many specializing in an obscure spin-off of some form of indie pop, be it lo-fi to electronic. Laguna’s music reminds me these labels exist. And, oddly enough, their music reminds me of Siete Records. I’ve got a few LPs from the label and their music ranges from lo-fi to jangle to electronic. But, however you look at, the label releases off-beat, blatantly European sounding indie pop. Laguna creates that style of music, with ridiculous, playful pop hooks and electro-indie-pop accompaniment to dance-y female vocals courtesy Lydia Nor that mix electronic with ambient, art-pop, and hints of jazz. Read More »Laguna [Feature]
