Album Review: Explosions in the Sky – The Wilderness
Listening to Explosions in the Sky for me has always been like that lump in your throat moment in a great film. The tragic losses, the triumphant successes, and the moment when you realize everything is going to be all right despite all the downs you’ve gone through to get there. They soundtrack both figuratively …
Album ReviewBlack Mountain – IV
I’m on my third listen of Black Mountain’s newest opus, the labyrinthine IV. It should be no surprise that I will need a few more listens before I’ve covered all the nooks and crannies of this stately beast of an album, but I can say very confidently that everything they’ve done beforehand has been building …
Album Review: Damien Jurado – Visions of Us on the Land
Damien Jurado is one of the most interesting musicians working today. He may not think that, but he’s a modest guy. Jurado’s not the kind of artist that sits around thinking about how interesting he is. But take my word for it Damien, you are very interesting. Ever since he began his musical partnership with …
Album Review: LNZNDRF – LNZNDRF
Once in a great while a record comes out and completely catches me off guard. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. With the debut record of LNZNDRF it’s definitely for the better. It’s one of those debuts that comes out of the gate and grabs you instantly. Part euro pop, part Krautrock …
Album Review: Causa Sui – Return To Sky
There’s only a few instrumental outfits these days that pack as big a sonic punch as Causa Sui. These four guys from Denmark have been making trippy, mind-altering rock and roll for a few years now, and every time out they up their musical game a bit. They go from psychedelic, acid-fried drone(Pewt’r Sessions 3) …
Album Review: Thug Entrancer – Arcology
I think I’ve always liked electronic music in some form or another. From intros to 80s cartoons to being enamored by Kraftwerk’s “Autobahn” at the age of 9, there’s always been a connection for me to that buzzing and humming musical world. Unfortunately properly articulating that fondness has always eluded me. “I really like the …
Album Review: Wolfmother – Victorious
Man, do you remember back in 2005 when Wolfmother dropped their debut album? That glorious mix of proggy, organ-drenched, chunky guitar goodness that reminded us that Uriah Heep were pretty cool(at least Ken Hensley’s bits) and that Robert Plant would’ve sounded pretty damn cool fronting Black Sabbath. Yeah, I remember that self-titled well. There was …
Album Review: Wild Nothing – Life of Pause
I’ve been smitten with Jack Tatum ever since I heard “Nocture” back in 2012. Such beauty and bittersweet melodies in that song. I knew right then that this Tatum fellow knew how to turn emotional dials with the magic that is music. He was also tapping into my childhood growing up in the early 80s. …
Album Review: Animal Collective – Painting With
Animal Collective can say that they have most assuredly created their own unique musical world. No one can even come close to reinterpreting their sound and their vibe. Maybe t-U-n-E-y-A-r-D-s to some extent, but not to the exuberant extremes that AC do. I think for many Merriweather Post Pavillion was the point at which this Maryland four-piece …
Album Review: The Callas – Half Kiss Half Pain
Brothers Lakis and Aris lonas started The Callas in Athens, Greece back in 2005. Both filmmakers and musicians, the brothers lonas took a more dissonant and theatrical approach to their music by taking inspiration from both Sonic Youth and The Fall. The Callas, who also feature Chrysanthi Tsoukala (guitar, vocals) and Marilena Petridou (Drums) have recently …