 |
Category : Music | Tags : |
Posted in Space Rock on Jul 26th, 2008 No Comments »
It’s captivating, cosmic stuff. Black Mountain (who all still hold down day jobs as mental healthcare and drug rehabilitation workers) switch between swamp and space with admirable grace, held together by singer Amber Webber’s remarkably full-lunged vocals and Stephen McBean’s bleak vision of the world.
Song: Stormy High [4:33]
Posted in Post-Punk on Jul 25th, 2008 No Comments »
Amid the retina-shredding, cochlea-clattering carnage of new music in 2008, Pete & The Pirates’ debut album sure seems unremarkable at first. Yet dig beneath the surface and you’ll have your senses rearranged by the tightness of Hamburg-era Beatles, the indie aesthetic of C86 and the dizzy vocal interplay of a more chart-friendly Futureheads.
Song: Mr. Understanding (Live at Paradiso, Amsterdam, 28 June 2008)
Posted in Sadcore on Jul 24th, 2008 No Comments »
Smith’s songs remain intensely introspective, yet the lush, Beatlesque production provides a terrifically charming counterpoint. His sweetly dark melodies are vividly brought to life with the detailed arrangements, and they sell Smith’s tormented songs — it’s easy to get caught up in the tunes and the sound of the record, then realize later what the songs are actually about. That’s a sign of a good craftsman, and XO proves that not only can Elliott Smith craft a song, but he knows how to make an alluring pop record as well.
Waltz # 2 (XO) [4:40]
Posted in Goth-Folk on Jul 24th, 2008 No Comments »
This Finnish act Tenhi typically plays a mix of progressive, melancholic folk interwoven with an ambient vibe, but pushes their prior limits (if their prior work can be perceived to have limitations) here as Maaäet is a perplexing somber neofolk masterpiece. The album runs roughly 60 minutes and is nonstop spiritual quest and auditory onslaught.
Varpuspaiva [6:27]
Posted in Goth-Folk on Jul 23rd, 2008 No Comments »
Väre was Tenhi’s second full length album. The album shows a great variety of moods and sounds, yet it is all unmistakably recognisable as the work of Tenhi. To my knowledge, there are few, if any, artists who even come close to the sound of these Finns, perhaps best described in their own words: “folk-influenced progressive music“.
Suortuva [7:01]
Posted in Folk-Rock on Jul 20th, 2008 No Comments »
Blue Afternoon was Tim Buckley’s first self-produced record and his debut for Herb Cohen Frank Zappa’s Straight label. Buckley’s first two albums were very much of their time and place, with their psychedelically tinged folk-rock compositions; naïve, romantic lyrical content; and moments of earnest protest.
Happy Time (Live in London, 1968)
Posted in Prog-Rock on Jul 20th, 2008 No Comments »
Blackfield is the project of Porcupine Tree leader Steven Wilson and Israel’s most outspoken counter culture rock musician Aviv Geffen. Together they have put together a very modern sounding recording that meshes melancholy progressive rock with shimmering pop nuances that works nicely on all levels.
Blackfield [4:06]
Posted in Folk-Rock on Jul 20th, 2008 No Comments »
Nathan Lawr has already established himself as an extremely gifted songwriter with three solo albums under his belt. Though is additionally considered to be a multi-instrumentalist, drums were his primary musical focus when he played with Royal City, an indie-rock four-piece from Ontario who disbanded in 2004.
We Go Down [2:16]
Posted in Psych Folk on Jul 20th, 2008 No Comments »
Alexander Tucker may have created one of the most affecting albums of the year. Halfway through 2008 Portal is definitely among the most cinematic, and on his third album Tucker takes the role of director. Each song is a scene, full of meaning and representations, and each one builds perfectly into the next and gives more gravitas to it.
Omni-baron [5:19]
Posted in Indie Rock on Jul 19th, 2008 No Comments »
‘….A minute into the Tap Tap opening song ‘100,000 thoughts’, and I’ve lost my heart -I can’t understand a single word, the singer is so rapturous, the harmonies so golden, but who cares? Let’s sing! Lyrics never translate into print. That’s why they’re lyrics. And of course, its all about the sound, not just the song - Phil Spector, Sonic Youth and The Ramones understood that, as did flying Nun, why don’t more artists?….’
by Everett True, PLAN B MAGAZINE
Song: The Reason I’m Here [3:19]
Standard Podcasts [3:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (4)Posted in Alt.Singer/Songwriter on Jul 15th, 2008 No Comments »
Paul Duncan’s third full-length bends plainspoken natural imagery and guitar folk through the surreal prism of experimental improvisation, taking a giant step up from 2004’s “Be Careful What You Call Home”. In his most fully realized musical statement yet, Duncan lets his fluttery, emotion-laden vocals float atop swooning densities of acoustic and pedal steel guitar, violins, brass and percussion, achieving the same sort of hyper-real transport as Grizzly Bear.
Parasail [6:34]
Posted in Punk Blues on Jul 13th, 2008 No Comments »
After demonstrating over four albums a talent for playing raw garage blues, The Black Keys faced a tricky situation with their fifth release: how to freshen the band’s sound without losing the essence of what makes the Akron, Ohio, duo so electrifying. “Attack & Release” is a stunning extension of the pair’s sound, injecting an element of nuance into the bare-bones guitar-drums framework that remains the core of the band.
by Hartfourd Courant
Psychotic Girl [4:10]
Posted in New Acoustic on Jul 4th, 2008 No Comments »
One of the most innovative and acclaimed solo guitarists of his era, self-described “violent acoustic” artist Michael Hedges rose to success on the strength of a unique performing style that utilized harmonics and picking to create the impression of multiple guitars playing simultaneously.
The Funky Avocado (Live at Tarrytown, NY, 16th March 1985)
Posted in Dream Pop on Jul 3rd, 2008 No Comments »
The Czars‘ reflective, sometimes jazz-tinged alternative pop/rock is a lot like a day that is overcast without being flat-out rainy; some rays of sunlight manage to break through the clouds, but the clouds still dominate the sky. But for those who don’t insist on immediate gratification, Goodbye can be a rewarding illustration of the group’s bittersweet artistry.
Song: Paint The Moon [4:12]
| ||
