David Templemann a.k.a. Ghosts of Paraguay and the emotive and melodic Loodma Recordings present their next installment, On The Run EP, which definitely fits with Loodma’s catalogue. “Beyond Reason”, a perfectly constructed ambient track evoking a considerable amount of visual and unobtrusive power. Conjuring up images of a lonely downtown apartment. A man wakes up, brushes away his white bed sheets and makes his way to his coffee pot. The apartment is dark only lit by the flashes of lightning. [...]
Archive for Category: "Reviews"
A Day to Remember/Rise Against Concert Review
Nothing screams, “Summer is here!” like flying beach balls, beer to the face, and an intense urge to rock out. Lights were flashing and tension was high as the crowd waited anxiously for the night to begin. “Are you ready to rock?” pierced through the night followed by loud cheers and applause from the crowd as the first act ran on stage. Starting the night was Title Flight, an indie rock band hailing from Kingston, Pennsylvania. The young band got [...]
Silversun Pickups – Neck of the Woods album review
When I first heard Silversun Pickups about two years ago, my first impression was, “Man, this vocalist has got some pipes!” And I also thought said vocalist was a woman because I neglected to look at their Wikipedia page. Rest assured, I’m still a fan of Brian Aubert’s unique vocal stylings. Now that I’m a little more educated, I’m lucky enough to give my take on the LA band’s new album Neck of the Woods. “Skin Graph” opens the album with [...]
Grouper – Violet Replacement album review
My introduction to ambient music came, predictably enough, from Bowie’s so-called Berlin Trilogy and Brian Eno. I decided pedantically one night while listening to “Moss Garden” that the essence of ambient music involves the suspension of time. For instance, ambient music subverts the listeners conditioned expectations concerning the future and present by creating a world that reflects the timelessness of the present as a clear pond reflects the blue sky. The repetition, minimalism, and length of ambient pieces are mirrors [...]
Geoff Barrow & Ben Salisbury – Drokk: Music Inspired by Mega-City One album review
Imagine yourself in a chaotic, overcrowded futuristic mega-city filled with criminals and ruled over by lawmaking judges who charge, convict, sentence, and sometimes put criminals to death on the spot. This is the world of popular British comic character Judge Dredd, and it’s the inspiration for the Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury collaboration found on Drokk: Music Inspired by Mega-City One. The title “Drokk” might seem a bit obscure to those unfamiliar with the comic, but it’s actually a pretty [...]
little hurricane – Homewrecker album review
little hurricane, a dirty blues duo from sunny San Diego, deliver one catchy straightforward sound. One half of the two-piece is Anthony “Tone” Catalano on lead vocals and guitar; the second half being Celeste “CC” Spina, a spunky female who rocks out on drums and also supplies the backing vocals. It’s easy to conjure up comparisons of The White Strips (or stretching it a bit here, The Black Keys, minus the female aspect, that is). Tone’s voice echoes Jack White’s [...]
The Beautiful Ones – Birth of Desire EP review
The newest release by Arizona band The Beautiful Ones is an example of how a genre evolves from its roots; though labeling themselves a hardcore band, there are elements of alternative rock and metalcore to be found. While the songwriting is fairly interesting, it isn’t necessarily the most original. Riffage of the past couple of decades is prevalent, along with a love of half time vs. four-on-the-floor hardcore feel stylization. A perfect example is the first track, ‘Can’t Stand the [...]
Keane – Strangeland album review
Sixteen tracks to this fourth release by UK artist Keane, most of them echoes of what’s gone on before in some form. Generally, reviewers of this album complain that the group has not continued to experiment with edgier stuff, as if any self-respecting artist has only a newer, more evolving sound in mind. But Keane gathered quite a fan base doing what they do and you can’t argue with numbers. That being said, this is a formulaic production, but that [...]
PS I love You – Death Dreams album review
Sometimes, for no discernible reason, I will decide that I do not like a band before I even hear a note of their music. When asked to review the newest album by the Kingston Ontario duo, PS I Love You, I was completely unaware of their music and had no idea of their sound. I was prepared to hate every second of it though. So, when I started listening to their album Death Dreams I found myself more than a [...]
Masha Qrella – Analogies album review
With today’s music media, it is difficult to escape the booming bass, the ear popping synth waves, and party fever. Today’s music has little to no meaning, feeling, or soul. As technology advances, so do we; and even more often we forget the simplicities of a minimalistic vs. materialistic life. I felt a great respect for Masha Qrella upon hearing her new album, Analogies, because of her simplistic lyrics that just radiated with positive energy. Her lyrics plunge you into [...]
