Forget so soon about my notable album release post, did ya? Well the time’s finally here, and Owen doesn’t deserve that! The solo project of acclaimed indie singer/songwriter, Mike Kinsella, Owen has dropped its first new release since 2006. New Leaves has the same heartbreaking lyrics and brilliant acoustics we’ve become accustomed to from Kinsella,… Continue reading New Leaves, new Owen? A not so scholarly review
Category: New Albums
WHY? delights with Eskimo Snow, but is something missing?
The answer is yes, something is missing. That something happens to be the hip-hop side of WHY? It’s the most noticeable difference in the band’s sound upon first listen to its newest, Eskimo Snow, and at first it’s kind of off-putting. As great as past songs like “Fatalist Palmistry” and “Gemini (Birthday Song)” are, you… Continue reading WHY? delights with Eskimo Snow, but is something missing?
Volcano Choir underwhelm, bore with Unmap
I was really excited for Volcano Choir’s debut album. I heard the lead single, “Island, IS,” and got pretty pumped to hear the whole album. So I listened to it. And again. And again. And I was confused. I was not pumped. I was not excited. I was just bored. So much :(. The band… Continue reading Volcano Choir underwhelm, bore with Unmap
Islands make another great, not incredible album
Islands has released three albums now, and they’ve gained a lot of attention and critical praise. Their first record, Return To The Sea, is their best to date. It put them on the radar, and set them up for success, but it takes more than just one great album to make a career. Their sophomore… Continue reading Islands make another great, not incredible album
Sea Wolf’s White Water, White Bloom is lush and engaging
What can I say that hasn’t been said before? We’ve been hyping this album to death with posts and radio show appearances – and we even got Alex Church himself to discuss it. So obviously, I’m at a bit of a disadvantage here in an attempt to introduce some new words of insight regarding White… Continue reading Sea Wolf’s White Water, White Bloom is lush and engaging
[MP3] Piroth: Fog Dancers
Swedish indie folk. Need I say more? …Yeah, I probably do. Piroth is, appropriately, the sisters Piroth (Nina and Johanna.) They get small help from others on some tracks, but Nina and Johanna keep the Piroth legacy intact. And why not? I’ve never heard disassembled harmonies quite like these, which somehow maintain the ability to… Continue reading [MP3] Piroth: Fog Dancers
Muse’s The Resistance is a little bit too ridiculous
Hey, remember the good old days when Muse was being unkindly compared to Radiohead? A more rocking, less substance-y Radiohead? I sure do, and I enjoyed their output for the most part. The band is immensely talented, Matt Bellamy’s voice is a knockout, and they’ve produced some pretty great songs in their career. But their… Continue reading Muse’s The Resistance is a little bit too ridiculous
[Review] Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson make a flat, safe, off-white mush
Movie stars like making music, it’s just a fact of life. Remember Eddie Murphy’s “Party All The Time?” Or more recently Jamie Foxx’s surprisingly successful hip-hop career (thanks Kanye). In the world of indie/folk, we saw last years pairing of M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel as She & Him. The duo created a lot of… Continue reading [Review] Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson make a flat, safe, off-white mush
Epcot Starfields finds Windmill at its finest
Windmill’s latest effort, Epcot Starfields, is not unlike previous Windmill material. The nasally vocals, the dreamy, keys-laden background, the fragile emotions, it’s all there. But Matthew Thomas Dillon, with his backing four-piece, builds upon what we’re used to with a more mature, polished sound, yet just as impassioned. If you like Windmill, you’ll adore Epcot… Continue reading Epcot Starfields finds Windmill at its finest
[MP3] Sufjan Stevens: “Movement VI—Isorhythmic Night Dance with Interchanges”
New Sufjan? Could it be true? Yes, it could. And it is! It’s the first fresh material we’ve seen from the absurdly talented Detroit singer-songwriter since last year’s “You Are The Blood” for the Dark Was The Night compilation. Now Sufjan has recorded a cinematic suite inspired by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway titled The BQE. Yes,… Continue reading [MP3] Sufjan Stevens: “Movement VI—Isorhythmic Night Dance with Interchanges”