Did I make that album cover big enough for you? Well, I sure hope I did! Atlas Sound is the side project of Bradford Cox, much of the creative force behind Deerhunter. On Logos, his second full length under the Atlas Sound moniker, he reaches deep into his trippy bag of tricks to produce one… Continue reading Atlas Sound’s Logos is weirdly immersive in the best possible way
Tag: Album Reviews
Kings of Convenience stay true to form on Declaration of Dependence
I’ll admit it – the Kings of Convenience make me jealous. Everything seems to come so easy to them. Intricate guitar arrangements and dissonant harmonies are like simple math. But it’s not like I get frustrated listening to their music. In fact, it’s rather the opposite; stressful situations call for Kings of Convenience. Warm, delicate… Continue reading Kings of Convenience stay true to form on Declaration of Dependence
The Flaming Lips make beautiful, confusing art with Embryonic
The Flaming Lips are often called an “alternative” band by people like “Grammy award selection committees” and “moms who heard that one song they do,” but one look at any live show and one listen into their latest album, Embryonic, and you know the only way to classify this group is “art.” The band has… Continue reading The Flaming Lips make beautiful, confusing art with Embryonic
The Raveonettes’ In And Out Of Control is just darling
Few bands have evolved as beautifully as The Raveonettes. They have always had an admittedly apparent 50s pop influence, but the band started as something more rough and tumble. The first track on their first release, “Attack Of The Ghost Riders” from 2002’s Whip It On, is intensely dark and harder-edged. From there, they patiently… Continue reading The Raveonettes’ In And Out Of Control is just darling
The Mountain Goats’ downtempo “The Life of the World to Come” is haunting and lovely
The Life of the World to Come is as much a book of tales as it is music. We already are well-aware of John Darnielle’s deft and stimulating storytelling ability, but he takes “story” to a new level on The Mountain Goats‘ latest. With biblical references for song titles, The Life of the World to… Continue reading The Mountain Goats’ downtempo “The Life of the World to Come” is haunting and lovely
The Avett Brothers strike it rich on I and Love and You
The Avett Brothers snuck up on me only a few months ago despite their popularity among other crowds. And subsequently, in the span of very little time, I and Love and You got up there as one of the albums I was looking forward to the most this calendar year. So naturally, I was left… Continue reading The Avett Brothers strike it rich on I and Love and You
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
[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