Reviews: TEEN – The Way and Color

Reviews: TEEN – The Way and Color
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I knew TEEN would evolve beyond their psychedelic girl group sound—last year’s Carolina proved that. I wasn’t expecting something this good, though. The first track, “Rose 4 U” is familiar enough, but the next one, “Not For Long,” begins to meld ‘90s R&B–style vocal harmonies, modern beats and instrumentation, and spacey textures that are singular to this record and the band itself. … read more

Reviews: Teitanblood – Death

Reviews: Teitanblood – Death
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Even though I’m now a pile of pulverized flesh and bodily fluid as a result, listening to Teitanblood’s latest offering was the best decision of my adult life. The second you hit “play” on your stereo, a carnal swarm of everything capable of kicking ass begins mercilessly bludgeoning you with the filthiest, evilest death metal ever created. … read more

Reviews: Tiny Boats – Broken Vessels

Reviews: Tiny Boats – Broken Vessels
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Tiny Boats have created a lovely debut. With a respectable 45 minutes of music, this easy-listen folk-rock album is a great glimpse into the sound and stylings of this new band. … read more

Reviews: The Trouble With Templeton 
- Rookie


Reviews: The Trouble With Templeton 
- Rookie

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This group of Australians recently made a musical transition with this new album. They went from alternative folk on their first album, Bleeders, to an alternative rock band. … read more

 
 
Reviews: Turchi – Can’t Bury Your Past

Reviews: Turchi – Can’t Bury Your Past
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The beauty of the blues is that it’s so simple and raw that it can convey anything from anybody. It’s not playing different chords—it’s that one can play the same chords that have been played forever, and still play them with one’s own pain with one’s own soul. Turchi play a gritty, textured style of the blues, which, at times, is pretty remarkable … … read more

Reviews: Vertical Scratchers – Daughter of Everything

Reviews: Vertical Scratchers – Daughter of Everything
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Vertical Scratchers are a two-piece band made up of ex-Brainiac and Enon guitarist John Schmersal and former Triclops! drummer Christian Beaulieu. This is the debut album for the duo, and it stands as a testament to the heartwarming, poetic rock direction that Merge Records seems to be embracing with their new releases. … read more

Reviews: Wild Ones – Keep it Safe

Reviews: Wild Ones – Keep it Safe
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This album is sure to be a great summertime hit. The first song, “Golden Twin,” is catchy, and they maintain that interest pretty solidly throughout. … read more

Reviews: Unicycle Loves You – The Dead Age

Reviews: Unicycle Loves You – The Dead Age
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The Dead Age fills well-titled tracks (names like “Suicide Pizza,” “Face Tattoo” and “Endless Bummer”) with the retro fuzz sound that’s seized the garage scene. The track names alone would be enough to get me to listen at least once. … read more

Review: The Forty Nineteens – Spin it

Review: The Forty Nineteens – Spin it
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Blasting out with an ‘80s styled, pop-doused, garage-rock assault, The Forty Nineteens bring something different, yet very familiar, to the table. It is almost easy to overlook the notable tracks worth their weight during the initial listen. … read more

Review: The Alvaret Ensemble, Kira Kira, Eiríkur Orri Ólaffson, Ingri Garar Erlendsson, Borgar Magnason – Skeylja

Review: The Alvaret Ensemble, Kira Kira, Eiríkur Orri Ólaffson, Ingri...
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The Skeylja project is a collaboration featuring the Berlin-based Alvaret Ensemble, who traveled to Iceland to practice and play with several prominent musicians in the avant-garde/post-classical tradition (a genre which Iceland seems to foster). … read more