Year: 2005
Review: The Local Division – Pure Electric Light E.P.
THE LOCAL DIVISION PURE ELECTRIC LIGHT E.P. Aeronaut Records Singer Ian Christian and guitarist Mati met at a Mark Gardener (Ride) show. The only problem was that Ian lived in the UK and Mati was from Los Angeles. Regardless, they’ve released this rather interesting E.P. The first two tracks lift the early heavy strumming from
Review: The Static Age – Neon Nights Electric Lives
The Static Age Neon Nights Electric Lives Tarantulas Having toured with AFI, you might expect something with a little more of a punk rock kick from The Static Age, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that they’re actually closer to Catherine Wheel than Davey Havok & Co. Not that you can’t find the smallest
Review: The Perishers – Let There Be Morning
The Perishers Let There Be Morning Nettwerk The Perishers come sauntering in with a long list of hopefuls who would, if given the chance, knock that bloody crown off of Coldplay’s collective head. They’re stretching out for Radiohead’s The Bends but grasping something with a bit more sugar, not nearly the substance or the
Review: The Upwelling – Self-Titled
The Upwelling Self-Titled TheUpwelling The Upwelling are the first unsigned band to get Virgin Megatore’s “Virgin Recommends” sticker stuck to their CD, and while it isn’t hard to see why Virgin would endorse them with a sound that lands right between Jimmy Eat World and next week’s British soft-pop contender I don’t know that I
Review: The Hidden Cameras – Mississauga, Goddam
THE HIDDEN CAMERAS MISSISSAUGA, GODDAM Rough Trade Oh dear, The Hidden Cameras sounds like a rather twisted wreck of the flamboyant sexuality of the Scissor Sisters with the dark wit and tangled allusions to debauchery of The Beautiful South, the sing-along retro-chic of Belle and Sebastian and the awkward humanity found in all things by
Review: The Funk Ensamble – Skunk
THE FUNK ENSAMBLE “SKUNK” Purple Tracks From the label that has brought you KOT—”So Alive” (Purple Tracks) and the infamous Michelle Weeks “The Light” (Purple Music) comes the latest installment of funk and gospel. Produced by Dario Dattis (the man behind Inaya Day’s “Freedom” PM026), this Saturday-night church-floor-filler will keep your crowd in an ass-shaken’
Review: The Dead Science – Bird Bones in the Bughouse
The Dead Science Bird Bones in the Bughouse Absolutely Kosher The drummer plays in a jerky, attacking motion that reminds me of Tori Amos. The vocals are hushed, falsetto and reaching for a dramatic beauty that falls between the dissonance of the guitars and stand-up bass. It’s mutant jazz on downers twitching along in
Review: The Cloud Room – Self-Titled
The Cloud Room Self-Titled Gigantic Music Street: 04.19 The Cloud Room = new wave + post-punk + New York City It’s hard to get your head around this album. There is evidence that suggests that it is simply a concoction of everything popular in independent music these days. At one turn you’ve got the bouncy
Review: Sugur Rós – Von
SIGUR RÓS VON One Little Indian There’s this band from Iceland. No, not the Sugarcubes. The other band, Sigur Rós—perhaps you’ve heard of them? Well, this is their first album that up until this point hasn’t been officially available in America. It sounds like a nightmare, a rolling psychotic grind into the sparseness of darkness
Review: Tanja Dankner – Will I Ever
TANJA DANKNER “WILL I EVER” Purple Music Originally produced in 2000 by famous TV German/Turkish showman Stefan Raab (www.tvtotal.de ), who is known for his composing, acting, producing and TV appearances, this new release from Purple Music is blowin’ up the speakers. Now in a downright groovy manner, PM’s Jamie Lewis takes this bumpin’ lover