Month: December 2013
Review: This Will Destroy You – Live In Reykjavik, Iceland
This album, when listened to in a good pair of headphones, gives a taste of TWDY’s live presence in a perfect setlist comprised of the best of the band’s discography. I’m seething with jealousy over the lucky audience that witnessed this performance in Iceland, but grateful the band thought to record and share it with the rest of us. … read more
Review: Tomorrows Tulips – Experimental Jelly
There’s something unmistakably nostalgic about Experimental Jelly. It contains the bummer pop feel of The Velvet Underground classic, “Pale Blue Eyes.” Seemingly subdued songs like the ones throughout Experimental Jelly provide a feeling that I refer to as a “slow burn,” which allows them to be mellow, but penetrating as well. … read more
Review: Tonight Sky – Self-Titled
As the name suggests, the influences behind Tonight Sky (created by Jason Holstrom) involve a lot of stargazing and space stuff. With that, Holstrom weaves electronic melodies with danceable beats, layered with ambience invoking the nature of space—empty and vast. … read more
Review: Tracy Shedd – Arizona
All 13 tracks are quiet vocals over strummy, uncomplicated acoustic guitar and vapid, romantic lyrics. Cat Power sets the bar pretty high in my mind for the genre of “chicks with guitars and pretty voices,” and while Shedd fits the criteria, her approach lacks any sort of edge or defining quality. … read more
Review: The Warlocks – Skull Worship
Most of the record, much like their prior effort, The Mirror Explodes, is a shoegazy affair redolent of ethereal My Bloody Valentine static and dreampoppy vocal melodies. But for the fans of the jaunty hooks and crunch of Phoenix, don’t be daunted by the airy melodies of this one, for this is easily corrected with volume. … read more
Review: Throwing Muses – Purgatory/Paradise
As one of the more rocking acts on the initial 4AD Records lineup, Throwing Muses combine hummable melodies with jagged guitar lines and punkish rhythms. … read more
Review: Tom Brosseau – Grass Punks
North Dakota prodigy, Tom Brosseau, is soaring into the New Year with his newest album, Grass Punks. Compared to prior albums like What I Mean To Say Is Goodbye and Posthumous Success, Grass Punks falls on the simpler side of things. … read more
Review: TOY – Join the Dots
London’s TOY have already kicked up a stir across the pond, getting themselves on a number of high-ranking “Best Of” lists with their 2012 self-titled debut. … read more
Review: Trentalange – Same Illusion
Opening with slow drums and an upper-register metronomic piano, Trentalange keeps it simple and dark, yet still poppy. … read more
Review: The KVB – Minus One
Minus One’s combination of shoegaze, post-punk and noise is quite an alluring brew. Its melodic sense is a break from the pure heaviness and darkness of their past recordings. Either way, these guys use synthesizers in a way that nods to Suicide and Silver Apples. … read more
Review: The Last – Danger
The lineup is solid—when you pair the Nolte brothers with the powerhouse punk rhythm section of Karl Alvarez and Bill Stevenson, you end up with the sort of alchemy that is both pop-sensible and face-melting. Mike Nolte adds a garage-y organ to traditional pop punk hooks and layered backing vocals to give the songs a 1960s feel. … read more
Review: The Melvins – Tres Cabrones
The Melvins = Butthole Surfers + My War/In My Head–era Black Flag + Lysol-era Melvins … read more
