Month: April 2014
Review: Phantogram – Voices
Voices is one of those strange albums that tricks listeners into thinking it’s nothing special at first glance. Obviously, that wasn’t the intention the New York duo had in mind for their sophomore album, but the fact is you have to give this one a chance beyond the first pass. … read more
Review: Pacific Mean Time – Self-Titled
There is way too much trying to happen on this album. It sounds like the band wanted to incorporate all the elements that they like from each genre and, unfortunately, it really doesn’t work. While the album is certainly ambitious, it lacks a definitive sound. … read more
Review: Neneh Cherry – Blank Project
You might be surprised to know that Neneh Cherry’s 1988 record, Raw Like Sushi, is bad as fuck. Still, I’m not losing my cool over the prospect of a new record by her. … read more
Review: New Bums – Voices in a Rented Room
Alt-folk artists typically depend on limited methods of composition when fleshing out their songs. Some focus on telling emblematic stories to carry their creative substance (until another artist tells the same story better) and others fall on the crutch of political critiques (which will immediately filter out non-fans). … read more
Review: NØMADS – Free My Animal
NØMADS are a two-piece consisting of bassist Nathan Lithgow (from My Brightest Diamond and Inlets) and drummer Garth Macleavey, both of whom are set on maximizing the most sound with their limited size—and doing it all in a single take of recording. … read more
Review: Metatag – Transmission
Metatag’s tape cover bears a strong resemblance to Joy Division’s classic, Unknown Pleasures, if it were isolated and magnified a couple hundred times. … read more
Review: Mirah – Changing Light
I am beyond thrilled that this release came my way, seeing as I haven’t really stopped listening to Mirah since C’mon Miracle was released a decade ago. … read more
Review: Modern Rivals – Cemetery Dares
Cemetery Dares is the first album from the Brooklyn quintet Modern Rivals. The 10-track release was recorded over 12 days in a freezing recording studio (complete with bed bugs) and—despite those conditions—this is one of the happiest things I’ve ever heard. … read more
Review: Mica Levi – Under the Skin: Original Motion Picture...
Multiple tracks on Mica Levi’s score to Under the Skin feature “void” in the title. … read more
Review: Mos Generator – Electric Mountain Majesty
This is a heavy-duty power trio taking a distinctly ’70s boogie route (the “Rocky Mountain Way?”) into newer doom territories. … read more