Authors: CJ Morgan
Local Review: MiNX – Together Forever
MiNX = Blondie + Phantogram
… read more
Local Review: Larusso – Life in Static
If you’re someone who still digs the alt-rock/emo scene, Larusso nail it. The vocals are passionate, the guitar lines have a nice tone and are well honed, and the production is truly top shelf. … read more
Local Review: Kitfox – Where We Were
Kitfox = Straylight Run + Gardiner Sisters
… read more
Local Review: Herban Empire – Self-Titled EP
Herban Empire = The Dirty Heads + Pepper + Slightly Stoopid … read more
Local Review: I’m Designer – Lulled from Reality
I’m Designer = Alarms and Controls + 30 Seconds to Mars + A Perfect Circle … read more
Local Review: Giraffula – Smile and Wave
Giraffula Smile and Wave Self-Released Street: 04.25 Giraffula = Neon Trees + TOBACCO A variety of influences are packed into this electro-pop composite. There’s some Robert Smith–inspired vocals on “Haunting Me,” bass akin to Radiohead on “Magic Figure 8,” and even some Kraftwerk-meets–Black Moth Super Rainbow on “Geronimo.” Wacky hip-hop track “Pizza Party” sounds like
Local Review: Dark Seas – Hawkes Court
Me: “Jesus, this guy sounds like … goddamn … The Doors. Is this a long-lost track?” My friend: “No, CJ, it’s Dark Seas, and why are you drunk on a Sunday morning?” … read more
Local Review: Decibel Trust – Self-Titled
After I listened to this, I put on old-school They Might be Giants. Why? One, because they’re fuckin’ rad, and two, because Decibel Trust sound like what you’d get if you heard John Flansburgh singing New Found Glory songs at a karaoke bar. … read more
Local Review: Cliffs – Experiments EP
Cliffs have put together a great, very listenable EP (it made it into my regular listening cycle) with catchy riffs, warm vocals, and some sunny surf tunes, but they travel down too many well-worn paths. … read more
Local Review: Cliffs – Pets In The City
Cliffs Pets In The City Self-Released Street: 05.26 Cliffs = (MGMT + Panda Bear) x Saucerful of Secrets–era Pink Floyd In their first full-length album, Cliffs take a few more positive steps, adding some higher production values on newer songs and honing their sonic range. Overall, the band has a nice, eclectic sound that carefully
Local Review: Cubworld – Life Is Music
Cubworld (aka Jake Kongaika) brings us a part acoustic, part party-groove album with Life is Music. … read more
Local Review: Bludgeon Muffin – Revolt
This album—more of an EP, really—is solid, standard reggae. The bass goes as deep as your headphones will let it, and the guitars cascade over with some genre-standard up-strokes and some pretty tasty solos—though some are a little long. … read more