Music
Review: Broken Bells – After The Disco
The Shins vocalist James Mercer and producer Danger Mouse are back with their second offering as Broken Bells. From The Grey Album to his work with The Black Keys, it’s clear that Danger Mouse has an affinity for the blues and moody sounds. … read more
Review: Bobby Bare Jr. – Undefeated
Bobby Bare Jr. has some years under his belt, performing and creating post-punk, indie-rock music. Undefeated will be his first series of new songs since 2010 and one on which Bare Jr. showcases his ability to be musically diverse. … read more
Review: Arum Rae – Warranted Queen EP
Somewhere between deadmau5 bass drops, the high-timbred soul of Donna Summer and the ragged guitar riffs of The Kills, you might find Arum Rae (formerly White Dress). … read more
Review: The Men – Tomorrow’s Hits
It seems that The Men have been moving away from their aggressive roots in favor of piano riffs, harmonicas, and slow, steady guitar solos. It is a step forward. … read more
Review: Yasmine Hamdan – Ya Nass
“Shouei” stuck out most for me, evoking the sounds of staring out the window and watching the rain in your cozy setting of choice. The album sways gracefully between the nostalgic sounds, like in “Aleb,” to darker, tormented melodies, such as “Enta Fen, Again” and “La Mouch.” … read more
Review: Xiu Xiu – Angel Guts: Red Classroom
On this most recent Xiu Xiu release, Jamie Stewart has taken a darker, more gothic approach than on other recent albums. Some apt comparisons might be Bauhaus or Siouxsie And The Banshees. … read more
Review: Weekend – The ’81 Demos
The demos presented here are more sparse in sound and instrumentation than the tracks that later appeared on 1982’s La Varieté, the only album released by the band. This is a short set of songs, but it’s rather beautiful, and without any moments wasted. … read more
Review: Various Artists – Trilogy Part I, Heaven; Part II,...
Heaven is the first of a trilogy of Croatian, Serbian, Slovenian, Montenegran and Macedonian artists who, as the name suggests, play in a vein of subdued electronic music. … read more
Review: Various Artists – The Songs of Tony Sly: A Tribute
As mortals, it’s only natural that we contemplate our demise. How will I be remembered? How will my passing be marked? When No Use For A Name frontman Tony Sly left this plane of existence, the global punk rock community seemed to come to a screeching stop. … read more
Review: Van Canto – Dawn of the Brave
While Van Canto isn’t treading new territory with this album, their a capella take on power metal has only gotten more interesting and refined with time. … read more
Review: Tycho – Awake
Hansen has created a blend of organic and digital that isn’t overwhelming to fans of Tycho’s earlier work, but heavy enough that it might even be enjoyed by an indie rock fan. The final three tracks of Awake show how far Hansen has come with not just his understanding of music but his ability to grow and evolve, bringing his listeners along for the ride. … read more
Review: The Tower of Light – Self-Titled
This debut album has all of those things we like to associate with dream-inducing, cinematic doom: dark and brooding soundscapes; swirling, droning guitars; airy, repetitive vocals and drums that burst above the rising haze. … read more
