Issues: Issue 294 - June 2013
Review: Midnight Oil – Essential Oils
Similar to The Essential Clash, although with better pun usage, Essential Oils’ double-disc-load takes you on a tour spanning an entire Midnight Oil lifetime—from second-wave punk through poppy new wave. … read more
Review: Morningbell – Boa Noite
Portuguese for “good night,” Boa Noite takes on the theme of wishing someone goodnight, and translates that colloquialism into multiple layers throughout the album. Just as saying “goodnight” can hold multitudes of connotations, the girth of the orchestral arrangements present throughout Boa Noite that reaches across a wide range of emotions and genres. … read more
Review: Memoryy – Electric City
I have been thrilled recently to hear heavy ’80s influences in upcoming pop and electronica music. Electric City exhibits warped, oceanic synth hooks and contagiously danceable beats. … read more
Review: Man… or Astro-man? – Defcon 5…4…3…2…1
This album marks the first time since 1997’s Made From Technetium that Alabama’s favorite sci-fi/surf combo has put out a record with original guitarist Star Crunch. … read more
Review: Luke Winslow-King – The Coming Tide
When it comes to contemporary roots music, the easy route is to punk things up—play it faster or with an edge—but roots music transcends time and period. Luke Winslow-King walks that fine line between slavishly authentic and radical change just for the sake of change. … read more
Review: Lusine-The Waiting Room
I can’t help but dance throughout the entirety of this album while it’s playing, which is a good sign from the start. … read more
Review: Man Made Sun – More A Devil Than A...
Man Made Sun isn’t my particular flavor, but that’s not a bad thing in the slightest. Lead singer Ofer Tiberin has an interesting style that dances between melodic talking and singing, reminding me of another sun-themed band, the excellent Ra. … read more
Review: Lantern – Below
This Lantern does not burn brightly—drenched in atmosphere, this dirge-meets-speed/groove death metal record is one of the better records you will hear all year. … read more
Review: La Armada – Self-Titled
Cynical Spanish punk with ice water in its veins and acid on its breath. Gringo friendly translations showcase some compelling ideas here (“in the man-vomiting society/the most severe scarcity is/ the inevitable counterpart of being devoured by the machine”) even if the “todo es caca” sentiment is age-old. … read more
Review: Little Boots – Nocturnes
Little Boots deliver an album stocked full of synthpop electronic-style tracks with catchy vocals. … read more