Vertical Scratchers are a two-piece band made up of ex-Brainiac and Enon guitarist John Schmersal and former Triclops! drummer Christian Beaulieu. This is the debut album for the duo, and it stands as a testament to the heartwarming, poetic rock direction that Merge Records seems to be embracing with their new releases. … read more
Reviews: Wild Ones – Keep it Safe
This album is sure to be a great summertime hit. The first song, “Golden Twin,” is catchy, and they maintain that interest pretty solidly throughout. … read more
Reviews: Unicycle Loves You – The Dead Age
The Dead Age fills well-titled tracks (names like “Suicide Pizza,” “Face Tattoo” and “Endless Bummer”) with the retro fuzz sound that’s seized the garage scene. The track names alone would be enough to get me to listen at least once. … read more
Reviews: The Growlers – Chinese Fountain
The Growlers have coasted with albums like Gilded Pleasures and Hung at Heart, but deliver something a little different with Chinese Fountain. … read more
The Foreign Resort – The American Dream
The Foreign Resort = A Place to Bury Strangers + early New Order + Swervedriver + The Cure
… read more
The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die – Harmlessness
The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die = Jawbox +Texas is the Reason +Explosions in the Sky … read more
The Dad Horse Experience – Eating Meatballs…
Dad Horse Experience = (Will Sheff + Pete Seeger) / Thom Yorke
… read more
Still, Almost With You: The Church Return to SLC in Support of an Excellent New Release
2017 gives us Man Woman Life Death Infinity, a gorgeous album that liberally references The Church’s past phases. … read more
Sharon Van Etten @ Metro 2.19 with Nilufer Yanya
Van Etten poured herself out entirely onto the stage, moving a crowd of people with her passion and natural sense of style and purpose. … read more
The Black Queen, Uniform, SRSQ @ Urban Lounge 03.20
The balance of SRSQ’s emotionally wrought performance, Uniform’s chaotic energy, and The Black Queen’s chilly, melodic synths made for a very interesting and musically diverse night. … read more
The National – I Am Easy To Find
The National = Arcade Fire + Sufjan Stevens + Nick Cave … read more
Reviews: Swingin’ Utters
What can I say about the Swinging Utters? That they’re an amazing band that always manages to come up with ways to never sound hackneyed or worn-out. That Poorly Formed ranks amongst this fan’s favorite releases from the band’s nearly quarter-century career. … read more
