We’ll be back in business soon.

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My apologies for the lack of posts in the last month. Life got in the way. I’ll be back at the end of the week with some of the reviews that I’ve yet to post, and going forward, I promise three reviews a day. If there’s anything that you’d like reviewed that I haven’t tackled from this year, please feel free to leave a comment here.

Also, look for a redesign of the site soon.

I don’t have many readers at this point, but I’m hoping to cultivate a following as 2011 turns to the last year of our existence (if those who misinterpreted some ancient calendar are to be believed).

Filed under Uncategorized

October 11, 2011

Hotel Lights — Girl Graffiti

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3.5 Stars

Good alterna-pop from guys with all sorts of connections to the indie-rock world (including Archers of Loaf, Sparklehorse, and Ben Folds Five). A little sleepy at times, but catchy enough to keep my interest.

Standout tracks: Dave Sharkey to the Dance Floor, All My Asshole Friends

Listen on Spotify

Filed under 3.5 Stars, Album Reviews

September 9, 2011

Braid — Closer to Closed (EP)

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2 Stars

Braid is a post-hardcore/indie-emo band from the 90’s early 2000’s. They broke up in 2004 and now they have a new EP. Without Braid, there would be no Death Cab for Cutie. Fuck Braid.

Standout tracks: The Right Time

Listen on Spotify

Filed under 2 Stars, Album Reviews

September 9, 2011

Jeff Bridges — Jeff Bridges

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3.5 Stars

The Dude abides, mostly. I’m sure T. Bone Burnett’s production saved these songs from the disaster they could have been, but Bridges presents himself as some weird country-fried carnie, and it works more than it doesn’t. Much of Bridges self-titled sophomore release could be outtakes from Cracker’s work from the late 90s, minus any lyrical wit. Tumbling Vine and Falling Short are the album’s best tracks, and they happen to be the only ones that Bridges wrote all by his lonesome.

Standout Tracks: Tumbling Vine, Falling Short, Maybe I Missed The Point

Listen on Spotify

Filed under 3.5 Stars, Album Reviews

September 8, 2011

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks — Mirror Traffic

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4.5 Stars

A somewhat sleepy near-masterpiece from Mr. Malkmus. I hate to use the term mature to describe a record with the word “blowjob” featured prominently in the lead single, but Beck Hanson’s minimalist production gives the record a pensive, insular quality that can’t be denied. While I quite enjoyed the extended prog-thinking jams of 2008’s Real Emotional Trash, I’m glad to see the songwriting take center stage on this one (don’t worry, there’s still plenty of that great purposefully sloppy guitar work you’ve come to expect from SM).

Standout Tracks: No One Is (As I Are Be), Senator, Long Hard Book, All Over Gently (the closest thing to Pavement that Malkmus has done)

Listen on Spotify

Filed under 4.5 Stars, Album Reviews

September 8, 2011

Sundress — Sundress (EP)

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3.5 Stars

Nice psychedelic rock out of Denton, TX. I’m excited to see what this band does on a full-length. Tracks such as Sailor’s Vision remind me of very early 90’s psychedelic rock (such as the earliest Smashing Pumpkins and some of the lesser-known Pacific Northwest bands). This could be America’s answer to Tame Impala.

Standout Tracks: Middle of Here, Sailor’s Vision

Listen on Spotify

Filed under 3.5 Stars, Album Reviews

September 8, 2011

The Jim Jones Revue — Burning Your House Down

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3 Stars

British garage rock in the vein of the early rock n’ roll greats (Jerry Lee Lewis, et al), but a little bit more raucous and loud. It’s good, and it sure knows how to party, but it’s not phenomenal, and there’s nothing new on Burning Your House Down. J. Roddy Walston and the Business do this better.

Standout Tracks: Burning Your House Down, Elemental

Listen on Spotify

Filed under 3 Stars, Album Reviews

September 8, 2011

Her Space Holiday — Her Space Holiday

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3 Stars

Precious home-recorded music, but also quite good. Lots of instruments making cameos on this one. As much as I want to dislike Her Space Holiday (the band and the record), I’ve been won over by the simple beauty of their songs.

Standout tracks: Shonanoka, Ghost in the Garden

Listen on Spotify

Filed under 3 Stars, Album Reviews

September 8, 2011

The Donkeys — Born with Stripes

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3.5 Stars

Garage rock, blues rock, lot’s of 60’s psychedelic influence, some misguided (see the sitar on Kaleidoscope), some well-executed (see the sitar on East Coast Raga). This record must have been recorded 10 different places, because the production seems to be all over the place in terms of fidelity. Promising record, as long as this band continues to stretch out (some songs seem purposefully safe).

Standout Tracks: Bloodhound, Ceiling Tan

Listen on Spotify

Filed under 3.5 Stars, Album Reviews

August 25, 2011