One of America’s most magnificent warblers has tripped me up a little. Best known for gems like “Tarpit” and “Severed Lips,” excessive feedback and distortion, Mascis has released what can only be described as a folk record in Several Shades of Why (Sub Pop). With nary a drum in earshot (tambourine is the only percussion),… Continue reading J. Mascis dips pen into folky ink for Several Shades of Why
Category: MP3
Hidden Pictures
Please believe me when I tell you I was not compelled to write about Hidden Pictures simply because of the male part of the duo’s striking resemblance to Elliott Smith. I mean, it certainly helped (and it’s pretty eerie), but their music struck me in a sweet spot as well. It’s simple, pop-infused rock, with… Continue reading Hidden Pictures
[MP3] Sam Owens: “How To Build A Clock”
Sam Owens’ fourth album, How To Build A Clock, is making some serious rounds after his first few albums were only heard by a select few. Which is a shame, really, as Owens knows how to craft head-boppers. Nowhere is that more evident than on the title track off the album, which he’s made available… Continue reading [MP3] Sam Owens: “How To Build A Clock”
Tim Cohen croons odd pop on Magic Trick and Bad Blood EP
There are few things in this world I hate more than bland solo projects that just sound like a weaker version of the full band (I’m looking at you, Joe Perry Project). Just do something DIFFERENT, you know? So you can imagine my relief when I pressed play on the new material from Fresh &… Continue reading Tim Cohen croons odd pop on Magic Trick and Bad Blood EP
Puro Instinct gets sweet, dreamy, Gaussian on Headbangers in Ecstasy
There’s a filter in Photoshop called Gaussian Blur, and it’s basically a one-stop-shop for enshrouding a photo in a dream-like mist. Although it’s mostly used on pictures of galloping horses and glamor poses, the filter looks like it could have been what made the cover of Headbangers in Ecstasy so dreamy. And given the smooth,… Continue reading Puro Instinct gets sweet, dreamy, Gaussian on Headbangers in Ecstasy
Balto
It’s a folk-americana/folk-rock song-cycle that was largely written after I quit my job in Moscow and went off alone into Siberia, and was recorded almost exclusively in one day this past December in New York. I don’t think I’ve ever started off a post before with a pull quote, but this seemed too good to… Continue reading Balto
Welcome Back Sailors
Most of the chilled-out space jams we hear in the scene today are from the good ol’ USA (a lot of European and Latin/South American music seems too dancey party or something). But straight out of Italy is Welcome Back Sailors. The duo released their debut EP, I’ll Be There to modest blog reaction earlier… Continue reading Welcome Back Sailors
Twilight Singers pour on the pathos with Dynamite Steps
One of the reasons I’m obsessed with The X-Files is Mark Snow’s atmospheric scores. Snow’s ominous presence is at times eerie, haunting, beautiful, tense, and gripping, but just as often, his scores lull the viewer and make a dry 15-minute stretch feel like eternity. Whenever I listen to the Twilight Singers, one of many heralded… Continue reading Twilight Singers pour on the pathos with Dynamite Steps
Snowblink
Snowblink is a band I should have posted about a long time ago, especially after hearing their single “Ambergris” in anticipation of their record Long Live, which was released today. Also released today was a new mp3, “The Tired Bees”, a short but sweet number. Snowblink is currently Daniela Gesundheit and Dan Goldman, a Toronto… Continue reading Snowblink
PJ Harvey finds herself anew on Let England Shake
Hey, PJ Harvey! Long time no see! Glad to have you back. Seriously, though. Let England Shake is Harvey’s first solo album since 2007’s White Chalk. Critics always discuss other singer/songwriters attempts to mimic Harvey’s sound, so it’s about time we can shut them (us?) up with Harvey herself. One thing is for sure, though.… Continue reading PJ Harvey finds herself anew on Let England Shake