All Entries in the "Music Reviews" Category
MICHAEL BEACH Mountains + Valleys CS
Gonna refrain from mentioning that Mountains + Valleys is originally a cassette release, out of the fear that would suggest a fringe-skating metal or noise workout (though maybe that’s just my own format-bias at play, so please, ignore me). Rather, Mountains + Valleys is an accomplished EP-length release that slides between stylistically varied but expertly [...]
LAS ARDILLAS s/t LP
While consulting Mr. Google about Las Ardillas, I found an article all about the fauna of Puerto Rico, wherein there was this: “A species of mongoose (mangosta) thrives in the countryside. They are often referred to incorrectly as ardillas (squirrels). Some learn to approach humans for food scraps. They should not be fed and it [...]
TAKASAGO ARMY Chthonic CD
Taipeian nerds show their folk roots. Again. The only problem: they are a speed metal band. Make that a comic book-pop-speed-metal band, Borg-ishly absorbing Taiwan’s most obscure folk elements into its “enterprising” sound. The title “Takasago Army” refers to volunteer Taiwanese (specifically the “Seediq” indigenous group) within the Imperial Japanese Army during World War 2—”Takasago” [...]
MANNEQUIN MEN s/t LP
Whereas the first Mannequin Men albums reminded, particularly within Kevin Richard’s sneering vocals, of the Old Haunts (and, specifically, their vocalist, Craig Extine), this third record from the Chicago group is a more comfortable record; it’s got a rough, mildly bluesy sort of pace, no real attitude to show. There’s a strange sense of hopelessness [...]
ENSLAVED The Sleeping Gods CD EP/12″
With downloading off the internet making it absurdly easy to destroy your computer with all the free music available, a great band is arguably less about a single anymore, or even a record, and more about a complete body of work. Enslaved fits well into this somewhat lily-livered, everything-at-your-fingertips world, because you’re not exactly sure [...]
WOODEN SHJIPS West CD/LP
I hate being a reductivist, but—damn! Wooden Shjips most recent release West really REALLY brings to mind prime Spaceman 3… and then again, no. On the one hand they recreate that lovely, raw, roaring Spaceman 3 signature sound, bursting with fuzz-drenched power-chords driven by the simplest of drum pulses. The song shapes start as classic [...]
DEAD LUKE Meanwhile….In The Midwest LP
It’s such a fine line between stupid and clever. So said David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel. For some reason, this quote has relevance while wrapping the heart-brain around Dead Luke’s second album. You wonder if the whole “swirling reverbed, layered” sonic-psychedelic Dagwood sandwich has run its course, if stuff like this is gonna be [...]
SCRATCH ACID live at Webster Hall, New York City; November 7th, 2011
Most musicians never start one good band, but Dave Yow and David Sims did it twice as charter members of Scratch Acid and The Jesus Lizard. While each guy posses a singular vision of what it is that they do —Yow with his garbled manly warble and Sims with his intricate and implacable bass figures—they [...]
PUJOL Nasty, Brutish and Short CD/LP
PUJOL’s Daniel Pujol releases teaser records the way Ariel Pink, the Mae Shi, and the Beatles used to release LPs—his EPs and singles have been in constant supply over the last couple of years, and he’s gotten quite lucky, as an early-20-something to get picked up by Jack White’s Third Man label while still in [...]
TY SEGALL Goodbye Bread CD/LP
Ty Segall could arguably be the most talented member of the current wave of San Francisco based garage/psychedelic bands. Over the last five years, Segall has spent time drumming in Sic Alps, Party Fowl and The Traditional Fools as well as recording with Mikal Cronin and contributing to Thee Oh Sees’ Castlemania. But it’s Segall’s [...]