Category Archives: Album Reviews

Lovelife – edgy Synth pop at Gothic on May 30th!

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Lovelife is bringing their heavily 80’s influenced synth pop to the Gothic this Thursday, May 30th, sure to be a great high energy dance party. This Brooklyn by UK duo fits right in with the nu-R&B/electro dance pop wave that’s getting gaining steam right now. I know, these genres are getting so particular, but it’s great for organization. They just traveled around the country playing with Capital Cities, who have this big hit right now (when I saw them play this at the Perez Hilton SXSW party this year, many guys inexplicably took their shirts off): Safe and Sound

Listen to the new Lovelife single here: Dying to Start Again

Watch Lovelife video here: Your New Beloved

The Great Gatsby Review

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Baz Lurhmann’s latest movie, an adaptation of The Great Gatsby got a ton of flak before it was even released, mainly due to the Jay-Z produced soundtrack. Now personally, I think Hova is the MAN, so I’ve been loving the soundtrack for awhile, and yesterday I finally got to see how it all fit in the big picture of the movie. Personally, I think people are up in arms over not much. You’d think Hova was playing Nick Carraway and narrating, rather than the snippets of music heard in parties, and one two second scene of some Harlem jazz cats being driven by a white chauffeur. I thought it absolutely worked.

“The hip-hop soundtrack, too, stemmed from Luhrmann’s understanding of Fitzgerald as an unflinching modernist. “He took African-American street music, jazz, and he put it front and center in the novel,” Luhrmann said. “He did that because he wanted the book to feel immediate and dangerous.” But the jazz of the 1920s has long since matured into something “classical and quaint,” so Luhrmann turned to a newer form: hip hop.”- HuffPo

The only time the music took me out of the movie was when “Crazy In Love” came on, and that’s only because I’m sick of Beyonce, so it has no sway on my opinion since I’m biased there. This soundtrack flowed much better than that “Roxanne” tango in Moulin Rouge, at least Daisy didnt start singing the Lana Del Ray song! I’ve noticed now that most of the people complaining about the music haven’t seen the movie, and that’s a scary, quick judging way to live. Don’t miss this movie because you don’t think hip hop should be played, you are missing what I believe is Leo DiCaprio’s best performance in years (he’s always good, but Gatsby is just THE role for him). Most if it is just hip hop beats with sultry vocals, and there is only really one rap in it, Jay-Z in “$100 Bill”. You are doing yourself a disservice if you skip this because of that ten seconds.

Besides, the theater was mainly younger people, they would not be coming in droves to see this movie were it not for the soundtrack (Leo is a little too old and jowly for teen crushes). I will never complain about more people potentially reading a book. Can’t wait for that Death Metal Anna Karenina adaptation!!

soundtrack sampler

whole soundtrack

Portugal. The Man New Album Review

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The highly anticipated Portugal. The Man release “Evil Friends” comes out June 4th, and I was given a chance to listen to it today. For fans of the expiremental Portland band already, you are going to love it, it’s a new sound that doesn’t stray too far from the old, and I see them gaining a lot of new fans with this album due to the more easily accessible radio-friendly nature of the songs. There isn’t a skippable track here, each has their own catchy melody and lyrics that tell so many bittersweet stories, and they could each standalone as a strong single courtesy of the amazing production by Danger Mouse. They had recorded most of the tracks at Sonic Ranch Studios in El Paso, but scrapped all but two and began working with Danger Mouse on an almost clean slate.

The album starts off great with the synth heavy “Plastic Soldiers”, and I love the lyrics of “Creep in a T-Shirt” about being a loser, they go nicely with the driving beat and twinkling keys. “Evil Friends”, the title track, has a taste of garage punk, while “Sea of Air” is a delicate acoustic ditty that soars as more layers of instruments are brought in. By the time they got to the hand-claps, I was smitten. “Holy Roller (Hallelujah)” is a stand out track with strong lyrics and background choruses singing “ooohs” and “aaahs”, and they even dabble in hip hop with the track “Hip-Hop Kids”, and it works! They’ve got a major tour kicking off May 20th at Irving Plaza, and will be hitting up Denver opening for the Avett Brothers at Red Rocks. If you haven’t seen them live, they are even better and louder in person, songs get stretched out and rocked out, and the new material is so awesome, I can’t wait to hear it live! Don’t miss that Red Rocks show!

Link to Video of Evil Friends

Link to tour dates

Link to pre-order Limited Edition Super Pack

Fork and Spoon Records Release Some Stuff You Should Hear

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When looking for new music, I often check out the other bands that are on the same label. I liked the sound of Coma Cinema, so I asked Fork and Spoon Records what else they had. They sent the new split single 7″ by bands Pandercakes and Pussy Wizard. Both bands have a seemingly happy sound but with a darker edge throughout the more you listen, and I’m really excited now to hear the rest of their roster.

Pandercakes starts the single with a layered song that contains male and female vocals (I think I heard some birds singing) all while a drum pattern keeps a steady danceable beat, even during the keys solo. Very interesting, intellectual pop, but with some punk rock attitude, I want to hear more of what they have. Pussy Wizard, aka Jordan Blackmon who plays guitar in Toro Y Moi finishes the single with “Dunno (Translucent Blue)”, a song that has a great lofi fuzz sound, world weary lyrics, and melodies that remind me of Elliott Smith. That name is going to deter some people, but it shouldn’t. The idea came from him flying on a cat.

Listen to it and buy it here: Pandercakes/Pussy Wizard

The National “Trouble Will Find Me” New Album Review

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I received an advance copy of The National new album Trouble Will Find Me just to have it leak a few hours later to everyone. Gotta move faster! Anyway, my first outing was seeing them at the Fillmore in 2009, having no idea who they were. Place was packed, we were in the balcony, felt a million miles away, and just laid there while their music layered over me. Second outing was when Trey Anastasio played with them, wasn’t too impressed but when are Phish fans ever impressed with side projects.

This album is melancholy and beautiful. “Don’t Swallow the Cap” has a beautiful building melody that crescendos with sadness and keyboards. “Heavenfaced” makes me feel like I just got out of rehab and am hugging my loved ones. “I Need My Girl” is another that reminds me of an old relationship that I was never in. I enjoy the repetition of lyrics that The National incorporates, it hammers the theme in without sounding like a message. This Brooklyn band from 4AD Records seems to be ready for the arena level after this and the success of their last album. The album comes out May 20th, and they have a massive summer tour coming. Jump on board.

Garage Swim – Adult Swim’s Garage Compilation – FREE Download

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Cartoon Network’s new Adult Swim compilation Garage Swim continues the tradition of Adult Swim programmers having good taste in music. They’ve been playing Battles “Ice Cream” for awhile, and now they’ve brought tons of the current popular garage acts together for the compilation. Thee Oh Sees, Mikal Cronin, King Tuff, King Khan and others are all on here, noising and prettying it up. Some might say the new garage wave has no edge, and this absolutely helps their debate. I’m just glad loud, noisy and powerful are back again. Again. For people that keep up with my blog, you’ve seen me list a lot of these bands here, this is a good free album to get a taste of a bunch of them.

Garage Swim Free Download

Eleven Songs I Like Today and the Best Tank Top Ever

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My neighbor is a prize-winning tulip gardener, and the second the snow melted, the ladies came out! You should see her backyard. I’m allowed to take as many flowers as I want, as well as walk around in them, in exchange for occasionally shoveling her sidewalk. Community! Needless to say, I feel very fortunate to have such a nice neighbor. The tank top is Brandy Melville, it’s Dylan mixed with The Misfits. It is my favorite tank ever, and I wish I could find another. Literally went to the store in San Diego twice before the sales chick found one in a pile of other black tank tops. The skirt was a disaster, windy day, better with a bathing suit.

Here’s some songs I’m loving today (all song titles are links to the song):

1. Rolling Stones “Emotional Rescue” : first time played live, Jagger swaggering and pointing with splendour, every note perfect. To Vegas or not to Vegas….

2. Deodato “Also Sprach Zarathustra(2001)” : my husband heard a version of 2001 that he thought was Phish with horns, did some searching, found it. This is the best rendition of a song ever. Timeless. It’s been played about a hundred times blaring through our speakers through the house. My life has felt very funky but dramatic.

3. The Bamboos “Happy” : continue the funk with this New Zealand band that really needs to tour the USA.

4. TEEN “Circus (Live at Union Pool)” : great, loud, pretty stuff, their name is around a lot right now, I like the flashlight video.

5. Metz “Wet Blanket” : if you have some patience and let the music inside you, it’s the most amazing feeling in the world. They are playing in Denver at Hi Dive on Tuesday. It’s going to be so forceful.

6. Lorde “Royals” : New Zealand is really cranking out unbelievable music! This song is slithery, minimal beat, nice vocals, I have a song of the day!

7. Faces on Film “Knot in the Vine” : this band has a slick, dreamy sound. Sounds like a movie where everyone is sweaty in a small town and most of them have slept with each other and drama sweaty drama.

8. No Joy “Negaverse” : opening for Metz this Tuesday, beautiful noise.

9. Chain in the Gang “Living in the Panther Cage” : love some quirky minimal stuff with male and female vocals and loud snare.

10. Goat “Goatman” : heard this year’s Austin Psych Fest was the best year yet, I’m in for sure next year at this new location. Kicking myself that I skipped it and missed these guys. So much to do, so little time…..

Update- song 11 came in last night and it’s just a perfect simple piece of beauty : “Big Talking” by White Woods

New JEFF the Brotherhood single off free Adult Swim album available May 6th

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I loooove JEFF the Brotherhood, from their adorable brotherly relationship, to their see through instruments (done well before the new Daft Punk video with clear instruments) to their fuzz filled sonic noisescapes they create. Cartoon Network Adult Swim has created a compilation of unreleased songs called Garage Swim, of which they have already put out a song by Thee Oh Sees. It will be free for everyone on May 6th at adultswim.com. Check out the JtB song right now as well as the track listing with songs by Black Lips, King Tuff, all the goods.

Personal tidbit- I’ve been in the Adult Swim offices. They have AstroTurf for a carpet and huge Space Ghost and Boba Fett costumes. Neat-o.

JEFF the Brotherhood single from Garage Swim

Thee Oh Sees “Devil Again”

No Joy – Band to Watch

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Montreal’s No Joy has a new album coming out next Tuesday, and wow is it good. We got twelve inches of snow at my house. I think that’s unnecessary on April 17th, and this album made me feel like I was being pulled out of a sleepy cold state into a colorful spring. They pack layer upon layer of fuzz beautifully, all with pretty vocals dreamily floating on top. Man, this snow makes me want ice cream. They are supporting the album release with a North American tour, and they are opening for Metz at Hi Dive in Denver, May 7th. (Hey Houston they are playing at Fitz next week!!) Tour dates and new single in the link below:

new single “Lunar Phobia”

stream the album at Pitchfork

New Deerhunter release “Monomania”

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Avant garde rockers Deerhunter have already created buzz for this album by appearing on Jimmy Fallon, frontman Bradford Cox dressed as character Connie Lungpin, complete with black wig and bandaged fingers (an homage to his father who accidentally cut off a finger recently and was at the show). The album is fantastic, their chunky sound even stronger with an added third guitarist. This album sounds cleaner than their other more garage sounding releases, but it doesn’t hurt the sound at all. Tracks like “Blue Agent” and “Back to the Middle” are straight up catchy, while “Monomania” and “Leather Jacket II” show off that fuzz, and “The Missing” is just straight up beautiful. Look for the album to be released May 7th.

video for Jimmy Fallon performance and title track