Out The Airlock Paul Dempsey may not be the tallest man on earth, but he’s sure close. Seriously, he’s like 7 feet tall. He is the lead singer and artistic force behind Australian band Something For Kate, releasing his debut solo album here in the states. I’ve seen Paul once before when he opened for Jenny Owen Youngs a few months back. For sure, standing on stage Paul is a presence because of his stature. But when you hear his voice, his honesty in his music, you hear an intimate and wistful set of songs that are personable and gripping.…
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The Pains of Being Pure At Heart – Belong by Slumberland Records Check out the new track from The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, entitled Belong… which is also the name of their upcoming album. This track shows a major progression in their sound, it sounds as a nod to the 90’s with those opening basslines and guitar riffs and the ends of the chorus’. This song gives a great sense of quiet optimism in looking ahead to what this album will sound like, and I’m looking forward to hearing more from this very talented band.
1 CommentIf I Had a Boat I had the chance to listen to Dublin’s James Vincent McMorrow’s US debut album Early in the Morning for over a month now and have struggled admirably to put into words why I like it so damn much. One thing that comes to mind is Theodore Roosevelt’s slogan, ‘Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick.’ McMorrow’s soft crooning falsetto vocals speaks softly, but these songs can be hugely powerful. Case in point, the single ‘If I Had a Boat,’ the song toils in the allegory of being lost at sea until found (finding love) the…
1 CommentUnder the Cover of Darkness Just about ten years ago, The Strokes released their first album, an album that had turned the face of alt-rock in their direction for bringing the throwback rock & roll back into the mainstream. After a litany of solo tours and albums the band finally got back together and recorded an album entitled Angles. The lead track off that album released today to major fanfare. Under the Cover of Darkness is a catchy, jangly, bright rock song that has some flavor of early Strokes, but feels like a groomed version a bit smoothed over from their…
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I was first exposed to Nicole Atkins last year when she had opened for the Avett Brothers on their winter tour. I wasn’t sure what I was getting in to but kept an open mind; she was opening for one of my favorite acts so I assumed the best. Atkins put on a great show, and her song Brooklyn’s on Fire was a definite standout during the show.
Since that show, I’ve quietly followed her, and when I got the chance to hear her upcoming album a few months ago, I frothed at the mouth. At first listen, Mondo Amore is an outstanding album. Nicole Atkins has one fantastic voice. That really doesn’t do it justice, it’s gorgeous, simply gorgeous.If she isn’t known as one of the best voices in music in the near future, I’d be surprised.
Bold statements aside, Atkins’ album is just as fun and wide ranging as her voice. From the dark, brooding ‘Vultures,’ to the twang of ‘My Baby Don’t Lie,’ to the poppy, and super catchy ‘Cry Cry Cry.’ To me closing track ‘The Tower’ is the strongest on the album. It’s a must listen, a haunting, emotionally hooking, melodramatic and epically building song that feels really intimate. Its at the point at which the music reaches a huge climactic theme and finally matches Atkins’ amazing vocals; a great exaltation that really wraps the album up perfectly, and MUST BE LISTENED TO.
Without exception, every song on this album is a good listen. The music is varied and well done, the vocals are superb; Nicole Atkins is a talent for sure, and she needs to be more well known, and I think this is the album that takes her to the next level.
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Is It Done “Is It Done” is the second single from J Mascis’s forthcoming album ‘Several Shades Of Why.’ Best known as the songwriter for Dinosaur Jr., Mascis is releasing this acoustic collection on Subpop and will be available March 15. Mascis’ trademark raspy, dry voice is all over this, with backup vocals from Band of Horses’ Ben Bridwell.
Leave a CommentSilly Bears by Akron/Family from Secretly Jag on Vimeo. Check out the epic video for Akron/Family’s “Silly Bears.” Directed by Matt Brunson, the new video is filled with robots, stuffed bears, plastic horses, and a Rubik’s Cube element. This video may be exactly what you expect after listening to this album, the visuals seem to fit the album well. Buy S/T II: The Cosmic Birth And Journey Of Shinju TNT [+Digital Booklet]
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Long strange album title aside, Akron / Family’s newest album is one of those albums that isn’t entirely definable. The music is experimental in nature, they use audio samples, psych-rock explosions, tribal beats (see silly bears), syncopated guitar and vocals… to put it simply, the album is as wild as the title. That’s not to say that its not likeable, enjoyable, or listenable. It’s just one of the most experimental sound albums you’ll hear this year. Recorded in an abandoned train station, Akron / Family sourced influences from Japanese Noise Cassettes to Cagean Field Recordings (yea I looked it up too) S/T II is actually a lot of fun to listen to. What’s great is every song has it’s own identity, completely separate from each of its album-mates. Each song can be listened to in a vacuum and listened to on it’s own.
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1 CommentHold Sway Brian McGee is an Americana Rock artist out of North Carolina. In October he released his a new album recorded at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville. Getting his roots in the Pennsylvania Punk scene, his sophomore LP The Taking or the Leaving is a fusion of Americana and Punk. The album swiftly moves through themes of Americana like the rockabilly like ‘Hold Sway’ or the twangy balladry of ‘Let’s Bleed.’ One thing is for sure, McGee has the chops to write and play some fantastic sounding roots rock & roll music. His punk roots come out in the…
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