05.Aug.2010 The Rockometer: Twin Hand Movement by Lower Dens
Lower Dens Twin Hand Movement Gnomonsong Once a card carrying member of the freak-folk movement, Jana Hunter has found both a new group in Baltimore’s Lower Dens and a comfortable new sound on her band’s debut album, Twin Hand Movement. And while that new sound, the mid-point between shoegazer rock and dream pop, may not [...]
08.Jul.2010 Double Feature: “Stars Fall” and “Marianne” by Ceremony
Please excuse my lack of decorum. In the following paragraphs may say sh*t like, “This sh*t rules,” and “F*ckin’ A” and a bunch of other things which may require me to selectively star out vowels. You see, it’s been a while since I’ve put a record on the sound system which hit me as immediately [...]
22.Mar.2010 The Rockometer: The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night by The Besnard Lakes
The Besnard Lakes The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night Jagjaguwar “Like the Ocean, Like the Innocent (Pts 1 & 2),” the lead track from The Besnard Lakes’ latest, The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night,” isn’t exactly the stuff of Top Five Side One Track Ones of all time. That’s the mild critique. The [...]
03.Mar.2010 “Albatross” by The Besnard Lakes
The Besnard Lakes’ “Albatross” is like the best dream pop from early ’90s England, but it’s more of an interpretation than a direct replication of that sound. “Albatross” knows exactly when to step on the pedals to produce a large, crunching wave of sound, but no one would mistake it for a Jesus and Mary [...]
07.Nov.2008 “Tambourine” by Happy Hollows
Like fellow Silver Lake rockers, Silversun Pickups, Happy Hollows have an affinity for that ’90s alt rock and shoegaze sound. For Silversun Pickups, the inspiration is Billy Corgan and Smashing Pumpkins. For, Happy Hollows, it’s Lush. As you listen to “Tambourine,” you can hear the influence in the voice of singer/guitarist Sarah Negahdari, which is [...]
19.May.2008 “The Open Road” and “Repulsion” by Blackstrap
It only takes a cursory listen to verify Blackstrap’s membership in The My Black Rebel Bloody Jesus and Mary Motorcycle Chain Valentine Club. At times you’ll have them pegged as My Bloody Valentine, other times the Jesus and Mary Chain, or Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. From the detached cool of their vocals, to the their [...]
11.Mar.2008 “Pirates” by Mr. Gnome
Cleveland’s mr. Gnome have had the misfortune of being saddled with one of the worst made up genres next to nu-rave, namely, trip rock. If they weren’t from my home town, I’d swear the British press had a hand in concocting this one, too. Trip rock, the name itself sounds like it originated from some [...]
04.Mar.2008 "Recovery Forever" by The Diggs
For some of you, ctrl-alt-del, the new disc by the Brooklyn band The Diggs is going to hit all the right nostalgic spots. Gimmick free, fashion free, and with just enough kick, their sound hearkens back to the pre-Pitchfork days when you could turn on your local Alt-Rock radio station and unexpectedly find your new [...]
13.Sep.2007 A Place to Bury Strangers or Psychocandy Revisited
There’s this line you don’t want to cross. It separates inspiration from imitation. I don’t know exactly where this line is, I’m not sure any critic does, but I do know that it’s been getting pushed back this decade. Whether it’s Daft Punk disco, mopey post punk, or garage rock revisited, most of the major [...]
04.Sep.2007 "Souvenirs D’un Autre Monde" by Alcest
Meet my latest obsession: Alcest, the work of French black metal multi-instrumentalist Stephane Pout (also known as Neige). I know what you’re thinking. French? Don’t you despise the French and their thick sauces, exquisite cheeses, and disco records. Black Metal? Are you hanging out with your old D&D crew from Valley Forge High School again? [...]
