The Archives
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09.09.10Bite-Sized Review: Azure Ray – Drawing Down The MoonAzure Ray Drawing Down The moon EP Saddle Creek buy With a hot 4.6 rating, Drawing Down The Moon from Omaha's dream pop duo Azure Ray sits comfortable in my top 20 of the year so far - which should surprise everyone, including me. But when an album breathes sunlight and happiness from every crack and crevice, with vocals that flutter around your eardrums even after you've hit "stop", you know you've found something good.
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05.18.10WMC Fest Preview: SaintsenecaSaintseneca 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm Saturday, May 22nd Parish Hall, WMC Fest When it comes to up and coming local gems, it doesn't get much better than Columbus's foot stompin' folk foursome Saintseneca. With upbeat Appalachian tunes that shake you down to your toes, the sounds of Saintseneca are guaranteed to hang around with you for a while after they end. I haven't had the opportunity to catch them live, which makes them one of my most anticipated acts for the weekend. Their sound feels so raw and organic on tape that I can only imagine the show in-person is that much better. San Francisco's ...
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04.29.10Bite-Sized Review: The New Pornographers – TogetherHorns! Strings! Keys! Guitars! Guests! Such joyful spurts of noise litter Together, number five from TNP. It's not Twin Cinema, but Newman/Case/Bejar still know how to write incredibly distinctive and catchy music together. The strength of the first half of the album outweighs the second, with the ballad tracks not pulling weight, which is my only complaint.
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04.15.10Bite-Sized Review: Kaki King – JuniorsAtlanta's Kaki King is five studio albums into her career with Juniors, and I can't get enough of her guitar-slinging shoegaze. With vocals that match Laura Veirs and songwriting you can believe in, this album only fails when it creeps for moments into monotony. Closing track "Sunnyside" is the albums closer and standout.
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04.15.10Bite-Sized Review: Caribou – SwimDan Snaith is the mind behind Caribou, an electro outfit based in Canada. With the help of Junior Boys' Jeremy Greenspan, Swim manages to pull out some dance-worthy experimental tracks that either excite (see: "Odessa") or bore (see: "Bowls"). Electro fans who get off on six minutes of swirling beats, this one's for you. Otherwise, move along.
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04.01.10Bite-Sized Review: Ruby Suns – Fight SoftlyGlobe-trotter Ryan McPhun brings international influence to his hectic, electric tracks under the Ruby Suns. Moments of beauty and fun shine out from underneath a mess of of computer enhanced noise. Could use a road map, a few more real instruments, and a few less distractions. Has potential to steer out of mediocrity, but hasn't done so yet.
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03.31.10Bite-Sized Review: Rogue Wave – PermalightI gave up on Rogue Wave after 2007's Asleep At Heaven's Gate, which I felt was a huge let down. I haven't read many positive reviews of Permalight, but I surprisingly enjoyed it's sunny, light heartedness and hooky tracks. This one takes me back to the simpler, indie-pop melodies of an O.C. soundtrack loving lifetime, for better or worse.
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03.31.10Bite-Sized Review: Aloha – Home AcresWith a few of their East Coast roots tied to Cleveland, Aloha are over 10 years into their career. There's an ethereal, unstoppably catchy mildness to Home Acres, their jazzed sixth album that both relaxes and excites. "Moonless March" stands out without competition, and tracks like "Everything Goes My Way" take us back to the 90's.
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03.20.10Bite Sized Review: Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – The Brutalist BricksI really want to like Ted Leo. I've enjoyed his live shows and blasted a track or two in my day, but I think he is best enjoyed by High School males, and I don't fall into either category. His vocals and punk-rock style are leaning awful pop on The Brutalist Bricks which for me just doesn't sit right. Guess we aren't meant to be!
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03.20.10Bite Sized Review: Liars – SisterworldPopular music reporting sources everywhere seem to love Liars and their newest, Sisterworld. I am not one of these people. This is not a situation where I don't "get" their experimental sound, it's a situation where Angus Andrew's vocals are nails on my musical chalkboard, and the sound he and band mates make keeps me bored and uninterested.
