Year: 2013
Local Reviews: Funk&Gonzo
Chyeah, brahhhhhh … ahem … Sorry, this reggae is twisting my brain up. Funk&Gonzo are a reggae, funk and alt-rock mash-up that had me checking the computer after every song to make sure it hadn’t shuffled to a different artist. … read more
Local Reviews: Chivers Timbers – Freedom + Stability
Chivers Timbers’ debut release is a 10-track ode to lo-fi rock n’ roll with a little reggae infusion. The album blends together sounds that were heard more prominently in the early ‘90s—the acoustic guitar taking the lead while the electric provides harmonics in the background.
Local Reviews: Daniel Day Trio – Black on Black
Black on Black is composed of the well-known Trio’s ambiance-enhancing, jazz-infused covers of a wide range of artists and genres. Recorded during a live performance on KRCL, Black on Black possesses every element that you would hope to hear from a live performance.
Local Reviews: Einstein In A Patent Office – Supernova Sounds
“Supernova sounds” is right! This album is a fantastic voyage through time and space, ambient but driven, with a totally modern production, but somehow still takes me back to my favorite classical songs.
Local Reviews: Exer Ovu – Fell On a Faultline, Rose...
Exer Ovu is definitely not your garden-variety act. For starters, the band is a product of a single dude who double tracks his voice on top of a (at most) two-instrument arrangement—which is predominantly acoustic guitar—that’s comparable to a modest freak-folk band.
Local Reviews: Eyes on Kites – La Distancia
From the onset of listening to this album, I was intrigued, and multiple listenings have only opened up more of that initial fascination. I’m partial to compositions that lack lyrics, with the notion that they can free your mind in a way that words limit you.
Local Reviews: Genre Zero – Self-Titled
Genre Zero usher a style of power alt-rock that I wish was more common in today’s local scene. With their recently released EP, vocalist Joshua Isbell wails in a John Darnielle–esque fashion to an upbeat, percussive tempo and rolling violin textures.
Local Review: Youth Choir – Demo 2013
The real story is that Youth Choir is making tight, succinct, raging hardcore that retains no shortage of ’80s hardcore and attitude. … read more
Local Review: Θ – æ ω
I especially like the bottom-scraping low end, the way it just draaags its claws against the bottom of my listening periphery. I also really like the extreme high frequencies in the second track, when sequels of noise streak through the sky like some kind of evil Aurora Borealis. … read more
Local Review: Young Yet Brilliant Sleuths/Guides & Braves – Self-Titled...
Young Yet Brilliant Sleuths/Guides & Braves Self-Titled Split Self-Released Street: 06.04 YYBS/Guides & Braves = Imbroco + Real Estate + Track Star It is weird that this split record sounds vintage to me. As vintage as, say, the early aughts, when emo fractured into two very disparate camps. Both YYBS and Guides & Braves follow