Year: 2014
Review: The Tower of Light – Self-Titled
This debut album has all of those things we like to associate with dream-inducing, cinematic doom: dark and brooding soundscapes; swirling, droning guitars; airy, repetitive vocals and drums that burst above the rising haze. … read more
Review: The Men – Tomorrow’s Hits
It seems that The Men have been moving away from their aggressive roots in favor of piano riffs, harmonicas, and slow, steady guitar solos. It is a step forward. … read more
Review: The Menzingers – Rented World
Well, The Menzingers have delivered another album that the disgruntled and eccentric youth can tap their feet and bob their heads to. … read more
Review: The She’s – Dreamers
Smack on some lip gloss, grab an ice cream cone and head down to the beach with Dreamers as your soundtrack. This three-piece gal band is perfect for summer tunes, with garage pop-punk melodies to get you bouncing as you skip around and smile about how great your life is. … read more
Review: The Shrine – Bless Off
I’ve kept The Shrine at arm’s length for some time, mostly because I get annoyed when 16-year-old nu-metallers-turned-skaters try to “educate” me on Sabbath (my first intro to this band), but also because I’m a huge, gutless jerk who doesn’t get into stuff unless he thinks HE discovered it first. … read more
Review: The Shackeltons – Records
Records resonates the same essence that Test Icicles did, only after the caffeine (or whatever stronger stimulant) had begun to wear off. … read more
Review: The Shilohs – Self-Titled
Vancouver’s The Shilohs position themselves adjacent to power pop trail-blazers Big Star and Badfinger, though their sound more closely resembles another band indebted to the Alex Chiltons of the world: Olivia Tremor Control. … read more
Review: The Ghost Wolves – Man, Woman, Beast
The Ghost Wolves Man, Woman, Beast Plowboy Records Street: 05.27 The Ghost Wolves = Highasakite + Blood Orange + The White Stripes Punk infused blues/rock has never sounded sexier than it has on The Ghost Wolves first full length album, Man, Woman, Beast. The Austin TX based duo first started wandering around the mainstream back
Review: The Clean – Anthology (Reissue)
The Clean Anthology (Reissue) Merge Records Street: 07.15 The Clean = The Chills + The Bats Flying Nun Records. The Dunedin Sound. If these words don’t incite you to a jangle pop riot (or to buy this $44 quadruple LP), then here’s one last lazy description: The Clean are to indie rock what The Beatles
Review: The Dandy Warhols – Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia
The Dandy Warhols Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia: Live At the Wonder Beat the World/The End Records Street: 01.27 The Dandy Warhols = Oasis + Velvet Underground – Brian Jonestown Massacre 2014 is a year of many anniversaries in indie music. Kurt Cobain’s suicide tends to overshadow the rest, but 1994 was also the year