Authors: Cody Kirkland
Reviews: TEEN – The Way and Color
I knew TEEN would evolve beyond their psychedelic girl group sound—last year’s Carolina proved that. I wasn’t expecting something this good, though. The first track, “Rose 4 U” is familiar enough, but the next one, “Not For Long,” begins to meld ‘90s R&B–style vocal harmonies, modern beats and instrumentation, and spacey textures that are singular to this record and the band itself. … read more
Review: Wye Oak – Shriek
Like many of their musical contemporaries, Baltimore’s Wye Oak are embracing new modes of music-making and shying away from guitar-based rock structures to favor synthetic sounds and electronic textures. … read more
Review: Young Widows – Easy Pain
Young Widows = Pissed Jeans + Death From Above 1979 … read more
Review: White Reaper – Self-Titled
If 2010s punk has a cohesive sound, I’d say White Reaper sums it up. In this six-song, 16-minute debut EP, the Louisville, Ky., trio plays poppy garage rock like the best of their forbearers, but with more punk muscle. … read more
Review: Ty Segall – Manipulator
Ty Segall = Ziggy Stardust–era David Bowie + The Beatles + Fuzz … read more
Review: Ultimate Painting – Self-Titled
Ultimate Painting = The Velvet Underground + (Pavement / Pinback) … read more
Review: The Copy Scams – Copy & Destroy
I would have really liked this band when I was a shoplifting, dumpster-diving 19-year-old. Alex Wrekk, author of Stolen Sharpie Revolution and the Brainscan zine, fronts this novelty band that plays lo-fi pop punk songs about zines—a must-listen if you like DIY punk shit. … read more
Review: Teen – Carolina EP
This five-song EP is just as impressive as TEEN’s sophomore full-length, In Limbo, from last year. The Brooklyn girls have strayed from their Shangri-Las-meets-psych vibe and have moved into a more diverse, rock-oriented direction. … read more
Review: Sleepmakeswaves – Love of Cartography
Sleepmakeswaves = Explosions in the Sky + Russian Circles + Dntel … read more
Review: Potty Mouth – Hell Bent
Critics have called Potty Mouth a riot grrrl band, which is dumb, or called them pop punk or post punk, which is inaccurate and ambiguous, or said they sound like ‘90s New England indie rock, which is a little more clear, but still vague. … read more