Authors: Rebecca Vernon
Local Review: Midnight Rhythm Combo – Self-Titled
Midnight Rhythm Combo Self-Titled Midnight Rhythm Combo = Nikki Costa + 20 years of musical theory Midnight Rhythm Combo is a disgustingly talented, tight and professional blues combo with jazz overtones and organ. Their female vocalist hovers between silk and husk. They’re a band who could play a Las Vegas casino, demand a rider
Local Review: My Band – Long Long Time
My Band Long Long Time My Band = Danzig + Deep Purple + Motörhead This is an awesome album musically; vocals sound like Jimi Hendrix + Lemmy, and the dirty guitarwork is a cross between classic rock and metal. Its major and fatal flaw is that almost every song sounds the same. I mean,
Local Review: McFalls – Self-Tittled Demo
MCFALLS SELF-TITLED DEMO McFalls = Pearl Jam (Ten) + Soundgarden (Superunknown) + Led Zeppelin (Led Zeppelin) McFalls, or Rune, as they are currently known, combine classic rock/grunge-laden guitar riffs with Jim Morrisson-like vocals that can really wail. Added to that grunge base are three main additives: A bluesy, almost jazzy strut (best illustrated in “summerday”);
Local Review: Micah Dahl Anderson – EP #1
Micah Dahl Anderson EP #1 Mother Clucker Micah Dahl Anderson = Patti Smith + Death Cab for Cutie acoustic Tranquil folksy indie guitar stuff swaps off with Tourette Syndrome outbursts of frantic panic sans swearing. Nick Drake overtones swell and ripple, early Radiohead bleeds through sometimes as in “Pirates of the Universe;” if emo in
Local Review: Magstatic – She’s Just a Buzz
Magstatic She’s Just a Buzz Pop Sweatshop Magstatic = Failure + Sugar + Pinback Plump, solid pop-hooks are as satisfying to the palatte as malt balls; sometimes energetically upbeat (“Downtown Girlfriend,” “My Little Runaway”), sometimes smoldering crystal-cool (“Run to You,” “Bitchin’ House”). It’s all radio-friendly and better than anything playing on the radio, if you
Local Review: Medicine Circus – Bottle Rockets of Emotion
Medicine Circus Bottle Rockets of Emotion Medicine Circus = Big Star + T. Rex + Alice in Chains Medicine Circus combines the best of 90s alt-rock with some grunge, catchy, accessible hooks, some technical sweeteners and 60s psychedelia. There is something mainstream and not-mainstream about it; it echoes the better moments of Vertical Horizon and
Local Review: Le Force – Le Fortress
Le Force Le Fortress Wäntage USA It’s finally here, Le Force’s first record label release. The deflowering honor goes to Wäntage USA, out of Missoula, Mon., which also hosts Federation X and The Fucking Champs, among others. Hot tubs filled with whiskey and semen, feathered hot-pink boas and glass fish tanks full of cobras and
Local Review: Last Response – Have You No Sense of...
Last Response Have You No Sense of Direction? EP Last Response = AFI + Taking Back Sunday + Sunny Day Real Estate Yes, I never thought I’d put AFI and Taking Back Sunday in the same equation, either, let alone Sunny Day, but once you hear Last Response, you’ll hear what I mean. Sanguine anthems
Local Review: Late Night Sleep T.V. – Self-Titled
Late Night Sleep T.V. Self-Titled Croakfrog Records Late Night Sleep T.V. = Gary Numan + Staring at the Sea + Blondie + Rope or Bullets + Ladytron Hot Paul Michael of Downers and Corleones fame is Late Night Sleep T.V., detouring from garage towards dance in this, his solo stuff. Was 80s post-punk with gothfabulous
Local Review: Invisible Rays – Black Hole Dynamo
Invisible Rays Black Hole Dynamo Shit Hot Records Invisible Rays = Melvins + War of the Worlds + Thee Soda Jerks Invisible Rays, formed from members of Ogden nemeses The Debonairs and The Igniters, strip down to drums, keyboards and bass; nakedly harking back to a dirtier, dronier version of Girls Against Boys mixed