Monthly Archives: January 2016
Mainland – “Outcast EP”
The Brooklyn-based rockers new EP isn’t too long, but it’s satisfying nonetheless. Each of the four tracks have a different sound to them, and the subject matter of each track is pretty relatable for most people. The title track is my personal favorite because the lyrics generates the idea of embracing new beginnings when you […]
Future Elevators – “Machine Maker – Single”
This is the latest single off of Future Elevators’ eponymous forthcoming debut album. Although the run time is rather short (just a little over two minutes), it’s still a bluesy, catchy, distorted, jangly, and melodic track. Definitely very accessible. LABEL: Communicating Vessels PLAY: #1 FCC: Clean RIYL: Tame Impala, Real Estate, Deerhunter, Mac DeMarco
Fourplay – Silver (Heads Up)
Groove driven, electric jazz combo with lots of guitar and smooth sounds. Plus, all the titles have some sort of pun or relationship to the world “Silver.” Clever. Silverado (5) is the funky track.
Houston Person – Something Personal (High Note)
Pleasant jazz standards delivered with a sensitive tenor sax tone. Vibes add a nice textural balance to the recording as well. Great lyrical sense of phrase. Recording/jazz geeks will appreciate this as a Van Gelder recording. RIYL: Standards jazz
David S. Ware / Apogee – Birth of a Being (AUM Fidelity)
First studio recordings of jazz saxophonist David S. Ware with his early group Apogee. Remastered and with new material from the same recording date. Excellent free playing foreshadows all the great music that Ware created afterwards. RIYL: Coltrane and are curious about free jazz, this is a good place to get started.
Witchcraft – Nucleus
Witchcraft– Nucleus Release date: 2016Jan15 Label:Nuclear Blast Rating: 4/5 Newest release from Swedish hard rock greats Witchcraft. Longer review coming soon. Picks: 1,4,7,10 FCC: None
Atlas Genius – “Inanimate Objects”
Aussie electro-pop. Propulsive guitars & synth heavy stadium-anthems rockers. Very high end production. Songs tend to be very anthemic. Borrows some tricks started by Tame Impala. Label: Warner Brothers RIYL: Tame Impala, Foster The People, Imagine Dragon, Franz Ferdinand Play: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 FCC: Clean
Orchid- Sign of the Witch
Orchid– Sign of the Witch Release date: 2015Jul18 Label: Nuclear Blast Rating: 3.5/5 Orchid‘s Mouths of Madness blew my mind. This EP is more than enough to tide one over until their next full-length. “Helicopters” is nothing but fuzz and snare. Trippy. “John The Tiger” and “Sign of the Witch” kneel at the altar of […]
Brimstone Coven- Black Magic
Brimstone Coven– Black Magic Release date: 2016Jan29 Label: Metal Blade Rating: 4/5 Brimstone Coven return with the follow up to their excellent debut. “Black Magic” takes heavy influence from Black Sabbath. “Beyond the Astral” takes the ears on a mystical journey of fuzzy, bluesy proto-doom. “Upon the Mountain” channels the back-to-basics hard rock that dominated […]
THE SPOOK SCHOOL // TRY TO BE HOPEFUL [FORTUNA POP!]
Catchy, anthemy, garage punky rawk. ‘With raucus and shouty anthems challenging patriarchy and privilege, the Spook School offers the fizzy shot of optimism we have been hoping for’ PLAY: 1, 5, 8, 10 | FCC: Clean | RYIL: Goanna Gruesone, Flowers, Martha, The Aislers Set, Western Wizard
WRUV Rock Singles January 2016 Mix
WRUV Rock Singles January 2016 Mix 1. Iggy Pop – Gardenia [Loma Vista/Concord] 2. M. Ward – Confession [merge] 3. Eerie Wanda – To Dream Again [Hum] 4. Mavis Staples – High Note [anti] 5. The Dandy Warhols – You Are Killing Me [dine alone] 6. Ra Ra Riot – Absolutely [barsuk] 7. Junior Boys – Over It [city slang] 8. Thao & The Get Down […]
David Friesen & Glen Moore – Bactrian (Origin)
Two bassists and sometimes piano take on a journey at times ambient/exploratory and others more of a traditional jam of players having a good time. The unwinding piano along with the bass resonance on “Soft as Silk” makes for a great ballad. Caravan with an abstract intro and two bassists and as much textural as it […]
Joey DeFrancesco – Trip Mode (High Note)
Organ-led quartet with plenty of fast noodly guitar work, drum surprise, and understated bass drive. Great angular riff in “Who Shot John” (track 2). Classic blues organ on “Cuz U No” (track 5). Veering into piano lounge with “The Touch of Your Lips” (track 7). The beefy funk that only an organ delivers opens “Traffic Jam” […]
Tycho-Awake Remixes
It’s been two years since Tycho released his album Awake and now he’s released a remix album titled Awake Remixes. The original album had a dreamy, sunny Ambient vibe to it. The remixes are similar and adhere to the “Tycho” sound but also show the remixing artist’s vibe as well. Some of the remixers are: […]
Soapkills-The Best of Soapkills
The Best of Soapkills is compilation showcasing tracks from Yasmin Hamdan’s band three albums. Originally from Beirut, Lebanon, Soapkills was considered on the first Middle Eastern Indie Rock bands. The music takes classical and folk Arab music and infuses it with electronic, Dub and Trip Hop creating a captivating sound. Hamdan’s vocals are beautiful and […]
Lemaitre-1749
1749 is a five track EP from Lemaitre. The music is peppy Pop Dance with good vocals. Tracks: 1,3,5
E1sbar-Televisual
Televisual is the second release from the duo E1sbar (pronounced ice bear). The music continues to follow the smooth, bubbly Alternative Dance that their debut, Super Fantasy, gave us. Vocals from Piper Davis have a smooth dreaminess to them adding to the charm of this album. Tracks: All Good
Keys N Krates-Midnite Mass
Midnite Mass is an EP from the Canadian trio Keys N Krates. The disc also contains three remixes of the track Save Me. The music is a mix of EDM and Hip Hop giving it a sound that’s a little different from the rest of the EDM that’s out there now. RIYD: Flume, Hudson Mohawke […]
Karsh Kale-Up
Up is an album from artist Karsh Kale. The music blends Indie Rock with Electronica and Indian influences. The genres are well blended creating an exotic, futuristic sound. Tracks: 3,4,6, FCC: 8
Various Artists-Hush Hush: Presents, Vol. 2
Hush Hush: Presents, Vol. 2 is a compilation from the Seattle-based Hush Hush label. IG88, Super Magic Hats, Chants and Sax G are some of the artists showcased here. The music is rooted in Ambient and some of the tracks have an Ambient Dance and Atmospheric Bass Music vibe as well. With 39 tracks in […]
THE BESNARD LAKES – A COLISEUM COMPLEX MUSEUM (JAGJAGUWAR)
The Montreal band’s first release since 2013 demonstrates a steadfast continuation of their psych rock style. “A Coliseum Complex Museum” is melodic and laid-back, but gives way to high energy moments at the right times. Husband and wife, Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas, provide soothing vocal harmonies and instrumental (mostly guitar, bass, and synthesizer) skills […]
THE KI // THE KI (SAKURA SUN ENTERTAINMENT)
Funky soulful blues rock. Lyrics and singing span funk, R+B, hip hop and house-style. Lots of variety, pretty original sound. RIYL: Alabama Shakes, Lettuce, The Internet | PLAY: 1,2,3,6,7 | FCC: Clean
GOLDEN BLOOM // SEARCHING FOR SUNLIGHT [RHYME & REASON]
Quintessential alt-rock. Heavy on the acoustic guitar (a little banjo thrown in for good measure). Light and airy tunes. Very similar to The Good Life. RIYL: The Good Life, Death Cab for Cutie | PLAY: 1, 5 | FCC: Clean
JULIEN BAKER – SPRAINED ANKLE (6131)
“Sprained Ankle” is the debut album from Julien Baker, a singer-songwriter out of Tennessee. This collection of emotional songs showcases Baker’s gentle, but highly capable, voice. An echoing guitar creates atmospheric tones that nicely accompany Baker’s melancholy lyrical themes of loneliness and mortality. Baker references physical injuries to convey her emotional pain. The album is […]
AMIR ELSAFFAR – CRISIS (PI RECORDINGS)
Amir(trumpet/composer leads a focused outfit on 9 ambitious original pieces that paint a dark but promising picture of his Iraqi heritage. Based in NYC, Amir is a mainstay on the PI label. A wonderful program that will have you searching for more.
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