Author Archives: knoboa
Mogwai – Rave Tapes
Rave Tapes takes post-rock and does a beautiful job at subduing it, proving Mogwai just keeps maturing as a band. Rave Tapes is slower and less loud than previous Mogwai albums and the addition of synth leaves a strong impression on the listener. The tracks on this album are less dramatic but do not lack […]
Eastern Mountain Time – Really Comin’ Down
Eastern Mountain Time is Sean Hood from Hello Shark, local indie rock favorites. His first album released under the EMT name is an acoustic folk-rock album full of heart and soul unexpected from a member of Hello Shark. Each song has heart breaking or thought provoking lyrics and his simple combination of guitar and vocals […]
Deer Tick – Negativity
Deer Tick’s newest album is foot stomping rock similar to their previous albums. With songs ranging from baroque pop to memphis showstoppers, Negativity is Deer Tick’s most musically mature album yet. This American Rock n’ Roll band knows how to keep a crowd going and this album is a great example of their strong musical personality. […]
Jackson Scott – Melbourne
Psych rock at it’s best with distorted vocals and hooky guitar jams. Dark, wimzy and woozy. Inspired by Syd Barrett and Jeff Mangum. Play: 4, 5, 8, 10 FCC: Clean RIYL: Salvia Plath, Wampire, Pure X
Audacity – Butter Knife
Audacity’s newest album, Butter Knife, takes the band’s noisy, garage rock and combines it with a bit of pop and a few more years of experience. This combination yielded their third album: a release full of razor-sharp, high-energy songs typical of their previous albums but freshened up with poppy guitar jangles and sing-along choruses. Play: 3, 9, […]
Nobunny – Secret Songs: Reflections from the Ear Mirror
Nobunny’s newest LP, released on Goner records, rocks and rolls. Full of no bounds, garage rock songs, Secret Songs, packs a punch from start to finish. This album will truly make you “do the stooge.” Noisey calls Secret Songs, “Lurid and anarchic, Nobunny’s sound is a primitive animal thump informed by the conventions of early rock, ’70s punk […]
The Dodos – Carrier
The Dodos 5th album, Carrier, is much different from their previous releases. Deciding to “start over”, singer/guitarist Meric Long began focusing on lyrics before music and created the album with his guitar as his only instrument. The result is an honest, melancholy rock album lacking the electronic-pop sound the Dodos once had. Play: 5, 3, 4, […]
Porcelain Raft – Permanent Signal
Porcelain Raft’s new album, Permanent Signal, is hazy pop-rock mixed with organic elements like piano and cello. Moving away from the electronic sound we’ve heard in previous releases, Permanent Signal is a new approach to Porcelain Raft’s music. With gentle vocals and instruments, Permanent Signal, is as vivid as a waking dream. Play: 2, 5FCC: CleanRIYL: Blouse, Lower […]
David Lynch – The Big Dream
Described by Lynch as “modern blues”, The Big Dream is filmmaker David Lynch’s sophomore album. Full of electronic beats and dreamy sounds, The Big Dream is a twisted, dark modern electronic blues album that should definitely be given a listen. Play: 1, 2, 6 FCC: 8 RIYL: David Lynch Films, Gonjasufi
Audacity – Mellow Cruisers
Really awesome skater punk-rock from some cool youngin’s. This garage pop-punk album showcases Audacity’s interesting take on Rock n’ Roll. Very fun and fast record! Play: 3, 4, 1 ALL! FCC: Clean RIYL: King Tuff, White Fang, White Fence
MS MR – Secondhand Rapture
Atmospheric power pop with female vocals and powerful melodies. Similar style to Florence and the Machine but poppier. Play: 7, 2, 10 FCC: 5, 8 RIYL: Haim, Florence and the Machine, Jessie Ware
Light Heat – Light Heat
Melodic psych-pop. Warm and sweet with nice harmonies, guitars and rhythms. Play: 5, 1 FCC: Clean RIYL: The Byrds, Mazarin
Gypsy and the Cat – The Late Blue
Australian power-pop with some country twang. Catchy and fun, great summer tunes. Play: 3, 9, 5, 1, 3 FCC: Clean RIYL: Phoenix, MGMT, Grouplove
Mood Rings – VPI Harmony
Mood Rings debut album is a poppy, synth rock album with influences ranging from the 60s-80s. Hushed vocals, smooth guitar, and an upbeat drummer combine to bring you a dreamy debut from Mood Rings. Play: 2, 4, 5 ,6 FCC: Clean RIYL: Still Corners, Wild Nothing, The Cure
Bass Drum of Death – Bass Drum of Death
Bass Drum of Death’s self-titled album is a punk influenced, garage rock album sounding similar to Roky Erickson, Spaceman 3, and at times Nirvana. Fast paced and the perfect amount of heavy, Bass Drum of Death takes blown-apart pop to a whole new level. It rocks hard, give it a listen! Play: 3, 5, […]
Sigur Ros – Kveikur
Sigur Ros is back and better than ever. With the lack of a pianist, Kveikur departs from Sigur Ros’ previous sound and becomes a very dark and powerful post-rock album. This album is explosive with pounding rhythms and distorted, modulated bass. Many songs sound abyssal but Jonsi’s vocals create a light in the heavy […]
Pity Sex – Feast of Love
Pity Sex’s debut LP is a distorted, reverb heavy noise pop album coming from Ann Arbor, MI. Male/female harmonies and heavy guitar riffs couple with shoegaze tendencies and airy pop sounds on Feast of Love. Play: 1,4,5,8 FCC: Clean RIYL: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, My Bloody Valentine,
Baths – Obsidian
Bath’s sophomore album, Obsidian, is a huge turn from his debut album. Less dancy and a lot darker, Obsidian takes cues from beatmaker Will Wiesenfeld’s sorrow and hardships to create an album suffused with heavenly choirs, head-nodding percussion, and unique beats. Play: 1, 2, 3, 7 FCC: 6, 8 RIYL: Mount Kimbie, Gold Panda, Shlohmo
Boards of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest
If dystopia had a soundtrack, this would be it. Electronic moguls Boards of Canada are back with their fourth album, sounding distant, droning, powerful and heavily charged. What was at first a huge mystery, Tomorrow’s Harvest is an amazing fourth album from Boards of Canada. Play: 4, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16 FCC: Clean […]
Surfer Blood – Pythons
There is something different about Surfer Blood’s newest album, Pythons. What kept Surfer Blood unique in their debut release, Astro Coast, is missing from Pythons. Their previous album was indie pop with a twinge of surf rock at it’s best; Pythons on the other hand, holds a lot of buzzing guitars and thundering drums, with […]
Toy Boat – 2013 Summer Demo
This album came to me through an ice cream sandwich eating contest – It was wrapped in a page from the Vermont Cynic and came with a homemade t-shirt. Consisting of three local dudes living in Burlington, Toy Boat is well known in the Friends+Family scene. Their summer demo CD is 4 short songs of […]
King Tuff – Was Dead
Hailing from Brattleboro, King Tuff (aka Kyle Thomas) released his debut album, Was Dead, in 2008. This album was so sought after that it quickly became out-of-print shortly after it’s release. Finally reissued by Burger Records this year, Was Dead is a power pop, rock n’ roll album that doesn’t fail to get you dancing. […]
Sam Amidon – Bright Sunny South
Beautiful folk-rock with a country twang and unexpected jazz themes. This album includes hymns and cover songs – Song number 8 is a Mariah Carey cover. Play: 4, 7 FCC: Clean RIYL: Nick Drake, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Alexi Murdoch
Savages – Silence Yourself
Debut album from savages. Loud, frustrated post-punk. Good album! FCC: 4 RIYL: Ice Age, No Joy, The Men
Deptford Goth – Life After Defo
Awesome electro-R&B with lush synth and relaxing vocals. FCC: Clean RIYL: James Blake, the XX, How to Dress Well
WRUV Reviews 