REVIEW: SURGEONS IN HEAT – DISASTER (2015)
It is quite serendipitous that Milwaukee/Madison musician John Mayer has the name John Mayer. In his band Surgeons in Heat he has a strong ability to write catchy and smooth pop songs (check out “Better On Your Own” from Surgeons in Heat for a prime example). Mayer also lends
REVIEW: HELLO DEATH – REMNANTS (2015)
“Sometimes all it takes to truly be great is that it’s not so bad as the last time that you tried.” Whether in an attempt to reassure themselves or downplay the record to come, Hello Death begins their sophomore release with what could almost have been written as an ode to follow-up a
REVIEW: MIKAL CRONIN – MCIII (2015)
For those of you who don’t know Mikal Cronin, you best educate yourself. With two incredible albums already under his belt (aptly MCI and MC II), it’s fair to say he knows what he’s doing by now. Having played in Ty Segall’s live band as a bassist, he’s certainly
REVIEW: GROUP OF THE ALTOS – R U PERSON OR NOT (2015)
Sometimes it is impossible not to be derivative in music. The Group of Altos, structurally and sonically, seems largely influenced by Canadian post-rock ensembles Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Do Make Say Think (all part of the terrific Constellation Records) with their large personnel, use of roa
REVIEW: RIVER CITY EXTENSION – DELIVERANCE (2015)
River City Extension knows how to win an unfamiliar crowd over. I’ve seen it. It was in August 2012. New Jersey’s River City Extension was touring as openers for enchanting Portland rockers Blind Pilot. I was covering the Milwaukee concert for Mezzic, primarily to review headliner Blin
CONCERT REVIEW: GGOOLLDD AT TONIC TAVERN (MILWAUKEE, WI)
GGOOLLDD (Milwaukee, WI) and Eagle Trace (Milwaukee, WI)March 4th, 2015Tonic Tavern in Milwaukee, WI If someone asked me who the hottest band in Milwaukee was right now, I would, without much hesitation, say GGOOLLDD. My decisiveness on the matter mostly came about in the la
MAX’S TOP ALBUMS OF 2014
What a year 2014 has been! In fact, I can’t remember a recent year that has brought us as much fantastic music as we have gotten in 2014. While I was disappointed by the lack of a new Wilco album, it seems as if every single Wilco side project had a release this year. I
LUCAS’ TOP ALBUMS OF 2014
10. Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett – Cheek To Cheek I swear this album was supposed to come out on New Years of 2014. I’ve always been a sucker for jazz music and the combination of Lady Gaga and jazz is too good. I wish Lady Gaga would make a solo jazz album or something stripped dow
BRANDON’S TOP ALBUMS OF 2014
10. St. Vincent – St. Vincent Drawing from her work with David Byrne, Annie Clark combines social analysis with complex and almost alien sounding music. 9. The War on Drugs – Lost In The Dream While the band has kept the model of classic rock injected with con