REVIEW: SIMS – BAD TIME ZOO (2011)
The Twin Cities’ Sims is one of the many talents behind the Doomtreecollective which, in 2010, really branched into something more than just a hip-hop group. Producers Paper Tiger and Lazerbeak took that family tree and sprouted solo efforts Made Like Us&nbs
Review: Strand of Oaks – Pope Killdragon (2010)
One of my very favorite songs of 2010 was “Oh, What A Time!” by Pearly Gate Music, a band I reviewed for Mezzic a couple months back. The reason I was so taken with “Oh, What A Time!” was because of how completely unexpected it was. Swimming in a sea of sincere folk, “Oh, Wh
Review: Jack Hayter – Sucky Tart (2011)
Old Man Winter is relentless in returning every year, bringing with him frigid temperatures, frozen lakes and gray, leaf-less trees. The first creaking and sawing harmonica of “I Stole the Cutty Sark” sounds like a reluctant, untrained orchestra warming up, contrary to the vintage confidence exu
REVIEW: IMADETHISMISTAKE – BOW AND QUIVER (2010)
Admittedly I gave Bow and Quiver an initial glancing listen, zoning out to Kylewilliam Campol’s unorthodox spoken-world presentation over jazzy sax by Jon Pagano. The recording is rough, the kind you’d find not in bedroom recordings, but in underground recording studios with walls bran
Review: The Felix Culpa – Sever Your Roots (2010)
Back in 2002, you knew this group knew how to make music. It’s not picking up a guitar, writing a song, and performing. They could move venues-which was easy back then when it was VFWs and roller rinks. Then others noticed to the point they were called out to California and, honestly it would be [
Concert Review: ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’ at Schubas Tavern with Jeremy Messersmith, Sam Amidon and Marketa Irglova
Marketa Irglova (New York City), Sam Amidon (New York City/Vermont), Jeremy Messersmith(Minneapolis), and Bone and Bell (Chicago)January 13th, 2011Schubas Tavern in Chicago, Illinois Chicagoans know that in January there is a warm hope amid the bitter cold. That warm ho
Review: Sundowner – We Chase the Waves (2010)
Chris McCaughan is the mainstay that has connected the masts of Chicago punk since before 1996. Emerging in Tricky Dick and post-Slapstick The Broadways, Chris found his songwriting stride with The Lawrence Arms. Always encapsulating Chicago winters and hardships with an urban optimis
Review: Y La Bamba – Lupon (2010)
Lightning struck twice this year. Once during “My Darkness“, and the latter soon thereafter in watching easily the most beautifully orchestrated video of the year. Y La Bamba came coincidentally at the same time Nick Jaina performed in a small housing cooperative in Madison, however the form