REVIEW: BORN RUFFIANS – BIRTHMARKS (2013)
Birthmarks is a curious title for Born Ruffians’ third LP. What is a birthmark– an inconsistency, a blemish in the skin that forms at or around birth and doesn’t go away, stays with that person for life. They are generally harmless; in different cultures there are a number of myths a
REVIEW: COLD WAR KIDS – DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS (2013)
There is so much more to the Cold War Kids than what they’ve gotten credit for. I’ll never forget the Long Beach-based band’s performance at Lollapalooza in 2007. At that time, their debut album, Robbers & Cowards, had managed to spark a buzz frenzy with the indie
Review: Solvents – Ghetto Moon (2013)
“Are You Gonna Wait For Love To Leave?” is the second track on Solvents’ latest album, Ghetto Moon, and it’s by no means a song you come across every day. In fact, if you did hear it today or tomorrow or next week, it may very well stop you in your place for a minute or two, [&hell
REVIEW: BOBBY LONG – WISHBONE (2013)
I was discussing Bobby Long with my brother last week when he suddenly recalled that he, in fact, went to high school with a Bobby Long. A Bobby Long who not only played guitar but was good at playing guitar. It was enough for us to investigate the coincidence; our fascination, h
CONCERT REVIEW: TAME IMPALA AT TURNER HALL (MILWAUKEE, WI)
Tame Impala (Perth, Australia), The Growl (Fremantle, Western Australia)March 3rd, 2013Turner Hall in Milwaukee, WI Of all the 2012 albums that frequented year-end lists, few were praised as highly and as often as Tame Impala’s Lonerism. The Australian band’s follow
REVIEW: DAY JOY – GO TO SLEEP, MESS (2013)
Day Joy initially began as a project between Peter Perceval and Michael Serrin. The two friends met in college and casually began arranging and writing songs on rooftops and porches, taking advantage of those warm Orlando, Florida nights. Over the years, those drinking and jamming sessions bega
Review: The Spinto Band – Cool Cocoon (2013)
Not even a year after their last full-length release, Shy Pursuit, The Spinto Band are right back at it with Cool Cocoon. The quick turnaround isn’t too much of a surprise for the indie rock ensemble as they often recorded self-releases at will back in the band’s early d
REVIEW: FRIGHTENED RABBIT – PEDESTRIAN VERSE (2013)
With songs entitled “Backyard Skulls,” “Late March, Death March,” and “Dead Now,” it seems evident that Frightened Rabbit still have some stark gloom left to share on their now fourth studio album, Pedestrian Verse. On their previous releases, including 2008’s breakout,&
REVIEW: BEING THERE – BREAKING AWAY (2013)
Everyone has those records that have the ability to transport them to certain moments in their lives when played. I call these records channel records. Breaking Away, the US debut album from London-based band Being There is a definite channel record. Breaking Away is 11 tracks