Review by Ellen Eldridge The Extraordinary Contraptions, a band founded in 2007, appeared in my world as if by time machine at the Strange Daze festival in August 2009. Shortly after that—by less than a month—the band appeared at DragonCon where its steampunk vide melted into the surrounding framework. Recent appearances for The Extraordinary Contraptions […]
By Ellen Eldridge The chanted beginning of Matisyahu signals a fresh and inspiring take on rock-reggae. The significance of the album title, Spark Seeker, presents itself in the line, “These lies have got me tired; I’m free-falling, I’m done stalling,” that references the idea that music made inspires despite the music maker’s own struggle for […]
By Jamie Lamberski “Who is Milo Greene?” Well, the person Milo Greene doesn’t actually exist. But the 5-piece California-based band that is making major waves in the indie music scene does. Milo Greene is the fictitious manager that the band invented as a clever scheme to get heard. Instead of querying venues themselves, their manager […]
Review by Ellen Eldridge Generally speaking, I don’t choose to spend my time listening to others bitch about religious freedom or political injustice. I delete those friends on Facebook who spread horrible pictures of abused animals and children, not because I am insensitive but because that’s the last thing I need upsetting me during […]
Everest Ownerless ATO Records By Al Kaufman Success in the rock world is a crap shoot. For every Coldplay and Linkin Park that make it big, there are thousands of bands that have more talent but never make it. Is Everest a great rock band? No, but they’re just as good as any of these […]
Tab Benoit Legacy: The Best of Telarc By Al Kaufman Tab Benoit is old school. In the world of the blues he may still be considered a newcomer, but there is a reason he won the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year award at the 2012 Blues Music Awards. Benoit plays fat and juicy licks, […]
Review by Ellen Eldridge Just as the cover sticker label warns, Tenacious D’s Rize of the Fenix is most certainly not for children, nor religious people, but it is meant for people with a juvenile sense of humor. I’ll qualify my opinions by admitting that I fell in love with the D while watching […]
Langhorne Slim & the Law The Way We Move Ramseur Records By Al Kaufman “Lord, release my wild soul,” Langhorne Slim pleads on the acoustic ballad “Wild Soul.” It is safe to say that the Lord has answered his prayers. While his most recent home is Portland, Oregon, Slim and the band have […]
Review by Ellen Eldridge Neil Young brings more than the familiar rasp of his voice to the first release in nine years; Americana captures Young’s interpretations like a history lesson in folk music. He lays down the roots of Americana culture and represents a strong collection of songs written as long ago as the 1800s […]
Land of the Living Matthew Perryman Jones Cante Jondo Records By Ellen Eldridge Every once in a while the perfect storm of melody, emotion and timing collides with a listener in an unexpected way. Finding a new artist or a new album to truly fall in love with doesn’t happen every week, but something about […]
Simone Felice Simone Felice Team Love Records By Al Kaufman Simone Felice, drummer and singer the Catskill folkies Felice Brothers, and founder of the folk-soul outfit, The Duke and the King, branches out on his own in this warm, hushed solo debut. Felice possesses a sweet, haunting voice. He puts it to use right away […]
Royal Thunder CVI Relapse Records By Ellen Eldridge Atlanta locals Royal Thunder deserve the buzz that’s been building about them since the self-titled EP released in 2010. The four-piece confidently mixes everything loved by grunge and alternative fans in the ‘90s with a powerful progressive groove, colored by a bluesy soulful side. The lineup consists […]
The Bright Light Social Hour New Year’s Live self-release By Al Kaufman Austin, Texas has more than earned its reputation as The Live Music Capital of the World. So when a band takes an unprecedented six trophies from last year’s Austin Music Awards, they must be onto something. The fact is, Bright Light Social Hour […]
Beach House Bloom Subpop Records By Ellen Eldridge If ever a time to use the overused word ethereal, the latest Beach House release, Bloom, is that time. The overall sentiment starts with the line, “Drifting in and out” on “Myth,” and the backward catalog of song lyrics further shows an unbalance among elements of the […]
Carina Round Tigermending Dehisce Records By Ellen Eldridge Not only is Carina Round one of the sexiest women to accompany Puscifer but also she sings sweetly like a bird while hypnotizing like a siren. “Pick Up the Phone” opens the new release, Tigermending, with a blend of gritty guitars and a sullen, sad […]
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