Album Reviews
Album Review: Sunflower Bean – Twentytwo in Blue
Sunflower Bean come of age on their honest – and hopeful – second album ‘Twentytwo in Blue’. We all celebrate the passing of the years in different ways. Some of us have a party, some of us eat too much cake and some of us sob quietly into a glass of wine. Sunflower Bean made …
Album Review : Earthless’ ‘Black Heaven’
I think one of the worst things that can happen as a fan of a metal band is when that band softens their sound. There’s really nothing more disappointing than when your favorite metal band drop the rough edges and darker vibes for a slick production, bluesy riffs, and bloody ballads. Metallica comes to mind …
Say Psych: Album Review: Anthroprophh – OMEGAVILLE
In their 20-year history, Rocket Recordings have orbited between twin planets; Fuzz and Wah and fewer guitarists have pioneered this more than Paul Allen, who not only appeared on the very first Rocket 7” with The Heads, but who as the front of Anthroprophh leads the forefront of exploration into the garage rock, filth laden …
Say Psych: Album Review: Dead Meadow – The Nothing They Need
Dead Meadow are back with their newest offering, The Nothing They Need, to be released on Xemu Records on 30th March. With the release of The Nothing They Need, Dead Meadow’s Steve Kille and Jason Simon celebrate twenty years of the band with eight songs that feature everyone that has been musically involved with the band …
Album Review : Preoccupations’ ‘New Material’
I’ve been known to feel a bit down from time to time. I can be a bit hard on myself when I feel I’m not doing enough or trying hard enough in this crazy thing called life. But I don’t think I’ve ever been clinically depressed. I carry my share of anxiety and self-imposed guilt, …
Album Review: Hot Snakes – Jericho Sirens
The last four months has seen a renaissance of post-hardcore comebacks. Earlier in the year, seminal outfit Glassjaw released an incredibly abrasive new album which led to a revisit to elder statesmen within the scene. Hot Snakes, comprising of member of Drive Like Jehu, have become the latest group of formative musicians to grace our …
Album Review: Stina Stjern – Kap Herschell
Norwegian artist, Stina Stjern, has just released a gorgeous album entitled ‘Kap Herschell’ that is an enigmatic, haunting masterpiece that seems to capture the Arctic chill of the north while offering a warm enveloping refuge. The album was mixed using unusual recording techniques where the tracks were taken apart, played through old cassette tapes and …
Album Review : Yo La Tengo’s ‘There’s a Riot Going On’
I got into Yo La Tengo pretty late. Like my first record experience with them was 2009s Popular Songs. I don’t know what took me so long to jump into the Ira Kaplan, Georgia Hubley, and James McNew world, but as soon as the the nearly 16-minute album closer “And the Glitter Is Gone” ended …
Album Review: Black Foxxes – Reiði
Exeter rockers Black Foxxes are back, releasing their second album on Friday 16th March titled ‘’Reiði” (Icelandic for rage). After the success of their previous album “I’m Not Well” the band took a short break, frontman Mark Holley wanted some time to reflect, take a step back and set himself some new challenges. He left …
Album Review: The Hanging Stars – Songs for somewhere else
Since their first album London’s The Hanging Stars have changed band members and opened their eyes a little beyond the charming indie/americana of their first full length. For their second full length – Songs for Somewhere Else, Recorded in Bark Studios, Walthamstow – hardly Laurel Canyon I grant you, but it can get sunny there …