LCD Soundsystem’s “Losing My Edge”: An Unsparing Dance-Punk Character Study
The New York indie rock scene of the 2000s has already faded into legend; as ever with music, “fading into legend” means that someone wrote a book about it (Lizzy Goodman’s already-seminal Meet Me in the Bathroom) and most of the bands involved tour the hipster nostalgia circuit now (or Bernie Sanders rallies in the […]
“Chills” by AEO – A True Taste of Alternative R&B
The toms in this track deserve recognition before I get into the review. Stunning! “Chills” by Aeo is a very aesthetic, warm yet subtle song wrapped in a memory. There is a lot going into this track instrumental wise–I hear toms, claps, synth, hats and the works. It’s layered. I think the single art is […]
“Land of No Junction” by Aoife Nessa Frances
The trickiest part of reviewing music is deciding how much of yourself you want to put into a given piece. It does no one any good to write from a cold, objective point of view, because music is not a cold, objective medium; emotional responses are part of the equation for any good listener, […]
Feel narou’s Deep Pain in “You Are Gone”
If you were to make a list of the most influential artists of the past decade–not necessarily the most successful, but the ones who pointed the way forward–James Blake would likely be one of the first names you’d put down. At the start of the decade, he attracted notice as a triple threat: not only […]
“What A Time To Be Alive” by Color Collage
Color Collage couldn’t think of a better time to release this upbeat track, “What a Time to Be Alive”. Winter may be one of my more fonder seasons, but there’s nothing like spring. You pull the sheet off. You dust off the skateboard. It’s nice to get drunk and fall onto asphalt every once in […]
“Don’t Give Up” by Foreign Fields, A Warm Lo-fi Buzz
I’m pretty sure that’s a tape deck at the beginning of “Don’t Give Up” by Foreign Fields, so my lofi-centric brain was buzzing from the get-go. And then–and then!- they bring in that soft guitar. If anyone knows how to get an underground softie hook, that’s how you do it. I think the vibes of […]
Howlin’ Circus “Run the Wrong Way” is a Heart-Throbbing Ride
Is it taboo to want to compare indie artists with more mainstream ones? Howlin’ Circus reminds me of the lovechild between Neon Trees and Arctic Monkeys–at least, from my impression of “Run the Wrong Way”. The airy, raspy vocals pair nicely with their music video, taking us on the journey into the grunge of a […]
Chatting with Travis Rue of The Satellite Station about “Brand New”
The first thing that I think is important to mention about The Satellite Station’s new single “Brand New” is just how appropriate the cover art for the song is. The soft guitars and even softer piano work amazingly well with the images of time-lapsed night skies and watching the moon slip below the horizon. […]
Borrowed Sparks Releases New Single – “Are You Listening”
This may or may not surprise you, but I was what I call a “Hot Topic” kid growing up. If there was a band featured in Hot Topic, I probably listened to them. I never dressed the part, but I always loved punk and rock music. Borrowed Sparks’ “Are You Listening” takes me right back […]
Let’s Talk About Castle Finn’s Fresh Start to Indie Stardom
Shine for Me by Castle Finn What makes a good driving song? There are entire playlists and CD mixtapes dedicated to catering the perfect experience as you wind your way through the sea cliffs on the coast or cruise for hours on the highways spanning the Midwest United States – or even just driving to […]
