Music Reviews of Modern Rock, Folk, Pop
Band Spotlight
Chiodos
Perhaps no one can explain the sheer ferocity and timid quietness it is better than when vocalist Craig Owens says “we don’t want to let the kids down” when discussing the group’s intense vocals live at shows. Well they never let a single kid down with their vicious assault on the ears and grip on the jugular...
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Skinny Puppy - Mythmaker
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03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Modern Rock, Folk, Alternative, Pop
The Foxglove Hunt — Stop Heartbeat Buy it at Amazon
Fine China’s Rob Withem and Joy Electric’s Ronnie Martin collaborated as The Foxglove Hunt and assembled some simply stunning songs on “Stop Heartbeat”. Culling from influences from the ’80’s New Wave movement and electro-pop outfits, namely the Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Tears for Fears, and Joy Division, The Foxglove Hunt manages to produce danceable tracks that could easily have been on any pre-“Home Alone” John Hughes soundtrack. I must admit that each time I listen to the opening track “A Concealed Weapon” I’m completely fooled as to when it was recorded. Not many other retro-sounding bands do this much better.
- J-Sin
The Boy Bathing — A Fire to Make Preparations Buy it at Amazon
With a moniker that a Catholic priest would covet, The Boy Bathing focuses on lush arrangements, strong songwriting, and smart lyricism. The group has played with several well-known artists such as Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins), Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr.), Kevin Devine, Vampire Weekend, Caitlin Cary (Whiskeytown), and Honorary Title among others. Using instruments as varied as the mandolin, banjo, saxophone, accordion, and multiple vocal harmonies, The Boy Bathing creates a very fashionable indie pop album that’s worth a repeat listen or twenty.
- J-Sin
Shelley Short — Water for the Day Buy it at Amazon
Short’s third album, “Water for the Day” seems to be a self-referential diary of sorts, pouring out her emotions into a tight container of intimacy and passion. Her subtle vocals rear back and yelp with coffeehouse clarity and a wisdom beyond her years. Accompanied by a strong troupe of musicians, including drummer Rachel Blumberg (Decemberists, M. Ward, Bright Eyes), Gary James on bass, guitarist Alexis Gideon, and Tiffany Kowalski (Bright Eyes) playing the violin, Shelley Short masks her storytelling in fantastic indie pop ballads. Lovely rustic folk pop tunes that are precise and original.
- J-Sin
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His Name is Alive — Firefly Dragonfly Buy it at Amazon
Recorded in their living room in Michigan, His Name is Alive’s stunning “Firefly Dragonfly” is an elegant and sparse manifest of folk and indie pop. Starting things off with a truly amazing cover of Sufjan Steven’s “The Dress Looks Nice on You”, “Firefly Dragonfly” simply rears its head back and dazzles with heartfelt emotional vocal takes and simple yet intriguing arrangements. Andy FM has a way about the microphone and when he combines his subtle crooning with Jessica Bailiff’s beautiful mezzo-soprano delivery it is sheer magic. This is a great EP released exclusively through one of my favorite indie labels, Acuarela Discos based in Madrid Spain.
- J-Sin
LD & the New Criticism — Amoral Certitudes Buy it at Amazon
Folk pop meets orchestral pop head on as if some bastard wanted to recreate the Polyphonic Spree. Very amusing and delectable short pop tunes that rehearse the middle years of the ‘60s complete with psychedelic glaze and plenty of maracas, tambourines, finger cymbals, and mandolin. It’s certainly not a bad album for what it is, it’s just that sometimes charming folk pop can be a bit overzealous.
- J-Sin
Sad Sailor — Link to the Outside World Buy it at Amazon
Three tracks by this Omaha based group that whirl in pandemonium and reckless abandon. “Link to the Outside World” may sound chaotic and improvisational but there’s a beauty to it, an urgent beauty that if you don’t cling onto right away it might puff away like smoke. Really pretty cello work I might add.
- J-Sin
Boy Omega — Hope on the Horizon Buy it at Amazon
Take yourself half of Conor Oberst and a half of Elliott Smith and you have yourself Swedish musical maverick Martin Henrik Gustafsson. Orchestrated pop sprinkled with careful nuance and indie lo-fi musical nomenclature, “Hope on the Horizon” is an album about life and everything that is both small and important all at once. Tons of stringed instruments, jangling piano, horns, and clever songwriting are all spun up together to form this beautifully bittersweet harmonious opus. Genius.
- J-Sin
The Central Standards — The Central Standards' Folly Buy it at Amazon
Raised on Memphis music, The Central Standards dapple in the pop rock genre with tender hooks and catchy riffs. The album is rich in detail and texture though some songs can be completely stripped down and almost raw sounding. Add in some blues with fantastic brass instruments and you’ve got yourself a colorful and sugary third record from a quirky quartet of smart songwriters.
- J-Sin
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