Talented multi-instrumentalist Alexander Turnquist will release his third full length solo album on VHF Records entitled Hallway of Mirrors on May 17, 2011. The released track, Spherical Aberrations , is an approach to guitar founded in mid-20th century avant-garde, bringing along a few other instruments from the classical world, and pushes the whole in the direction of simplicity, remaining unapologetically musical and getting over on chords, melody, and a little bit of texture. [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Alexander Turnquist - [...]
Good heartfelt and damaged singer-songwriter music is pretty hard to come by, unless you're Seattle's beautifully disturbed Fences (Christopher Mansfield). His self titled debut, recorded in March of 2009 with Sara Quinn of Tegan & Sara , is whisper-soft yet lush, with minimal production and warm acoustic instruments. Mansfield creates songs that are at once effortless and heartfelt, filled with venom, self-doubt, and love for the everyday people he meets in the street. Plus, not many people can pull off the 'hardcore fuck-shit-up crew' look and still come off endearing and sweet. More power to him though, [...]
Just when I was about to expect chillwave to come to a screeching halt, the new Washed Out comes out...and it's really good. Download the first track from Washed Out's upcoming debut LP Within and Without , out July 12 on Sub Pop here. [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Washed Out - Eyes Be Closed from Within or Without (2011)
San Francisco-based band Angel Island will be opening for Crystal Stilts and The Mantles this Saturday May 7th at the Rickshaw Stop. After already making a positive impression at Noise Pop Festival this year, the band will bring their out the catchy and heavily Lou Reed-influenced tracks from their recent EP to a willing local audience. Purchase tickets here . You can purchase their debut EP here . [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Angel Island - Harmony from Angel Island (2011)
With the Oakland duo stepping away from their adventurous remixes of local talent and subtle instrumental work, James and Evander (Adam Myatt and Glenn Jackson) have added vocals to the mix with their latest Constellating EP and the result is something more along the lines of Dntel and Baths. It's quite catchy and has a sweetness to it that I did not see coming from these guys. Altogether a well made EP from a pair of local dudes with some serious talent. You can catch James and Evander at the MILK Bar [...]
Something I just couldn't get on board with during SXSW was getting up early. I was staying in a room with six other people and every single morning I would wake up and everyone would be gone by 11AM. Screw that! I stayed up until fucking 3AM! I need some God damn energy for the next day or else I'm dragging ass for rest of the day. Especially in this Texas heat. So I woke up at the crack of noon and made my way to devour some Waffle Tacos. It exactly [...]
Known for bringing an emotional heft and sense of hope to a usually placid genre, San Francisco's The Union Trade have taken their monumental sound to new heights with this year's Why We Need Night EP. A moody but gorgeous EP infused with youthful sincerity, it is cinematic in scope with soothing soundscapes of atmospheric, ambient, and shimmering chimes interspersed with crashing interludes that are guided by the modest vocals from lead vocalist Nate Munger. This isn't average post rock that drags and bores the listener, this is tight and well thought out songs that burst [...]
HOLY CRAP! I am proud to announce that this Thursday, Snob Theater will be part of the prestigious Bridgetown Comedy Festival in glorious Portland, OR. The fest was rated "Best Comedy Festival" by Punchline Magazine last year and is featuring the likes of Margaret Cho, Andy Wood, Oscar Nunez from The Office, Kristen Schaal, Simon Helberg, Doug Benson, Hannibal Buress, and tons more comedians from all across the country. So to celebrate, we have put together a slamming line-up of our favorite comedians with two fantastic Portland bands. [...]
If the new Radiohead isn't jiving with you yet, you might want to give Jake Garrison's 8-bit version of In Rainbow s a spin. The novelty of it wears off after a bit but it's a fun listen if you want to imagine you're in a video game with a cool soundtrack. [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Jake Garrison - 15 Step (8 bit version) from In RainBit (2011) In addition, Radiohead [...]
Thousands 'On And On' from Bella Union on Vimeo .
Fleet Foxes - Grown Ocean from Fleet Foxes on Vimeo .
Most people know our thoughts on Outside Lands Music Festival over the years. We've had our fair share of griping and bitching about their terrible choices but just wind up going anyway and enjoying ourselves. Well it looks as thought Treasure Island Music Festival and Outside Lands have crashed into each other and created a pretty solid line-up of headliners and local love childs. Muse ( yeah I know, but who doesn't like laser shows? ), Black Keys, Arcade Fire, Girl Talk, [...]
Hosannas - Be Careful from Emile Rosewater on Vimeo .
Careless isn't the first thing you might expect from a new Birds & Batteries record. After all, the group have dominated San Francisco, with sold out shows and headlining the Bay's dirtiest rock clubs. But Panorama couldn't live up to its title more: It's expanded the bands' sound and is gleaming with pop sensibility and powerful execution. The songs move effortlessly from the epic grandeur of early harmonized folk pop to the foot tapping groove of Beach Boys loftiness but all with a very clear sense of self actualization. Birds & Batteries know how [...]
After waking up at a reasonable hour, I made my way into the fray that is SXSW during St. Patrick's Day. In fact it wasn't long before people started stumbling down the streets in WAY too early drunken stupors. It's still a mystery to me why grown adults can't pace themselves even on a day that requires you to drink pretty much all day long. Get it together people! In-Flight Safety Anyway, one of the best things about [...]
The Antler's Hospice was a serious piece of work that really resonated with me and many other people in a very emotional way. However, this time around it seems as though the band is done making people feel like a pile of utter sadness and more concerned with creating an album that grooves in a Jeff Buckley fashion. I am loving this new track and am really looking forward to what's next with these guys. You can pre-order Burst Apart (May 10) here . [Audio clip: view full post to [...]
First off the amazingly crafted new album from TV on the Radio , Nine Types of Light is available to stream on Rhapsody right here . You can also pre-order the album right here . Oh and make sure to check them out at The Independent (if tickets aren't already sold out.....which they probably are) on April 29th and 30th. [Audio clip: view full post to listen] TV on the Radio - Will Do (XXXChange Dancehall Mix) [...]
More RUMBLING is happening at the MILK Bar tonight with local Berkeley folk super-rockers Winter's Fall as well as some soothing atmospherics from VANAPRASTA and heavy bassed chillax tunes from Space Ghost . Free admission if you RSVP here . Milk Bar 1840 Haight Street San Francisco, CA 94117 _ [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Space Ghost - Drone from FSCK (2011) [...]
What happens when an ex-hardcore music fan decides to create his own musical project and release it to the masses? Usually it's a fucking disaster but in this case, Ireland's James Vincent McMorrow has squashed that assumption and crafted a record that is both vulnerable and intensly moving. Don't let the 'ex-hardcore music fan' thing scare you away either. McMorrow draws most of his influence from 60s style female vocalists like Dusty Springfield and early soul music like Donny Hathaway. However it's the heart-wrenching delivery of his smooth falsetto voice that disarms any listener into a pile of mush. [...]
kata rokkar...
Bison - Quill
Neutral Milk Hotel- Aeroplane Over the Sea
Shinichi Osawa – Big Beach Mix 2012
