Alright, so playing catchup here because I ACTUALLY WROTE A FULL REVIEW and then didn't put it up here. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney are the hard-working rockers that could. With a modest beginning ten years ago and a steady rise to both critical acclaim and, eventually, mainstream popularity (not to mention Grammy awards), you could almost consider the Black Keys the musical manifestation of the American dream. Their determination and consistency make them [...]
Formed by roommates ultramark (yes, ultramark) and Ryan McCarthy in Chicago in 2009 and later expanding to a four-person roster for touring purposes, Stepdad is an enormously fun electro-pop band that has released one of the best and most infectious EPs I've heard this year. The band's debut, Ordinaire , was first released in 2010, but this remastered and expanded version (stretched to the LP-appropriate length of 40 minutes) seems to be making the rounds more quickly - and I'm certainly glad it found its way to me. The EP begins with the thunderous, brooding "Jungles," but [...]
Thus far, local music hasn't been much of a focus on Chewing Gum for the Ears, but when I find something special so close to home, I'm not exactly one to keep it to myself. The No-Nation Orchestra, led by multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Stephen Chai, is one group in the SLC area reminding me of the talent and creativity abundant here if you're simply willing to look around a bit. Chai has been involved in a handful of bands over the past few years, but none [...]
Great news today! One of my favorite songwriters, Will Stratton, has a new song available for download. Check out this Brooklyn Based post featuring the lovely new tune, "When You Let Your Hair Down to Your Shoulders," along with a brief interview with the man himself. If you'd like to read some of my ravings on Stratton's latest full-length, you can find that here.
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U.S. Royalty - Up-and-coming quartet U.S. Royalty (hailing, appropriately, from Washington D.C.) have been making some waves this year with their debut album, Mirrors . Combining classic rock 'n' roll elements with bits of folk and indie rock, frontman John Thornley and company have released a solid first effort with songs ranging from Local Natives-esque anthems ("Equestrian") to fiery blues stomps ("Hollywood Hollows") to beautifully melodic ballads ("Old Flames"). Personally, I think the band is at their best when they hold to the more classic elements of their sound, but Mirrors proves [...]
With a softly soulful voice and penchant for heartbroken lyrics, James Vincent McMorrow makes the Bon Iver/Justin Vernon comparisons all too easy. Even the way in which the two artists recorded their debuts is similar, in isolated houses with almost no outside assistance. But McMorrow's first effort, Early in the Morning , carves out a distinct niche for the Irish songwriter, one a little more pop friendly than Vernon's but just as emotionally powerful and beautifully eerie. McMorrow's disarming vocals will certainly draw the most attention, but his songwriting and musicianship are remarkable as well, making Early in [...]
I had pretty much lost track of Cake after their 2001 album, Comfort Eagle . I didn't even hear 2004's Pressure Chief until at least a year (maybe two) afterward, and by that time I guess I just wasn't especially interested in the band anymore. So I can't quite explain my excitement at hearing news about Showroom of Compassion , Cake's sixth album and first in seven years. Maybe I just figured Cake had good reason to return to music after such a lengthy hiatus, or perhaps I was feeling nostalgic. Mostly I was just curious [...]
I first heard Way Yes a couple months ago when I stumbled upon their excellent debut EP , Herringbone . Now, five months after that intriguing introduction, they've unveiled perhaps an even better EP entitled Walkability that has made me realize it's high time I get the word out about these guys. Way Yes is comprised of Ohioans Glenn Davis and Travis Hall, a talented duo who combine nimble afropop guitars, subtle electronica, and smooth vocals into a sound that could be described as a blend of indie favorites Animal Collective and Vampire Weekend. But that's [...]
It's definitely time to unveil my picks for the best albums of the year. I'm just doing 25 this year (though really I think I could have done 100 if I had all the time in the world) and I'm not going to bother writing a blurb about each or finding all the artwork, mostly because I'm lazy. If you want to read more about my top 10 picks, you can find a beautifully arranged article I wrote over at In Review Online. Also, you would do well to visit InRO for top 10 features from Sam Mac [...]
Alright! I'm back finally back with some new stuff! And I promise I'm going to try and be better about updating this blog next year. But let's get to some best of the year stuff first. I attended between 20 and 25 concerts this past year, so I obviously can't claim this to be a comprehensive list of the best live acts of 2010, but the following bands really blew me away. Think of this as recommendations for bands to catch in concert next year, or something like that. So, in no particular order, [...]
Stephen McBean has never seemed particularly interested in keeping his two bands as entirely separate entities. Black Mountain and Pink Mountaintops have more in common than just their similar titles; McBean enlists many of the same musicians to play for both projects and it can be difficult to tell at times where he draws the dividing line between the two band's. But while McBean doesn't often vary from the basic ingredients, any direct comparison of the previous efforts by each project reveals fundamental differences in trajectory, with Black Mountain's In the Future working through various forms of guitar-heavy [...]
My first review for The Deseret News. Read the full story here. Provo alt-rock quartet Neon Trees has steadily built a reputation as an exhilarating live act, and the band delivered Tuesday at Salt Lake Community College. Supporting the Rock the Vote campaign, which encourages political activity among young adults, Neon Trees gave a flashy, energetic performance showcasing the high-octane style that has the group in steady rotation on radio stations across the country. Continue Reading
Kilby Court Salt Lake City, UT October 7, 2010 Headliners Jukebox the Ghost were--appropriately--the highlight of the night, but both Hooray for Earth and AB & The Sea added to a thoroughly enjoyable fall evening in Salt Lake City. San Fransisco's A B & The Sea opened to a tiny crowd, but made the most of it with a high-energy performance that ended up being a great introduction for most of the audience. The band's jangly retro-rock sound (think Dr. [...]
Patience is a virtue, sure, but one that tends to slow things down and occasionally even seems completely unnecessary. Will Stratton's third album, New Vanguard Blues , serves as a reminder that impatience can be just as valuable a trait. After offering one of my favorite records of 2009—the consistently stunning No Wonder — Stratton apparently didn't want to bother taking the traditional route in releasing his third full-length. Recorded and mixed by the songwriter himself over the weekend of July 9th, the album was made available online only a couple weeks later, an unusual but certainly welcome [...]
The Thermals have always been more interesting than the majority of their pop-punk peers, mostly because they have so much to say about so many topics. Where their previous effort, 2009'sNow We Can See, focused on the purpose of life through the lens of death, and the two before that—2006's The Body, The Blood, The Machine and 2004's F****n A —were scathing rebukes of conservative American politics, the band's latest turns inward, as its title might suggest, and takes a look at the complexity of relationships. "I'm gonna change your life/I'm gonna steal your soul" insists Hutch [...]
Artist: Twin Shadow Latest Release: Forget Genre: Electronic/Pop/Dance George Lewis Jr. is the lone man behind Twin Shadow , a retro pop project that's been turning some heads this year, and for good reason. Blending 80s synths with a generous dose of electro funk, Lewis' debut LP, Forget , is a stunning set of smoldering, low-key dance songs that are, well, unforgettable. Featuring production by Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor, Forget definitely favors mind-altering arrangements and unusual electronic soundscapes to straightforward club [...]
Artist: In Grenada Latest Release: Break Genre: Pop/Rock/Indie Their latest press release states In Grenada was "born from the ashes of Philadelphia's premier ukulele indie-rock band, Movable Type." I'm assuming here that most everyone who reads this doesn't follow the ukulele rock band scene all that closely, so In Grenada's debut album will likely be your introduction to the songwriting of multi-instrumentalist Jesse Leyh, who makes a great impression with his new band on their first effort, Break . The record channels the tightly [...]
Artist: The Migrant Latest Release: Travels in Lowland Genre: Indie/Folk/Pop It's rare for me to stumble upon Danish artists in my constant search for great indie music, but it seems every time I do it's a fantastic experience. The latest Denmark native to catch my ear is singer/songwriter Bjarke Bendtsen, recording and performing as The Migrant, which is a somehow fitting moniker for the eclectic mix of styles and influences he incorporates into his unique folk sound. Favoring an acoustic guitar but throwing in everything [...]
Artist: Jump Back Jake Latest Release: Call Me Your Man EP Genre: Rock/Blues Jump Back Jake was introduced to me as the side project of Jake Rabinbach, lead guitarist for Francis and the Lights , a group which may be familiar to you but didn't ring a bell with me (I've since given them a listen, however). Fortunately, Jump Back Jake's classic-style rock 'n' roll should get by just fine on its own merits as their debut EP, Call Me Your Man, [...]
Chewing gum for the ears
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