![[review] Ty Segall & White Fence // Hair](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4344262_lg.jpg)
I've had this album for what seems like an eternity. It's been out for a month now, but has remained on fairly heavy rotation on my iTunes since before it came out. The collaboration is so seamless that it is hard to tell where Ty Segall ends and White Fence (Tim Presley) begins. Presley's favored production values take precedence over Segall's usually cleaner mix, but that doesn't mean that he sounds out of his element here; in fact, it's much to the contrary. Placing Segall into White Fence's scratchy world of distortion and reverb laden guitars and vocals only helps [...]
![[appreciation] The Bug Jar](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4343754_lg.jpg)
In light of the recent turmoil the Bug Jar finds itself in, I thought it might be an appropriate time for an appreciation. This will not deal with or pass judgement on the current events associated with it's situation, and only stands to document my experiences and admiration for the venue. The Bug Jar's tagline is "Your bar on earth." It might seem a little bit of a pompous statement, especially for a tiny dive on a dingy corner in the, some might say, dwindling city of Rochester. But to the people that go there, it is theirs. [...]
![[mp3] Introducing // Cruiser](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4341829_lg.jpg)
When summer starts rolling in, I instantaneously think of two things: beer gardens, and making new playlists. Conveniently, they can be enjoyed together, and enhance one another's enjoyment. But I digress. Leading my summer-inspired musical discoveries is Philly native Andy States' effort, Cruiser. In what’s becoming almost the norm these days, States' early demos were recorded in his apartment, and ended up in the hands of producer Jeremy Park (Youth Lagoon), and then on to Joe Laporta (Beach House, Bear in Heaven, White Denim) for mastering. The result is a truly solid, perfectly balanced, feel-good EP, jam-packed with [...]
![[review] Kurt Andrew // Souvenirs EP](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4341216_lg.jpg)
I’ve had KURT ANDREW’s latest EP (and yes, that's how he styles his name in print) – a quick, four-song jaunt entitled Souvenirs – spinning through my computer’s speakers over the course of the past week, and I’m still not quite sure how I feel about it. On one hand, I love the music, but on the other, I’m distracted by ANDREW’s vocals. He’s got a unique approach to his singing, a kind of maudlin tone and spoken word delivery. It’s not bad at all; it’s just not what I expect to hear paired with the folktronic atmosphere [...]
![[album review] The Tallest Man on Earth // There’s No Leaving Now](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4339169_lg.jpg)
On the spectrum of folk music, your extremes exist in the form of social commentary on one end, such as that of Bob Dylan, and the existential, ethereal dreamscapes of artists such as Sam Beam on the other end. Somewhere in the middle of that spectrum falls Kristian Matsson, the Swedish folk artist who is better known as The Tallest Man on Earth. With the release of his third LP, There's No Leaving Now , Matsson has begun to earn the admiration of the music world beyond the bloggers, having been highlighted by mainstream outlets such as NPR . [...]
![[mp3] Frank Ocean // Pyramids](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4338526_lg.jpg)
One of my favorite Twitter memories involves Frank Ocean. (#humblebrag starts now.) The resident Odd Future crooner and I exchanged a few tweets. I could sense that he was a good person (and I know that's a childish insight, but it is how I felt at the time). Of all the things we could possibly talk/tweet about, we connected over a shared love of Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese. (It's an Oregon delicacy and one of the things I truly miss about living in that part of the country.) Ocean even re-tweeted me at one point. This happened before he truly [...]
![[mp3] Introducing // Pure Bathing Culture](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4336375_lg.jpg)
During our hiatus I listened to an inordinate amount of vinyl. Finding myself less concerned with cataloguing my listening habits, I just listened to what I was feeling in each particular moment. In the past my concerns focused more clearly on impressive last.fm counts, so digital consumption was preferable. Without that at least partially in mind, I was able to explore my less than impressive vinyl wares for albums I'd not given recent attention to. I also attempted to add to those wares during our time off, something I'm liable to do in any event. One piece of [...]
![[mp3] Release The Sunbird // I Will Walk](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4335820_lg.jpg)
Rogue Wave may not be the coolest band to grace the planet, at least based on their last couple of albums, but their sophomore release, Descended Like Vultures , was one of my favorites back in the middle part of the 20002s. There's something comforting about Zach Rogue's curious tenor, and despite the band's journey to the adult alternative charts, Descended Like Vultures continues to be a favorite of mine. (There was something about that time in my life where I gravitated toward those bands without any particular snap to them. Youth Group's Skeleton Jar was another [...]
Tweet vaso link Were it not for a multitude of varied reasons, I might still be subscribed to SiriusXM radio. In the intervening months and weeks since the initial three month trial I received upon purchasing the car equipped for the service, I've had more free trials to sample the wares, and when it's available I'm certainly liable to listen. Specifically I'll listen to the station XMU, especially the weekday afternoon blog radio shows from top music bloggers (and Carles). Since it has been some time [...]
![[review] Paul Weller // Sonik Kicks](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4331589_lg.jpg)
Tweet vaso link Paul Weller’s not new to the game, and his post-Jam solo career has enjoyed some lofty heights. Going solo can be a killer for many a bandleader, but after leading two bands through 10.5 albums and 11 individual solo works, it’s safe to say that the Modfather hasn’t lost his step. His only misstep is never being able to establish himself in the States, but that probably has as much to do with luck as anything else. [...]
![[stream] Introducing // Advance Base](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4329577_lg.jpg)
Tweet vaso link There is something to be said for simple, straightforward songwriting, especially amidst the current downpour of multi-million-layered 802s-inspired bands. Without question, this old-come-new genre has produced, and continues to produce, some incredible bands, but the humble, simplistic approach to writing music seems to be somewhat of a lost art form. Advance Base, the moniker for Owen Ashworth’s new solo project, seems to have rediscovered just how great simple music can be, while putting his own melancholic, sense-of-isolation [...]
![[album review] Hank & Cupcakes // Naked](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4328946_lg.jpg)
Tweet vaso link Guitar and drum duos are quite the rage these days. The Black Keys could be considered the biggest rock band in the U.S., and the Japandroids just tattooed themselves in my brain for the rest of 2012 with their outstanding, anthemic, Celebration Rock . With all of the guitar strummin’, riff picking, drum thundering music, where's the love for the bass? That's where Hank & Cupcakes come in. The lovebirds out of Tel Aviv (now [...]
![[opinion] The Entitlement of Music Bloggers](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4328229_lg.jpg)
Tweet vaso link There was an interesting exchange on Twitter the other day between a music blogger and a concert promoter. Both entities operate in the same city, and the problems started (apparently) when the blogger asked for a guest list spot for a certain show that the promoter was bringing. Since we’re not privy to the email exchange itself, let’s just say that its contentious aftermath spilled over into the Twitter/Facebook realm, with the promoter asking incredulously [...]
![[review] Crocodiles // Endless Flowers](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4328230_lg.jpg)
Tweet vaso link Crocodiles did things the opposite way. In moving from San Diego to Brooklyn, the band has found a more upbeat, sunny sound. Their third album, Endless Flowers , (released this past Tuesday, June 5), is light years removed from their 2009 debut, Summer of Hate . That difference isn’t just noticeable in the name of the albums, but in the sound the band has cultivated. Summer of Hate was a primitive experience, filled [...]
![[stream] Liars // WIXIW](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4328231_lg.jpg)
Tweet vaso link HI! Welcome back! (Cool...that first day of school, excited bullshit is out of my system.) (And now back to our regularly scheduled program...) (Here is a non-review review.) How do you define something that doesn't follow a pattern, typically defies expectations, and zigs just when you are expecting it to zag? That's the key question that pops into my head when I think about Liars, the Brooklyn/Berlin/Los [...]
![[mp3] Delicate Steve // Two Lovers](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4328232_lg.jpg)
Tweet vaso link When I saw Delicate Steve open a show for Rubblebucket in Syracuse early last month I would have described them as anything but delicate. They played mostly raucous and downright raunchy instrumental rock, led by Steve Marion's soaring, blow-you-away guitar licks. But "Two Lovers," the track they released from their new album, Positive Force - out July 10 on David Byrne's Luaka Bop Records - pretty much defies all of my initial impressions. It actually is quite delicate. There [...]
![[review] Japandroids // Celebration Rock](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4328233_lg.jpg)
Tweet vaso link When a band sort of falls off the radar for a little bit it's natural to feel worried. In today's musical climate a band only stays relevant for as long as they can pump out song after song and album after album. It's even more worrisome when a band like Japandroids - a band that was so exciting, energetic, and original, and with such a talent for writing catchy, shout-along choruses - seems to be puttering to [...]
![[review] Father John Misty // Fear Fun](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4328234_lg.jpg)
Tweet vaso link J. Tillman, he of Fleet Foxes drumming fame (and of his own solo fame before that) has had a spiritual awakening, shedding both his former band and moniker, and re-christening himself Father John Misty. His gospel is delivered through his debut album, Fear Fun , which was released at the beginning of May through Sub Pop. What a glorious gospel it is. Father John Misty’s good news doesn’t require its followers to undergo a [...]
Tweet vaso link The past two months away from the blog have been quite refreshing, yet, Andy and I both missed doing this when we hadn't expected we would. I suppose I anticipated someday returning, and there was a definite reason I never said never. We're taking measures to avoid rehashing what caused us to step away from things in the first place, so operations won't be exactly in sync with what they have been in the past; that is for our sanity. And no more [...]
Tweet vaso link And with this post, tympanogram will be going (relatively) dark. We don't want to go all Hipster Runoff and say we're quitting and then come back the next Monday like nothing happened, so we may appear every so often if something really strikes our fancy, but there isn’t going to be regular posting here anymore. We’ve loved doing this for the past three years, but the blog has come to a point where it’s more [...]
Tympanogram
Nueva canción de Arctic Monkeys: Do I Wanna Know
Kanye West – Yeezus
M.I.A. – “Bring the Noize”
