Pacific Air: Stop Talking - Ahh, summer, finally sneaking around the corner and just in time for Pacific Air’s debut album, Stop Talking . Previously known as KO KO, this Southern California duo have been making forward steps since their EP, Long Live KOKO . With a refreshing and poppy flare, the album is an ode to the West Coast with lyrics of ocean breeze and summer days. It is an infectious indie pop album to kick off summer. Consisting of brothers Ryan [...]
Frank (Just Frank): Freres D'Armes - Frank (Just Frank) has produced an eclectic EP in Freres D’Armes . The band has been through a lot since the release of their album Brutal Wave in 2010. The two men who originally made up the band, Chris (aka Anthem) and Kirti (aka KD) met during high school and formed the band. Sadly, after the release of Brutal Wave , Kirti decided to leave the band and pursue other interests. The split was a [...]
Lust For Youth: Perfect View - On Lust For Youth 's latest album Perfect View , leader Hannes Norrvide remains within the aesthetic boundaries set on last year's Growing Seeds . He continues to use New Order’s color palate to paint a dismal picture that conveys a feeling of isolation and apprehension. Though the album is still clearly the product of a bedroom recording, the production is crisper and more lush than its predecessor. Norrivide isn't as developed as other artists leading the dark-wave pack. Lust for Youth lacks the intensity of [...]
Sigur Rós: Kveikur - Today marks the US release of Sigur Rós’s seventh album, ‘Kveikur’, and for that reason alone it is a good day. Lately, whenever I see that one of my favorite bands has released a new album or single, I’ve been left feeling unfulfilled by the actual product, unimpressed by the new stuff. I’m happy to say that ‘Kveikur’ has relieved me of the notion that at some point all artists plateau, at least for now. It’s always a pleasure to hear something that is not solely akin to prior work but also pushes the [...]
Heirlooms of August: Down at the 5-Star - Musician and songwriter Jerry Vessel is at it again. Working under Heirlooms of August , one of his many ongoing projects, Vessel this time sets to marry poetry and simplicity in Heirlooms’ sophomore album, Down at the 5-Star . Described as “chamber Americana,” Down at the 5-Star is just that – one part skilled, technical composition and another twangy, hollow pieces with simple stories that sing of relatable subjects. The album is without the heavy tinge that surrounds the Americana image, however. It is softer, more [...]
Hooded Fang: Gravez - Someone once said, "A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down." I know exactly who it was and I'm not going to say, but I digress. The future diabetic and possible inventor of Dimetapp made a fantastic point: if you have to take something that is possibly unappetizing or unappealing, it's probably best to sweeten the deal. It appears to me that with the album Gravez , the rockers from our neighbors to the north ( Canada ), Hooded Fang , have done just that. Now, Gravez is [...]
Trophy Wife: Trophy Wife - With the scope of technology and the speed with which we live increasing exponentially, it is becoming ever easier for almost anyone to create music. We are faced with more choices than ever of how to categorize the music we love, and new genres are popping up by the day, proliferating like small white bunnies on austere green hills. Occasionally I like to play guessing games when I hear of a new band, trying to imagine what they might sound like based on name alone. It is always wonderful to be pleasantly surprised. [...]
Melorman: Waves - Melorman is the brainchild of electronic artist Antonis Haniotakis. Born in raised in Athens, Greece, he has been featured on many indie labels, including Sun Sea Sky , CCT Records , and Summer Rain Recordings . Debuting in 2007 with Far Away Morning , the artist has since released two additional albums, his last being After Noon , which was released in 2011. Melorman's sound is lush, comprised of intricate harmonies, clever breakdowns, and various electronic instruments looping over one another. Melorman creates [...]
Another Green World: Haunted – Another Green World ’s Haunted resembles '80s pop blended into an ambient tempo. Each synthesized beat is strategically arranged to complement each other and does not fail in providing a sense of serenity. Each track manifests the use of drum machines and synthesizers, alluding to the '80s pop genre, but Haunted is unique in reinventing this epic era by adding the modernization of electronic music. Each track excellently blends the upbeat tempo of pop with Alec West’s voice, which is soft and near pacifying. Another Green World [...]
It all started with two brothers and a dream. Billy and Danny Yost moved from South Dakota to Chicago with the intention of forming a band and after relentless searching and adds put up on Craigslist, they found Jonny Ifergan and Eamon Donnelly. Together, the four make up the local indie outfit The Kickback . The band has received a great deal of praise from major publications including Rolling Stone and are now gearing up to record their first full-length record, Sorry All Over the Place , with a little help from Jim Eno of Spoon . Violent Success caught up with lead [...]
Last Friday night, before going out to see local Chicago band The Kickback perform live at Schubas, I had checked out their stuff, and it was good. But now, having seen them live, I can genuinely say that this isn't a band that you can get a feel from by simply listening to a few tracks on Spotify or Youtube. This is the kind of band you need to see live to get the full experience and know just what these guys are all about. Brothers Billy (vocals & guitar) and Danny (drums) Yost moved out [...]
Laura Marling: Once I Was An Eagle - Laura Marling surfaced on the British indie music scene at the tender age of sixteen in 2007 and released her debut album, Alas I Cannot Swim at only eighteen. Now, at twenty-three, Marling releases Once I Was An Eagle , a polished and aspiring guitar-strumming folk album. Beautifully haunting and oozing with creativity, Once I was An Eagle is a masterpiece of its own kind. The album is long, but accomplished. [...]
Gold Panda: Half of Where You Live - Since 2009, Gold Panda has been consistently releasing music. Numerous EPs, singles and a full-length debut album in 2011 called Lucky Shi ner have proven that the London-born artist has undeniable skills. Half of Where You Live , the second album, doesn't disappoint. Known for his electronic compilations, the new album drifts into chillwave influences and some glitch sounds. One of the best songs off of the album, 'An English House', [...]
Boards of Canada: Tomorrow's Harvest - Boards of Canada have never been strangers to reclusiveness, but for almost a decade they seemed completely content with remaining out of sight. In their absence, their fingerprints continued to spread across the electronica landscape while they stayed in the shadow of their own influence, leaving us to wonder if they would ever continue their sonic exploration. That is, until this spring, when out of the blue the band broke their seven year silence with the announcement of their fourth album, Tomorrow's Harvest . Tomorrow's Harvest [...]
The Pigeon Detectives: We Met By Sea - The Pigeon Detectives are back with their polished garage rock album, We Met By Sea . This is the fourth album for the UK quartet and their follow up from 20112s Up, Guards and At 'Em . Formed in 2004, The Pigeon Detectives have played at both the Reading and Leeds Festivals, but have yet to make an impact in the US market. A major recording point for The Pigeon Detectives is that they want to record albums that transfer to live sound easily. [...]
The Pigeon Detectives: We Met At Sea - The Pigeon Detectives are back with their polished garage rock album, We Met At Sea . This is the fourth album for the UK quartet and their follow up from 20112s Up, Guards and At 'Em . Formed in 2004, The Pigeon Detectives have played at both the Reading and Leeds Festivals, but have yet to make an impact in the US market. A major recording point for The Pigeon Detectives is that they want to record albums that transfer to live sound easily. [...]
Memphis' own Alec West aka Another Green World and his remarkable ability to produce catchy, ethereal pop songs as frequently as he does is something that astounds me with every release. His latest, Haunted , comes out tomorrow and is already in heavy rotation with some of us. Review coming soon... When approached with the chance to make a video for 'When', we really wanted to capture the dreamy imagery it conjured and the first thing that came to mind was 19862s Lea Thompson vehicle, Space Camp . While the movie made little sense [...]
Jack Beauregard: Irrational - It's one of the greatest cliches of all time. I'm pretty sure newscasts aren't allowed to conclude until this is uttered at least once. That cliche is, of course, "in these difficult economic times." Have I sufficiently acknowledged my short comings as a writer? I hope so. Presuming that I have, I will progress with my trusty cliche in tow. In these difficult economic times, we mere plebeians look for someone to blame for the misfortunes of the masses. More often than not, bankers and businessmen bear the brunt of [...]
Secret Colours: Peach - Secret Colours were virtually unheard of when they released their first album in 2010, with only a fervent but small band of Chicago music loyalists to support their ambitions. As it turns out, they didn’t even need that. Their self-titled debut was a brilliant combination of talent and good timing, coming out as the psychedelic revival was building up steam on a national level, and it got them noticed – fast. Now with their sophomore album, Peach , the Chicago quartet is showing a bit of growth, having streamlined their [...]
The Shallows: Same Space Vol. 2 − The Shallows ' Same Space Vol. 2 is a short compilation of indie pop tracks that emanates a wave of energy and a series of eccentric guitar riffs that allow you to capture the texture of each track, as it will make you feel the passion in each song and inevitably have you moving to the beat. Same Space Vol. 2 demonstrates The Shallows' ability to provide a powerful sound in an original fashion. The Shallows are made up four young men, Tom Skelton on lead vocals, Russ Cragg [...]
Violent Success
When Stars Collide
Lana Del Rey – Young And Beautiful (No Pets Allowed Remix)
