Reno Bo , former member of NYC garage rockers, The Mooney Suzuki and Albert Hammond Jr 's band (of The Strokes ), will be releasing his solo debut, Happenings And Other Things on February 9, 2010 on Electric Western Records. Happenings And Other Things is the 1st solo record for Reno Bo and establishes him as a songwriter in his own right. The album is a soulful blend of Beatles / Big Star rock with shades of Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin and Neil Young. [...]
Louisiana rockers The Research Turtles ( pictured left ) say they play "British rock invasion meets modern rock" - When I listen, I hear strains of Fountains of Wayne, The Knack and Stone Temple Pilots, but you might hear something else! Hear some clips of their debut CD at their MySpace page or download the CD at their home page . Read more about the band at The Rock n Roll Report . - Japanese high energy rockers Polysics played Phoenix last night , and the New Times Jonathan [...]
Seattle's Gavin Guss is pop veteran who's played with Nada Surf, Jon Auer, Harvey Danger, Fountains of Wayne and his own band The Tycoons. Important to note, Gavin was also lead singer/songwriter with the short lived group Tubetop who produced a pure pop masterpiece in Three Minute Hercules . Given these facts you know what to expect and he really delivers with his solo album Mercury Mine . Starting with the gentle acoustic hook in "X" it leads to a glorious McCartney-like chorus, that builds to sticky goodness in the multi-track harmonic [...]
After years of being pop music's "best kept secret", the 88 are now breaking out with their theme song to the NBC show Community . For the longest time, The 88 have had to deal with both the gift and the curse of being pop music's "best kept secret". Although these California-based power-pop revivalists have always had the benefit of being spoken in the same positive light as groups like Fountains of Wayne and a pre-Raconteurs Brendan Benson, The 88 kept getting their perpetually-upbeat songs featured in movies and television shows (The O.C. especially) without the support of [...]
A very straight forward concept album here from the duo of Chris Ehrich and Joylene Dahlia (joined by bassist Adam Kivisaari and drummer Frank Corl). The bright bouncy opening of the title track contrasts with ironic lyrics from the ex-lover's POV. In fact given the depressing theme, there is not a single slow heart wrenching ballad to be found. The guitars and beat are well done and Joylene's vocals have a little Liz Phair meets Carole King quality. This comes through on the excellent mid-tempo "Roses" which is really an angry song played like a up-beat folkie freedom anthem. [...]
More information on bands that debuted this week on the FUTURE SOUNDS radio show on WOXY .... WORLD'S GREATEST GHOSTS MYSPACE HOMETOWN: Portland, OR TRACK: Phantastes Thanks to the 3 Imaginary Girls folks for tipping us [...]
Finally I have got around to making my top ten albums of 2009 list. So what is the homercat criteria for being a "best" album. I could go into all the things I gauge it on, but it simply boils down to which full albums did I listen to the most after purchasing them. I have listened to the albums on this list countless number of times and personally I am thrilled to death with each and every one. My list looks like no other top ten list from last year and that's the way I [...]
I'm not a fan of OK Go. That's not backlash against the band's impossible-to-avoid videos from a few years back, but rather a reaction to the band's music, which I find cloying, and it's stage presence, which is annoying. A slot opening for Fountains of Wayne several years back left me aggressively hostile toward the band. But this week it offers another of those benchmark moments in the shift from tangible plastic to intangible bits in the world of popular music. This might not hit the history books the way Radiohead's pay what you want model did (or [...]
On the day we celebrate his birthday, CoS contributor Michael Denslow examines whether today's hip hop culture truly reflects Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream of an equal society... I may not be the only person who actively celebrates Martin Luther King Day, but I am definitely the only one I know of. In fact, the only ones who seem to recognize it is a holiday at all are government institutions and the NBA. Barack Obama's inauguration brought a little attention to the day last year, but this year there isn't much to remind us. So I [...]
Whatever the cause, waiting for great Power Pop album that never comes out can be extremely frustrating. (Credit the current screwed-up state of the music industry.) In late 2008, the Davenports released a single and a few b-sides from the soon to be released third album "Why the Great Gallop". The tracks were great, filled with terrific hooks and clever word play, sounding a bit like Fountains of Wayne. (This makes sense since singer Scott Klass spent some time in an earlier version incarnation of FOW.) 2009 comes and goes and no album. A Scott Klass solo track [...]
For whatever reason*, my post announcing Tinted Windows, the "super"group featuring a dude from Hanson, Cheap Trick, Fountains of Wayne and, because he needs money, James Iha, got the most comments of anything I've ever written. So it fills me with great sadness (it does not fill me with great sadness) to announce that Tinted Windows are calling it quits in the very near future, returning to their old bands. The group has plans to release one last single very soon, however, and it will surely sound like a Doublemint commercial. The [...]
The new year has started out really cold but fortunately there are so many hot shows to keep you warm. On Thursday, Kay Hanley (in town for the Hot Stove Cool Music show) is doing a gig at the Lizard Lounge. It's such a small room, not certain if there are still tix available or not. Also on Thursday, the Gobshites start their January residency at the Burren (songs about drinkin' should warm ya up!). Friday brings a strong local rock show to the Middle East with Ketman, Reverse and Bacchus Knife. Strokes guy, Julian Casablancas is at the Paradise. [...]
Filed under: Concerts and Tours , News , New Music , Exclusive Before heading off for a tour of Japan this month, Tinted Windows will perform what is likely to be its final US gig for the foreseeable future. The show is a special one-off, as the pop rock supergroup comprising Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos , Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha , Fountains of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger and Hanson 's Taylor Hanson [...]
Pop-Rock Quartet Jag Star Return With Their Fifth Studio Album As Heard On ABC, A&E, CBS, E!, FOX, MTV, NBC and The CW Having been heard on every major broadcast and cable outlet over the course of their 10-year career, Jag Star , this critically-acclaimed quartet closed out the first decade of the new millennium the same way they began it; with the release of a new album. Over the course of five full-length albums, Jag Star truly defined the DIY [...]
This Saturday, January 9th, is gearing up to be the most frustrating night in recent local folk music history, thanks to a huge convergence of talent in the Boston area. I've got third row tickets to see Greg Brown at Sanders Theater - a great place to see a folkfan's favorite wry basso and sensitive songwriter, who once told me a hilarious anecdote about being asked to sign a woman's breast, "and I had to hold it down with my other hand, it was so jiggly" - so I'm not really disappointed [...]
"You've been messin' with my head for oh so long now" It happens every year. I finish my countdowns, look back, and think: crap, I forgot something . Usually I forgot to even nominate the song, and thus didn't consider it at all. The song in question this year (and it probably won't be the last) is Tinted Windows' Kind Of A Girl . The band's album was released last Spring and is pretty darn good on its own right. The single kinda came and went with the occasional radio spin, hence [...]
With the exception of New Year's Eve, not too much going on this week. I also recommend checking out the 88 tonight for free.... Monday 12/28/09 [Pick of the Night] Mere Mortals / The 88 / Vesuviasonic / Shield @ Spaceland (Free) - I always forget how good the 88 is until I see them. Great chance to see them for free at a tiny club. This is the last night of the Mere Mortals residency. [Recommended] [...]
Ivy is one of my favorite Slow Girl artists. They add airy female vocals on top of Dream Pop that makes for a perfect combination. They haven't been around the last few years and they are greatly missed. Their band members have been busy playing in other bands like Fountains of Wayne and Brookville, but none of those bands compare to Ivy. Their 2001 album Long Distance was my first time discovering them. Since then I have snagged up every bit of Ivy I could, and every thing of theirs is great. Ivy [...]
The final part in a three-part journey through holiday music from our friends over at Media Potluck (the guys responsible for Audio Archaeology ). First we turned you onto last year's Media Potluck Holiday Feast, then we debuted the first installment of Media PODluck and joined Cap and Nick for A Christmas Evening Together in a log cabin, and now, right on time for Christmas day, the debut of Media Potluck's 2009 Holiday Feast! Unwrap the fun and fill your day with this eclectic cornucopia of holiday songs. At [...]
Desperation breeds strange activity Tinted Windows has earned the worst of everything for my year-end post. These distinct merits include Worst Band of the Year/Decade, Worst album, Worst Song, Worst Video and Worst Lip-Synching in said video. I cannot fathom the evil quantum physics that had to coagulate for these musicians to form a band. Tinted Windows - Messing With My Head I can understand why James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) and the guy from Fountains of Wayne would hook-up with Taylor Hanson (yes, [...]
New Releases V2.9
2010 Bonnaroo Artists Unveiled
New Nas & Armand Van Helden
