![Point Juncture WA: Heart to Elk [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1646459_lg.jpg)
Point Juncture WA chose a fine time to start knocking the cover off of the ball. Their third record, Heart to Elk , has been picked up by Seattle label Mt. Fuji Records and was given wide release in February. Seattle indie radio behemoth KEXP has been wearing down the grooves of Heart to Elk for months. The band is now preparing for a national tour in support of fellow Portlanders The Thermals and the Shaky Hands , to be capped triumphantly by their first [...]
![Psalmships: Smoke + Vein [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1635665_lg.jpg)
Psalmships is the latest project by folk genius Joshua Britton (The Sweetheart Parade). Where his earlier moniker found him a natural folk rhythm in guitar + vocalist, Psalmships is somewhat an antithesis. This is obvious from the earliest moments of opener "Determination". The music isn't acoustic guitar heavy; it's not pointed and rough, or lo-fi. It is, in fact, smooth. This continues throughout most of the album. Compounding vocals include harmony, guitars are toned down from the angular plucking so populous in the genre - even Britton's deep [...]
![Pomegranates: Everybody Come Outside [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1631252_lg.jpg)
My god, what a progression! Believe me that there is merit behind my words: Pomegranates were successful in their debut, last year's Everything Is Alive , but this, this sophomore release, this Everybody Come Outside - this is something else entirely. And it's mind-blowing! Pomegranates were always an off-beat pop group, an oddity to add theatrics to such an oft stale and monotonous and homogeneous genre. In Everybody Come Outside , they take the nuances that made Everything Is Alive such a great album [...]
![Peter Bjorn And John: Living Thing [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1628514_lg.jpg)
Even the skeptics would say (or should say) that The Writer's Block by Peter Bjorn And John was anything but - there was a special sort of quality that hoisted it above prior work, even the great Falling Out . Songs like "Young Folks" and "Objects Of My Affection" were some of the best songs of 2007. Living Thing is the follow-up and, not surprisingly, it fails to live up to its predecessor. But that doesn't mean it lacks greatness; again, anything but. [...]
![Partman Parthorse: Year Of The Jerk [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1616265_lg.jpg)
One develops a special sort of affinity for Partman Parthorse once they've experienced their live performance. This is hardly a statement to take lightly; frankly put, watching Partman Parthorse perform for the first time is equatable to loosing your virginity or experiencing the stage performance of Rocky Horror Picture Show for the first time. There is a special part of you that is lost forever and, as much as it saddens you that the next time will not be the first, you're definitely looking forward to that next time. [...]
![The Present: World I See [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1457772_lg.jpg)
Written by Fense It begins with static, not quite white noise, maybe feedback. Gradually, decipherable sound fades in, but the original noise remains. Combined, "Heavens On Ice" is numbing, a drone blessed with the prickly icicles of a hazy winter morning fog. Then it morphs into... something... say, something along the lines of a less psychotic Wolf Eyes, but just as far out in space. There's a dichotomy here that must be relayed, two opposing sides at war. One is the light, the other is [...]
![The Postmarks: By The Numbers [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1455478_lg.jpg)
Written by Fense In college I frequented a classy joint that more often than not featured jazz on a nightly basis. We didn't care if the Thursday night student-led jazz group played 70s soul and R&B hits by favs like Al Green and Van Morrison. Sure, they didn't match the originals, but damn was it fun to sing along! I remember continually thinking (especially on their open mic nights) that cover songs are rarely as good as the original. Actually, on open mic nights I [...]
![Scott Pinkmountain: The Full Sun [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1439979_lg.jpg)
Written by Fense Listening to Scott Pinkmountain for the first time, one is likely to think he is just another standard indie artist. This, however, will fade into awe around halfway through opening tune "Song Of Solomon". There's nothing standard about Pinkmountain's music. It's unique. It's original. It's damn good. Just listen to the horn and woodwinds opening track two, "I Shall Not Be Released". There are distinct elements of jazz here, which is surprising for a more indie rock/pop-based artist. [...]
![Arliss Parker: Handsome Like A Lion [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1353619_lg.jpg)
Written by Fense Arliss Parker (aka Chris Parker) is slated to release his debut EP, Handsome Like A Lion , on November 25 via DAG! Records and, not to brag, I have the beautiful, artistically designed yellow-and-white case in my hands. Well, not technically in my hands - it's sitting next to my MacBook as I type this review. Displayed on the yellow background is a simple white image of what looks like a girl, face scratched away. Printed vertically are the artist and album names in clean orange [...]
![Polysics: We Ate The Machine [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1319935_lg.jpg)
Written by bob_vinyl Polysics ( MySpace ) make no secret of their love for Devo. The jumpsuits, the scientist-rock image, it all points to one thing. Their music however, goes further. Devo is clearly in the mix on this collection of synth-heavy, agitated new wave tunes and the result is fun, energetic... and entirely contrived. But they mix that 80s electronic pop with punk energy and more than just a small dose of old Japanese noisecore and that healthy dose of crazy keeps them from being trapped by their own hipness (a dangerous [...]
![Past Lives: Strange Symmetry [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1312774_lg.jpg)
Written by Fense The wake of The Blood Brothers demise has actually led to several viable new projects from former members. This list includes Jaguar Love, who released their first LP on Matador earlier this year, and Past Lives ( MySpace ). Strange Symmetry is the debut EP by the latter, currently out in digital form and slated for physical format release in the next month or so. "Beyond Gone" kicks the EP softly into gear. The song slowly gains momentum but [...]
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