Happy Russian Wilds Day! That's right our own San Francisco Peninsula psychedelic rock outfit Howlin Rain has released their bluesy and directionless fifth album to the masses. I say directionless because if you listen to Phantom In The Valley , you'll find enough genres to keep you listening on repeat. Singer Ethan Miller rages with mystical power and lifting soulfulness as the band is shaken alive with razor sharp and ramblin' sonic venom and dead-on jazz-like surgery. Russian Wilds is sweet harmonies and dynamite wailing pulled from a fragile web into a adamantium-strong [...]
Much happens on the debut album from this Santa Barbara art-pop act and it all unfolds so beautifully and colorfully that you would be hard-pressed to complain. Using slow-motion rhythms, affectionate vocals and dreamy synthesizing keys (oh and a politely inserted flute) Gardens & Villa's self titled album attempts to pull together a set of ethereal melodies. Meanwhile, the band comes up with a spellbinding collection of songs that in its best moments recalls the dancier moments of dream-pop predecessors the Human League and Mazzy Star. Recorded at labelmate Richard Swift's Oregon studio, this would explain why so many of the songs-especially [...]
It seems the only way to break out creatively in this over-saturated music scene is to branch out and expand past a simple recorded album paired with a tour. Enter Breathe Owl Breathe ; who is currently touring with Laura Gibson in support of their combination children's book and vinyl 73, The Listeners/These Train Tracks . Their 2010 full-length Magic Central reached a kind of fruition on a modest scale and really only displayed a fraction of the creative prowess of Micah Middaugh (guitar, vocals), Andréa Moreno-Beals (cello, vocals) and Trevor Hobbs (percussion). [...]
Some of you may have heard 20102s touching and true classic rock revivalist album La La Land from the brilliant Montreal act Plants and Animals . For those of you that haven't, it's about time you hop on the band-wagon. In addition to their fantastic live shows, the band has this uncanny ability to craft songs that roar and rock while still emoting the feelings of joy, loneliness, and personal freedom. The End of That , which comes out February 28, 2012 comes the closest to bridging the gap between the disorder, rock adventure, primal infusion [...]
Full of mature, breezy coffehouse tunes interwoven with mellow instrumental passages, Prologue shows The Milk Carton Kids to be a terrific folk and blues duo, a basic pair of witty storytellers, and-in the murky visions of these talented two, the album never feels the least bit cluttered. Whether in a tantalizing upper harmonies that recalls CSNY or their sandy-throated midrange, there's not a weak moment on this dark-horse gem of an album. Which by the way is free via their website . You can catch The Milk Carton Kids tomorrow (Jan. 17th) at [...]
Magic City , the lo-fi, sugary light, pop band from the great city of Chicago is doing it's best to set itself apart from the pack of lo-fi, sugary light, pop bands. All jokes aside, you could easily mistake Magic City for another Brooklyn-based band trying to bust it's way from the walls of a Williamsburg bar. What makes these guys special is the animated nature of the lead singer's simply innocent vocals and the non-strategic guitar jams that pepper their way into each song. The tracks from their recently released Little Bits EP are lofty and [...]
It's beyond difficult to nail down a genre or specific sound when listening to any song from the Bay Area's own Forrest Day . His infectious choruses and jazz-funk stylings require more than a once over the 14-track debut program. This album still might be the record to introduce the man himself to those hungry for something weird and different, who Forrest Day might identify as the next target now that he is on his way to becoming a household name with the quick-wit-savvy set. This is the sound of experimental indie rap [...]
Somewhere between Dizzee Rascal and Chromeo tomorrow at Treasure Island Music Festival there is going to be a high energy freak-fest that will require all amounts of energy from the unsuspecting audience. The culprit; Portugal's Buraka Som Sistema , a dance crossed with thrash and fiery electronica group that create music to lose control to. The members, DJ Riot, Conductor, Kalaf and LilJohn expose audiences to a wide range of world sounds reaching from Africa to South America and go from primitive tribal beats to modern clubhouse techno. Not to mention the fact [...]
Well this is exciting; I'm going to come right out and say it...I'm pretty excited we got England's Wild Beasts to answer this special edition of the Kuestionnaire. While I was an admittedly casual fan of 20092s Two Dancers , it wasn't until this year's Smother that I became a dedicated Wild Beasts listener. The album is a step in the right direction for a group that had clearly indentified themselves as wildly creative and sonically bold. The layered configuration and sensuality of tracks like Plaything and [...]
In eleven years Carol C (vocalist and DJ of Si*Sé ) went from being an outsider downtempo charmer to a full fledged internationally celebrated electronic pop musician. It was a huge feat to accomplish, and despite her experimental nature and being part of an over-saturated market of electronic musicians, she has formed Si*Sé, a group of wide-ranging musical references that is graced with the general warmth and attractiveness of her songwriting. Si*Se's latest EP, Gold , combines with her deep soulfulness and confirms all the proof of Carol C's unique talent. It's a taste [...]
PAPA do not write your average pop songs. Often, they manipulate the direction two or three times in one song. Sonically calling guitars, pounding and reverberating bass, PAPA tunes are light, free-spirited, and dead sexy. It may become somewhat of a signature of this band, particularly matched with Darren Weiss' simple and poetic vocals. On their debut EP, A Good Woman Is Hard To Find , the group creates proper sing-a-long pop anthems that are worthy of yelling out the lyrics outside your car window. I Am The Lion King is uplifting and harmonic, with [...]
An elusive new project from electro-pop composer Hugo Manuel of the UK outfit Jonquil, Chad Valley delivers equal parts synthetic nostalgia, dream-pop lullabies, and echoing vocal noise to create something eerier than the sum of its parts. The glistening new album Equitorial Ultravox , is a demonstration of layering skills and a collection of spacious sounds that push past loft parties and into solo headphone sessions. The music is an elegant side of summer-styled beach-tronica and portrayed in an almost classy approach. Even the vocals reach a calumnious cloud level of wistful emotion [...]
20102s music season brought in quite a cast of characters and unique albums. However, one was able to successfully match artistic integrity with genuine stage presence and that was Toronto's Diamond Rings . Lead by multi-instrumentalist and uber-talented John O, Diamond Rings is an ambitious and brave direction toward meaningful dance music. 20102s Special Affections , his debut, received positive attention from the likes of Pitchfork and true fans of vulnerable and honest pop music. Like a soundtrack to a late night drive through the city, the album is bright, intelligent, and a fair display of what John [...]
After performing at All Tomorrow's Parties, Woodsist Festival, and touring with the likes of Clinic and Deerhunter, the Bay's own Fresh & Onlys is ready for their Outside Lands debut and it's about time. This band is by far one of Kata Rokkar's favorite Bay Area bands and for good reason. Their latest record, 20102s Play It Strange is a string of punchy, soulful heartland-rock anthems that call out a time of loose pop hooks and melodies as romantic as the lyrics that fill them. The Fresh & Onlys draw obvious influence [...]
San Francisco's own uniformed gypsy progressive pirate rock band, Diego's Umbrella , has already had their brush with success with three unique and feisty albums, a sizable fan base, and their music inserted into numerous films and TV programs. However, you've probably not experienced the band live yet have you? Well now is probably the best time to do so considering the band will be bring their wacked out version of gypsy rock to this year's Outside Lands Festival. Diego's Umbrella have the theatrics of a headlining act and the attitude of a [...]
If you're already a fan of Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers , you can go ahead blame the Bay Area's own The Mother Hips for your current obsession with this soulful singer. The group discovered this little gem and released her talents upon the world and the results have been rewarding. Already attracting fans with her vulnerable and surprising Toby's Song (2008) and tours with Josh Ritter, Jackie Greene, Phil Lesh, Pegi and Neil Young, Butch Walker, and Leon Russell, this powerful force has created a sweet, sexy, and strong album [...]
Chances are, you've probably never heard of Lotus . The band is truly it's own entity and caters to an audience that appreciates smart live electronic music. No, not Justice, MSTRKRFT, or the latest chillwave/laptop/bedroom artist to come out (no I'm not making fun of them, just listen). Lotus specializes in creating an unforgettable live experience for believers and non-believers of what it means to perform in-depth electronic music. And their reputation is way beyond what you'd expect. Starting in 1999 as funk/jam band, the group eventually morphed into a healthy combination of jam band [...]
Our favorite Bay Area blues rock heroes The Stone Foxes are finally billed for our favorite music festival, and we can't wait to see the reaction from the audience. You see, we've always seen The Stones Foxes as one of the most underrated bands to emerge out of the Bay, and don't get us wrong, the band has had it's brush with success here and there. However, if you've ever seen The Stone Foxes live, you can't help but ask yourself, "Why aren't these guys HUGE?!?!" And don't even try to pigeon-hole the band [...]
There are quite a few female hip-hop artists roaming the indie scene right now but few have the drive and genre crossing abilities as K.Flay (Kristine Flaherty). Spawning from Chicago, studied at Stanford University, and eventually making a name for herself in the Bay Area, K.Flay is a sharp witted M-80 explosion of a hip-hop artist. Add the keen ear of a self-producer, guitar player, singer, and fiery live performer, one should not be surprised that she's performed with the likes of Zoin I, Wallpaper., Snoop Dogg, Passion Pit, Ludacris, and 3OH!3. In addition, she has recently been [...]
Minneapolis-based duo Fort Wilson Riot (Amy Hager & Jacob Mullis) return with Predator/Prey , their second and attention grabbing album. During the period in between records the duo has toured extensively with Cloud Cult and developed a loyal and growing fan base that have been celebrating the release of Predator/Prey . The result is an album that fires off creative energy and maintains a certain likeability that Fort Wilson Riot should be known for. Predator/Prey is quite literally the sound of Fort Wilson Riot discovering their [...]
kata rokkar...
Diplo - "Climax" (MP3 Stream)
Out This Week 2/14
Jackback Feat. David Guetta & Nicky Romero – Wild One Two
Listen: Diplo and Usher – “Climax”
Skrillex Uses Satanic and Homosexual Influence to Win Grammys
