Archive for July, 2006

The Long Winters Reviewed

The Long Winters
Putting The Days To Bed
(Barsuk)
By virtue of recording for Seattle indie label Barsuk and having some hip friends (Peter Buck, Chris Walla, Ken Stringfellow), John Roderick’s The Long Winters is supposed to be some kind of indie rock.

Andy Kim Reviewed

Andy Kim
How’d We Ever Get This Way/Rainbow Ride
Baby I Love You/Andy Kim
(Collector’s Choice)
Like all too many characters in this theater we call rock, Andy Kim’s biggest commercial achievement (co-writing The Archies’ “Sugar Sugar”) failed to make him a household name. Though it’s not like he didn’t get to party.

Justice Reviewed

Justice
Waters Of Nazareth EP
(Vice)
Not to be confused with jungle/drum ‘n’ bass pioneer Tony “Justice” Bowes, this Justice are a French electronica duo operating with Pedro Winter’s consent.

Professor Murder Reviewed

Professor Murder
Rides The Subway
(Kanine)
Bands playing hi-hat heavy art punk rock in Brooklyn lofts are a dime-a-dozen. If they’d all just record a single EP and move onto the next trend, they’d save everyone about 20 minutes of their lives. God bless Professor Murder.

The Knife Reviewed

The Knife
Silent Shout
(Mute)
This, The Knife’s third album overall, is the first U.S. release for the duo and has taken American electro writers by complete surprise.

The Scourge Of The Sea Reviewed

The Scourge Of The Sea
Make Me Armored
(Alias)
In Mötley Crüe’s autobiography, The Dirt, manager Doc McGee suggests Mick Mars should have had a TV show called “Please Take Advantage Of Me.” The Scourge Of The Sea could have been guests.

Cameran Reviewed

Cameran
A Caesarean
(Innocent Words)
What more of Cameran do you need to know other than they have a rhythm section named Sancho and Pascal Holper.

Thor Reviewed

Thor
Devastation Of Masculation
(Smog Veil)
Jon Miki Thor enjoys his name so much it completely envelops Devastation Of Masculation, right down to the thanks in the liner notes, which he calls “Thor Salutes The Warriors Of The Universe.”

Fiona Apple, Damien Rice live

Fiona Apple, Damien Rice
Charter One Pavilion, Chicago
Thursday, July 13, 2006

It’s emotionally exhausting to be overwhelmingly heartbroken, so when the essence of this process is flawlessly captured by a song it’s both distinctively illusionary and sensory for a listener. Past frustrations and sentiments become more lifelike with the utterance of each lyric and more current with [...]

Now Its Overhead preview

Now It’s Overhead
Subterranean, Chicago
Friday, July 21, 2006

As a good chunk of the incestuous Saddle Creek Records roster begins to throw it’s stones outside the circle, Now It’s Overhead mastermind Andy LeMaster remains behind the scene.

Monsters Of Fakebook Rock

Damaged Justice, Powerslave, Blizzard Of Ozz
J.J. Kelley’s, Lansing
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Usually, we don’t get too excited about tribute bands, hence the lack of “Stage Buzz”space dedicated to them. It isn’t because we look down at them, underestimate their talent, or find them cheesy. We have nothing but admiration for the dedication and skill it requires [...]

Psalm One Record Release

Psalm One
Abbey Pub, Chicago
Saturday, July 22, 2006

There was a time, before Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown, before Jacki-O and Trina, when female MCs were hyped because of their talent, not their sex appeal. Remember MC Lyte? Yo Yo? Pre-movie star Queen Latifah? Pre-nutso Lauryn Hill? Remember strong, sophisticated women with something to say and an [...]

Dead Meadow preview

Dead Meadow
Subterranean, Chicago
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Mixing doom-oriented Sabbath riffs with swirling psychedelia and Tolkien imagery is nothing new — unless you sprang from the indier-than-thou D.C. hardcore scene.

Keane reviewed

Keane
Under The Iron Sea
(Interscope)

I think this is the new Keane album, and not a set of weepy demos.

Black Stone Cherry reviewed

Black Stone Cherry
Black Stone Cherry
(Roadrunner)
Advertised as back-to-basics hard rock, if Black Stone Cherry really admired their heroes they’d show a little ingenuity.