Around Hear
Around Hear: July 2011
Local Band Reviews In just six songs, Automata packs an atmospheric soundtrack in its debut EP. Microcosm is a genre-defying pastiche of psychedelic guitar, swirling keyboards, and shuffling rhythms supporting Rachel Sarah Thomas’ soulful crooning.
Around Hear: June 2011
Local Band Reviews What separates the men from the boys among old school Chicago guitar heroes is a dash of humility. Of course T.D. Clark has the chops on his new CD, Shreddtime Stories, but his web site won’t be the one
Around Hear: May 2011
Local Band Reviews King Sparrow‘s fusion of bluesy garage-rock and spastic, new-wave punk will undoubtedly draw favorable comparisons to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, as its self-titled, full-length debut
Around Hear: April 2011
Local Band Reviews Fans of jazz/rock fusion will find a lot to like in Zachary Biggus‘ eight-song Jusqu’â Présent, wherein, aided by able bass and drums sidemen, he displays not inconsiderable prowess on guitar.
Around Hear: March 2011
Local Band Reviews Logan Square’s Love Raid carry on a tradition of Chicago bands who have an affinity for Brit-Pop of all eras, ranging from Village Green-era Kinks (“Superstar Serenade”) to Pulp (“Present Tense”), and Parklife-era Blur
Around Hear: February 2011
Local Band Reviews Dubasaurus boast that they all read music (they’re real musicians), which goes against the historical grain of rope-smoking reggae born in Jamaica. Fortunately these guys understand that reggae
Around Hear: January 2011
Local Band Reviews Where some faith-based acts shroud their lyrics in metaphor to broaden their appeal, DeKalb’s Fue instead blanket their brooding alt-pop in mystery.
Around Hear: December 2010
Local Band Reviews You don’t have to be a jazz aficionado to appreciate the bubbly fluidity of cascading notes that percolate through the sultry, hopeful vibe of “Until Tomorrow Comes.” That’s the exuberant skill of Pharez Whitted, trumpeter extraordinaire.
Around Hear: November 2010
Local Band Reviews Roxy Swain (above) is the name of a band as well as its dynamic lead vocalist. On The Spell Of Youth, a full-length follow-up to the New Love Designers EP, Swain belts out power-pop tunes crafted by guitarists Tom Valenzano and Matt Walters.
Around Hear: October 2010
Local Band Reviews Algernon‘s intentions of blending hippie grooves with kraut rock, art punk, and avant-garde jazz are certainly admirable, but the results throughout the entirely instrumental Ghost Surveillance are scattered at best.
Around Hear: September 2010
Local Band Reviews Aevumin (a band with an instantly recognizable moniker but with pronunciation challenges) plays tight and peppy post-punk rock on a seven-track, self-titled CD. Some, like “Cliché,” value frantic power-chords, riffing and lyrics. But the band shines when jamming to groovier, more deliberate midtempo rhythms like on “Lonely Walks Away.”
Around Hear: August 2010
Local Band Reviews Bird Show Band‘s self-titled CD is flat-out bizarre at first, but for those willing to embrace its unconventional mixture of jazz, progressive rock, and synths, it’s one of the more alluring projects to come from the Amish Records catalog. Though the group is avant-garde at its most indulgent, the European undertones provide […]
Around Hear: July 2010
Local Band Reviews It seems only yesterday Canasta were youngsters joyfully tossing sand on the beachhead of local indie-pop. With The Fakeout, The Tease & The Breather, however, Matt Priest and Elizabeth Lindau’s band have matured not beyond recognition, but what used to be heartbroken odes to young loves lost have acquired desperation. Priest opens […]
Around Hear: June 2010
Local Band Reviews The Love Me Nots bust out some serious hip-shakin’ grooves and spastic garage rock on Upsidedown Insideout (Atomic A Go Go). Bristling keyboard stabs tangle with spiky guitar clatter as fiery Chicago-native Nicole Laurenne snaps out lyrics of bruising honesty. A jittery keyboard swirl smacks against snarling guitars in “You’re Bringing Me […]
Around Hear: May 2010
Local Band Reviews Admiral Of Black Admiral Of Black has recorded the template for fundamental hard rock/metal debut albums with The Hand Of Chaos. The eight-track CD — already a year old — has the right production to stand out from other newcomers, thanks to a party-metal swagger that overcomes any minor first-effort deficiencies.
Recent Comments