I picked a hell of a time to start trying to quit comparing to other bands. But. True story:
I have a to-listen playlist on my Spotify with the first track of a hundred or so albums in the backlog. And sometimes I accidentally don't click _into_ an album and I think I'm checking out a new album but suddenly I'm listening to the first song on some completely unrelated album. And there's a new King Gizzard album out (it's good! stay tuned!) and I actually thought I'd --
no shit, no joke, I'm a little drunk, but it just happened again. like just now.
point is, this sounds a lot like King Gizzard at their psychiest, also Tame Impala, and in general like a lot of modern bands that sound like a misremembered 60's and it's all fine but these guys need to develop their own sound -- I'd rather to go to at least one degree of the source. Fun band name tho 3/5
Friday, June 30, 2017
#2503 Rozwell Kid - Precious Art
Rozwell Kid used to be perfect: a little band all about big band moves, all 80's big-hair metal glory, all power chords played in power stances, all aww-shucks grinning leaning into a drumstick flipping kick-in.
But that youthful hope wears off. Maybe weed, in its own small way, is a hell of a drug. Cause now they've sunk into that stoner-punk scene, Wavves on a middling surf day. It's all self doubt, all TV, so much TV. Songs about MadTV, Futons, UHF on DVD, Clue: The Movie, Seaquest reruns, and whatever Michael Keaton's in.
Those choices are telling: not a single topical or recent or good thing among them, strictly the kind of shit you watch because it's familiar at best, because it's what happened to come on and where the fuck's the remote and I guess it's 3:00 and I guess that's basically my day.
And I love that honesty. It's a trap I totally believe these kids fell into -- they used to care, but it's so hard to, and now this is what they know, and they crunch their way through. And that's relatable and enjoyable and I actually really like it. I guess I wish I didn't like it. I liked it better when I liked their shit that felt like rock and roll could pull you out instead of cuddling you back down 3.5/5
But that youthful hope wears off. Maybe weed, in its own small way, is a hell of a drug. Cause now they've sunk into that stoner-punk scene, Wavves on a middling surf day. It's all self doubt, all TV, so much TV. Songs about MadTV, Futons, UHF on DVD, Clue: The Movie, Seaquest reruns, and whatever Michael Keaton's in.
Those choices are telling: not a single topical or recent or good thing among them, strictly the kind of shit you watch because it's familiar at best, because it's what happened to come on and where the fuck's the remote and I guess it's 3:00 and I guess that's basically my day.
And I love that honesty. It's a trap I totally believe these kids fell into -- they used to care, but it's so hard to, and now this is what they know, and they crunch their way through. And that's relatable and enjoyable and I actually really like it. I guess I wish I didn't like it. I liked it better when I liked their shit that felt like rock and roll could pull you out instead of cuddling you back down 3.5/5
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
#2502 Laura Stevenson - Cocksure
Stevenson's latest drops most of Wheel's dusty, folkism, swinging for the indie-rock fences with breakfast cereal sweetness. It's catchy, but the a bit thin, each song riding its one hook, lacking the curiosity and scope of her previous stuff 3/5
#2501 Laura Stevenson - Wheel
On her 3rd album, Stevenson combines Jenny Lewis's mewling sense of pop-rock bittersweetness with a more shuffling, swooping kind of plucked singer-songwriterism. It's a restless album, never satisfied with any particular approach to your heart/feet, far sweeter and softer than you might expect given her Bomb the Music Industry history 3.5/5
#2500 Kevin Morby - City Music
Morby's big deep M. Ward voice rings like a well, offset by the clear guitar lines twinkling above, shuffly Kansas City backing bridging the gap. It's pretty, peaceful, rich.
There's something appealing about the framing too - something about the way the visual rhythm of the words of those song titles, flecked with lighght, peppered with y's and i's, all eyes, nights, cities, all dark sparkle, glinting off of the same mirrors of that album cover.
Come to Me Now
Crybaby
1234
Aboard My Train
Dry Your Eyes
Flannery
City Music
Tin Can
Caught in My Eye
Night Time
Pearly Gates
Downtown's Lights
It's a touch so subtle it might not even be there, but it made the whole experience much more satisfyingly complete somehow 3.5/5
There's something appealing about the framing too - something about the way the visual rhythm of the words of those song titles, flecked with lighght, peppered with y's and i's, all eyes, nights, cities, all dark sparkle, glinting off of the same mirrors of that album cover.
Come to Me Now
Crybaby
1234
Aboard My Train
Dry Your Eyes
Flannery
City Music
Tin Can
Caught in My Eye
Night Time
Pearly Gates
Downtown's Lights
It's a touch so subtle it might not even be there, but it made the whole experience much more satisfyingly complete somehow 3.5/5
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
#2499 Village Bicycle - Fits and Starts
A fetal burst of local-band shamble and yelp, crunchy indie packed with baroque synthy buzzes and start-stops. It starts off awkwardly, tripping over lame Blur//Cake character sketches like Hot Mom.
But you can watch the band find its footing in real time; the propulsive chug of Sprankles, the clattering actual chaos of The Panic Song, the toothsome sunrise chiming of Turtle Dove. The kind of band you'd pledge to keep an eye on as you stagger out of their bar show - might even be served keeping that eye on from afar 3.5/5
But you can watch the band find its footing in real time; the propulsive chug of Sprankles, the clattering actual chaos of The Panic Song, the toothsome sunrise chiming of Turtle Dove. The kind of band you'd pledge to keep an eye on as you stagger out of their bar show - might even be served keeping that eye on from afar 3.5/5
#2498 VA - Cellar Door Vol. 4
Cleveland label comp is packed with Good Mozzarella Sandwich songs: the kind of local band music you enjoy when you wanted some music, especially like when you came down to the break room when you heard there was leftover food and this was all that's left and you picked it up grudingly but you totally enjoyed it in the moment and your need was duly slaked and you tapped your toe and maybe even in the moment when "that was good!" -- like, that shit was just what I needed! But you will probably never think about that band // sandwich the next day or ever again.
Not even personal heroes Herzog escape this orbit.
I liked all of these songs, really liked a few, and added none of them to my Starred list on Spotify and all stand zero chance of a relisten 3/5
Not even personal heroes Herzog escape this orbit.
I liked all of these songs, really liked a few, and added none of them to my Starred list on Spotify and all stand zero chance of a relisten 3/5
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