Shawn Donohue, Author at Glide Magazine

White Rabbits: Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY 12/13/07

Shawn Donohue December 16, 2007 No Comments

Fort Nightly, the White Rabbits first full length album, keeps popping up on the endless stream of “Best of 2007” lists and it is fairly easy to see why, particularly with the genre-hopping sound and stout song writing. This six piece (Keys, bass, 2 guitars, 2 drummers) have been earning rave reviews around the country with their energetic live show. Tonight they headlined a bill in their adopted home town of NYC.

Lightspeed Champion: Galaxy of the Lost (EP)

Shawn Donohue November 8, 2007 No Comments

Dev Haynes has broke away from the worst named band in indie-pop’s history, Test Icicles, to come up with a new codename Lightspeed Champion. The dancey/pop/punk he recently played is also no more, replaced with operatic strings, acoustic guitars and a focus on Haynes voice. This teaser EP (the full length due to be released in February) contains one album track, a few b-sides and covers, ending up as a mixed bag.

Manu Chao: La Radiolina

Shawn Donohue November 1, 2007 No Comments

For a man who sings in 7 languages, one is surprised at how clearly his consistent passion comes alive. Manu Chao manages to instill all of his songs with a sense of purpose, whether extolling his far left politics, serenading a loved one in a back alley or pumping up the partying pogoing masses, the passion comes through to the listener, even if they do not comprehend the meaning of the words, they still comprehend.

Mariee Sioux: Faces in the Rocks

Shawn Donohue October 1, 2007 No Comments

The sound on Faces in the Rocks seems to have sprouted effortlessly from a mountain spring or twisting root, nature is imbedded in every note and vocal flutter from Mariee Sioux on her first release.

Shiny Toy Guns – Music in the Wires

Shawn Donohue August 27, 2007 No Comments

Shiny Toy Guns are an L.A. quarter who have been gaining steam playing sold out crowds here and abroad as well as at some top notch exclusive get-togethers (more on that later). Their alive style of new wave/guitar/pop/electronica creates dense textures both musically and vocally. Thanks to melodious male/female leads sung by Chad Petree and Carah Faye and complex song structures, Shiny Toy Guns are able to tackle issues of gender and fear in fresh ways testing at times and reassuring at others along the journey. This is not your typical synth-pop band.

Ravens and Chimes: Reichenbach Falls

Shawn Donohue August 23, 2007 No Comments

There are songs of the summer, albums that make you recall springtime or the falling of leaves; Reichenbach Falls, the debut from Ravens and Chimes is most certainly a winter album. Its snowy soundscapes and brushed wind chime keyboards slide into icicle coated glockenspiel, combined with the isolated frailty and indie-yearning of vocalist Asher Lack, the operatic movements play as New York City’s response to the Arcade Fire.

Dax Riggs: Mercury Lounge, New York, NY – 6/13/07

Shawn Donohue August 17, 2007 No Comments

While Dax’s voice can successfully range all over the map, his song writing focuses in one realm – darkness. His soon to be released album is titled We Sing of Only Blood and Love and that sums up the content nicely, with the love being more on brooding tip as opposed to puppies and flowers.

The White Stripes: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY 07/24/07

Shawn Donohue July 30, 2007 No Comments

Dressed in a solid, blood-red and standing in front of a plain red stage, with an apple red guitar, Jack White kicked off the White Stripes’ first show at Madison Square Garden in style with the bare-boned power-blues of “Dead Leaves on the Dirty Ground”, kicking the fictional brother/sister team off and running and they didn’t stop for the next two hours.

Low: Drums and Guns

Shawn Donohue July 24, 2007 No Comments

The minimalist veterans are back restraining their outward energy but grinding the internal millstone on their newest effort, Drums and Guns. Low went a bit poppy/mainstream (for them at least) with their last effort The Great Destroyer, but now it is back to bleak with Drums and Guns.

They Might Be Giants: The Else

Shawn Donohue July 20, 2007 No Comments

When it is over, The Else has left you with a total listening experience, different then TMBG past offerings but still satisfying.

Shawn Donohue

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