From the early 90’s to the early part of this decade, Leftover Salmon coined the term “"Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass", while enriching the word “festival.” But perhaps nobody combined top-notch musicianship with unbridled enthusiasm and playfulness as well as this once hard-touring band from Colorado.
Where the Billie Holiday and Kate Bush comparisons are easy, there are contemporary touches from those of Imogen Heap and Cat Power that make The Reminder a very “present” recording. The one failing of The Reminder is that it doesn’t live up to Let It Die, but in Feist’s terms, she’d rather be intimate than play “can you top this.”
So what if both the Silversun Pickups and Smashing Pumpkins share the same acronym, have cute chick bass players and lead singers that sound sing alike and have singles that are somewhat identical (“1979” and “Lazy Eye”). The Pumpkins are long gone, as Corgan tries to reinvent the cherub rock with Jimmy Chamberlain, but the Silversun Pickups are now, and they certainly are gaining some steam following their Coachella appearance.
You gotta wonder how many guys have admitted – “I’d give my left nut to sing like Chris Cornell.” The former Soundgarden/Audio Slave front-man holds a Rock-God voice that ranks up with Robert Plant, Steven Tyler, Axl Rose and Roger Daltrey. Touring in support of his forthcoming second solo CD, Carry On ( June 5), Cornell played an intimate show at the Celebrity Theater, comprised of songs from three bands, two solo albums and a few special rarities.
Cassadaga flourishes in the contributions of longtime band member and producer Mike Mogis (guitar, mandolin, pedal steel) and newcomer Nate Wolcott (keyboards, strings) giving this recording a true heartland/Omaha feel. Mark Cassadaga down as a profound step in Bright Eyes’ artsy-folksy long-hair period.
It’ll come as no surprise that the best moments on Page McConnell’s solo debut are the ones that sound the most Phish-y.
Although Neon Bible is a slight come-down from Funeral, a one-of a kind dark majestic vibe surrounds, making this effort another winner.
Who would have thought when Modest Mouse were recording off-kilter indie rock albums like The Fruit That Ate Itself and Building Nothing out of Something, they’d eventually top the Billboard album charts.
If there are three words to best describe Apples in Stereo – its unfortunately 'cutesy indie pop.' Associated with the Elephant Six Collective – a group of bands which also includes Neutral Milk Hotel, of Montreal and The Olivia Tremor Control – New Magnetic marks the Apples' first release in five years, and first on Yep Roc records. Is it for everyone? No.
Lucinda Williams has never been shy about being personal in her music and her latest confessional opus – West – is no exception. Almost a carbon copy of 2001’s Essence in melody and lyrics, West is a notebook of slow moving hymns that run through themes of both losing and finding love.
