Reviews Archives - Page 845 of 1000

Dark Horses: Black Music

Jeremy Lukens May 6, 2013 No Comments

It only takes a few seconds for Dark Horses to establish the tone of their debut album. Black Music begins with swirling directionless noise, creating a desolate landscape. Lisa Elle’s distant vocals then join the mix, her pained voice combining with the flowing ambiance to create an uneasy feeling like waiting for expected bad news. The fact that the crescendo never happens leaves all the built-up tension unresolved and it lingers throughout the remainder of the LP.

Youth Lagoon: Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix, AZ 4/21/13

Spring Eselgroth May 6, 2013 No Comments

Curled over a keyboard for the majority of his set, Idaho native Trevor Powers, a.k.a Youth Lagoon, shared songs of his life thus far at the Crescent Ballroom. Singing in a childlike voice, Powers makes sense of what it means to be 22 and feel both young and old and every age in between.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Mosquito

Ron Hart May 6, 2013 No Comments

Recorded in London, New York City, Echo Park, CA and Tornillo, Texas with such high profile producers as Dave Sitek, the DFA's James Murphy, legendary UK post-punk/new wave producer Nick Launay and longtime Yeahs associate Sam Spiegel (aka Squeak E. Clean), Mosquito is the Like A Prayer to Fever to Tell's Like A Virgin, right up to the rousing gospel choir that roars at the coda of the explosive opening track "Sacrilege".

Paula Cole: Raven

Jeff Demars May 6, 2013 No Comments

When compared alongside her complete repertoire, Raven will undoubtedly stand tall as one of Cole’s top albums.

Jim James: Webster Hall, New York, NY 4/29/13

D.f. Warner May 3, 2013 No Comments

This night was a showcase of Jim James, whose meandering musical aesthetic is matched only by his evolving stage persona. His head-banging, cape-wearing, throwback rock-star act has given way to a suit-and-tie soul presence augmented by sliding, shimmying, and close (sometimes physical) interaction with his audience. His hyperactive, Flying V guitar solos on songs like “God’s Love to Deliver” were balanced by soulful, competent saxophone parts that added depth to a performance marked by the careful, intense delivery of the album’s uplifting, zen-like lyrics.

Junip: Junip

Jeff Demars May 2, 2013 No Comments

Junip makes no effort to outdo or dramatically alter the sound they have developed since their first EP, but they have clearly focused on improving their overall balance in writing this album. In time, Junip could easily prove to be the band’s best effort yet.

The Lone Bellow : Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA 4/20/13

Albie Cullen May 2, 2013 No Comments

Between the material and the musicianship there is no doubt that the Lone Bellow will be at the arena level in short order. Their live show removes some of the record's Nashville slick, production varnish which allows the music's roots and influences to shine through- in part its almost like attending a good ol' Southern Revival.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – Weekend One Highlights: The Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans, LA, 4/26-28/13

Leslie Michele Derrough May 2, 2013 No Comments

The thunder rolled, the rain poured down and the fans danced and sang, bringing the first weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival to a joyously muddy conclusion. For the past few years, the Fest has lucked out with decent weather; and for the most part, the three day weekend was lavished with partly-sunny skies, some late afternoon breezes and typical sweat-conjuring humidity. So the raindrops were long overdue and not unexpected, if you paid attention to local forecasters all week.

Phoenix: Bankrupt!

Jack Cavanaugh May 1, 2013 No Comments

Any fans concerned that Bankrupt! will be freakishly different than the Phoenix they've come to appreciate have nothing to worry about. Basically, Bankrupt! is a melodic and slightly gentler version of Wolfgang, and while this album could be considered experimental for them, but all of the songs are easily recognizable as a Phoenix song upon first listen. Taken in isolation, it's catchy, but maybe not with any songs capable of reaching megahit status. If they set out to make an album that's compositionally divergent from anything they've ever done before, they didn't do so well. If they set out to make an album of easy-on-the-ears pop songs with a few subtle twists, they did pretty well.

Midnight Oil: Essential Oils

Patrick Flanary May 1, 2013 No Comments

One CD might have done the job, but there’s little bloat here and more than enough to entice die-hards and new listeners with a proper reflection on the group’s genesis, process and closure. Essential Oils draws from all 14 of their recordings between 1978 and 2002. At 36 songs, the album traces a journey of demanding social justice through song, ones that evolve from polished punk to textured pop to industrial mayhem.

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