Album Reviews

Hot New Music: Gary Go – Now Was Once The Future — Album Review

  I don’t know about you, but I’m in LOVE with Benny Benassi’s “Cinema” track (both the original and Skrillex’s bass-filled remix). Its vocals are amazing and its romantic theme just melts my heart. I paid little attention to who sang it, but now I’m wishing I did. Gary Go not only sang on Benassi’s […]

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Sandra B. Olinger |
Seasons – Autumn – EP Review

Highland Park’s Seasons self-released their new EP entitled, Autumn on January 2, 2012. While previous EPs Spring and Summer were released in their respective seasons, Winter (June 2010) and Autumn (Jan 2012)—well, not so much.  Release date logistics/faux paux aside, Autumn is a damn fine EP—strong, sentimental and perfect for any season. Opener “Monday Nights” blasts […]

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Emily Saex |
Best Albums of 2011 – Musician, Skateboarder & Photographer Selections

Even with their super busy schedules and creative efforts, these guys still made time to listen to some new albums this year. It’s definitely not easy to put a Best Albums of 2011 list, especially when you’re not a music blogger or journalist with access to hordes of new music. But these guys made it happen. We […]

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Sandra B. Olinger |
Top 10 Best Record Reissues of 2011

Last year, I said the best thing about being a vinyl collector in this day and age is that everything is being reissued. Guess what? It is even more true now. With the reissuing of at least the top two or three records on the list below, I saved hundreds of dollars! And, with records […]

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Sandra B. Olinger |
Best Albums of 2011 – Grimy Goods Staff Picks

Well, here we are again — wrapping up another year of extensive album reviews and hot band alerts. Some albums we loved and some albums we hated, how about we just stick to the ones we loved (for now). One thing I absolutely LOVE about the Grimy Goods crew, is the extreme diversity of our tastes. Some […]

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Sandra B. Olinger |
The Muddy Reds “Justle Hustle” – EP Review

  L.A.’s Muddy Reds are hard at work getting their name out there and making sure their fans know what they are up to. These guys camp their band, book their face, joined the reverb nation — frankly I wouldn’t be surprised if the dudes had a Friendster page. I applaud their efforts to communicate with all […]

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StepheSykes |
Chelsea Wolfe – Ἀποκάλυψις (Apokalypsis) – Album Review

After her 2010 release, The Grime and the Glow, Chelsea Wolfe releases a sullen expression of her inner thoughts, ideas, and intrigue in the recent 2011 album release — Apokalypsis. Many writers have described her music as this Goth and doom meets folk. I don’t see it just like that. There is an intentional dark mood created […]

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Sandra B. Olinger |
Wax Idols – No Future – Album Review

Oakland based Wax Idols, fronted by and ultimately the core creation of Heather Fedewa, aka Hether Fortune (former member of Hunx & His Punx, Bare Wires and currently playing with CastleFace Records’ Blasted Canyons) released their album No Future on October 25, 2011 on Hozac Records. It’s a punk-fueled smorgasbord of songs, spot on with the […]

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Emily Saex |
MiMOSA — Sanctuary — Album Review

Electronic music is on the rise and even though Oakland-native MiMOSA has been on the scene for a while, the L.A. transplant producer/artist is currently making waves as he furthers his electronic image. Poised as “one of the best new artists” of the year, he’s already played at some massive events such as Electric Zoo, […]

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Sandra B. Olinger |
Apparat – The Devil’s Walk – Album Review

“Ka Blam!!!” “Oh My God, the roof is on fire. Look out!” “Fuck you, you motherfucker!” If this kind of melodrama is your normal speed, then I think you’re going to find Apparat’s new release, The Devil’s Walk pretty boring. This is a subtle record. So subtle in fact, last night a music-loving friend and I […]

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StepheSykes |
Heavy Times – Jacker – Album Review

If you are a pizza delivery guy (or in a crappy kidnap comedy flick starring Jessie Eisenberg), Heavy Times new LP, Jacker is the album for you. Clocking in under 30 minutes long, you can listen to the entirety of the album in a single trip and will be so amped from the rush of their […]

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Sandra B. Olinger |
Spectrals – Bad Penny – Album Review

At first glance Louise Jones, aka Spectrals is a brassy-looking ginger who looks like he was plucked straight out of a J.K.Rowling story. His full baby face is soft and pubescent, and charming in a disarmingly fresh way. Equally enchanting and surprisingly romantic his debut full-length, Bad Penny — released on Slumberland Records is bewitching to say the […]

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Sandra B. Olinger |
Hot New Music – Esben and the Witch – Hexagons EP – Album Review

Esben and the Witch at SXSW 2011 – Photo: Sandra Burciaga Now this is the kind of music to practice your witchcraft to, perhaps a séance or just some deep meditation (probably the latter). England’s Esben & The Witch are all the mesmerizing dark things you seek outside of this bubblegum-indie pop infested sphere of […]

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Sandra B. Olinger |
Hot New Music: Fuel Box “I” — Album Review

Wow, who ever thought the Netherlands have such authentic soulful vibes? Well, not that they don’t — but the country isn’t exactly known for being major players in turning out R&B/hip-hop/soul artists, but Fuel Box just might change all that. The soulful group, consisting of Remy “Lil’ Bucket” Britsemmer, Josh “Bone Four Oh” Boon and DJ Durian, […]

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Sandra B. Olinger |
Hot New Music: The Soft Moon – Total Decay – EP Review

The Soft Moon, the musical evil genius of Bay area based musician Luis Vasquez (and performing as a trio plus visuals for live shows) released their Total Decay EP on October 31, 2011. Out on Captured Tracks and available for streaming on Spin.com, this handful of “post-apocalyptic” songs was all too fitting for the Halloween […]

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Emily Saex |
M83 “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming” — Album Review

It seems that M83’s newest album, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming is as epic as Anthony Gonzalez said it would be last year when he first talked about the highlight anticipated follow up to 2008’s Saturdays = Youth. The sixth studio album by the French electro-indie act debuted at number 15 on the U.S. Billboard 200 […]

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Sandra B. Olinger |
Swahili Blonde – Psycho Tropical Ballet Pink – Album Review

  Swahili Blonde at the Echoplex – Photo: Matt Fisher OK. There is a LOT going on here. I mean there is a hell of a lot going on here. Swahili Blonde’s newest release Psycho Tropical Ballet Pink mixes elements of krautrock, Afro-beat, psyche, dub, skronk, no wave and I don’t think I’ve even covered […]

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StepheSykes |
Low Roar – Self-Titled – Album Review

  Leading with a low, organ-esque hum and trailing with pretty, plucky guitar chords that conjure images of foggy moors and unrequited love, you’re welcomed into the lyrical blue heart of super sappy indie rocker, Low Roar and his self-titled debut album released on Tonequake Records. Icelandic transplant via San Francisco, Low Roar (aka Ryan Joseph […]

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Sandra B. Olinger |
Hot New Music: Keep Shelly in Athens “Our Own Dream” – EP Review

Grecian electronica-downbeat pop duo Keep Shelly in Athens (KSiA), should change their name to Keep Shelly in Los Angeles because after listening to their new Our Own Dream EP L.A. is where I’d like them to stay.  The 12” EP will be released in limited silver and white vinyl (500 total copies) as of November 8, 2011 via Forest […]

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Emily Saex |
Dum Dum Girls “Only in Dreams” – Album Review

Dum Dum Girls have left some of the teenage nostalgia of their 2010 debut, I Will Be behind and are fresh faced with a 10-track dose of pop songs steeped in harsh reality with their sophomore album Only in Dreams released via Sub Pop Records on September 27, 2011. The album kicks off with the punchy “Always […]

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Emily Saex |