It’s hard to tell if the “Evil” pitted against Deerhoof on its latest record is becoming complacent in the ability to challenge its listeners with songs that are equal parts avant-garde and pop. One thing for sure is that their latest album, Deerhoof vs. Evil, has more in common with the excellence, perhaps more listener […]

Let me start this off by saying ALL these songs are fantastic to begin with so a cover version is probably going to be good as well. This applies to Grammy award winning artist, Corinne Bailey Rae’s new release, The Love E.P. She has this unique voice that could be described as disco, soul, doo-wop […]

All the way from Minnesota, up-and-comers, Peter Wolf Crier, played a charming show this past Friday, January 21 at the Echo. The endearing duo filled the Echo with heart felt gazes as drummer, Brian Moen’s pulsating drum rolls added a lovely fervor to the sweet and soulful vocals of Peter Pisano. Although Peter Wolf Crier’s […]

For all the music bloggers that like to make those popular lists of bands to watch in 2011, here’s one to add to your roster: Braids. We’ve been extremely hyped on Braids ever since we received their tracks, “Lemonade” and “Plath Heart” in 2010. And when we found out they were playing a show here […]

For their debut full-length album Beauregard, Pepper Rabbit’s tunes could be called things such as “familiar,” “popular” and most definitely “indie.” And while these terms are accurate, there is more simmering beneath the surface than just another Silver Lake hipster gem. They have the multi-instrument folk-with-echoes style down pat. They’ve earned comparisons to label mates […]

This week I have felt like this album. Happy and sad, enthusiastic about life and experiences, and yet loathing life’s little practical jokes all at the same time. It’s all here in the music I’m listening to right now. It’s a debut album title and artist name that reads like a valentine, Heart of the […]

It’s interesting how life experience and age can determine how a phrase is interpreted. The term “girl group” for our parents conjures images of Motown legends like The Supremes. Those of a music absorbing age in the 80s and 90s probably think of TLC, Spice Girls or Destiny’s Child. For a number of years after […]

The latest album by Andrew Bird titled Useless Creatures, is reflective of sounds of loneliness, heartbreak, spring, autumn, sadness and happiness all at the same time—like a pantheon of emotions. The album starts with the song “Master Sigh” and it is just that. Hauntingly beautiful it sounds like gold and brown Autumn leaves falling from […]

The title “A Headful of Stars” provides a great image to go with the dreamy Britpop heard in the new album by The Sails. Yet another 60s psych flashback band out of the U.K., The Sails is led by Michael Gagliano of the band Epic, along with a little help from an ever changing ensemble […]

Instrumental in the foundations of psychedelic rock and icons of a generation, Pink Floyd is one of the most influential rock bands of all time. While Floyd’s name is solidified in rock history, to those in Gen X and beyond, Syd Barrett’s name may only be vaguely recognizable. Even though Barrett achieved great success leading […]

Quirky and unusual are two words to describe the duo of Buke and Gass. Their name alone is enough to slap them with such labels (though the pronunciation of “byook” and “gace” helps curb thoughts of bodily functions… a little.) Yet, they become a whole lot more fascinating when you discover the basis for the […]

Photo: Anna Thompson After receiving some major indie Blog love with their 2009 debut album “Ain’t So Bright,” the Electric Owls are set to release their new EP “Cullowhee Songs” on November 9th. The four-song EP jangles with that inviting sound of backyard instruments you’d hear at a country hoedown, except the Electric Owls add […]

Time travel, that’s what I feel when first hitting play on “Love & The Sweet Divine,” the debut full length album by Solaram. The first track “When She Falls” is a mix of Spacemen 3 memories and the vocal sweetness of The Beatles created through basic lyrics about love (shocking for songwriters I know) a […]

Much can happen in 20 years. For example, the number one song 20 years ago, nearly to this day, was “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice. Now, ol’ Rob Van Winkle is running in the pseudo-celebrity has-been circuit with another reality show about do-it-yourself house repair. Big name rock stars of 20 years ago have […]

Ever since Klaxons catapulted into the indie new wave scene in 2007 with their Mercury Prize winning debut album, “Myths of the Near Future,” they’ve harnessed a sound that’s difficult to ignore. Three years later now, the London four-piece struck back with their new album, “Surfing the Void,” and played a sold-out show at the […]

The leaves outside are starting their transformation, the temperatures are dropping and we’ve officially turned that seasonal corner, deep in the heart of Fall. October is a month that welcomes diversity, transition and spooky good times. Thus, it only seems appropriate that the Portland-based band Tu Fawning chose this wonderful time of the year for […]

Door beating percussive throbs open “Life Prowler,” the welcoming introduction into No Age’s latest, Everything In Between. Their third longplayer (second for Sub Pop), the LA duo Dean Spunt and Randy Randall return with the follow-up to their 2008 Grammy-nominated “Best Recording Packaging” that is: Nouns. “One time is all I need to know my […]

Wow. This album begins with a startling crash that jolts you into giving it all your damn attention. It burst out like it’s the end of a song that’s already built up to the loudest peak, only it’s just the beginning. I like it. I would think the sound of the song “Love Is Ending” […]

So, I had this friend … One of his favorite and most commonly used tactics for picking up ladies at various taverns was to tell them that he was the drummer of some semi-popular/obscure band. The examples that come to mind are Blues Traveler and G. Love and the Special Sauce. Did it work? Sure […]

I have one word for this album: hypnotic. Your experienced music mind might think I’m talking about trippy psychedelic sounds but that is not the case with Eternal Summers’ debut full-length album “Silver.” Some how this duo’s creations make me feel hypnotized with their poppy upbeat tunes. After hitting play I don’t want to write […]