Chiddy Bang’s “The Preview” functions precisely as a preview. The young, energetic duo’s debut album gives us a peek at what they are capable of doing. Although only consisting of nine tracks, three of which had already appeared in their first mixtape The Swelly Express, the album will primarily work to introduce the Philadelphia duo to a larger audience.
Antony and the Johnsons make the kind of music you hear in the opening montage of an artsy, independent film, or the kind you turn on when you’re feeling contemplative and maybe a little bittersweet. You know, the mood where you keep your textbook open on your lap under the pretext of doing homework, but really you just end up staring out the window, thinking about life and assuming you’ll absorb the knowledge through your knees. Read More »
Robots & Dinosaurs by DC’s own Kokayi is one of those rare hip-hop albums which achieves a balance between consistency and variety, and appeals equally to both his hard-core fan-base and newcomers. Too many rappers put out albums that are either filled with fifteen tracks rehashing the same theme, be it the life of a gangster, lyrical skills, or getting it on in the club. Read More »
Not long after putting on The Jigsaw Seen’s new album Bananas Foster for the first time, I got distracted and walked away until about halfway through the album. Upon my return, I had to check what was playing, because I thought for sure that what was playing was some late ’60′s British rock, perhaps some Kinks album I had somehow overlooked. But no, Bananas Foster was recorded in 2010 by the Jigsaw Seen and is the Los Angeles based band’s 4th full length album since forming in 1988. That I had to check, speaks volumes about The Jigsaw Seen’s success in their retro rock stylings, showing that the album stands up to the classics by which it is influenced. Read More »
The secret is out- the Secret Sisters are here. Backed by Grammy-winning producer behind the “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack, T. Bone Burnett (side note: probably the coolest name ever), their self-titled debut album hits the shelves on October 12. If you are looking for another Taylor Swift, don’t look here. The singing sisters’ pure duets evoke old school Appalachian hits more than Nashville number ones.
The thing with creating slow, atmospheric music is that it’s a risky endeavor. You ask the listener to step inside a song, not to just listen to it. For three or four minutes, you are breathing the music and seeing only what the song chooses to show you. It can just as easily be a heaven or a hell.
Luckily for Evenings, the Charlottesville based instrumentalist, he creates a world I would gladly spend hours in. The North Dorm EP captures a certain serenity. A peace with the world as it happens, when it happens. It isn’t pop, or even necessarily happy, but it is tensionless. Apathy is when you choose not to care, but Evenings claims there isn’t anything to care about, at least for the duration of these five songs. Just sit down, let the leaves fall, let the waves splash at your feet, and get worked up when there’s something to get worked up about.
Download the EP for negative infinity dollars: http://www.mediafire.com/?hsn4pdyplrnv46q
This Friday was the ever successful Ipod Battle in Bulldog Alley. Congratulations goes out to Matt and Jeremy for taking home the crown, and a big thanks to all the battlers for coming out. I have to say, it was intense in a way I haven’t seen before. Check out the action pics after the jump!
On October 12th, Scottish indie pop band Belle and Sebastian granted my wish and released their first album in over four years, Write about Love. It’s good. It’s really good. Buy it now.
While Belle and Sebastian were on hiatus, I was been busy getting married to their previous albums If You’re Feeling Sinister, The Boy with the Arab Strap, and Dear Catastrophe Waitress. Despite our relationship, I was a little upset with my first listen of Write about Love. It sounded like the Belle and Sebastian that I know and love, but I didn’t feel that same nostalgia that I get when I listen to “Like Dylan in the Movies” or “If She Wants Me.” It took a couple listens to distance myself from the Belle and Sebastian of the soundtrack to my life and appreciate Write about Love in its own right.
