Category: Reviews
Shaky Knees 2015 in Review
[tps_header] “Incredible.” “Epic.” “Unreal lineup.” “Best festival I’ve ever been to.” I heard all of these descriptions last weekend at Shaky Knees Festival, and I echoed them in spades. No complaints whatsoever. For a festival that’s only in its third year, Shaky Knees is already topping my list of favorite fests. The lineup was absurdly…
The Vaccines: “Minimal Affection”
If you’re still unsure just how prevalent 80s nostalgia is in today’s scene, pick up a shovel and dig the new Vaccines track. The playfully cool new track (off of their 5/26 release English Graffiti) uses the same faux string synth spurts that made you love your kiddie Casio back in the day. The track is…
Reptar share new video for “Amanda”
(NOT FOR THOSE EASILY GROSSED OUT) Reptar have shared the music video for their new single “Amanda,” and it’s (expectedly) a weird one. Two girls in white take turns putting weird fruit in each other’s mouths, and there’s some fun and casual waterboarding. It’s footage that could very well show up on your local public access…
Sufjan Stevens: “Exploding Whale”
In the ongoing tradition of employing grotesque imagery, Sufjan Stevens’ tour-only song “Exploding Whale” has been leaked online. Thanks to a Reddit user, and with permission from Stevens’ label Asthmatic Kitty Records, the plinky, wandering track is now available to us all. It’s more Kid A than the offerings on his most recent record Carrie & Lowell, drawing comparisons…
firekid at the 40 Watt 4.14.15
[tps_header] Last night, the 40 Watt hosted two newfangled Americana bands, firekid and Delta Spirit. Despite a sparse crowd and little fanfare, firekid – a two-piece Nashville group – delivered an interesting and varied set of reimagined roots music. Initially, they seemed like a group in the vein of Shy Girls, mixing whispered vocals with…
Turbo Suit: ‘Out Here’
At first listen, Turbo Suit‘s Out Here transports you to another place. It immediately brings you to some huge field with new and old friends while you bask in all of summer’s glory and dance the day and night away. Maybe because warmer weather is closing in, and festival fever is rampant, but with it’s grandiose…
The Ravenna Colt: ‘Terminal Current’
The Ravenna Colt is the side project of former My Morning Jacket guitarist Johnny Quaid, who co-founded MMJ with Jim James. He left the group in 2004 after the release of It Still Moves (taking with him the Kentucky farm they used to record on, incidentally changing their sound) and deigned to do what so many…
Tame Impala: “‘Cause I’m A Man”
In the second single from Tame Impala‘s upcoming record, we find band mastermind Kevin Parker imploring his ladylove that he’s really sorry for hurting her feelings – but he just can’t help it, because he’s a dude. Okay, pause. The song as a song is sublime Impala – pleasantly sluggish psychedelic garage rock that sounds…
Slingshot 2015: In Review
[tps_header] 2015 has put another successful Slingshot Festival in the books. Despite hiccups here and there, this year’s festival drew unique and eclectic acts from around the world. Almost every band thanked the festival, and organizer Kai Riedl, for putting together such a fantastic offering, and I’d have to agree. But since we’re all bound by the…
Courtney Barnett: ‘Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit’
Considering the considerable press Courtney Barnett has garnered in recent months, it may surprise some that she’s only just released her first album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. Her singles and EPs have upped the anticipation ante, and have worried initial fans – myself included – about whether or not the…