She & Him – Volume 3

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While the naming scheme of She & Him’s albums would indicate otherwise, I was still convinced that 2008’s debut by Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, Volume One, would be a one-time musical dalliance for the actress (I mean, does anyone remember Scarlett Johansson’s singing career? Hopefully not.). For one thing, Deschanel’s a busy lady with a full slate of acting gigs and what I suspect to be a time-consuming eyelash… continue reading

Scott & Rivers – Scott & Rivers

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Scott & Rivers is the debut album of Allister’s Scott Murphy and Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo. Released by Universal Music Japan’s Delicious Deli Records, this album is standard power-pop fare with a curious twist – it is sung almost entirely in Japanese. Given Murphy’s success as a solo artist in Japan and Cuomo’s obvious affinity for Japanese culture, the gimmick of this project is hardly surprising. But does it work? Upon… continue reading

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Specter At The Feast

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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is one of those bands that eventually catches your interest for one reason or another: their long lifespan, a wannabe badass name, or their appearance on a Twilight soundtrack. After hearing only a few songs by the California-based trio before, I bought their latest album on a whim in the midst of a CD shopping binge. Specter At The Feast turned out to be a decent purchase, but… continue reading

The Venetia Fair – Every Sick, Disgusting Thought We’ve Got in Our Brain

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The Venetia Fair does not fit cleanly into any genre or scene. Perhaps it is better that way, because their brand of punky, vaudevillian, who-cares-what-you-call-it is surprisingly refreshing. Crafted by a band that was often likened to a heavier Panic! At the Disco, The Venetia Fair’s sophomore album seeks to create and carefully refine a distinctive style. The result is the amusingly campy Every Sick, Disgusting Thought We’ve Got in Our… continue reading

MMOTHS – Diaries EP

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Admittedly, I don’t normally gravitate towards electronic music. But something about the second EP from MMOTHS enveloped me. While part of it may be that the man behind MMOTHS, Irishman Jack Collerman, is a mere 19 years old, the more likely explanation is that MMOTHS’ music has a relaxed, chill energy that deftly avoids becoming a lullaby. That’s not necessarily the case on his first self-titled EP, that at times… continue reading

Tegan and Sara – Heartthrob

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Well, it’s official. With Heartthrob, Tegan and Sara’s newest fully-synthed, full-length album, the once overwhelmingly acoustic indie-folk duo can now call themselves ‘pop stars.’ But that doesn’t mean we have to believe it. For Tegan and Sara, who put out their first official studio album, If It Was You, in 1999, it’s been a long time coming. Their last LP, 2009’s Sainthood, was the first indication for fans and critics alike that the Canadian… continue reading

Everything Everything – Arc

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For those uninitiated with the British indie scene, Everything Everything is known for providing harmonized pop-rock through convoluted lyrics and vigorous, kitchen-sink instrumentation. Their second album, Arc, steers away from the pitfalls of the sophomore slump, providing a brilliant foundation for an enduring discography. Let’s start with the single. “Cough Cough,” the lead track, creates an abstruse, harrowing sense of the album’s direction. It’s a song that keeps your attention… continue reading

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Push the Sky Away

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Nick Cave’s Bad Seeds project has never entered an official hiatus, but the last few years have certainly felt like one in certain ways. Since 2006, the legendary Australian songwriter has poured much of his energy into Grinderman, a noisy, raw counterpoint to the statelier Bad Seeds. Though the two bands shared significant overlap in membership, 2007’s Grinderman and 2010’s Grinderman 2 showcased a rougher, looser side of Cave and… continue reading

Starfucker – Miracle Mile

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While their band name might not make it all that obvious, Starfucker’s (stylized STRFKR for the faint of heart) sophomore effort, Reptilians, went a long way to show that the band was capable of serious (and seriously impressive) work. Initially notable for their eye-catching name, progressive fashion sense and upbeat indie pop (as well as the best cover of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” ever recorded), the Portland, Ore…. continue reading

Atlas Genius – When It Was Now

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You’ve heard this one before. No, I’m not referring to the hundred times you listened to “Trojans,” the track that single-handedly brought on Atlas Genius’ big break. What I am talking about is the story of how this album and, consequently, the band itself will be received and labeled. Atlas Genius released the catchy “Trojans” to massive success almost two full years ago. But that is exactly the problem: it… continue reading

Angela Faye Martin – Anniversary

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It may be because of my own Yankee upbringing, but there seems to be a unique quality to music associated with the South that is too enchanting to ignore. The music of Angela Faye Martin is no exception. Although faced with a particularly bad case of writer’s block after the passing of friend and mentor Mark Linkous (the enigmatic Sparklehorse maestro who produced her first record), Martin has broken through… continue reading