Gorillaz : Plastic Beach :: Review
It has been almost ten years and there seems to be no abating of the Gorillaz phenomenon. You might have thought they would have gone the way of the Hannah-Barbera created Banana Splits but the brains behind this operation, the ever ingenious Damon Albarn shows no way of slowing any time soon. Rather than continue with any further Blur reunion plans after last year’s triumphant return at the Glastonbury Festival, Albarn has focused his efforts on compiling a who’s who of 70’s rock stalwarts on his latest Gorillaz effort. The aging musicians included on “Plastic Beach” are Bobby Womack, Mark ...
Free Energy : Stuck on Nothing :: Review
Hailing from the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia’s Free Energy seems like a band from another time. Free Energy effortlessly channels the AM sounds of the Super 70’s and the early 80’s American Top 40 on their debut, “Stuck on Nothing” and prove they could have been on the Caddyshack soundtrack or fought for chart dominance against Loggins and Messina. Whether you consider that a good thing or not, there’s no denying that a hearty dose of the power pop from Cheap Trick, Eric Carmen, Steve Miller and the aforementioned Loggins and his cohort Messina hugely influenced songwriter Paul Spranger ...
Gil Scott-Heron : I’m New Here :: Review
Gil Scott-Heron’s album “I’m New Here” is a first in many ways. It marks the first time the legendary wordsmith and jazz poet has recorded in sixteen years and also the first album for XL Recordings. Gil Scott-Heron was signed to XL Recordings while incarcerated at Rikers Island prison on drug charges. Although Scott-Heron used to rail against drug usage in the 1970’s, it seems that he had fallen upon hard times and ultimately his music proved to be prophetic. Thankfully, “I’m New Here” offers a way back from oblivion and subsequently can introduce a new generation of listeners to ...
Pantha Du Prince : Black Noise :: Review
Pantha Du Prince’s new album “Black Noise” is an eclectic cacophony of both ambient sound and electronic soundscapes that create a bewitching listen. While listening to “Black Noise” you’ll feel as if you’ve been taken out of your element and dropped into a weird new dimension of sight and sound where your fantasies become realities and with apologies to Rod Serling. “Black Noise” was recorded in the Swiss Alps and often feels like a product of its surroundings in several tracks especially the chilly “The Splendour.” Elsewhere the album chimes and sputters along in sunny fashion, “Welt Am Draht.” The mood ...
Site Updates
Visit the forum for fun or for a laugh. This post was submitted by greg. Read More →
Read More Posts From Site UpdatesFeatured Tunes
ARMS Release Free EP, Embrace SXSW
Brooklyn trio ARMS (Todd Goldstein of Harlem Shakes & co.) have announced...
New albums from Futureheads + Hooray For Earth on Dovecote Records
Cat’s out the bag! Dovecote Records is super excited to announce upcoming...
Wye Oak announce “My Neighbor / My Creator” EP!
Less than a year after their acclaimed, dark triumph The Knot, Baltimore’s Wye...
Read More Posts From Featured TunesFeatured Geek
Andrew Bell : Android Update
Android mini collectibles Series 1 In case you missed it, I made some Android toys!...
Amanda Visell : Manifest Equality and Primeval Love
Below you’ll find some a new image from Amanda Visell for the Manifest Equality...
New Chet Zar Sculptures
Chet Zar is premiering some new sculptures in his webstore today! The first one...
Read More Posts From Featured GeekAlbum Reviews
Frightened Rabbit : The Winter of Mixed Drinks :: Review
Somewhere the veil must have been lifted causing the gloom and misery to dissipate on Frightened Rabbit’s third album “The Winter of Mixed Drinks” offers a buoyantly triumphant return for the Scottish troupe. “The Winter of Mixed Drinks” was recorded in a small seaside town of Crail and watery imagery is evoked throughout. Album opener,... [Read more of this review]
Serj Tankian : Elect The Dead Symphony :: Review
On paper, heavy metal and symphonic music would be a match made in heaven almost akin to peanut butter and chocolate. Both forms of music are somewhat dark and theatrical while also appealing to teenage fantasies so it would make sense that a heavy metal musician would want to heighten the drama of their music by incorporating a symphony into their... [Read more of this review]
Pavement : Quarantine The Past :: Review
Courtesy of their impending reunion tour, Pavement has compiled and remastered some of their favorite tracks into a semi-comprehensive greatest hits package. “Quarantine The Past” spans a decade (1989-1999) with one of the best bands of the nineties and attempts to whittle their output into a 23 track compendium which is fair because it focuses... [Read more of this review]
Peter Gabriel : Scratch My Back :: Review
Peter Gabriel’s new covers album, “Scratch My Back” is his first album since the ironically titled and maudlin cancer infused “Up” released eight years ago. Those expecting a reprieve from the funereal mood that dominated “Up” might be disheartened to know that Gabriel’s mood hasn’t seemed to lighten. The grave atmosphere that... [Read more of this review]
Holly Miranda : The Magician’s Private Library :: Review
Had David Sitek of TV on the Radio gotten a hold of Cat Power, the results might sound like Holly Miranda’s debut, “The Magician’s Private Library.” Miranda, formerly of the band The Jealous Girlfriends went the solo route and her debut is more of a showcase for studio trickery than her evocative lyrics and songwriting skills. Every track... [Read more of this review]
Read More Posts From Album ReviewsMark's Rear View Mirror: A Look Back
That Sound! : The greatest rock bands with that organ sound
In the 60s one distinguishing feature of the mainly guitar based bands was augmenting the group with an organ. These were the days when a keyboard player in a band would be constrained by hauling a piano around as electronic keyboards were still in their infancy. Despite that, the hefty Hammond B3, C3 and smaller M100 series were used in concert. An... [Read more of this review]
Jimi Hendrix : Songwriter :: Are You Experienced
Much has been discussed about Hendrix’s guitar talents…but forgotten in all the technical jargon is the fact that he wrote, arranged, and produced fantastic songs. This is the real legacy of his genius. Hendrix emerged when Cream with Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker was the prime example of musical rock prowess. Like Cream, Hendrix fronted... [Read more of this review]
Read More Posts From Mark's Rear View MirrorVideos
Kerli : Tea Party :: Video
For those that can’t get enough of the “Alice In Wonderland” goodness, here’s Kerli with her “Alice” inspired video. Sadly, there’s no Cheshire Cat. This post was submitted by greg. Read More →
Ceremony : Stars Fall :: Video
I enjoy watching pixelated videos of indie shoegaze bands. No, seriously. It gives them some charm when compared to a glossy and flossy standard superstar band. Ceremony is good too, so watching this is a treat of epic proportions. Ceremony “Rocket Fire” LP & CD – coming April 27, 2010 along with new 7″ The LP &... [Read more of this review]
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