Arcade Fire : The Suburbs :: Review
Arcade Fire is the Lifetime Channel of alt-rock bands who are seemingly content on placing their histrionic rants on assorted Generation X topics conveniently in one disposable package. Their third album, the regret and nostalgia fueled, “The Suburbs” joins the highly influential debut, “Funeral” and meandering Bruce Springsteenesque political debacle, “Neon Bible” as a return to themes that John Hughes mined for most of his career in the Eighties. Having seen this theme played out for the past twenty years in every sort of iteration causes this reviewer to forcibly ask the question as whether Arcade Fire deliver an accomplished ...
Wavves : King of the Beach :: Review
Within the past year, Wavves have gone through a lot of ups and downs, namely losing a band member, which is problematic when the band is a duo and live performances were marred by on stage meltdowns that would make bands like The Kinks or Oasis blush. However, chief songwriter Nathan Williams regrouped in the beginning of 2010 with a new rhythm section, namely bassist Stephen Pope and drummer Billy Hayes both former members of the late Jay Reatard’s backing band, and recorded “King of the Beach” at Sweet Tea Recording with Dennis Herring who was determined to coax more ...
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan : Hawk :: Review
Mark Lanegan has found his perfect foil in Scottish chanteuse Isobel Campbell and the same could be said of her on their latest album “Hawk” which features a double billing. Lanegan and Campbell have perfected their Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra style of songwriting and the sound is more reflective of collaboration than their previous effort “Ballad of the Broken Seas” which felt ham-fisted in spots. If you’re a fan of Lanegan’s output, consider yourself lucky, as “Hawk” is more of a representative effort after his woefully underused stint as the other half of Greg Dulli’s tacky Gutter Twins. “Hawk” ...
The Gaslight Anthem : American Slang :: Review
I hate Mall Punk. I really, really do. I will do my best to define Mall Punk for those who are interested without going completely overboard. The music of Mall Punk is devoid of interesting guitar riffs, insightful commentary and sounds sanitized. There’s no sense of danger or menace in Mall Punk. Mall Punk is the music made by people who weren’t embarrassed enough to hide their Green Day and Counting Crows albums when friends came over. Mall Punk music is safe and takes the best elements of punk music and whitewashes them into a poppy puree that is deemed ...
Tom Petty : Mojo :: Review
The typically untiring Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have not had much output this decade with the exception of 2002’s “The Last DJ” and the subsequent tour that followed. Possibly influenced by his Sirius Radio program, “Buried Treasure,” Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have created “Mojo,” a blues-based album that aspires to reach the lofty heights of the classic rock material that is highlighted on his weekly satellite stint. Tom Petty has been quoted when promoting “Mojo” that it will focus on the musicianship of the Heartbreakers. Granted, Petty has some great musicians in his troupe such as Mike Campbell ...
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Kings of Leon “Radioactive” single and pre-order news
Oh, how I used to like Kings of Leon before they were popular and “Use Somebody”...
Dungen Begin US Tour
One of the most lasting and honorable imports of music hereabouts, Sweden’s...
New : The Intelligence :: “Like Like Like Like Like Like Like”
To call “Like Like Like Like Like Like Like” by Seattle’s The...
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Shawnimals : Evil Syrup Ninja
The ninja of the month is the terrifying Evil Syrup Ninja who incidentally was a...
Book signing at GR2 on Sunday (8/29) with Martin Hsu
Attend and support the arts. You’ll be glad you did and besides, you’ll...
PLAYGE RAT – Release info
PLAYGE RAT [Playge Version] Release Info: The release date is set for Monday,...
Read More Posts From Featured GeekAlbum Reviews
The Brute Chorus : How The Caged Bird Sings :: Review
The Brute Chorus is the aural equivalent of a slosh through a field of misty cow patties. Excruciatingly underwhelming indie rock. Rating: No Stars This post was submitted by greg. Read More →
Boris and Ian Astbury : BXI :: Review
The Boris and Ian Astbury crossover, BXI is a combination that I never imagined coming to fruition. The pairing was suitably hyped and for good reason. It seemed like those old Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup commercials where some dolt was dropping his chocolate in someone else’s peanut butter and a miracle would occur. Could the former front man... [Read more of this review]
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti : Before Today :: Review
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti’s semi-debut album “Before Today” is a curious album that feels like an existential romp through your grandmother’s mildew infested basement if she was obsessed with garage and lo-fi pop extravaganzas as well as the soft rock sound of the 70’s. This isn’t surprising as Rick Pekkonen who also produced AM... [Read more of this review]
LCD Soundsystem : This Is Happening :: Review
On LCD Soundsystem’s final album, “This Is Happening,” James Murphy has crafted a definitive statement of everything that has influenced him and all of his side groups. Every little nuance that you have come to enjoy from LCD Soundsystem is here; from Murphy’s trademarked deadpan cool lyrics, post punk rhythms, and Bowie & Iggy pastiche... [Read more of this review]
Ratatat : LP4 :: Review
“LP4” is Ratatat’s most musically progressive album to date and “LP4” seems to be in love with the music that it contains. Evan Mast and Mike Stroud, the duo who comprise Ratatat have topped their previous efforts of oft kilter electronic music by incorporating more instrumentation alongside their standard 8-bit influenced beats and rhythms. ... [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
Interpol : Barricade :: Video
Here’s a new video for the 2nd release from the self-titled Interpol album. The video was directed by Moh Azima and accentuates the band in very Brady poses. Actually, the newly minted trio is at their Interpolish best on this little number which is pretty much what you would expect from them at this point. In the case of Interpol, I... [Read more of this review]
Trentemøller: …. Even Though You’re With Another Girl (Official music video) by SEN Music TV
Trentemøller: …. Even Though You’re With Another Girl (Official music video) from SEN Music TV on Vimeo. I figured I would allow the press release to do the talking as I am fairly sure I would screw the story up and something insane would occur. The new music video for the new single “… Even Though You’re With Another Girl”... [Read more of this review]
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