Screamfeeder - Pop Guilt

Australian band Screamfeeder have been knocking and playing their brand of indie pop for about for quarter of a century. The combination of male and female vocalists has drawn comparisons to The Go-Betweens however for many Screamfeeder songs the female voice is upfront rather than relegated to the background.

The band mix up the style of their song without straying far from indie pop territory. There's a definite Pixies influence seeping through the tunes "Falling" and a touch of the poppier side of Husker Du in "Got a Feeling". "Going to California" is a quick punk style burst with a heavy dosage of pop.


Prepare yourself for cake and booze, because the distorted "Making it Up" is a good cause for fans of Australian indie pop as it looks to Australia's indie pop past as it contains a hint of Grant McClennan without feeling like a carbon copy of what has gone before.



While there is variation between the songs on "Pop Guilt" which takes away any boring sameness, there's a lingering feeling that editing this album and chopping a number of songs would have been much a better move than lengthening the album by providing bonus tracks.


Release Date: 23 June 2017




3/5


Screamfeeder on bandcamp.


Screamfeeder on Facebook

Black Helicopter - Everything is Forever

On this four song EP, the circle of life is evident. Boston band Black Helicopter take their sound from 80's indie/college rock. Comparisons to Pavement, Husker Du and Dinosaur Junior will be made by many when they tune into the EP's opener "And I > Drive At Night". There's an undeniable geeky indie rock feel to both "Not Kewl Who"and "Show of Hams". "Not Kewl Who" comes across as a stripped back to the basics and much rawer version of Weezer. The follow-up song "Show of Hams" has a similar sense of fun and also a similar sound to the Violent Femmes. At times the vocals are reminiscent of Gordon Gano. The album's title track closes the album and it's a lengthy instrumental with a quirkiness that doesn't make the track outwear its welcome.

Right now you can listen to the album on bandcamp for free for a limited time so if any of the mentioned bands are of interest you should check out Black Helicopter's latest musical offering below.

3/5

Black Helicopter on bandcamp




Black Helicopter on Facebook

Carton - "Sunburst" EP

This EP from Vemont band Carton's comes as a nice change of pace and style from all the metal that's been gracing the pages on this blog of late.  Carton play beautifully messed up noisy pop with a garage rock approach.  There's no polish or pretense here.  The band would have fitted perfectly on 80's student radio in New Zealand between the Violent Femmes (in fairness, just the fact that they mention a "permanent record" brings the comparison) and the jangly guitar Flying Nun stuff.

There are three different guys handling vocal duties throughout "Sunburst" but it really doesn't alter the overall sound the band at all. "Better Drugs" is both harsh and melodic while carrying a bucketload of psychedelia although for some reason that is difficult to put a finger on, it brings The Senseless Things to mind.

On most of the songs, the instruments are louder than the vocals and due to Carton's raw approach, this definitely works in their favour.    There are three different guys handling vocal duties but it really doesn't alter band's overall sound very much.   If Carton were an animal, they would be a kitten getting tangled up in a ball of wool again and again because they quietly yelp, aren't clean, the hooks are definitely there and despite being messy and a picturesque quality can be found despite the mess.

3.5/5

Check the ep out on their bandcamp site.




Carton on facebook



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Midas Fall - Wilderness

Midas Fall -Wilderness -

 Being a sado-masochist is the only reason I can justify my  downloading of this second album by Manchester based band, Midas Fall as the promo material compared the band to Portishead, Radiohead and Oceansize . Portishead are boring and annoying with horrible female vocals. Radiohead haven't really been on my radar since they stopped being a cross between Echo and The Bunnymen and Straitjacket Fits.  The Oceansize, I received for review(and the only output of theirs I have heard) I wrote off as highly suitable as background music for coffeshops due to its inoffensive pleasantness.
All of the above comparisons do make sense in the case of Midas Fall, however they've managed to be more listenable than the bands they are clearly influenced by.  The vocals of Elizabeth Heaton are band's major strengths as they are neither too syrupy or too harsh.  An easy comparison would be Kate Bush.  

 "Wilderness" could be easily written off as another album that would be more suitable for coffee shops seeking inoffensive and unintrusive background music although there are multiple times throughout the album where both electronic sounds and guitar work attention grab although in "Fight First" the electronica is a bit much for my tastes but thankfully the song is brief.  

The fact that the band actually have a website is to be applauded in this day and age as so many bands just stick with  the bland facebook and bandcamp route.  "Wilderness" is the band's second album and it's going to interesting to see how the band develop in the future but for now, "Wilderness" is well worth venturing into.

3.5/5



Midas Fall's band webpage


 

Buzzmutt - Static In the Mind's Eye Chpt 1

Buzzmutt – Static in the Mind’s Eye – Chapter 1

Earlier in the year I ventured out of the house to see a reasonably well-known American psychedelic band who were really just Black Sabbath clones in different clothes and haircuts, not that there’s anything wrong with that unlike paraphrasing hit and miss TV comedy shows. The band asked for no photos to be taken and the mirror ball with the lights took care of that anyway because most of the pictures wouldn’t have turned out. Listening to Buzzmutt from San Francisco, it’s easy to picture them using the lighting and mirrorball as another instrument or even a separate band member.

There’s no faking pscychedelia in Buzzmutt’s music; these guys are not just weekend flare wearers and incense burners. It would be totally incorrect to state that there is a hallucegenic undertone because if Hunter s. Thompson was to be in a band Buzzmutt would be that band. The band conveys a spaced out airiness in songs like “The Trickster” and “Adjusted Sight”. The rythym section proves their worth in “Coming To”. If chemical lounge jazz swing isn’t a genre yet then “I Don’t Remember Pain” sets a precedent. “After That” rubs with a Velvet Underground rawness vocally although there’s a pervading spring of a puppy here too. Stylistically these guys are capable of going all over the map while retaining their own sound and testament to that is when garage punk parks up and yells and sings “Sharp like Razor”. Pleasurable distortion without added weird primal effects sums up “Jungle Zombie”.

These guys sent me an email describing their music as noisy experimental indie rock kind of stuff. The word "expreimental" is often used in musician speak and means only listenable to the band and a few of their friends. Believe me, that’s not the case here. All too often twelve songs from an unknown band wear out there welcome however Buzzmutt have abided by the review rulebook and followed Rule 1117 section E, which categorically states don't make each song sound the same but if you do then make certain that your band don't sound like shit. Unfortunately most bands don't even read the rulebook past page 3, the forming a band section.

Buzzmutt may have their own sound but one song sounds different enough to another for them to not only get away with it but for the length to make sense. No complaints about this release being too short either from this reviewer. It’s available from their bandcamp site at a price of your choosing or on cassette from the band.

4.5/5




Buzzmutt's bandcamp

Buzzmutt on facebook




Small takeover on facebook

Monks of Mellonwah - Neurogenesis

It has been a while since I've reviewed a band from across the Tasman but then this EP from Monks of Mellonwah showed up in the inbox. With my x-ray eyes I possess the ability to see the puzzled look on your face and see you're thinking Mellonwah? Yeah, I've no idea what that is either. Monks of Mellonwah are Sydneysiders so maybe it is food from one of their swankier breakfast restaurants and totally out of my price range.

Hey, that sounds like Canadian political folkster Bruce Cockburn was my recalling thought as "Neurogenesis" opened the EP but then the band veer closer to the heavier side of Tool but as they favour the progressive side of rock, the Monks of Mellonwah don't completely leave their quieter side but the chanting is definitely not of the silent contemplative nature. "Neverending Spirit" is more of a ballad although the guitars shimmer through the underbelly and the beer-bloated overbelly. The strength of the rhythm section bounce through the sweaty audience inducing "Kyoto" aided along with a wall of guitar sound reminiscent of mid-80's U2 or closer to their own home around but from the same time period, v.Spy v.Spy. "You Shine" is a slow building ballad that is reminiscent of those many 80's metal bands found obligatory.

Fans of Muse and Tool will take to this radio-friendly rock EP. It'll be interesting to see what the Monks of Mellonwah produce when it comes to putting out an LP length release.

4/5



http://www.monksofmellonwah.com/



Monks of Mellonwah on facebook




Small Takeover on facebook

Endand - Adventures of Hi-fi in Space

Endand are a trio based in Brooklyn, New York who have released two separate EP's as an album. One hi-fi and the other lo-fi.

My initial thought was listening to the first song "Far In-Between" was that it was a clever power pop song and not noise or punk as the info I was sent has categorized the band. The initial launch og "Labor Force " is straight out of the 80's with its huge chorus and had me reminiscing about The Comsat Angels, a band who haven't entered my thought process in years although towards closing time, feedback enters the fray which places the song more into the 90's. The 92 second "So What Now" has The Pixies written all over it. Death Song answers what would happen if the Kinks had time travelled to the nineties listened to the likes of the Pixies and Sonic Youth way too much then wrote "All of the Day and The Night".

"Adventures of Hi-fi In Space" is the polished pristine sound of a band that was nothing but a dream until last year.

4/5

No prizes for guessing that "Adventures in Lo-fi in Space" is a much less polished affair. The EP consists of DIY recordings that sometimes sound like they were recorded in an empty swimming pool.

Proceedings kick off with "Dawi" which had me thinking of Pavement as there's a jangly pop band dying to get out underneath the raw and rough approach. Guitars jangle as a sparse approach is taken to the song "Legend" with its almost whispered vocals. Missing that jangly poppy sound that was once synonymous with many Flying Nun bands? Then just check out "Sweet" and consider whether it's closer to The Chills or Sneaky Feelings.

"Adventures of Fi in Space is a scintillating debut album. Endand are already more than just a promising band as the promise has been delivered. Keep both eyes and ears on this band.

4/5

Endand on bandcamp

Endand on facebook.





Small Takeover on facebook

The Hague - Black Rabbit

The Hague, "Black Rabbit", 2012



A recently aired episode of the British comedy show “Outnumbered” had the youngest child wanting to stay home from school due to believing turning up at school would be too risky because it was Friday the Thirteenth. A number of other suspicions the little girl had learned from the next door were also run through during the course of the show although giving money to Albanians was correctly pointed out by her oldest brother as racism. An unmentioned old superstition suggests black rabbits crossing your path are a bad omen and even today it still is since the black rabbit is most likely a young child’s pet running away from home. However this Portland band The Hague’s “Black Rabbit” album found its way to my home. The band describes the music that they create as quiet songs played loud and it’s hard to disagree.


“Black Rabbit” opens with an instrumental ironically titled “An Open Book Conversationalist”. Despite its lack of words the song sets the tone of the album well with a poppy folk sound reminiscent of The Go-Betweens. A group harmony opens “Everyone in This Town” and the slick pop mixed with violin makes it next to impossible not to think once again of The Go-Betweens and the same goes for the occassional feminine vocals. Lyrically “I’m Sorry I Thought This Was a City” is a drunken reflection and a solitary profanity in the tune jars with jangly guitar. An assurredness rings loud in “Valkrie” due to The Hague’s collectively strong songwriting. Due to its sweet melancholy “Hour Glass” would fit comfortably on a Red House Painters or any other Mark Kozelek project with attention grabbing gentleness.

While the Hague do carry features of bands from last century, the band is definitely a product of this present age. Somewhere in the information I received along with this album, it is mentioned that all members of the Hague are bearded so make of that what you will. The music is really what counts and there’s not a bad song on this album although the folky group harmonies are the album’s weaker moments. Speaking loudly for the band is an unpretentious combination of shimmering guitar and violin with often unpredictable rhythmic structures. The The Hague’s songs are here to do the talking and there’s enough variation between songs which gives no reason to hit the skip button as this.

The Hague had a successful kickstarter project going to raise funds for a vinyl for a version of the album.

4/5






The Hague on facebook


The Hague on myspace

The Hague on reverbnation


The small takeover on facebook

Oceansize- Home and Minor

OCEANSIZE “Home and Minor”, 2009
(Superball)

When I was a kid my parents subscribed to National Geographic and the magazine would sometimes come with a flexi-disc with animal sounds intended to give the listener a fuller experience of articles about humpback whales.  UK band Oceansize have stripped their sound down by solely going for a quiet showgazer sound.  Opener Album opener “Legal Teens” is bland Radiohead/Coldplay fodder.  “Monodrones” is an ambient drumless piece with tranquil whirling guitar sound that pulls a listener into the pool so that they find themselves giddy from recurring circles.  Fooling the unwary, the beginning of the title track is difficult to tell from its predecessor as it just blurs together until eventually after snail pace instrumentation drums come in. The band sound like they’re more than a little familiar with The Red House Painters with slow quiet building guitar and half-whispered male and female backing vocals.  

A couple of tracks on this album are unnecessarily long and just bore.  The album won’t melt any faces off but would be the perfect for a coffee shop owner looking for unobtrusive inoffensive mellow background music.

2.5/5

Oceansize website

Dry Rib

Dry Rib  “Whose Last Trickle 78-82”, 2008
(Hyped2Death)

Around twenty years back me a friend and I taped some songs using the lyrics of some of our favorite metal bands.  We played using an out of tune acoustic guitar and drumsticks hitting carpet plus my terrible vocals.  If I remember rightly we let my friend’s sister hear the tape before deciding we’d leave music to people who could actually play.  Three months of drumming lessons and no drum set with a guitar player who couldn’t play a note despite an obsession with alcohol and heavy metal doesn’t make for great listening.  We did what every incredibly untalented band should do, destroyed our recording and unofficially broke up within hours.   Dry Rib, it would seem, were slightly better than we were but not by much.   From what I gather, from the long-winded liner notes this disc is a collection of all DRY RIB’s recorded material from between 78 and 82.   They had a guitarist who can play a little and a drummer who seemed to be the talented by being the least musically annoying member of the band.  The first song, “Quail Seed” is a bouncy little number sounds like something that couldn’t quite make the cut for the “Urgh. A Music War” UK post-punk compilation album.

The rest just comes off as the worst of the stuff Flying Nun records were getting rave reviews about in both the NME and Forced Exposure a few years after the initial release of this material.  Chris Knox’s solo output would be the best comparison except for the fact that he actually has some worthwhile songs. It’s jangly indie music with a guitarist and vocalist, who can’t really carry a tune so they improvise.   There are fleeting moments where they get it right but it’s usually not in unison.

Imagine mad English punk poet JOHN COOPER CLARKE performing after swallowing a tube of sleeping pills and that’s what the vocals and lyrics of DRY RIB are like.  There are twenty songs worth of material but it’s the same endurance test that a lot of bands in my hometown in New Zealand offered when they played live.  See, I grew up in a student town and there were a lot of short-lived bands that also considered themselves clever doing this style.  This sort of stuff was generally lapped up and played by cardigan wearing arts degree students. Probably still is.   The local liquor selling music venues loved these types of bands because the audience would drink beer in hope that alcohol enhancement would make the band more enjoyable.  The worse that the band was, the higher the bar takings were.   DRY RIB probably sold quite a few breweries.  Re-releasing this material as EP’s would have been a better move on the record label’s part and also made for less unenjoyable listening.  As it is, this 20 song anthological yawnfest could be administered as an anesthetic.


1.5/5

Dry Rib site

Absolute Monarchs "1"

Absolute Monarchs “1” -2012  
(Good to die)

 If I had to sum up the music of Absolute Monarchs on “1” in a single word it would be noisy but the use of a solitary word is no good so I’ll go for four words and go thick on the adjectives.  Absolute Monarch’s sound is blisteringly heavy indie pop but really that doesn’t do the band justice or describe their music really as it could be a lot of bands and cover a broad spectrum of music.  The standard reviewer’s crutch of describing one band’s music to a number of bands always comes in handy.    Using this technique for Absolute Monarchs leads down the path of describing them as The Pixies and Fugazi colliding on a trampoline after drinking a dozen energy drinks whilst covered by a slight umbrella of Helmet.

The band definitely have a pop sensibility but expertly mess it up by letting small doses of their noisy side shimmer with bursts of distorted guitar and yelled vocals on the opening track “Attack”.  The melodic “To Hell, Lets Masquarade” is one of the band’s more accessible songs and will cause pant wetting in Pixies fans.  “Bad Taste” has sandpaper rough vocals and it’s the absolute hook-laden melodic wall of sound that pulls the listener in.  The rhythm section blusters relentlessly in “Killing The Old”.  “Sharp” sounds like Fugazi.  As does “Hide it Well” but there’s also crushingly heavier side to it that brings Helmet to mind.


This is an impressive debut album. I imagine that live these guys and girls transform their onlookers into
a monolithic writhing beast.  Oh yeah, some guy called This album is coming out in April in both vinyl and CD so whatever you’re format you’re into it may pay to buy two copies as one is likely to wear out.


4/5


Absolute Monarchs on bandcamp


Absolute Monarchs on facebook

Absolute Monarchs on  myspace

Heat From A Dead Star - Seven Rays of The Sun

Heat From a Dead Star, “Seven Rays of The Sun”,  (2009)
(Ace of Hearts)

A game of pin the tail the donkey involving London based French experimental art-rock trio Heat From a Dead Star would be a tough proposition judging from the band’s music.  Stylistically, they are nearly all over the show ranging from noisy and chaotic, jazzy with piano on “Gallows” to the quiet 80’s Flying Nun roster jangly indie pop on “Daylight”.  There’s a harsh late 80’s Sonic Youth guitar sound in “Messy Kid” with vocals ranging from quiet off-key sung pieces to manic shouting.  “Seahorse Seafish” is sparse vocally letting the guitar sound shimmer and shine.  “Psychotic Girl” and “Craving” rapidly chug along with Fugazi-esque industrial rythms.   The album’s guitar work often begs for and captivates listener attention over and above the other instruments.  There are moments of brilliance on “Seven Rays of The Sun” but the movement in various directions is a definite handicap as Heat From a Dead Star currently lacks any genuine focal point.

2.5/5

Heat From a Dead Star on myspace

Heat From a Dead Star on facebook

Bob Log - My Shit is Perfect

Bob Log III,  “My Shit is Perfect”, 2009
(Voodoo Rhythm)

A couple of years ago I attended a punk festival and the show was stolen from all of the four on the floor bands by a guy who called himself, Boss Christ, who had huge wolfman sideburns and played a slide guitar laid out on a table.  Someone at the show compared him to Bog Log although admitting their schtick differed slightly so I checked out some live clips on Youtube and then promptly forgot about the flight helmet wearing, slide guitar playing lo-fi one-man band that is Bob Log.   So when this reminder in album form popped up in my review package, I was curious to give it a listen.

“My Shit is Perfect”  is largely a mixture of bluegrass and blues. The guitar often sounds like the open-mouthed kid, who sat behind you in some high school class, playing with the rubber bands on his teeth braces.  The first song “Goddamned Sounds Good” starts off well and gets funky with the heavy use of his kick drum but the song soon wears out it welcome due to its repetiveness in both sound and lyrics.  Whether it’s intentional or not, the fact is hammered home since it’s on the album twice.  “It’s The Law” and “Manipulate Your Figments” have an unoriginality that may bring Beck’s lawyer to a copyright trial.  As the album winds on, it’s difficult to distinguish where exactly where one song finishes and another starts as there is a “heard it before” vibe due to overused twanging riffs that make it tough to listen to the album from start to finish.  This tongue in cheek novelty album has all the substance of an instant soup concentrate.

1/5

Bob Log official site

Bob Log on myspace

Bob Log on facebook

The Second Academy - The Grave From Out of Which We Briefly

The Second Academy - The Grave From Out of Which We Briefly Wander, 2009

THE SECOND ACADEMY are three ex-members of The Beautiful Mothers who, if their myspace site is to believed, wrote their songs almost as they were recording them.   The band’s casual attitude in the studio doesn’t show through as the songs here are tight as you’d expect from guys who’ve played music with each other for a number of years.  “The King and Queen of Filth” blasts dirtily through the speakers emulating a washing machine whirr coupled with some tuneful whistling.   The band tilter upon the brink of an explosion with bass tocking over the mix and the vocals buried in the background.  Sometimes hanging back just makes so much more sense than diving in headfirst as it stops splinters and shards going into the body every which way.   All things being relative, “Litte Sister” sound is more than a little reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s “Mother” with its acoustic guitar, slow build-up and even lyrics.

The Second Academy dip their toes in alt-country on “The Right Woman” and “Posthumous Lullabye”.  Many a jangly indie band would learn how to channel the Velvet Underground if listening to “Adventure Tuesday” was compulsory listening before even conceiving the thought of a forming a band.   The mucky filth of “Monkey Shines” contains all the lo-fi requisite heavy distortion and quietly barked vocals.    At times, listening to the album right through, the mixture of styles doesn’t always gel although The Second Academy definitely deliver the goods when it comes to listenable songs.  With its Lou Reed approach, “Downhill” is oddly placed at the end of the album.  That’s a minor drawback that fortunately can be altered through the wonders of CD programming.

3.5/5

The Second Academy band site


The Second Academy on myspace

The Second Academy on facebook

Alice Donut - Ten Glorious Animals

ALICE DONUT “Ten Glorious Animals”, 2009
(Alternate Tentacles)



Way back when, I remember buying at least one Alice Donut album because I would sometimes purchasing decisions were made based on a record labels output even if an album and band was a largely an unknown beast, there would still be a familiarity with the label.  A number of punk rock gems were unearthed with the aid of disposable income from the SST and Alternative Tentacles roster.  Alice Donut threw me for a loop though with their psychedelic punk as I was expecting the outfit’s punk rock to gnaw through to the insides with raw primal brain bludgeoning speed so their scattered direction wasn’t an instant fit.

A distinct Alice Donut sound has always been tough to nail down mainly because of the variety of styles the band cover.  In the case of “Ten Glorious Animals” the reason is a distinct flavor has been watered down versions of various 80’s and 90’s “alternative” bands.  “No more room” paints by numbers Jesus and Mary Chain and the black clothing is smeared a weak grey and the blame cannot be laid upon Scottish white powder.  It’s impossible to listen to “Don’t I know” and not fight the temptation to yell, “Sonic Youth, you’re snapped”.   The green-eyed monster is staring firmly at David Bowie in the final two original tracks.   The creative well hasn’t completely dried up.  The piano-dominated “Mrs Carradine” reaches and grabs with its Peter Murphy vocals.  “Shiloh” stomps and kicks hellbilly country ass aiming and hitting dirt fair and square in the eye.

While there’s no complaint about overall listenability, Alice Donut’s imitation of past contemporaries is a large problem.  This is an album that could have been made by a much less experienced band rather than a bunch of old hands.    It’s impossible not to think that most of these songs were originally intended as B-sides and only heard by a few hardcore elite vinyl nerds.

2.5/5

Stephanie Schneiderman - Rubber Teardrop

Being a reviewer is challenging when something out of your normal sphere of listening comes along. That's how it was with me when I was sent Stephanie Schneiderman's Rubber Teardrop album. At first I was tempted to write it off as enjoyable bakground music and really not much else but then I felt obligated to pay more attention.

Rubber Teardrop opening with a song called "Hush" doesn't exactly slap me in the face however the electronica made me prick up my ears and realize I should pay a little more attention to the album. There's an etheral folkiness to Scheiderman's vocals. It's not a challenge to imagine her fronting The Corrs or being a stand-in for Suzanne Vega. "Riverstone" highlights the crossing of the electronic beat with straight up folk music and conveys a shoegazery tone over the blips. As the title track suggests by its name alone, it's melancholic but it's bounced back by a sweet poppiness. Often throughout the album there's a smooth laidbackness between the beats and the slightly buried vocals seem to beg to be in the foreground. The combining of styles is a feature that runs throughout the album and "Avalon" is a stirred up and stewed mixture of soul and trip-hop sifted through electronic beats. Just when you've things all sorted the contradictory "I am what I am not" states this a folk singer.

While this album didn't punch me in the face, it's a slow-burner and often that's better anyway. At the moment due to the weather , I'd rather have a warm flame of any kind than be battered around. Time to stoke up the fire.

3.5/5

http://www.stephanieschneiderman.com/

Campfire Ok - Strange Like We Are

Flashback to when you were younger and mybe in a club like boy scouts or girl guides telling ghost stories and holding sticks with doughboys cooking over campfire. Campfire OK have a name that conjures up that image which suits their music to a tee. The band blend a warm mixture of americana and folk incorporating jazz elements.

“We Lay In Caves” sets the mellow tone of the album with its lack of guitar, piano coming in and out. The short bursts of trumpet add to the laidback groove and nicely end the song. The intro to “Hard Times” had me thinking of the Afghan Whigs due to a similar seductive quality in the singer’s voice but unfortunately that doesn’t throughout the entire song but that’s because Campfire OK have their own sound going on The title track features a number of different toned (and gendered) voices over folk melodies.

“I Would Like Everything” starts out like a pop song reminiscent of The Go-Betweens although the hooks are not quite as instant as the song isn’t a cheery number. However “Not Young Not Old” is a chirpy and catchy piano-driven tune with an irresistable upbeat rythym. The vocals on “Magic Tricks” fit the downbeat lyrics like a glove. Piano dominates in “Brass” which once again utilizes different background voices. The psychedelic brass on Mexico N-O walks on the dark side of the moon. Unfortunately it’s a walk that veers a little too close to Floyd for comfort

There are times that the band seem to meander but the peaks far out way the valleys.. The album’s mellowness is likely to appeal to fans of The Fleet Foxes and those who miss The Go-Betweens are likely to enjoy the vocalist’s voice.

3.5/5

J Minus - Devil Music (2010)

The promo material describes J Minus as an atypical rock band who don't party hard or wear tight pants and the band share only a couple of tattoos between them on alternating weekends. The band definitely aren't hard since they sound more like the Wallflowers than Slayer or Minor Threat(who also didn't party hard or wear tight pants).

The album starter definitely takes cues from Jacob Dylan's crew with a simlilar chorus line. It's hard to differentiate between a drumbeat and handclapping. In contrast, all instruments can be clearly made out in the gently calming light rock of "When the Lights Go Out". Various instruments are clearly used on the begging "Can I Count on You? with the mellow vocals softly dragging the listener in for a sugar-coated ride. "The One" lives up to its name as it's the standout track and has AOR radio hit written all over it due to its sheer catchiness. Oddly, "Into the Dark" reminded me of "Super Star Car Wash" period Goo Goo Dolls. Often with the songs on this album, it's the instrumental introductions that cause interest so they've got it right as far as grabbing attention right away goes while the songs themselves continue to roll gently along.

I'd originally assumed that the cover crayon art was drawn by one of the J Minus guy's kid but turns out the artist is in the family but is actually a sister. Also one of the guys thanks his mother and father but this is hard to make out as the print is in a blue balloon so I hope the parents don't have failing eyesight. The fact that J Minus have two other albums out there makes this the band's grown up album and the album title(Devil Music, when really it's about as evil and offensive as a paper clip) and childish artwork betray their maturity.

3/5


Buy from amazon

Congratulations, You Suck

The Winebirds - Seance Hill

Indie folksters Winebirds herald from Portland, Oregon and are made up of two girls and three guys and make the most of this line-up vocally with male and female vocals. The female vocals dominate and at times bring to mind the strenth of the harmonies are reminiscent ofThe Corrs.

It's not all female vocals though there's a Mick Jagger style rasping at the forefront on "The Solution" and "Out in The Van which the accompanying female voice softens. Upbeat chirpy female voice lend "Hit Machine" a happy indie pop feel. "Tideman" sways in and out with searching melacholic undertones. That one song is titled "Cassandra" offers a clue as "Vanity" travels back from modern folk to the sixties courtesy of Mamas and The Papas. To say that Jagger style vocals take the role of Nancy Sinatra's boots and walk all over the song is understating it.

While the switch between female and vocals often doesn't work for me and the band's direction is uncertain. Possibly this is simply because "Seance Hill" doesn't really fit with my usual listening diet so I can't identify find a bad song on it. It'll be interesting to see which direction this band go in the future.

3/5

The Winebirds on myspace.

Inside Out

Here's some sugary fizzy pop from Aussie band Ratcat. I don't really know too much about the band although do remember their single "Don't Go" getting some limited commercial radio airplay back in the early nineties. However this album is entitled "Inside Out" and has a leopard yawning and poking his tongue out on the cover. Why is the leopard yawning and what is the connection to the album title? And what exactly is a ratcat? It's food for thought if you needed something to think about to pass the time in life's boring bits.

Making boring bits a little more interesting.