Week of 6 July 2003
Artist: The Tyde Album: Twice Label: Rough Trade
Rating: 4 *s out 5 All tracks clean (I think)
This is the second LP out by the Tyde, who sound (not surprisingly) a lot like their labelmates Belle and Sebastian, the Hidden Cameras, Mull Historical Society and British Sea Power. It's mostly mellow, 60-esque pop with a distinctly Surfy twang. It's what a moody Californian might have shoed-gazed at when the Beach Boys albums stopped.
It's poppy, it's fun and works well out road trips to the beach. Play if you like other 60s Pop Revival sounds like The Aisler's Set, The Essex Green and other Twee Pop like Call and Response and The All Girl Summer Fun Band.
Preferred tracks: 1, 2 (has Smiths-y opening chords!) and 6, but they're all pretty good.
Site
Album: Michigan Artist: Sufjan Stevens Label: Sounds Familyre/Asthmatic Kitty
Rating 3*s out of 5 All tracks clean
I've never been to Michigan, and now I think I never will do. This album is absolutely brooding. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was recorded in a cabin over a long, cold Michigan winter. All the songs are sad, but hauntingly sad. And while they can be breath-taking in scope, all this moroseness takes more patience than I have. I'm reminded of a moody 17 year old and their affected depression, "dress[ed] in black and drink vermouth, reading Camus and smoking clove cigarettes..."
Still, Stevens is a hell of a songwriter and like Stephin Merrit, does his thing well even if he wants you to know how /sad/ he is. Play if you like Smog and the Gothic Archies. It reminds me of Belle and Sebastian's EP "This Is Just a Modern Rock Song" as well.
Preferred tracks: 5, 2 and 12 (The name! The name says it all!)
Site
Artist: Saloon Album: If We Ever Meet in the Future Label: Darla Records
Rating: 4 *s out of 5 All tracks clean (hopefully)
Sixties lo-fi meets Noughties (heh!) Indie sensibility. Yeah, I know that applies to a lot of stuff out now, but it's still accurate for Saloon. Fortunately for me, these guys skew slightly more towards a rock sound than the seemingly de riguer twee pop. It makes them easier to listen to. Well-thought out music, heavy with hammond organs and ringing guitars and a garagey-but-more-refined feel. Amanda Gomez on vocals goes from Jane Birkin to Debbie Harry.
Play if you like... Australian girl New Buffalo, Blondie, the New Pornographers.
Preferred tracks: 1 and 3, but they all sound great. Play this
Site
Artist: Saxon Shore Album: Four Months of Darkness Label: Burnt Toast/Broken Factory
Rating: 2 *s out of 5 All tracks clean
The Fanatic Review says it about all. I remember quite liking Saxon Shore's first release, an EP called "Be A Bright Blue" but I'm not nearly as keen on this. Too often, the album veers from "deep and emotional soundscapes" with "bittersweet melancholy" to what I'd call "soundtrack to your manic depressive bouts".
There are some sparse bits of really good music scattered throughout the disc. But you have to look (too?) hard to find them.
Preferred tracks: Umm, 2 is the least depressing. Three ain's so bad, neither.
Site down
Monday, July 07, 2003
Week of 6 July 2003
Artist: The Tyde Album: Twice Label: Rough Trade
Rating: 4 *s out 5 All tracks clean (I think)
This is the second LP out by the Tyde, who sound (not surprisingly) a lot like their labelmates Belle and Sebastian, the Hidden Cameras, Mull Historical Society and British Sea Power. It's mostly mellow, 60-esque pop with a distinctly Surfy twang. It's what a moody Californian might have shoed-gazed at when the Beach Boys albums stopped.
It's poppy, it's fun and works well out road trips to the beach. Play if you like other 60s Pop Revival sounds like The Aisler's Set, The Essex Green and other Twee Pop like Call and Response and The All Girl Summer Fun Band.
Preferred tracks: 1, 2 (has Smiths-y opening chords!) and 6, but they're all pretty good.
Site
Album: Michigan Artist: Sufjan Stevens Label: Sounds Familyre/Asthmatic Kitty
Rating 3*s out of 5 All tracks clean
I've never been to Michigan, and now I think I never will do. This album is absolutely brooding. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was recorded in a cabin over a long, cold Michigan winter. All the songs are sad, but hauntingly sad. And while they can be breath-taking in scope, all this moroseness takes more patience than I have. I'm reminded of a moody 17 year old and their affected depression, "dress[ed] in black and drink vermouth, reading Camus and smoking clove cigarettes..."
Still, Stevens is a hell of a songwriter and like Stephin Merrit, does his thing well even if he wants you to know how /sad/ he is. Play if you like Smog and the Gothic Archies. It reminds me of Belle and Sebastian's EP "This Is Just a Modern Rock Song" as well.
Preferred tracks: 5, 2 and 12 (The name! The name says it all!)
Site
Artist: Saloon Album: If We Ever Meet in the Future Label: Darla Records
Rating: 4 *s out of 5 All tracks clean (hopefully)
Sixties lo-fi meets Noughties (heh!) Indie sensibility. Yeah, I know that applies to a lot of stuff out now, but it's still accurate for Saloon. Fortunately for me, these guys skew slightly more towards a rock sound than the seemingly de riguer twee pop. It makes them easier to listen to. Well-thought out music, heavy with hammond organs and ringing guitars and a garagey-but-more-refined feel. Amanda Gomez on vocals goes from Jane Birkin to Debbie Harry.
Play if you like... Australian girl New Buffalo, Blondie, the New Pornographers.
Preferred tracks: 1 and 3, but they all sound great. Play this
Site:
Artist: Saxon Shore Album: Four Months of Darkness Label: Burnt Toast/Broken Factory
Rating: 2 *s out of 5 All tracks clean
The Fanatic Review says it about all. I remember quite liking Saxon Shore's first release, an EP called "Be A Bright Blue" but I'm not nearly as keen on this. Too often, the album veers from "deep and emotional soundscapes" with "bittersweet melancholy" to what I'd call "soundtrack to your manic depressive bouts".
There are some sparse bits of really good music scattered throughout the disc. But you have to look (too?) hard to find them.
Preferred tracks: Umm, 2 is the least depressing. Three ain's so bad, neither.
Site down
Artist: The Tyde Album: Twice Label: Rough Trade
Rating: 4 *s out 5 All tracks clean (I think)
This is the second LP out by the Tyde, who sound (not surprisingly) a lot like their labelmates Belle and Sebastian, the Hidden Cameras, Mull Historical Society and British Sea Power. It's mostly mellow, 60-esque pop with a distinctly Surfy twang. It's what a moody Californian might have shoed-gazed at when the Beach Boys albums stopped.
It's poppy, it's fun and works well out road trips to the beach. Play if you like other 60s Pop Revival sounds like The Aisler's Set, The Essex Green and other Twee Pop like Call and Response and The All Girl Summer Fun Band.
Preferred tracks: 1, 2 (has Smiths-y opening chords!) and 6, but they're all pretty good.
Site
Album: Michigan Artist: Sufjan Stevens Label: Sounds Familyre/Asthmatic Kitty
Rating 3*s out of 5 All tracks clean
I've never been to Michigan, and now I think I never will do. This album is absolutely brooding. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was recorded in a cabin over a long, cold Michigan winter. All the songs are sad, but hauntingly sad. And while they can be breath-taking in scope, all this moroseness takes more patience than I have. I'm reminded of a moody 17 year old and their affected depression, "dress[ed] in black and drink vermouth, reading Camus and smoking clove cigarettes..."
Still, Stevens is a hell of a songwriter and like Stephin Merrit, does his thing well even if he wants you to know how /sad/ he is. Play if you like Smog and the Gothic Archies. It reminds me of Belle and Sebastian's EP "This Is Just a Modern Rock Song" as well.
Preferred tracks: 5, 2 and 12 (The name! The name says it all!)
Site
Artist: Saloon Album: If We Ever Meet in the Future Label: Darla Records
Rating: 4 *s out of 5 All tracks clean (hopefully)
Sixties lo-fi meets Noughties (heh!) Indie sensibility. Yeah, I know that applies to a lot of stuff out now, but it's still accurate for Saloon. Fortunately for me, these guys skew slightly more towards a rock sound than the seemingly de riguer twee pop. It makes them easier to listen to. Well-thought out music, heavy with hammond organs and ringing guitars and a garagey-but-more-refined feel. Amanda Gomez on vocals goes from Jane Birkin to Debbie Harry.
Play if you like... Australian girl New Buffalo, Blondie, the New Pornographers.
Preferred tracks: 1 and 3, but they all sound great. Play this
Site:
Artist: Saxon Shore Album: Four Months of Darkness Label: Burnt Toast/Broken Factory
Rating: 2 *s out of 5 All tracks clean
The Fanatic Review says it about all. I remember quite liking Saxon Shore's first release, an EP called "Be A Bright Blue" but I'm not nearly as keen on this. Too often, the album veers from "deep and emotional soundscapes" with "bittersweet melancholy" to what I'd call "soundtrack to your manic depressive bouts".
There are some sparse bits of really good music scattered throughout the disc. But you have to look (too?) hard to find them.
Preferred tracks: Umm, 2 is the least depressing. Three ain's so bad, neither.
Site down
Week of 6 July 2003
Artist: The Tyde Album: Twice Label: Rough Trade
Rating: 4 *s out 5 All tracks clean (I think)
This is the second LP out by the Tyde, who sound (not surprisingly) a lot like their labelmates Belle and Sebastian, the Hidden Cameras, Mull Historical Society and British Sea Power. It's mostly mellow, 60-esque pop with a distinctly Surfy twang. It's what a moody Californian might have shoed-gazed at when the Beach Boys albums stopped.
It's poppy, it's fun and works well out road trips to the beach. Play if you like other 60s Pop Revival sounds like The Aisler's Set, The Essex Green and other Twee Pop like Call and Response and The All Girl Summer Fun Band.
Preferred tracks: 1, 2 (has Smiths-y opening chords!) and 6, but they're all pretty good.
Site
Album: Michigan Artist: Sufjan Stevens Label: Sounds Familyre/Asthmatic Kitty
Rating 3*s out of 5 All tracks clean
I've never been to Michigan, and now I think I never will do. This album is absolutely brooding. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was recorded in a cabin over a long, cold Michigan winter. All the songs are sad, but hauntingly sad. And while they can be breath-taking in scope, all this moroseness takes more patience than I have. I'm reminded of a moody 17 year old and their affected depression, "dress[ed] in black and drink vermouth, reading Camus and smoking clove cigarettes..."
Still, Stevens is a hell of a songwriter and like Stephin Merrit, does his thing well even if he wants you to know how /sad/ he is. Play if you like Smog and the Gothic Archies. It reminds me of Belle and Sebastian's EP "This Is Just a Modern Rock Song" as well.
Preferred tracks: 5, 2 and 12 (The name! The name says it all!)
Site
Artist: Saloon Album: If We Ever Meet in the Future Label: Darla Records
Rating: 4 *s out of 5 All tracks clean (hopefully)
Sixties lo-fi meets Noughties (heh!) Indie sensibility. Yeah, I know that applies to a lot of stuff out now, but it's still accurate for Saloon. Fortunately for me, these guys skew slightly more towards a rock sound than the seemingly de riguer twee pop. It makes them easier to listen to. Well-thought out music, heavy with hammond organs and ringing guitars and a garagey-but-more-refined feel. Amanda Gomez on vocals goes from Jane Birkin to Debbie Harry.
Play if you like... Australian girl New Buffalo, Blondie, the New Pornographers.
Preferred tracks: 1 and 3, but they all sound great. Play this
Site:
Artist: Saxon Shore Album: Four Months of Darkness Label: Burnt Toast/Broken Factory
Rating: 2 *s out of 5 All tracks clean
The Fanatic Review says it about all. I remember quite liking Saxon Shore's first release, an EP called "Be A Bright Blue" but I'm not nearly as keen on this. Too often, the album veers from "deep and emotional soundscapes" with "bittersweet melancholy" to what I'd call "soundtrack to your manic depressive bouts".
There are some sparse bits of really good music scattered throughout the disc. But you have to look (too?) hard to find them.
Preferred tracks: Umm, 2 is the least depressing. Three ain's so bad, neither.
Site down
Artist: The Tyde Album: Twice Label: Rough Trade
Rating: 4 *s out 5 All tracks clean (I think)
This is the second LP out by the Tyde, who sound (not surprisingly) a lot like their labelmates Belle and Sebastian, the Hidden Cameras, Mull Historical Society and British Sea Power. It's mostly mellow, 60-esque pop with a distinctly Surfy twang. It's what a moody Californian might have shoed-gazed at when the Beach Boys albums stopped.
It's poppy, it's fun and works well out road trips to the beach. Play if you like other 60s Pop Revival sounds like The Aisler's Set, The Essex Green and other Twee Pop like Call and Response and The All Girl Summer Fun Band.
Preferred tracks: 1, 2 (has Smiths-y opening chords!) and 6, but they're all pretty good.
Site
Album: Michigan Artist: Sufjan Stevens Label: Sounds Familyre/Asthmatic Kitty
Rating 3*s out of 5 All tracks clean
I've never been to Michigan, and now I think I never will do. This album is absolutely brooding. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was recorded in a cabin over a long, cold Michigan winter. All the songs are sad, but hauntingly sad. And while they can be breath-taking in scope, all this moroseness takes more patience than I have. I'm reminded of a moody 17 year old and their affected depression, "dress[ed] in black and drink vermouth, reading Camus and smoking clove cigarettes..."
Still, Stevens is a hell of a songwriter and like Stephin Merrit, does his thing well even if he wants you to know how /sad/ he is. Play if you like Smog and the Gothic Archies. It reminds me of Belle and Sebastian's EP "This Is Just a Modern Rock Song" as well.
Preferred tracks: 5, 2 and 12 (The name! The name says it all!)
Site
Artist: Saloon Album: If We Ever Meet in the Future Label: Darla Records
Rating: 4 *s out of 5 All tracks clean (hopefully)
Sixties lo-fi meets Noughties (heh!) Indie sensibility. Yeah, I know that applies to a lot of stuff out now, but it's still accurate for Saloon. Fortunately for me, these guys skew slightly more towards a rock sound than the seemingly de riguer twee pop. It makes them easier to listen to. Well-thought out music, heavy with hammond organs and ringing guitars and a garagey-but-more-refined feel. Amanda Gomez on vocals goes from Jane Birkin to Debbie Harry.
Play if you like... Australian girl New Buffalo, Blondie, the New Pornographers.
Preferred tracks: 1 and 3, but they all sound great. Play this
Site:
Artist: Saxon Shore Album: Four Months of Darkness Label: Burnt Toast/Broken Factory
Rating: 2 *s out of 5 All tracks clean
The Fanatic Review says it about all. I remember quite liking Saxon Shore's first release, an EP called "Be A Bright Blue" but I'm not nearly as keen on this. Too often, the album veers from "deep and emotional soundscapes" with "bittersweet melancholy" to what I'd call "soundtrack to your manic depressive bouts".
There are some sparse bits of really good music scattered throughout the disc. But you have to look (too?) hard to find them.
Preferred tracks: Umm, 2 is the least depressing. Three ain's so bad, neither.
Site down
Week of 6 July 2003
Artist: The Tyde Album: Twice Label: Rough Trade
Rating: 4 *s out 5 All tracks clean (I think)
This is the second LP out by the Tyde, who sound (not surprisingly) a lot like their labelmates Belle and Sebastian, the Hidden Cameras, Mull Historical Society and British Sea Power. It's mostly mellow, 60-esque pop with a distinctly Surfy twang. It's what a moody Californian might have shoed-gazed at when the Beach Boys albums stopped.
It's poppy, it's fun and works well out road trips to the beach. Play if you like other 60s Pop Revival sounds like The Aisler's Set, The Essex Green and other Twee Pop like Call and Response and The All Girl Summer Fun Band.
Preferred tracks: 1, 2 (has Smiths-y opening chords!) and 6, but they're all pretty good.
Album: Michigan Artist: Sufjan Stevens Label: Sounds Familyre/Asthmatic Kitty
Rating 3*s out of 5 All tracks clean
I've never been to Michigan, and now I think I never will do. This album is absolutely brooding. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was recorded in a cabin over a long, cold Michigan winter. All the songs are sad, but hauntingly sad. And while they can be breath-taking in scope, all this moroseness takes more patience than I have. I'm reminded of a moody 17 year old and their affected depression, "dress[ed] in black and drink vermouth, reading Camus and smoking clove cigarettes..."
Still, Stevens is a hell of a songwriter and like Stephin Merrit, does his thing well even if he wants you to know how /sad/ he is. Play if you like Smog and the Gothic Archies. It reminds me of Belle and Sebastian's EP "This Is Just a Modern Rock Song" as well.
Preferred tracks: 5, 2 and 12 (The name! The name says it all!)
Artist: Saloon Album: If We Ever Meet in the Future Label: Darla Records
Rating: 4 *s out of 5 All tracks clean (hopefully)
Sixties lo-fi meets Noughties (heh!) Indie sensibility. Yeah, I know that applies to a lot of stuff out now, but it's still accurate for Saloon. Fortunately for me, these guys skew slightly more towards a rock sound than the seemingly de riguer twee pop. It makes them easier to listen to. Well-thought out music, heavy with hammond organs and ringing guitars and a garagey-but-more-refined feel. Amanda Gomez on vocals goes from Jane Birkin to Debbie Harry.
Play if you like... Australian girl New Buffalo, Blondie, the New Pornographers.
Preferred tracks: 1 and 3, but they all sound great. Play this
Artist: Saxon Shore Album: Four Months of Darkness Label: Burnt Toast/Broken Factory
Rating: 2 *s out of 5 All tracks clean
The Fanatic Review says it about all. I remember quite liking Saxon Shore's first release, an EP called "Be A Bright Blue" but I'm not nearly as keen on this. Too often, the album veers from "deep and emotional soundscapes" with "bittersweet melancholy" to what I'd call "soundtrack to your manic depressive bouts".
There are some sparse bits of really good music scattered throughout the disc. But you have to look (too?) hard to find them.
Preferred tracks: Umm, 2 is the least depressing. Three ain's so bad, neither.
Artist: The Tyde Album: Twice Label: Rough Trade
Rating: 4 *s out 5 All tracks clean (I think)
This is the second LP out by the Tyde, who sound (not surprisingly) a lot like their labelmates Belle and Sebastian, the Hidden Cameras, Mull Historical Society and British Sea Power. It's mostly mellow, 60-esque pop with a distinctly Surfy twang. It's what a moody Californian might have shoed-gazed at when the Beach Boys albums stopped.
It's poppy, it's fun and works well out road trips to the beach. Play if you like other 60s Pop Revival sounds like The Aisler's Set, The Essex Green and other Twee Pop like Call and Response and The All Girl Summer Fun Band.
Preferred tracks: 1, 2 (has Smiths-y opening chords!) and 6, but they're all pretty good.
Album: Michigan Artist: Sufjan Stevens Label: Sounds Familyre/Asthmatic Kitty
Rating 3*s out of 5 All tracks clean
I've never been to Michigan, and now I think I never will do. This album is absolutely brooding. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was recorded in a cabin over a long, cold Michigan winter. All the songs are sad, but hauntingly sad. And while they can be breath-taking in scope, all this moroseness takes more patience than I have. I'm reminded of a moody 17 year old and their affected depression, "dress[ed] in black and drink vermouth, reading Camus and smoking clove cigarettes..."
Still, Stevens is a hell of a songwriter and like Stephin Merrit, does his thing well even if he wants you to know how /sad/ he is. Play if you like Smog and the Gothic Archies. It reminds me of Belle and Sebastian's EP "This Is Just a Modern Rock Song" as well.
Preferred tracks: 5, 2 and 12 (The name! The name says it all!)
Artist: Saloon Album: If We Ever Meet in the Future Label: Darla Records
Rating: 4 *s out of 5 All tracks clean (hopefully)
Sixties lo-fi meets Noughties (heh!) Indie sensibility. Yeah, I know that applies to a lot of stuff out now, but it's still accurate for Saloon. Fortunately for me, these guys skew slightly more towards a rock sound than the seemingly de riguer twee pop. It makes them easier to listen to. Well-thought out music, heavy with hammond organs and ringing guitars and a garagey-but-more-refined feel. Amanda Gomez on vocals goes from Jane Birkin to Debbie Harry.
Play if you like... Australian girl New Buffalo, Blondie, the New Pornographers.
Preferred tracks: 1 and 3, but they all sound great. Play this
Artist: Saxon Shore Album: Four Months of Darkness Label: Burnt Toast/Broken Factory
Rating: 2 *s out of 5 All tracks clean
The Fanatic Review says it about all. I remember quite liking Saxon Shore's first release, an EP called "Be A Bright Blue" but I'm not nearly as keen on this. Too often, the album veers from "deep and emotional soundscapes" with "bittersweet melancholy" to what I'd call "soundtrack to your manic depressive bouts".
There are some sparse bits of really good music scattered throughout the disc. But you have to look (too?) hard to find them.
Preferred tracks: Umm, 2 is the least depressing. Three ain's so bad, neither.
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