New at KSPC: Treasure Mammal’s “Checkognize”
Coming into work at KSPC can be somewhat of an adventure. I can listen to dozens of CDs and pull out maybe one or two that I want to review and program. I can hear 6 CDs in a row…
SONG SPOTLIGHT: “Little People (Black City)”
I hate it when songs that I like end too soon, so the fact that “Little People (Black City)†is my favorite track from Matthew Dear’s 2010 album Black City is extremely convenient. Clocking in at 9:21, the song takes…
ALBUM REVIEW: Wowser Bowser’s Debut
Wowser Bowser’s debut, their self-titled album out on Adair Park Recordings, shows a lot of promise for this Atlanta-based band. Wowser Bowser gives high-energy performances, which has garnered their live shows incredibly positive reviews. The complexity of the music, through…
KSPC’S FAVORITES: Listener & Staff Poll Results!
Last week I posted a poll asking you KSPC listeners/blog readers about some of your musical favorites of the year, and since then I’ve been pulling in results via the comments here, email, and personal interview. Overall, the consensus has been that 2011 was a great year for music. Find out about the most-loved song, album, new artist, KSPC in-studio, concert, and more after the jump!
Love, your Fall 2011 KSPC Executive Staff
SHOW REVIEW: Jon Brion at the Largo
Photo by Lincoln Andrew Defer/The Largo LA.
The Largo at the Coronet is a venerable LA-nightlife institution, as evidenced by the photos of star comedians like Zach Galifianakis and Sarah Silverman in the lobby and, of course, by the great Jon Brion�s status as an essential artist-in-residence there. He has played the Largo monthly since 1996, often bringing friends and surprise famous guests. As an independent musician, producer for artists including but not limited to Aimee Mann, Elliot Smith, Fiona Apple, and Kanye West, and composer of the score for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I Heart Huckabees, and Boogie Nights, Jon Brion has connections and talent enough to be distributed equitably between at least five or six people. Though his set a couple weeks ago on November 18 was more acoustic and mellow than I had been led to expect, I still came away satisfied and impressed by Brion and a certain special surprise guest.
SHOW REVIEW: Blind Pilot at El Rey
Photo by Shannon Lubetich.
Saturday November 19, 2011 1:30 AM
I just got back from one of the most amazing concerts of my life: Blind Pilot, with Point Juncture, WA, at the El Rey Theatre in LA on Friday, Nov. 19.
First up was �Point Juncture, WA from Portland, OR.� When asked after the show about the origin of their name, they said they were obsessed with the TV show �Twin Peaks,� and wanted to create their own imaginary town. This puzzled me, because I actually am from Washington, and was wondering where the heck Point Juncture was. Apparently, the band has had several people from Washington come up to them and claim they go to �Point Juncture� all the time� false. Not a real place.
ALBUM REVIEW: American Goldwing by Blitzen Trapper
As far as bands go, Blitzen Trapper has become one of my favorite traveling companions. Don’t worry–I’m not harboring any delusions about having spent a wild month on tour with them, rattling across the country one dimly lit bar or crowded nightclub at a time. I’m talking about the way their songs create a sense of adventure, a narrative that leads you on a journey through a distinct environment—usually past a woodsy creek or through a sleepy mountain town. The band has proved they are gifted raconteurs and American Goldwing, their sixth full-length album, is no exception to this.
ALBUM REVIEW: Dig On by She Keeps Bees
She Keeps Bees plays smoldering, gorgeous, alt-folk rock with a bluesy, rhythmic feel. This powerful, Brooklyn-based duo creates an incredibly resonant, full sound with only guitar, drums and vocals. Jessica Larrabee’s raw, beautiful voice emotes plaintive bitterness, and echoes in aching harmonies across the methodical roll of Andy LaPlant’s drums.
Staff Pick Baths – “Cerulean”
Baths is the moniker of outer-LA native Will Wiesenfeld. At all of 21 years, Wiesenfeld has made his name as a producer, musician and remix master on the LA scene. That may be over-stating it just a little bit, but…
Summer Staff Pick of The Week: Twin Hand Movements by Lower Dens
Lower Dens - Twin Hand Movements Somehow freak folk singer-songwriter Jana Hunter has put out an album with her new band on Gnomonsong, Andy Cabic (of Vetiver) and Devendra Banhart’s new label, and come up with something pretty unexpected: drone…
Summer Staff Pick of The Week: Ty Segall – Melted
Ty Segall – Melted
Ty Segall has got to be one of the most prolific musicians recording and performing right now. The kid has been in something like 10 different bands (Epsilons, Party Fowl, Sic Alps, and Traditional Fools to name a few) and released a plethora of songs on 7″ splits, compilations and more. Not to mention the 3 full-length albums he has released in the last two years. What is most impressive about Ty Segall (like the bird) is that almost everything he releases is solid. He’s working at a success rate of about 95% which is damn good. Melted is his latest full-length release put out by the legendary Goner Records and it is nothing to scoff at.
KSPC Presents: Dirt Dress At The Press Restaurant Tonight!
Tonight, LA band Dirt Dress will headline the second night of the KSPC Residency at The Press Restuarant !
In the fall, Americana DJ Karen discovered their unique sound through a show at The Smell, read more about it below!
DIRT DRESS = NEW FIND
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti “Before Today” (4AD)
Ariel Pink has, with almost no regret, left lo-fi in the dust. After over 14 years of releasing singles, tapes, EPs, records and CDs of music all in varying stages of audio decay, Pink has released his first professional studio…
Tony Allen – Secret Agent
Need a fresh fix of Afro-beat, but not ready to fly to New York to see Broadway musical Fela!? (Yes, really: youtube.) Listen to (KSPC to listen to) Tony Allen’s new album Secret Agent on Nonesuch records. Allen is Fela’s…
Pomegranates
On “Pomegranates” Finders Keepers has assembled a fine group of Persian tunes from the so-called “Golden Age” of Persian pop music. After classical forms dominated Persian pop music in the ‘50s, the emergence of artists like Googoosh was an unprecedented…