In a rare interview Burial once said, "I love...old jungle and garage tunes, when you didn't know anything about them, and nothing was between you and the tunes." This philosophy certainly rings true in his artistic persona and his music. Burial was totally…
By Scott Baker: They have traveled to all 4 corners of the globe. They have seen things no mortal man should be forced to witness. Still they will not fade. HORSE the band is back with their newest brain-drilling album…
About a week ago, I borrowed a car and, with a fellow KSPCer, braved the 10 Freeway into LA to see my favorite band, Ezra Furman & the Harpoons. A 21+ show at the Spaceland, the crowd was a mix…
Cadence Weapon's second release, while an extremely competent slice of alternative hip hop, is hampered by the use of similar-sounding production on most of the tracks, blending them together into an indistinguishable mash of psychotic synths and over-worked drum machines.…
Supergroup, THE MONSTERS OF FOLK, mesmerized the nearly silent crowd at the Greek Theatre on Sunday evening. Three incredible singer-songwriters collaborated to present a lovely musical kaleidoscope that left the audience entirely satisfied. Conner Oberst spat out lyrics with raw…
Another classic from Legendary Music's Grouch and Eligh! This album has some of the deepest, most insightful content I've ever heard in Hip-Hop. It has several great guest artists, including Slug, Gift of Gab, and Sage Francis. Overall it's an…
Album: Time to Die Artist: The Dodos Label: Frenchkiss In regular Dodos fashion, this album is full of epic builds and interesting tempo shifts. Despite this, Time to Die is a nice change from Visiter, their second full-length release, as…
The influence of Feist (who did vocals for the fourth and ninth tracks) and Erik Glambek-Boe of Kings of Convenience are comfortably, though not distractingly, evident in the work of nor-Cal’s Rubies. Explode from the Center consists of exceptionally pretty…
Album: Manners Artist: Passion Pit Label: Frenchkiss Passion Pit's first full-length release, "Manners," incorporates and highlights Micheal Angelakos' signature falsetto vocals. While Manners dances along the line of becoming overly poppy and danceable, whether he crosses that line becomes a…
Since their formation in 1984 Dinosaur Jr have won over music legends from Sonic Youth to Kurt Cobain, and helped inspire the grunge scene. Key members include Barlow of Sebadoh and perfectionist J Mascis. Their best album, “You’re Living all…
Hark! It’s Nashville’s- nay!! The SOLAR SYSTEM’s mightiest surf rockers, LOS STRAITJACKETS!!! The instrumental band has washed up (ever so gallantly) with its eleventh studio compilation- The Further Adventures of Los Straightjackets. While the supposed top-track ‘Sasquatch’ is indeed superb…
Wha wha wha? WHALES… is Ryab Adlaf and John Nixon of Highland Park, California. This wet debut pours progressive rock, sonar sounds, and kiddy electro-weirdness into a stellar sea of five tracks that free thinkers and Free Willy can equally…
Mandy’s Performance Quality Scale- C+
I have seen many shows during my two years at the Claremont Colleges. There have been highs and lows in terms of performance and band personality, and after many months I have created a Performance Quality Scale in my mind. Ponytail at The Smell on 10/10/08 being at the high end of the scale and Band That Shall Remain Unnamed on 11/22/08 in Dom’s Lounge, Pomona College at the other end of the scale. On this scale, Nathan “Wavves” Williams lands somewhere in the middle.
Jupiter is Starfucker's second album, a mini-LP (or mega-EP) full of smooth, playful, dancy electropop with new wave vibes. Their first album was similar in many ways, but for this album they've apparently added a fourth member and given their…
On the front side, spinning five tracks wide, BIPOLAR BEAR, LA’s own fuzzy punks. On the flip, spinning four tracks deep (and into your eardrums they seep) Seattle’s psychedelic marching miscreants, Talbot Tagora. Bipolar Bear has once again birthed some…