Author: Michael Fortes (Page 6 of 8)

The Happy Hollows: Imaginary EP

October 31, 2008 /

This quirky Pixies-esque trio from L.A.’s Silver Lake scene is definitely one to watch. Their magnetic personality is a combination of the Dischord-influenced D.C. rhythm section of bassist Charlie Mahoney and drummer Chris Hernandez, and the zany Bay area vibe of singer/guitarist/songwriter Sarah Negahdari. Imaginary improves upon the Happy Hollows’ quickly-recorded 2006 debut EP, Bunnies and Bombs, by bringing them much closer to capturing their live energy. Two songs in particular stand out for having become highlights of the band’s live sets – “Lieutenant,” with its unconventional structure, multiple parts and Eddie Van Halen-style guitar theatrics, makes the case for Negahdari as a rising new guitar hero. “Colors,” meanwhile, is remarkable for completely different reasons: it’s unbelievably simple, just a recitation of the names of – you guessed it – colors, by Negahdari and Mahoney over a repeating progression, with a giddy breakdown in the middle. It works even better live, watching Mahoney and Negahdari jumping and shouting the colors during the breakdown, and seeing Negahdari toss her tambourine before jumping back into the rhythm without missing a beat. But the energy, passion, and unfiltered fun of the band comes through on the whole of Imaginary loud and clear. Best of all – it costs next to nothing. (Heart 2008)

The Happy Hollows MySpace page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews

Deerhoof: Offend Maggie

October 24, 2008 /

Think what you will of Deerhoof – if you think of them at all – but know that whether you call them cute, noisy, awesome or annoying, you have to admit that they’ve got originality and ambition to spare. The San Francisco noise-pop darlings of the Kill Rock Stars roster are no less intriguing than usual on their ninth full-length studio album, with vocalist Satomi Matsuzaki sweetly cooing her regular mix of minimalist Japanese and English lyrics about a random assortment of topics (in this case, stalker boyfriends, God, and basketball, among other things), while her bandmates alternately churn out delicate yet forceful melodic thumpers (“Chandelier Searchlight”), prog-like dirges anchored by guitar arpeggios and piano a la Radiohead (“Buck and Judy”), and even a couple of fun stabs at a vaguely classic rock sound, straight out of Free’s “All Right Now” riff book (“The Tears and Music of Love”). The experiments with meager lyrics and unconventional song structures don’t always work – “Basket Ball get Your Groove Back” comes off like little more than an undeveloped fragment – but when they do, like on the album’s high point, “Numina O,” the results are nothing short of sublime. (Kill Rock Stars 2008)


Deerhoof MySpace page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews

Joseph Arthur & the Lonely Astronauts: Temporary People

October 24, 2008 /

Capping off a banner year for Joseph Arthur’s rabbit-like discography is this full-length collection of twelve songs, recorded with Arthur’s band, the Lonely Astronauts. What’s not surprising is that, unlike Arthur’s four EPs released this year, Temporary People maintains a consistency of sound from start to finish – warm, natural, like a live representation of a Lonely Astronauts performance. What is a bit of a puzzler, however, is the cover art – the red pen written across the band’s image looks tacky, to be nice about it. The black and white cover photo would have been just fine on its own. Get past that, though, and you get a solid collection of tunes employing choir-like vocal choruses (“Heart’s a Soldier”), eccentric and confident lead guitar sailing over solid rock rhythms, soulful organ (“Turn You On”) and even some frisky slide guitar and some Rolling Stones-like swagger and boogie on “Winter Blades.” The songs here are all (mostly) stronger than what appeared on the four preceding EPs, though the album as a whole never quite matches the artistic brilliance of Arthur’s third EP this year, Vagabond Skies, nor does it aim to. This is Arthur rocking out with his band, and everyone sounding happy to be doing so. It’s not quite the gold at the end of the EP rainbow, but then, expecting a grand swirling masterpiece was our problem, not Arthur’s. (Lonely Astronaut 2008)


Joseph Arthur & The Lonely Astronauts MySpace page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews

Dressy Bessy: Holler and Stomp

October 17, 2008 /

This sassy little outfit from Denver has been slugging away at the rock n’ roll game since ’96, and Holler and Stomp is the sixth full-length album Dressy Bessy has pumped out since then. Everything about it screams kitsch – from the cover art donned with pink graffiti and busted trash cans and vintage 1970s stereo equipment, to lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Tammy Ealom’s sometimes off-pitch but always spunky vocals that mix equal parts Debbie Harry and Joan Jett, to the Ramones-like punk blast of the music that comes straight out of “My Boyfriend’s Back” territory. They’re like the harder-edged second coming of the late D.C. combo Tuscadero, and “Automatic” almost sounds like it could have been written with that even more obscure band in mind. This isn’t important music, or even “great” music. But it’s damn fun for the little while that a party-time helium-suck lasts, and deflates the pressure one’s brain may be under after listening to too many political commentators or prog records. Save it for when your favorite cool rock chicks come over to play your old childhood board games… with shots of tequila. (Transdreamer 2008)

Dressy Bessy MySpace page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Punk

Joseph Arthur: Foreign Girls EP

September 5, 2008 /

Coming hot the heels of this past June’s stellar, ethereal Vagabond Skies, Foreign Girls ends modern day Renaissance man Joseph Arthur’s 2008 EP extravaganza with a whisper instead of a bang. This semi-acoustic-based set of six short songs comes and goes with barely enough time to register, except for the impression that the vocals aren’t totally on point in “Foreign Girls” and “Candy and Cars.” Its electronic flourishes also come off as gimmicky rather than essential (especially on the otherwise decent tune “Stay”), though “New Satisfaction” strikes the best balance between Arthur’s electronic and acoustic tendencies, makes effective use of falsetto, and ends the disc on a high note. Otherwise, the EP feels less like a cohesive set of tunes than a collection of leftovers. Maybe he’s saving the big guns for his upcoming full-length album, Temporary People, in September. After this wacky year-long set-up of four EPs, one would certainly hope so. (Lonely Astronaut 2008)

Joseph Arthur MySpace page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews

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