Category: Alternative (Page 47 of 155)

Jets Overhead: No Nations

November 12, 2009 /


RIYL: Snow Patrol, Keane, Radiohead

Dreamy, brooding alternative rock may have begun with Radiohead, but one thing is for sure – it’s never gone away. There are bands that have kept the torch burning, from Coldplay to Snow Patrol to Doves to today’s entry, Canadian outfit Jets Overhead, who have just released their latest, No Nations. If you have been a fan of any of the above mentioned acts, you’ll find something to like from Jets Overhead – pulsing bass, swirling synth and guitars, and that whole faux British accent that seems to be the perfect vehicle for the genre. But there’s more to Jets Overhead; the album is eclectic enough to keep you from getting bored, and the songs are catchy, too. There are tracks that are made for AAA radio, such as “Weathervanes (In the Way)” and “Heading for Nowhere,” and there are haunting, sparsely produced gems like the title track or “Fully Shed,” the latter of which features some psychedelic sounding harmonies. Somehow, it all works, and it keeps that dreamy, brooding, alt-rock train chugging along. (Vapor 2009)

Jets Overhead MySpace Page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

The Echo Falls: The Echo Falls

November 12, 2009 /

The Echo Falls is a lesson in simplicity – the debut album from this San Francisco based trio features three guys (including front man and songwriter Alex Mandel) who will remind you of both ‘70s pop (think Loggins & Messina or Seals & Crofts) and current lo-fi hipsters (think Death Cab for Cutie). Delivering songs using only an acoustic guitar, upright bass and sparse drums and percussion will do that, but the tracks themselves have an endearing vibe that is a refreshing counterpoint to what passes for adult album alternative these days. Mandel waffles between tenor and falsetto and does it with ease, and the songs range from the triumphant kickoff “Road to Parnassus” to the (you have to hear this to believe it) They Might Be Giants-meets-Suzanne Vega quirky vibe of “Watchtower.” There’s other elements at work here too; breezy college rock (“Every Second Thought” and “You Have it All”) and ‘70s folk (“Fall Asleep in the Sand”). But the best track of all is “Love Over Time,” which could be the best guitar song Ben Folds never wrote. There’s enough to please many folks on this debut – it’s not like you can vary things a whole lot with sparse production, but the Echo Falls do a pretty decent job of it. (The Echo Falls 2009)

The Echo Falls MySpace Page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Folk, Pop, Rock

The Trampolines: Between the Lines

November 10, 2009 /


RIYL: Toad the Wet Sprocket, Gin Blossoms, The Hooters

If you are a fan of well-produced, well-written, harmony-drenched power pop, you may have found a new favorite band in Denver’s the Trampolines. Back with their second album and first since 2005, Between the Lines, this trio delivers a solid set of material that deserves to be heard by those who champion the type of stuff that came out of the Aware Records camp and what today passes for AAA (adult album alternative). Think Train or Toad the Wet Sprocket, with throwback flavors from bands like the Hooters and the Eagles. Don’t let lofty comparisons like that make you skeptical either, because this stuff is as addictive as that bag of chips you pick up at a truck stop when you’re really hungry – and maybe that’s just it, that we’re all starved for good, melodic rock. Frontman Mark Sundermeier and his band mates have not only written extremely catchy material, but they also deliver it with conviction and with some exceptional vocals. Right from the start, the harmonies and guitar tones on “The Need” are very Toad-esque and then some of the other standouts are the breezy “Shelter” and “Green Lights,” as well as the rocking “Letter,” which effectively marries fuzzy guitar with some nice driving piano. If you’re into any of the acts mentioned here, you need to do yourself a favor and check out The Trampolines, stat. (self-released 2009)

The Trampolines MySpace Page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

The Cribs: Ignore the Ignorant

November 10, 2009 /


RIYL: Ash, Arctic Monkeys, Oasis

Johnny Marr is a well-documented band slut. Since leaving the Smiths in 1987, the dude has been a formal member of the Pretenders, The The, Electronic, his own band Johnny Marr and The Healers, and most recently Modest Mouse. Although he has yet to quit Modest Mouse (give him time, he’ll do it) he recently joined the Cribs, who are quite the thing in the UK, but quite the nothing here in the States. His decision to team up with the Cribs is his most befuddling yet, because while his recruitment into Modest Mouse certainly was out of left field, they are a respected band with a unique sound and large following, The Cribs just kind of…are. There’s nothing particularly bad about their first three records, but there’s nothing really worth mentioning, either. It’s banal post-punk indie rock that’s also post-interesting and post-worthwhile. The inclusion of Marr hasn’t changed that at all; the three brothers Jarman, aided by Marr, are still cranking out their bland brand of whatever on their latest album, Ignore the Ignorant. There are a few highlights to be had here, the early cut “Cheat on Me” shows some energy and promise, and Marr’s guitar work, which is largely anonymous throughout most of the album, shows up for a some powerful moments on “City of Bugs,” but for the most part this is a generic and utterly forgettable affair. The most interesting aspect of the album is that Johnny Marr is on it. But his touch (if he indeed has one) is barely more than a whisper. Still, there’s little doubt that the Cribs will enjoy a boost in popularity because of Marr’s involvement alone. That’s because Johnny Marr is interesting. The Cribs, on the other hand, are the very definition of “meh.” (Warner Bros. 2009)

The Cribs’ MySpace Page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Rock

Without a Face: Worst Debut Album Ever

November 9, 2009 /


RIYL: Avett Brothers, Daniel Johnston, They Might Be Giants

When you’re setting yourself up for failure by dubbing your first effort the Worst Debut Album Ever, suffice it to say you’re putting the bar so low that any redeeming quality whatsoever makes it seem as if you’ve succeeded. Then again, considering Henry Dillard’s self-deprecating sense of humor, any pronouncement to that effect is relative anyway. On the surface of it, Without a Face, Dillard’s nom de plume, purveys a slacker mentality, all strumming guitars, unruly ranting and a decidedly irreverent and irrepressible attitude. However, there’s something to be said for the entertainment derived from raucous revelations about substance abuse (“Druggie Love”), obsession with an older woman (“31”) and an ode to the dangers of dairy products (“Lactose Intolerance”). And with a goofy hillbilly phone chat (“Worst Intermission Ever”) tossed in for good measure, it seems that Dillard’s guile resides in his ability to play the fool and make the lowest common denominator appear a form of high art. Okay, so Worst Debut Album Ever may not aspire to be anything more than what its name implies, but its unabashed honesty conveys a charm all its own. (Redbird Records)

Without a Face MySpace page

Alternative, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Folk, Pop, Punk, Rock

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