I just have to point out that the title is very apropos considering the timing of the mix.  Enjoy the song and I must point out that the band finds it difficult to do any worse than *great*….HIGHLY worth the price of admission.  Disregard the fact that horses lack feathers (excluding Pegasus), focus on what is important, great folking music. Continue Reading

While their parasitic arachnid counterparts ravage campers, these Ticks bring me unparalleled pleasure.  Ever since my first exposure to War Elephant (2007), I have found brilliance in their albums.  Sounding like a rustic, Rocky Mountain prospector, John J. McCauley III’s grating vocals sound every bit as rough as the twenty-mile trudge that separates him from his lover. Continue Reading

I’ve got no real beef with these Ohioans (no, people from Ohio are not “Ohi-hos”), but I will reprimand them for kidnapping my favorite band of 2009.  *tear* While on tour in San Diego, they stole, yes STOLE Ramona Falls as their opener.  Any concertgoer worth his salt will tell you that it is death by a million paper cuts when a solid, mid-range club headliner is stolen by some stadium rock band, to perform at the local galactic amphitheater sponsored by BP, or worse (is that possible?!).  Continue Reading

Perhaps the residents of Fang Island intended to fashion a thoughtful yet sonically ambitious song praising Mr. David Crockett, or maybe, just maybe, they knew they could do so much more.  Methinks they knew better, because the end result is an anthemic, dual-guitar, monster ballad/eulogy to the King of the Wild Frontier. Continue Reading

On their upcoming release, Expo 86, the guys of Wolf Parade only turn back the clock as far as the title and cover art are concerned.  Perhaps the proximity of my hometown, Olympia, WA, is the only reason I vaguely recall the hype surrounding the World Exposition on Transportation and Communication in Vancouver, Canada; year 1986.  Nevertheless, the title conjured fond memories and so does the music. Continue Reading

What in the rave is going on?! If I were to judge a book by its cover, and I totally do…..just like wine, I would mistake this trance track for the Ecstacy-driven house shite you’ll hear nonstop at Hot Topic, or whatever neighborhood goth shop posts up in your town mall.  However, once again my patience paid off and gave way to exhilaration at the sound of lead singer, Alice “Through The Looking” Glass’ shriek. Continue Reading

AWWwwwwww Yeeee-aaaaahhhhh!! As signaled by the air-raid guitars, Sleigh Bells is back and they aim to drop another sound bomb on your dome.  The raucous stomp of the bass, matched with the cheerleader-esque hand claps set the scene for the pep rally from hell.  Complete with namesake sleigh bells and ultra-deep musings of preteens on their way to the beach, this song will take you from zero to deaf in under two minutes. Continue Reading