Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
Spinning Platters wants you and a friend to join us for the upcoming Flymachine Livestream with LION BABE. On us. And, no, you will not automatically be added to any marketing list.
To join us for LION BABE on 8/5, click here to enter with just your name and email and here to purchase. (Winner will be notified by email on Friday, July 30th)
This is why: Continue reading “CONTEST!! Enter To Win Passes To see LION BABE on Flymachine!”
“I Confuse Us” is a song that feels equally warm and uncomfortable. It’s the rare genius composition that incorporates unusual rhythms and the occasional off-key note not because the performer made a mistake but because the performer wants you to feel the song’s awkwardness. Not since the early works of Regina Spektor have, I heard someone reinvent the simple sound of voice and piano in such a glorious way.
Oakland’s Caitlin Cobb-Vialet will be releasing her debut EP in October. For now, you can enjoy and follow Cobb-Vialet’s work in all of the usual places.
I’ve seen Thao perform in a lot of non-traditional spaces and situations. I’ve probably seen her perform more non-traditional sets than traditional sets at this point… I’ve seen her do a high concept stand-up and music variety show, I’ve seen her as the special guest of a fake talk show where Moby taught her how to play “Purple Rain,” I’ve seen her absolutely kill “Push It” by Salt-n-Pepa while being backed by Fred Armisen & Carrie Brownstein, and I’ve even seen her create a live score to a series of classic film shorts! And that’s just what I’ve written about… So it seems appropriate that Thao is my first “COVID-Safe” show.
Continue reading “Show Review: Thao Nguyen at The Chapel, 06/24/21”
Colleen Green has been putting out amazing lofi power-pop for about a decade now. And I ADORE HER! It pains me that we’ve somehow never written about her on this site. That changes RIGHT NOW! Because her latest single “I Wanna Be a Dog” is a stunning, fuzz-filled song that I’m sure most of the world can relate to.
“I Wanna Be a Dog” is off Green’s upcoming full-length record, Cool, out September 10th! Preorders are available right now, and if you act quickly you can get it on “cool cloudy smoke” colored vinyl!
Live from the Isle of Wight comes, um, not The Who. Instead, we have the debut single from recent Domino Records signees Wet Leg. The song is called “Chaise Longue” and it’s a riff-heavy dance/rock number that is going to fill you with immense joy. Well, it will if you like dry, witty lyrics combined with an infectious groove that makes you long for the days of dancing in a sweaty club together. (SO SOON!!) Imagine the colorful witticisms and guitar mastery of Courtney Barnett combined with the elegant smuttiness of Jarvis Cocker and blasting at Popscene circa 2003.
“Chaise Longue” is streaming in all of the usual places. Will we hear more from them? I sure as hell hope so. They are also touring the UK this fall, and I hope a trip across the pond will be happening sooner than later.
In this episode I got to talk with Bay Area music legend Chris Appelgren. We talked about many of his bands, including Bumblescrump (sadly not getting into exactly what this word means), The Potatomen, and The Peechees. We also discussed his rising through the ranks at Lookout Records, and even talked about its inevitable decline. And, of course, we talked about his time at Noise Pop, Bold Italic, and Ticketfly, as well as his return to the record business by helping Once And Future Band release their 2020 album Deleted Scenes.
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UPDATE: Lorde’s 3rd full-length record, Solar Power, is coming out August 20th and can be preordered / presaved here. We’ve also got a 2022 tour for Lorde coming down the pike, so get yourself vaccinated if you haven’t already, and buy your tickets Monday, July 5th at 12pm local time!
Remember the immortal words of Kim Deal when she sang “Summer is ready when you are” a mere 28 years ago? Those words probably ring truer this year than ever before. Maybe because this is going to be a weird Summer where not everyone is going to be ready at the same time, but when you are ready for Summer, it’s going to be LIT AS FUCK. Not LIT AF. LIT AS FUCK. So lit that this week we didn’t have just one, but TWO singles about the impending Summer of hugs and sharing space with your friends again. “Pool Hopping” by illuminati hotties is a glorious piece of classic pop-punk that is perfect for blasting at your first barbecue in 15 months. And, dear God, I really can’t wait to eat with my friends again.
“Pool Hopping” can be downloaded and streamed in all of the usual places, and their album Let Me Do One More will be coming your way October 1st. Preorder the fancy variant, or even the regular version HERE! Continue reading “Singles Of The Week: “Pool Hopping” by illuminati hotties & “Solar Power” by Lorde”
When COVID hit, CHVRCHES were scattered all around the world. They were also due to play the biggest venues of their career, so not only were they not able to do a victory lap for Love Is Dead, but they weren’t able to even mourn the loss of the tour together. So what do they do? They write and record an album. And if the lead single, “How Not To Drown,” is any indication, these trials may have led to the best record of their career. This is a dark, moody track that is somehow also danceable. The band incorporates live bass and guitar, which is rare, and Lauren Mayberry’s voice blends with Robert Smith (yes, the guy from The Cure) in a beautiful way.
“How Not To Drown” is out now on all the usual platforms, and their fourth studio record, Screen Violence, is in stores on August 27th. Preorders are currently happening.
2019’s The Center Won’t Hold was a brilliant departure for one of the greatest bands in American rock n roll history. Sleater-Kinney was due to embark on a massive co-headlining trek with Wilco to support the record, allowing them to play the largest venues of their career. However, we all lived through the hell that was 2020. Instead of resting on their laurels, Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein decided to “bubble” together and, for the first time in their 25+ years playing together, write, record, and produce an album as a duo. Their 10th full-length, Paths Of Wellness, is out June 11th. The first single was the bluesy, Brownstein-led “Worry With You.” The second single and our single of the week is the Tucker-led “High In The Grass,” a psychedelic rock number reminiscent of Tucker’s other band, Filthy Friends. It’s a great song and further evidence that Sleater-Kinney will continue to move forward, sonically.
You can enjoy “High In The Grass” in all the usual places. Paths Of Wellness can be preordered/presaved in all the usual places, too! And that co-headlining tour with Wilco? It’s been rescheduled for 2022. Sadly, no California dates at this time, so Bay Area folks will need to book a plane ticket to catch this amazing double bill.
Holy psychedelic shit! This monster of a track is a 70’s spy movie blended with the very concept of joy and boiled down to 3:50 of horn and flute-driven rock n roll. I am pretty sure that Quentin Tarantino and Wes Anderson are battling to see who can write the film version of “Barbara” first. Canada’s TEKE::TEKE blend traditional Japanese instruments with horns, flutes, guitar, bass, and drums and a lovely and imaginative way. This track is AMAZING.
“Barbara” is the lead single off TEKE::TEKE’s debut full-length, Shirushi, out now on Kill Rock Stars. You can purchase or stream this record in all of the usual places!
