Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
I was on a date once, and the date seemed to be going pretty well. We went back to her place and I started flipping through her records. There were a lot of Pavement albums, and I commented on how much she likes Pavement.
“Oh, I used to play bass in a Pavement cover band. They’re my favorite band! You like Pavement?” I never saw this girl again. I don’t like Pavement. Continue reading “Album Review: Pavement — Quarantine the Past: The Best of Pavement”
What do you get if you cross The Kaiser Chiefs, Kasabian and The Killers? Apart from an excited album reviewer with a weird fascination for the letter “K”, you get Sunshine Underground. At times sounding eerily similar to The Killers (especially the vocals) but also evoking the beat driven rock of the other K-bands mentioned. The Sunshine Underground were formed 2005 and Nobody’s Coming To Save You is their second album, following 2006’s Raise The Alarm. The album was released Feb 1st 2010 in the UK. I could not find a US release date at this point. The last trivia point before I get going is that the band is named after a Chemical Brothers song. Continue reading “Album Review: Sunshine Underground — Nobody’s Coming To Save You”
In 2001, Kansas’ The Appleseed Cast made the leap from being a well-regarded emo rock group to something not on any charts.
The band released an ambitious precedentless work: Low Level Owl, Volume 1 & 2.
The songs of the Low Level Owl project mostly flow into one another without break, changing tempos and beats mid-stream. Some songs have choruses, some don’t. Some have singing, most don’t. Musical facets or patterns repeat and shimmer like dust devils dancing through the summer air. This aural sum flitted free of convention so thoroughly that it couldn’t well be called “emo” rock. What does it sound like? Intricate chiming melodic rock that fords forward without map yet with purpose. It sounds matter-of-factly majestic without trying to be majestic — like a hawk cutting a turn through an updraft. Continue reading “Show Review: The Appleseed Cast at Bottom Of The Hill, 3/6/10”
A Tegan and Sara show is pretty much a sure thing. The Canadian pop-punk-folk duo’s songs are so tightly and energetically structured, so immediately accessible and entertaining, that a good time is basically guaranteed. Tegan Quin + Sara Quin + fans = party time. And at last night’s sold-out show in Oakland, that was certainly true. The Quins’ formula is so airtight that even if the girls seem bored (which they did), or if belligerent fans nearly bring the show to a halt with their bullshit (which they did), everyone will still hop and dance themselves crazy.
Continue reading “Show Review: Tegan and Sara with Holly Miranda at The Fox Theater, 3/5/10”
Marianne Faithfull is my absolute favorite singer of all time. I should just admit that right now. This review is not by an apathetic novice or a casual fan of some familiarity with Marianne and her material. This review is by a certifiable megafan who sat in his booth and scarily mouthed the words to every single song throughout the evening, audibly gasping whenever she played a song I hadn’t heard live before. Despite my immense fandom, this was only my second time seeing her in concert. The first time nearly killed me. So, how did show #2 stack up?
Continue reading “Show Review: Marianne Faithfull at Yoshi’s Oakland, 3/4/10”
The New Parish is such a new venue that this is the first time Spinning Platters have reviewed a show here. It shows, in that the paint isn’t all chipped, the upholstery is not ripped and the walls have not absorbed that smokey stench yet. The New Parish’s youth is also evident in their promoting, or lack there of. Tonight’s show has a draw of not more than 50 people. What did those 50 people see? Continue reading “Show Review: Kid Sister with Honor Roll at The New Parish, 2/28/10”
There are some acts that treat their in-stores like a chore, going into a store in some city somewhere, and then mail it in. Tegan and Sara is definitely not one of those acts. In my opinion, they perform better at record stores than they do on stage in front of a couple thousand people (where you can see them tomorrow night). They’re relaxed and personable, do lots of comedy bits, and interact with their fans. It’s a joy to watch. And because the material they’re playing is strong, it’s a pleasure to attend. Continue reading “Tegan and Sara at Amoeba Music, Berkeley, 3/4/10”
On episode 18 of the Spinning Platters Podcast, we welcome Carlos Rodela of All of Us Are Famous to discuss Noise Pop, the best way for bands to sell music, our own history in bands, and various other topics. You can subscribe to the podcast by pushing the giant button to your left, or you can listen below. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Podcast: Episode 18 — Too Late For Goodbyes”
Pouria is taking a week off with the Noise Pop flu. I think he went out one too many nights, so I’m covering for him again. My personal favorites this week are things with exclamation points, so look for those within. Also, a southern rock concept album starring Stephen King. Really. Continue reading “New Release Round Up 3/2/10 — 39 Instant Album Reviews”
Ellie Goulding is the hottest new artist in the UK. Championed by Florence and The Machine, she won the BBC Sound of 2010 award along with the 2010 Brits Critic Choice Award which is given to the artist expected to breakthrough in 2010. She was born in Hereford England, about 10 miles from where I was born, though admittedly it was almost 20 years later. So should we believe the hype on her debut album Lights, which is out in the UK now and will be released in the US on March 16th? Continue reading “Album Review: Ellie Goulding — Lights”