9/29/12

Band of Horses | A Review of Mirage Rock


Band of Horses have released their fourth studio album called Mirage Rock and the content makes a listener wonder: what has this band become? Initially, Band of Horses had a musical style that leaned more towards driven pop rock that exuded an almost ethereal presence in the lyrical content and it’s execution by lead singer Ben Bridwell. It was distinctly dreary in tone and song lyrics often would linger upon dark topics such as a funeral or the secret connection between cigarettes and wedding bands. These lyrics though, were given a certain gravity in the airy and often high pitched way in which they were sung.  The songs in the previous albums of Band of Horses were good but carried with them the mark of an angry youth still struggling with the realities of adulthood.  This is not the case with Mirage Rock.

Band of Horses seems to be taking more cues from Neil Young as opposed to Death Cab For Cutie with Mirage Rock. Some of tracks that populate this new album have an almost country vibe to them, but not in the bad, “I wear a ten gallon hat!” kind of way, which you can really hear on the track Everything's Gonna Be Undone.  This track summons the spirit of Neil Young in the best way possible, with its breezy guitar portions to the simple cautionary idea put forward in the lyrics that eventually everything ends, so relax.  No, this album has a more lighthearted feel in its sense of misery and wonder. Like a well-timed joke during a friend’s hardship, Mirage Rock has all the heart of a sombre intimate exchange while leaving all those touched with a smile on their face. 

Team Genius Release Show At Union Hall

The always fun Team Genius are having a release show at Union Hall in Brooklyn, Saturday September 29th. This band, if you have not heard their music, specializes in catchy pop songs played with the gusto of a thousand burning suns. The show is in honour of all three of their EPs, Whiskey Songs, Loud Songs and Pop Songs, being released on October 2nd. If you are in Brooklyn tonight then you should take in Team Genius' show, if not here is a preview of some of their work from one of their EPs Pop Songs or get all of their music here

9/24/12

Dum Dum Girls | End of Daze EP Review


The California based band Dum Dum Girls have been putting out music since 2008 and have managed to release two full length LPs to some critical acclaim. The style and character of Dum Dum Girls is really a combination of rattling atmospheric rock and pop drone, think of The Jesus and Mary Chain with a dash Simple Minds, all sung by a female lead.  Recently, the band has released an EP called End of Daze which carries the distinct character of a band that’s hitting its stride. At only five tracks the EP rattles off with a steady pacing, the lyrics are filled with dreary imagery suitable for the impending October rains.

The End of Daze EP does not miss a beat with any of its tracks, as if what they have produced is some kind of Dum Dum Girls concentrate. This is an EP not to be missed by music fans anywhere.