Glass Animals Live At The Village Los Angeles August 31, 2016
photo: Pooneh Ghana Glass Animals performing live at Tumblr IRL event at The Village recording studios Auditorium in Los Angeles on August 31, 2016 reviewed for Under The Radar: Glass Animals Live At The … Continue reading
M.I.A. AIM (Interscope)
Reviewed for The A.V. Club: M.I.A. AIM (Interscope Records) Watch the official video for “Borders.”
The Divine Comedy: Foreverland (Divine Comedy Records)
Reviewed for Under The Radar Magazine September 2016 Issue: Divine Comedy Foreverland (Divine Comedy Records) Listen to the album via Spotify.
Avalanches: Wildflower (Astralwerks)
Reviewed for Electronic Musician Magazine September 2016 Issue: Avalanches Wildflower (Astralwerks) The follow-up to Since I Left You stays true to that album’s crackly, lo-fi, cut-and-paste ethos. Who would think to put a calliope … Continue reading
Jarvis Cocker: Likely Stories EP (Rough Trade)
Reviewed for Under The Radar: Jarvis Cocker Likely Stories EP (Rough Trade) Watch the trailer for the television series Likely Stories.
Michael Kiwanuka: Love & Hate (Interscope)
Reviewed for The A.V. Club: Michael Kiwanuka Love & Hate (Interscope) Watch the video for “Black Man In A White World,” shot in my neighborhood.
Cat’s Eyes: Treasure House (RAF)
Reviewed for Electronic Musician Magazine August 2016 Issue: Cat’s Eyes Treasure House (RAF) Cat’s Eyes, the project of The Horrors’ Faris Badwan and Rachel Zeffira, is an exploration in understated sound. Treasure House revolves around … Continue reading
Beth Orton: Kidsticks (Anti)
Reviewed for Electronic Musician Magazine July 2016 Issue: Beth Orton Kidsticks (ANTI) Beth Orton takes an electronic turn on Kidsticks. While Orton has become increasingly known for her folk leanings, the singular-sounding hollow-voiced artist … Continue reading
Air: Twentyears (Rhino)
Reviewed for Mix Magazine July 2016 Issue: Air Twentyears (Rhino) Read more about this release from a previous blog post.
Pet Shop Boys: Super (x2)
Reviewed for Mix Magazine June 2016 Issue: Pet Shop Boys Super (x2) Watch the official video for “Twenty-something” via Univision.
Underworld: Barbara, Barbara we are facing a shining future (Astralwerks)
Reviewed for Electronic Musician Magazine June 2016 Issue: Underworld Barbara, Barbara we are facing a shining future (Astralwerks) Underworld’s members are verging on 60 years of age and have spent half their lives … Continue reading
Holy Ghost! Crime Cutz (DFA)
Reviewed for Under The Radar: Holy Ghost! Crime Cutz EP (DFA) Watch the official video for the title track.
The Big Pink: Empire Underground EP (B3SCI)
Reviewed for Electronic Musician Magazine May Issue: The Big Pink Empire Underground EP (B3SCI) Nu-gaze standard setter The Big Pink follows up its two smash albums with the Empire Underground EP. A carved out … Continue reading
St. Lucia: Matter (Columbia)
Reviewed for Electronic Musician Magazine April 2016 Issue: St. Lucia Matter (Columbia) The one-time jingle writer hiding inside St. Lucia’s Jean Philip-Grobler is always trying to get out, and the band’s second album, … Continue reading
Primal Scream: Chaosmosis (First International)
Reviewed for The A.V. Club: Primal Scream Chaosmosis (First International) Watch the video for “Where The Light Gets In.”
Kula Shaker: K2.0 (Strange Folk)
Reviewed for Under The Radar: Kula Shaker K2.0 (Strange Folk) Watch the video for “Infinite Sun.”
Unloved: Guilty Of Love (Unloved Records)
Reviewed for Mix Magazine March 2016 Issue: Unloved Guilty Of Love (Unloved Records) Watch the official video for “Guilty Of Love.”
Rufus du Sol: Bloom (Sweat It Out!)
Reviewed for Electronic Musician Magazine March 2016 Issue: Rüfüs du Sol Bloom (Sweat It Out!) If you loved the sun-kissed vibes of Rüfüs du Sol’s first album, Atlas, then you’ll love its follow-up, … Continue reading
John Newman: Revolve (Republic)
Reviewed for Mix Magazine February 2016 issue: John Newman Revolve (Republic) Listen to John’s song “Come And Get It,” which you probably hear on the Ford commercial.
James Lavelle Presents UNKLE Sounds: Naples #GU41 (Global Underground)
Reviewed for Electronic Musician Magazine January 2016 Issue: James Lavelle Presents UNKLE Sounds Naples #GU41 (Global Underground) The bespoke concept is amplified on James Lavelle of Unkle’s contribution to the re-jumpstarted legendary … Continue reading
Panic! At The Disco: Death Of A Bachelor (Fueled By Ramen)
Reviewed for The A.V. Club: Panic! At The Disco Death Of A Bachelor (Fueled By Ramen) Listen to a bunch of songs from the album via Panic!’s SoundCloud.
Ride: Nowhere25 (Ride Music)
Reviewed for Under The Radar: Ride Nowhere25 (Ride Music) Watch Ride perform “Vapour Trail” live at the Roxy in Los Angeles on 8 April 2015.
Cheatahs: Mythologies (Wichita)
Reviewed for Electronic Musician Magazine December 2015 Issue: Cheatahs Mythologies (Wichita Recordings) Cheatahs specialize in hazy, echo-y sounds, most recently fleshed out on Mythologies. The backward-sounding, Poltergeist-like vocals of “Red Lake” set the … Continue reading
Small Black: Best Blues (Jagjaguwar)
Reviewed for Under The Radar November/December 2015 Issue: Small Black Best Blues (Jagjaguwar)
Jean-Michel Jarre: Electronica 1: The Time Machine (Ultra)
Reviewed for Under The Radar Magazine November/December 2015 Issue: Jean-Michel Jarre Electronica 1: The Time Machine (Ultra) Watch the behind the scenes short film about the album.
Nicolas Godin: Contrepoint (Because)
Reviewed for Under The Radar Magazine November/December 2015 Issue: Nicolas Godin Contrepoint (Because Music) Stream the album in its entirety via The Guardian.
Gardens & Villa: Music For Dogs (Secretly Canadian)
Reviewed for Electronic Musician Magazine October 2015 issue: Gardens & Villa Music For Dogs (Secretly Canadian) Gardens & Villa move away from human and toward robot with each album. A protracted adjustment to … Continue reading
Bernard Sumner: Chapter And Verse (Thomas Dunne)
Reviewed for Under The Radar Magazine November/December 2015 Issue: Bernard Sumner: Chapter and Verse (Thomas Dunne Books) Watch and hour-long interview with Bernard at his book launch in the UK last year.
Dave Gahan & Soulsavers: Angels & Ghosts (Columbia)
Reviewed for Under The Radar Magazine November/December 2015 Issue: Dave Gahan & Soulsavers Angels & Ghosts (Columbia) Watch the album trailer for Angels & Ghosts.
AM & Shawn Lee: Outlines (Celestial Electric Music)
Reviewed for Electronic Musician Magazine September 2015 Issue: AM & Shawn Lee Outlines (Celestial Electric Music) The transatlantic union of Los Angeles’ AM and London’s Shawn Lee produces a third full-length … Continue reading
Disclosure: Caracal (UMG)
Reviewed for The A.V. Club: Disclosure Caracal (Universal Music Group) Listen to a mini-mix of Caracal via Disclosure’s YouTube channel.
Francesca Belmonte: Anima (False Idols)
Reviewed for Electronic Musician Magazine August 2015 Issue: Francesca Belmonte Anima (False Idols) Featured on a few Tricky albums, Francesca Belmonte’s voice is a familiar one. For Anima, Belmonte’s solo debut on Tricky’s … Continue reading
Painted Palms: Horizons (Polyvinyl)
Reviewed for Under The Radar Magazine: Painted Palms Horizons (Polyvinyl) Listen to “Tracers” via Stereogum.
Diane Coffee: Everybody’s A Good Dog (Western Vinyl)
Reviewed for Under The Radar Magazine: Diane Coffee Everybody’s A Good Dog (Western Vinyl) Watch the first video, for “Everyday” via NPR First Listen.
Foals: What Went Down (Warner Music)
Reviewed for Mix Magazine August 2015 Issue: Foals What Went Down (Warner Music) Watch a live performance at Maida Vale of “What Went Down” on Annie Mac at BBC Radio 1.
Duff McKagan: How To Be A Man
Reviewed for Under The Radar: Duff McKagan How To Be A Man Read a great interview with Duff about his book by Lina Lecaro in the LA Weekly.
Maribou State: Portraits (Counter)
Reviewed for Under The Radar: Maribou State Portraits (Counter) Listen to Maribou State’s Radio One Residency Mix.
Ducktails: St. Catherine (Domino)
Reviewed for Under The Radar: Ducktails St. Catherine (Domino) Watch the video for “Headbanging In The Mirror.”
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Live In Paris (Vagrant)
Reviewed for Under The Radar: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Live In Paris (Vagrant) Watch the trailer for Live In Paris.
Major Lazer: Peace Is The Mission (Mad Decent)
Reviewed for Under The Radar: Major Lazer Peace Is The Mission (Mad Decent) Listen to the whole album via Major Lazer’s SoundCloud.
Martin Gore: MG (Mute)
Reviewed for Electronic Musician Magazine July 2015 Issue: Martin Gore MG (Mute) Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore continues the minimalist electronics of his VCMG project with former bandmate Vince Clarke on MG, an ambitious 16-track … Continue reading
The Chemical Brothers: Born In The Echoes (Astralwerks)
Reviewed for Under The Radar: The Chemical Brothers Born In The Echoes (Astralwerks) Watch the official video for “Go” featuring Q-Tip.
MS MR: How Does It Feel (Columbia)
Reviewed for Under The Radar: MS MR How Does It Feel (Columbia) Watch an acoustic performance of “Wrong Victory.”
Penguin Prison: Lost In New York (Downtown)
Reviewed for Mix Magazine July 2015 Issue: Penguin Prison Lost In New York (Downtown Records) Listen to the whole album via Penguin Prison’s SoundCloud.
Roisin Murphy: Hairless Toys (PIAS)
Reviewed for Under The Radar: Roisin Murphy Hairless Toys (PIAS) Watch the official video for “Evil Eyes.”
The Vaccines: English Graffiti (Columbia)
Reviewed for The A.V. Club: The Vaccines English Graffiti (Columbia Records) Watch the official video for “Dream Lover.”
The Charlatans: Modern Nature (BMG/Chrysalis)
Reviewed for Under The Radar: The Charlatans Modern Nature (BMG/Chrysalis) Watch the video for “So Oh.”
Ghostpoet: Shedding Skin (Play It Again Sam)
Reviewed for Electronic Musician Magazine: Ghostpoet Shedding Skin (Play It Again Sam) Ghostpoet comes across as Tricky’s comprehensible musical cousin. On Shedding Skin, live instruments back his raspy rhymes, a first for … Continue reading
Hot Chip: Why Make Sense (Domino)
Reviewed for Mix Magazine: Hot Chip: Why Make Sense (Domino Records) Watch the video for “Need You Now” via Under The Radar.
