RollingStone.com: CD Reviews
Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:01:08 PST
Mar 01, 2010 10:52AM
The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night
Artist: The Besnard Lakes Review: At its website, Montreal's Breakglass Studios — run by Besnard Lakes bandleader Jace Lasek — trumpets its custom 1969 Neve mixing board, used by Led Zeppelin on Physical Graffiti. The same piece of equipment was used on "Albatross," a standout on the Lakes' immersive second LP, a magnificently oceanic meld of Beach Boys harmonies, My Bloody Valentine tidal waves and Phil Spector girl-group siren songs shot through with soaring guitar. It's a producer's wet dream, like most of the... Rating: 3.5 Stars
Mar 01, 2010 10:48AM
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat The Devil's Tattoo
Artist: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Review: Five studio albums in, California psych-garage trio Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are still religious zealots — worshippers in rock's Gothic cathedral. The song titles tell the tale: "Bad Blood," "War Machine," "River Styx." In "Aya," singer-guitarist Peter Hayes moans, "She's a reckless lover/With blood-stained hands/Around the neck of her helpless man." There was a time, circa 2001, when Black Rebel Motorcycle Club were supposed to inherit the Earth, or at least the mantle of Rock's Great... Rating: 3 Stars
Mar 01, 2010 10:47AM
Artist: Serj Tankian Review: System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian's 2007 solo debut, Elect the Dead, was a harmless brain-dump, but the idea of recording it live with an orchestra is another story. The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra gamely chase Tankian into a maze of art-song, but where SoD might turn lyrics like "prophets all destroying the Tao" into an apocalyptic blitz, surging symphonics expose it as the doofy pomp it is. And asking classical musicians to play a song called "Beethoven's Cunt"? That's just mean. Rating: 1.5 Stars
Mar 01, 2010 10:38AM
Jimi Hendrix - Valleys Of Neptune
Artist: Jimi Hendrix Review: Some grousing from fans greets most posthumous Jimi Hendrix studio releases. And fair enough: Hendrix can't offer his opinion anymore, and between past dubious product (i.e., the heavily overdubbed Crash Landing) and ongoing estate squabbles, there's been plenty of sketchy business over the years. But on Valleys of Neptune — a collection of more-or-less previously unreleased tracks recorded with the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1969, assembled by the archivists at Legacy and the Hendrix... Rating: 3.5 Stars
Feb 16, 2010 09:38AM
Artist: Broken Bells Review: Part Kanye West, part Brian Eno, producer-musician Brian Burton — a.k.a. Danger Mouse — has defined himself with his excellent taste in brilliant misfits. His biggest smash was Gnarls Barkley, with whom he turned oddball former Dirty South rapper Cee-Lo into a falsetto swinging soulman on the sublime "Crazy," triggering moving karaoke performances worldwide. He's helped blues-rock freaks the Black Keys find their groove; helped midcareer weirdo Beck locate his mojo on 2008's Modern... Rating: 4 Stars
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Mar 09, 2010 09:43PM
Jesse Ship on Dec 31, 1969 04:59PM
SXSW 2010: You Say Party! We Say Die!
Filed under: Concerts and Tours
Like so many young adults in small towns, the members of You Say Party! We Say Die! had little else to do with their time other than ride around in their bike gang and rock out in their parents basement when the weather was uncooperative. Well, thank god for rainy days because without them, the New Wave-inspired band may have never formed. YSP!WSD! is currently enjoying great success as they have recently performed at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and are signed to three labels, Paper Bag Records (North America), Fierce Panda Records (UK), and the venerable [PIAS] Recordings (rest of Europe).
How would you describe your sound?
I hate being labeled and pinned down. We are always evolving and changing, but you could say that we are definitely inspired by '80s New Wave but we have our own sound too.
What are your musical influences?
They're all over the map. Anything from Paula Abdul to Depeche Mode. It's all over the place. There's a lot of music we all connect on like New Order, OMD, Section 25, a lot of rare/obscure stuff. Our friends are always introducing us to more music and we're constantly collecting cassette tapes and vinyl.
Matthew Wilkening on Dec 31, 1969 04:59PM
Filed under: Concerts and Tours
Chris Opfer on Dec 31, 1969 04:59PM
Filed under: Concerts and Tours
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For a band whose members bounced around the Los Angeles indie circuit for years, Everest has led something of a charmed life since forming in 2007. The five-piece Americana rock group, led by frontman Russell Pollard (Sebadoh, Folk Implosion, Alaska!) and guitarist/keyboardist Jason Soda (The Watson Twins, Slydell), recorded their debut effort, 'Ghost Notes,' in just a few weeks. They were quickly scooped up by Neil Young's Vapor Records, which released the album in May 2008. From there the band was off on a whirlwind of tours, opening for alt-country heavyweights My Morning Jacket, Wilco and the legendary folk rocker himself, Young. 'On Approach,' Everest's second album, hits stores on April 20. The band travels to Austin for a spot in Vapor Records' SXSW showcase at Maggie Mae's. Spinner recently caught up with Pollard to discuss his band's rising star.
How would you describe your sound?
Weird. Unique to ourselves.
You guys recorded both 'Ghost Notes' and 'On Approach' using analog tape. Were you trying to capture a certain sound?
Yeah. That was the best way to sound natural, especially when we were a new band. We thought, "Let's just get together and play live and record it." It's an ever-evolving process of trying to fulfill ourselves and, by doing that, fulfill people who listen to our music.
Donna Rodgers on Dec 31, 1969 04:59PM
Filed under: Concerts and Tours, Exclusive
Paula Whitworth on Dec 31, 1969 04:59PM
Filed under: Concerts and Tours
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