If I want to hear krautrock revisited, I’ll listen to Stereolab. If I want to hear wank, I’ll listen to Thurston or Silver Apples. And if I want to hear Beck, well, I’ll listen to Beck. I don’t want to hear Blur trying to sound like those bands. I want to hear Blur lashing out snotty-nosed Brit classics, not Gospel driven Spritualized rip-offs. And it’s unfortunate too, because I really wanted to be blown away by this record. Yet I ended up feeling indifferent, and at times, bored. "13" is filled with the aspects that aren’t characteristic of Blur, nor should be.
Sure, there’s actually some inward expression found on their records these days, but hearing Damon moan on about his breakup with Justine won’t get me to love this record. For sappy emotional heartbreak, I’ll listen to Graham Coxon’s "The Sky Is Too High" instead. (DW)
A Swiss band obsessed with cheesy American TV. And the pop culture-littered lyrics, with their mentions of Mark Hamill, Silver Spoons, and Punky Brewster, run perfectly alongside a good punk pop sensibility and catchy as fuck songs. Try to find this one, because you’ll be quite happy you shelled out for the import price tag. It’s good stuff indeed—especially, my fave, "All Over The Place". (DW)
Fans of Big Star, Matthew Sweet or perhaps Jellyfish will want to check out "Blue Pop". Adam Daniel’s debut album is filled with carefree melodies, endearing vocals, and winsome pop tunes. 60s-style pop that’s perfect for those hot summer days coming our way. (DW)
This Berkeley trio really has it going it on with their carefree style - crunchy guitars, happy-go-lucky melodies, and sweet boy-girl harmonies . Apparently this Berkeley trio is Imperial Teen’s favorite band too. Great debut ep and I can’t wait to her more. (DW)
Released in the US a year after its original showing on The Delgados’ own Chemikal Underground, "Pelotron" shows a darker and less discordant side to this Scottish band than found on their punk poppy "Domestiques". The boy/girl harmonies are even more charming this time around and hints at both Belle and Sebastian and Sonic Youth. "Pelotron" is sun-kissed with brilliance. And it places The Delgados in a different class indeed. (DW)
Apparently they’re part of this Philadelphia music collective that’s a lot like Elephant 6. And Echo Orbiter are kinda like the Olivia Tremor Control of the bunch. They’ve just about got the psychpop tunes down pat, and in a record or two, they’ll be fantastic. I’m curious to see how they’ll progress. (DW)
Shack rock is how Gardener is describing their sound. Not too sure what that means exactly, but I’m hoping shack rock goes global. The brainchild of Aaron Stauffer (vocalist for Seaweed), Gardener is a round-robin of musicians (ranging from Screaming Trees’ Van Conner to Aaron’s sister Sarah), incorporating a vast array of instruments from a number of continents. And the songs? Well, they range from cool psychadelia to pop-infused rock. Overall, Stauffer proves that Gardener is not a frivolous one-off project to quell his solo desires. Gardener has a future indeed. Let’s see how the Shack Rock movement takes off. (DW)
Yet another definitive Go-Betweens compilation. This one is just like the rest really, a collection of perfect pop creations featuring the great songwriting team of Robert Forester and Grant McClennan. Regardless of this gem, I fear that we are going to be overloaded with Go-Betweens releases. You know, the beauty of the band was that they were always the underground heroes.(DW)
Go to h-l Go to m-s Go to t-z
I want to go Home Give me Gossip I want to read some Older
Reviews I want to read some Articles
c
Chewy -Chewy
(Fierce Panda)
d
Adam Daniel -Blue Pop
(APG)
Dealership -Secret American Livingroom
The Delgados - Pelotron
(Chemikal Underground UK/Beggars Banquet US)
e
Echo Orbiter -A Moment In Life That’s Right
(Looking Glass Workshop)
g
Gardener -New Dawning Time
(Sub Pop)
The Go-Betweens -Bellavista Terrace
(Beggars Banquet )