Category: Reviews
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Saturday September 6, 2014 – Boston, Massachusetts: Before I get into my reviews of the individual artists who performed on Saturday, I have to say something else about the people who attended the event. Not only were they peaceful, they were also friendly and trustworthy. I’d like to think that I made a few new…
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One of the most interesting things about Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Jillian Banks’ debut album, Goddess, is how decidedly *not* top 40 it is. Listening to her songs, you can’t help but think “if only.” If only the beats were more boisterous. If only the bass pulsated in a punchier way. If only the tempo were…
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Friday September 5, 2014 – Boston, Massachusetts The reason why the headline above indicates that this edition of the Boston Calling Festival takes place in September, as if that weren’t obvious, is simple: there was already a Boston Calling Festival this year, back in June. I’m still sorry that I didn’t ask for press access, especially since it…
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“I feel the magic,” sings Petite Meller during her wonderful, uplifting song “NYC Time.” You’ll feel it, too, on this delightful remix by Betablock3rs, who give it a delicious, thumping beat, rays of sunshiny synth, and perfect drum machine beats. Easily the best remix we’ve heard this month.
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DJ Shadow has been one of our favorite electronic artists for decades now. He never fails to be wildly imaginative, letting his thoughts and loops take him in new directions at every turn. And that’s precisely what he’s done here with his highly invigorating remix of Kimbra’s “90’s Music.” Slamming beats, throbbing bass, jangly percussion…
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I recently had the opportunity to hear Brother, the stunning debut EP of newcomers Mighty Oaks, who stand out from the ever-growing folk crowd by writing wonderful songs with big, catchy choruses, the sort that just sweep you away in their emotion and infectiousness. Although, to be fair, it might not be entirely accurate to…
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Printer Clips is side-project of Paul Noonan, best known as the lead singer of Bell X1. Interestingly, he did not sit back and create a solo album in his downtime. That would have been too easy. Instead, he did an album of duets with female singers. Although PJ Harvey and Emmylou Harris declined to participate,…
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As you may or may not be aware, Robbie Williams was selling copies of every show of his Swings Both Ways Live tour, just as he did with every show of the Take the Crown tour. It’s not a brand new concept, but only a small number of other artists have ever actually done so…
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Swiss band Gotthard have been around 20 years and their new album BANG! follows an impressive total of 14 albums (studio and live)… That’s a catalog as extensive as Motley Crue’s! And yet it’s the first Gotthard album I’ve ever heard, largely due to the fact that most of their material hasn’t been released here…
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Brighton, England’s Royal Blood are here and they come with a question: who needs guitars anyway? You see, their sound simply consists of bass guitar and vocals, courtesy of Michael Kerr, and drums via Ben Thatcher. That’s right, just bass and drums. Yet their album packs more screeching riffs than anything The Strokes or The…
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Back in 2012 Kimbra seemed to become an overnight sensation thanks to her part in Gotye’s global hit “Somebody That I Used To Know.” So when her debut album Vows was released here in the States later that year I expected it to be a huge success. Unfortunately, all those downloads of “Somebody That I…
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There was a time, not so long ago, when any mention of “Youngblood Hawke” would have made me think of the book Youngblood Hawke by Herman Wouk. To tell you the truth, I’ve never read it, but it’s on the list of books that I intend to read in the not so distant future, largely…
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OK GO’s new EP opens with the mid-tempo track “Turn Up the Radio,” a song about getting down to business with one’s significant other. The idea, I think, is to turn up the radio so your neighbors can’t hear you shagging. “I’ve got to lose myself tonight / So turn off the lights,’ sings Damian Kulash…
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Color us damn impressed. Totem’s latest track, “Chase Me,” is one truly gorgeous, mid-tempo electro-ballad. With its monster beats and haunting vocals, it’s like the dreaminess of Bastille meets the potency of Imagine Dragons. Seriously, it’s that good. And he’s giving it away for free. Unfortunately, it’s in flac format, so you won’t be able…
