The Detroit Cobras
Baby (CD)
Bloodshot
Baby (CD)
Bloodshot
I’ve been reading Grit, Noise and Revolution: the Birth of Detroit
Rock ‘n’ Roll and there is ample evidence that this Detroit rock
‘n’ roll/R & B marriage goes back to the very beginning. The
MC5 aspired to cop Funk Brothers rhythm licks, but never felt
like they hit the mark. To make up for it they, um, kicked out the
jams (fuzz, energy etc.). Call it garage if you want, it is the
Detroit sound and The Detroit Cobras continue to capture it. I
like their new label too, Bloodshot, how apropos. The label
threw in a comp of their bands and I was blown away by their alt-
rock roster.
Rock ‘n’ Roll and there is ample evidence that this Detroit rock
‘n’ roll/R & B marriage goes back to the very beginning. The
MC5 aspired to cop Funk Brothers rhythm licks, but never felt
like they hit the mark. To make up for it they, um, kicked out the
jams (fuzz, energy etc.). Call it garage if you want, it is the
Detroit sound and The Detroit Cobras continue to capture it. I
like their new label too, Bloodshot, how apropos. The label
threw in a comp of their bands and I was blown away by their alt-
rock roster.
Calvin Johnson
Before the Dream Faded (CD)
K Records
Before the Dream Faded (CD)
K Records
Frontier Index
Frontier Index (CD)
Rainbow Quartz
Frontier Index (CD)
Rainbow Quartz
The frontier here appears to be Frontier Index’s country
roots driven into strange new territory, 80s rock! It’s an
interesting mix of styles. They are all over the place,
even reminding me of The Church and The Cure at
times.
roots driven into strange new territory, 80s rock! It’s an
interesting mix of styles. They are all over the place,
even reminding me of The Church and The Cure at
times.
Broad Daylight (DVD)
Guerilla Films
Guerilla Films
Anna Oxygen
Meet Jennifer b/w Syncopen (7”)
Kill Rock Stars
This operatic elektro pop is engaging stuff. Sounds like
haunted Kraftwerk. I have turned this 7” over three times now
and I want more. I’m looking forward to Anna Oxygen’s
upcoming KRS full-length.
Meet Jennifer b/w Syncopen (7”)
Kill Rock Stars
This operatic elektro pop is engaging stuff. Sounds like
haunted Kraftwerk. I have turned this 7” over three times now
and I want more. I’m looking forward to Anna Oxygen’s
upcoming KRS full-length.
Gina Go Faster
Brown Bag (CD)
King Bee P.O. Box 1164 Denver, CO 80201
This time Gina is faster and louder. On this self-titled 12-song
full-length Mike & Joel (plus current drummer) really push it
into the red with their catchy wall of sound. Not nearly as silly
as their awesome Wagon Mound EP, Gina sound more like
Husker Du than Scared of Chaka this time around. Gina Go
Faster’s relentless clatter and melodic group vocals are well-
worth the resultant ringing in your ears. Check out their MP3s
here: http://www.myspace.com/ginagofaster
Brown Bag (CD)
King Bee P.O. Box 1164 Denver, CO 80201
This time Gina is faster and louder. On this self-titled 12-song
full-length Mike & Joel (plus current drummer) really push it
into the red with their catchy wall of sound. Not nearly as silly
as their awesome Wagon Mound EP, Gina sound more like
Husker Du than Scared of Chaka this time around. Gina Go
Faster’s relentless clatter and melodic group vocals are well-
worth the resultant ringing in your ears. Check out their MP3s
here: http://www.myspace.com/ginagofaster
Gogol Bordello
Gypsy Punks (CD)
Side One Dummy
Has anyone noticed that Gogol Bordello sounds an awful lot
like Triumph the Insult Dog? This is fun stuff, and well-played;
I think there should be more violin in rock ‘n’ roll (what else is
there besides Camper Van Beethoven and the Dirty Three?).
My problem with this is how over-the-top it is in pushing the
“PUNKness” of the whole thing. There is a tradition punk-
inspired folk, but The Pogues never called a record IRISH
PUNK, they just were. This ends up being a bit too campy and
seems contrived.
Gypsy Punks (CD)
Side One Dummy
Has anyone noticed that Gogol Bordello sounds an awful lot
like Triumph the Insult Dog? This is fun stuff, and well-played;
I think there should be more violin in rock ‘n’ roll (what else is
there besides Camper Van Beethoven and the Dirty Three?).
My problem with this is how over-the-top it is in pushing the
“PUNKness” of the whole thing. There is a tradition punk-
inspired folk, but The Pogues never called a record IRISH
PUNK, they just were. This ends up being a bit too campy and
seems contrived.
All India Radio (CD)
Inevitable Records
Perhaps it is my advancing age, but I have been drawn
toward instrumental music lately. When I am writing at the
computer I like something to fill the silence, but it can’t have
someone else’s bad lyrics distracting me from my bad prose.
All India Radio is just the thing. Their initials might spell AIR,
but All India Radio are slower and spacier. It is hipster new
age music, otherworldly and urgent, this muzak for Martians
isn’t Jon Tesh, but it isn’t Black Flag either.
Inevitable Records
Perhaps it is my advancing age, but I have been drawn
toward instrumental music lately. When I am writing at the
computer I like something to fill the silence, but it can’t have
someone else’s bad lyrics distracting me from my bad prose.
All India Radio is just the thing. Their initials might spell AIR,
but All India Radio are slower and spacier. It is hipster new
age music, otherworldly and urgent, this muzak for Martians
isn’t Jon Tesh, but it isn’t Black Flag either.
The Octopus Project
One Ten Hundred Thousand Million (CD)
Peek-A-Boo Industries
One Ten Hundred Thousand Million is a lovely mess. The
Octopus Project manage a beautiful and quirky din of analog
and digital hooks, hooks like to catch a whale with, pulling you
in and then knocking your head against the side of the boat.
And I like the cover with the cute bunny heads. I said to
myself, with that great cover, this band has to be good. The
mix of electronica and rock (I call it “ronica”) can be hypnotic
and subdued, then awkward and abrasive, but it is always
compelling.
One Ten Hundred Thousand Million (CD)
Peek-A-Boo Industries
One Ten Hundred Thousand Million is a lovely mess. The
Octopus Project manage a beautiful and quirky din of analog
and digital hooks, hooks like to catch a whale with, pulling you
in and then knocking your head against the side of the boat.
And I like the cover with the cute bunny heads. I said to
myself, with that great cover, this band has to be good. The
mix of electronica and rock (I call it “ronica”) can be hypnotic
and subdued, then awkward and abrasive, but it is always
compelling.
My favorite (martian) crooner of all time, Calvin Johnson
has released Before the Dream Faded, his second solo
album. More eclectic than Beat Happening and just as
much fun. Fans of Calvin will be ecstatic. His warmth and
creativity seems endless. The dream hasn’t faded.
has released Before the Dream Faded, his second solo
album. More eclectic than Beat Happening and just as
much fun. Fans of Calvin will be ecstatic. His warmth and
creativity seems endless. The dream hasn’t faded.
This is silly, campy fun! Lots of punky hipster gals
stripping down to their pasties in exotic, outdoor locations.
This soundtrack is one of the best compilations of modern
garage I have heard and the elements work together
nicely, creating a compelling film. Some might find the
sexploitation here distasteful, but I would totally throw this
on at my next shindig. The bonus disc, the original Shine
On Sweet Starlet in gritty B & W is more of the same punk
rock stag reels, only raunchier. –Emily Provo
stripping down to their pasties in exotic, outdoor locations.
This soundtrack is one of the best compilations of modern
garage I have heard and the elements work together
nicely, creating a compelling film. Some might find the
sexploitation here distasteful, but I would totally throw this
on at my next shindig. The bonus disc, the original Shine
On Sweet Starlet in gritty B & W is more of the same punk
rock stag reels, only raunchier. –Emily Provo