Album Review: Definitely Blue by Wallin-Jison

Album Review: Definitely Blue by Wallin-Jison

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This Swedish Americana band sounds (and looks) like they should be playing in a roadhouse in Tennessee. Their collection of simple blues songs demonstrates that complexity is not necessary if you’re absolutely nailing the songwriting and execution. Our favorite song: Move Around the Room. (Featured on our #31 podcast, Vive la revolution.) (BTW I said their name wrong about 15 times on the podcast. It’s Wallin-JISON, not Wallin-JiNson. Whoops…Sorry…)

Album Review: Beach Hotel by Beach Hotel

Album Review: Beach Hotel by Beach Hotel

It’s good music that washes over you in another language and you don’t care. We didn’t understand a word; we’re pretty sure ‘tango’ doesn’t mean what we think. We love it. Our favorite song: Tu Revolucion. (Featured on our #30 podcast, Harry Potter Horcrux Shit.)

Album Review: Uppertiers Two by Uppertiers

Album Review: Uppertiers Two by Uppertiers

Queens, NY in the house, doing some cheerful pop-punk that also has big guitar solos and nice harmonies, plus the occasional 80s synth. This guy is a good songwriter, and prolific: the album has 24 songs. Our favorite: Idiot’s Move. And Early Bird Friends. (Featured on our #30 podcast, Harry Potter Horcrux Shit.)

Album Review: Live in a Basement by Make No Bones

Album Review: Live in a Basement by Make No Bones

Listen to AJ’s excellent patter and enthusiastic fans on this album that really is Live in a Basement. As we said on the podcast, it has a 60s Greenwich Village kind of Happening feel. Our favorite song: Rosie. (Featured on our #30 podcast, Harry Potter Horcrux Shit.)

Album Review: Dreaming in 505 by Girl York

Album Review: Dreaming in 505 by Girl York

You can like the 90s and still be a lot bigger than the 90s. Girl York has big melodies and big guitars and washes of sound, plus that oomph that comes from being alive right now. Our favorite song: Heroine. And Lost at Sea. (Featured on our #30 podcast, Harry Potter Horcrux Shit.)

Album Review: 可笑的一天 by the White Eyes

Album Review: 可笑的一天 by the White Eyes

Not only have I listened to it many times in Chinese, I can now hear her singing in my head. In Chinese. I guess that’s pretty good music. Interesting, too. Our favorite song: In Lust I Lost. (Featured on our #30 podcast, Harry Potter Horcrux Shit.)

Album Review: Dark Before the Light by Anti-Social Club

Album Review: Dark Before the Light by Anti-Social Club

Well thought out, intricate melodies and emotional lyrics by a band unafraid of a little synth. These are some real songs. Our favorite: Six Feet Under. (Featured on our #29 podcast, How to Get the Fans to Sing.)

Single Review: Sunburn by Tongues of Fire

Single Review: Sunburn by Tongues of Fire

Think about what you’re definitely not going to do, and then shout it along with Tongues of Fire in this cathartic singalong! `I won’t eat peas!’ `I won’t back down!’ `I won’t say no!’ `I won’t do laundry!’ – whatever ya got. Tongues of Fire is great. (Featured on our #29 podcast, How to Get the Fans to Sing.)

Album Review: Bask by HSY

Album Review: Bask by HSY

If only they hadn’t broken up. One of the best darkwave/sludge (John insists that they are ‘industrial’) bands that we’ve heard. Our favorite song: Sally. (Featured on our #29 podcast, How to Get the Fans to Sing.)