Category: Album Reviews

Album Reviews, Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Mikelangelo & The Black Sea Gentlemen – After The Flood

Inspired by the dramatic stories of the 100,000 men who travelled from across Europe after the war to work on the Snowy Scheme, Mikelangelo and his band of accomplices mix humour, Weimar cabaret, Gypsy music, dark folk and jazz on this intriguing album. There are clear nods to the theatrical side of Tom Waits, the exotic flavours of C.W. Stoneking and the drunken, swaying shanties … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Mikelangelo & The Black Sea Gentlemen – After The Flood

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Album Reviews, Americana / Alt-Country, Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Matt Malone – S .I. X

Victorian songwriter Matt Malone deals in dark, heavy and sombre music on his debut album. The pace is leaden, his voice a gothic, stentorian and preacher-like baritone. There are obvious touchstones like Nick Cave, Jeffrey Lee Pierce and Johnny Cash who he absorbs into his death blues soundtrack of rattling strings, ghostly sounds and strummed wasteland ballads. “Now I caress your throat with the lips … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Matt Malone – S .I. X

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Album Reviews, Audio Stream, Indie Rock, New Release, Psych, Stream

REVIEW: S M Jenkins – Out There In The Zone EP

This is the first solo project for Step-Panther main man Steve Bourke and it finds him shelving the noise and sci-fi surf rock of that band for a gentler, pastoral approach. The nervous energy and frantic flailing has dissipated into six lazily strummed and finger-picked songs that bring to mind Kurt Vile and Christopher Owens. There is still a stoned vibe to Bourke as the … Continue reading REVIEW: S M Jenkins – Out There In The Zone EP

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Album Covers, Album Reviews, Metal/Hard Rock, Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Surgical Meth Machine – Surgical Meth Machine

  Surgical Meth Machine is the latest warped incarnation from Al Jourgensen (Ministry, Lard, Revolting Cocks) with his longtime producer Sam D’Ambruoso and in many ways it acts as a summary document of all his musical explorations. From his early electronic days, through the industrial speed-freak sound of Ministry and the sample-laden diversions of other projects, Jourgensen has always revelled in the sublime and the … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Surgical Meth Machine – Surgical Meth Machine

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Album Covers, Album Reviews, Indie Rock, New Release, Psych, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: Damien Jurado – Visions Of Us On The Land

This is the last in a trilogy of albums that Jurado has released with producer/collaborator Richard Swift and it’s as immersive, wide ranging and often fantastical as its predecessors. Swift again brings a lushness of production to Jurado’s folk songs. He adds the drama, the texture and the light psychedelia that washes over the 17 songs. The album completes the tale of an individual who … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Damien Jurado – Visions Of Us On The Land

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Album Covers, Album Reviews, Electronica, Guitar Rock, Post-Punk, Psych, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: The Drones – Feelin Kinda Free

On The Drones last album, I See Seeweed (2013), there was a sense that the band had reached terminal velocity with their brand of dense, churning rock music and elegiac, snaking balladry. Where could they go from there without repeating the format they’d seemingly mastered? The answer is Feelin Kinda Free – the title alone signalling a breaking of the creative shackles. Between albums they also … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: The Drones – Feelin Kinda Free

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Album Reviews, Guitar Rock, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: Jeff Buckley – You And I

Next year it will be 20 years since the vastly talented Buckley left this world at the age of 30. There have been regular posthumous releases of rarities, live shows and outtakes but the focus of You And I is on Buckley the interpreter. Included are covers of Led Zeppelin, The Smiths, Bob Dylan and Sly Stone in his inimitable emotive and ethereal style plus … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Jeff Buckley – You And I

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Album Covers, Album Reviews, Guitar Rock, Psych, Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Heron Oblivion – Heron Oblivion

  This is the debut album from what is a veritable supergroup of modern psych rock/folk music. Meg Baird (Espers) on vocals & drums, Charlie Sauffley (Assemble Head In Sunburst Sound) and Noel Von Harmonson (Comets On Fire) on guitars, and bassist Ethan Miller (Comets On Fire, Howlin’ Rain) are your tour guides on this journey into tripped-out guitar solos, dreamy bewitching wanderings and plenty … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Heron Oblivion – Heron Oblivion

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Album Covers, Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: Suede – Night Thoughts

Their second album since reforming in 2010, Night Thoughts possesses the same trademark swagger and lush drama the band has been creating over the last 26 years yet it feels more considered, atmospheric and thematically pure. Brett Anderson explores his relationship with his parents and his own fears and neuroses as a father over an expansive musical backdrop. The epic art-rock guitar soundscapes and Anderson’s … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Suede – Night Thoughts

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Album Reviews, Metal/Hard Rock, New Release, Post-Rock / Instrumental, Soul, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: Tindersticks – The Waiting Room

Tindersticks have traveled their own considered career trajectory with intermittent suspensions of activity and then a return to active duty, always with the same ear for detail in their nuanced and ornate, soulful baroque pop music.The Waiting Room is yet another excellent entry to their discography. It’s measured and draws on found sounds, field recordings, guest vocalists, jazz, post-rock, pastoral psychedelia and just the right … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Tindersticks – The Waiting Room

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Album Covers, Album Reviews, Guitar Rock

ALBUM REVIEW: Danzig – Skeletons

Covers albums can be hit or miss affairs, sometimes insightful and revelatory, often indulgent and derivative. Glenn Danzig’s selections and interpretations sit somewhere in the middle. He has certainly applied the demonic, grandiose metal Danzig sound to these songs, though often they sound like poorly recorded demos. In particular Elvis’ Let Yourself Go works well, as does his Ramones ramalama take on The Troggs’ With … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Danzig – Skeletons

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Album Covers, Album Reviews, Opinion

Favourite Albums of 2015

Another year comes to a close and it’s time for the end-of-year lists to be revealed. Here at Doubtful Sounds we’ve had another 12 months deeply immersed in Americana music (alt. country & folk) so you’ll find plenty of albums from that genre on the list below. That’s not to say we didn’t listen to plenty of other styles of music. As usual we wrapped … Continue reading Favourite Albums of 2015

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