Category: Album Reviews

Album Reviews, Audio Stream

ALBUM REVIEW: Grand Salvo | Slay Me in My Sleep

by Chris Familton On 2009’s Soil Creatures, Melbourne singer-songwriter Paddy Mann (aka Grand Salvo) impressively blended poetry, folk and classical music into a delicate work about life’s intricacies. Three years and a short-lived relocation to Berlin later, and he’s returned with his finest work to date. Slay Me in My Sleep is an ambitious concept album about an old lady and a young boy who breaks into … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Grand Salvo | Slay Me in My Sleep

Unknown's avatarDoubtful Sounds1 Comment
Album Covers, Album Reviews, Garage Rock, Guitar Rock, Indie Rock, Pop, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: Redd Kross | Researching The Blues

by Chris Familton Now into their third decade, Redd Kross have delivered their seventh album that has them sounding as vital and visceral a power pop band as ever. Researching The Blues has certainly been a long time coming since the band reconvened in 2006 after a decade long hiatus. The quality of songwriting shows that time was put to good use, allowing them to … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Redd Kross | Researching The Blues

Unknown's avatarDoubtful SoundsLeave a comment
Album Reviews, Americana / Alt-Country, Electronica, Indie Rock, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: Daughn Gibson | All Hell

by C. Familton Pennsylvania native Daughn Gibson is a new artist who has seemingly appeared fully formed out of nowhere. The most unique thing about his debut album is the way it morphs between different styles, often quite different realms such as country and soulful electronica but it somehow all hangs together wonderfully and as a result Gibson paints himself as a fascinating chameleon-like musician. … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Daughn Gibson | All Hell

Unknown's avatarDoubtful Sounds2 Comments
Album Reviews, Americana / Alt-Country, Folk, Guitar Rock, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: M. Ward | A Wasteland Companion

by C. Familton When Matthew Ward began to gather curious listeners and build his audience with his fourth album Transfiguration of Vincent in 2003 he felt like somewhat of a mysterious figure with that husky, otherworldly voice that conjured up images of dusty country roads, dimly-lit juke joints and back porch sunset strumming. As his profile has grown and he has ventured into side projects … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: M. Ward | A Wasteland Companion

Unknown's avatarDoubtful SoundsLeave a comment
Album Reviews, Americana / Alt-Country, Folk

ALBUM REVIEW: The Lumineers | The Lumineers

by C. Familton The Lumineers are a trio from Denver, Colorado who deal in folk-leaning americana and on this, their debut album, they’ve managed to capture the essence of their sound pretty effectively. They work in a similar realm to the Avett Brothers with various 60s pop influences infusing the songs with heady melodic pop phrasings and a simplicity to arrangements that gives the album … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: The Lumineers | The Lumineers

Unknown's avatarDoubtful SoundsLeave a comment
Album Covers, Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Pop, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: Lawrence Arabia | The Sparrow

by C. Familton New Zealand’s Lawrence Arabia (James Milne) set himself up as an exponent of literate pop on his second album Chant Darling and though it was a clever collection of songs there were moments when they veered into quirky territory that felt a tad contrived. He has learnt from those missteps and taken his writing and arranging to an impressive place on his … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Lawrence Arabia | The Sparrow

Unknown's avatarDoubtful Sounds1 Comment
Album Covers, Album Reviews, Garage Rock, Guitar Rock, Indie Rock

ALBUM REVIEW: Graham Coxon | A+E

by C. Familton For many, Graham Coxon is inextricably linked to his tenure as guitarist in Blur but since his departure from the band a decade ago he has increasingly carved out his own distinct discography as a solo artist. His work has swung from the blues/folk leanings of Crow Sit On Blood Tree to the noisy thrash pop of The Golden D. The impression … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Graham Coxon | A+E

Unknown's avatarDoubtful SoundsLeave a comment
Album Reviews, Folk, Garage Rock, Guitar Rock

ALBUM REVIEW: Neil Young & Crazy Horse | Americana

by C. Familton When news first broke that Neil Young & Crazy Horse were reconvening there was a palpable sense of excitement in the virtual air online yet for many that initial burst of joy quickly turned to apprehension when word seeped out that their first new release was going to be a collection of traditional folk songs, many of which are staples of childhood … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Neil Young & Crazy Horse | Americana

Unknown's avatarDoubtful SoundsLeave a comment
Album Reviews, Electronica, Post-Punk, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: Light Asylum | Light Asylum

by C. Familton The debut album from New Yorkers Light Asylum follows their well received In Tension EP from 2010 and finds Shannon Funchess and Bruno Coviello positing their songs in a colder and harsher sonic environment than that first EP. Funchess is still the absolute drawcard with her voice that can sound like any and everyone from Neneh Cherry and Grace Jones to Ian … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Light Asylum | Light Asylum

Unknown's avatarDoubtful SoundsLeave a comment
Album Reviews, Electronica, Post-Punk

ALBUM REVIEW: Trust | TRST

by C. Familton TRST is the debut album from Robert Alfons and Maya Postepski, otherwise known as Toronto‘s Trust. Postepski is also a member of Austra and the music she creates here isn’t a million miles from the gothic electronic pop of that band. The key difference lies in the vocals of Alfons who resembles a vampiric ghostly figure intoning soulless vocals over the album’s … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Trust | TRST

Unknown's avatarDoubtful SoundsLeave a comment
Album Reviews, Electronica, Indie Rock, Pop, Post-Punk, Psych, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: Opossom | Electric Hawaii

by C. Familton Opossom is essentially Kody Nielson, formerly of The Mint Chicks. When they split, his brother Ruban formed Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Kody retreated to his bedroom to write, play on and record Electric Hawaii. The album retains much of  the bright energy of Nielson’s former band but it also decidedly more trippy and psychedelic, awash with an array of electronic and tropicalia … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Opossom | Electric Hawaii

Unknown's avatarDoubtful Sounds1 Comment
Album Reviews, Electronica, Experimental, Folk, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: Julia Holter | Ekstasis

by Chris Familton Julia Holter inhabits a fascinating world as a modern composer. Her music doesn’t sit comfortably in any one genre – indie, electronic, ambient or pop – but rather it straddles multiple styles, drifting between them and merely hinting at the musical references that inform her music. Ekstasis is Ancient Greek for ecstasy and specifically being ‘outside of oneself’ and in the context … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Julia Holter | Ekstasis

Unknown's avatarDoubtful SoundsLeave a comment