Category: Album Reviews

Album Reviews, Experimental, Indie Rock, Psych, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: Deerhunter | Halcyon Digest

written by Chris Familton It has been quite fascinating to watch Deerhunter evolve and develop their craft over the last few years. From the tripped out, grab-bag shoegaze of 2007’s Cryptograms to the produced and tighter sounds of 2008’s Microcastle theirs has been a progression towards indie pop royalty not dissimilar to the path taken by Pavement. Halcyon Digest sees the quartet changing direction once … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Deerhunter | Halcyon Digest

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Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Post-Punk, Post-Rock / Instrumental, Video

ALBUM REVIEW: Interpol | Interpol

written by Chris Familton The new Interpol album appears at a definite junction in the band’s career. Over their first three records they gradually evolved a Joy Division, gothic indie rock sound from dark corners into widescreen epic gestures. One senses that Interpol heralds a re-stating of their intent, both with the name of the album and the singular theme of the artwork, focusing all … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Interpol | Interpol

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Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Post-Punk

ALBUM REVIEW: Surf City | Kudos

written by Chris Familton From the first opening melodic buzz of Kudos it is clear that Surf City are continuing the legacy of skewed kiwi guitar pop that has been crawling out of the practice rooms of New Zealand for the last thirty years. The key facilitator of the wealth of those musical riches has been Flying Nun Records but they were on a relative … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Surf City | Kudos

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Album Reviews, Guitar Rock, Indie Rock, Psych

ALBUM REVIEW: The Coral | Butterfly House

written by Chris Familton For the last fourteen years The Coral have consistently released strong albums high on mature musicality without descending into wankery. The key has been the songwriting which has continued to be rife with mystery, romance and a keen eye for imagery. Last year they lost founding guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones, an event that has knee-capped many a band. Instead of drafting in … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: The Coral | Butterfly House

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Album Reviews, Indie Rock

ALBUM REVIEW: Smudge | This Smudge Is True

written by Chris Familton Nic Dalton has compiled all the golden moments of Smudge’s career between 1991and 1998 in a twenty-seven track summation of a band that straddled the 90s and epitomised the best and worse of music during that period. The Lemonheads connection has always been a blessing and a curse for Smudge. Sure it brought attention to their music that they may not … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Smudge | This Smudge Is True

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Album Reviews

REVIEW: THE RED EYES | RED ARMY

written by Chris Familton Melbourne’s The Red Eyes have just released their second long player and in the process have cemented their status as one of Australasia’s greatest exponents of dub reggae. Red Army is an hour of deep and solid grooves that easily matches the standard set by similar acts from New Zealand like Salmonella Dub, Black Seeds and Fat Freddy’s Drop. Red Army … Continue reading REVIEW: THE RED EYES | RED ARMY

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Album Reviews

REVIEW: Beach Fossils | Beach Fossils

written by Chris Familton Beach Fossils are another in the line of recent emerging acts from the USA that embrace the jangling, shimmering side of indie. Bands like Girls, Best Coast, The Drums and Vivian Girls all strip things back to the key elements of mood and melody, with a nostalgic haze drifting across the music. On their debut, Beach Fossils have captured that sound … Continue reading REVIEW: Beach Fossils | Beach Fossils

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Album Reviews

REVIEW: SIMON CARTER | The Black Book Of The Universe

written by Chris Familton In the mid 2000s Simon Carter was songwriter and frontman for Sydney’s The Cops. Their route to market was a certain power pop with some UK glam and britpop influences that made them popular on the live circuit and achieved a fair amount of radio play. Sine the dissolution of The Cops Carter has been bunkered down in Summer Hill concocting … Continue reading REVIEW: SIMON CARTER | The Black Book Of The Universe

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Album Reviews

REVIEW: Damien Jurado | Saint Bartlett

written by Chris Familton Over-population in the male singer songwriter realm of americana and folk is a constant risk and there are many pretenders who attempt to step up to the standard set by the likes of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Jason Molina, Phosphorescent and more recently J. Tillman. Damien Jurado is another who is treading the same forest path and has been for fifteen years … Continue reading REVIEW: Damien Jurado | Saint Bartlett

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Album Reviews

REVIEW: THE MORNING BENDERS | BIG ECHO

Written by Chris Familton Continuing the recent trend of American bands looking back to 60s and 70s pop for inspiration, The Morning Benders have released an album that avoids the garage-rock side of the tracks and instead focuses on pop melodies in the vein of The Beach Boys alongside orchestral elements and the ability to find a hook and focus on it rather than burying … Continue reading REVIEW: THE MORNING BENDERS | BIG ECHO

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Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: The Melvins | The Bride Screamed Murder

written by Chris Familton What can be one man’s alternative rock is another’s weirdo noise and The Melvins have intentionally teased both parties now for more than 25 years. The Bride Screamed Murder is their 20th studio album and continues their mission to satiate and frustrate. Their previous release, Nude With Boots, was a fairly straight affair in the context of The Melvins and for … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: The Melvins | The Bride Screamed Murder

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Album Reviews

REVIEW: SUPER WILD HORSES | Fifteen

written by Chris Familton Fifteen is the debut album from Melbourne guitar/drums duo Super Wild Horses. No doubt you will have already heard them on the Bonds commercial that also features Ella Stiles from Songs jumping around. Fifteen’s strength is the way it has been minimally produced with no instrumental or structural excess and avoids descending into blues robbery like so many other two piece … Continue reading REVIEW: SUPER WILD HORSES | Fifteen

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