Best New Bands » album reviews http://www.bestnewbands.com News, Reviews and Interviews Wed, 07 Feb 2018 02:08:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.41 Jagwar Ma’s ‘Every Now & Then’ is Quite the Ride http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/jagwar-ma-every-now-and-then/ http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/jagwar-ma-every-now-and-then/#comments Mon, 31 Jul 2017 14:55:50 +0000 http://www.bestnewbands.com/?p=33571 San Francisco – “Can we be real?” OK, let’s be honest – how often is it, in the most honestly painful scope of reality, that someone actually asks this question of oneself?  Hmmm?  Would I be terribly cynical/naïve/clueless if I were to say…er…almost never? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Ok, broader inquiry: how often is

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  1. Jagwar Ma Previews New LP at The Independent San Francisco – “Don’t worry, prosperity will knock on your door soon,” bassist Jack Freeman of Jagwar Ma happily read from a fortune cookie fortune during a lull early on in the band’s Wednesday night set, briskly followed by an impromptu reggae...
  2. Catfish and the Bottlemen Returns with ‘The Ride’ London – UK rock band Catfish and the Bottlemen is loved by fans somewhat more than by critics; which is probably the right way round if you are keen to sell out venues rather than simply bask in hype. Despite some critical...
  3. The Head and The Heart Explores New Territory London – What’s in a band name? The Head and The Heart perhaps takes a little less unravelling than most, offering a choice juxtaposition of the rational and the sometimes rash. Signs Of Light is the third album from the Seattle six-piece,...
]]> http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/jagwar-ma-every-now-and-then/feed/ 0 Pavo Pavo Gets a Little Bit Country, a Little Bit City http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/pavo-pavo/ http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/pavo-pavo/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2016 16:11:02 +0000 http://www.bestnewbands.com/?p=33805 London – Brooklyn band Pavo Pavo harbours a quirky name, a retro future album cover, and a classical meets pop heritage that perhaps unsurprisingly yields a fascinating mix. The band name comes from a southern constellation whose brightest star is called Peacock, or Pavo in Latin. The graphics on the striking cover of its debut

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  1. James Blake Ignites a Fire at Radio City New York - “I request another dream / I need a forest fire,” James Blake sings on his latest album The Colour In Anything. Playing to a sold out audience at Radio City Musical Hall, Monday night, he demonstrated another dream:...
  2. The Easy Leaves: Traditional Meets Modern Country In Music City Nashville – When someone says, “Hey, you have to check out this band! They’re from California,” one of several incarnations of California music may come to mind. There’s the iconic Beach Boys, LA’s The Doors, San Francisco’s The Grateful Dead....
  3. Radiation City, Wild Ones Bring Portland Electro-Pop To The Crocodile Seattle – Two Portland-based bands recently brought stunning, infectious indie electro-pop to The Crocodile, thrilling the crowd with catchy melodies, impressive beats, and strong female vocals. Headlining the night was Radiation City, a five-piece with Portland origins going back to...
]]> http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/pavo-pavo/feed/ 4 Black Angel Drifter Offers a Brave Debut http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/black-angel-drifter/ http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/black-angel-drifter/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2016 18:56:09 +0000 http://www.bestnewbands.com/?p=33403 London – Perhaps it’s no accident that the acronym of new spin-off band from the UK’s Morton Valence, Black Angel Drifter, is BAD. Not that its eponymously titled debut album is at all bad – far from it – but it is typical of the black humour that MV’s front man Robert “Hacker” Jessett employs.

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  1. Radkey Announces Debut Album “Dark Black Makeup” Los Angeles – After nearly five years of playing and touring together as a band, all of Radkey ’s hard work comes full circle on their debut album, Dark Black Makeup. Recorded primarily in the UK alongside producer Ross Orton (Arctic Monkeys, The Fall, Jarvis Cocker),...
  2. More New Bands At Fun Fun Fun Fest: Angel Olsen, Deafheaven And More Austin – Reaching the end of Fun Fun Fun Fest was downright depressing. It was a bummer saying goodbye to festival friends after three short days, and remembering that 1) you don’t do something enviably cool every night and 2)...
  3. Jib Kidder Offers Psychedelic Indie Pop On ‘Teaspoon To The Ocean’ New York – Jib Kidder’s bandcamp bio reads “no genre, no hometown, hard to pin down since Y2K.” This is true: Sean Schuster-Craig has lived all over the country (grew up in Georgia, spent time in the Midwest and on...
]]> http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/black-angel-drifter/feed/ 0 From Indian Lakes Embraces the Light in the Dark http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/from-indian-lakes/ http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/from-indian-lakes/#comments Thu, 13 Oct 2016 18:34:33 +0000 http://www.bestnewbands.com/?p=33375 Los Angeles - From Indian Lakes is the multi-genre conception of California-based multi-instrumentalist Joey Vannucchi. The moniker is derived from Indian Lakes, California, where Vannucchi started writing and recording songs at the age of twenty. Over the course of three full-length albums, Vannucchi has steadily evolved both sonically and emotionally. His proclivity for subdued guitars and

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  1. From Indian Lakes Releases New Single Nashville - From Indian Lakes and Triple Crown Records are thrilled to share “Blank Tapes,” the second single off the California band’s forthcoming record, Everything Feels Better Now, out October 14th. “Blank Tapes” is the follow-up to the album’s first single,...
  2. The Tallest Man On Earth Searches For Light On ‘Dark Bird Is Home’ San Francisco – It doesn’t seem like The Tallest Man On Earth is planning to settle down anytime soon. The ramblin’ man persona singer-songwriter Kristian Matsson cultivated back in 2008 with his full-length debut Shallow Grave holds just as strongly...
  3. Album Review: Light Up The Dark by Gabrielle Aplin London – Depending on where you live Light Up The Dark could be the second album from British songstress Gabrielle Aplin, or the first. Oddly her 2013 debut, “English Rain”, which came on the back of her sweetly sensitive cover...
]]> http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/from-indian-lakes/feed/ 0 Finding Comfort in Consistency with Phantogram http://www.bestnewbands.com/live-reviews/phantogram/ http://www.bestnewbands.com/live-reviews/phantogram/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2016 01:32:58 +0000 http://www.bestnewbands.com/?p=33315 Oakland – We all have that friend… you know the one: that one guy or gal that claims that the title of the best band they’ve ever seen live, or the best studio sessions they’ve ever surrendered to happen to belong to some random, semi-esoteric duo or trio, despite the fact that you know they’ve

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  1. Phantogram Shares New Single “You’re Mine” Chicago – Today New York electronic duo Phantogram released the single “You’re Mine,” just hours before kicking off its North American tour, which begins with a sold-out show in Las Vegas tonight.  You can catch Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter live across...
  2. Phantogram Becomes Nocturnal with Nightlife It’s been two years since Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter, better known to the masses as electro duo Phantogram, released their breakthrough debut LP, Eyelid Movies. In that time, the two-piece focused on touring in support of the record, leaving...
  3. Kaleo Brought Chicago Some Southern Comfort Chicago – Despite it being a cold and snowy Wednesday night, fans packed Bottom Lounge in Chicago’s West Loop to see Kaleo. After witnessing the Icelandic band live, I completely understood why. The four-piece indie-folk band, comprised of Jökull Júlíusson...
]]> http://www.bestnewbands.com/live-reviews/phantogram/feed/ 0 It’s an Affirmative for Flock of Dimes http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/flock-of-dimes-if-you-see-me-say-yes/ http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/flock-of-dimes-if-you-see-me-say-yes/#comments Tue, 11 Oct 2016 13:26:55 +0000 http://www.bestnewbands.com/?p=33305 London – Flock of Dimes, the solo project of Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner, is a product of much love. You sense that her debut album, If You See Me, Say Yes, under this enigmatic moniker has been some time in the gestation, even if the final impetus was triggered by her move from her native Baltimore to

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  1. East London Takes Flock of Dimes to Heart London – The Victoria in Dalston, East London is one of those little gems of live music venues that the city specialises in; a traditional pub with the added excitement that you enter the modestly proportioned, black walled gig room...
  2. Wilderness End By Bearpark London – November arrives with the realisation that we are hurtling towards the year end once more. Anyone organised enough to be thinking about Christmas stocking fillers for that Indie music lover in your life or even Secret Santas could...
  3. Arc Iris Returns with ‘Moon Saloon’ London – If 2014’s inventive eponymous debut recording by Arc Iris whetted the appetite for the strange and beautiful, then its follow-up, Moon Saloon, provides a veritable banquet. The Providence, Rhode Island trio of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jocie Adams, keyboard meister Zachary...
]]> http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/flock-of-dimes-if-you-see-me-say-yes/feed/ 0 The Daydream Club Thinks Big with ‘Lux’ http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/the-daydream-club-lux/ http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/the-daydream-club-lux/#comments Fri, 07 Oct 2016 02:54:21 +0000 http://www.bestnewbands.com/?p=33256 London – With critical approval and a diehard fan base on board, the English duo of Adam Pickering and Paula Walker aka The Daydream Club has carried one of those “hotly tipped” mantles for some time. The release of Lux should find the recently married couple pitched on the verge of a bigger breakthrough, with

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  1. The Black Queen – Fever Daydream Los Angeles – While at first glance, the idea of an electro-pop band fronted by Dillinger Escape Plan’s Greg Puciato sounds a bit unexpected. But, when the layers are peeled away it actually makes a whole lot of sense. Rounding...
  2. Interview: The Magnetic Boys of SUN CLUB Chicago – The Baltimore boys of SUN CLUB have begun to turn heads with their cheerful indie rock, energetic live shows, and goofy personalities. Songs like “Beauty Meat” and “Summer Feet,” off the debut EP Dad Claps at the Mom...
  3. Palma Violets Blossom With ‘Danger In The Club’ Los Angeles – After breaking out in a major way with their rowdy, pub-rock-indebted 2013 debut 180, Palma Violets did what any young buzz band would do: they spent the subsequent months on the road, connecting with old fans and...
]]> http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/the-daydream-club-lux/feed/ 0 Ultimate Painting’s ‘Dusk’ Mixes Past and Present http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/ultimate-painting-dusk/ http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/ultimate-painting-dusk/#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2016 06:58:12 +0000 http://www.bestnewbands.com/?p=33219 New York – While Ultimate Painting may sound like some hipster sporting event, which millennials play over cold-brewed coffee, it is actually the name of a brilliant indie band, comprised of Jack Cooper and James Joare. The London duo can credit its collaboration to a kismety encounter; the two met while touring with respective other bands –

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  1. Ultimate Painting Deliver ‘Super’ Debut  Austin – Ultimate Painting was introduced to me as a supergroup. Not in those words, but there must have been some hope that name-dropping Veronica Falls and Mazes would entice me to listen to their music. I’m not sure if,...
  2. White Denim Looks to the Past and Future with ‘Stiff’ San Fransisco - iTunes is kind of the worst, sometimes. If you’re like me – which is to say, unnecessarily anal about the organization of one’s music library – then the seemingly painstaking problem of getting one album that, for some reason or...
  3. Album Review: firekid Mixes Old And New Chicago – Dillon Hodges – aka firekid - is bringing a modern twist to bluegrass, country, and Americana, mixing in pop and indie rock with hints of hip-hop and electronica, and even chiptune with help from an old Nintendo Game Boy. His self-titled debut...
]]> http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/ultimate-painting-dusk/feed/ 0 The Head and The Heart Explores New Territory http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/the-head-and-the-heart-signs-of-light/ http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/the-head-and-the-heart-signs-of-light/#comments Wed, 21 Sep 2016 19:25:47 +0000 http://www.bestnewbands.com/?p=33127 London – What’s in a band name? The Head and The Heart perhaps takes a little less unravelling than most, offering a choice juxtaposition of the rational and the sometimes rash. Signs Of Light is the third album from the Seattle six-piece, and while that title might hint at an imminent coming-of-age musically, the sheer accomplishment of this

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  1. The Head and the Heart Releases New Song “Colors” New York – Today The Head and the Heart released a third track from the band’s forthcoming album Signs of Light, out Sept. 9th on Warner Bros. Records. “Colors” is the third song released off of the album and is available to stream here and...
  2. ACL Late Night Brings The Head and the Heart To Emo’s Austin – “Are you going to ACL this year?” Since 2009, my answer was always “No.” I could never remember which day I’m supposed to spend refreshing the page for ticket sales, and I could never remember to save the...
  3. The Head and The Heart Light up Terminal 5 The Head and the Heart’s Charity Rose Thielen The Head and the Heart played a sold out show at Terminal 5 last night to a jubilant crowd. I’m not sure if this band has been on the One Tree Hill...
]]> http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/the-head-and-the-heart-signs-of-light/feed/ 2 Local Natives Speaks Truth with ‘Sunlit Youth’ http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/local-natives-sunlit-youth/ http://www.bestnewbands.com/album-reviews/local-natives-sunlit-youth/#comments Mon, 12 Sep 2016 06:59:11 +0000 http://www.bestnewbands.com/?p=32974 San Francisco – The number two: it’s powerful, yet submissive.  It’s strong, yet unpredictable.  It’s stalwart, yet malleable.  It seeks comfort, yet it aches for dissonance.  An album’s second track holds a powerful role, as it anchors the cohesiveness of an entire piece without demanding immediate satisfaction.  Los Angeles-based outfit Local Natives has no qualms

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  1. Local Natives Releases “Coins” New York – L.A. indie rock band Local Natives has shared a new track from its forthcoming LP Sunlit Youth, out September 9th via Loma Vista. “Coins” is the album’s soulful centerpiece, and is streaming now accompanied by an animated visual...
  2. Solomon Grey Speaks with Daring Honesty San Fransisco - Patience is a key element to true appreciation and enjoyment of music. To truly understand someone’s vision, the meticulousness and the long hours put in, and the often soul-crushing vulnerability an artist or band must overcome to present a facet...
  3. Cult of Youth Continue to Cultivate Their Sound With ‘Final Days’ Los Angeles – Cult of Youth have just released their third full-length release for Sacred Bones this week.  Ominously titled Final Days, the record sees the five-piece band from Brooklyn reaching a full-realization of their evolving blend of post-punk and neo-folk. ...
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