Scheusch Scheusch www.myspace.com/scheusch Consider now, the guitar-drum duo, of which persuasion is Scheusch. If you leave out the bass player, you only split the door two ways. You don’t have to load a heavy bass cabinet, and you don’t need to deal with the guy who always gets basil when you send him out to […]
Album Reviews
Posted inAlbum Reviews
The White Tornado: Album Review
The White Tornado Seek Shelter www.white2rnado.com The White Tornado is keyboardist Bill Peterson, who’s been playing shows around Iowa City for some time. Seek Shelter, his debut record, showcases his facility with the piano and organ, not to mention his puckish sense of humor. Stylistically he’s not stuck in any one genre for long, but two […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Porno Galactica – MixTape Vol. 1
Before Metallica and Napster ever butted heads, people used to venture
out and by their music on something called compact discs. Then, came
the era of the download. Now, artists like Porno Galactica can spread
their music without having to busk out on the pavement. Porno
Galactica, consists of Don and Phil Rabalais. They have made their
first release, Mixtape Vol. 1 directly available to anyone with an
internet connection and a computer. The release doesn’t sound like
anything you’d expect from Fairfield, Iowa.
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: N.A.S.A. – Spirit of Apollo
In the late 1990s, a new phenomena proliferated through commercial hip hop. Deejays began releasing albums overloaded with guest vocals and uninspired tunes. If you were a fan of rap music it was hard to escape this constant barrage of “exclusive” albums. Most were 15 tracks too long and you could tell every emcee was more concerned about the paycheck than the rhymes.
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Kaspar Hauser | The Sons CD Review
Kaspar Hauser The Sons www.kasparhausermusic.net Kaspar Hauser started in Iowa City and then moved to Chicago, but they’re back once or twice a year for shows at the Mill. They play guitar-based pop music, with no grand pretensions or sonic gimmicks. If you see them live, they look like they just finished a shift at […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
This Machine | Lemming Nation CD Review
This Machine Lemming Nation You have to admire Marv Hain, for being true to his ideals, and his devotion to a musical form that’s been moribund for nearly 50 years, folk protest songs. His stage name “This Machine” is, I assume, an homage to Woody Guthrie, who wrote “This Machine Kills Fascists” on his guitar. […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Laura Gibson | Beasts of Seasons CD Review
Laura Gibson Beasts of Seasons Hush Records www.myspace.com/lauragibson Midwesterners need few words to describe the seasonal bitterness laid upon them this time of year. Luckily, locals have a Garden of Eden from which to hand-pick shows this April, making the last blasts of winter somewhat bearable. Disheartened Iowans hopefully anticipating a lamb this spring may […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
N.A.S.A., "Spirit of Apollo"
N.A.S.A. Spirit of Apollo ANTI- www.myspace.com/nasa In the late 1990s, a new phenomena proliferated through commercial hip hop. Deejays began releasing albums overloaded with guest vocals and uninspired tunes. If you were a fan of rap music it was hard to escape this constant barrage of “exclusive” albums. Most were 15 tracks too long and […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Porno Galactica, "MixTape Vol. 1"
Porno Galactica MixTape Vol. 1 Mission Freak Before Metallica and Napster ever butted heads, people used to venture out and by their music on something called compact discs. Then, came the era of the download. Now, artists like Porno Galactica can spread their music without having to busk out on the pavement. Porno Galactica, consists […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Animals in the Dark | William Elliott Whitmore
William Elliott Whitmore Animals in the Dark www.williamelliottwhitmore.com William Elliott Whitmore’s fourth album (and major label debut), Animals in the Dark kicks off with what will likely be the most divisive track in his catalog: “Mutiny.” The call and response chant cribs lyrics from both Dr. Dre and The Bloodhound Gang, rides a wave of […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Deer in the Night | Po' Girl
Po’ Girl Deer in the Night www.pogirl.net [audio:http://www.pogirl.net/deer/deer.mp3] Canada is, like, this whole other country. They apparently are secretly responsible for about half of the music we think of as American. Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen? All Canadian. Comes now Po’Girl–two women, Awna Texeira, and Allison Russell, one Torontonian, one Quebecois–sneaking across at Windsor, […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Beat of Our Own Drum | JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound
JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound Beat of Our Own Drum www.myspace.com/theuptownsound JC Brooks comes from Chicago, but recently played at the Yacht Club, and from all reports, burned the joint down. I wasn’t able to make it out to that show, but this CD gives me a strong idea of the sort of fireworks […]
