Larry “The Wizard” Sievers Kingdom of Mermaidia www.larrysievers.bandcamp.com/album/mermaidia The artist formerly known as Larry “Machine Gun” Sievers is back with a new album of his unique original compositions. If you’ve seen an older gent wearing a black hat with white ostrich feathers out and about downtown Iowa City, that’s Larry. After playing drums in local […]
Album reviews
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Album Review: Chrash — Things My Friends Say
Chrash Things My Friends Say www.cartoucherecords.com/chrash Chrash is a Quad Cities trio made up of Kim Murray and Paul Bloomquist from the Winter Blanket, and Chris Bernat from ’90s alternative rock band Tripmaster Monkey (who enjoyed a brief moment in the sun when they were signed to Sire Records). Chrash (pronounced “Crash”) had four releases […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Album Review: Hunter Dumped Us Here — I Understand
Hunter Dumped Us Here I Understand www.hunterdumpedushere.bandcamp.com The members of the band Hunter Dumped Us Here may hail from Cedar Rapids, but they have musical ideas and ambitions that extend well beyond the city limits. They may be firmly in the camp of drums-and-wires rock and roll, but one cannot deny their intensity and musical […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Bo Ramsey — Wildwood Calling
Bo Ramsey Wildwood Calling www.boramsey.com There is an adage in guitar circles that says, “Tone is in the hands.” In other words, the unique sound of a guitarist comes from how they play and not the gear they use. Nowhere is this more evident than with Bo Ramsey’s very distinctive guitar tone and sound — […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Album Review: Samuel Locke Ward — Dunwich Piano Recital
Samuel Locke Ward Dunwich Piano Recital samuellockeward.bandcamp.com/album/dunwich-piano-recital Samuel Locke Ward hasn’t had an album reviewed in Little Village in over a year. Given that he released 12 full-length albums in 2014, it may be reviewer exhaustion to blame. But if we’re going to end this critical shutout, Dunwich Piano Recital is a great place to […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Album Review: Devin Frank — The Vanishing Blues
Devin Frank The Vanishing Blues www.facebook.com/thevanishingblues Poison Control Center’s hiatus in 2011 gave Devin Frank time to explore new projects. He formed Mantis Pincers with Jordan Mayland and Eric Moffitt of Volcano Boys and released one cassette. He moved to Columbia, MO in 2012 and, while writing a bunch of songs and demos, he joined […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Album Review: Nora Petran & Curt Oren — 2%
Nora Petran & Curt Oren 2% www.curtoren.bandcamp.com Iowa City underground music celebrities Nora Petran and Curt Oren went inside the Maquoketa Caves on a cold, rainy, muddy day and emerged with a seven track collaborative album — 2%. The album is split into Nora’s tracks, a collection of dizzying, kaleidoscopic yet gentle guitar and voice […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Album Review: MAIDS — These Days EP
MAIDS These Days EP www.thisismaids.com Danny Heggen and Mickey Davis are the Des Moines electronic pop band MAIDS. They’ve been collaborating since 2012 on singles and some inspired remixes for bands including Iowa artists Land of Blood and Sunshine and the Envy Corps. MAIDS latest release, a 5-track EP titled These Days, serves as a […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Album Review: The Maytags — Love Lines
The Maytags Love Lines www.themaytags.com Seven-piece Des Moines band The Maytags continues their rise to the top of the modern soul scene with their full-length debut, Love Lines, out July 1. Frontman Dustin Smith told me in February that, when recording all in analog (as this album was done) there’s “no excuse not to have […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Album Review: TWINS — Square America
TWINS Square America www.facebook.com/Twinstheband Iowa’s very own princes of guitar pop are back with another slab of black vinyl densely grooved with their trademark harmonies and chugging guitars. Their 2014 album Tomboys on Parade was a smart collection of guitar pop that I described in my Little Village review as being a “survey of power […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Album Review: Blake Shaw — Listen Hear
Blake Shaw Listen Hear www.blakeshawbass.com Listen Hear is the latest release from Iowa City composer/musician Blake Shaw. Recorded at Flat Black Studios, Listen Hear is an incredibly accessible jazz album featuring a strong quintet of players with Shaw on the upright bass, Dan Padley on guitar, Nolan Schroeder and Ryan Smith on respective woodwinds and […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: The Phineas Incarnation – Liquid Karma
The Phineas Incarnation Liquid Karma www.thephineasincarnation.bandcamp.com Liquid Karma is the work of Phineas Brady, a 17 year old drummer from Iowa City. He wasn’t even born when the genre known as IDM (Intelligent Dance Music) began gaining listeners. Brady’s chief inspiration is the restless, jackhammer rush of artists like Squarepusher and Aphex Twin, but instead […]
