Gungor - Wakes Us Up

If you know us, you know we can be pretty indifferent to a lot of "Christian" ... "music." A definite exception is Gungor. Caught their act in L.A. in the past year. A band to check out no matter your background or views. Enjoy:

BATTLE of the BANDS: Ra Ra Riot vs. Winter Gloves

Ok, so two of our current favorite alternative bands are Ra Ra Riot and Winter Gloves. But which is the best? RRR has the wonderful strings base to go with the lo-tech keyboard. Winter Gloves utilizes still more lovely lo-fi synth and continually keeps the listener guessing if the next tune will be guitar or retro keys-driven. Both feature unassuming songs that grow on you. RRR seems to have more of a literary bent, while WG's lyrics might be more cryptic. Both are amazing, but which is better? Help us out. Is it...

Ra Ra Riot?

or...

Winter Gloves?

                                        

Help us decide.

-P.S.

Marnie Stern - The Chronicles of Marnia

Every now and then one should listen to something like The Chronicles of Marnia even though it has nothing to to with Lucy or Clive Staples Lewis. The release is set of March, 2013, and we can't wait. We covet it almost more than Turkish Delight, even though we don't need a sledgehammer to walk in her shoes. Thanks, Marnie. Truly, nothing is easy.

P.S.

 

Streetside Vinyl - There Might Be a Hope (Concert and Album review)

I've been delinquent getting this review posted. My bad.

Streetside Vinyl - The Concert:
So, I happened into an AMPLIFIED/PULSE sponsored event at the "MP" on Fruitvale Avenue in Kern County, California (Nov 28, 2012). Expecting to see a certain purely pop act, I arrived fashionably late only to hear truly unexpected sounds sifting through the ear drums of my attitude. "What is this?" (I thought). The tune cutting my "tude" was a cross between rock-a-billy, swing, and punk. To finish the slicing of my presumption, during an instrumental section of the song the singer breaks out this small saxophone and starts... ripping.

Again - "What is this, and who are these guys?"

As it turns out, this was the first song of an acoustic set played by a Kern County, California band called "Streetside Vinyl."

As the set continued, the band broke into two songs I'd describe as delectable, acoustic post-punk. The singer's voice reminded me a little of the Tooth and Nail band Slick Shoes. Just as I was really starting to get into it, their set stopped. "Thanks, good-night." Bummer for us - I guess that was all they were slotted to play. Afterward, I picked up their EP.

Streetside Vinyl - The EP
So, after purchasing their CD and spending a little time talking with the band members, I popped their tunes into my car and have been enjoying them ever since. The SV album "If There's A Hope" is a seven song EP that's a terrific first outing for this young band. What might be a simple, helpful description for some, would be to imagine an edgier, more "indie"-esque Angels and Airwaves (know that "indie-esque" for my taste is a good thing). The songs which are the exception to this are the more hard rocking opener "I Have My Reasons" and the more swing-in' number "Enough With the Tricks" (which I liked better in the live acoustic format, but it's still good on the album. Do make an effort to catch a show and hear these guys perform the song live - as you will get blown away). The lyrics of the album range from issues involving love, love-lost, and some other thoughtful, and at times cryptic elements. In keeping with the title, the songs collectively tend to ring with an air of triumphant "hope."

My personal favorite song on the "Hope" CD is probably the last cut "Escape" - with its guitar riff that dances in your ears as an enticing combination of being both ethereal and sort of "lo-fi" at the same time. Being topped with Gough's epic, yet still quite edgy, vocal performance - this track encapsulates the ability of a band that could very well have a truly great future.

Go street-side yourself by going right here.

Jape - Lo-fi Irish Indie Tech-pop anyone?

Sometimes you just need some lo-fi, Irish, indie tech-pop. I know I do.

Ocean of Frequency by Jape