Pop culture musings by Kevin Mathews
Background
White Denim is an American four-piece rock band from Austin, Texas. Known for their musical eclecticism, the band’s sixth full-length album was co-produced by Ethan Johns (Paul McCartney, Laura Marling) and has been described by the quartet as a return to its frenetic rock band roots.
Background
Based in El Paso, Texas, Holy Wave (Kyle Hager, Dustin Zozaya, Julian Ruiz, Joey Cook, Ryan Fuson) is riding the wave (!) of the contemporary psych-rock revival.
Strengths
Adept at combining sympathetic elements of psych-rock, shoe-gaze and dream pop, the music on Freaks of Nurture will appeal to a wide range of rock lovers. Sounding timeless yet fresh, Freaks of Nurture is a work of passionate art that transcends mere genre.
Highlights
“She Put a Seed in my Ear”, “Wendy Go Round”, “Western Playland”, “California Took My Bobby Away” and so on!
Sounds Like
Temples, Tame Impala, Thee Oh Sees, Spacemen 3.
Bottom Line
Probably the most likely style of modern rock that will break into the mainstream consciousness. Hopefully sooner than later.
Information
Official Site: https://holywave.bandcamp.com/
Buy now!
Background
The Sharp Things is an New York City-based chamber pop collective, led by singer/songwriter Perry Serpa (born 1965). Current members include Jim Santo, Aisha Cohen, Michelle Caputo, James Pertusi, and Andrea Dovalle. EverybodyEverybody is the final instalment of an album series that began in 2013.
Continue reading “ALBUM REVIEW: THE SHARP THINGS – EVERYBODYEVERYBODY”
Background
Hailing from Athens, Georgia, Eureka California is a self-described ‘catchy garagey rock and roll band’. Eureka California has existed in some form or fashion since 2007, but closer to this version since 2010 viz. Jake Ward – guitar/vocals & Marie A. Uhler – drums. Versus is the duo’s third LP.
Background
Four-piece London-based, Anglo-Welsh indie rock band. They released their first single, the buzzed-about “Follow,” in 2013, produced by Dan Carey from the band Toy. Operator is the group’s hotly anticipated debut studio long player, via the band’s own Gramgram label.
Background
Basically, this is the solo recording project of Saiful Idris of the now-defunct Great Spy Experiment. Seven years in the making with everything you hear performed by Saiful, except for Bani Hidir helping out on drums here and there. Produced by The E’s and Leonard Soosay.
Continue reading “EP REVIEW: THE E’S – MEMORIES OF MELANCHOLIC HORSES”
Background
Bob Mould is an American musician, principally known for his work as guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s. Patch the Sky is Mould’s thirteenth solo album.
Thoughts about how the various superhero TV shows did this week. Spoilers, duh!
Discovered via Twitter – a power pop band that incorporates the BIG MUSIC of the 80s, kinda like The Knack mashed up with U2.
Continue reading “SINGLE REVIEW: SOLARFLAIRS – SPIRIT OF JOHNNY”
The Projector is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Eric Khoo’s Mee Pok Man this April with a few screenings of the iconic film along with his earlier short film Pain and a couple of talks and panels hosted by the Asian Film Archive.
Here’s a fresh sound for your listening pleasure. Eddy got in touch with us to share his new single, “All For You”, and we are simply digging its simple, straight-forward infectiousness. Now, this is the kind of pop music that we can can thoroughly get into. Enjoy!
Continue reading “MUSIC NEWS: EDDY FAULKNER’S NEW SINGLE ‘ALL FOR YOU’ IS OUT NOW!”
Background
Not the sequel to Man of Steel (2013) but according to director Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen), the outright launch of the DC Cinematic Universe (DCU) with the first appearance of Batman (Ben Affleck), Superman (Henry Cavill) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) together in the same movie. Key question is whether the movie itself can justify the slew of DCU films coming up in the pipeline, and in particular, Justice League (2017).
Continue reading “GEEK OUT! BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE”
Background
The legend returns with his 17th studio album. Produced by Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, the album was recorded in secrecy and features contributions from Queens of the Stone Age’s Dean Fertita and Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders.
Continue reading “ALBUM REVIEW: IGGY POP – POST POP DEPRESSION”
Background
Veteran Scottish band that come out of the C86 indie pop movement to become one of the prime movers of dance-rock in the 90s. Chaosmosis is the band’s 11th album.
Rock ‘n’ roll might not have the same commercial or cultural impact it used to have but we promise to keep the flag flying.
Here are videos of new music you should be listening to that expresses the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. Enjoy!
Synopsis
Daredevil/Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) has put the Kingpin/Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) in jail and order seems to have returned to New York’s Hell Kitchen. That is until criminal gangs start getting butchered and rumour has it that a relentless one-man army (Frank Castle aka The Punisher (Jon Bernthal)) is behind the killings. Along the way, Murdock’s ex-girlfriend Elektra Natchios (Elodie Yung) and his ex-master Stick (Scott Glen) come back into his life as the supernatural ninja assassin organisation The Hand enters the scene to complicate the matters. These complications take a toll on his relationships with best friend Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson) and budding romantic partner Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll).
Thoughts about how the various superhero TV shows did this week. Spoilers, duh!
Background
Brighton indie rock quartet that thankfully have written enough songs to fill up a couple of albums.
So, in case you’ve overlooked this in the face of incessant buzz and excitement over the Batman v Superman & Captain America films, there is actually another tentpole superhero movie coming out in 2016 viz. X-Men Apocalypse.
Background
Bill Baird is an American experimental musician. Formerly a member of Sound Team, Baird began performing solo in 2006, first as {{{Sunset}}} and later under his own name.
Continue reading “ALBUM REVIEW: BILL BAIRD – EARTH INTO AETHER (PT. 1)”
Background
Karen and Ryan Hover, having completed three Candy Claws albums, formed Sound of Ceres in 2014 as a duo in collaboration with members of the Apples in Stereo and the Drums.
Continue reading “ALBUM REVIEW: SOUND OF CERES – NOSTALGIA FOR INFINITY”
Rock ‘n’ roll might not have the same commercial or cultural impact it used to have but we promise to keep the flag flying.
Here are videos of new music you should be listening to that expresses the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. Enjoy!
